First Year in Network Marketing

Book Title: First Year in Network Marketing
Author: Mark Yarnell & Rene Reid Yarnell

I read this book about 2 ½ years ago, but it is still fresh in my mind about how network marketing works and how many no’s it takes to finally get to that Yes. I really enjoyed it. I was doing another network marketing opportunity, at the time, and realized not only was I in the wrong one, but one in which just wasn’t a good fit for my personality.

I would highly recommend it, especially if you are just starting out in network marketing.

Review by:
Mandu Usoro
M&A Associates~ http://www.homebizmom.net
Specializing in excellent customer service, FREE and PAID Advertising, shopping for every budget, work at home resources and more.

Kristine Higginbotham of The Natural Life Store

Name: Kristine Higginbotham

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a mother of a 2 and 4 year old. I love to read and go for walks.

What is your business name and web address: The Natural Life Store Inc.
http://www.thenaturallifestore.com

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
Spend more time with my family
while promoting something I really believe in and could make a difference for
the future of our planet.

Tell us a little about your business: I offer natural and organic skin products,
tie dyed cloth baby items, Fuzzi Bunz diapers, organic coton crib sheets. I have
monthly articles posted about natural living posted.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are interested in working from home:

It is HARD work. Make sure it
is for something you really believe in so you do not get burned out. Make sure
you have a business plan and a budget.

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Diaperpin.com

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you
learned from:
I bought a banner advertisement and they never posted it nor did I
ever get my money back. Be careful who you give money to on the web.

Relatively Speaking

It’s so true.

That old saying about friends and relatives?

And when you w0rk at h0me??? Hooooboy…

That’s when Aunt Mary talks to your mother about someone she saw on Oprah “just like” you who ended up penniless, deranged and living on the street.

So what that you’ve received three new contracts and are not accepting more projects until 2015?

And Cousin Susie who’s bragging to everyone (especially in hearing range of you) about her wonderful 6% raise after two years with her employer…

…not mentioning, for some reason, that her childcare costs have risen so much she needed 10% more at least…

While you smile with the knowledge that your business revenues have increased 15% in the last quarter.

Then there’s your brother, who states in no uncertain terms that all this w0rk at h0me nonsense is just scams and ripoffs and a bunch of fly-by-nights and you’re crazy to do it.

As you hold the opened envelope from today’s mail containing the letter announcing that the 18 year old Dow Jones listed company you represent is rewarding your efforts with a seven-day all expense paid cruise to the Bahamas.

And Uncle Henry, AGHAST that you did not send your kids to preschool - “They’ll be way behind the other kids!!”

But somehow, your little first grader is reading at a third grade level. And there’s never been any vague telephone messages about your kid getting hurt, but the doctor said…

They tell you it’s not real work, just a hobby.

Ahh yes…it’s all in the family.

Dan Reinhold is the proud author of “The WAHumor Way: Reality Check, Please!”, the essential primer for everyone starting a home business or even thinking about it. With two boys, a dog, a cat, a rat, a wife and a household to keep together to boot, Dan’s also the editor of WAHumor to hang on to his sanity by showing how insane the work-at-home community can be!

Subscribe quickly at WAHumor@aweber.com You could Win Big!!

How To Get Free Publicity For Your Business

by Matt Bacak

Dear Friend,
You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on advertising to build an effective campaign. In fact, you can get great publicity that will drive customers to do your door absolutely free of charge!

One of the best ways to do this is to attract press coverage. You don’t have to pay for advertising space to get written about in a newspaper or magazine, or on a website. All you have to do is interest the editor or webmaster in your story. Today’s media is huge – and it’s hungry for news. If you present a publication with a ready-made story that will interest their target audience they will snap it up.

