Tell us a little about the person behind the business?

My name is Hollie, I am 29 and a work at home Mum. I have two Children, Jhet (5) and Charleigh (3). My background is in HR and Finance and I enjoy time with my kids and riding my horse. It wouldn’t be right not to mention the ladies who work with me as there would be no ‘Daily Baby Buys’ without them. Amy is my business better half with two little boys under three, Zoe and Bridget handle the customer service side of things at home with their little ones and Zan is our IT Guru, also working from home with three beautiful girls.

And now a little about the business itself?

Daily Baby Buys was created in August 2011. I was regularly sending products to the US (another one of my businesses) for the Baby Deal site (they have many) to try and get my product into the US market. I always wondered why we didn’t have anything like that here, so I sat down with my two business partners at the time to nut out the finer details and build the website. A close friend of mine was the first to feature her product on the website and we launched! we now feature a new brand every day during the week and one brand over the weekend. Having one day free gives us all a chance to spend some time with our families over the weekend.

How did you come up with your business name?

It was a bit of a no brainer really… not much creativity I must admit, but it is easy to remember and sums up the business perfectly.

What made you want to begin a WAH business and how did you get started? 

I have a background in HR and was used to seeing employees that were not happy with their jobs for some reason or another. Usually this was due to the fact that they would rather be home with their kids or didn’t really feel as if they were making a difference and getting anywhere within the company. Work at home parents have the flexibility to work around their children, not fit their kids into their work schedule. I believe this is the way that it should be and my business is proof of that. In all the time I worked in HR I never saw an employee enjoy and appreciate their job as much as my ladies do. If one of our little ones are sick that’s okay; the rest of us can sort it out as the kids always come fist.

What inspires you to keep your business going? 

I am constantly inspired by the lovely feedback from our customers and the great team that I work with! I am very blessed to work with a very motivated team of ladies who always have new ideas and are genuinely excited about the business. I hope that one day we will grow big enough to be the first large company run entirely by work at home parents!

Do you have a current best-selling product or service? If yes, tell us about it.

We feature so many great products, it’s hard to choose. Our best selling products are definitely cloth nappies! Pikapu, Bonnibuns, Bumcheeks, Bambooty, Issy Bear and heaps more. Ambience Amber is also a great seller which we feature once a month. We LOVE Vanchi nappy bags and teething jewellery like Smartmum and Jelly Stone. The ladies and I are very lucky to be able to try most of the products we stock and it makes the job just that little bit more exciting! I am sure we are some of our best customers!

How do you advertise your business and which methods have proven more successful?

We find that our very best marketing tool is social media and word of mouth. Written media does not work very well for an online business as they have to remember the website and look it up later.

How do you juggle your family and your WAH business? Any tips for other WAHPs?

I try to get most of my emails done first thing is the morning, over toast and coffee, while my kids are having breakfast. I find that this is the best time of the day for this. After I drop my son to school I will often go to Amy’s house so that we can work together and bounce off of each other (and she makes great lunches). Emails can wait! If your kids are having a bad day or they need your attention, take a break. They will still be there when you get back, I promise! Buy your groceries online if you can, and get a cleaner in once a week just to do the floors, bathroom and change the sheets. You will be amazed out how much more time this gives you! I can guarantee that you will make more money in the time it takes to clean your house than what you would pay a cleaner.

And finally, what advice would you give to anyone wanting to start a WAH business?

NEVER outsource your key competencies! We made the mistake of outsourcing our fulfilment to a warehouse in the very beginning which almost ruined us. Compromising our customer service by outsourcing our order fulfilment was a big mistake! So we quickly changed our business model and everything has been great since. What I realised was, an outsider will not care about the needs of your business the way you do, so it is best to keep total control of every aspect of your business.Trust your gut feeling! if is looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always get samples of products and manufacturing and if it does not feel right, it probably isn’t, so move on.

Do you offer any discounts to Support a WAHP members?

Yes, we offer huge discounts, and unfortunately due to the very small margins we have when giving such great discounts we are unable to offer anymore of a discount then we already do.

