Wordless Wednesday:: Pockets of Dreams

Tammy at Pockets of Dreams recently contacted Market Mommy to great a graphic image to use in our Holiday Gift Guide and we were more than happy to do so :-) Below is what we created. Check out their site, it's really very cool.

Their motto is Dress to Bless. For every product you buy, they give a portion of the proceeds in the form of grants to seamstresses in Uganda that they've partnered with. These women run their own small sewing businesses. To extend the blessing, they also work with up and coming designers and partner with a small manufacturer in the Philippines that works with women seamstresses who work out of their homes.

The company is called "pockets" of dreams because their initial dresses all had seven pockets which stood for the seven wishes they have for girls everywhere - family, friends, health, wealth, education, opportunity, and most importantly love. How great is that?

I really think I need to start participating in Wordful Wednesdays instead of Wordless ;)
Have a great day!

Tuesday's Tip:: Hybrid Mom

Are you a Hybrid Mom? Click here to find out :)

Hybrid Mom is an online community,website and magazine for all women. They offer some great opportunities for mom entrepreneurs as well! Ways to network, newsletters, a marketplace and much more!

If you haven't declared yourself a Hybrid Mom yet, you should!

Mommy Monday:: Life Changing Water Systems

Sisters Joy Paulson and Cynthia Mariner are proud to bring Life Changing Water Systems to customers in southern California. The direct sales business was founded in Japan 34 years ago and introduced to the U.S. in 2003.

The company is in the health and wellness industry and sells a Japanese, ISO certified medical device that splits water into two parts; one being acid and one being alkaline. The alkaline water is able to heal and repair your body when you drink it because it is changed from bulk water that cannot penetrate and hydrate your cells, to water that is microclustered and can penetrate your cells to remove toxins that can make your body ill.

According to Paulson, the company has been successful because it puts people’s health first. “The kind of water we consume is critical to our well being,” she said. “We are successful because we provide a healthy and safe method for helping people heal and we take much joy and are constantly rewarded by the physical changes we see take place when people drink this water,” she added. The company has worked with people who suffer from diabetes, cancer, arthritis, chrons disease, acid reflux, high blood pressure, autism, ADHD, allergies and other ailments.

Because it is a home based business, the sisters are able to weave it into their daily lives and work around their home schedules. Paulson said it is possible to have a healthy mix of both worlds, career and family. “It's important to follow your dreams, use your creative minds, be your own boss and set your own schedule,” she added.

Paulson, like so many others, agrees that being a mom business owner is not always easy. “It can be a challenge sometimes, but never give up if what you are doing is something you can believe in and be proud of at the end of the day,” she said.

If you are in the Orange County, southern California area and would like to try some water from Life Changing Water Systems for two week period for free, contact Paulson at 714.962.4693, or Mariner at 714.965.7586 for more information. You can visit their website http://www.lifechangingh2o4u.com/

'Tis the season

For the past few days I have been busy organizing and putting the finishing touches on our 2009 Holiday Gift Guide at Market Mommy. {Note:: this link will expire in just a couple days. After that, the actual guide will be found here.} I am SUPER excited for it to be published in another week. Oftentimes it is hard to compete and get your products included in various gift guides. That is why I created a guide at Market Mommy exclusively for mom entrepreneurs. And, I’m happy to say that we had a great response, and no mom business owner was turned away!

So, keeping with the Holiday Gift Guide spirit, I thought I’d let you all know about a few other great gift guide opportunities that are still available for the upcoiming season. Check them out, and submit, submit, submit. But, remember to follow their requirements and read all the details first! Happy submitting!

Gifts for everyone::
· Mom Fuse
· A Cowboy’s Wife
· Our Ordinary Life
· Rockin’ Mama
· Mama Cheaps
· Through Hazel Eyes
Gifts for children and babies::
· Mission Mommy
· Baby Friendly L.A.
· Posh Little
Foodie gifts::
· My Wooden Spoon
Techie gifts::
· Tech Savvy Mama

And, don’t forget there are just a couple days left to reserve your spot in the 2009 Market Mommy Holiday Gift Guide! Click here for details! Have a fabulous fall weekend!

Hurry! Time is running out!

If you want to be featured in the hottest Holiday Gift Guide exclusively for mom business owners, time is running out! In less than a week, listing purchases will be closed and just days after that the 2009 Market Mommy Holiday Gift Guide will launch!

We are super excited! There are going to be some fabulous businesses featured! You don't want to be left out! Purchase your listing today!

