text:
Mom Bloggers Club's Posts - Mom Bloggers Club 2015-04-02T06:02:57Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub http://api.ning.com:80/files/OaLCeaCg49jZ9QuA8X7azq4JZeVZ2yIp7OUrrS53ItPACqK9ZYVB5jVB4GwQBDCtUej4qimzxt2Oi-b8LN**YGeyefVxeILV/1083301563.jpeg?xgip=0%3A0%3A798%3A798%3B%3B&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1 http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=themomsalon&xn_auth=no Unlock Your Pinterest Potential tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-03-26:988554:BlogPost:1585010 2015-03-26T17:42:57.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 At one time, Pinterest was predicted to be just another fad in social media, but now it trails slightly behind social media behemoth Facebook in terms of users. With more than 70 million people on Pinterest, the majority of which are women, Mom Bloggers have a great opportunity to connect with readers…

At one time, Pinterest was predicted to be just another fad in social media, but now it trails slightly behind social media behemoth Facebook in terms of users. With more than 70 million people on Pinterest, the majority of which are women, Mom Bloggers have a great opportunity to connect with readers who are looking to discover your blog!

But first, you have to understand what makes a pin, well, pinnable.

This post breaks down Pinterest to teach you how to create unique, sharable pins and how you can use your Pinterest page to promote your blog and extend your blog's reach.

Anatomy of a Pin

There are three parts to a pin:

The image

The title and description

The link

 Let's go to Pinterest with a query or inspiration for using Pinterest for a business and type it into the search box. This query brings up images with the keywords "Pinterest," "business."

When you click an image that appeals to you, it takes you to the pin, which you can see is a simple image that includes a short text overlay, branding and a website.

When you click on the Pin, it takes you to the post associated with the pin:

In just a few steps I arrive at the Mom Blogger's Club blog! The takeaway from this (and we'll touch more on this later in the post) is that a good pin has a clear image, a clear and articulate title and description using keywords, and includes a link to your website.

We Love Widgets!

Before you start creating images for your website or blog, you should install the Pin it widget so people can pin and share your posts.

But, before linking your blog with Pinterest, you may need to do a little bit of blog and Pinterest housekeeping. First, if you're not on Pinterest, then you need to be.

It's a great tool to organize your life, to provide inspiration and to help you keep your blog on theme (a must for brand consistency).

A lot of people are unsure of whether to have a separate Pinterest account for their blog from their personal Pinterest account. If you are serious about expanding your blog's reach, then you should set up a Pinterest business account. If you already have a Pinterest account, then you can convert it into a business account. The biggest benefit to having a Pinterest business account is that you can gain access to Pinterest's analytics to track your pins and repins.

This doesn't mean that your personality can't come through on your Pinterest business account, but creating a business account is a great way to keep your image professional as well as appealing to sponsors and advertisers who may want to work with you. Don't forget, you can always create "secret boards" so you don't reveal content you aren't ready to share or don't want to share.

Make sure your Pinterest boards have relevant themes, content, and clear and concise keywords in the descriptions. Pinterest searches are generated by keywords, so if you post a pin that you created on rose bush gardening, it's important to have "rose," "bush" and "gardening" in the title and description of the pin so Pinterest doesn't overlook it. If you're going to have a board labeled "stuff," make that a secret board until you can better organize it.

This infographic featured on social media blogger Jeff Bullas' website gives a lot of valuable research on the effectiveness of images, which you should definitely take a look at, but this is the most important takeaway: On average, articles containing images that are relevant to the content have 94 percent more total views than articles without images.

*Check out our article on images and your blog.

That's a pretty compelling statistic and clearly exhibits why it's important to create an image with every blog post you publish! While you can optimize your content on your blog to be more searchable to Google and Bing, what people are most compelled to click is an image that relates to what they are searching for.

Create Unique, Branded Images to Drive Traffic to your Blog or Website

When determining what image you should create to go with your post, it is important is to understand your own limitations. Don't overthink it! And most important, be patient with yourself. Learning a new skill is never a quick and easy process.

Programs such as Photoshop, Canva and PicMonkey can help you to create beautiful images, but don't forget to add your brand to the image (only if you created it yourself, do not brand a re-pinned image!). At the very least, you should include your website or blog address, or your logo if you have one.

Also, the image you use on your blog will have to be sized differently for Pinterest, Facebook and other social media sites. Rebekah Radice of rebekahradice.com says her sweet spot for Pinterest is an image that is 735x1200. Naturally, Pinterest has a board dedicated to this conversation if you don't quite understand sizing images. Keep this social media cheat sheet handy to use across your social media outlets.

There also are a few interesting trends for what pinners prefer: tall images over short images, light images over dark images and warm-colored images over cool-colored images. Utilize these data trends to guide your graphics.

Not sure where to begin? Start a Pinterest board of images that you have the capability of simulating! Just remember to be mindful of Fair Use and copyright protections.

 *Study up on fair use guidelines in our blog post.

If you create images that you would pin yourself, then chances are someone will want to pin your image too, which in turn exposes your pin and blog or website to that person's network, and so on and so on.

Titles and Descriptions: Dangle a Carrot

Like I mentioned above, keywords are vital in populating pins. If you create a blog post on rose bush gardening, give your pin a clear title and add a little teaser about the content of your post in the description box, but keep it under 200 words.

Also, remember that your blog posts shouldn't state the super obvious that just anyone can find from a Google search.

What's your special trick that you use to keep your rose bush garden beautiful? Is it a tip that your grandmother taught you? Consider this title: "Tips I Learned from my Grandmother to Create a Stunning Rose Bush Garden" compared with "Rose Bush Gardening." Which would you rather read? The first title, along with a beautiful image and a little bit of text overlay will give you a pin that will stand out above your selfie in your rose bush garden taken at an awkward angle.

If you blog about motherhood and publish a post on breastfeeding, consider a compelling description such as this: "What I Wish I Knew about Breastfeeding with my First Child." You want to give readers some context about the post but also dangle a carrot in front of them to entice them forward.

One thing you should know about Pinterest titles and descriptions is that you can leave out the hashtags, or only include one at the most, because the Pinterest search function does not support hashtags.

If you use a lot of hashtags in your pin, then Pinterest could demote your pin because it will appear "spammy," so save the hashtags for Twitter when you tweet about your newest blog post (more on that next!).

Broadcast your Post Across Social Media

If you publish a blog post and then don't broadcast it on your social media channels, then chances are no one is going to read it outside of your devoted readership. Pinterest offers lots of widgets to connect your blog, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and everything else all together. Spend some time on Pinterest's "Getting Started" to become familiar with all the tools Pinterest has to offer.

Here's what a social media widget look like:

Adding these social media widgets help connect your blog with Pinterest and Pinterest to your blog, so it creates a two-way street for readers to discover you. Once you publish your post, tweet out the URL and post your image on Facebook, Google+ and all your other social channels. Don't be afraid to ask for retweets and shares!

Pinning Etiquette and Best Practices

Please and thank you still go a long way in this world. A re-pin is a lot like a retweet. If someone re-pins one of your pins, be sure to tell them thank you in the comments section of the pin and use an @ tag to notify the users.

Also, engage with other pinners on Pinterest. If someone pins something you're really into, let them know! Just like you, they are trying hard to be noticed above everyone else, and maybe they'll return the favor. A conversation between two people on social media can quickly grow!

Familiarizing yourself (or becoming obsessed) with Pinterest will help you to become better at recognizing what people are interested in pinning. Pinterest has a lot of boards dedicated to better utilizing its website and the tools, and because of its popularity, there is no lack of resources on the Internet to find the information you need.

And, of course, when you find a good piece of information, pin it!

Add your Pinterest page link in the comments section below so we can all get Pinspiration from each other!

 Media Kit Basics tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-03-19:988554:BlogPost:1583517 2015-03-19T21:18:50.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 If you are looking to take your blog from a hobby to something more professional, enduring and profitable, then you need sponsors. But, to hook sponsors, you'll need a media kit that tells your blog's story. Creating a media kit is a proactive way to reach out to sponsors instead of waiting for sponsors…

If you are looking to take your blog from a hobby to something more professional, enduring and profitable, then you need sponsors. But, to hook sponsors, you'll need a media kit that tells your blog's story. Creating a media kit is a proactive way to reach out to sponsors instead of waiting for sponsors to find you. This blog post is going to cover the media kit basics: what a media kit is, why a media kit is important for growing your blog's brand and what you need to get your media kit started.

What is a media kit?

A media kit is a digital public relations tool that gives basic information about your blog, as well as a little information about yourself to establish your brand. Your media kit should tell sponsors—here I am and here's what I can do for you!

Traditionally, media kits contained print materials that businesses sent to the press or other businesses to promote a new business or product launch, and to bring exposure to their brand. In this way, businesses are able to control their brand's public image. Similar to a resume or portfolio, a media kit is something that you can publish on your blog, or that you can send to advertisers and sponsors to establish your blog's presence—and advantage—over the millions of other blogs out there.

[Photo courtesy of The Blog Maven]

What should my media kit include?

These days, most media kits are published digitally. Creating a media kit will require some research on your part, but it doesn't have to be a giant to-do. A media kit can be created in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Photoshop (or you can pay a designer to create one for you).

If your blog's theme is simple, keep your media kit simple too. In its most basic form, your media kit should include your picture, your blog's theme and focus and analytics. These elements are important to advertisers and sponsors for a few different reasons, so lets break down these three basic components.

Your Picture

For many of us, our blogs are an extension of ourselves and it is important to show sponsors who you are and why they should be interested in you and your blog. If you are an eclectic and funky baker who blogs about creating punk rock pastries, you're going to want to emphasize that in your picture, so leave the power suit in the closet and instead opt for a picture with your trusty apron and handy rolling pin.

On the flip side, if you're a mom with toddler-aged twins who blogs about working full-time outside of the home, you're going to want that to come through in your image as well, so dust off your Wonder Woman cape and mask. It's important to be true with yourself, your audience and your sponsors, but most importantly, have fun!

Your Blog's Theme and Focus

Your blog's theme and focus are important to sponsors because they are essentially looking for brand ambassadors. Brands want to partner with bloggers whose readership is in line with their buyer personas. If your blog is about baking, the look of your media kit should convey this without the sponsor having to go to your blog to find this out.

Sponsors Require Analytics

If you don't have some kind of analytics tool installed on your blog, drop what you're doing and find an analytics tool! Not surprisingly, Google Analytics is by far the most widely used analytics tool and there's a wealth of information out there to help you learn how to use it. If you prefer a less wonky approach to analytics, then check out Kissmetrics.com, which is more conversational and an easier approach to analytics tools.

Analytics are important because they show your blog's reach. Don't fret if your blog doesn't have 1,000 subscribers, because what is important is who you are reaching, not just how many you are reaching. What your analytics show sponsors is your potential to convert readers into consumers through ads, sponsored blog posts and product giveaways. If you blog has only 50 followers, but they are all very engaged with your blog, then that is more valuable than a blog with 500 followers who rarely engage with your blog. Important analytics to include are page views, unique visitors and followers across all your social media platforms.

Blogs attract "target audiences," which are very specific niche audiences that brands otherwise have a hard time reaching when competing for traditional ad space, such as in newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Blogs minimize the time that sponsors and advertisers spend in tracking down these target audiences because blogs attract like-minded members.

Tip: Get creative with displaying your analytics! Instead of just listing statistics, show these numbers in a way that is in keeping with your blog's theme. For example, if your blog is about baking, show your analytics in the form of measuring cups or a tiered cake. Or, if your blog is about gardening, then show your analytics in the form of sprouting flowers. Creativity will help your media kit stand out from the rest.

[Photo courtesy of Zannaland]

Do I include my rates?

Including your rates on your media kit is optional. You can request that sponsors inquire privately about the rates you charge, or you can list them on your media kit page. The prices you charge are entirely up to you, but you should expect some negotiation. Pricing is usually a formula that combines the number of your daily visitors by the monthly price of your ad.

All of these elements should flow together seamlessly in your media kit: a picture of yourself that represents you and your blog, a theme that resonates with the sponsors you seek to attract and analytics creatively displayed in a way that is in keeping with your blog's theme.

Now that we've covered what a media kit is, let's go over why it's important for a blogger who is looking to increase their sponsors and make their blog profitable.

Internet advertising is a hot market right now. According to a report by the Internet Advertising Bureau in conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers, in just the first quarter of 2014, Internet advertising revenues saw a 19% year-over-year increase. As advertisers increasingly turn to digital to market their products and services, you can use this to your blog's advantage.

And that's where your media kit comes in. It tells the world that you and your blog are open for business. It also can help you create mutually beneficial and lasting relationships with sponsors—good sponsors bring legitimacy to your brand. Likewise, your brand can bring major sponsors down to a more personal level for your readers.

The outcome is that you can receive revenue from sponsors and advertisers, and in exchange, advertisers are able to further extend their reach to their consumer base.

Getting Started

First, you're going to need to do a little blog house cleaning and then you'll want to gather some research. Google and Pinterest are great resources for finding examples of blogger media kits. Katy Widrick's blog has a lot of great examples of a basic media kit that you can easily create using Word, PowerPoint or Photoshop. Start small and create a media kit in its most basic form, and as your subscribers and sponsors grow, you can add more elements to your media kit.

Housecleaning

Go through your blog and edit your content for typos and grammar errors. Make sure there are no broken links or images. You'll also want to ensure your comments section isn't full of spam or offensive comments. Advertisers don't want to see a messy blog.

Research

Here are some numbers you'll need to get started:

Gather your social media numbers: Twitter followers, Facebook likes, Pinterest peeps, Instagram followers, etc.

Determine how many people follow your blog. Any demographics of your readership are also useful.

Determine your most shared posts.

Determine your most popular content.

List any accolades you have received for your content.

List any current or past sponsors.