The In the Spotlight Competition,  as well as all other Support a WAHP promotions, is generously funded by the work at home businesses that are members and sponsors of Support a WAHP. To join us, click here for more information.

Below is the roundup of what is on offer from our Premium and Longterm Sponsors this week. If you want to follow our Support a WAHP Sponsors, We’ve set up an interest list for sponsors here:

http://www.facebook.com/lists/10150625762943183.

I’ve also set up lists for our Professional Members and Supporting Members and lists for different categories of WAHP businesses that post on our Facebook page wall. If you want to subscribe to these lists, click on the links.

We currently have spots available for our Business of the Month package starting June. If you’d like to be a Business of the Month, please contact me at advertising @ supportawahp.com.

Events

Large Dinosaur Paper Plates - $6.99 for 8 from Discount Party Supplies

Dinosaurs are always a winner! Discount Party Supplies have a massive range of kids party supplies at discount prices, at your finger tips with the convenience of online shopping. They deliver anywhere in Australia with the option for Express Delivery within 24 hours, right to your front door. W: www.discountpartysupplies.com.au/ F: discountpartysuppliesau

 

Pink Frangipane Wedding Thank You Cards from iLiv Cards

iLiv Cards offers personalised photo birth announcements, baptism and birthday invitations, wedding and engagement invitations and thank you cards, baby thank you cards, baby shower invitations and more. Amanda puts a lot of though into her designs and strives to do her very best to meet each customer’s unique needs. Check out her extensive range today. W: www.ilivcards.com.au F: personalisedphotocards

Lanyard Style Party Invites - $2 each from DeeZee Designs

Dee Zee Designs creates personalised baby birth announcements, birthday invitations, wedding invitations, baby shower invitations, christmas cards and more – using your own photos! W: http://www.deezeedesigns.com.au/ F: deezeedesigns.

Business to Business

Buy a business or eCommerce website from Sites and More during the month of May and get a FREE iPad 3!

Welcome to our May Business of the Month Sites and More. Sites and More offers beautiful website design for businesses on a budget. A turnkey business site is $750 and an turnkey eCommerce is $1125. The websites not only look fantastic, they are highly usable and easy for the owner to update. To celebrate the EOFY, they are currently giving a FREE iPad 3 with any purchase. This offer is strictly for the month of May, so get in now! To learn more about this amazing promotion, visit their site at http://www.sitesandmore.com.au/free-ipad.

"Do I need a shopping cart?" at Stacey Myers

Premium Sponsor Stacey Myers specialises in social media platforms for authors and aspiring authors. Stacey offers training and done-for-you packages. If you are working on a book or ebook, contact Stacey today about launching your publication today! W: www.staceymyers.com  F:http://www.facebook.com/staceylmyers

Premium Sponsor dnd graphiks is the place for branding, graphic design, signage, printing and website design, delivering a wide range of design solutions and collateral. If you are looking for original design work for a range of marketing needs, contact Dani at dnd graphiks today. W: www.dndgraphiks.com.au F: www.facebook.com/pages/dnd-graphiks-design-n-distinction/229670784347

 

WahmBay offers a unique marketplace just for work at home mums and it is up for sale! List your products and services today as well as unwanted items. WAHMs supporting WAHMs! W: www.wahmbay.com.au  F: www.wahmbay.com.au

 

Sunnycoast Websites make the process of creating and updating websites easy! With potential designs available in 24 hrs and your website up and running in 5 days at a set price, you’ll be in expert hands setting up your website presence. W: sunnycoastwebsites.com.au  F: sunnycoastwebsite.

 

Lifestyle

Bobble Art Hair Accessories & Jewellery Gift Box - $19.95 from Baby Vegas

Baby Vegas specialises in fabulous children’s goods and collectables, from character toys to wind chimes and mobiles to snowglobes and collectables, and much, much more. Baby Vegas has an amazing array of homewares, toys, decor and accessories. What little girl wouldn’t love a case full of hair accessories? I know mine would! W: www.babyvegas.com.au/  F: www.BabyVegas.com.au.