Wordless Wednesday:: Lil' Fan

Tuesday's Tip:: Persistence

According to Webster’s Dictionary, being persistent means existing for a long or longer than usual time. When it comes to creating and building your own business, persistence is one of those words of advice that keeps popping up.

Be persistent. Stay focused. Do not give up. Sometimes easier said than done, right? I’ll be the first to tell you that persistence isn’t always the easiest virtue to possess. But, if you stay strong and weather the storms, I firmly believe they will pass and you will reach your reward at the end.

Success doesn’t happen overnight for most of us. So, what do we have to gain by being persistent? Each day that you work to further your business you learn more, meet new contacts and gain credibility. You aren’t working for nothing, even though it may seem like it at times.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you?

This is a great quote from our 30th President of The United States, Calvin Coolidge::
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination are omnipotent."

For our Canadian friends!

We have quite a few Canadian followers, so I wanted to make sure to mention that this is Small Business Week for our friends up north :) It also happens to be the 30th anniversary of the BDC's Small Business Week!

If you are interested learning about the week's events, various awards and more facts about small businesses and entrepreneurs in Canada, click here.

Kudos to all Canadian moms who are working to better their lives and the lives of their children!

Mommy Monday:: Isabella Oliver

When IsabellaOiver.com launched in October 2003 {yes, just six years ago this month} it was a small operation with the three co-founders working in the front rooms of their homes. Now, Baukjen de Swaan Arons, Vanessa Knox-Brien and Geoff van Sonsbeeck are owners of a large, successful online apparel business. The company has experienced double digit growth year after year.

According to the founders, the company’s biggest accomplishments are creating a brand and collection that is loved by pregnant women around the world, launching this Isabella Oliver 365 collection in the competitive arena of womenswear and winning the Drapers Etailer of the year award. The say their biggest accomplishment, however, is being able to grow organically without outside investors and retain 100 percent ownership.

According to Baukjen, it is sometimes tricky to balance family and business. However, she said, “We all have our children as the first priority in life and so whenever there is a conflict, we support one another in being able to step away and be with our family.” She added, “We have a good support network in our private lives and that really helps when we need to travel or a busy week is coming up.”

Knox-Brien agreed. “I have a strong partnership with my husband and we are basically a tag team since we both have busy schedules and the kids have busy schedules. We make time that is family time and we protect that strongly.”

The pair of mom-entrepreneurs encourage other like-minded moms to be organized and have a strong support system behind them. However, they also caution that when starting out long, unpaid hours are often required.

Creating and building a business is not easy. According to the founders of Isabella Oliver, you can easily feel like you are failing at the business and with raising your family, when in fact you are doing the best you can. “Be clear on your priorities and be kind to yourself, like a best friend would,” they said.

Mommy Monday is a regular feature on Market Mommy:: The Blog. If you know a great mom business owner that should be featured here, contact Dawn at info@marketmommy.com and put Mommy Monday in the subject line!

FTC Rules on Disclosure

There has been a good deal of discussion lately about the FTC and whether they would actually put a policy into place requiring bloggers to disclose when they receive free products in exchange for reviews. Well, it has happened. Last week, they did just that. Bloggers must now disclose all products that they receive and whether or not they were free. If not, fines can reach $11,000. The FTC's official press release can be found here.

Obviously, this is big news! Not only for all of our great mom-blogger friends, but also for us as mom business owners and entrepreneurs. It is a common discussion between mom entrepreneurs who have a limited marketing budget. Do I send free products to bloggers in return for a great review? Is it effective marketing? Is it effective budgeting?

Some bloggers are flattered by the ruling. Having the FTC acknowledge bloggers as legitimate journalists is a compliment, they say. Others are outraged that the requirements are different for them versus print journalists. The NY Times did an interesting article here.

Ultimately, I think it is a good thing for mom business owners like us, trying to effectively marketing our small companies on a very limited budget. Oftentimes there is a lot of pressure to send free gifts and it is very hard for us to compete with the large companies that send out hundreds of samples at a time.

This essentially takes a bit of that pressure off. As some have pointed out, the new policy may be hard to enforce. But, I think most bloggers will be forthcoming and disclose the information. It will be interesting to see how this affects the blogging and review world. The new policy takes effect on December 1.

What do you think?

Wanna Win?

In an effort to acquire more newsletter subscribers, more Facebook Fans and more blog and Twitter Followers .... we are going to have a bit of a competition.

