Mama-press: May 2011

Baby Steps

I started this blog almost a week ago and have 16 followers (yes, each new one is very exciting!), 24 Facebook fans & 2 guest-bloggers in the works. I appreciate all the support I've received so far. It's amazing how people are so willing to help others out with their endeavors. That is what this site is all about...helping fellow moms succeed.

I announced this week's contest to win the free ad space, it's posted to the right, but to re-iterate:
The first 3 shops to post a substantive & appropriate comment to a blog posting will receive free ad space next week (must be a follower to comment)! Also, the 3 shops who refer the most people to Mama-press's Facebook page (i.e. "like" it), will receive the same...so 6 spots total. In order for you to receive credit, those whom you refer to the FB page should post that they are new & comment that you sent them. I will announce winners this weekend!

The more traffic I can pull in, the more free exposure these great mom-businesses will get! Don't forget to Like & Follow, and let me know if you want to be a guest blogger...2 are in the pipeline, you could be too!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Kids & Capitalism

Today we will be planting our garden plots. We rent 2 19'x30' garden plots in town. We plant lots of varieties of veggies. It's amazing how much better food tastes when one grows it himself. For example, I never liked peas until we grew our own. My son has learned so much through our gardens. It has helped create a good work ethic, a sense of accomplishment, increased compassion, better nutrition and understanding of being green. I hope to have a big enough harvest so my son can have a veggie stand to sell some vegetables and learn a little about capitalism. What have you done with your kids to teach them about business or economics? Do they help you with your business?

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Self-Promotion

A certain amount of self-promotion is required when starting a new endeavor. Afterall, if you don't initially promote your business or idea, who will? Your store will sit empty, your website will be hidden in the deep space that is the Internet. No one will know about it. So, we tell our family & friends and hope they like the idea (yes, literally too...that little "like" button is a powerful thing), and maybe spread the word to their friends. Some could even "like" us to show support, then "hide" us because they really couldn't care less as it may not pertain to them. This is all well and good. Beyond that, we need to get creative. I've realized there is an entire Facebook community of people helping people...helping get customers, helping get exposure, helping reach goals. It's all very uplifting & refreshing. Yes, it is tit for tat, but that is a part of networking. So, as I ponder over this I hope others will share some tricks of the trade....

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Sponsor on meetup.com

I am happy to announce Mama-press is now a sponsor on meetup.com! Big thanks to my friend Kate for accepting our sponsorship for our mom's group. I'm awaiting responses from several other meetup groups...I hope some pick us up as well!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Good example

So, I had the kids' bathroom painted this morning (and ironically it's a purple similar to this blog's background color (both kids love purple)). He's a one-man-show. Very good, very nice, very trustworthy...and very reasonably priced. I would never typically do this, but I left him here alone while I dropped off / picked up my son from pre-school. He is just that kind of good man. He doesn't have a website or FB page...never even handed me a business card. Just a magnet on the side of his truck. I've recommended him to friends as a friend recommended him to me. I would like this site to benefit people like that...good, honest people trying to make a living or promote an idea without all the resources of big corporations. One doesn't need a fancy storefront to be a success.....though it would be nice....

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

The early bird gets the worm.

The first 5 mama-shops that like & follow Mama-press, and submit a logo picture to me via email (tracy.mamapress@gmail.com), will be included as a "Featured Mama Shop" on my blog for the 1st week. You will be featured in the left-hand side bar on all our pages. This is great free "press" for your business as I will be rolling out Mama-press to a much larger audience in a few days. Cheers!

Widget by Css Reflex | TutZone

Where do I start?

A couple years ago I started a home business (or rather hobby, really) making diaper cakes. After working the craft show circuit & meeting many like-minded mamas, I started thinking. There are so many moms out there that need...not just want...but need to do something for themselves that does not involve child-rearing. Of course we all love our kids beyond belief, but we also love ourselves & need to feel productive & intelligent in a another way. After meeting so many women like this, I realized it would be nice to have a place where we could all gather, network, exchange ideas, source product, etc. This idea tumbled about in my mind for a year until recently I got more serious. I started brainstorming ideas, researching blog hosts, etc. I finally made up my mind & Mama-press was born. I have lots of ideas & hopes for this & am excited to be starting something new that would bring value not only to me, but hopefully to many other like-minded mamas! So, my diaper cake site is the first site posted. I hope to have many of your sites posted as well...websites, facebook pages, etc. Like written above, this is our platform to get the word out on all the great things we are doing. Cheers, and hope to see you return again & again!