Community

Awesome iPod, iPhone & iPad Accessories for Kids - Review at The iMums

Congratulations to The iMums who kicked-butt in the Circle of Mom’s top 25 Tech blogs contest with 1543 votes! The iMum showcases all the latest iphone and ipad apps aimed at kids and families. So handy if you’re looking for educational and entertaining apps for your little techno heads. W: www.theimum.com/ F: TheiMum.

 

Family

Heat Pack with removable cover - $28 from Ally Bee Designs

Ally Bee Designs offers handmade goodies for Mums and Bubs, designed with comfort and durability in mind, with everything having been fully tested on two munchkins before going into production. W: allybeedesigns.com/ F: AllyBeeDesigns.

 

Balloon & Cloud Dress by MOOCE - $39.95 from Studio Dragonfly

Studio Dragonfly creates and sources innovative, unique, funky and creative gifts and things for babies, kids, pregnant woman and parents to make life simpler for families. W: www.studio-dragonfly.net F: studio.dragonfly

 

Squirrel Organic Storage Bin - $44.95 from Owl Baby

Owl Baby is the place to find modern cloth nappies in a variety of styles as well as all kinds of beautiful baby accessories and toys. If you’re looking for sustainable alternatives for your baby, Owl Baby has a fantastic range of sustainable products. W: www.owlbaby.com.au F: OwlBabyStore

Mumatopia‘s mission is to nurture mums! Are you running on empty or hanging on by a thin thread? Join us May 25 to 27, 2012, in South East Queensland’s gorgeous Scenic Rim for the Mumatopia Mum’s Retreat. Thanks to a generous donation, a lucky mum will get to attend the retreat for free. Winner announced on Mother’s Day! Visit Mumatopia today at http://mumatopia.com/mums_retreat/ W:mumatopia.com F: mumatopia.

That’s it for this week! have an awesome weekend!

Join in Just three Easy Steps

Member Benefits

Whether you’re running a party plan business, are a professional working from home or a creative entrepreneur, Support a WAHP’s member group offers you:

• Group mentoring from Support a WAHP’s Director Cas McCullough, an entrepreneur, writer and content marketing strategist with 20 years experience in marketing, public relations, publishing and graphic design. Cas makes it her business to be across the latest developments in internet marketing and social media marketing and, each year, she also mentors a limited number of solo entrepreneurs in her Content Marketing CardiologyTM program.

• 20 to 40% discounts on Support a WAHP advertising and paid events.

• A dedicated and extremely active support group on Facebook to help you find resources, information and services as well as moral support as you grow your business.

• Regular updates about Facebook, useful tools and the latest business building resources, blogs, courses and programs.

• A featured listing in the Support a WAHP Business Directory (Professional members are also promoted with a large banner on the directory front page).

• NEW! A listing in the Support a WAHP Interest List for members as well as in your business category. These lists are promoted on the Support a WAHP Business page via our “Find a WAHP” tab as well as through the Weekend Wrapup blog posts.

• Member-only resources, webinars and promotions.

• First option on promotions and competitions on Support a WAHP via our WAHP Insiders Plus newsletter.

Testimonials

Who can join

Currently, our members come from Australia, the US, and the UK and represent a diverse array of home based enterprises and industries including marketing consultants, graphic designers, creative entrepreneurs, web developers, authors, copywriters, social media consultants, party plan consultants, online retailers and more.

Support a WAHP only ever promotes legitimate home based businesses. This includes entrepreneurs, family-friendly party plan business operators (no adult products), franchisees who work from a home office, professionals who work from home (engineers, architects, lawyers, grahpic designers, public relations and marketing consultants, business coaches and mentors, social media trainers and consultants etc), online retailers, business coaches, tradies (plumbers, carpenters etc), healthcare workers and therapists (such as counsellors, massage therapists, naturopaths, homeopaths, life coaches, midwives and doulas who work from home), authors and freelance journalists, jewellery and clothing designers and other creative entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and more.

