These in-person networking conferences and events are essential for you to grow your online business. You can sit behind your computer and grow it, but it’s great to reach out to people face-to-face!

Why You Should Attend Conferences and Networking Events

• Connect with new people. Even with the World Wide Web at your fingertips, you will still meet new people by attending events. They will likely be outside your virtual social circle, so that means potential clients or colleagues for you.
• Meet people you’ve known online. There have been bloggers I’ve chatted with online for years that I finally got to meet by going to conferences. There’s just something about sitting by the fire in the hotel lobby with internet friends.
• Learn lots of new things. Most conferences offer several sessions in the 2-3 days they are going on. This is a great way for you to build your skills or learn new ones to implement in your business.
• “Talk shop” with people who get it. It’s difficult for me to discuss my online business with 98% of my family. Some still don’t get that I work from home, on the internet, and make money. People attending the same conference as you will understand, however, and most are more than willing to share strategies or compare experiences.

Of course, not all conferences or networking events are created equal. You will get more out of some than others. Since I’ve been to a few, I like to research and consider new events before I commit to them.

What to Look for in a Conference of Event

• Number of attendees. You may not get a exact number, but look at the amount of people in photographs from past events. If it’s a large group (200+) it may be a good fit for a timid beginner. Smaller conferences may be better for getting your feet wet.
• A great agenda. The schedule of sessions and networking opportunities should be up on the conference’s website within a couple months of tickets going live. You can hold off on making your purchase until you see exactly what you can learn there. Even just one or two sessions that you aren’t familiar with can be worth the price of your trip!
• Attendee list. Check out who else will be attending the conference before you decide to grab a ticket. If there’s a brand, marketer, or blogger you’ve been dying to connect with attending, this may be a great chance for you to network.
• Is the conference in a city you’ve never been? This can be your opportunity to check out the destination before, during, or after the conference. Also, some blogging conferences land exclusive opportunities for their attendees in the host city, such as photo tours or access to special museums.

Conference and Event Do’s and Don’t’s

• DO come prepared to chat with as many people as you can. Avoid staying in your hotel room too much. Get out there and mingle, it will be good for your blog and business!
• DO bring your business cards. Make sure they have your name, blog name, email, and Twitter handle on them. Bonus points if they have a photo of you, so that people can put your name to your face once they are back home.
• DON’T skip out on sessions, even if you think you know the material. There is always room to learn more, and the presenter just may share a gold nugget that you didn’t previously know!
• DON’T forget a notebook or your laptop. You will need to jot down lots of notes, and maybe someone’s contact information. Keep a small notebook on you at all times, even during the parties or meals.

My Experiences with Conferences

My first blogging conference was Reviewer’s Retreat, which is now known as iRetreat. I have attended this conference twice, and loved it both times. It’s geared toward bloggers and is small, so it’s not overwhelming. The sessions were informative and the parties were a great chance to socialize as well!

I have also attended Type-A Parent Conference twice, and I already have a ticket to the East 2017 conference in Alexandria next year. This is my favorite blogging conference thus far! It is always well put together and managed. The number of brands there to connect with is outstanding, and they have great sessions too.

This year, I have also started attending internet marketing conferences. I want to branch out into product creation and other forms on online business, so I decided it was time to try something new.

I attended Exposure & Profit 3 in Atlanta in July and had a great time. It was very small, there were about 40 people there altogether. This made me a little hesitant, but I ended up leaving there with a wealth of information to use in my business. Many of the attendees were very successful marketers, so it was good to rub elbows with and gain a little insight from them.

Have you ever been to a conference or event? I’d love to hear which ones and your thoughts on them!

If this post was helpful, please share!

The post Why Bloggers Should Attend Conferences & Networking Events appeared first on Online Income Mom.

That’s very disheartening because you wanted to have the best of both worlds. Whether you’re a single mom or married, you now have a family to tend to – your children, possibly a spouse, and yourself – not to mention a business.

There are a few ways you can minimize stress and find that balance in your life that you’ve been craving. Above all, make sure your priorities are straight so you can have the right balance for your family.