The way to do this is to write a press release, sometimes called a “news release”. Release writing isn’t rocket science, but there are a few important tips and tricks to remember:

* Make sure the release is dated, and has a contact name, address, phone number and email address. The contact should be a single, named individual.
* Start off with an attention-grabbing headline that announces a piece of specific news. “Atlanta Motorbike Store Launches New Line of Helmets” is a good headline; “Atlanta Motorbike Store Has Another Good Year” is not. Your release should announce something specific and out of the ordinary.
* Always include a quote. Store owner Mike Smith, 44, says, “we’re really pleased to be stocking X-Brand Helmets….” Quotes bring news stories to life and give them a human touch – you’ll look a long time before you find a professional media story without one.
* Make sure your spelling, grammar and punctuation are one hundred percent accurate. If they’re not, the professionals in your target media will lose respect for you and trash your release. If you didn’t get top grades in English, get a friend to check it over.

Once you’ve written your release you need to distribute it. There are plenty of free newswires that will do this for you – www.internetnewsbureau.com is a good example. Remember that to be successful a press release needs to be targeted at a precise market. If you’re releasing on the topic of your new range of motorbike helmets in Atlanta, you’d better make sure every bike magazine and local newspaper in Georgia gets a copy.

It’s quite acceptable to email press releases. Just make sure that the text is included in the body of the mail – most sensible internet users are a little suspicious of mail attachments received from strangers.

So your release is out, and it’s getting you some coverage. Why other cost-free means can you use to build your business’s profile? Well, the obvious place is the internet. Here are some suggestions:

* Build web links. It’s a tactic as old as the internet and it takes time – but it’s still worth it. Make sure your business’s name is on every relevant free directory on the web. This can be pretty backbreaking work, but it will pull in the customers. Crucially, it will also improve your website’s rank on Google and other search engines.
* Post to message boards. If you can find a web discussion forum related to your business topic, join in and post regularly. Don’t simply push your product – get involved in the online community. This is a great way to establish contacts. Make sure that your username is the same as your business name and that your forum profile contains a link to your site.

One rule of advertising hasn’t changed since prehistoric times: nothing beats word-of-mouth. Ultimately the secret of getting free publicity is having a great product that people will talk about. If you can get folks talking about you and your business, you’ve beaten every single Fortune 1000 company – they’ve spent millions on advertising and branding campaigns. If you’re smart, and if you’re persistent, you can achieve the same results without spending a single cent!

Matt Bacak became ‘#1 Best Selling Author’ in just a few short hours.
Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is
turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories.
Discover The Secrets http://promotingtips.com

Article found at Site Reference

It Ain’t All About PEZ Dispensers Or…???

Oh joy, oh rapture, oh happy day!! You’ve discovered the Internet, where you can make oodles of moolah with your hobby!!!

Well…no.

“But”, you frantically implore, “I’ve been making/building/creating/counterfeiting [Insert Your Favorite Here] for years and years, and people say I’m really really good!”

OK…Happy for you!

“But”, you implore ever more insistantly, “all my friends, co-workers and family say how I always drone on about my hobby to the exclusion of all other topics of conversation, even going so far as to change the subject of any conversation I encounter to being about my hobby!!”

That’s fine…Right after you realize that your friends all moved without leaving forwarding addresses and the majority of your family is embroiled in a class action lawsuit for special waivers to enter the Witness Protection program, there’s a little something you need to know.

You can’t make money with your hobby.

That is, not as long as it’s your hobby.

Sorry. Now you really have a headache!

What I mean is you need to stop thinking of your hobby as a hobby.

If you intend to make money with it, it becomes a business.

Let’s make that stand out just a little more: It becomes a business.

This is the part where someone always says, “I don’t WANT a business. I just want to make some money with my hobby”.

Alrighty, once more, and this this I’ll write veeeerrry slooooowwwly…

A hobby is something you do for fun, relaxation, self-fulfillment and that kind of stuff. A business is something you do for money - regardless of whether you also get fun, relaxation, self-fulfillment or whatever from it.

No. 1: You must change your hobby into your business.