Are you in the competitive mood yet?? All you have to do is spread the word about Market Mommy and Market Mommy:: The Blog. It's easy! You can grab our button and post it on your own blog or website, you can e-mail your friends, tell your Facebook Fans and Twitter Followers ......... any and all of the above will work.

Here's the deal. You want them to sign up for our newsletter, Fan us or Follow us or the blog and let us know that YOU sent them. There is a field on our newsletter sign-up for such a purpose, or they can message us, e-mail us or tweet us to tell us how they heard of Market Mommy. You earn one referral point for each person who does any of the above.

This contest will last for 30 days, therefore it will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 15. The person with the most referrals combined will win a great prize! What is that great prize you ask? The winner will get their choice of either a $35 gift certificate to Market Mommy {great for advertising} or a $35 gift certificate to Announcements Galore {just in time for holiday card purchasing}.

So, there you have it. Put us in your newsletters, on your blog and tell your friends! Good Luck!

Detours & On Ramps

Planning to go back to work? Looking for flexibility, or to shift careers? Got an idea to start your own company? Join Detours & On Ramps for a one-day event on the issues facing working moms (and dads)...great sessions, networking, and companies who care...November 4 in Annandale, VA and December 7 in Durham, NH at UNH – click here for more info.

This is a great event to attend if you are planning to go back to work in six days, six months, or even a year...if you're looking for flexibility, for career options, for resources, or for help building your own business. Detours & OnRamps is for anyone who wants to make work, work for them--not a job fair, but a day of hands-on sessions and practical advice that will get you ready to land that job.

In addition to great coferences and forums, the organization's website is a GREAT resource. There are resources and links, a newsletter and Meghan, the founder, also publishes a blog.

From their site {http://www.onrampsforum.com/} ::
About the Forum
The Detours and On Ramps Forum was founded to address the needs and issues of mothers, especially those grappling with their choice to work full time, part time, or from home.
The Forum was designed to bring intelligent women together to discuss the issues facing us all - because women and the marketplace both benefit when talented, well-educated mothers can contribute both at home and at work.

Through networking with fellow working mothers, discussions with the companies leading the way in solutions for working mothers, and panels and sessions on some of the most common issues faced by mothers who elect to work outside the home, Detours and On Ramps aims to provide a forum for women to meet, examine their options, and figure out their next steps.

With career resources and expert advice offered through panel discussions, small-group sessions, and networking opportunities, the hope is that mothers will leave the Detours and On Ramps Forum feeling more in control of their choices and options - and reassured that as intelligent, educated women, their contributions still matter.

If you are in their area, I encourage you to check out one of the upcoming conference. It would be a great networking opportunity and well worth your time!

ABP:: And the winners are.....

Sorry for the delay with today's post. I'm sure you're all anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winners of the Autumn Blog Party. Unfortunately, everyone in my house has been sick for the past few days and it's slow going around here. So, without further delay, here are the winners. If you are a winner or prize donor expect an e-mail from me before the end of the day. Thanks again to everyone who helped make the party a success! The next party is the Christmas/Holiday edition and we already have a ton of great stuff lined up!! So stay tuned!


Thanksgiving T-Shirt from Just For U Creations :: Leilani
Santa T-Shirt from Just For U Creations :: Heather M.
Your choice: A set of 100 1" round or square scratch off labels OR a package of 10 Scratch off Games :: Deni
Got Baby! Long-sleeve white T-Shirt from ExpecTees Maternity :: Angela
$25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Pajamas :: Mena
Custom made 12x12 Halloween scrapbook layout from SubtleThoughts :: Deni
Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon on Black Damask Scrabble Pendant from Pendantlicious:: Angela
Set of two Kewt Bandana Bibs in winners choice of a girl or boys set from Kewt Kids :: Jennifer
Jumbo Hairbow from Tickled Pink Hairbows :: Deb
CD One on One with Lisa Ford – A Customer Centric Conversation by Kristina Evey :: Gail
2 $35 Gift Certificates to Market Mommy :: Mena and Heather S.