Advertisers Look for Relevancy and Cost

Advertisers are most interested in two things: relevant content and cost. Pampers isn't going to choose to advertise their diapers on a blog about hot rods and sports cars, they want to advertise on blogs that moms (and dads) of diaper-wearing babies frequent. For some insight into what sponsors and advertisers expect from bloggers, read this interview from dailyblogtips.com.

Before you create your media kit, ask yourself "What do I have to offer sponsors?" If your blog is about homeschooling techniques or life with triplets, you're going to want to reach out to companies whose brands are in line with your blog's themes, otherwise you'll be wasting your time. Got a cooking blog? Reach out to Food Network or Cook's Country. Obsessed with blogging about your garden? Ace Hardware is banking that your readers and social media followers are obsessed too.

Remember, working with sponsors is a two-way street: you have the audience, which sponsors need to be successful, and they have the revenue-generating ads and product giveaways, which your blog needs to be profitable.

Got a media kit you'd like to share with the group? Paste the link in the comments section below!
 Online Etiquette & Laws for Bloggers tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-03-12:988554:BlogPost:1580761 2015-03-12T16:14:34.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 A lot of rules and regulations protect bloggers and their content, but it can be confusing to navigate the waters if you're new to blogging. This article breaks down online etiquette and laws so you know what you can and can't do online.

Disclose Paid Advertisements

The Federal Trade…

A lot of rules and regulations protect bloggers and their content, but it can be confusing to navigate the waters if you're new to blogging. This article breaks down online etiquette and laws so you know what you can and can't do online.

Disclose Paid Advertisements

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose mission is to protect consumers and promote competition.

In 2006, the FTC noticed that blogs were getting around traditional advertising by posting paid reviews and endorsements without revealing they were advertisements.

The FTC issued a letter recommending that bloggers be honest and open about paid reviews and endorsements. This is important because, as a blogger, you do not want to mislead your readers. However, it can be difficult to understand what exactly falls under honest and open. According to the FTC's Revised Endorsement Guidelines:

"Endorsements must be truthful and not misleading.

If the advertiser doesn't have proof that the endorser's experience represents what consumers will achieve by using the product, the ad must clearly and conspicuously disclose the generally expected results in the depicted circumstances.

If there's a connection between the endorser and the marketer of the product that would affect how people evaluate the endorsement, it should be disclosed."

If you already follow the above guidelines, then it is likely you are being open and honest. But if you are concealing your relationships with paid advertisers you need to make changes to your blog now to avoid infractions.

Copyright Infringement

Whether you're worried about the copyright of your content, or concerned you may be breaking copyright rules by posting another blogger's content on your blog, understanding copyright infringement will help you blog inside the law.

According to the United States Copyright Office, copyright "is a form of protection grounded in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression." Your original work is immediately protected by copyright "the moment it is created and fixed in a tangible form that it is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device." This means that once you create written content it is your property.

You can post another blogger's content on your blog as long as it is considered "fair use." Fair use is determined on an individual basis, but if you follow these guidelines from Morse, Barnes-Brown & Pendleton, PC you can stay compliant:

The purpose and character of the use. Non-commercial uses are more likely to be considered fair use.

The nature of the copyrighted work. Factual work (as compared to creative work) is more likely to be considered fair use.

The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the work as a whole. Copying an entire body of work will be less likely to be considered fair use.

The effect on the market. If your version of the original content is substituted for the original in the market then it's less likely to be considered fair use.

Even if you use someone else's work under these fair use guidelines, it is important to understand that you are responsible for crediting or citing any work that is not originally yours. WP Dev Shed's article Citing Sources for Your Blog will give you a quick overview on how to responsibly cite sources on your blog.

If you feel someone is infringing on your copyrights and it does not fall under fair use, you can take steps to resolve the situation. Typically, the first step is to send an email to the owner asking them to remove the material because they are violating copyright infringement. If this does not work, it is within your power to pursue legal action. Read White & Case's article What You Need to Know Before You File for more information about creating a copyright case.

Images & Copyright

With the amount of images available on the Internet, it's nearly impossible to regulate them all. However, this does not mean you can use any image you like on your blog without citing or crediting the original author.

Images are protected by the same copyright and fair use laws as written content. This means you have to follow the same fair use guidelines to determine whether you're able to use an image on your blog. Always be sure to link to the original image and give credit to the author. If you're not sure whether an image falls under fair use, consider using images with a Creative Commons license or purchasing stock photography. Read our article Images and Your Blog for more information about how to add photography to your blog on any budget.

Protection of Personal Information

It's safe to say that most people do not want their personal information to become public. You must make clear to your subscribers that they will not receive spam email or any other emails that are not associated with your blog.

The Internet is a great place to share ideas, stories, information and images, but it's important to understand the legal ramifications of sharing. Now that you understand what you can and can't do while blogging, you have the basics to practice your freedom of speech. Let us know what you found most helpful in the comments below!
 A Beginner's Guide to Creating a Blog Logo tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-02-19:988554:BlogPost:1557546 2015-02-19T15:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Your logo is what sets your blog apart from competitors in your niche; it's everything from your stamp of approval to your calling card for your blog. With all that pressure, it can be hard to know where to start in condensing your blog into one mark that represents all you do. Many bloggers have little to no graphic design training, so often, we have to explore other avenues for creating the…

Your logo is what sets your blog apart from competitors in your niche; it's everything from your stamp of approval to your calling card for your blog. With all that pressure, it can be hard to know where to start in condensing your blog into one mark that represents all you do. Many bloggers have little to no graphic design training, so often, we have to explore other avenues for creating the perfect logo to represent our blogs.

What Makes a Standout Logo

Keep it simple. Some of the most recognizable logos from the most successful brands in the world are simple logos. In emulating those logos, choose one or two colors, and a design that will look equally distinctive in black or white.

Try using just an image. Many people want to incorporate their blog or company name and tagline into a logo. That is not always the best idea—logos get cluttered quickly. Ideally, a logo should easily adapt across mediums, from advertisements and gear to business cards and photos, and trying to mesh too many ideas into one identifier dilutes its impact.

Many recognizable logos today don't make any mention of the company's name, but we bet you can name the brands! Consider creating a logo that works with and without your blog name. It keeps things versatile and iconic.

Match your blog. Your logo should match your writing style and give the same feeling your blog bring to readers. (If you're an upbeat blog with an energetic, peppy writing style, think bright colors and bold fonts). You want your logo to convey the style of writing people can expect from your blog.

Consider size. You may have specific dimensions in mind for the size of the logo displayed on your blog, but keep in mind your logo will also be seen in other sizes and orientations. When considering designs, make sure that it looks good in any size (from big to small) and from various orientations (square, rectangular, portrait or landscape).

Ideas to Get You Started

Incorporate your initials. Everyone from major brands to bloggers use initials to make their logo, and for good reason—your initials are an extension of you, and that's a great way to show pride in your work.

Skip the photography. Photos are difficult to use in a logo, instead opt for geometric shapes or an icon.

Check out Just Creative's Logo Design Trends and Inspiration to get you in the frame of mind for creating your logo design.

How to Make Your Vision a Reality

Once you have an idea, the how of creating a logo is your next step. There are several different avenues to explore in making your vision come to life.

Fiverr – This website offers different creative and design services all starting at $5. You can review the portfolios from literally thousands of vendors and choose a vender that matches your design aesthetic/style to create a logo for your blog/website.

Online Logo Maker – Allows you to create a logo for free using predetermined art. The upside is your logo will be available in just minutes; the downside is that there are limited options and others may have a similar logo.

LogoYes – This website gives you the ability to create a logo using stock icons and fonts and view a sample before making a final purchase.

Local graphic designer. Ask friends, family and other bloggers if they have any contacts in the graphic design field. They may be able to point you in the direction of someone who can create a unique logo for your blog. If you're concerned about budget, consider reaching out to students at your local college or university. They're often looking for a chance to expand their portfolio and may give you a great deal!

Don't be afraid to tweak your logo over time. You may love your new logo, but make sure to check-in every once in awhile to make sure your logo isn't out of date. You can add small updates to the font and colors to keep up with trends, or create an entirely new look to show the world!

 We gave you our tips; now share your blog logo and how you created it in the comments below!
 Tools for Twitter: Programs for Content, Conversation & Analytics tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-02-13:988554:BlogPost:1554936 2015-02-13T15:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Twitter is one of the best social media platforms for bloggers. In less than 140 characters per tweet, Twitter helps you get and stay connected to your readers, and allows you to join conversations and keep up with the latest trends and topics. Check out our list of the best Twitter programs to help you…

Twitter is one of the best social media platforms for bloggers. In less than 140 characters per tweet, Twitter helps you get and stay connected to your readers, and allows you to join conversations and keep up with the latest trends and topics. Check out our list of the best Twitter programs to help you make the most of your profile.

Content

TweetDeck by Twitter is a great tool for managing your content. It allows you to schedule tweets (including images), so you can plan your content beforehand and make sure it hits Twitter when your audience is most active. This free program gives you the tools to organize and build custom timelines, keep track of lists, custom searches, activity and more—all in one easy-to-use interface.

Another exciting feature of TweetDeck is the ability to manage multiple accounts on one interface. If you're running both your blog and personal account, this is a great way to toggle back and forth without having to log in and out of multiple accounts. You can set up your streams to be displayed side by side so you never miss a tweet!

You can also use this dashboard to view content pulled from those you engage with most frequently, or monitor and follow new accounts on one (or all) with a couple of clicks. Trying to avoid spoilers until you can catch up on the latest episode of Downton Abbey? TweetDeck lets you mute accounts or hashtags by excluding a user's handle or specific word. Once the threat of spoilers has passed, you can easily unmute those users or keywords as well.

Conversation

TweetChat is a free to use, simple interface that makes it a snap to host, moderate or join a tweet chat. If you've been part of a tweet chat before, you may have found it frustrating to track the conversation or stay engaged between your usual Twitter stream and the chat. TweetChat lets you zero in on the conversation at hand, interact with participants, and automatically loads a predetermined hashtag into every tweet so you can stay focused and on point.

TweetChat also features Active Rooms, which allow you to see the most talked about topics on Twitter and connect with users who are conversing on these topics. This is a great way to get involved with an audience you may not have reached before by seeking topics that are both popular and could relate to your blog. Opting to occasionally join these Active Rooms could help you recruit new readers to your blog – just be sure you're staying relevant to the conversation at hand!

If you're looking for a more integrated site that gives you more options and features, take a look at HootSuite and Sprout Social. These platforms offer a variety of features including scheduling posts and tracking analytics for a monthly fee.

Analytics

Twitter updated their analytics in 2014, and have been working hard to make it a more comprehensive overview of your account. Twitter Analytics offers you free snapshot of how your Twitter posts are performing and who's engaging—information that could be extremely helpful in determining what your audience is interested in and how to keep them engaged and coming back for more.

The program is automatically set up for a month-at-a-glance view of your most vital stats, but you can customize the time period, which gives you the opportunity to get a more flexible look at the performance of your account across specific dates.

And for those who really love delving into analytics and spreadsheets, you can opt to export the data as a CSV file, which means you can save your data over the course of a year (or longer) to get a better understanding of your overall Twitter impact. Plus, this allows you to easily share with clients and partners to show how your content has performed for campaigns, sponsored posts and more.

Some of the most powerful breakdowns Twitter Analytics provides are as follows:

Engagement Rate: Engagement factors in every way a follower can interact with your account to make it show up in their timeline. It incorporates one-on-one conversations as well as promotion to their circles of influence.

Link Clicks: If you post a tweet with a link in it, link clicks can tell you how many people actually opened that link. If the click-through rate is low, you know you need to either adjust your content strategy, or take a look at when you're posting to improve performance.

Retweets: A retweet happens when another user decides to repost a tweet sent by you. If a user retweets your tweet, their followers (and your followers) see your content.

Favorites: Favorites allow users to archive content by "starring" it so that they can re-engage later.

Replies: When a user responds directly to a tweet you sent out, or uses your Twitter handle at the beginning of a tweet.

Impressions: Impressions refers to the total number of users who received your tweets in their newsfeed. Although not everyone who receives a tweet reads it, it gives you a basis for how many people may be viewing your tweets.

When taken in together, this information gives you a look at what posts are highly effective so you can learn what's working (and what isn't) so that you're tailoring your content to match the interests of your audience.

Tweet Reach is an especially useful tool when creating online promotions. If you're working with an organization (or just doing a promo yourself) it helps you see your overall reach and how your content is having an impact on users. You can view your impressions and see a breakdown of how many tweets are sent by users with a certain number of followers. Customize this for your Twitter handle or hashtag to see how your blog is performing.

This program is also a great tool for Tweet Ups and Tweet Chats because it offers many of features similar to TweetChat. Use their interface to view a tweet timeline and track hashtags, brands and individuals.

Use the top contributors function to learn who is interacting with your blog the most and consider giving them a shout-out or perhaps rewarding them with a giveaway for their loyalty. Customers are loyal to brands that are loyal to them, so this can help keep your most loyal audience coming back to your blog.

The website shows you data from the last 50 tweets for free. If you want a more robust report, you can choose to pay a fee.

We've shared our favorite Twitter programs to help you grow your audience; now let us know what you love! In the comments below, share how you set up content, conversation and analytics to make the most of Twitter!
 Mapping an Editorial Calendar for Your Blog tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-02-05:988554:BlogPost:1552106 2015-02-05T19:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 An editorial calendar is your first step in mapping out an exciting and multi-faceted blog. Think of it as your road map for your blogging journey— because to get where you want to go, it's helpful to have directions. And once your calendar is built, it'll be easier to adjust for any detours…

An editorial calendar is your first step in mapping out an exciting and multi-faceted blog. Think of it as your road map for your blogging journey— because to get where you want to go, it's helpful to have directions. And once your calendar is built, it'll be easier to adjust for any detours or changes you want to make to your posting plan along the way. An editorial calendar can be as simple or robust as you desire: as long as you have the basic tools you need to build it, you're one step closer to your destination.