That’s a totally different mindset. No longer are you performing these tasks for the sheer enjoyment of doing so. It’s become that horrible four-letter word - WORK. That’s only in the very strictest sense, because you’ll have to do whatever you do to do what you need to do for money.

Now I’ve got a headache…

It’s like being a professional musician. Music isn’t a mere job for them. It’s a passion, something they need to do almost as desperately as breathing or watching the latest episode of Survivor.

Don’t lose that passion. Just realize and accept that now other things will also be required.

A price, for example. Asking “Well, what do you think it’s worth to you?” won’t work.

If you’re planning to conduct your business online, you’ll need a website and some basic goodies. You’re in luck - this sort of thing gets easier to do by the day, it seems. There’s cool full packages like Sitesell, Easy Web Site Builder and Build A Web Site Tonight . Heck, if you’re the real DIY type, you can grab a template from BasicWebTemplates and then download a very cool FR*E website editor called Nvu.

There’s a great book mentioned in the resource box that I’m told comes in really handy for getting started.

For a good dose of reality, try this: Do a Google or Yahoo search for forums for your hobby. All you gotta do is enter “rat racing+forums” in the little search box (without those quote marks!)and away you go. See if people talk about making money with it. If no one does talk about it, ask them! At the very worst, they’ll say, “What, are you crazy???”

Either way, you get an education.

Of course, you can also search for your hobby alone and see who has a business site for it. Whatever you do, don’t get yourself all discouraged and stuff just because someone else is doing it or even seems to be doing it very well. It’s one darn big Internet, my friend.

When you see that making your hobby a business can be done and it can even be done by you, you’ll have cleared probably the biggest hurdle of all.

Roll up those sleeves and open for business!!

Dan Reinhold is the proud author of “The WAHumor Way: Reality Check, Please!”, the essential primer for everyone starting a home business or even thinking about it. With two boys, a dog, a cat, a rat, a wife and a household to keep together to boot, Dan’s also the editor of WAHumor to hang on to his sanity by showing how insane the work-at-home community can be!

Subscribe quickly at WAHumor@aweber.com You could Win Big!!

Making Cash with Auctions

You hear about EBay everywhere and many people are making a full time income
selling products on the world famous site, but has anyone taken a look at some
of the free auction sites out there?

As some of you may know EBay raised some of their fees several months back and
many work at home moms were very angry and ready to ban the site. Selling with
auctions can be very competitive and when you have to add all of the fees that
go along with it; sometimes you can lose your shirt in the deal.

I have done a little research and found some free auction sites that I wanted to
share with you. Of course, the majority of these sites do not have the huge
amount of traffic as EBay, but they are certainly worth checking out. After all
a smaller crowd means less competition in some areas and since they are free you
aren’t losing any money out of your pocket for trying them out.

Yahoo Shopping Auctions -
http://auctions.yahoo.com
As of June 2005 Yahoo auctions made their site completely free and charges no
fees.

Mrs. Auction -
http://www.MrsAuction.net
All basic listings are free.
No final sale fees
Offers auction stores for $4.95 per month
Member’s can earn cash credit to their account for future auction listings
Can place wanted ads
Swap items with other member’s option
I’m partial to this one - since it is mine.

Auction Fire -
http://www.auctionfire.com
No listing fees
Do charge a 2.5% commission on final sale prices
Site stats show their are currently 46,361 registered users

Auction-Warehouse -

http://www.auction-warehouse.com
Free with no commissions

Mom Pack Auctions -

http://www.mompackauctions.com
Free with no commissions
Site stats show their are currently 1,453 users

Work Obsession

I’ve been involved with the online world since around 1995 and became a full
time work at home mom in 2001 while being pregnant with my first son.

The whole idea of staying at home was to earn some extra income to help our
family and to be with our son, keeping him out of daycare. The intentions were
all good.

