The Work at Home Family Carnival - August 24, 2009

Welcome to the August 24, 2009 edition of The Work at Home Family Carnival.

This is a new blog carnival dedicated to the work at home family. Our focus is on internet marketing techniques, marketing and advertising tips for home based entrepreneurs, as well as family management for families with one or more work at home parents. We have many good articles this month which should help readers who are already working from home or thinking of starting a home based business.

This is an edited carnival and only quality articles which offer good content will be accepted. To keep this carnival manageable, please submit only your best 2 blog posts for inclusion. I had to exclude a number of very good articles because there were over the 2 submissions per author. I follow this rule for my own submissions. Also, all articles must be family friendly and be related to the topic of home based businesses and working at home. Sales pages with little or no content will not be included in the carnival nor will site with too much hype or excessive income claims. Also, starting with this month, I will no longer include long lists of resources e.g. the 100 best blogs for entrepreneurs, etc. which turn out to be advertisements for schools and other programs.

Our carnival is quickly becoming very popular, and I want to thank all of our authors for the many quality blog posts that I have received this month.

Internet Marketing

Helene Zemel presents Internet Marketing Basics - Creating a Website posted at Work at Home Mom and Dad, saying, "How to create your own marketing website. Follow these 7 steps for good results."

Debbie Foster presents Some Things To Know About Pay Per Click Advertising posted at Internet Income - The Journey, saying, “There are many steps you must master before you can become profitable with PPC. It is not a matter of throwing up something in ten minutes and seeing what works. You will need to research and implement each part of the process properly, otherwise your campaign will not succeed.”

Debbie Foster presents The Role of Inbound Links in SEO posted at Internet Income - The Journey, saying, “There are a number of strategies you can use to get high quality inbound links. Remember, the quality, not the quantity, is the most important factor you will want to take into consideration.”

Chris McClelland presents How social networking sites can also help you save some money posted at Lucrative Investing, saying, “Twitter has actually become kind of useful to those who are trying to save some money also. Companies like Sears, Fiji Water, and Gold’s Gym are looking to be your friend on popular social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.”

Christian Russell presents How to Use Social Networking Sites for Business posted at Next Level Blogger, saying, "I like to keep it simple. Simple is good. Know why? Because it works. Social networking for business is not rocket science, but for some strange reason, many of us WANT it to be! Perhaps it’s human nature. Perhaps if we think it’s complicated, then we will be able to figure it out…and after we figure it out, it will be easy. And our lives will then be easy. And money will fall into our laps without us ever having to lift a finger, because we’ve figured it out. We know the secret!"

Christian Russell presents Quick Start to Internet Marketing posted at Next Level Blogger, saying, "Many people out there are looking for a quick start to internet marketing. I understand. Most people in my network are business people, and we are the kind of people who want to get things rolling quickly. You know being online and marketing yourself with blogging, internet marketing and social networking is essential, but you don’t know the best way to go about it, and you have a million questions."

Jimmy Adames presents List Building Tips ? 3 Effortless Ways to Grow a List of Active Subscribers posted at Internet Business Building, saying, "Earning an income using the Internet is much simpler if you have a list of active subscribers. The key to making sure you succeed is to have reliable marketing tools and quality content to provide your customers and prospects. What is holding you back from building a list of active subscribers?"

Robert Alan presents Big Mistakes to Avoid with Your First PPC Campaign posted at Sell It on the Web, saying, "Here's a great list of things that must be avoided for newbies and budding online marketers who are considering paid search (PPC) marketing as a means to start and grow their businesses online."

Robert Alan presents Ultimate Twitter Starter Guide for Small Business posted at Bill Hazelton, saying, "Here's a great "starter guide" and how-to manual from Sell It! on the Web on how to get started using Twitter for your small business."

Sell It! on the Web presents Affordable Shopping Cart Platforms for New Business Owners posted at Bill Hazelton, saying, "Recommendations for several affordable shopping cart platforms for new website owners and e-commerce marketers."

Sell It! on the Web presents Guide to Optimizing Your Landing Page Copy posted at Bill Hazelton, saying, "Tips and recommendations on how to optimize the copy on the "landing pages" of your website or blog in order to convert more of your visitors into buyers."

Ben Dinsmore presents My Experience with Facebook’s Advertising Program posted at Trees Full of Money, saying, "If you're looking for a new medium to advertise your small business, you may have success with highly targeted ads on social medial sites like Facebook."

Golam Moinuddin presents How to make money on eBay posted at Internet Auction Coach. Editor’s note: The author provides 7 steps that you should follow if you want to be successful on ebay.

Jimmy Adames presents Internet Income Tips - 12 Critical Steps For Recovering Opportunity Jumping Junkies posted at Internet Business Building, saying, "Many people go online everyday looking for ways to make extra money and just as many have every intention of earning a long-term Internet income while simultaneously firing their bosses. Unfortunately, the high expectations of overnight riches turns people into dejected participants. How many times have you quit one money making opportunity for another?"

Rusty Shelton presents Solving the Internet Marketing Puzzle posted at My Internet Marketing Journey. Editor’s note: The author discusses the importance of knowing your why, tenacity, and hard work as the key to success in mlm and network marketing.

Brian Terry presents Does website design really matter? posted at Big Selling Website Design, saying, “I still believe that a visual brand identity is important, but the challenge is in creating graphics that not only look good but also sell. When you get the balance right and combine it with other proven direct response strategies the sky really is the limit!”

Simon Stapleton presents Why Don’t Graduates Get Jobs? posted at Career & Personal Development for CIOs, Technical Professionals and Self-Professed Geeks, saying, "The Recession has created massive competition for the fewer jobs that become available, and it’s graduates that are paying the price. Lack of experience in industry seems like an obvious reason why graduates are not offered job placements, but surprisingly, this is not the primary reason (according to a survey of 200 recruiting managers in the US, UK and South Africa).

