Motherhood is not just a state of being – it is probably the best career training out there! Even women who wonder before giving birth when their motherly instincts will make an appearance, find themselves becoming a nurturer, teacher, protector, counselor, role model (aka leader), and much more once their little one arrives.

 In our increasingly virtual world, mothers have the opportunity to apply these skills outside of the traditional workplace, and many are finding entrepreneurial online endeavors to be the ticket.   It turns out that moms – creative song-maker-uppers and game inventers, choosy consumers, and relationship builders– are great at running web-based businesses as well. Below are seven ideas to get you started in and  serve as a launching pad for something all your own.

An upfront tip – for many of these ideas, it really helps to have a PayPal account and access to a computer you don’t have to share.

1.       Sell your photos

Did anyone else perfect the art of one-handed photo taking (really one-handed anything) during maternity leave or those first few months after your child was born? Amateur photographers and those who have practiced their art more seriously can contribute photos to a number of online sites and make money each time they’re purchased by another web user.

Anyone with a blog, website, or online marketplace has a need for photos and illustrations to make their content more attractive and eye catching. Visit sites like Fotolia, Shutterstock, Bigstock Photo, and iStockphoto to view their submission criteria and find one to try.

2.       Write for others

There are countless opportunities to put your writing, copywriting, and editing skills to use on the web. An easy one to start out on is CloudCrowd, which connects companies who need projects small and large completed with people who are up to the task. You select the tasks you’re interested in working on and usually get paid the same business day. CloudCrowd uses a Facebook work application so it’s a familiar and easy tool for anyone with Facebook experience.

 Another option for budding writers is Demand Studios, a site that promotes itself as a place for more experienced writers to set their own schedule working for premium publishers. Bloggers, copywriters, filmmakers, and anyone who considers themselves an expert in a particular field can also find work here.   

 3.       Write for yourself

 Most of us are sitting on a book idea (or ten) that we know could be a hit. The idea of getting a book published for actual consumption is just a little daunting, isn’t it? The advent of the eBook has changed that threshold significantly. 

 Once again, there are several services ready and waiting to assist with your eBook venture; here are two. Booktango helps you translate your ideas to a final product through its publishing and selling tools, cover design assistance, and access to retailers. You receive 100% of the royalties for sales through Booktango and 90% when you sell through their distribution and retail partners.

 ClickBank is another site with low start-up costs (a one-time $49.95 product activation fee) and an advertised global reach that helps writers sell their virtual product. They claim a massive affiliate network and customer support with experience promoting niche products. That means that your eBook on how to make Japanese paper lanterns might have a built in market!

 Two of the web’s largest freelance sites are Elance and Odesk, which act as a medium for clients and contractors of various types to connect and agree on projects. Writers can search for work, propose a timeline and rate for their services, and use a project workspace to complete the assignment. Odesk jobs tend to be based on an hourly rate, while many Elance jobs are fixed rate. Writers searching for online work would benefit from creating a profile on both.

4.       Be a personal assistant

I first read about Personal Assistants in the book The Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss, and I remember thinking both “wow, that would be wonderful to have,” and “hey, I could do that myself!” I’ve included it as a job idea for a mom with terrific administrative and organizational skills, great research abilities, and excellent communication skills – all of which would put you at the top of the virtual assistant game. But it is also something a mom pursuing a different kind of entrepreneurial endeavor might want to consider for taking on tasks that aren’t core to your business in lieu of hiring an actual employee.

Sites like AssistU.com can help you determine if being a virtual assistant is a good fit for you and even offer flexible mentoring and training programs to enhance needed skills. 

 5.       Offer a less-common service

 This is a fun way to start generating a little income without investing a lot in a new business venture. Take a few minutes and list out any little thing you’re good at or seem to know more about than most of your acquaintances. Every one of those items has the potential to become a Gig you offer on Fiverr.com, a site that lets you offer a very specialized service to anyone and everyone for $5 a pop.

Think what you have to offer is a little too goofy? Not useful enough? Think again. One of Fiverr.com’s top-rated sellers offers to call and deliver a happy birthday message as James Gandolfini aka Tony Soprano.

6.       Flip a domain

This one can take a little more time and strategy, but the pay-off is worth it. Flipping a domain (the unique web address you type into the browser when you go to visit a website) is much like flipping a house. You find what looks to you like a hidden gem, buy it, make some improvements, and sell it later for an amount exponentially higher than what you originally paid.

You may be able to come up with some unused but catchy domain names on your own right off the bat – or visit sites that provide tips on buying domain names, like this blog. Once you’ve purchased a domain, read up on the art of flipping websites and on link building strategies to generate traffic to the site. The resources I’ve linked will provide guidance regarding when you’re ready to turn around and sell the domain on a site like Flippa.com.