If you work from home and you are ready to tap into our thriving and incredibly supportive member community, join today via the Business Directory! Membership starts from just $37 per year (renewed annually).

Did you know that building success in a business isn’t just about the time and money you put into it? The level of your success can come down to the way you position yourself as a person and the mindset you have.

There is such a huge focus on personal development these days, on setting your mind on the right track and enabling these things to push you toward success.

Why is that?  Well quite simply, you are what you eat!  Yep that’s right. The way you look after yourself physically, the things you listen to, the people you hang around, and the way you live your life all contribute to your success as a person and in turn your success as a business person.

Here’s some ways you can ensure you’re positioned for success:

1. Feed your mind with positive and inspiring words

Darren Hardy, one of the most successful people in the world, says part of the prep for his day is in feeding his mind. He also ends the day with ten pages from an inspirational or motivational book.   So why not turn off the TV earlier and feed your mind something positive that will enable you further success and encourage you to think big.

2. Networking – many of us work from home for ourselves, and it can become lonely and difficult at times. 

Getting out and meeting other business owners can be very rewarding, inspiring and also good for your business in the sense that you’re meeting new people and forming new work relationships.

My experience of networking events has been very positive. I’ve met other business owners who provide different services to what I offer, and I’ve been able to pass on work when it’s come in. On top of that, you will walk away feeling very empowered!

3. Keep an eye on the things that influence you.  

Do you have people around you that believe in you, that tell you that you can do it, get behind you and support you? Sadly, many small business owners don’t! So it’s equally important to surround yourself with people who encourage you!  Some of the most successful people in the world even go to the extreme of not watching the news or reading the papers. Facebook can also be quite a negative influence. You’re better off spending that time feeding your mind with helpful and motivational things.

4. Have a big business mentality

I’ve talked to many business owners in the last few years, and many of them call themselves JUST work from home people. Do you know there is nothing JUST about that? What you are doing is significant! You’re not just a backyard work from home person hoping to make some extra money. Begin to think big; see yourself as a big business, a successful organisation. Take your business, your branding, your product or service, YOUR TIME and VALUE seriously, charge accordingly and spend your time accordingly. There is nothing more de-motivating and depressing than feeling like you’re working for $10 an hour. You’re worth more, so charge your worth!

For many, their businesses are their sole income, the difference between being able to see their kids off to school in the morning and having to put their kids into childcare. What you do is significant. You are significant. So position yourself for success, take yourself seriously, and let’s win in business together.

Below is the roundup of what is on offer from our Premium and Longterm Sponsors this week. If you want to follow our Support a WAHP Sponsors, We’ve set up an interest list for sponsors here:

http://www.facebook.com/lists/10150625762943183.

I’ve also set up lists for our Professional Members and Supporting Members and lists for different categories of WAHP businesses that post on our Facebook page wall. If you want to subscribe to these lists, click on the links.

We currently have spots available for our Business of the Month package starting June. If you’d like to be a Business of the Month, please contact me at advertising @ supportawahp.com.

Business to Business

Buy a business or eCommerce website from Sites and More during the month of May and get a FREE iPad 3!

Welcome to our May Business of the Month Sites and More. Sites and More offers beautiful website design for businesses on a budget. A turnkey business site is $750 and an turnkey eCommerce is $1125. The websites not only look fantastic, they are highly usable and easy for the owner to update. To celebrate the EOFY, they are currently giving a FREE iPad 3 with any purchase. This offer is strictly for the month of May, so get in now! To learn more about this amazing promotion, visit their site at http://www.sitesandmore.com.au/free-ipad.