Work at Home Mom Tips to Minimize Stress

Pick a Niche You’re Passionate About

There’s one thing that differentiates a work at home mom who succeed online and those who just feel overwhelmed. That’s their enthusiasm about their work. We’re already enthusiastic about our kids – they’re our entire world.

But when it comes to careers, they can be something we tolerate, or something that helps complete us as adults.

There are so many niches you can get into and profit from, that it’s a shame when we see marketers and WAHMs getting into some boring, drab niche – one they can’t stand – just because someone told them it would make them money.

You want to wake up each morning amid the chaos of a regular household and look forward to your work. You want to be driven to succeed, not forced to try to make a viable income.

Choosing a niche that fits your life

Selecting a niche that fits into your life already is a great solution. For example, if you’re the mother of twins, then you might want to launch a blog promoting twin products and teaching the best way to manage the parenting of twins.

Or maybe the family loves to garden. This kind of niche is a great way to monetize your offline lifestyle! You can have the kids help you garden, creating special bonding moments with them. Upload pictures and advice to your blog, monetizing the products and information you use.

Maybe health is something you advocate for your family. You can start a blog about ways to improve your family’s health. Talk about improving the nutrition, exercise, and even mental well-being of the family that you’re raising.

Sometimes you can get into very targeted training. For example, you might create an info product on potty training because it’s something you just mastered with your own child. Perhaps your family is very involved in something like child modeling or beauty pageants. You can create a tips guide that helps other parents assist their child in having success with their dreams.

This doesn’t have to be a niche that you have already mastered. This can be something where you begin blogging about your journey and you share with others what works and what doesn’t. This is what a niche audience loves most. They don’t want to learn from someone who has never failed (like they have). They want empathy and to know they’re not alone. Your insight helps put them at ease.

Work During Non-Family Hours

Finding time to work is key to helping a busy work at home mom create a thriving business. But the reality of what happens is far more grim. A well-meaning mom makes the decision to stay home and create a business online.

She does it because her kiddos are her world. She envisions holding them, caring for them, playing with them and cooking nutritionally sound meals for them – not to mention being able to take them to all sorts of extra curricular activities.

It’s not long before the pressure to develop an income mounts and she’s suddenly finding herself hunched over her laptop more hours than not. She can’t find time to cook those healthy meals – she’s relying on fast food and frozen quickies.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

You can adequately balance your professional and personal life easily if you start out understanding that working from home gives you complete power and flexibility over your schedule.

Finding the best times to work

Before the family is awake, set your alarm an hour earlier and get a good deal of work done so that you start your day feeling proud of what you accomplished.

During this time, do things that require peace and quiet, like a video blog where you don’t want the distractions of household noise showing up on camera. Or use this time to do the tasks that require full concentration.

If your children are small, you might work during their naptimes. It’s tempting to nap yourself when they sleep, but if balancing work is an issue, try to stay awake and take advantage of these moments.

If your kids are of school age, then you can work while they’re away. Being a work at home Mom does give you the perk of leisurely getting to attend their school plays or field trips – or even stop midday and go have lunch with them!

If you have a lot of “sit and wait” times, like carpool lanes where you sit in line not moving, or after school activities to attend, you might consider working from your laptop. You can also stay awake past when everyone else goes to bed and get work done. It doesn’t have to be lengthy if you’re tired, too – but it can be a quiet time to squeeze in a bit more work.

The key is to increase your productivity so you can work less yet get more done. Therefore, you have more time to spend with your family!

Build Multiple Business Models

Every work at home mom should learn how to balance multiple business models. You’re already a master of balancing your home life. Chances are you somehow manage to get the kids fed and cared for every day, and take care of your own needs.

You cook, have the laundry done, and clean house. So now it’s just a matter of adding business into the mix, and you’ll juggle those various branches the same way you do your home life – a little at a time here and there until it’s all done to your satisfaction.

• Provide services

Services are one branch of business that helps work at home moms make a faster income. This is when you go to work for another already successful marketer who needs to outsource tasks.

You might become a virtual assistant. Just make sure that you have the ability to work the hours being demanded. You don’t want to experience more stress because the kids are having a tug of war with your client over your attention.