Flippa functions like an eBay for web domains, where sellers can set a reserve price and a buy it now price and the domain is awarded to the highest bidder. When I last visited Flippa, there were 3,244 other buyers and sellers on the site – proving how valuable finding the right domain (and for many buyers, a well-developed domain) can be.

See how easy it can be to dip your toes into the water of web-based business? I’m terrible at impersonations, so I won’t venture into the business of selling custom birthday messages anytime soon, but I can offer my intimate knowledge of “food on a stick” to anyone visiting the Texas State Fair for the first time – and there may just be someone willing to pay $5 for that advance information!

The economy has forced us to be more creative than ever when it comes to making money. Many of us have been laid-off, or are having a hard time re-entering the workplace after years of childrearing. As a result, more and more of us are considering starting an online business.

We have researched seven online businesses that have the potential to reward you with a steady stream of income, and don’t demand a huge start-up investment. When considering what home based, online business is best for you, be sure you select one that you’re passionate about and have the skills and experience to support your passion. Let’s ponder a few ideas.

1.    Virtual Assistant

What it’s all about: The world of Virtual Assistants (often referred to as VAs) is on fire. People are hiring VAs to help them become more efficient in their daily business activities. So how about becoming a VA, or creating a website that helps VAs and employers connect? Cushion the site with webinars, educational material or even sell modestly priced programs such as a “7 Step Program to Becoming a VA.” Virtual Assistants can perform nearly any task a traditional assistant might perform such as: data entry and/or management, transcribing, placing want ads, drafting business correspondence, etc. Keep in mind that VAs can help with personal as well as professional tasks.

What it takes: This might be the right business for you if you enjoy working with people, you’re extremely organized, you have a moderate savings to invest, and you’re okay with waiting to see a ROI for several months. Bonus if you’ve worked as a VA.

2.    Micro-Consulting

What it’s all about:  There is a big trend called crowdsourcing right now and there are new companies popping up that are getting some attention.  One such company is AskYourUsers.com, which Techcrunch describes as “a simple service that helps you find people for micro consulting  projects lasting no more than 15 minutes — and it uses your LinkedIn network to help you find them.”  You can set your own pricing and work on short projects, which can allow the flexibility you desire.  If you have a special skill or talent, consulting makes for a great online business.  Niche consulting can help you stand out in your field if it’s already packed. Take inventory of yourself: What are you passionate about? What are people often asking you for advice on?

What it takes: Don’t go into the consulting business if you aren’t prepared to be completely committed to your clients. People skills rank high on the list of traits you’ll need for success. Consulting doesn’t require a huge start-up investment, and ebooks, webinars and products can help generate additional revenue.

3.   Creative Crafts

What it’s all about: Don’t laugh, the online craft business is huge, and growing bigger every day. Many craft-sellers start on sites such as Etsy.com (a site that sells handmade goods) and then develop their own website to feature additional goods, ebooks, videos, etc. For the month of January of 2011, Etsy reported a whopping $33.5 million of goods sold. Clearly, people want handmade goods, and they are willing to pay more for them too. Research a few ideas to get a feel for competition before you settle down and get crafty.

What it takes: Creativity and commitment to your craft are must-haves. To get your online craft business up and running, you’ll have to invest in materials, and of course spend some time creating the crafts you’ll sell. Crafts can turn a profit, but don’t expect to get rich overnight. Networking and using social media are likely to have a positive impact on your product’s exposure- so get those Tweets rolling.

4.    Go Get the Green

What it’s all about: The environment. Whether you’re making re-usable shopping bags or suggesting the best eco-tours of South America, the environment sells. Going Green gives you an opportunity to take a common product or service and transform it into a niche one. Bracelets made with sea glass, dog brushes made with all natural materials, organic nutrition bars for toddlers… you get the picture.

What it takes: A desire to better your family, your community and the world- while turning a profit. Education in the environmental or health field certainly couldn’t hurt; but it isn’t a necessity. If you have a knack for innovation, Going Green could mean good business.

5.    All About Apps.

What it’s all about: Every day you hear about new Apps that do all sorts of neat stuff. In fact, there are more than half a million apps on the market. So, your app has to be better, or do something more unique than the rest in its field. Does your app solve a problem for its user?  Consider running your app idea by a focus group for suggestions.

What it takes: Research and planning can’t be overstated; and neither can the need for your app to solve a problem or do something super cool that no other (or few) apps are doing. Plan on spending $2,000-$5,000 on an app developer, and perhaps another $500+ on marketing. You don’t need to be ultra-tech savvy, but it doesn’t hurt. Apps can be risky business, so this is only a good venture for those who can afford to swallow a financial loss.