Start Here - The benefits of an online author presence, even if you're still only writing your first page

Premium Sponsor Stacey Myers specialises in social media platforms for authors and aspiring authors. Stacey offers training and done-for-you packages. If you are working on a book or ebook, contact Stacey today about launching your publication today! W: www.staceymyers.com  F:http://www.facebook.com/staceylmyers

Premium Sponsor dnd graphiks is the place for branding, graphic design, signage, printing and website design, delivering a wide range of design solutions and collateral. If you are looking for original design work for a range of marketing needs, contact Dani at dnd graphiks today. W: www.dndgraphiks.com.au F: www.facebook.com/pages/dnd-graphiks-design-n-distinction/229670784347

 

WahmBay offers a unique marketplace just for work at home mums and it is up for sale! List your products and services today as well as unwanted items. WAHMs supporting WAHMs! W: www.wahmbay.com.au  F: www.wahmbay.com.au

 

Sunnycoast Websites make the process of creating and updating websites easy! With potential designs available in 24 hrs and your website up and running in 5 days at a set price, you’ll be in expert hands setting up your website presence. W: sunnycoastwebsites.com.au  F: sunnycoastwebsite.

 

Lifestyle

Picnic @ The Park Tin Tea Set, with wicker basket - $34.95 from Baby Vegas

Baby Vegas specialises in fabulous children’s goods and collectables, from character toys to wind chimes and mobiles to snowglobes and collectables, and much, much more. Baby Vegas has an amazing array of homewares, toys, decor and accessories. This fabulous tea set comes in a pink wicker style basket all ready for a tea party in the park! W: www.babyvegas.com.au/  F: www.BabyVegas.com.au.

Community

Draw and Tell by Duck Duck Moose - Review at The iMums

Congratulations to The iMums who kicked-butt in the Circle of Mom’s top 25 Tech blogs contest with 1543 votes! The iMum showcases all the latest iphone and ipad apps aimed at kids and families. So handy if you’re looking for educational and entertaining apps for your little techno heads. My daughter loved The Incey Wincey Spider app by Duck Duck Moose, now they’ve released an app called Draw and Tell which allows kids (and kids at heart!) to create drawings which they can animate and share with friends. Head on over to the iMums for their review. W: www.theimum.com/ F: TheiMum.

 

Family

All Stars 2 Piece Set - Now on sale for $20 at Rascals and Ragamuffins

Our April Business of the Month is Rascals and Ragamuffins. Julie specialises in easy care, easy wear, handmade clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers and small children. Though I wish some of them came in my size, this set looks very comfy! If you’re searching for unique handmade clothing, check out Julie’s creations today. W: www.rascalsandragamuffins.com.au F: rascalsandragamuffins

 

Bean Bag Sensations - Set of 5 bean bags with a sensory 'kick', $22 from Ally Bee Designs

Ally Bee Designs offers handmade goodies for Mums and Bubs, designed with comfort and durability in mind, with everything having been fully tested on two munchkins before going into production. Bean Bag Sensations is a set of 5 bean bags, each with a sensory ‘kick’. Guaranteed that no 2 bags will be the same, these would be great for my 8 month old who very much ‘sees’ the world through his hands and mouth! W: allybeedesigns.com/ F: AllyBeeDesigns.

 

Mummy Feels Good Top - Now $39.95 at Studio Dragonfly

You may just have time to help a mummy (or mummy-to-be) you know feel good with this flattering top on Mother’s Day! Studio Dragonfly creates and sources innovative, unique, funky and creative gifts and things for babies, kids, pregnant woman and parents to make life simpler for families. W: www.studio-dragonfly.net F: studio.dragonfly

Mr Elephunkee Backpack - $39.95 from Owl Baby

Owl Baby is the place to find modern cloth nappies in a variety of styles as well as all kinds of beautiful baby accessories and toys. If you’re looking for sustainable alternatives for your baby, Owl Baby has a fantastic range of sustainable products. W: www.owlbaby.com.au F: OwlBabyStore

Mumatopia‘s mission is to nurture mums! Are you running on empty or hanging on by a thin thread? Join us May 25 to 27, 2012, in South East Queensland’s gorgeous Scenic Rim for the Mumatopia Mum’s Retreat. Thanks to a generous donation, they are currently running a competition for a place at the next retreat. If you know a mum, or are a mum, who needs some serious me-time, then this is the break you’ve been looking for! Visit Mumatopia today at http://mumatopia.com/mums_retreat/ W:mumatopia.com F: mumatopia.

