Work at Home Moms Articles – WAHM Articles

OK, I’ll admit it.

When I first started my Virtual Assistant business, I did NOT identify myself to anyone as a work-at-home-mom. In fact, I didn’t even think of myself in those terms. I was simply a Virtual Assistant – a professional who worked from home.

You know, even when my kids were younger and I ran a daycare in my home, I didn’t consider myself a work-at-home-mom. I was a childcare provider who operated out of her home.

I had this idea that calling myself a WAHM would undermine the image of professional business person that I wanted to create. True, I was a mom of two kids, and I was working at home. So technically the title fit, but I wanted nothing to do with it.

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I became comfortable enough with the name to try it out. Now I’m comfortable with it, and identifying myself as a work at home mom makes me part of a community that I’m very honored to know.

This past week I had a meeting with a local businessman. He had heard there are a lot of moms out there looking for work they can do while they’re home with their kids. So, he’d been researching some WAHM job boards in hopes of finding one who could help him.

Unfortunately, after doing his research, he’d come to the conclusion that work-at-home-moms are a bunch of women with kids who want to make a quick buck from home, without doing any real work.

His statement made me feel really sad, mostly for the particular women he had found. Because obviously they wanted to make money from home but were clueless about how to going about it. It also saddened me because that is a poor reflection of the WAHM community I’ve come to know and love.

He was a little bit surprised when I told him I was a work-at-home-mom too. I certainly didn’t come across like other work-at-home-moms he had heard about. I hope I helped change his perspective a little bit.

If you’re starting out as a work-at-home-mom, remember that all the success you want is yours for the taking. The down side: It doesn’t come easy. The plus side: You’re in excellent company.

~ Denise

Ivette Muller, a copywriter who has just started a Virtual Assistant business,  is one of our newest authors at WAHM-Articles.com

You can read her blog at WAHM BAHM , which stands for (and I just LOVE this!) Work at Home Mom, Busy and Happy Mom. Which is what all of us want to be!

With over 20 years of sales and customer service experience, 15 years of retail management experience and 8 years of marketing and public relations experience, you know that Ivette will have valuable work-at-home information for all of our readers.

Thank you Ivette, for joining the WAHM-Articles family of authors!

Be sure to keep an eye on the new articles published at WAHM-Articles.com to learn what Ivette has to share with us.

~ Denise

Do you remember the day the Berlin Wall came down?

It was November 9, 1989. I was 19 and I remember being in class at the university when I heard the news.

That moment is one of those things that has stayed with me over the years because it was the first time I really understood that a group of people, united in a single cause, could create a world of a difference.

It was also poignant for me because all four of my grandparents were from Russia. They had been able to escape to freedom after Russia joined the Soviet Union, just before the borders closed.  Many of my relatives chose to stay behind, hoping the political climate would change. But by the time they realized it was only getting worse, it was too late for them to leave.

Because my ancestors were Mennonites who had migrated to Russia from Prussia during the 1700’s at the invitation of Catherine the Great , and were given special treatment in a country where too many others were starving, they were the target of much antagonism during the Russian Revolution.  Many of my family members who didn’t escape when my grandparents did have long disappeared. Some we know were sent to Siberia and were never heard from again.

The wall coming down was the first wave of a tide that would sweep across Eastern Europe and dissolve the Soviet Union in 1991.

When I think back to my grandparents and great-grandparents choosing to leave everything and everyone they knew so they could raise their families in freedom, I am overwhelmed.  To pack up their young children, everything they could carry, to travel on a 6-week voyage to a country they had never seen, with a language they had never heard… to me, in my life of freedom and choice, it is almost unfathomable.

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada, and Veterans Day in the United States. It is a day when I remember how grateful I am that there have been people throughout history and today, who stand together and choose to make a difference.

Sometimes it is by donning a uniform and taking up a weapon.  Sometimes it is giving up their lives for generations of people they will never meet. Sometimes, as in the case of my grandparents and great-grandparents, it is giving up everything you know for the promise of something better.