6.    Virtual Party Planning

What it’s all about: People are getting more and more creative with their parties; especially children’s parties, but other kind of parties too (think: spa parties, martini parties, mystery parties, etc.) That’s where virtual party planners get in on the action. You’ll likely do best if you focus on a niche (but not one that’s too restrictive)- something like: “Terrific Toddler Parties for Under $100.” Maybe you’ll incorporate a retail section on your site where you sell toddler party supplies, ebooks such as “The Ultimate Superhero Party,” “Designing a Delicious Candy Buffet.” Adding a few videos that feature decorating tips or party crafts might be a nice touch.

What it takes: You’ll want to start snapping shots of your great parties now, so you have some to feature on your website. You’ll also need to do some extensive research on party products so you can advise your clients where they can find the party items you suggest. All in all, it is a financially easy business to get started in; overhead it almost zilch. Best yet, since you aren’t actually setting up the parties, just creating them, you won’t have to invest in loads of party decorations and supplies.

7.    Social Media Expert

What it’s all about: You might not be aware of this, but thousands of people are making a living as social media “experts.” There isn’t a genuine industry standard for the “expert” qualification, and skills range significantly. That said, there are people right now, working in the comfort of their PJs, getting paid to create Facebook posts, Tweets, and craft Pinterest accounts. Almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. Companies large and small are hiring social media experts to keep their name at the top of the consumer’s mind. Check freelance sites such as Odesk.com to find those looking to hire social media experts. Bonus: You can have your business up and running in no time (like less than an hour!)

What it takes: Clearly you need to have some familiarity with social media and how it is being used to market companies, people and specific products. A background in marketing is a plus, but not necessary for success. Developing a concise, engaging writing style is important. Since this is freelance work, you’ll have to be self-motivated, and willing to spend a portion of each week looking for work.

Every single one of us is special- we all have talent. Tapping that talent and crafting it into an online business isn’t easy, but thousands are successful at it every day; you can be too.

Need more ideas? Click here for 6 more online income generating ideas to consider or reconsider.

Back in the day, if you were a Mom that wanted to figure out how to stay home with your children, and you told someone you were going to try to figure out a way to make money on-line, you would get one of two responses. One, friends and family (especially family) would have told you that everything on-line is a scam; and two your family’s response would probably be, “Go get a J.O.B.!”

Take another example – if you told someone you were going to become a Mommy Blogger and make money blogging; you would either get a confused response of…“What? You’re going to make money logging?” alternatively, again your family’s response would be, “There’s no way you will ever make money doing that!”

Well, now making money online with an online business is no longer a myth.  If you do it right, the dream can be real and it can be yours, Mom.

For example, take The Work At Home Wife and Founder of ASN Virtual Services, Angie Nelson.  She started her online business in 2007 and after a few short months was making enough money to be able to stay at home and work.  Grab a cup of Joe and read her story here:

Freelancemom.com: Why did you decide to start an online business?

WAHW: I had worked as an administrative assistant at the same company for almost 11 years.  The environment had changed over time and I was no longer happy.  I spent several months interviewing with other local companies, but I didn’t find anywhere that I felt I wanted to spend the next 30 years.  It was then that my husband suggested I look into working from home or starting my own business.

Feelancemom.com: How long did it take before you made an income?

WAHW: I started researching in April 2007, I believe.  It wasn’t until November of that year that I was confident I could quickly make the transition into a full-time income.  I had already made some connections online and off for personal clients.  I also knew that companies were actively recruiting customer service agents for the holiday season.  I kept reading about “having more than one egg” in work at home forums, so I knew I likely needed a backup plan.

Within two weeks of quitting my job I was working full-time between personal clients and independent contractor positions.

Freelancemom.com: How long until you made a sustainable income?

WAHW: Though it was initially a step back in pay, I was able to replace my income within three or four months.

As my skills and service offerings have evolved, so has my income.  As I approach five years online, I not only make a good hourly rate but I also have passive income avenues in place, such as affiliate marketing, eBooks, etc.

Freelancemom.com:  How many hours did it take per week to get your online business started?

WAHW: I would estimate that I was spending 10 to 15 hours per week in the beginning marketing and seeking out potential clients.  I was networking online.  I was submitting quotes in response to RFPs.  I was contacting offline businesses.  I still spend a lot of time networking and marketing, but I consider it more maintenance now.

Freelancemom.com How did you find your niche?

WAHW: My niche has evolved over time.  I did a lot of customer service and lead generation by phone when I first started.  I knew this was a service that wasn’t being offered in abundance, yet I saw potential clients requesting this service week after week. There was not a lot of competition, so I ran with that opportunity.