ABP:: Tickled Pink Hairbows

Who:: Christy @ Tickled Pink Hairbows
Business Established:: May 2009
What they do:: I am a stay at home mommy to my beautiful 8 month old little girl. She is such a joy to me! My husband and I recently moved so that he could attend seminary and when we moved, we decided to take the leap and have me stay at home. It was a hard decision and was definitely a leap of faith. To help supplement our income, I've started this bow business. It started with simple single bows and I'm now working on more complicated custom bows and made to match bows. I've also recently added some clothing to the site. Right now we've got tie onesies for little baby boys and soon we'll be adding pillowcase dresses as well as a monogramming option.
How she finds balance:: I do a lot of my work when my baby is asleep and my husband is in class or at work. Right now she's taking four hours worth of naps during the day and she goes to bed around 8 p.m. so I usually have plenty of time to get my orders done while still having time to be with my family when she's awake and he's at home.
Her best advice:: Don't expect to take off right away. I've been going at this now for half a year and am just now starting to see repeat customers.
Save Now:: When checking out, in your comments write "MarketMommy" and Christy will refund 10% of your purchase.
What they are giving away:: A single Jumbo Bow
Play and win:: Which is your favorite bow?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: Centric Strategies

Who:: Kristina @ Centric Strategies and Transforming the Customer Experience
Business Established:: 2007
What they do:: Transforming the customer experience and improving the connection between businesses and their customers. You can find more information by visiting www.KristinaEvey.com and www.CentricStrategies.com.
How she finds balance:: I really try to stick to a schedule of working while the kids are in school and trying to keep the after school time open for them. Of course, reality doesn’t always work that way. So, when I am with my family, I try to stay disconnected from work. I try to give them my undivided attention for blocks of time.
Her best advice:: Getting a sense of balance is important, but it is more important to recognize that the balance will always shift on a daily basis. Some days you will work more than you should, so spend more time with your family the next day.
What they are giving away:: A CD of a product in her audio series - One on One with Lisa Ford – A Customer Centric Conversation by Kristina Evey.
Play and win:: What is your favorite post in Kristina’s blog?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: Kewt Kids

Who:: Angela @ Kewt Kids Clothing
Business Established:: March 2008, when Angela’s third child was due to be born.
What they do:: Kids Kids Clothing is all about making products that are of high-qualtity, high-style and high-function. Our products are all Handmade in Canada and made in low production batches to keep products more creative and unique. New styles, designs and fabrics are always being added to the online store. Read more about Kewt Kids Clothing here.
How she finds balance:: Balancing work and family life can always be a struggle. My husband works night shifts sometimes so after the kids have gone to bed I always try to devote those evenings to my work. Most days its a little bit of work, then a little bit of playing with kids, then a little more work, then a little cleaning, etc. The days are long and busy.
Her best advice:: My biggest advice for other businesses is to always remember why you started your company. Sometimes I have to remind myself that part of my vision was to have more time to spend with my kids. If I find myself working too much I cut back.
Save Now:: Kewt Kids Clothing is offering all Market Mommy readers a 15% discount on any purchase in their online store. Use promo code 'marketmommy' until November 1.
What they are giving away:: Set of two Kewt Bandana Bibs in winners choice of a girl or boys set. These are a bib designed especially for drool time and they sit close to the chin to catch dribbles and drools. Designed for 0-3 years.
Play and win:: What is your favorite fabric for the Kewt Bandana Bibs?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: Pendantlicious

Who:: Pendantlicious
Business Established:: October 2008
What they do:: Pendantlicious offers unique, affordable and handmade pendants and gifts from a home studio.
How she finds balance:: I have only limited time to work on my craft, The majority of my work is done late in the evenings after I get off from my full time job.
Her best advice:: To be successful, I believe you have to be happy in what you are doing.
What they are giving away:: Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month:: the Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon on Black Damask Scrabble Pendant
Play and win:: What is your favorite pendant offered by Pendantlicious?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: SubtleThoughts

Who:: Haley @ SubtleThoughts
Business Established:: The Etsy store opened in January, 2008. However, Haley has a long history of creating scrapbook pages, cards and other things as a side income.
What they do:: SubtleThoughts offers handmade cards, gifts and other paper items. As well as scrapbooking supplies and kits and other fun random things as they become available! Haley also offers her services as a personal scrapper.
How she finds balance:: Usually, I will craft on the weekends while Jackson is napping, and very late at night.
Her best advice:: Never give up. It can be especially hard to get things going in the beginning, but all your hard work will eventually pay off!
Save Now:: Enter FALL09 in the comments section at checkout and receive a FREE gift with any order.
What they are giving away:: A custom made 12x12 Halloween scrapbook layout. Haley will work one on one with the winner to design the layout and ship it so all you wiill have to do is add your photos!
Play and win:: What does SubtleThoughts use as their slogan?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: My Baby Pajamas