I have two sons now and I spend an average of 10 - 12 hours working on the
computer each day and this is less than I use to work. I can’t say all of those
hours are strictly working, since there is frequently a little voice calling to
me, but all the things I thought I would do with my sons seem to be put on the
back burner because I have to work.

I’m obsessed!

I’m constantly thinking about work, work and more work. Even when I do take
some time out to play with my boys, my mind is thinking of the emails I need to
send, the web updates that need to be done, etc.

I’m sure you have heard of the saying that there aren’t enough hours in the
day, it couldn’t explain my days any better than that.

Are you in the same boat as me? I would love to hear your comments and maybe
you could share some tips with other moms that struggle to keep some sort of
balance with work and home.

Colleen Newman of My Baby and More

Name: Colleen Newman, CPC, CHBE

Tell us a little about yourself:
Colleen Newman, CPC, CHBE, owner of My Baby and More ~ ParentCoaching
andEducational Services, has her degree in Early Childhood Education and
Psychology. She has several years of teaching experience; working with infants
through adults. Colleen has a passion for helping children live happy, healthy,
and secure. She also loves spending time with her best friend and husband, John,
and raising her 2 year old son and infant.

What is your business name and web address:
My Baby and More Parent Coaching and Educational Services 

http://www.MyBabyandMore.com

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
The birth of my daughter and the work of Dr. Harvey Karp and his philosophy on
"The Happiest Baby on the Block". After having my second child I realized I
could not go back to work and risk missing a second of their amazing lives!! Dr.
Karp has helped make that possible by training Educators to teach his class. The
business spiraled from his course into an amazing Parent Resource Center.

Tell us a little about your business:
My Baby and More Parent Coaching and Educational Services is dedicated to
improving the parent/child relationship through education, guidance, and love.
We are currently offering virtual and local parent coaching, parent education
classes, and parent discussion groups. Our feature parent education class, The
Happiest Baby on the Block, is the scientifically proven, innovative approach of
renowned pediatrician Dr. Harvey Karp. As a part of our dedication to improving
the parent/child relationship we recognize that a healthy start is extremely
important. We offer Parent Resources, Breastfeeding and Babywearing Support to
guide you through these early years.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are
interested in working from home:
Love what you do and have fun! Always take time for your family, remember that’s
why you are doing it!

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Word of mouth from happy clients!

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you learned from:

Some people are going to be negative no matter what you do. Do not join them in
their negativity. Instead, rise above it, take a deep breath, and try to keep on
keeping on!

Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with our
readers:
Free 30 min. Introductory Parent Coaching Session, Free Goals Report, and Free
shipping on everything in our online store!

Restroom Revenues???

It seems there’s no end to the wackiness you can experience in the work-at-home world.

When I stepped into a restroom at a Dunkin’ Donuts (my wife’s coffee addiction requiring frequent attention),I spotted some biz card sized pale green pieces of paper casually(?) placed on top of the toilet paper dispenser.

On one side was printed many dollar signs and “1,000 Dollars” in large green (of course!) letters. On the flip side, it read, “Great news! This could be a real $1,000.00 bill for you, two to five times a week. How? Through outr fully automated, internet driven home based business. No gimmicks, please visit www.************.org/Mr.Bruce . Thank you for your time, it’s valuable and we won’t waste it.”

A .org suffix??? Could this be something like the infamous whitehouse.com?

A more sincere and compelling message I have never received in a lavatory before!

What a clever idea…complimentary toilet paper.

And what are the expected results of such a “campaign”?

How many primo qualified prospects reply?

How would you refer to “poor” results??

Sorry, Mr. Bruce, I ain’t buying. Your message seems somehow…suspect?

Now, if I’d found this in a Starbucks restroom…

Be the first to know what you SHOULD know: WAHumorWayBook2@aweber.com

Dan Reinhold is the proud author of “The WAHumor Way: Reality Check, Please!”, the essential primer for everyone starting a home business or even thinking about it. With two boys, a dog, a cat, a rat, a wife and a household to keep together to boot, Dan’s also the editor of WAHumor to hang on to his sanity by showing how insane the work-at-home community can be!