Events

Jumbo Cookie Monster Helium Foil Balloon - $12.99 from Discount Party Supplies

Discount Party Supplies have a massive range of kids party supplies at discount prices, at your finger tips with the convenience of online shopping. They deliver anywhere in Australia with the option for Express Delivery within 24 hours, right to your front door. W: www.discountpartysupplies.com.au/ F: discountpartysuppliesau

 

Wedding Save the Date Photo Cards with Dark Lime Banner from iLiv Cards

iLiv Cards offers personalised photo birth announcements, baptism and birthday invitations, wedding and engagement invitations and thank you cards, baby thank you cards, baby shower invitations and more. Amanda puts a lot of though into her designs and strives to do her very best to meet each customer’s unique needs. Check out her extensive range today. W: www.ilivcards.com.au F: personalisedphotocards

Baby Girl Announcement Cards from Dee Zee Designs

Dee Zee Designs creates personalised baby birth announcements, birthday invitations, wedding invitations, baby shower invitations, christmas cards and more – using your own photos! W: http://www.deezeedesigns.com.au/ F: deezeedesigns.

Here are the lucky entrants who were randomly selected for the May Poll. These businesses are in the running to win an In the Spotlight Interview on the Support a WAHP website (valued at $500)! Don’t forget to spread the word to your fans. Voting is open until 3pm, May 31st! Good luck!

If you’d like your business to be in the running for the In the Spotlight Competition May Poll, simply complete your entry here: Spotlight Comp. You only need to enter once and will remain on our list until you win an interview.

If there is one thing I know about writing, it’s that your best work is created when you’re in the right mood.

You know what it’s like when you have a good day. Everything just falls into place and you get all your work done quickly and easily. When it’s a bad day, you have fingers made of cement and a keyboard with jumping jack keys.

It’s easy to create a serviceable piece of writing that will get the job done, but is that really what you want? I think it’s short-changing your readers.

I have a lot of people talk to me about their blog posts or newsletters, and they are generally focused on the structure of the piece and all the details about keywords, length and whether or not to be “salesy.”  That’s especially true of new writers.  That’s what lead me to put together a writing course for business owners.

I learned as much from that course as the participants. I realised how hard it is for people to take the risk of showing themselves and their personalities in their writing.

I wonder what school did to us. The emphasis on grammar and spelling without considering self-expression seems to have produced a lot of people who are so worried about misusing a comma that they don’t write anything at all.

This is one of my soapbox pieces. I hate the thought that some of you have so much to offer, but it’s all inside you under lock and key and wearing a “Fail” label. Why should we miss out on what you have to say? More importantly, why should you be gagged just because you might misspell a word?  Don’t you sometimes feel like the words want to burst out of you? Perhaps they do and you set them free on a document that you never show anyone.

Next time you are in the mood to write, do it. But, this time, write a blog post as though there will be no one judging it. When the cement drops from your fingers, let them dance on the keyboard and create. Write to express yourself. Write to show yourself. It is important that you do this.

Remember that blog posts and newsletters are there to help you connect with your people. They can tell when you are being yourself and when you’re being a business person. It shows.

You can always have someone edit your work before it is sent out if you are really worried, but readers want to know YOU. They don’t care that you can’t write like Hemingway. They just want to hear from you – the real you.

We’re all a bunch of stickybeaks looking for a connection.  Get in the mood. Come on out and show yourself. Give us something worth reading.

Below is the roundup of what is on offer from our Premium and Longterm Sponsors this week. If you want to follow our Support a WAHP Sponsors, I’ve set up an interest list for sponsors here:

http://www.facebook.com/lists/10150625762943183.

I’ve also set up lists for our Professional Members and Supporting Members. If you want to subscribe to these lists, click on the links.

We currently have spots available for our Business of the Month package starting next month. If you’d like to be a Business of the Month, please contact me at advertising @ supportawahp.com.