Simon Stapleton presents The 12 Dumbest Mistakes Network Managers Make posted at Career & Personal Development for CIOs, Technical Professionals and Self-Professed Geeks, saying, "What are the 12 most stupidest gaffes a network manager can make? More to the point, have you made one, or experienced one yourself? See if you recognize any of these clangers?"

Marketing and Advertising Tips

Shawn M. Driscoll presents Real Growth in Unreal Times posted at Shawn Driscoll, saying, “You can position yourself for growth now and into the future by making a few simple and smart moves”

Kevin Blaikie presents HOW TO - BUSINESS IDEAS FOR BEGINNERS - WarriorForum - Internet Marketing Forums posted at jokijio. Editor’s note: Good advice from the Warrior Forum.

Sam Carrara presents The Seed Becomes a Big Tree posted at Sam Carrara's Marketing Education. Editor’s note: The author explains the maturity stage of the product life cycle.

Bobby Leong presents Complaints Can Be Good posted at Internet Marketing Solutions. Editor’s note: The author points out a problem with the Get Response autoresponder system.

Family Management

Helene Zemel presents AmeriPlan Half Price Discount Dental & Medical Benefit Plans posted at Health Plans Plus, saying, "Self employed entrepreneurs often have trouble finding affordable health benefits. If they have a pre-existing condition, they may not be able to obtain coverage at any price. A discount medical plan can help. AmeriPlan is offering new members who sign up on or before 5 p.m. Central Standard Time on September 14th and opportunity to receive benefits for 1 full year at half price."

Brian McKay presents Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for Dependent Care posted at MonitorBankRates.com, saying, "A dependent care flexible spending Account (FSA) allows you to save money pretax to pay for dependent care in the process also lowering your taxable income."

Eldon Sarte presents This is My Night Job posted at Wordpreneur.com, saying, "Writing is everything. Or is it? Sometimes, even with the best laid plans, it needs to take second place. Temporarily at least." Editor’s note: Some interesting commentary on balancing work at home with caring for a small child.

Chris McClelland presents Best buys of the fall posted at Lucrative Investing. Editor’s note: The author lists some good deals to be had during the Fall season.

Quick and Easy Recipes

Renee V. Rouse presents Family Dinner for under $5 - Deli Sandwiches posted at Frugal-Living-Skills Blog, saying, "...Weekly grocery circulars often read “feed a family of 4 for under $10!”. I’m sure most of you have laughed at this as I did. As a result, I began to wonder what does dinner really cost for my family of 8? So I set a challenge for myself and I figured if I kept it under $5, I was doing good..."

Belle presents How to make Fried Zucchini - with pictures posted at Homesteaderbelle's Blog. Editor’s note: This recipe sounds yummy. Good step by step directions are presented.

Working at Home

DeMarcus presents Creating A Personal Development Home Based Business posted at Self Improvement Articles, saying, “Should you consider a personal development home based business? If you are passionate about being a mentor to others, or have a good knowledge base of personal development skills or resources, then perhaps this is for you.”

John Crickett presents How To Start A Home Based Web Design Business posted at Business Opportunities And Ideas, saying, “Starting a web design business from home doesn’t have to cost much at all. Best of all you can fit in most start up activities around an existing job allowing you to test the waters before you jump in.”

Darwin presents Haverhill Home Staging Course - Have You Been Had? posted at Darwin's Finance, saying, "This article highlights a rapidly growing and heavily advertised "income opportunity" that you should consider further before forking over your money."

Leah Grant presents Things to Consider When Employing a New Strategy posted at Startup Success. Editor’s note: The author lists 7 key ideas that you consider when creating a business strategy.

nissim ziv presents Career Goals: Examples of Career Goals and Objectives posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, "It is only when a person has a clear thought about their career goals and objectives that they get ultimate satisfaction from their jobs and therefore progress faster. This article covers many examples for your career goals & objectives."

sagarika presents Skills that you should be learn for Success posted at Social Work for Mankind, saying, “True Success is simply the realization and obtainment of a worthy ideal or result that your heart is deeply connected to it & what you desired, results fruitfully in your life, business, wealth, or a worthy ideal.”

Tiffany Colter presents Getting Ahead of the Game posted at Writing Career Coach. Editor’s note: The author discusses some techniques for getting a jump start on a new writing project.
Gloria Booth presents Self Development and the Marketing Entrepreneur posted at MLM Marketing UK, saying, "Do you think that it's ok to set up in business then sit back and watch it happen? Or do you think there's more you can do, but not sure what? Find out how self development can make a difference."

Gloria Booth presents Donald Trump & Network Marketing posted at MLM Marketing UK, saying, "With the backing of business magnate Donald Trump, could this be the start of media acceptance of network marketing as a legitimate way to build a business and work towards financial independence?"

Gin G. presents Spotlight Ten Offers posted at Sense Scribe, saying, "Learn to use your computer for self-employment. Read more."

Miscellaneous

Ray presents SmartMoney 2009's Best Online Brokers posted at Money Blue Book, saying, “While I have written about the best discount online brokers in the past – reviewing what I believe to be the top brokerage companies out there for new stock and fund investors – it’s always good to check out what the financial experts have to say on the subject.”

fourleafclovergoodluckcharms presents Four Leaf cLovers posted at Four Leaf cLover Good Luck Charms.com, saying, "Luck plays a hugely significant role in many different aspects of our lives. Luck has the power to transform both our personal and professional lives. Do you feel lucky?"

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of the work at home family using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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