Subscribe quickly at WAHumor@aweber.com You could Win Big!!

Jacqueline Oddo of It’s Just Us Girls

Name: Jacqueline Oddo

Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a 38 year old single mom of two daughters 11 and 8 currently living in New
Jersey .I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC for design and
painting is my passion so I’ve turned it into a WAHM business. I believe you
have to do what you love in life.

What is your business name and web address:
Its Just Us Girls -
http://www.itsjustusgirls.com


What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
My Mom suddenly passed away 18 months ago and she was always encouraging me to
sell my artwork - I just kept putting it off. . As a single mom I needed the
extra money so I started my website in my mother’s memory. (Two of my designs
are named after her) Since being diagnosed with MS a couple of months ago, I can
no longer work full time outside the home. I’m trying to make this my full time
job so I can work from home when I feel well, do what I am most passionate about
and be home for my daughters when they get home from school.


Tell us a little about your business:
I sell hand painted apparel and accessories for infants and girls up to size 6.
It makes me feel amazing to see little girls smile when they feel beautiful.
It’s called "Its Just Us Girls" since its just me and my two daughters in the
house. They help me as much as they can calling it "their company" too. I don’t
advertise any new design or ship any order without their seal of approval

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are
interested in working from home:
Do research and find your target market and then DON’T GIVE UP!!! I’ve had so
many times when sales aren’t good or advertising doesn’t pay off but I believe
if you work hard enough it has to pay off sooner or later so just keep trying.

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Displaying in craft shows has helped alot with word of mouth advertising. My
daughters wear alot of jeans and jackets I paint for them so when their friends
see them, they send their jackets and jeans for me to paint as well. I also do
well with home parties. I have a product that looks good on the web but even
better in person so it helps when my customers see the product first hand to see
the detail

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you learned from:

This is funny - I don’t know how but a man stumbled upon my site and wrote me a
nasty email telling me how "pathetic" my products were. I emailed him back
telling him at least I had the guts to start my own business and that if he
didn’t have anything nice to say he shouldn’t say anything at all. He emailed me
back again apologizing and complimented me for having alot of "guts". What I
learned was don’t back down and don’t be intimidated. Not everyone will like or
want your products but there are those that will.

Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with our
readers:
I currently have a clearance sale on select sizes and styles starting at 30%
off. I’m also adding (this week) hand painted boutique bows for Halloween,
Christmas and everyday, new little purse styles and PERSONALIZATION on baby bibs
and baby blankets. I’m always adding new designs so check in frequently.

Market Effectively Without Going in Debt-Marketing Strategies 101

Home-based business opportunities are a hard earned blessing. For mothers who work from home and have juggled many aspects of life in order to embody their passion for a specific product or service, marketing may seem like a daunting part of the larger picture. Yet, on closer inspection, marketing can be an inexpensive way to gain customers in all venues of commerce.

Advertising in free or discount presses is one marketing strategy that saves money and is proven to gain customers. These types of newspaper advertisement opportunities, depending on your product or service, can be extremely useful tools in your overall marketing options.

Another way to market your product is by offering a free sample. In dealing with the Internet especially it is known that the single most searched term is “free.” Registering with as many “free stuff” websites as possible maximizes your exposure to potential consumers.

There are many strategies that work at home moms can utilize to market a product or service that they have invested blood sweat and tears into. Even though you may have trepidation about writing, odds are if you have a website you believe people are interested in your product or service. Writing about what you believe in and what you understand thoroughly is truly the single easiest thing to write about, no matter your skills for writing. Submitting an article to any of several inexpensive electronic magazines is a great marketing option also.

Whether you have chosen to market on the Internet or are attempting to get a traditional business off the ground, searching for and utilizing simple and inexpensive methods of marketing is a smart way to hang onto your money as your business begins to grow.