Who:: Linda @ My Baby Pajamas
Business Established:: October 2007
What they do:: My Baby Pajamas offers high quality pajamas and sleepwear for boys and girls sizes newborn to tween. They even carry family matching pajamas. My Baby Pajamas is all about providing cute and highly durable children’s pajamas at a reasonable cost with the convenience of buying them online.
How she finds balance:: Since I have a online business it's great because I can work at night when the kids go to bed. I usually work while the kids are at school and then after they go to bed. When my boys get home from school, I devote my time to them with homework, sports or whatever it may be at the time. My husband also works at home so that makes things a lot easier.
Her best advice:: Don't rush into anything and just remember that everyone makes mistakes, it's what you take from those mistakes that counts.
Save Now:: Use coupon code MARKETMOM10 for 10 percent off your entire order.
What they are giving away:: $25 gift certificate
Play and win:: What is your favorite new fall arrival?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: ExptecTees

Who:: Carrie @ ExpecTees Maternity
Business Established:: 2005
What they do:: ExpecTees maternity t-shirts are affordable, fun, and fresh. The ExpecTees brand provides a high-quality option in transitional maternity wear with an emphasis on quality and fit. Available in pre-pregnancy sizes 4-14, ExpecTees maternity t-shirts are specifically designed for comfort and fit during all stages of a woman's pregnancy and beyond.
How she finds balance:: My family is my main priority. I hope to get more time to work on ExpecTees now that my boys are in "school" two mornings a week. ExpecTees is extremely important to me, so I am trying to find a way to devote uninterrupted time each day to the business.
Her best advice:: As much as you can, talk with other woman-owned business owners. It can be lonely being a business owner, especially if don't have someone to share ideas with, vent with, cheerlead or just have a cup of coffee with!
Save Now:: E-mail your order to order@expectees.com and receive free shipping!
What they are giving away:: Got Baby! Long sleeve white t-shirt Size Large.
Play and win:: Who would have the honor of wearing the t-shirt if you won?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: Scratch Off Labels and Games

Who:: Karen @ My Scratch Off Labels and My Scratch Off Games
Business Established:: August 2008
What they do:: My Scratch Off Labels and Games offers sales of individual scratch off labels in a variety of shapes and colors for you to create your own scratch off games and business promotions or pre-printed or custom scratch off games for a variety of occasions and business needs.
How she finds balance:: Evenings and weekends belong to my family- I work during nap time and in any other minute that I can spare!
Her best advice:: Believe in the power of your intuition and know how to honestly decipher it!
Save Now:: Click here and save 5%
What they are giving away:: You choose either a set of 100 1” round or square scratch off labels OR a package of 10 of scratch off game cards.
Play and win:: Name two events where you could use scratch off game cards.

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: Just For U Creations

Who:: Renee@ Just For U Creations
Business Established:: 2004
What they do:: Just For U Creations is an embroidery business. They offer infant and toddler clothing sold through an Ebay store. Since the birth of Renee’s son, she found it hard to find special occasion clothing so she decided to start her own line of cute embroidered clothing. Her son is her inspiration as his interests have helped create new designs for products. Just For U Creations also has a line of girls clothing along with burp cloths, bibs, pet stockings, tooth fairy pillows and more. And, with the purchase of a commercial machine the business is growing into youth size clothing.
How she finds balance:: Due to the nature of my business I am able to work from home and set my own schedule. I spend most of my days working on my orders and new clothing design ideas while also taking care of the responsibilities of a home. This gives me the opportunity to be able to spend valuable time with my husband and seven-year-old son.
Her best advice:: My advice to others is to find something you enjoy doing. If I did not enjoy what I do so much it would not make this job as enjoyable as it has been for me. The embroidery gives me the creativity that I enjoy and my embroidery has almost become a passion. So whatever you choose to do you should make sure it’s something that you get fulfillment from as this will help you become successful.
Save Now:: Ebay does not accept coupon codes. However, Renee will give you a 10% discount {excluding shipping} if you mention you saw her on Market Mommy prior to paying.
What they are giving away:: A toddler sized Thanksgiving Turkey with Pilgrim white long sleeve t-shirt {You choose size 2T-5T} AND a long sleeve white Santa t-shirt {You choose size 2T-5T}
Play and win:: What type of shirts does Just For U Creations specialize in?

Don’t forget to visit the official party post here to register for the party and read all the rules and details!! You can earn extra credit by answering the play and win question above in a comment on THIS post!