On this day, as I am home with my children, with the freedom to teach them what I want, to travel where I want, and to work where I want, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for everyone who has united across the centuries for my freedom.

Thank you.

~ Denise

Today we’re starting a new feature on the WAHM-Articles blog. We’re going to be announcing our new authors when they’re approved. That way you’ll know a bit about their background, and can look forward to the articles they’ll be writing.

I’m so pleased to announce that Angie Newton of Losing It And Loving It has become a WAHM-Articles author!

I’ve been getting to know Angie in our Ning group, and I’m really excited to see what she’ll be sharing with us on the directory.  As you can tell from the title of her blog, she’s going to be writing about  weight loss,  fitness, and eating healthy. All good things that a lot of us need to be reminded of.

Angie, thank you for becoming a member!

To read new articles by Angie and our other authors, you can visit WAHM-Articles.com and search for articles on topics you’re interested in or read the newly added articles.

~ Denise

Wow, things have been really exciting around here since we launched the 2nd annual Holiday Article Writing Challenge a few weeks ago!

Corrie has been  approving authors, publishing articles, and giving away prizes like crazy!

In case you’ve missed some of the action (I know I’ve had a hard time keeping up!) here are the prizes we’ve given away so far, and who has received them. Plus, there’s one more prize we’re giving away, and we’re changing the rules a bit. You’ll need to read to the bottom of the post so you know how to win, and what the prize is!

First of all, a HUGE thank you goes out to all of our prize donors. This event wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without you.

And thank you to all our authors for playing with us… At the end of this list look for an update as to how we’re giving our last prize away, and how you can win!

Rock Your Website Traffic: How to Use the Search Engines to Get Targeted Traffic to Come to You from The Small Business Muse

Discover How to Get Traffic to Your Website—In Just 10 Minutes a Day!

You probably invested a lot of money—or time, if you went the do-it-yourself route—creating a website. So it’s frustrating to see dismal results week after week as you’re still struggling to get new customers.
It doesn’t matter if it’s the most amazing website in the world, you MUST have good traffic if your website’s going to make you any money.

This e-course will help you stop being invisible to your customers!!

Rock Your Website Traffic: How to Use the Search Engines to Get Targeted Traffic to Come to You was won by Dominique Goh.

Here’s the link to learn more about getting your own copy of this e-course.

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Testosterone-Free Marketing: The Yin and Yang of Marketing for Women from Denise Michaels

Does Your Lack of Marketing and Selling Skills Hold You Back From the Success You Deserve?

Would You Rather Get a Bikini Wax
Than Market Your Business?

Let’s be honest.
You started your business because you wanted more time for your family and so you could do your own thing without a boss. But is being a business owner really all it was cracked up to be?  Are you doing as well as you could when you consider all the time and work?

The answers are not about finding the hottest new product, service or comp plan. The answers are not about having the perfect computer, boyfriend, husband, college degree, upline, downline, bookkeeper, assistant or business partner.

The answers are all within you.  You can access those answers and put more profits in your purse than you ever dreamed possible once you unlock the secret keys to success and a lot more money with less effort and more fun.  Take five minutes to read this letter and I’ll give you the secrets to why your marketing has flopped in the past and what to do about it.

Are You Ready for “Testosterone-Free Marketing?”

My book, “Testosterone-Free Marketing: The Yin and Yang of Marketing for Women” is an amazing blend of no-nonsense marketing strategy and real empowerment for women like you served up with a side of self-confidence that will help you in every possible marketing and selling situation. Couldn’t you use a little more self-confidence and savvy so you’d feel good about “getting out there” and asking for a sale?

A signed copy of this soft back book Testosterone-Free Marketing: The Yin and Yang of Marketing for Women was won byDawn Stegall

Here’s the link to learn more about getting your own copy of this book.

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Free Button Ad Space on Work at Home Jobs and Real Work at Home Jobs

WAHMs can always use free advertising!  Especially during the holidays when business promotion time may be an issue.