Kim Garrett of Little Prints

Name: Kim Garrett

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am 25, a mother of 3 boys, ages 9, 3 and 2. I have been married over 5 years.
I am a work from home mom, I run a printing company out of my home.

What is your business name and web address:
Little Prints
http://www.littleprints.biz

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
I have always wanted to start my own business, and after doing direct sales and
many other things, I found what I am good at. I love the fact that I can be at
home with the kids and still bring in an income.

Tell us a little about your business:
Little Prints is my printing business. I make invitations, baby shower
announcements, business cards, bookmarks, business aids, etc. I work with a lot
of women in direct sales and I also print for a few companies.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are
interested in working from home:
I say if you want to work from home - do it! Jump in with both feet. You can
make your business be as big as you want.

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Word of mouth and vendor fairs.

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you learned from:

I honestly haven’t had a negative experience yet.

Jennifer Sprague of High Top Baby Designs

Name: Jennifer Sprague

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a 28 year old Work at home momma of two. My daughter is 6 and my son is
just a little under 2. I LOVE being able to stay at home with them, and at this
time my son has a health issue that requires it, so being a Work at home mom has
been ideal. We live with my parents till the website takes off, which we do hope
will happen.

What is your business name and web address:
High Top Baby Designs

www.Hightopbabydesigns.com

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
The idea of doing something I love AND making a difference on staying at home
with my kids!

Tell us a little about your business:
My business caters to the Attachment Parent. We have items that very from ways
to ‘carry’ your baby and still get other things done. Be it around the house or
with another child. We also carry cloth diapers. Along those lines and a little
more main stream, we carry unique baby gifts as well, including but not limited
to, poncho’s for mom, play mats, and cart covers!

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are
interested in working from home:
Take the plunge, its supper scary, but its soo much fun. I treat my website like
my baby and LOVE making changes to it to make it better! Also you have to be
VERY passionate about it, if you just have the mindset, ugh this is something I
HAVE to do, and dont like it or what you sell it’s not going to work!

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Diaper Pin, signature ads.

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you learned from:

You cant please everyone. Your going to have clients that no matter what you do
your just NOT going to please them. I had one lady e-mail me because her thread
that her item was sewn in was not the exact shade of the fabric…some fabric
just does not have an exact thread match!

Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with our
readers:
Yes, right now everything in the store, instock and customs are on sale, no
sales code needed!

Cleo Allen of Tieola vine Products

Name: Cleo Allen

Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a stay at home mother of 3. and
wife of a Pastor. Owner of Tieola vine Products and
www.sheabutterboutique.com . I’m a soap maker that makes all natural
products from scratch

What is your business name and web address:
Tieoliavine Products. pronounced Tee O Lee A vine
www.sheabutter boutique.com

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
My 5 month old baby. She kept screaming when she was being bathed. It would only happen when she smelt the fragrance from the soaps and lotions,
I was using.

Tell us a little about your business:
My business has changed a lot. We
started just bing making soaps. all types of soaps, learning the true art
of natural soap making. We then went to lotions, and other natural skin
care products. My online store has changed and grown. We wish to provide
a one stop shopping for our customers and would like to offer them more
products of interest, that would keep them searching and looking longer
through our site.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are interested in working from home:
Sure, be prepared to put a lot of time into the business and make sure
that what you decide to do, is something you truly love to do. Even if it
never brought in a dollar. Make sure you have the support of your family, this matter’s a lot.

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Word of
Mouth and getting out their with my samples.

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you
learned from:
Yes, take the order from the customer, but also require
them to pay at the time a special order is placed. If you don’t, many
times, they may just not come back and you are stuck trying to incorporate
this into your business line.

Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with
our readers:
Our grand opening is in September and at that time we will
be offering, 25% off of each sale over $25.00 Buy three get one free.
Every purchase will also include a free gift item

Laurie Becker of Maine Quilts

Name: Laurie Becker

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a 42 year old Mom of 4 children - ages 10,7,5 and 3. I have been married
for almost 20 years to the same great guy. I am a SAHM and enjoy the time that I
have with my children - especially being able to see their "firsts" and
experience learning right along with them. We live in Central Maine and enjoy
all 4 seasons here in New England.