Determine how often you will blog. The first step to creating your editorial calendar is to set a blogging goal. That will give you insight into how many posts and how much content you need to create to keep your blog up to date and on track.

Also, think about reoccurring posts. This is the time to set up a Motivational Monday post and make sure you have content ideas that match for each Monday. Try scheduling interviews on Fridays or "Words of Wisdom Wednesdays," so readers have a sense of your blog and know what to expect weekly. This will keep them consistently coming back.

Choose a calendar. There are many different options when choosing how you will write down all this information. Pick something that you feel comfortable with—whether that's a wall calendar, planner, notebook, digital calendar, spreadsheet, Wordpress plug-in, or post-it notes arranged in rows and columns. Whatever works best for you is how you should map out your calendar.

If you're looking for a more complex calendar, consider downloading Pam Marketing Nut's free editorial calendar. Also, check out Social Media Examiner's article 3 Tools to Better Manage Your Blogging Editorial Calendar for tools and ideas about how incorporate an editorial calendar into your blog.

Add holidays and special occasions. To keep content timely, put all the important events, holidays and occasions that you may want to include in your posts on your calendar first. This will give you an outline of when these events take place and enough time to plan a post before the event or holiday, so your readers have time to see the information before the big day.

Brainstorm topics. You may already have a long list of topics you want to incorporate into your blog, or you may not be sure where to start. Brainstorming about ideas to feature on your blog is a great jumping off point, providing you with a list of ideas that could lead to individual posts. If you need help organizing your brainstorm, try HubSpot Blogs' brainstorming spreadsheet. If you're having trouble coming up with new ideas, read our article 15 Out-of-the-Box Blog Topics or visit our Facebook Page for our daily writing prompts.

Keep it simple. It can be overwhelming to plan an entire year worth of content in one sitting, so start by planning out a single month. Keep a running calendar of each year, so when you come across a good idea for spring, you can add it, but don't try to plan all your content up to December 31, 2015 today. There are too many variables that will change, and new ideas that will pop up to map out your entire year in one sitting.

Know your audience. It's important to know who you're talking to when mapping out your calendar. Understand what is important to that audience and base your content decisions on who you want to attract and what you think they'll want to read about.

Don't forget social media and extras. Your editorial calendar doesn't have to be limited to blog posts; keep a running list for social media posts as a reminder to stay up to date with your latest blogs. You can include extra information like accompanying videos, references and photo files in additional tabs (if you're using a spreadsheet calendar) to keep all your information in one place.

Stay updated. You can't just set it and forget it; always keep your calendar up to date and make adjustments accordingly. If you change a post or day, note it on your calendar. When you take a look back at this calendar as a reference for next year, you'll be glad you kept it all in order.
 Mom Bloggers Get Together! tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-01-29:988554:BlogPost:1550079 2015-01-29T17:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Blogging doesn't have to be a single-player game. There is a whole army of mom bloggers out there that can be the perfect resource to tap into to help you launch, build or inspire your blog. Today, we're sharing some tips to help you make the most of collaborating with other mom bloggers—how to find…

Blogging doesn't have to be a single-player game. There is a whole army of mom bloggers out there that can be the perfect resource to tap into to help you launch, build or inspire your blog. Today, we're sharing some tips to help you make the most of collaborating with other mom bloggers—how to find a good match and how cross-promote to grow your audiences through a partnership that's mutually beneficial.

Network

Join a Circle of Friends. Mom Bloggers Club has created Circle of Friends, a small group of bloggers that are connecting to share, learn and grow together, to help connect mom bloggers to one another. Research shows that people are more confident, learn more and accomplish more when working in small teams. By joining Circle of Friends, you'll have support from your peers and the added motivation/inspiration of others to help take your blog to the next level.

Reach out to other bloggers with an opportunity. There are plenty of bloggers that are looking for a chance to connect with you, but they may not be acting on it. You miss all the shots you don't take, so get out there and reach out to as many bloggers as you can. If you particularly like a blog you've seen, write the blogger and ask to coordinate a time to talk about blogging with potential to be featured on your blog.

Example:

Good afternoon Nancy,

I have followed your blog, Home Gardening, for the past three months, and really enjoy the unique approach you to indoor gardening. You have a knack for making it simple for beginners like me to grow their own garden.

I write the blog, Mom's Kitchen, which focuses on my life as a mom and a chef. I am interested in connecting with you about a potential collaboration. Because you are an expert in your field, I thought you might be able to give my readers insight into how to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Pleases feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Jane Smith

firstname.lastname@example.com

Interact

Once you've made a connection, you may be at a loss for how to incorporate a guest blogger onto your site. Interviews, linking, commenting and creating a buzz are all great ways to interact with your network and help drive traffic to your blog.

Interview one another. Interviews can seem intimidating if you've never done one before, but a good interview follows a basic formula. Read Income Diary's article 10 Tips for Creating Awesome Interviews for Your Blog to find out how to conduct an interview that will drive traffic to your blog and engage your readers.

Join (or host) a blog hop. Blog hops (also referred to as link parties, linky parties, blog parties and similar names) give you the resources to get connected to other bloggers by following their blog and leaving a comment (if you desire).

Mom Bloggers hosts their very own weekly Blog Hop that you can join! If you're looking to connect, read 5 Things You Must Know About Link Parties for information about how make the most of these opportunities.

Create a buzz. Alone we can do very little, but together we can accomplish a lot. There is power in numbers, so get a group together and start a buzz. Get your circle to all comment on a current event or write a review for a show, play or movie. Once the conversation is started, encourage readers to learn more about the topic by visiting blogs you've connected with and ask them to write their own post about the topic.

Lend a Hand. Once you've found a couple of blogging partners, introduce one another and grow your circle. The more people you introduce, the more potential you have to meet other bloggers in your areas of interest and learn and experience more through your blog than you ever dreamed possible.

 How do you use your personal network of fellow bloggers to help grow your following? Give us your tips in the comments below. We look forward to getting to know you all!
 Social Media Resolutions for 2015 tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2015-01-23:988554:BlogPost:1549134 2015-01-23T20:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 New Years resolutions are great, but it's the tasks we do daily, weekly or monthly that lead to the fulfillment of a yearly goal. If one of your resolutions for 2015 is to be more social media savvy, then we've got you covered with a list of goals to get you there. In this article, we're breaking…

New Years resolutions are great, but it's the tasks we do daily, weekly or monthly that lead to the fulfillment of a yearly goal. If one of your resolutions for 2015 is to be more social media savvy, then we've got you covered with a list of goals to get you there. In this article, we're breaking down this year's social media resolutions for Mom Bloggers.

1. Set a posting goal. New content is what keeps readers coming back to blogs, so it's imperative to continue posting fresh and interesting content. It's easy to get caught up in everyday life and forget about creating new posts. This year, make a vow to publish a certain number of posts a month. For you, maybe it's four times, maybe it's daily posts—read How Often Should You Blog, by The Book Designer, for ideas on your perfect number of posts each month. Make a commitment to post on social media (including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+) about every new blog post. Whatever number you pick, place your goal somewhere you will see it daily as a reminder to stay on track.

Keep in mind you can create additional posts beforehand (when you're feeling extra ambitious) to make up for that weeks you're swamped and have no time to write. Just make sure these posts are timeless, so you're not posting something that is dated.

2. Clean up your profiles. Having your information clear and streamlined is very important to how you market your blog. Take a look at all your social media accounts—do they clearly state who you are and what your blog is and about? Try reading your accounts as a first-time visitor and make sure all the information you want to convey is available and easy to find.

When it comes to your blog, focus on your About page. It's your business card and typically the page with the most traffic on your site, so it needs to be a priority. DIY Themes has a helpful article, How to Create An Amazing Blog About Page, that gives you tips about putting your best foot forward.

 3. Interact with one new blog a week. Your online network will grow as much as you're willing to grow it. If you haven't already, join a social network like Mom Bloggers Club to give you support and a place to start connecting.

If you're already part of the club, then get out there! This is the perfect time to make new online connections, and share ideas, stories and information. Growing your blog takes a village; so allow those around you to help. Don't forget to return the favor and help promote their blog posts as well.

4. Don't be negative. It's difficult to avoid negativity on social media, but that doesn't mean that we should feed into it. As bloggers, we have a voice in the online conversation. This year, resolve to keep things positive. As you interact with fellow bloggers, keep in perspective that everyone is a person (even from behind a computer screen), and remember to follow the golden rule—treat others as you would like others to treat you.

5. Use the right hashtags. Hashtags help bring recognition to your posts by categorizing the hastagged phrase and helping your post show up quickly in a search. Most social sites, including blogs, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook include hashtags. Aim for hashtags that are well known, but not too popular, so your content doesn't get lost in a sea of other posts.

Anytime you use a hashtag on a public account, you are increasing your chances that others will see your posts. However, don't over hashtag a post. Try to find the most relevant two to three hashtags to include. If you're a tagging beginner, check out What is a Hashtag? And What Do You Do with Hashtags?

If you've been hashtagging for years, make sure you're using the best possible hashtags to get your content in front of your audience. Do your hashtag homework and make sure the tags you are using are populated with content you want your posts to be associated with. If you're having trouble knowing which hashtags you should use, read Make Use Of's article #RandomDoesntCutIt: How To Choose The Right Hashtag For Your Tweet for advice.

6. Incorporate more visual features in your social media. We are living in a visual world, so it's important to incorporate images into your posting. We've all heard that the blog is all about the content, but that content needs to include visuals. Spin Sucks' article Incorporate Visual Social Media in Your Content Strategy breaks down why images are so important to social media.

When posting on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, include a visual that corresponds with your message, or consider putting your message ON a graphic.

Sites like Instagram and Pinterest rely entirely on images (although you have an option to insert text). If you're not into photography, there are sites like iStockPhoto and Shutterstock that have a plethora of stock images you can search, modify and use for a member fee.

Share your social media resolutions with us, and let us know which goals you're going to stick to this year in the comments below!
 Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid When Blogging tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-12-29:988554:BlogPost:1542061 2014-12-29T18:56:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 We all know grammar can be tricky. Whether it's the slip of a key, or a rule you don't know, we've all made embarrassing mistakes in our blogs. Although spell check and grammar check are nice, they don't catch every mistake. On your blog, appearance counts for a lot, so making sure your posts are…

We all know grammar can be tricky. Whether it's the slip of a key, or a rule you don't know, we've all made embarrassing mistakes in our blogs. Although spell check and grammar check are nice, they don't catch every mistake. On your blog, appearance counts for a lot, so making sure your posts are grammatically correct can make a big difference in how professional you appear to readers. This week, we're breaking down some of the most common grammar and style errors to help you make your blog the best it can be.

Single space sentences. It was once the rule that all sentences should be double-spaced, but those days are long gone. If you're still double-spacing your sentences, you're losing precious real estate in your blog and making a writing faux pas. Although it might be a tricky habit to kick, save yourself the time and single space sentences moving forward.

Use commas properly. Commas can be sneaky when they are thrown in compound sentences, sentences with double ands, or when you're using different styles. There are several comma rules you'll want to make sure you follow.

Use a comma to separate two adjectives when the adjectives are interchangeable. Example: She wrote a long, beautiful story.

In sentences where two independent clauses are joined by connectors (and, or, but), put a comma at the end of the first clause. Example: She wrote all about her trip, and all about her son's wedding.

Use a comma when a word or clause introduces a sentence. Example: Carrying her computer, Dawn walked to the local coffee shop to finish her first blog post.

A comma should be used for a simple series or lists of three or more. Example: We went to a museum, hiking and to a show.

Also, add a comma before and to set apart two words that belong together in a series. Example: We went to a museum, hiking and biking, and to a show. The comma before the second and makes it clear that hiking and biking go together in the sentence.

You may have heard of what some consider "grammar's great divide"—the Oxford comma. This comma is used after a series of three or more before and.

For example with Oxford comma: She loves to blog about fashion, travel, and cooking.

Without Oxford comma: She loves to blog about fashion, travel and cooking.

Both are correct, we recommend you pick a style and stick with it to keep your writing consistent. For more tips and in-depth examples, visit Online Writing Lab.

Put an end to run-on sentences. Run-on sentences are one of the easiest mistakes a writer can make. When we write, our ideas and words flow onto the page (often in a stream of consciousness format). If you're not carefully editing, you may notice many sentences are run-ons.

A run-on sentence occurs when two independent clauses are in one sentence without the proper punctuation or a conjunction. Example: She enjoys writing at night and often reads on vacation.

This sentence needs a comma before and to properly join the two clauses. Example: Kelly enjoys writing at night, and Alex often reads on vacation.

Run-on sentences can make your writing difficult to read, because there are not natural pauses for readers. Reading out loud is a helpful trick to tell if you need to cut one sentence into two, or add a comma and conjunction. It can also help you pace your writing to make it sound more natural.

When to use a semicolon. Like commas and conjunctions, semicolons can be used for run-on sentences. They typically join two independent clauses in a compound sentence that does not contain a coordinating conjunction (and, or, but) and a comma. Example: She is an excellent blogger; she built up an audience of over 10,000 subscribers.

A semicolon can also be used to separate lists and series that already include commas. Example: She wanted to visit New York, NY; Chicago, IL; and Atlanta, GA.

Quotations marks are used in a variety of instances including direct quoting, conversations in stories and poems, and titles for short bodies of published work. Quotes should live outside the punctuation of a sentence. Example: "I will come over at noon," she said.