You could do freelance writing where you create quality content for other bloggers. This can be great for work at home moms because you can research and write about a wide variety of topics.

If you enjoy graphic design, you might want to start a service where you create minisites or ecovers, banners and other digital images for other bloggers or website owners.

• Offer Coaching

You may find that you enjoy personal one-on-one or group coaching online. This will work if you’re free from interruptions, such as having school-aged children so you can coach during the day. Just make sure your kids never feel like they come second to any of your clients.

• Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a viable option for work from home moms. You can start an affiliate blog, a Facebook page, and a Twitter account. Then, just spend your day recommending and reviewing products and networking about them online.

This is a great way to combine your hobbies or typical life with your business. You might love to cook, but feel like you don’t have time. By starting a cooking blog, you can cash in on your time spent cooking!

For example, write a short guide about your favorite recipes, or teach people how to cook in a certain way. Create video blogs that teach them cooking methods, and make money recommending the set of pots and pans that use!

• Create Products

Info product creation is a good way for stay at home moms to work and make money online. You have so much knowledge that’s one step ahead of what someone else knows, so sharing it can help you build a residual income.

A residual income, where you do the work once and see money rolling in continually, is better than one-time instant payments. While the instant payments help alleviate financial pressure you’re always stuck looking for more work to pay the next batch of bills.

You can create info products that are made of text, video or audio files. You can package them and list them for sale on digital info sites. Or, if it’s a text creation, list it in Amazon’s Kindle selections and let their marketplace help promote it for you!

Engage in Self Care

Being a work at home mom, you’re going to be tempted to neglect yourself. It’s just what Moms do – they put everyone else’s needs above their own. Try to remember that if you pamper yourself regularly, you’ll be better for your family and you’ll also be a better worker.

Self care doesn’t have to be expensive or take up a lot of your time. It can be 10 minutes of just turning everything off and relaxing in a chair to read a good book. Just let yourself indulge throughout the day in small increments. Or, block off a substantial amount of time when you aren’t being a work at home mom or business owner. Take care of your needs with something a little more generous, like a mani-pedi at your favorite salon.

You have the beginnings of a very satisfying personal and professional life. Don’t grind yourself into the ground struggling to balance your work and life according to someone else’s idea of perfection.

Find what works for you and then enjoy the fruits of your labor as you bask in the love from your family and see your bank account building up with a monetary reward from your efforts.

The post Work at Home Mom Tips to Minimize Stress & Find the Right Work/Life Balance appeared first on Online Income Mom.

Thankfully, there are many ways you can be more productive every single day. I want to cover six time management strategies in this blog post today. This isn’t an exhaustive list, of course, but it’s a list of ones I have personally tried.

Also, you have to do one – or all. I have tried each of these things at least once, and I do a combination of a few of them now to get the most out of the time I have.

6 Time Management Strategies for WAHMs

Pomodoro Technique

This time management technique has been around since the late 80’s. I have found it to really work for me…when I have a block of time I can do it.

The trick is to set a timer and work for 25 minutes straight. During this time, you are to close out of your email, Facebook, and anything else that could be a distraction. The sprint of work is then followed by a 5 minute break. Once you finish four Pomodoros (100 minutes of work) you can take a 10-15 minute break.

I find it’s harder to do this method when you have children by your side. My two boys tend to interrupt me at least three times during a single 25-minute Pomodoro. When school is in session, it’s easier to make this strategy work.

For WAHMs with children home all day, use nap time to try the Pomodoro technique!

Time Blocking

I heard about time blocking a while back, but was recently reminded by it by Abby Lawson. Her post includes a helpful printable for time blocking, so you may want to check that out! I downloaded it and tried it again yesterday, and was pretty amazed at what I was able to get done.

The idea behind this time management strategy is that you write down all you need to do, and you schedule chunks of time to work on the different tasks. You end up more focused, and therefore more efficient with your time.

Productivity Planner

Earlier this year, I was watching a Periscope session with Mariah Coz and she mentioned the Productivity Planner. I decided to order one on her recommendation and I am glad I did. It’s a very simple yet effective planner and doesn’t distract you from your main goal: getting junk done!