As my business has evolved and I have picked up new skills along the way, my service offerings have reflected that. Blogging, affiliate marketing and passive income are a big part of my business portfolio right now.  Those are also some of my main service offerings today.

Freelancemom.com: What advice would you give other Moms who want to follow in your footsteps?

WAHW: Get started today but don’t expect to wake up rich tomorrow.  There is no easy money.  You will likely only get out of your business what you put into it, so create a plan (and a Plan B) and stick with it.

Freelancemom.com: What is your most challenging issue about having an online business?

WAHW: Things are constantly changing.  If you aren’t paying attention, eventually you are going to wake up one morning and wonder what happened.  Even if you ARE paying attention, that sometimes happens.

Freelancemom.com:  What are your favorite tools to use for your business?

WAHW:  My favorite online tools for new or aspiring virtual assistants are HootSuite for managing social media profiles, Google Reader for following business blogs and monitoring your brand with Google Alerts, VANetworking for learning more about the industry and QuickBooks for online accounting and invoicing.

Freelancemom.com: What is the most rewarding thing about having an online business?

WAHW: It’s mine! That may sound silly, but I get a lot of gratification out of knowing my success is something I created and I control.  There will be hiccups along the way, but inevitably you control the outcome.  You can let it hold you back, or you can use it as a catalyst into something better.

The Work at Home Wife, Angie Nelson can be found here: http://asnvirtualservices.com

Does bad credit make life more difficult and expensive? Absolutely. Is it forever? Absolutely not. Regardless of your income and expenses, you can take steps today that will make your score a little higher tomorrow and a lot higher over time.

Late payments. Maxed-out cards. Bankruptcy. Judgments. Defaults. Liens. When it comes to your credit score, nothing is more damaging than these credit sins. And damaged credit equals reduced flexibility and opportunity, especially when it comes to new loans, potential investments and oftentimes, employment.

But if you’re determined to turn a new leaf, the good news is that you can improve your credit score. You don’t need to hire a professional – in fact, be wary of so-called “experts” who say they can eliminate bankruptcies and late payments in exchange for thousands of dollars. They can’t, and you might have wasted thousands of much-needed dollars.

Regardless of your income and expenses, you can do it on your own if you have the tools. And while it’s true that credit repair sometimes means that things get worse before they get better, keep in mind these credit facts:

1. A good credit score doesn’t mean you’re financially sound.
2. A bad credit score doesn’t mean you’re financially foolish.

In fact, your credit score only captures how risky you are as a borrower. It doesn’t pass judgment on how much you have saved (or don’t). Low scores don’t mean you’re a bad person (or a good one). All they do is tell loan companies how likely you are to repay a loan at a given point in time.

But, as we all know, credit makes the world go ‘round. If you want a mortgage, a car loan or a credit card, you’ll need high credit scores to get the best interest rates. And since the best interest rates save you thousands of dollars – sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars, in the case of a mortgage – it’s worth your financial while to pay attention.

Order your free credit report and review it carefully. Check for payment history and balances owed first, because they make up the bulk of your credit score. Find mistakes? Report them per the instructions attached to the report. You can also call your creditors and ask that they correct mistakes, too.

You can and should review your credit report once per year, and more if you’re applying for a loan or changing jobs. Make sure you visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get a truly free report. While sites offering free credit reports provide legitimate information, you can easily get sucked into paying expensive monthly fees for credit “maintenance.” You don’t need it, so don’t pay for it.

If your score is average to low – 680 and less — figure out what you can do to improve it. While these scores don’t always mean you can’t get a loan, it does mean banks think you’re more likely to default. Do late payments appear on your report? Are your credit cards maxed out? If so, then your credit probably damaged, at least for the short term. Excellent credit requires a long history of on-time, preferably in-full debt repayments. 

Don’t stop reading if you’re a hot mess of 30-days lates and your Amex is bigger than your 401k. This is where it gets exciting, because you will have to use your best judgment.  To succeed, you only need to answer one simple question:

Do I need help getting out of debt?

Your little voice knows the answer. Are your financial skills sound, and are your debts the result of years of paying for college, a divorce, medical expenses and the like? Or are your debt problems the result of years of impromptu trips to Cancun, an amazing wardrobe and Starbucks every morning?

If you have sound skills, then chances are you can do it yourself. Your best route to a credit-rich lifestyle begins with budgeting and a snowball.

Wait – what?

Yes, you read correctly. Having good credit requires managing your debt wisely, and the most effective way to pay down debt and is a technique called the debt snowball. To begin, make a list of your debts – everything from your credit cards to your student loans, auto loans and more. Next, call your lenders and ask for an interest rate reduction. Some may agree right away (like your credit card lenders) and some probably won’t (your auto or home lender). But ask anyway, because the worst they can say is no.