These advertising spots when to Courtney Chowning

Find out how to advertise your own business on Work at Home Jobs and Real Work at Home Jobs

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Saving Christmas e-Book from WAHM-Articles.com

30 Ways You Can Create The Kind Of Christmas Memories Your Kids Will Want To Remember For A Lifetime

Discover The Secrets Other Moms Use To Plan A Frugal, Stressless Christmas That Reflects The True Meaning Of The Season

The Saving Christmas e-Book went to Shelly Hill.

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Now, the mini-challenges are over, but there’s still more fun to come!

The five people who write and submit the most articles throughout the challenge (counting from when the challenge began until the very end) will be put into a draw for our last exciting prize:

Featured Advertiser and Text Forum Link Ad Package from Work At Home Space

*Featured Advertiser:*
The Featured Advertiser listing will be displayed on our home page. It has a
maximum of 300 words and includes a banner.
*
Text Forum Link Ad:*
Top text link ad of up to 15 words shown on all pages of the forum.

This is a great way to attract more traffic and more visitors to your
business. With an attention grabbing headline and great ad copy you’re bound
to get noticed. Both ad spots are in a highly visible location offering you
and your business maximum exposure.

Valued at $40

So what are you waiting for? Go write those articles and submit them to WAHM-Articles.com!

Most of our blog readers are from the States, so I wanted to share a bit of Canadian fun with you.

We’ve been watching a new reality show, Battle of the Blades, where professional figure skaters team up with hockey players and ice dance for charity.

Here’s a clip of one of my favorite couples. Unfortunately, they were voted off last week:

The thing about good figure skating is that it looks effortless .

It’s a lot like working at home successfully. To a casual observer, it sometimes looks like we have all the freedom in the world.

But to make it look so easy takes determination, focus, and lots of inner strength.

~ Denise

As a work at home mom who is also a Christian, the most difficult part of starting my Virtual Assistant business wasn’t writing a marketing plan, setting up my first website, or even finding my first client. It was figuring out what role my faith in God should play in my new business. The answer seems obvious – of course it comes first! The tricky part was learning exactly what that should look like…

That’s why I was so thrilled to discover the new book by Jill Hart and Diana Ennen, So  You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom: A Christian’s Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business. Diana’s Virtual Assistance books and Jill’s online community of Christian WAHMs had been very influential for me when I began working from home years ago. Together, Jill and Diana know everything there is to know about working from home, and they know how it all fits together with faith in God.

Every inch of starting a home business is covered in this wonderful book. Jill and Diana walk readers through choosing a business, setting it up, marketing a business, and even how to balance your family with your home business. And through it all runs the idea that for a Christian mom like me, faith in God needs to come first, in everything I do.

The information in these pages is priceless for any mom considering a work at home lifestyle. But what was most inspiring for me were the personal stories Jill and Diana share about their own work at home journeys, along with interviews with other successful business owners that are sprinkled throughout. It was encouraging to realize that these women I had admired for so long had once faced the same problems I had, and had asked the same questions.

And the most important question this book finally resolved for me, was the role my faith should play in my business. My faith in God is at the beginning, and in everything I do. Just what does that look like? Some days it’s frustrating. Some days it’s amazing. And there are days when I wonder if my hopes will ever be realized. Then I remember that God’s plans are much bigger than mine, and what He has in mind for me is greater than I could possibly imagine.

If you need encouragement in your own work at home journey, or want to know what it really takes to become a work at home mom, you will love the book, So  You Want to Be a Work at Home Mom. Visit http://SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com to learn more about the book and order your copy!

~ Denise

The holiday season is almost here. At WAHM-Articles, that means it’s time for the 2nd Annual Holiday Article Writing Challenge.

For the next 45 days, Corrie and I invite you to join us for a series of mini-challenges that every WAHM can do, and anyone can win! Oh yeah, we have prizes too.

The HAWC is our way of helping our fellow WAHMs have a profitable holiday season while still  having time to enjoy it.