For easy access to this list of common grammar and style errors, bookmark this page. Let us know your most common grammar and style errors, and how you overcame them in the comments below!
 Holiday Gift Idea: Mason Jar Recipes! tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-12-12:988554:BlogPost:1538447 2014-12-12T20:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Mason Jar recipes are the gift that keeps giving! With countless delicious recipes to try (from decadent to healthy), they are personal and creative. Plus, as a bonus, they come with an adorable jar that can be reused for other fun crafts. In the holiday spirit, we are sharing our favorite Mason jar recipes. Grab…

Mason Jar recipes are the gift that keeps giving! With countless delicious recipes to try (from decadent to healthy), they are personal and creative. Plus, as a bonus, they come with an adorable jar that can be reused for other fun crafts. In the holiday spirit, we are sharing our favorite Mason jar recipes. Grab your grocery list, because you're going to want to give these gifts to everyone on your list.

1. Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie

Fill a gift with the holiday spirit, tightly packed into a Mason jar. This classic cookie recipe is perfect for all those with a sweet tooth on your holiday shopping list. Mix the dry ingredients of delectable oatmeal-raisin cookies into a festive jar to create a gift that's worth celebrating and give to friends, family and co-workers. Handwrite or print a recipe card, and wrap ribbon around the jar for added festivity.

Recipe courtesy of The Food Network

2. Chocolate Peanut Butter M&M Cookie Mix

The combination of peanut butter mixed with chocolate can only be enhanced by one thing—cookies! Deliver this delightful mix to Reece's lovers and cookie lovers alike. A quick tip to filling your gift recipe jars—lightly tap the jar on the counter to pack for more room to make sure all the ingredients fit.

Recipe and photo courtesy of TheFrugalGirls.com

3. Homemade Dog Treats

Finally, the perfect present for the dog-lover in your life. Homemade dog treats are a gift the whole family will love (especially your friend's favorite pets). Make a batch for your new neighbors, or old friends. Just be sure to clearly label them as dog treats so there are no accidents!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Buzfeed.com

4. Cowgirl Cookies

Country cuties will eat this recipe up. These delicious cookies, which include brown sugar, M&M's and pecans, will have anyone's mouth watering. Cowgirl Cookies even come with their own printable label and recipe. Need them for a man in your life? Don't worry—they have Cowboy Cookie labels too! Add a little plaid fabric, a brown suede bow and viola—you have a unique gift everyone is sure to love!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Bakerella

5. Gingerbread Cookie Mix

Nothing tastes like the holidays quite like gingerbread cookies. With this simple recipe you can give the gift of homemade gingerbread cookies without even touching an oven. This portable gift is made even easier with a pre-designed recipe and label. Just pack the ingredients, print the label and create an instant present (no mall required)!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Food For My Family

 6. Brownie Mix in a Jar II

It's not all cookies when it comes to Mason jar recipes; brownies are a simple treat that chocolate lovers will appreciate. Try this recipe, which includes crushed pecans, for co-workers, friends and family. As an added touch, bring a batch of the brownies with you when you give the gift, so they know just how delectable they are.

Recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com

7. "The Best Granola" Gift-in-a-Jar

If you're looking for something a little healthier, but equally as tasty, try giving granola in a Mason jar. The beauty of this recipe is that the varieties are never ending—you can tailor your gift to the receiver's taste. Pack it with shredded coconut, dried fruits and crispy nuts and seeds, and any other tasty add-ins! Attach a recipe card (so they can make it when they run out) and feel accomplished knowing you gave a healthy and delicious gift to someone you love.

Recipe courtesy of Keeper of the Home
 Amp Up Your Email Subject Lines tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-12-04:988554:BlogPost:1536915 2014-12-04T21:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 We've discussed the importance of creating an email blast in 10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Blog Traffic. Sending emails to announce new posts, contests and news is a great way to drive readers to your blog, so today we are helping make your emails count by giving you the dos and don'ts of subject…

We've discussed the importance of creating an email blast in 10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Blog Traffic. Sending emails to announce new posts, contests and news is a great way to drive readers to your blog, so today we are helping make your emails count by giving you the dos and don'ts of subject lines.

We know you spend precious time and effort creating emails for your readers, but these emails are worthless unless they take the time to open them. Although email subject lines are only a couple of words, they are actually the most important part of your email. Below we outline how to capture a reader's attention, and get them to click open!

Don't use caps lock. We've all seen spam emails with words like "FREE," "DEALS" and "MUST READ" shouting at us when we check our inbox. Readers prefer a more conversational subject line (one that looks like it was sent from a friend) instead of screaming advertisements, so forgo the caps lock and only capitalize the first letter of each word.

Don't: 10 MUST-HAVE HOLIDAY FASHIONS!!

Do: 10 Must-Have Holiday Fashions

Do keep it conversational. Studies have shown that the most opened emails are personal emails. The more you can make your subject line look personal; the more likely readers are to open your email.

Don't: The Ultimate Gifts for the Winter 2014 Season

Do: Top Gifts this Season

Don't blend in. Personalizing emails is a great way to stand out from the crowd. If you're yelling at everyone in a crowded room, it's unlikely anyone will listen to you. But, if you yell one person's name, they are more inclined to hear you. The same concept applies for emails. People are conditioned to respond to their name, so personalize your subject lines to get readers to open them.

Don't: Hey You! Do You Have a Favorite Recipe?

Do: Jane, Do You Have a Favorite Recipe?

Do hook them with location. People are interested in events and information pertinent to where they live. If you're writing a piece that is specific to an area, include that in the subject line and be sure to market your emails to those who live in or around the area.

Don't: Don't Miss the Upcoming Holiday Festival

Do: Don't Miss San Diego's Holiday Festival

Don't be too long. The shorter and more to the point your subject line is, the more likely people will open it. Subject lines should be less than 50 characters (this includes spaces). Pithy, attention-grabbing language is best used in subject lines. This will capture the reader's attention with just a quick glance.

Don't: How to Turn Your Wardrobe from Drab to Fab in Just 5 Easy Steps

Do: Wardrobe Makeover: Drab to Fab

Do stay timely. By adding a current event or holiday in your subject, you can capture readers' interest. Stay up-to-date with what's happening and keep in mind seasons. Tailor your blog posts to what people are interested in, and be sure to include it in the subject line.

Don't: Learn How to Beat the Summer Heat

Do: How to Have a Warm Winter this Christmas

Don't over send. Even if you begin with a 100% open rate, your numbers will quickly drop if you're sending too many emails. There is no perfect amount of emails to send, but depending on your audience and volume of posts, you can determine the best number. Try to only send emails when you have new or exciting content to share.

Don't: Reminder #3—New Blog Post!

Do: Happy Thursday: New Blog Post!

Tip: If you're using an email system such as MailChimp, you also want to consider the "from" line. This is where email recipients will see who is sending the email. You want to keep this consistent. It is recommended to use your blog name, or your personal name if it is listed on your blog. You want this to be something readers can identify with your blog each time they see an email from you. Whereas your subject line will change with each email, your "From" line will stay the same.

We've shared our dos and don'ts; now let us know what works for you. Give us your tips and tricks for creating the perfect email subject line in the comments below!
 Apps to Help You Blog Better tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-11-20:988554:BlogPost:1534576 2014-11-20T21:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 As bloggers, we're always looking for ways to add value to our posts. As mothers, we're usually looking for ways to get more done (quickly and on-the-go!). Between soccer practice, piano lessons and school plays—it seems like we're never home. Apps can help you stay on track with your blogging goals by bringing the…

As bloggers, we're always looking for ways to add value to our posts. As mothers, we're usually looking for ways to get more done (quickly and on-the-go!). Between soccer practice, piano lessons and school plays—it seems like we're never home. Apps can help you stay on track with your blogging goals by bringing the convenience of your favorite programs to the device you never leave home without—your phone! There are a number of apps you can use to check your blog's analytics, search the web for inspiration and keep your blog updated, all while the move. Check out our list of must-have apps for mom bloggers and start downloading today!

BlogPress – If you're using multiple blogging platforms, then this app will save you time. One of the most exciting features is that you can publish the same post on multiple blogs in just one click. Also, this app makes uploading photos and videos, and inserting HTML simple.

Fun, random feature? For those who prefer to express emotions using the Emoji app, you can insert them directly into your blog using BlogPress.

Available on Apple Store

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – Having social media apps right on your phone and tablet can help you stay up-to-date with posting your latest blogs on your social channels, as well as answering questions and comments from your readers. With these user-friendly apps, you won't miss important, timely messages and comments because you're away from your computer.

Twitter available on Apple Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store

Facebook available on Apple Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store

Instagram available on Apple Store, Google Play, Windows Phone Store

WriteRoom - This app gives users a distraction-free writing workspace. If you're not interested in a bunch of fancy menus, options and formatting features, this can help keep you concentrated and focused on your writing.

Available on Apple Store

Instapaper – Surfing the web on a five minute break and find the perfect article with content you've been looking to include in your blog? Instapaper allows you to save articles, videos, recipes, and any other Internet content in one app. Not only can you save articles, but you can also highlight important text for easy access when you return. This app syncs to your iPhone, iPad Android and Kindle—allowing you the luxury of reading your saved content anytime, anywhere.

Available on Apple Store, Google Play

Analytics App – If you're plugged into Google Analytics, then this app is a definite must-have. Check all your analytics including quick overview reports, detailed reports, visitor reports and more (over 55 reports available in total). With a simple interface and clear stats, some bloggers prefer to use the app rather than their browser.

Available on Apple Store

SEO Automatic – Evaluate your blog's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) right from your phone in real-time. Analyze headers, meta tags, photo tags and other aspects to better understand the success (or areas of needed improvement) of your SEO strategy. Expert suggestions are available as well to help you effectively use the app.

Available on Apple Store, Google Play

WhatsTheFont – When reading a newspaper, magazine or other publication, you may find a font you want to use in your blog—only to later realize you can't identify it on your computer. Take the guesswork out of finding the font you want, with WhatTheFont. This app allows you to recognize fonts with the touch of a button, so you never have to search for the perfect font again.

 Available on Apple Store

Mom Bloggers—tell us your favorite apps that help you blog better! Share in the comments below!
 15 Out-of-the-Box Topics to Blog About tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-11-06:988554:BlogPost:1530411 2014-11-06T22:04:59.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Whether you're a new or veteran blogger, we all run into writer's block from time to time. Creating original and interesting material is critical to sustaining an engaging and successful blog. But, developing new material can be easier said than done. Below we've outlined some out-of-the-box post ideas to help get…

Whether you're a new or veteran blogger, we all run into writer's block from time to time. Creating original and interesting material is critical to sustaining an engaging and successful blog. But, developing new material can be easier said than done. Below we've outlined some out-of-the-box post ideas to help get the creative juices flowing. Feel free to mix, match and personalize each idea—these are just a jumping off point, so start here and cultivate your own ideas as well!

Add to your "About Me" intro to let your readers know more about your life. Typically, an About Me section is only a couple sentences introducing the blog author. Instead, write an entire post to tell your readers more about yourself. This can help them understand where you're coming from and foster a connection with your writing. You may also want to consider mixing things up by adding a video introduction as well.

Write a post from the POV of your favorite character. It can be from a book, television show or someone in the public eye. See the world from their point of view and show readers with your writing.

List your skin care regimen. Many of us have spent time perfecting a skin care routine that works for our skin type. Whether you have dry, oily or combination skin—you've probably tried a variety of products and found a regimen what works best for you. Share your routine with readers, and don't forget to account for changes as winter approaches.

With the holidays around the corner, gift guides will be popping up everywhere. Take the time to write about the most heartfelt gift or gifts you've ever received.

Create a list of exciting events or attractions in your town. Include annual events and year-round entertainment. Update the post annually to keep it relevant.

Post one of your favorite inspirational quotes or songs and what it means to you. Did it help you through a hard time? Capture the experience and share it with your audience.

Write a post as a poem. You can turn any topic into a poem. Scour previous posts and transform one into a poem, or create something entirely new. Changing your writing style can help you grow as a blogger, and attract a new audience. Read the poetry blog Write Out Loud for inspiration.

Talk about TV worth watching. With Netflix and On Demand programming, there are so many options available, sometimes it can be difficult to choose a show. Let your readers know what shows have peaked your interest and why they're worth watching.

Review your (and your children's) favorite snacks. We've all read restaurant reviews, but this is a new take on a classic review. Consider the pros and cons of your favorite quick foods (pro: individually wrapped, con: small portion), and let your fans know which receive your seal of approval. Do the same for your children's favorite snacks—other moms will be very appreciative!

Share one of your biggest failures. We all have them, and your story may be a lesson that can be passed on to your readers, so they don't have to learn the hard way.

Write a list of FAQs for your blog. If you write a cooking blog, explain common questions you receive (like what's the difference between table salt and sea salt, and which should be used while baking). Think of common questions a beginner may ask and compile them into an easy-to-read post.

Add a twist to a single product review and compare two similar products. Just as we have a vast sea of TV shows to watch, we also have an extensive list of products to buy. Try two leading brands of all-purpose cleaners and let your readers know which is worth the money.

Answer a question posted to Yahoo Answers. If one person is asking the question, the odds are many others are thinking the same thing. Visit Yahoo Answers and browse their content to find a topic you have considerable knowledge about. Then, answer the question in a post to your audience.

Post your commentary about a local or national new article. Blogs are a great place to express your opinions. Be sure to include why you feel this way, and provide a link to and summary of the original article.

Post an old photo and write about that day or time in your life. Photos are a great way to bring back memories—and why not share those memories with your readers? Upload an old favorite or tell a story about someone you once knew.

For more ideas and inspiration, catch our daily blog writing prompts at www.Facebook.com/mombloggersclub.

 We want to hear from you! What topics caught your attention? Let us know and add to our list by sharing your ideas in the comments below!
 Multi-Topic or Single-Topic Blog: Which is Best for You? tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-10-30:988554:BlogPost:1529048 2014-10-30T21:04:24.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Whether you're starting a new blog or revamping your current one, the first question you need to ask yourself is—what will my blog be about? Many people choose to create single-topic or niche blogs centered on one particular topic (for example: Dessert First,…

Whether you're starting a new blog or revamping your current one, the first question you need to ask yourself is—what will my blog be about? Many people choose to create single-topic or niche blogs centered on one particular topic (for example: Dessert First, focuses on creating decadent pastries and deserts). The other option is a multi-topic, general blog, which can focus on a number of interests.