Begin making payments on your loans after consulting a debt snowball calculator. Vertex42.com is a wonderful free website that provides spreadsheets for a host of uses – they even have one that helps you pay off debt while you’re improving your credit at the same time – your top goal.

Here’s how the snowball works: begin your repayment plan by channeling all available funds into one loan until it’s completely paid off. You can either choose the loan with the lowest balance or the highest interest rate first – choose the biggest motivator. While you’re focusing attention on one loan, only make the minimum payments on the others (yes, I realize this advice is somewhat contradictory. Do it anyway).

When the first debt is paid, take the freed-up cash from the now-eliminated debt and apply it to the next loan on your list. Continue in this fashion – “snowballing” your payments – until your debts are paid in full. How does this improve your credit score? As your balances decrease and you demonstrate a history of on-time payments, your score rises. Bingo!

Remember, you can apply this toward all of your debts, not just credit cards. You know those ads you hear with people trumpeting how they paid off their homes in just five years? This is how they did it.

But what happens when you don’t have available cash, you’re behind on your bills and you just don’t know what to pay first? That’s when you need help. If this describes you, run, do not walk, to your phone and contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling.

The NFCC is the country’s oldest and most widely respected debt counseling agency. When you work with the NFCC, you put the repayment process in their hands. In a debt management plan or DMP, the NFCC negotiates lower rates and payments with your creditors. You pay off your debts just like the snowball method, except the NFCC does the heavy lifting for you. Keep in mind that it’s not a loan, and the NFCC is nonprofit (although it does charge a small fee that varies depending upon your state of residence and how much you owe). Balances are paid within five years.

In exchange, you temporarily sacrifice your credit rating because your creditors will report that you’re working with a credit counseling agency. The NFCC deal will also shut your credit lines, so get used to a cash-only lifestyle – at least for a while. But when you’re finished, your credit will be better and your financial position will be stronger.

Regardless of whether you go it alone or get help, do not miss a payment. Ever. Why? Because on-time payments and balances owed account for 65 percent of your score. That’s why making on-time payments improves your score. Even consumers with bankruptcies, judgments and settlements can recover if they pay on time, all the time.

If your financial situation is so tenuous that you are seriously considering bankruptcy, or you are struggling to put food on the table and need to know what to pay first, your credit score is the least of your problems. If this describes you, you’re not alone. Here is your Official Bill Payment Order of Operations:

1. Your house, your grocery bill, your electric and your heat come first. Include your car on this list if you need it to get to work.  Everything after this is gravy if you are in deep trouble.
2. Contract payments come next. That means your cell phone bill – you can cancel your house phone and cable service if you have to. And it’s free to surf the web at the library.
3. Credit cards and other unsecured loans are a distant – distant! – third. Keep in mind that if you declare bankruptcy, the court will most likely eliminate your unsecured debts. So if it’s a choice between your mortgage and your credit card, your mortgage comes first.

When your debts are repaid and you’re back on your feet you can rebuild both your score and your emergency fund. Once your emergency fund is set, continue or begin making contributions to a tax-advantaged retirement fund. If you stay out of debt, make your payments on time and maintain a car or home loan (preferably both), your score will be in excellent territory in as little as three years.

While defaulting on your obligations will send you into credit oblivion, it may be necessary to keep you on your feet. But no matter how bad your credit is, and no matter how much you owe, do not ever liquidate your retirement account to pay off debt because you want a better credit score. Federal law protects these assets from creditors if you declare bankruptcy. Most importantly, credit can be rebuilt much easier than a depleted 401k.

Lastly, even if you have a bankruptcy or defaults, the deeper in the past they are the less your score will be affected. If you need help, ask for it. If you can manage on your own, start right now. It is never too late – or too soon – to build a pristine credit score.

A Mother’s Day Special – A Mom Biz Retreat

As moms and entrepreneurs, we run across all types of products and services that may help us with our business and personal life.  We also run across many events and conferences that may be worth attending that could help us take our business to the next level or connect with just the right person to work with on a specific goal.  I ran across an event that I think all mom entrepreneurs should consider, plus wine, chocolate and pampering are all a part of it (and as moms we always need more of that).

It’s called the Mom Biz Retreat.  So you might ask, what is the Mother’s Day Special?  The facilitators of this event are offering $75 off for Freelancemom.com friends.

What is this Mom Biz Retreat all about?