The Productivity Planner helps you prioritize your tasks so you get the most important things done first. It gives you the option to do the Pomodoro technique and track your time, if you wish to see just how fast you can be. There is a space on each page for additional notes as well. I like the inspirational quotes on each page too.

Outsourcing

One of the time management strategies I will recommend the most is outsourcing! There are so many everyday tasks we do in our online business and in the home that we could pay someone else to do. For blogging, you could hire out for social media scheduling or management, email replies, or blog content.

At home, you could hire help with the yard work, laundry, cleaning or even grocery shopping. Outsourcing the busy work frees you up to do the things you need to concentrate on to be more successful.

Brain Dump + To-Do List

This next technique is super easy, and that is probably why it is my favorite. I just do better at getting things done when I write it down. So, to start my week I devote Sunday night to a brain dump. I write down every little thing I can think of that I need to do for the upcoming week.

Then, each day, I can take 3-5 things off the list to complete. Once I finish those, I’m done for the day or I  grab a few more. The key is making a daily to-do list to ensure you only focus on the tasks on it, and not the whole brain dump list. Looking at it can get very overwhelming…but remind yourself you have seven days to complete it all!

I use the brain dump in conjunction with my Productivity Planner. It doesn’t take but a few minutes for me to fill in my day. I just glance at the brain dump list, transfer a few things over, and get started.

Task Grouping

Next to brain dumping, grouping tasks something I love to do. Why? Because things done so much faster! I especially like to do it with blogging. If I know I need to write and publish 3 posts for the upcoming week, I will sit down and write them all first. I will then send them to my husband to proofread.

While they are with him, I will collect the images for the three posts. I will open Picmonkey and edit them all together. The next time I have a chunk of time for my blog, I will look over hubby’s editing notes, make the changes and insert the photos. Then, each post will be scheduled to go live as well as social media shares scheduled in CoSchedule.

Working on similar tasks together keeps your mind focused on a set of tasks for longer. Jumping around and writing a post, then editing it, then doing the photos, then writing a second post just sounds tiring to think about. Task grouping lets you to stay focused and get things done faster.

What are your favorite time management strategies? Let us know in the comments below!

If you found this post helpful, please share!

The post My 6 Favorite Time Management Strategies for Work at Home Moms appeared first on Online Income Mom.

Some ventures will take more time than others. A few may even require some startup money from you. However, these seven options will all make you an online income if you work hard toward any of them!

7 Ways to Begin Building your Online Income Today

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is where I got my start, and for me, it’s the easiest way to get your foot in the door online. This involves creating content for bloggers and website owners. Many do not have the time needed to write high-quality content, yet we all know that every website needs it to thrive.

You can offer simple content like blog posts and articles. Also, many bloggers like to purchase recipes, printables, and crafts to publish on their blog.

With freelance writing, you are paid when the content is written, so there is usually no byline or credit for you. The rights for the content are transferred to the buyer when you receive your payment.

2. Blogging

Starting a blog is a great way to build your online income. You can use your blog to make money in many ways: advertise products, place ads on your home page or in the sidebar, or promote affiliate links.

While blogging is the online income route I most prefer, it does take some time to grow. It also takes work, promoting your posts and engaging with your followers on your blog and social media. I recommend you blog while also using other routes for making money, so you aren’t waiting months to start building your online income.

3. Virtual Assistant

Many people enjoy being a VA for bloggers and website owners as a way to make money online. As a VA, you will do a variety of tasks for your client. You may choose to be paid hourly or a flat rate for a project.

Services that VAs provide include checking/replying to emails, taking phone calls, creating content, managing social media accounts, and research for blog posts or ebooks.

4. Work from Home Jobs

If you aren’t ready to go a more entrepreneurial route, there are many jobs you can work online to build your income. Real Ways to Earn has a huge job directory, and they update the site with new job leads almost daily. These jobs offer less freedom than other options, since you will be an employee and likely need to work a set number of hours (and set schedule) each week.