Lifestyle

Le Toy Van Honeybake Oven & Hob Set with Accessories avail for $159.95 at Baby Vegas

Baby Vegas specialises in fabulous children’s goods and collectables, from character toys to wind chimes and mobiles to snowglobes and collectables, and much, much more. Baby Vegas has an amazing array of homewares, toys, decor and accessories. Oh, my little girl would love this kitchen! W: www.babyvegas.com.au/  F: www.BabyVegas.com.au.

Community

Horton Hatches the Egg review at The iMums

Congratulations to The iMums who kicked-butt in the Circle of Mom’s top 25 Tech blogs contest with 1543 votes. The iMum showcases all the latest iphone and ipad apps aimed at kids and families. So handy if you’re looking for educational and entertaining apps for your little techno heads! W: www.theimum.com/ F: TheiMum.

Family

Strawberry Tea Party Peasant dress avail for $40 at Rascals and Ragamuffins

Our April Business of the Month is Rascals and Ragamuffins. Julie specialises in easy care, easy wear, handmade clothing and accessories for babies, toddlers and small children. If you’re searching for unique handmade clothing, check out Julie’s creations today! W: www.rascalsandragamuffins.com.au F: rascalsandragamuffins

 

Extra Large Car mat and holder avail for $28 at Ally Bee Designs

Ally Bee Designs offers handmade goodies for Mums and Bubs, designed with comfort and durability in mind, with everything having been fully tested on two munchkins before going into production. This fantastic playmat folds up to pop in a bag and can be pulled out to amuse your kids wherever you are! Available for $28 plus postage. W: allybeedesigns.com/ F: AllyBeeDesigns.

 

Cheeky Monkey Romper avail for $29.95 at Studio Dragonfly

My little monkey would be even more adorable in this romper! Studio Dragonfly creates and sources innovative, unique, funky and creative gifts and things for babies, kids, pregnant woman and parents to make life simpler for families. W: www.studio-dragonfly.net F: studio.dragonfly

Large Blue Pillow Pal Owl avail for $39.95 at Owl Baby

Owl Baby is the place to find modern cloth nappies in a variety of styles as well as all kinds of beautiful baby accessories and toys. If you’re looking for sustainable alternatives for your baby, Owl Baby has a fantastic range of sustainable products. This Owl pillow looks so snuggly, and the textured fabric would be great for a smaller bub starting to explore the world. There’s a matching rattle and musical toy available too! W: www.owlbaby.com.au F: OwlBabyStore

Mumatopia‘s mission is to nurture mums! Are you running on empty or hanging on by a thin thread? Join us May 25 to 27, 2012, in South East Queensland’s gorgeous Scenic Rim for the Mumatopia Mum’s Retreat. If this is the break you’ve been looking for visit Mumatopia today at http://mumatopia.com/mums_retreat/: W:mumatopia.com F: mumatopia.

Events

Tinkerbell Bubble Wands from Discount Party Supplies - 4 for $9.99

My daughter would be all over these. Fairies and bubbles? It doesn’t get much better! Discount Party Supplies have a massive range of kids party supplies at discount prices, at your finger tips with the convenience of online shopping. They deliver anywhere in Australia with the option for Express Delivery within 24 hours, right to your front door. W: www.discountpartysupplies.com.au/ F: discountpartysuppliesau

 

Twin birth announcement cards with spots and stripes from iLiv Designs

iLiv Cards offers personalised photo birth announcements, baptism and birthday invitations, wedding and engagement invitations and thank you cards, baby thank you cards, baby shower invitations and more. Amanda puts a lot of though into her designs and strives to do her very best to meet each customer’s unique needs. Check out her extensive range today. W: www.ilivcards.com.au F: personalisedphotocards

Harry Potter Edible Icing Image avail for $15 at Dee Zee Designs

Dee Zee Designs creates personalised baby birth announcements, birthday invitations, wedding invitations, baby shower invitations, christmas cards and more – using your own photos! They can also create edible icing images for large cakes or cupcakes. Use your own photos, or choose one of the existing toppers – like this Harry Potter one! W: http://www.deezeedesigns.com.au/ F: deezeedesigns.