The Mom Biz Retreat is one part business boot camp and one part weekend getaway for mom-entrepreneurs. With the skills, teaching and empowering tools of entrepreneurial experts Lara Galloway and Shelagh Cummins, you’ll roll up your sleeves and learn how to:

• write/update a business plan
• create an effective marketing strategy
• develop a time map to put work in its place and enjoy your family more
• craft the perfect elevator pitch
• determine the best product funnel for your business
• figure out how to make more money with what you’re already doing
• build the foundations of your business in a group of supportive, amazing women
• Join the MomBizRetreat family – and receive ongoing support from all alumni

If you are on the fence or need more information, Shelagh Cummins and Lara Galloway are always happy to answer any questions you have about the specifics of the retreat and how this retreat can help your specific business and life goals. 

How do I find out more and sign up?

Click here – To learn more about the Mom Biz Retreat

Use promo code Denver75 when you register to make sure you get the discount.

{Top Photo Credit}

I have no doubts that you’ve heard of Pinterest by now. I’ll also bet my son’s next tooth (and those are long and hard to come by) that you’re a Pin-holic yourself, or at least know of someone who is. Let’s just set the record straight right now: Pin-holicism is a national epidemic amongst women.

In fact, of the 10.4 million pinners in the online space, 80% are women just like you and me who spend an average of an hour and 17 minutes a day insatiably pinning. But we don’t just pin blindly, 80% of us trust and believe in our pins.

These are rather solid statistics, particularly for our purposes. As mompreneurs and business owners, why wouldn’t we take advantage of it? What could be better than a platform teeming with an audience that’s ready to pounce on our next pinned product, idea or inspiration. Especially for the fact that when they pounce, there’s a strong chance they’ll purchase. In fact, consumers referred to outside sites by Pinterest are 10% more likely to make a purchase on that site than visitors from other networks.

That said, as a mompreneur or business owner, it’s impossible not to reap the benefits of Pinterest unless you just don’t utilize it. While some brands are tossing billions of dollars at online advertising, other smartie-pants brands have jumped aboard the pin board.

Sold on the idea? Kudos! Now it’s time to consider these big 10 tips before incorporating Pin-treneurism into your businesses strategy. If done right, you’ll spark profit and interest on Pinterest.

1.       Think

Before choosing to pin for business, it’s important to ask yourself if it makes sense. Put simply, it isn’t for everybody. If you’re a jewelry maker or an interior designer, jump on in. If you have a dog sitting business, your place on Pinterest would depend on strategy. If you’re crafty and daring in your endeavors, Pinterest could work for you. Try creating boards around dog humor, best dog products, etc. By positioning yourself as a dog expert in a way that is pinnable, you may race ahead of the pack.

2.       Strategize

It’s true, Pinterest is rather basic for everyday pinners and doesn’t require brain fuel. But if you’re a business, you should treat Pinterest like every other marketing effort and develop a plan, even if it’s a one-pager. Understand things like your goals, target audience, ways you’ll accomplish the goals, how you’ll promote, ways you’ll measure success, etc. Plan your boards ahead of time and plan to keep them fresh and exciting.

3.       Launch

If you don’t have a Pinterest yet, you’ll need to request one from the site or from a friend. For additional set-up instructions, visit the Pinterest Help page. To begin, write a captivating profile for your business and start creating boards. Keep in mind that simplistic design is vital on Pinterest. Group your products or services on various boards with an intriguing theme for each board.

4.       Optimize

When creating your boards and pins, use keywords to describe each pin. If you don’t know how to find keywords, visit the Google Keyword tool. Type in keywords that a consumer would use if they wanted to find a product or service you offer. Play around with variations until you find keywords with low to medium competition and higher searches. This will help get your content higher in Google and in front of more eyes.

5.       Integrate

This isn’t a top-secret strategy but it’s often neglected. Make sure each and every one of your online channels are integrated. Whether it’s Pinterest, flickR, your website, blog, whatever – link across all platforms. Also, make sure you’re directing your consumer to some sort of e-commerce platform for purchase, such as your own website, etsy, eBay or whatever. If you don’t have a platform yet, provide contact information where consumers can get in touch with you if they want to purchase.

 6.       Engage

You can’t expect to spread virally by just creating boards – although you may if they’re good enough. Make it a point for even 15 minutes out of the day to follow other pinners, particularly those that look like they might have the same interests and could translate into consumers. Repin, share and comment as much as possible. If people enjoy interacting with you on Pinterest, they’ll find you on other channels as well, which will also translate into more sales.

7.       Build

Similar to engagement, it’s important to build your repertoire. Take the time to follow and engage the Pin-fluentials in your industry. Just like Twitter, if you follow them, they’ll likely follow you back. That’s Pin-etiquette. Also keep in mind that if a Pin-fluential repins your content, it will likely be seen by a large percentage of this person’s followers. Essentially, this Pin-fluential will look like an advocate of your business – score!