When it comes to creating a single-topic or multi-topic blog, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Although niche blogs have been popular in the past, many successful blogs cover a variety of topics. This week, we break down the pros and cons of each style to help you decide which is right for you and your blog.

The first step in creating or revamping your blog is to identify why you're writing. If you're using your blog as a creative outlet for pleasure, then it may be beneficial to create a multi-topic blog that allows you the opportunity to blog about any of your interests.

If you're interested in attracting advertisers, niche blogs may be enticing because they offer a targeted readership. Companies spend a lot of money to target their customers, so even if you have a multi-topic blog with 20,000 views a week— opposed to a single-topic blog with 10,000 views a week—a company may view the single-topic blog as more effective because they can pinpoint their market. For example, a blog created specifically for new moms may be more appealing to a diaper company, even if it has fewer views than a multi-topic blog that reaches a wider audience.

Some companies have a wide range of customers and may be focused on reaching a larger audience, and less concerned about targeting a particular demographic. Think about your goals, what you want to accomplish, and who may be your potential advertisers before branding your blog. Thinking through these steps before you create your blog can have beneficial long-term benefits.

When building a single-topic blog, consider who your target audience is, but also keep in mind it should be a topic that's exciting to you. Even if you're certain a blog about cars will draw a large crowd and advertisers, if you have no experience, knowledge or interest in cars, it's doubtful your blog will become successful (or that you will stick with it). Think of the old adage—write what you know. Read Fizzle's blog, 81 Topic Ideas for Starting a Blog That Matters, for inspiration!

One benefit of creating a niche blog is the ability to build an audience. Consistency is always your friend when it comes to creating loyal readership. If you write an inspirational blog, such as 10 Steps to Finding Your Happy Place, readers who are interested in inspirational content will be inclined to subscribe and read your blog frequently because it is guaranteed to have content in line with what they are looking for.

If you're creating a multi-topic blog, it's important to have a theme or concept that ties it together. Readers crave a way to identify with your blog. Think about what your strongest point is—your personality, a powerful message, a specific customer base, helpful information or something else that stands out.

Some of the most successful blogs out there are multi-topic blogs. You can look to lifestyle sites like Martha Stewart's blog, or, arguably the most successful blog—The Huffington Post Blog. One thing these blogs have in common is a strong personality. From Martha Stewart to Arianna Huffington, the "face" of your blog can create a connection with readers that will keep them coming back to read about different topics.

Another pro to a multi-topic blog is that it can grow with you. If you are very interested in gardening and begin a blog about that, as your interests grow (and possibly shift away from gardening), you will either have to rebrand your blog or start a new one. However, with a multi-topic blog, you won't have the same issue, you can transition into writing about new hobbies seamlessly.

There are pros and cons to both niche and general blogs, so it's important to think through your decision before jumping in. At the end of the day, it's most important to write about what interests you because the best way to build a successful blog is based on your passions. If you have lots of passions, don't be afraid to create a blog that reflects them all!

We know you have excellent advice for creating the perfect blog. Don't be shy—share your tips in the comments below!
 Images & Your Blog tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-10-23:988554:BlogPost:1527293 2014-10-23T16:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 What is the first thing that draws you to read an article or blog? Our attention is often initially captured by an image. In our digital age, social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest have driven the trend toward image-centric content. Images can bridge the gap between words and feelings, enhance posts, and establish an overarching look and feel to your blog. Without a word, your…

What is the first thing that draws you to read an article or blog? Our attention is often initially captured by an image. In our digital age, social media sites such as Instagram and Pinterest have driven the trend toward image-centric content. Images can bridge the gap between words and feelings, enhance posts, and establish an overarching look and feel to your blog. Without a word, your images can covey that your blog is family-friendly, sophisticated, modern or rustic. It is important that the images you choose for your blog are unique and stylistic so your blog doesn't blend in with the rest.

Once we know how to choose the right images, we are faced with another question: how do we know what images we are allowed to use in our blog? Although we are connected to a vast supply of photos and artwork, it can be difficult to understand which are protected and which are okay to post.

Digital Watermarks

Just because you include an image on your blog, it doesn't mean it's legal. You may notice that many images on the web have digital watermarks.

A digital watermark is a pattern inserted into a digital image, which identifies the file's copyright information. Many people and companies use digital watermarks to deter people from using their images without permission. If you're interested in using an image with a digital watermark, it is best to visit the site the watermark correlates to, if the information is available. For example, the above photo can be purchased at Shutterstock.com.

How to Attribute Images

If you're not properly attributing your images, you're stealing. But, proper attribution can be trickier than it seems. Sites that offer images also provide information about attribution in their terms and conditions. Although each image can have its own specification for attribution, below we outline general guidelines for crediting an image.

Image name (linked to photo)

Photographer or artist's name (linked to body of work)

License (link) if available

 Dandelion
 Author: Unsplash
 License: CC0 Public Domain

Although some images may not provide all the above information, it is critical that you include credit to the original author of the image (and link back to the original author) whenever possible. TIP: *Make sure you link back to the post where you found the image, not to the homepage.

Some photos are protected under public domain, which means an image's property rights have been forfeited, expired or are inapplicable. Some photographers are happy to share images and allow bloggers to utilize them without attribution. This information will typically be listed on the website of the image.

Free Images

If your budget doesn't allow for you to purchase images, choose your stock images wisely. If you are writing about managing stress or frustration, steer away from the images that show a picture of someone pulling their hair out and think more creatively about the feeling you want to convey.

There are many websites that offer images royalty free—Buffer Social shares the article 53+ Free Image Sources For Your Blog and Social Media Posts.

Another great way to include images without charge is to take or make your own. In our digital age, most bloggers have access to a camera (even if it's on your phone). Check out the basics on Massive Sway's post Photography Tips for Bloggers. If you have some photography experience, but want inspiration on How to Take Better Blog Photos read The Adored Life's post.

How to Purchase Images

Choosing to use images that you have to pay for elevates the feel of your blog, gives you access to a greater variety of content and makes your blog stand out from others. The majority of bloggers are going to use free stock images because it is easy and inexpensive. If you want your blog's images to stand out, sites like Shutterstock, iStock and Getty Images offer different subscription levels and access to high-quality images.

In our visual world, including images in your blogs is a necessity. Readers want to feel connected to your content through photos and artwork. If you have any great tips about including images in blog posts, share your thoughts in the comments section below!
 The Dos and Don'ts of Round up Blogs tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-10-16:988554:BlogPost:1526255 2014-10-16T20:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 Have you ever stumbled upon a blog that inspired you, challenged you, or made you want to do something extraordinary? We are all inspired by something, and sometimes we want to share it with the world. Round-up posts allow you to do just that, by creating a collection of links to blogs and posts by other authors. They are also a great way to share information that you find interesting or…

Have you ever stumbled upon a blog that inspired you, challenged you, or made you want to do something extraordinary? We are all inspired by something, and sometimes we want to share it with the world. Round-up posts allow you to do just that, by creating a collection of links to blogs and posts by other authors. They are also a great way to share information that you find interesting or helpful. (Plus, they can facilitate traffic and relationships with fellow bloggers.)

Although round-up posts are popular, that doesn't mean they are all successful. A poorly executed round up can actually put you on the outs of the blogging community. Check out our list of round-up blog dos and don'ts to make sure you're on the right track.

Do keep it simple. Although it may sound like a great idea to choose the 100 best DIY fall decorations, it can become overwhelming to the reader, and they are likely to lose interest. Keep it simple by posting a reasonable number (think top 25 and under) with brief descriptions to keep your readers' attention.

Don't forget to cite your sources. The very nature of a round-up blog is that you are highlighting content from other sources in order to share the information, but don't think that means you don't need to cite your sources. It's important to make sure your audience is aware of who posted the original content, and you should always link back to the post when possible. You can quickly find yourself in trouble if you're not giving credit where credit is due. HubSpot has a helpful post about How Not to Steal People's Content on the Web, which provides an in-depth look at citing and linking to content in your round-up post.

Do read as much as possible in your industry. No one blogger can be an expert in every subject—that's why round up blogs are so exciting! You can share ideas that have inspired you with your readers, even if they are not your original concepts.

Don't post content you haven't read (then read again). Just like you can't judge a book by its cover, you can't judge a blog post by its title. Never include a post that you haven't thoroughly read (we suggest more than once) to make sure the content is something you want to showcase to your audience. Remember that your reputation is on the line when you link your readers to content.

Do keep it consistent. As you build your blog, you may notice a pattern in your posting. Round-up blogs work best when they are routinely featured. Readers like knowing that you will provide a certain type of information on a regular basis. Top Sales World publishes their Top 10 Sales Blogs weekly, so readers know where and when to expect to find content about the best sales-oriented blog posts. You can create the same momentum behind your round-up blogs by keeping your posts consistent.

Don't add content without a unique spin. With an abundance of round-up blogs on the web, it might feel redundant to create your own. But, by putting a unique spin on an old favorite, you can make it new again. Check out PBS's take on round-ups—Ten Food Blogs You Should Be Reading, But Might Not Know About. We've all seen lists about food blogs, but by adding an extra element (food blogs you may not have discovered), the blog is framed in an original way.

Do add value. Along with adding your own personal spin or framework, you want to add value to the content you are sharing by including a review of each featured element, your opinion on the topic in question or your own expertise. The Next Web breaks down the best blogging and publishing platforms on the Internet by weighing the pros and cons, and providing a verdict. Adding your thoughts and/or opinion is critical component of a successful round-up blog.

Don't hide your associations. You may have ties to a blog that you want to include on your round-up. That's okay, but it's important to let your audience know about your potential bias (even if you truly believe they are one of the best blogs of 2014). Being upfront with your readers will help create a relationship built on trust, which will add value and weight to your opinions.

We've shared our tips for creating a successful round-up blog—now it's your turn! Tell us your own dos and don'ts in the comments below.
 Your Blog's Privacy & Security tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-10-08:988554:BlogPost:1524649 2014-10-08T17:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 A blog is a great way to connect with an abundance of people, including those you have never met before, but it's equally as important to protect your privacy and security in the process. Having the knowledge and tools to keep your personal information behind-the-scenes of your blog private and secure is essential…

A blog is a great way to connect with an abundance of people, including those you have never met before, but it's equally as important to protect your privacy and security in the process. Having the knowledge and tools to keep your personal information behind-the-scenes of your blog private and secure is essential to safeguard yourself, your children and your business.

Whether you're blogging as a new mom, a business owner or a long-time writer, we've compiled a list of ways to help you blog safely while still sharing your thoughts, ideas and message with the world.

Limit Information

Many of us want to share our informative and inspirational blog posts with as many people as possible, but we don't necessarily want those people having access to our personal email address or calling us at home. When creating a blog, consider using a temporary email site like 10 Minute Mail, which allows you to provide an email address when necessary without leaving a long-term contact or creating a blog-specific email address (e.g. firstname.lastname@example.com). If you must provide a phone number, consider a disposable number from Google Voice.

Limiting personal information contained within your blog is paramount in protecting your privacy (and identity). In fact, many privacy experts recommend limiting the use of your children's names (use nicknames) and photos in order to safeguard their identity as well. (We recommend checking out this thought-provoking article, "Does Sharing Photos of Your Children on Facebook Put Them at Risk?" for more information.) Another way to keep your personal information personal is by not divulging the town or city you live in (or other recognizable landmarks).

Create Your Own Domain

When creating your own domain, think about paying for the private domain registration, which ensures that the contact information used to buy the domain is kept private. Websites like GoDaddy.com and Domain.com offer packages that allow you to control what information is publicized in the WhoIs Directory.

Secure Your Passwords

It's becoming increasingly easier to have your private information become public, and that holds true for passwords as well. When choosing a password for your blog, create something unique that will be hard to decipher. Utilize uppercase letters, numbers and symbols to make your password stronger. If you're still using your birthday as a password, it's time to update to something more secure, check out Webroot's article "How Do I Create a Strong Password" for tips on making your passwords more secure. We also recommend taking the time to read: The Internet's 25 Worst Passwords, and What They Say About You.

Search Yourself

You may be surprised to see how much personal information is available when you Google your own name. If you're not sure what is out there, perform several test searches of your name, nicknames and surnames to see what people can access. This will give you a starting point to know what information is available to the public, so you can begin to regain your privacy by removing the information.

Blogs are a great way to share everything from your favorite fall fashion trends to an intimate story about cancer survival, but it's important to know who can access your blog and how to control your privacy settings. Do you have ways to keep you blog safe and secure? Share your tips in the comments below!
 5 Wordpress Plugins That Drive SEO tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-10-01:988554:BlogPost:1523309 2014-10-01T18:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 We talked a little about the importance of SEO in our last blog—10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Blog Traffic, but many people don't understand the depths of SEO and why it matters to their blog. All well-known search…

We talked a little about the importance of SEO in our last blog—10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Blog Traffic, but many people don't understand the depths of SEO and why it matters to their blog. All well-known search engines including Google, Bing and Yahoo utilize SEO, or search engine optimization, to produce their primary search results. These results are where web pages and other content, such as photos and local listings, are placed and ranked based on algorithms that help the search engines decide what their users will find most relevant or helpful.

These algorithms rank websites based on specific elements (unique to each search engine); therefore, implementing SEO best practices can help your website or blog become ranked higher by catering to these elements. While each search engine's criteria is different, there are some overarching basics can be implemented into your blog to help increase your rank. If you're brand new to SEO, we recommend checking out Blog Tyrant's post, which breaks down the basics of SEO, SEO for Idiots: The 10 Basics of Blogging Search Engine Optimization.