Transcription, customer service, and online tutoring are just a few examples of work from home jobs available for those that need a more steady, reliable income.

5. Selling Handmade Crafts

Creative types can open an Etsy store to sell their handmade items. This route does require some business know-how and research. Take a look at other shops on Etsy to determine what sells best and at what prices.

6. Amazon FBA

It’s possible to grow your online income as an Amazon seller. You don’t need to create or patent your own product in order to do this. You simply need to purchase items at a lower price and send them to Amazon to sell. When someone makes a purchase, the shipping is “fulfilled by Amazon” (FBA).

The Selling Family is one example of a married couple who make a full-time living (6 figures!) selling on Amazon. They have several helpful courses on getting started and increasing your profits. Get their FREE REPORT to find out more!

7. Digital Product Creator

If you are knowledgeable in a topic, you can sell your own ebooks or courses to build your online income. This is also a great way to position yourself as an expert in your niche. Once people buy from your once, many will become loyal followers and purchase your future products as well!

The post 7 Ways you can Begin Building an Online Income Today appeared first on Online Income Mom.

With the wealth knowledge I’ve gained from working online, it’s time to start sharing! I currently make  at least $2000 per month with my online income ventures. The key? Putting your eggs in more than one basket.

Now, starting out you may not want to try 5 things at once. Or even 3. That’s perfectly fine – in fact, it’s recommended to start and grow one venture before moving to the next.

That way, you have time to learn about business and grow your income. You will start seeing success, and the money you earn can fuel other ventures you are yearning to try.

How I Make $2000+ Per Month Online

There are many ways to get your start earning an online income, but here are the three ways I would most recommend going about it!

1. Freelance Writing. This is where I got my start many moons ago. I began writing blog posts and articles for website owners. There are many online marketers that need content, but don’t have the time to write it. If you want to become a freelance writer, this is where YOU would come in!
2. Virtual Assistant. This can include content creation, but VAs tend to do a lot of other mundane, busy tasks to free up their client’s time. These duties may include blog management, social media growth or management, email management, blog post or giveaway promotions, or booking appointments and travel arrangements.
3. Blogging. This is by far my favorite way to make money. My parenting blog, Momerish, features all the topics I enjoy talking about…and I sometimes get paid to talk about them! There are many ways to make money with a blog, including sponsored posts, ads, affiliate marketing, and selling your own products. Though it’s my favorite, this online income venture generally takes the longest to build.

These are just three of the MANY ways you can earn an online income. However, these are three that I have found the most success with, both in terms of money and personal enjoyment.

What You Need to Make $2000+ Per Month Online

In order to make money online with any of these three options, you are going to need a web presence. Luckily, starting a blog doesn’t cost much at all – in fact, you can get one up and running for less than $45!

You would likely make that initial investment back with your first client.

Even if you don’t want to venture into blogging, having a blog for your VA or freelance writing business will allow you to showcase your skills and knowledge, as well as give you a spot on the web where clients can find out more about you and contact you for a job.

Along with a blog/website, you should start being active on social media. This will help you land gigs or blogging campaigns, as well as prove your skills in social media management (should you decide to offer that as a VA service in the future).

I recommend setting up a Facebook page and Twitter handle at the very least. If you will be blogging, Pinterest is also an essential.

What if I Want to Make More than $2000 Per Month?

No problem! It is totally doable to scale any of the three ventures I mentioned above to meet your income needs. I know freelancers and VAs who make $5000+ each month, and bloggers who earn more like $10K+ per month!

With freelance writing and VA, you will start to raise your rates as you get more clients and experience. Better yet, you can do more than one of them, so you have multiple income streams. For blogging, as you grow your blog traffic and social media and get more engagement, you ad and affiliate revenues will increase.

You can also raise your rates for sponsored posts on your blog, while turning away offers that don’t meet your rates in order to free up more time to other work. Also, you can begin offering your own products (ebooks/courses) on your blog to really boost your income.

How do you make your online income? Are you looking to move into other ventures? If you are just getting started, which avenue seems to interest you the most?

The post How I Make $2000+ per Month Working Online appeared first on Online Income Mom.