Here’s your first challenge, should you choose to accept it:

How many articles do you think you can write over the next 45 days? The goal you set it up to you. The only thing you have to do to win this challenge is submit them to WAHM-Articles.

The author of the 20th article we publish will win the first challenge prize, a copy of WAHM-Articles e-Book, Saving Christmas, and accompanying bonuses.

Then stay tuned to learn what the second challenge will be.

Do you want some encouragement for the writing challenge? Come join our WAHM-Articles community, or follow WAHM-Articles on Twitter.  We’re tweeting challenge updates with the hashtag #hawc.

Are you ready? On your mark, get set, let’s write those articles!

Check Out These Upcoming Challenge Prizes

*Featured Advertiser and Text Forum Link Ad Package*

from Work At Home Space

*Featured Advertiser:*
The Featured Advertiser listing will be displayed on our home page. It has a
maximum of 300 words and includes a banner.
*
Text Forum Link Ad:*
Top text link ad of up to 15 words shown on all pages of the forum.

This is a great way to attract more traffic and more visitors to your
business. With an attention grabbing headline and great ad copy you’re bound
to get noticed. Both ad spots are in a highly visible location offering you
and your business maximum exposure.

Valued at $40

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Free Button Ad Space on Work at Home Jobs and Real Work at Home Jobs

WAHMs can always use free advertising!  Especially during the holidays when business promotion time may be an issue.

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The holidays are almost here! Whether you’re looking forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, any holiday that falls in between – or perhaps all of them! – it’s hard not to feel a sense of anticipation as we enter this season. My family celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend, and the dollar store where I go to pick up little odds and ends is already bursting with decorations for Christmas.

Have you been getting the same emails I have, reminding you that now’s the time to start your holiday promotions? In fact, some of the holiday gift guides and marketing opportunities have already closed.

Like me, you may have been too busy enjoying the late summer weather and getting your kids settled in school to take advantage of them.

But Corrie and I have an invitation for you to get some more exposure for your products and services this holiday season.

In just a few days, we’re launching our second annual WAHM-Articles Holiday Article Writing Challenge, and we’re looking for prizes that will help make this season a little more relaxing for other work-at-home-moms.

Business owners who would like to get involved by donating a prize will receive:

- 30 days advertising on on the rotating banner on the WAHM-Articles community site.
- a link from the WAHM-Articles blog
- your business will be mentioned in an upcoming WAHM-Articles press release

The contest will be promoted on Twitter and Facebook, as well as in an upcoming e-blast to a subscriber list of over 7000 work at home moms.

If you have a great prize to share with our members, we would love for you to be involved!

Here is what you do if you would like to have your WAHM business included:

- Send the name of your prize, along with a description and picture, and a link to your website to Corrie authors@wahm-articles.com  You can also include an explanation of how your prize would be helpful to a busy WAHM at holiday time.

Now that snow’s on the ground (at least here in Calgary) and the kids are back into their routines, there’s no reason for you to miss on this! We’re launching the writing contest on October 20, so contact Corrie right away with your prize donation.

Then stay tuned to find out how you can win one of these great prizes for yourself.

~ Denise

Do you have your WAHM-Articles button on your blog or website yet? That’s the best way to let your visitors know you’re an recognized expert in the WAHM community.

And you don’t have to link to our home page and make your audience dig to find your articles. You can go ahead and link right to your own articles in the directory, or your author’s profile. In fact, we prefer it if you do!

For this week, we have an extra reason for you to display your WAHM-Articles button proudly.

One of the questions I’m asked most often as a Virtual Assistant and online business owner, is how to effectively launch a WAHM website. Well, I’ve written a short report on how to do just that. And for this week, I’m giving it away for free to our authors who display our button on their websites or blogs.

So, put your button on, and leave a comment below with a link to where I can find it. If it’s there when I visit your link this week, I’ll send you a copy of the report, along with an bonus – 52 press release ideas to help you maintain the momentum you build during your launch.

So display your WA button proudly, and share your link below!