For the purposes of this blog, however, we wanted to share with you some of the best Wordpress plugins that can help drive SEO and, in turn, increase the traffic to your blog.

1. WordPress SEO by Yoast was created as an all-in-one SEO tool. The plugin helps bloggers write better content with WordPress SEO and offers features including page analysis, technical WordPress search engine optimization, meta and link elements, XML sitemaps, RSS optimization, social integration, and other features all designed to optimize your site's SEO.

User Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Try Yoast now!

2. Broken Link Checker does what the name says—it monitors your posts, pages, comments, and other fields for broken links, missing images and redirects. If any are found, it will notify you via email or Dashboard, so you can fix them. This is important because broken links affect your SEO rating negatively, which can lead to a drop in rank, and decreases in traffic to your site.

User Rating: 4.1 out of 5 stars

Try Broken Link Checker now!

3. Google XML Sitemaps promises to provide you with a XML sitemap for search engines without breaking or slowing down your blog. Your XML sitemap helps search engines better index your blog. This plugin allows major search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo to see the complete structure of your site and retrieve it more efficiently. It also notifies search engines when you post new content.

User Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars

Try Google XML Sitemaps now!

4. Rich Contact Widgets allows search engines to display contact information about your business (or yourself) below your website in search results, and map your location, which improves local SEO. This is the perfect plugin for your local business blog or small restaurant website. Your phone number and email are created as links in the search engine results so users can contact you quickly about your blog or business.

User Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Try Rich Contact Widgets now!

5. SEO Friendly Images automatically updates all uploaded images with alt and title attributes.. If your images do not have alt and title attributes, SEO Friendly Images will add them according to predetermined settings you define. "Alt" is important for driving SEO, because it describes your images to search engines. It is utilized as a key determining factor when users search for a certain images. "Title" is also important for visitors, because it allows text to automatically appear in the tooltip when a cursor is over the image.

User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Try SEO Friendly Images now!

Have questions about search engine optimization or recommendations for Wordpress Plugins that have boosted traffic to your blog? Leave them in the comments below!
 10 Quick Ways to Improve Your Blog Traffic tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-09-24:988554:BlogPost:1521787 2014-09-24T17:36:16.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 While we all have different reasons for choosing to blog (some want to sell products, others want to offer resources) all our goals hinge on one important factor—blog traffic. Without readers and views, it's difficult to reach the various goals we set for ourselves as bloggers. Luckily, there are many ways to…

While we all have different reasons for choosing to blog (some want to sell products, others want to offer resources) all our goals hinge on one important factor—blog traffic. Without readers and views, it's difficult to reach the various goals we set for ourselves as bloggers. Luckily, there are many ways to increase blog traffic. Below are some ideas to help you get started!

 1. Promote your blog on your social channels. Market your blog on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and your other social media pages. You can automate content sharing by linking your social channels to your blog. This will automatically send updates to your pages when a new blog is posted. (If you do decide to link your accounts, test out the functionality to see how those posts look across channels so you can optimize your messaging by platform.)

2. Incorporate an email subscriber list. An email subscriber list is a simple way to follow-up with readers about new information. This will automatically send an email to all subscribers who sign up on your page when you post a new blog, helping you reach out to and retain those individuals who have already shown interest in your page. The article Why You Should Start Building Your Email List Right Away gives insight into the importance of email marketing.

Tip: Don't be afraid to promote past posts. Although it may not be new content, if you have a relevant post (for example: last year's Halloween Cookies Recipe) that is timely, don't shy away from promoting the post. Just make sure you're including new content as well to keep readers engaged.

3. Reach out to your personal email contacts. A great way to engage those who may not be following your blog, but have a direct connection to you, is to send an email blast to your contacts list. Include your blog headline, a short blurb about the content and a link to your blog. Keep these emails short, sweet and to the point, see the example below.

4. Join a blogging network. Joining blogging networks, like Mom Bloggers Club, can help give you a platform to find other bloggers who are interested in similar topics and create a resource for driving traffic to your site. Virtually interact with those in the network to connect and create common ground. These connections can be leveraged to help you collaborate on topics and to cross-promote with bloggers who share your interests, which ultimately helps generate traffic to your site (and theirs!).

5. Post frequently. Providing regular, fresh content on your site is an important factor in attracting attention from search engines. However, it is important to post content that is in line with the readers you want to attract. Many popular bloggers post on the same day each week, so readers know when to expect new content, helping them fall into the habit of checking your blog weekly for new posts. If you're not sure how often you should blog, check out Business Blog Schedule: Best Time to Blog.

6. Respond to comments. Interaction is key when it comes to blogging. Many people use blogs as a means to ask questions and interact with writers for a more personal experience. Responding to comments and questions on your blog will create connections that will keep bloggers coming back time and time again.

7. Comment on blogs with similar content. Engage in genuine interactions with other bloggers who post similar content. This will place your name and blog in front of the audience you're trying to reach. Be mindful that you are adding to the conversation and not posting spam. See the examples below.

Genuine Comment: Hi Ruby, I really enjoyed your post about travel tips! I find myself on a plane frequently and have found that glasses cases make great storage containers for loose chargers and headphones.

Spam Comment: Check out my new blog www.spam.com!

8. Reach out to bloggers who have shown interest. Another way to network is to personally reach out to others who have shown an interest in your blog or topics of interest. Invite these individuals to engage with your readers by providing a guest post, or volunteer/accept invitations to be a guest bloggers on others' sites. Guest blogging is a fantastic way to cross-promote your content with fresh audiences.

9. SEO is key. It's important to have SEO (search engine optimization) friendly content so your blog scores higher in search engines. Read 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your SEO Today to learn more about how you can use SEO to your advantage and drive traffic to your site.

10. Include headlines that pop. Think about what makes you want to read a story, article or blog. It's usually the headline. Take the time to make sure your headlines are catchy and motivate the reader to dive into your post. You can go back and revamp your past headlines to help create a larger pull and up your readership.

Do you have any tips or tricks about how to drive blog traffic? Share your advice in the comments below!
 Ditch the Blank Blog: Creating Content That Resonates tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-09-18:988554:BlogPost:1520872 2014-09-18T20:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

 Many of us have set up our blog, but don't necessarily know where to begin, or what to write about. The beauty of a blog is that nothing is written in stone. You can modify the content in your blog and change the topics you discuss at any point. However, this can make it difficult to get…

Many of us have set up our blog, but don't necessarily know where to begin, or what to write about. The beauty of a blog is that nothing is written in stone. You can modify the content in your blog and change the topics you discuss at any point. However, this can make it difficult to get started.

Thinking about your audience is critical when deciding on content for your blog. People read blogs for a variety of reasons—for information, inspiration, news, fashion, ideas and culture, just to name a few. The best way to know if a blog topic you're considering is worth writing about is to ask yourself these questions—"Would I want to read this blog? What does this blog accomplish?" Think hard about what you would like to achieve.

If this is a business blog, consider who you are trying to reach, and what is important to that audience. Make a list of topics that will pull in your perspective readers.

If you're creating a personal blog, a good way to narrow down the content for your blog is to choose a genre. Think about your favorite hobbies and activities—maybe you enjoy cooking, photography or horseback riding—it's easier to write about topics you have personal experience with and already know. Once you have a genre, your content has a jumping off point.

If you already know what your blog is about, or want to have a blog open to all topics, then you're ready to move onto the next step—individual posts.

Focus on your writing style to help better understand what content may be best suited for your blog:

If you typically write stories with a beginning, middle and end, you may want to choose topics that allow you to exercise this style. Check out the blog Flash Fiction.

If you prefer short, quick blurbs about a topic, consider numbered blogs, for example—8 Ways to Streamline Your Morning Routine.

Create a content calendar to help you stay focused and organized as your blogging progresses. Some days you may have many ideas for blog posts, and other days you may draw a blank. This is when your content calendar comes in handy. Begin by filling in all holidays and important dates that you would like to include on your blog. Then, include topics you are passionate about. Keep in mind that the calendar is a resource, but it's important to be flexible; sometimes the best ideas are spontaneous.

At this point, now that you have some topics on the board, you can think about how frequently to post. While there is no perfect formula for how regularly you should blog, Successful Blogging recommends updating your blog at least once a week. It's important to note that blogging too infrequently will make it difficult to gain loyal followers. People are looking for current content, so the more up-to-date your blog is, the more readers will be drawn to it.

No matter what your blog goals are, engaging your audience and peers is how you are going to achieve them. Don't be afraid to call on resources if you have writer's block. There are a plethora of websites available with ideas about blog content.

Read 125 Free Blog Titles by Heidi Cohen for a little inspiration.

Utilize a content generator like ContentIdeator, which allows you to type in one word and generate up to thousands of blog post ideas.

Content ideas can also be pulled from the things you see daily.

Crowdsourcing is another great way to create an open, interactive relationship with your audience, which will keep them coming back to your blog. You can ask friends, family, coworkers, other bloggers and your readers what topics they would like to read about. Another great way to crowdsource content is by looking at the comments section of your blog to see what people are discussing—what excites them, angers them or confuses them? These are topics you can expand on in your blog posts. This can give you a strong foundation for what people are interested in knowing more about.

So how do you get started or push your content to new heights? Don't be afraid to challenge yourself. In January of this year, HubSpot hosted a 30-Day Blog Challenge, asking companies to start blogging, blog more frequently or blog at a higher quality. According to HubSpot, "Customers who write just three to four blog posts per month get 20 more monthly lead submissions, 800 more monthly site visits, 60 more Twitter followers, and 50 more Facebook likes than customers who only write two blog posts per month."

You don't have to be a company or wait for a nationwide competition—you can create your own personal challenge. Commit to writing one blog a day for 30 days to exercise your blogging muscles.

When blogging, the possibilities are endless—use these resources to help you get started, and help other bloggers by leaving your own nuggets of wisdom in the comments below!

 Nursery Design Tips tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-09-10:988554:BlogPost:1519505 2014-09-10T15:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

Nesting is an important part of preparing for a child. Whether you're a first time mother, or have done this before, we all want to create something special for our little bundles of joy.

It can be easy to pick out a new crib and matching chair with a state-of-the art changing station, but before you begin your journey of designing the nursery of your dreams, you must set a budget. Be realistic about what you can afford, and remember that you will receive gifts at…

Nesting is an important part of preparing for a child. Whether you're a first time mother, or have done this before, we all want to create something special for our little bundles of joy.

It can be easy to pick out a new crib and matching chair with a state-of-the art changing station, but before you begin your journey of designing the nursery of your dreams, you must set a budget. Be realistic about what you can afford, and remember that you will receive gifts at the baby shower that can be used to decorate your child's room.

Start now. Planning early may alleviate stress about having too much to do before the baby arrives. Make a checklist of essential tasks and focus on those first. Accomplishing a little bit each week can make the process seem less overwhelming than trying to do it all in a month.

Begin by choosing a theme. It's not imperative to have a themed baby room, but many parents find that incorporating a theme helps to narrow down colors and prints to create a room that is cohesive.

Choose textiles & details. Consider adding decals for a simple way to enhance your nursery walls. Choose curtains that have texture for an extra touch, and find the bedding you always imagined. Choose these touches first, before you paint, to ensure that your colors don't clash.

Add color. This can be considerably easier if you've picked a theme with colors already incorporated. Make sure you consider the space you are working with. If the room is small, consider light or neutral tones with a bright or deep accent wall to open up the space. Also, always choose VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) free paint for your child's nursery.

If you don't plan to find out your child's sex until after birth, you'll want to keep you nursery coloring neutral. You can stay neutral and add a pop of color when the baby arrives, like a pink rug or blue curtains to bring a touch of the gender to the room afterward.

Find the right bedding. It is important to find the right mattress because infants spend a large amount of time in their cribs. Bedding should leave no gaps between the crib and mattress. Look for a mattress that is a firm, to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Be aware of off-gassing from VOCs found in non-organic mattresses that may pose health risks for your infant. To avoid off-gassing, find a mattress created with natural fibers.

Storage is essential. Although baby clothes and diapers are small, you'll be surprised how much you can accumulate and how quickly. Design the room with extra storage (you don't need to fill every nook and cranny now) because as your baby grows, so will their things, and you'll want to have plenty of room to store them.

Add seating. In your nursery, it's important to have somewhere comfortable to relax and hold your new bundle of joy. Place a comfortable rocking chair or small sofa for you and your partner.

Think about space. Put the changing table and crib close to one another. If you're a first-time mom, this is a tidbit that will save you time and energy. Putting these two next to each other allows you to quickly and easily move your baby to the changing table when they have an accident.

Prepare for the future. It's important to remember that while it may feel like nine long months before your new baby arrives, in a couple of years they will be out of their crib and into a bed. In blink of an eye, they are pre-teens, so it's important to create a room that can be versatile. This will keep you from having to re-paint when they no longer like the color pink, or have outgrown their Ninja Turtle wall decals.

Add a ceiling fan. The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a study that reports infants who sleep under a ceiling fan reduce their risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by 72%.

Tone down the lighting. Remember that bright lights and direct sunlight can be too harsh for baby. Invest in thick curtains and never face the crib toward direct sunlight. Also, choose indoor lighting that is soft and not overly bright.

Childproof as you go. Childproofing your whole home is a necessity once you have a baby in the house. It can be easier to childproof your newborn's nursery as you go instead of backtracking after the fact.

Enjoy! Take your time and enjoy the process of creating a room for the new addition to your family.
 Cancer Schmancer tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-09-03:988554:BlogPost:1518550 2014-09-03T17:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
Fran Drescher is known for her unforgettable role as the eccentric Fran Fine on the 90s hit TV series The Nanny. Today, she is making waves for a very different role—a cancer survivor and women's health advocate.

Fran's Story

In 2012, Fran wrote Cancer Schmancer, a book detailing her…

Fran Drescher is known for her unforgettable role as the eccentric Fran Fine on the 90s hit TV series The Nanny. Today, she is making waves for a very different role—a cancer survivor and women's health advocate.