 8.       Play

Top off an engagement strategy with some quality playtime for your followers. Devise some cool promotions that will keep them engaged, such as offering discounts to the highest repinner, creating scavenger hunts throughout your boards, launching a contest where followers create a themed wish list board of your products, etc.

9.       Inspire

One of the most important ideas to remember during the age of social media is that the consumers don’t want sold to, they want to be communicated with. Use Pinterest as a way to build and maintain relationships with your customers. Don’t look at Pinterest as just a sales channel, look at it as a way to build your presence and facilitate relationships. Don’t just sell products, be a source of inspiration and solutions for your consumers.

10.    Evaluate

I always ask – how will success be measured if success isn’t measured? Be sure to set metrics ahead of time that correspond to your goals. Whether it’s repins, shares, leads, traffic, revenue, or something else, make sure to pat yourself on the back if you’ve met your goals, and re-evaluate your strategy if you haven’t.

Well, there you have it – 10 steps to maximizing your Pinterest presence. Though it may seem somewhat daunting, rest assured that Pinterest is truly simple, downright fun and well-worth mastering. Trust in us, if 8 million other women were able to get the hang of it quickly, you can too!

Grant Money

I know one of the hardest things to attain as you are running your business is money!  Let’s see,  $12,500, plus mentoring.  Does that sound like something you could use?  There is a grant available for companies that fit the criteria that Eileen Fisher is looking for as she selects candidates for her grant program.  Looks like a great opportunity for women to apply to, for not just financial reasons, but for the experience and learning that comes with it.  Check it out here.

Promotion – Inspire other Mom Entrepreneurs

Want to be featured in the Huffington Post alongside other successful and innovative mom entrepreneurs?

Want to share your success and challenges as a mom entrepreneur so you can inspire others?

Here is your chance. The Story Exchange is a network of women who encourages other women to start their own business.  They accomplish this through inspirational videos, news, blogs and expert advice. I looked at quite a few of the videos and I walked away inspired and touched.  They will select four women to blog about and your story can touch many other women internationally.

Want to start sharing?  Start here.

Let’s continue the discussion at the Freelance Mom Forums.

Whether you’re a busy working mom or a busy stay-at-home mom, there’s never enough time in the day to get all of your errands and chores done then spend some quality time with your family. Moms have earned the name “super mom” by balancing all of the family’s daily events, helping the kids with homework, getting everyone to their doctor’s appointments on time, and still managing to make a hearty meal for dinner.

Smart phone apps can be a super mom’s biggest ally by helping her look even more super while making life a bit more manageable. All you need it to download a few onto your favorite smart phone or mobile device, add a data plan, and voila, you’ll be able to organize a play date or whip up a nutritious collection of bagged lunches faster than you can say, “Get that finger out of your mouth”!

Here are some smart phone apps to help keep my own family organized:

1. Put Things Off ($1.99 – for iPhone)

Note-taking apps, like Put Things Off, will help a busy mom stay organized with daily to-do lists, shopping lists, and tasks for carting the kids around to hockey practice and dentist appointments, and themselves to PTA meetings.  Every time you have a new chore or errand, simply create a new note, and assign the note a due date, which the app will organize in the central calendar tool. Users can view notes by day or week and see all of the assigned due dates.

2. Intuition: Mom’s Personal Assistant (Free – for iPhone)

I always thought life would be a lot easier if I had a clone to help me with chores and errands, but the Intuition: Mom’s Personal Assistant app is even better! This app is ideal for a mom like me (let’s say a little disorganized) who needs to keep track of the entire family’s social schedule. The app organizes everything from soccer matches to bake sales with built in features—such as to-do lists, shopping lists, calendars, and more!

3. AllRecipes.com Dinner Spinner (Free – for Android)

Let’s be honest, dinner can get a little bland when the same person is responsible for it every single night—that’s how we ended up with spaghetti Tuesday in my household—because we just run out of ideas. But AllRecipes.com is the app to help you bring some fresh ideas to the supper table. This app features a huge database of user-generated recipe sites on the web. You can browse by type of meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, or desert), or search by main ingredient (such as chicken or fish). AllRecipies will instantly serve up a hot selection of recipes that fit your dining desires.

4. SitOrSquat: Bathroom Finder (Free – for iPhone)

If you’re a mom you probably hear this as soon as you leave the house, “Mom, I have to go to the bathroom”! The SitOrSquat app is ideal for families—especially if they still have potty-training toddlers onboard. Simply, launch the app to find the nearest public restroom location. And because cleanliness is important, there are photos and user reviews available as well.