ABP:: The Official Party Post

Welcome to the Autumn/Halloween Blog Party at Market Mommy:: The Blog! We are so happy that you have stopped by! This week is going to be a TON of fun, so I encourage you to stick around. You will meet some great mom entrepreneurs, hopefully learn a little something from them, and have a chance to win their great products!

This the official party post, and referred to in all future party posts as such :-D. You MUST, and I repeat MUST, leave a comment here to be registered for any prize. Every comment on any post after this is just extra credit. We’ve got 12 great prizes to give away {see the list below}!!

And, this is what you must include in your comment here {It is a party after all, let’s get social!}::
1. First name {introduce yourself!}
2. Link to your blog or business if applicable {this is a free, bonus way to promote yourself, make sure you take advantage of it!!}
3. In order of preference, your top 3 picks for prizes {prizes are listed below}
4. Tell us either why you are attending the party, or what you enjoy most about Market Mommy

That’s it, and you’re registered. Glad to have you along. There will be more chances to register all week by commenting on the individual business features. So, stay tuned for some great stuff. The Party will officially end on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Extra Credit on this post::
You can get an extra entry {one each per day} by tweeting, facebooking or blogging about the Labor Day Blog Party. Extra credit is also available if you follow this blog, become a fan on Facebook, grab our button or sign up for our newsletter. Just be sure to leave an extra comment on this post with a link showing us you did so, and always leave a way to contact you! There will also be extra credit opportunities tagged on to each post this week. So, be sure to check them ALL out for details!

PRIZE LIST::
Thanksgiving T-Shirt from Just For U Creations
Santa T-Shirt from Just For U Creations
Your choice: A set of 100 1" round or square scratch off labels OR a package of 10 Scratch off Games
Got Baby! Long-sleeve white T-Shirt from ExpecTees Maternity
$25 Gift Certificate to My Baby Pajamas
Custom made 12x12 Halloween scrapbook layout from SubtleThoughts
Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon on Black Damask Scrabble Pendant from Pendantlicious
Set of two Kewt Bandana Bibs in winners choice of a girl or boys set from Kewt Kids
Jumbo Hairbow from Tickled Pink Hairbows
CD One on One with Lisa Ford – A Customer Centric Conversation by Kristina Evey
2 $35 Gift Certificates to Market Mommy

New Premium Partner!

We are so happy to have Christian Work at Home Mom on board as our newest Premium Partner in the E-zine category! Please visit the site for awesome information, resources and advertising opportunities!

Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, CWAHM.com and the co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-At-Home Mom (Beacon Hill Press, 2009). She graduated from Grace University with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development/Family Studies and Bible. Jill has worked from home since 2000 and started her own home-based business to assist other Christians who desire to work from home while maintaining a godly life. Jill and her husband, Allen of CWAHD.com (Christian Work at Home Dads) reside in Nebraska with their two children. Jill's articles have been featured on websites like DrLaura.com, ClubMom.com, and she is an expert author on EzineArticles.com. She is also a contributing author in four books. Jill is the host of the podcast, Christian Work at Home Moment and co-host of the LIVE internet radio show, The CWAHM Network.

Visit CWAHM and check out everything they have to offer!

Reach and Frequency

Our marketing tip in yesterday’s newsletter was Frequency and I thought I should elaborate on it a bit.

{If you’re not signed up for our newsletter, you should be! There is a sign up box to the right of this post!}

Tip:: I've read research that says someone has to see your brand seven {yes 7} times before they remember it. So, what does that mean in basic terms? You need to get your brand in front of people frequently!! But how? Include your logo and information in e-mail signatures, blog, serve as an expert source for the media, have a newsletter, hand out business cards, create brochures, market your website .......... there that's 7 ;0)

The details of reach and frequency in marketing can get very complex and difficult to understand. However, the basic concept is this:: Reach is how many people you are contacting. Frequency is how often you contact those same people. Research shows that it is better to reach fewer people more frequently than more people just once.

What, do you think, are the chances of establishing a lifelong customer from just one postcard or just one e-mail? Not very likely. A very much more plausible scenario is developing a friendship with a person through several means of communication, an e-mail, a postcard, a newsletter, a positive sales experience, etc. Then, over time as the relationship strengthens, the chances that the customer will return are much higher.

My advice would be to spend your limited marketing dollars and resources on nurturing the contacts and customers you already have. Don’t try to reach too far. You can still be effective!