Fran's Story

In 2012, Fran wrote Cancer Schmancer, a book detailing her cancer survival story. From misdiagnosis, to doctors telling her she was "too young, too thin or eating too much spinach" to have cancer, Fran was finally diagnosed with uterine cancer two years later. After feeling betrayed by her body and the medical community, Fran took the opportunity to share her story. In the process, she learned she was far from the first woman to go through this experience.

Fran began the Cancer Schmancer Movement to transform women from patients into medical consumers. The movement is based on providing women with the knowledge and resources necessary to make lifestyle changes that help protect them from cancer.

She also started the Cancer Schmancer Foundation, which is dedicated to shifting the nation's priority from searching for a cure to cancer toward prevention and early detection of cancer. The foundation's mission is based on promoting early detection, prevention and policy change.

Prevention & Early Detection

The American Cancer Society reports that early detection of cancer can lead to more effective treatment. By giving women the tools they need to read the signs and symptoms of cancer, early detection is more likely. Cancer Schmancer offers "Cheat Sheets" with information about the risks and warning signs of common cancers.

Knowing what to do when we think we have cancer symptoms is equally as important. We may know something is wrong, but don't know what questions to ask, and how to find answers. Learn how to Prepare for the Doctor, including information you should know about your family history and a list of general questions to ask your physician during an appointment.

Experts agree that 90% of cancer is caused by environment and lifestyle. By throwing a Trash Cancer party, you can Detox Your Home of personal care, household, skin care, makeup and other products that contain cancer-causing and hormone disrupting ingredients.

The Cancer Schmancer website is loaded with articles, direct connections to advice through Ask the Doctor and Ask the Nutritionist, and health care information including health care phone numbers and personal stories to equip women with everything necessary to battle cancer before, during and after diagnosis.

Policy Change

The Cancer Schmancer Foundation was instrumental in passing 2007's Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act, which provides programs to increase the awareness and knowledge of gynecologic cancers for women and health care providers. Their next mission is to pass the Carcinogen-FREE Label ACT, which establishes programs in the executive branch to permit the labeling of certain products that do not contain any carcinogens. This bill will help consumers make healthier choices and, through purchasing power, dictate trends that influence the formulas of household products and food.

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 Homework Habits & Study Tips tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-08-27:988554:BlogPost:1517715 2014-08-27T13:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

An education is the most important tool we can give our children. It builds character, enhances confidence and paves the way for a successful career. Although a lot of teaching is done in the classroom, home is the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. This year, teach your child homework habits and study tips that will stay with them throughout their education.

1. Choose a designated study area. Setting aside a quiet place for homework and study time…

An education is the most important tool we can give our children. It builds character, enhances confidence and paves the way for a successful career. Although a lot of teaching is done in the classroom, home is the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. This year, teach your child homework habits and study tips that will stay with them throughout their education.

1. Choose a designated study area. Setting aside a quiet place for homework and study time can help students focus. Make sure the area is equipped with a computer, printer, pens, pencils, paper and any other school supplies your child may need.

2. Pick a time and stick to it. When children have a routine, it is easier for them to develop good study habits and stick with them. Begin this school year with a homework and study routine to help your student adjust to their new workload.

3. Cut the cord. Make study and homework time a technology-free-zone, except for school materials. If you child has a cellphone or tablet, leave it on silent in another room. This will cut down on distractions and help them focus on the task at hand.

4. Be available to answer questions. You are your child's most important resource. It's imperative to be available, even if you don't have all the answers, to talk through homework assignments or study materials. If you notice your child becoming frustrated, offer to help them work through an assignment.

5. Open the lines of communication. Many teachers are happy to communicate with parents looking to help their student achieve success. Send your child's teacher a friendly email to open the lines of communication, and be sure to attend any events including open house and parent-teacher conferences. This can help you and your child throughout the year if you have questions or concerns.

6. Use positive reinforcement. Make sure to praise your child for their diligent work. Take the time to read over their homework and let them know you're proud of the time and energy they put into it. Just the knowledge that you are going to read it can be motivation for a child to do well. Be sure to reward their hard work. You can find fun ways to celebrate your child's accomplishments like a "Keep on Truckin" certificate from FamilyEducation.com.

7. Teach them how to study. The difference between doing homework and studying is a skill that some students don't learn until it's too late. Take time to teach your child the importance of reviewing materials and concepts they learn in the classroom. If you ingrain study time into a regular schedule, your child will learn to gradually review their coursework instead of "cramming" for an exam.

8. Don't do it alone. If your child is struggling with a particular subject and you're not able to provide the help they need, seek outside resources. There are many different options for tutoring and after-school help available for students. Contact your child's school or a local learning center for afterschool instructing. Finding your child help early in the year, before they fall behind, can lead to success, so don't hesitate to seek a professional.

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 Top Apps for Moms tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-08-20:988554:BlogPost:1516683 2014-08-20T19:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

Sometimes the greatest words a mom can hear are—"There's an app for that." Between caring for our children, and managing the household as well as our lives, things can become hectic. Luckily, we hold a sea of applications right in the palm of our hands. So, grab your smart phone and start a list, because…

Sometimes the greatest words a mom can hear are—"There's an app for that." Between caring for our children, and managing the household as well as our lives, things can become hectic. Luckily, we hold a sea of applications right in the palm of our hands. So, grab your smart phone and start a list, because you're going to want to remember these helpful apps that save you time and energy.

MamaBear

This app was created to give parents peace-of-mind. It includes features that allow you to receive alerts when your child arrives at a predetermined location (IE: school or home), be notified when your child makes new friends or checks-in on Facebook and Instagram, monitor language and signs of bullying on social media, and even receive alerts if your child is in or driving a car that is speeding. This all-around protection app is for the mom who wants to keep a watchful eye, even from a distance.

Cost: Free

Availability: Google Play | Apple Store

EWG's Skin Deep Mobile App

The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database provides critical information about the toxicity of products you and your family use daily. Get the app to find information about the products you purchase, while on the go.

Cost: Free

Availability: Google Play | Apple Store

BigOven

As moms, we know that planning, cooking and serving a homemade meal can seem like a daunting task with everything else on our plates. With BigOven, you can search more than 350,000 recipes on the go. No more handwriting your grocery list, this app lets you convert all your recipes into a simple shopping list. Plus, you'll waste less food using this app—just enter your leftovers and BigOven will create a meal, no shopping trip necessary.

Cost: Free

Availability: Google Play | Apple Store | Windows Phone Store

AllergyEats

Eating on the go can become more of a hassle than a convenience if your children have food allergies. With the AllergyEats app, you can find local restaurants that offer menu items suitable for specific dietary needs, or see what restaurants provide allergy-friendly dining with a staff willing to work with special requests. You'll also find food allergy dining tips, resources and news.

Cost: Free

Availability: Google Play | Apple Store

Ignore No More

Does your teen have their phone glued to their hand, but when you call or text they don't respond? Then this is the perfect app for you. Created by a mother who was tired of worrying about her son when he didn't respond, Ignore No More allows parents to "lock" their child's phone remotely until they contact their parents. When locked, the child's phone will access only emergency and preselected numbers.

Cost: $1.99

Availability: Google Play

Coupon Sherpa

The days of clipping and printing coupons, only to forget them at home when you head to the store, are finally over. With Coupon Sherpa, you can access coupons from more than 5,000 retailers including Walmart and Old Navy, and simply present the coupon to be scanned when you check out.

Cost: Free

Available: Google Play | Apple Store

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 Back to School: The Revolution of Education tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-08-13:988554:BlogPost:1515168 2014-08-13T18:32:47.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
Digital technology is not only changing the way we live and work, but also the way we learn. In the past  several decades the educational realm has slowly been transformed by technological innovations.

Before, the classroom served as their stomping grounds—where students learned from teachers, facts were found in…

Digital technology is not only changing the way we live and work, but also the way we learn. In the past several decades the educational realm has slowly been transformed by technological innovations.

Before, the classroom served as their stomping grounds—where students learned from teachers, facts were found in textbooks and homework assignments were listed on chalkboards. Today, smart boards have replaced chalkboards, facts are found on Google, and homework assignments are listed in an online portal.

These advances in technology have not only altered the classroom, but improved it as well. Education is now personalized. With technology, students have a variety of learning tools at their fingertips, which allows them to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. Technology gives students immediate access to an abundance of information, which leads to learning at a quicker pace than before.

Remember the countless hours you spent in the library researching for your term paper? Students can now access online academic databases that provide all of the information a student needs to research an assignment or write a term paper in mere seconds. Collaboration with group projects has also been simplified. Basic assignments and larger group projects can be completed at home thanks to online portals and cloud sharing services.

Technology not only enhances the learning experience, it also alters the way information is presented to students. Lectures can be viewed remotely on the web, optimizing classroom time for group discussions and one-on-one interaction with students. This creates more time for engaging interactive, software-based learning strategies. Educational software empowers educators and inspires children to learn by providing a comprehensive and hands-on way of exploring key curriculum-based content.

"I think that technology has tremendously helped engage children in the classroom," said Woodland Acres Elementary School teacher Jeremy Munn. "Kids today are more computer savvy and digitally oriented. They require a more stimulating learning experience, and interactive software has helped bridge that gap."

Technology has definitely changed the educational realm; take a look just how much things have progressed from then to now:

Backpacks—ugh the frustration! Do you remember trying to stuff one bag with everything from books to binders, folders, paper, pens, pencils and highlighters—it was a difficult task. Now, it's so easy for students to carry tablets from class to class, using them to seamlessly access textbooks or other course material as needed. Downloadable e-books allow students to have all their textbooks on one device. No more shoulder and back pain from lugging a heavy backpack around all day.

Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and other Office programs diminish the need for a pen, paper and whiteout. In the long run, this reduces your cost, as a parent, for what seems like a never-ending supply of pens and paper. For teachers, the frustration of not being able to read smudged or scribbled students' handwriting is no longer an issue. These programs allow students to make their own digital flashcards, with legible and concise information straight from their teachers' slides to study from for exams.

Online courses have revolutionized home education. Whether a student is accessing grade-school level coursework or college classes, the ability to complete an entire course online is changing the way education is delivered. Online courses allow students to complete schoolwork on their own schedule, day or night, and wherever they have access to the Internet.

Parents also benefit from this influx of information. Now, most parents have access to their child's school account that gives them up-to-date grades and status reports of their child's performance in school. No more waiting until the report card or progress report comes out to find out if they doing well (like we did when we were kids!). Email gives parents direct access to their child's teachers as well. You no longer have to wait for parent/teacher conferences to communicate with your child's teacher.

 The educational realm is continuously progressing. With improvements in engagement methods, educational software and digital innovations, the children of today will have a brighter future tomorrow. Technology has sparked their curiosity and unleashed their willingness to learn. We can only imagine what the educational realm will be like in 30 years!

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 Back to School Health Tips tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-08-06:988554:BlogPost:1514348 2014-08-06T15:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
It's almost that time again—back to school.

As summer comes to a close, children begin to cut back on summer luxuries like junk food, TV and video games. Soon, it will be time to eat healthier, read more and adjust to an earlier bedtime schedule (yay!).

As students get used to their new school…

It's almost that time again—back to school.

As summer comes to a close, children begin to cut back on summer luxuries like junk food, TV and video games. Soon, it will be time to eat healthier, read more and adjust to an earlier bedtime schedule (yay!).

As students get used to their new school routine, parents begin to worry about their children being exposed to a plethora of germs. During the school year germs can spread quickly and easily infect your child with the flu, a sore throat or even pink eye. The best way to stay healthy is to know how to protect against germs, bacteria and viruses. Take a look at our back to school health tips to help keep your children out of the nurse's office and in the classroom.

Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse and Dry

Washing your hands is still considered the best way to remove germs, reduce the risk of getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others. It's important to teach your children the proper hand washing technique before they return to school this fall.

Below are five hand-washing steps from the Center of Disease Control:

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold).

Lather your hands with soap by rubbing them together. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers and under your nails.

Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

Dry your hands using a clean towel or air-dry them.

Hand Washing vs. Hand Sanitizer

Many of us have adopted the habit of using hand sanitizer as an alternative to hand washing before enjoying a quick snack or meal. It is a common belief that this is just as satisfactory as hand washing. The truth is—soap and water beat hand sanitizer without a doubt. It is recommended by experts to always use soap and water, if available. If you do not have the option, hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative.

Regardless of how you feel about washing your hands vs. using hand sanitizer, you should know that antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers and other personal cleaning products may be hazardous to your health. The concern stems from a main ingredient found in many hand sanitizers—triclosan.

Triclosan is a chlorinated aromatic compound with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. It is commonly found in hand soaps, deodorants, toothpastes, and other cleaning and personal care products. Triclosan is considered an endocrine disrupter that not only damages the immune system, but also can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions, hay fever, higher incidence of food allergy, endocrine dysfunction, and development of resistant organisms (germs that don't react/respond to disinfectants). You may want to consider hand sanitizers that do not contain triclosan this school year.

Check Your Records

When was the last time your child had their annual checkup with your family doctor? Check your records to see if their immunizations are up-to-date to ensure that your child is healthy and virus-free before going back to school. Making sure your children receive their vaccinations on time is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your children's long-term health. For more information on recommended vaccines for your child, please visit the CDC website.

Cover Up

In order to reduce the spread of infectious germs, experts recommend not sneezing or coughing into your hand. Sneezing and coughing into your sleeve is actually the best way to stop the spread of germs from a sneeze or cough when you don't have a tissue. If you sneeze or cough into your hand, you have a grater risk of transferring germs to others unless you wash your hands immediately.

As a way to stop the spread of germs and support good health among your children and their classmates, we suggest you teach your children these simple techniques. These tips can reduce your student's risk of catching a cold during the upcoming school year. If you have any additional back to school health tips, please leave them in the comments section below.