What is your business name and web address:

Maine Quilts and my web address is www.mainequilts.net


What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
My husband and I are fortunate
to be able to have me stay at home with our children - we certainly sacrifice A LOT - but it is worth it. My children inspired me to sell my quilts online -
they are my biggest fans!


Tell us a little about your business:
I enjoy crafting and sewing. I decided to
take my love of sewing and quilting and turn it into a business that I could do
from home - on my own time - when the children were sleeping or during quiet
times. I chose to design and sew baby quilts exclusively because it allows me to
create heirloom gifts and also be a part of the excitement of a new baby! I sell
ready made quilts and also work with customers to design custom quilts to match
their nursery or the nursery of an expectant Mom in their life.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women
that are interested in working from home:
I would like to let Moms know to not
be so hard on themselves. Take your time - think about big changes at least for
a week before making them. And also, take time to remember that you are a Mom
1st and a business woman second!


What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Ezines and articles that friends allow me to type into their sites!!


Can you share with us one negative business experience that you
learned from:
ALWAYS take payment first - it will save you ALOT of time and
money!!


Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with
our readers:
Always FREE SHIPPING!!

Michelle Hodge of Maddy Moo Creations

Name: Michelle Hodge

Tell us a little about yourself:
I am a WAHM to 3 beautiful little girls. I have been in direct sales for years
and saw the potential but never found a company that had products that I thought
were really unique and affordable. So I started my own company with a friend
called Maddy Moo Creations. I am married to a wonderful husband and we live on
the East Coast of the US.

What is your business name and web address:
Maddy Moo Creations is my company and the website is
http://www.MaddyMoo.com

What inspired you to become a work at home mom:
After having my 2nd daughter and the daycare bills went to 1200.00 a month I
realized I can work to put my child in daycare or I can stay home and continue
to work in direct sales. I can still raise my children and earn a decent income.
My little girls are what has inspired me and when I hear them asking me mommy
are you working on more purses when they see me working I can only dream of the
little business women they will become!

Tell us a little about your business:
We sell handmade personalized handbags and jewelry. You can design your own bag
from fabric, trim, and handles. Plus most of our bags allow you to monogram your
initials or names on the bags. We also offer wonderful jewelry pieces that most
are handmade again and you design the colors of the beads and names if you want
a name on the jewelry. This business is also a direct sales company and we are
looking for Consultants across the US. We offer up to 50% earnings for Active
Consultants and also an Earn a Kit Option so you can actually start out with the
company for FREE! To top it all off we offer a $400.00 car cash bonus for our
Top Team Leaders.

Is there any advice that you would like to share with other women that are
interested in working from home:
You need to set a schedule for when you will work and have a space you can
close off. I go to work each day and close the door behind me my girls realize
mommy is working and leave me alone. It is also great that my husband has
learned I am working in the office and when the door is shut only in an
emergency should he come in. You should not set expectations that you will be
working from 9-5 M-F I work many weekends when my husband is home and many late
nights after the kids have gone to bed. Be ready to work hard, work with
distractions and go out and have a social life as well or you will burn out
easily!

What has been the most effective advertising method for you:
Online advertising so far has been a huge help for us. Signatures at the end of
our emails, paid advertising on work at home mom sites, and parties are a great
way for us to recruit.

Can you share with us one negative business experience that you learned from:

We launched and were willing to try out a new program and found that we should
have stuck with our original plan. We needed to go with our original plan and
not steer off our original course. Lesson learned and we will not try that
again.

Do you have any specials going on that you would like to share with our readers:

I will offer 10% off to your readers on orders placed by September 30th. Please
mention All WAHM ad when you contact me at
Michelle@maddymoo.com