5. Sleep Machine ($1.99 – for iPhone)

Every mom could use a few more hours of sleep a night! After a busy day carting the family around and worrying about their needs, the Sleep Machine app will help take care of yours. Moms can select from over 90 pre-recorded peaceful sound scapes to help them rest and rejuvenate after a hard day.  Create a blissful atmosphere with ocean sounds, bird tweets, or waterfalls. Plus, the app features a clock, sleep timer, and an alarm to help you get back to reality.

Bio: Jane Johnson is a writer for GoingCellular, a popular site that provides cell phone related news, commentary, reviews on popular providers like T-Mobile.

There is a reason that Social Media mentions the word social.  It’s about sharing, networking, and appreciating others.  All those things we learned about in grade school.  How to play nice.

It amazes me to see people hurt their personal brand by coming across as if they don’t care about other people.  Twitter isn’t about how many people follow you, or how many people you don’t follow.  In fact, if there is one place that you don’t want to come across as a snob — I’d say that would be Twitter!  So for goodness sake (literally) you simply must respond to people who communicate with you.  Whether that person is a customer, stranger or colleague.

Give a little – it doesn’t hurt!

The people you connect with here are left with the after-taste flavor of your brand.  Make it sweet!  Even if you do happen to be highly successful and a question someone asks you seems too trivial to be bothered with, that one person can have a very viral effect on your brand.  Part of online reputation management is to be proactive, and that means listening and responding.

So Thought #1 for Engaging on Twitter: Listen and Respond.

Thought #2: Lend a hand. Someone who only has a few followers may still have something of value to say.  Give them some consideration.  Help them out, even, with an RT or a supportive comment.  Why not make a friend today?  Think back to times in your life when you felt new or insecure.  The person who reached out to you is probably someone who gained your loyalty – am I right?  One loyal newbie can be a pretty powerful ally, because people aren’t new forever.  And you never know what connections someone has either — so even if you can’t be nice for the sake of being nice, consider the ramifications.

Thought #3: Stop selling already. Talking about yourself and your services all. the. time.  might be fine on say… your website.  But in a social media environment it really isn’t all about you.  It’s about connections.  In order to truly connect with people you need to interact with them.  Otherwise you’ll either be unfollowed, or simply ignored like banner ads.  Nobody wants to be sold to.  What people want is to feel a connection.  When you feel a connection to a product, it’s not being sold to you — instead its something you organically desire to possess.  That feeling of connection is the fabric of brand loyalty.

As a fellow Twitterer – what advice do you have on successfully networking using Social Media?

How many tweeps should I follow?

It took me some time before I delved into Twitter.  So — although I’m fairly active in the Twitter community, I still consider myself a newbie.

One of the first and ongoing quandaries we’re faced with on Twitter is who to follow, and who not to follow.  Or possibly more poignantly – how many to follow. I’ve struggled with this, but have fine tuned my philosophy.

Following too many people for certain lowers your capacity to interact.  But frankly, I find it rather elitist when someone is following just a few people – especially when they are being followed by thousands.  It’s a symbol of status to be sure — but it’s also a symbol to me of how much you value other people.  Seriously – of all the thousands of people following you, you can find just a handful that are of any interest to you to interact with?  It just seems pompous.

Personally I find it difficult to not follow people who follow me.  That’s because so many people seem so darn cool.  But following many has it’s drawbacks… your Twitter stream quickly can become overwhelming.  Which is why I love to make use of Twitter Lists.

By utilizing Twitter lists I can check in on certain types of people that I’m following at any given time depending on my mood and interests that day.  Some examples of lists that I keep:

PR-Pros – My work as an SEO who focuses on ORM (Online Reputation Management) makes me very curious about the Public Relations community and in particular how traditional PR is changing in the age of Social Media.  So I check on this list quite often!

I also obviously love my SEO and Fresh Social Media lists!

SAHM-WAHM – I love keeping in touch with the Work at Home Mom community, it keeps me sane!

And I have many more…  you can even follow lists that other people have made.

I don’t check on these people every day.  But I value them enough to follow them, and love to network with them from time to time.

I’m a lover of coincidences and so most often I just open up TweetDeck and check in with whoever is currently in my stream.  It’s fun!  I love to engage with a variety of people that are of interest to me in one way or another.  I love to help them out when I can.  Whether it’s an RT for someone who has something of value to say but not many followers (yet!) or a technical problem on wordpress that I happen to know the answer to — or simply to add to conversation someone tries to drum up.  It’s all good.

I know many people will argue that I’m diluting my followers too much to really build a strong community.  That might be so to some degree. But I’ve made so many excellent  social and professional connections on Twitter that I know this way works for me… most importantly it works for me ethically!

What are your thoughts on WHO and HOW MANY to follow on Twitter?