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 A Summer to Remember : How to Capture Your Family's Summer Memories tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-07-30:988554:BlogPost:1512301 2014-07-30T19:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

 With August approaching we realize summer will soon be over. As parents, summer reminds of our childhood memories—spending the day outdoors, soaking up the warm summer sun and playing hide-and-seek in the tall grass.

The same can't be said for our children today. With the digital age upon us, the world moves fast and many children are missing the important moments in life that should be remembered and cherished.

With precious time left in summer, we challenge…

With August approaching we realize summer will soon be over. As parents, summer reminds of our childhood memories—spending the day outdoors, soaking up the warm summer sun and playing hide-and-seek in the tall grass.

The same can't be said for our children today. With the digital age upon us, the world moves fast and many children are missing the important moments in life that should be remembered and cherished.

With precious time left in summer, we challenge you and your children to unplug, slow down and take time to live in the present. The moments may be fleeting, but the memories can last a lifetime.

To help your children appreciate their summer, start a new family tradition that captures the essence of these nostalgic days. There are many small projects you can do with your children. We know it can be a challenge to find the perfect project for everyone in your family, so we put together a list of ideas to inspire you!

Scrapbook

Scrapbooks are incredibly simple keepsakes that allow your family to be creative. You can include photos, stickers, tickets, magnets, card and notes from important people and places throughout the summer. They are a beautiful way to tell the story of your summer, and years from now your children will have something to remind them of their wonderful childhood.

Time Capsule

There is nothing that creates a link to the past quite like a time capsule. Whether it's your child's first trip to camp or pictures of a fishing trip with dad, gather mementos like medals, seashells and pictures to help them remember each unique experience. Use a sturdy capsule that can hold up to years of weather, and bury the capsule in a place you and your child won't forget. Then, when the time comes to find the buried capsule, you, your children and their children will bring the past to the future in one unforgettable moment.

Video Clips

Getting your children to completely disconnect from the digital world may seem impossible. Instead of fighting technology, embrace it! For this project, have your children take videos of their summer adventures, whether it's an epic capture the flag match, baseball game or a personal clip of their thoughts. Then, edit the videos into a single short film they can watch in the future!

Journal

If you don't have time to complete a project this year, we have the perfect summer-long project for 2015! Have your children begin a personal journal on the first day of summer, and encourage them to add a new entry everyday. These entries can include secrets, dreams and stories. Foster their imagination by giving them a line to start with, for example, "On my way to the store I ran into…"

Keeping a journal is not only a great way to trigger a child's creativity and imagination, but it can also serve as a gateway to the past that records small, everyday things that are typically forgotten as one gets older.

Childhood summers are full of funny, priceless and embarrassing moments that should never be forgotten. We hope these ideas get your children to slow down just enough to appreciate all the wonderful things that happen during the summer this year and for years to come! If you have any other project ideas to add, please leave them in the comments below.

This article brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 Summer Sun Safety tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-07-23:988554:BlogPost:1511317 2014-07-23T19:48:50.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

There is no feeling quite like the sun warming your face on that very first summer day. It reminds us of picnics, bar-b-ques, and time with friends and family at a beach or lake. But, while you're enjoying the great outdoors, the sun is causing damage to your skin.

We all know that overexposure…

There is no feeling quite like the sun warming your face on that very first summer day. It reminds us of picnics, bar-b-ques, and time with friends and family at a beach or lake. But, while you're enjoying the great outdoors, the sun is causing damage to your skin.

We all know that overexposure to the sun can cause painful blisters and sunburns, but many are not aware that the sun's rays can cause much more long-term damage. The truth is, there is no such thing as a healthy-tan. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the skin in just 15 minutes of exposure. While sun exposure in moderation is good for the body because it provides us with vitamin D, extended exposure to the harmful effects of UV rays can cause skin damage including burning, discoloration and skin cancer.

Because children spend the most time outside, your body acquires the majority of its sun damage before age 20. But, this doesn't mean that if you're over 20 you don't need to protect yourself. In fact, sun exposure is a leading cause of wrinkles; so protecting yourself from the sun is the best way to avoid them. Over time, exposure to the sun's UV rays damages fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers finally break down, the skin begins to sag and stretch, loosing its elasticity that allows the skin to tighten back into place.

No matter your age, it is very important that you take the proper precautions to protect yourself. But, don't worry—you don't need to completely avoid the sun. We've put together a list of ways to enjoy your summer without the skin damage!

Sunscreen

Always apply sunscreen 20 to 30 minutes before exposure to the sun to allow the skin to absorb it. Do this even on slightly cloudy or cool days, because even though clouds block the sunlight, they don't block all of the sun's harmful UV rays. Also, keep in mind that sunscreen wears off. Reapply if you stay out in the sun for more than two hours and after swimming, sweating or toweling off. Be sure to put sunscreen on the commonly forgotten areas of your skin such as ears, nose, hairline, the "V" of your chest and even your feet.

Understanding the Labels

Approximately 95 percent of the UV light that reaches earth is Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays. UVA rays deeply penetrate the skin, reaching below the epidermis (outermost skin layer) causing skin aging and wrinkling. UVA contributes to, and may even initiate, the development of skin cancers, such as melanoma.

Approximately 5 percent of the UV light that reaches earth is Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. UVB rays tend to damage the skin's superficial epidermal layers. Because of this, UVD rays are the cause of skin reddening and sunburn, cataracts (clouding of the eye lens) and effects on the immune system.

SPF stands for Sunburn Protection Factor. It's a scale of the product's effectiveness against sunburn-causing UVB rays. If you are outside for longer than 2 hours, choose SPF 30 or higher.

Clothing

Wearing protective clothing can save you and your family from potential sunburn, as well as reduce your risk of skin cancer. Pack an extra t-shirt or cover-up in your beach bag to help reduce skin's exposure to direct sunlight. Fabrics like linen will keep you cool and comfortable on a hot day. Keep in mind that tightly woven clothing provides the best protection against UV rays. Protective clothing typically has a SPF level of 15, so do your best to compliment it with sunscreen.

Accessories

Sunglasses are a must-have when practicing sun safety. Choose glasses that provide both UVA and UVB protection. Sunglasses also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure, reducing the risk of cataracts.

Hats that shade your face, neck and ears, such as wide-brimmed hats, will typically give the best protection. When looking for a hat, choose one that has tightly woven fabric over hats that have holes in them.

Shade

The easiest way to reduce your risk of UV exposure is by taking cover in shade. While shade provides retreat from direct sunlight and gives you temporary relief from the sun's heat, it is still recommended to wear sunscreen and protective clothing to offer full protection from skin damage.

Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20, and the increased risk of certain types of skin cancer, including melanoma. Because of this, we ask you to please take the proper sun safety measures every day. If you have any other precautions you would like to add to the list, sunburn remedies or sun safety tips, please leave them in the comment section below.

This article was brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.
 PINSPIRATION: Six Ways to Decorate Using Instagram Photos tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-07-17:988554:BlogPost:1510470 2014-07-17T21:00:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub

With modern technology, we're able to capture life's most captivating moments with just a click of a button. Those moments are stored in our phone's photo album or directly uploaded to social media sites. We keep these photos because they are nostalgic. They remind us of a time or…

With modern technology, we're able to capture life's most captivating moments with just a click of a button. Those moments are stored in our phone's photo album or directly uploaded to social media sites. We keep these photos because they are nostalgic. They remind us of a time or place that we don't want to forget—a first birthday, a reunion with old friends or an exotic vacation. Instead of letting these moments collect digital dust in your phone's photo albums, why not use these memories to decorate your kitchen, bathroom or any room in the house?

Forget the interior decorator, we have all the pinspiration you need to give your home the makeover you've always wanted using a collection of your favorite moments. We've scoured Pinterest for exciting, unique DIY projects to transform those priceless Instagram photos into one-of-a-kind home décor. Below you'll find a list of our favorites!

Table Runner

We all have a table runner that we use for special occasions (Thanksgiving, impressing your in-laws or that special touch on a made-from-scratch dinner), but table runners aren't just for special occasions anymore. They can add a decorative touch to a dining room on a daily basis. Create yours with fun photos or romantic pictures to set the mood for any meal.

Image by Bellatheblog.com/ Author: Elizabeth (Bella)

Word Wall Décor

Letter Art wall décor is an elegant and easy decorating idea for a child's room, living room or practically any other room in your home. Give these creative projects a personal touch by customizing your own using Instagram photos to spell out your child's name, a favorite quote, or even just geometric designs. These can serve as the perfect finishing flourish to set the mood of the room!

Image by Wills Casa

Instagram Breakfast Tray

Breakfast in bed is always a treat and with a custom-made tray, you can take this little luxury to the next level. Print out your favorite Instagram pictures, and use them to design a tray that will be sure to serve up a smile along with that breakfast in bed. From bridal showers to baby showers, this tray can also be themed for use as a party platter with pictures of friends and family.

Image by measamommy.com (found on babble.com (blog))/ Author: Melanie

Instagram Photo Clock

Bring a whole new meaning to family time. This brilliant idea allows you to look at the present while enjoying past memories. As an alternative to a traditional clock, this design is both fun and functional.

Image by blog.landofnod.com/ Author: Julee Dyer

Lamp Shade

Light up the room with friendly faces and happy memories with a project that is truly one-of-a-kind. Use your photos to personalize any bedroom with this Instagram lampshade.

Image by millionmoments.net/ Author: Jessica

Coasters

Keep your coffee table clean and water ring-free while remembering your fondest memories with custom coasters. This easy DIY is a unique way to display pictures throughout your home, or a great way to create personalized gifts for friends and family.

Image by lilliesandloafers.com/ Author: Fatima and Brian

This was just a small sample of the fun ideas we found, but we hope this bit of pinspiration flipped on your creative switch. For more ideas, you can check out our "Decorating with Instagram" board on Pinterest.

Have your own unique creation or finished product? Share it with us in the comments below.

This article was brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.

 The Importance of Story Time tag:www.mombloggersclub.com,2014-07-09:988554:BlogPost:1508643 2014-07-09T16:30:00.000Z Mom Bloggers Club http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/mombloggersclub
 When you were a child, do you remember having story time with mom and dad? Grabbing your favorite bedtime story from the bookshelf, curling up under the blanket and turning off all the lights except the lamp next to you. Anything was possible then. It was your chance to visit new and exciting worlds,…

When you were a child, do you remember having story time with mom and dad? Grabbing your favorite bedtime story from the bookshelf, curling up under the blanket and turning off all the lights except the lamp next to you. Anything was possible then. It was your chance to visit new and exciting worlds, where pirates searched for their buried treasure and princes and princesses overcame evil to rule the magical kingdom.

Today, however, the children of this new generation would rather curl up under their covers and have their eyes glued to a screen. Children just aren't reading anymore. The problem doesn't lie with technology. E-readers, tablets, laptops and even smart phones are all capable of presenting our favorite stories. The problem is not teaching our children the same reading behavior we learned with our parents.

Good reading behavior is something that starts with us as a parents. Setting a good example by reading around our children or setting aside time daily for our children to read is a best way to develop a good reading habits. Daily routine is key. During story time, we have to let our children's imagination run wild as we help them understand the plot of the story, encourage them to act like their favorite characters, and teach them the lessons that led to their favorite heroes to save the day!

Reading not only increases creativity and imagination, but also is an important element in exposing us to new information, new possibilities and fresh approaches to solving problems. When you are reading, you are actually gaining the knowledge and experience of someone else, and so the more you read, the more you understand—the benefits of reading are endless.

But, no matter how important reading is to the future success of your child, the most important benefit is the time spent with your little one(s). During story time, you create those special memories that will last a lifetime. Because we believe that story time is essential in every child's life, we have created a list of eight of our favorite childhood stories to get you started.

Love You Forever

Published by Firefly Books, 1995.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
 This captivating children's story shares the story of the evolving relationship between a boy and his mother.

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

Published by Random House Children's Books, 1960

One of many classic Dr. Seuss novels for children, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is full of wordplay and enchanting rhymes. This is great read-aloud book for beginners!

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Published by Harper & Brothers (HarperCollins), 1955

 Spark your own child's curiosity and imagination while reading this intriguing story about a boy named Harold, who has the power to create a world of his own simply by drawing it, and the moonlit adventure he takes.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Published by Harper & Row (HarperCollins), 1985

 This playful story is about a boy and a mouse that wants a cookie. As the title states, "If you give a mouse a cookie," then he will want a long list of other things that appears never-ending, in a charming way.

I Need My Monster

Published by Flashlight Press, 2009

This unique story is about a boy who can't seem to fall asleep without his favorite monster under his bed. This story is great for those children who can't seem stay under the covers at night.

Goodnight Moon

Published by Harper & Brothers (HarperCollins), 1947

This classic bedtime story is a light rhyming poem about a bunny and his ritual of saying goodnight to things in his room. Perfect for a quick story right before bedtime.

Where the Wild Things Are

Published by Harper & Row (HarperCollins), 1963

This is a story about a misbehaving child named Max. After behaving badly in his wolf costume, Max is sent to his room without dinner, which turns into a forest – at least in his mind—a forest that leads him to where the wild things are. Delightful illustrations will keep your child entranced as they follow Max on his adventure.

As your children get older and learn to read by themselves, transition story time from you reading to them, to them reading to you. Story time doesn't need to end just because they don't need you to read to them anymore. Search for longer stories that you can read over a period of time together. Below is our favorite children's novel that we hope you enjoy as much as we do.

A Wrinkle in Time

Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1962

This novel is about a 14-year-old girl who goes on an adventure through time and space to save her father, a brilliant scientist who disappears after working on a mysterious project called the Tesseract.

It's never to early to start reading to your children and getting them started from a young age can help them develop good reading habits right from the start! We hope you enjoyed our list of favorites. We'd love you to share some of yours in the comments below!

This article is brought to you by The Healthy Home Company.