Business to Business

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WahmBay offers a unique marketplace just for work at home mums and it is up for sale! List your products and services today as well as unwanted items. WAHMs supporting WAHMs! W: www.wahmbay.com.au  F: www.wahmbay.com.au

Sunnycoast Websites make the process of creating and updating websites easy! With potential designs available in 24 hrs and your website up and running in 5 days at a set price, you’ll be in expert hands setting up your website presence. W: sunnycoastwebsites.com.au  F: sunnycoastwebsite.

Has your Facebook page inbox been spammed since the new timeline came into being?

My guess is “yes.”

Or maybe you’ve sent someone a message and are unsure if it was appropriate or not.

Here’s a key pointer to help you figure out how to use Facebook Page messaging to network your business.

Use messaging to make connections and share information that is valuable to the other business (and their audience).

If you particularly like a page and want to introduce yourself with an offer to connect, there is nothing wrong with that. What isn’t okay is to demand, guilt or oblige the other person to “like” you back, promote your business or even to visit your page.

So how do you introduce yourself without being spammy? 

Go for meaningful over meaningless.

There is no point to throwing your seeds all over Facebook in the vague hope that some of those will grow and flower into relationships.

Examples of throwing seeds all over the place include: liking ladders, tagging games, spamming page walls and inboxes with your product/service information (if not invited to), and flagrantly self-promoting in comments and in groups (if not invited to). (Read about the consequences of playing tagging games here: Beware the Facebook spam police).

This is a waste of your valuable time and a weeding job for other businesses (and who likes weeding?).

Hot Tip: A better way is to do your research, look for connections in common and ask a mutual friend for an introduction if you feel the relationship is worth establishing.

If you do send a message without an introduction, focus on the other business and how much you love them and not on yourself.

What you could say is something like this:

“I love your page and wanted to introduce myself because……[how your connection is relevant or valuable to the other person]. If you’re interested, I invite you to connect with me via my Page/Website/Linkedin etc.. I look forward to interacting on YOUR page,” or this

“Hi, I’ve been following your page for a while. We’re running a charity auction for………… at the moment and wondered if you or your followers might like to get involved. If you’d like to know more visit here:…..”

Don’t ask for a shoutout in an introductory message. Business pages get asked for shoutouts every day. And don’t assume someone will want to “like” your page just because you like theirs. Most people will go and check out your page after an introduction anyway and if it resonates with them, they will “like” it.

If you don’t get a response from the other business or you don’t get the response you were hoping for, put it down to experience and move on. Not every seed you plant will take root.

If you’re on the other end of the stick, and have been approached by someone you’re unsure about, check back in with your goals and business plan (even if it’s just written on a napkin).

Ask yourself: Does this connection offer something valuable to my business and followers or are they just trying to sell me their stuff?

Over to you…. Have you ever asked a mutual Facebook friend for an introduction to someone you’d like to connect with? Give it a try and let me know if it works for you.

Hello! Hi! *Waves to get your attention*

Yes I am talking to you, my fellow little biz builder, working from the kitchen table as the kids create chaos around you… listen up. I want to tell you something very important…

You are doing a good job.

No, no buts. I am well aware that you have like a zillion things on your “to do” list. You probably have a few eBooks or email courses that you are meaning to read so that you can make your little biz better. You are probably stressing about the last 5 articles you read that told you the top 5 things you are doing wrong with your biz. You probably feel like you have no work/life balance at all. And I am sure you feel like there are too many things to do and not enough time.

It’s OKAY. You are still doing a good job.

You are following a dream, tenaciously. You are showing your children what it means to work hard and do something that makes you happy. You are providing for your family. You are doing something you love, something that matters to people.

It is very easy to get overwhelmed by all of the advice and “Should Dos” and “Must Dos” and “God forbid, whatever you do, Don’t Do Thats”. Don’t get me wrong, the advice is helpful. (I hope it is helpful, I write some of it myself.) But sometimes, especially when there is too much of it at once, it throws us off course. It makes us feel like we are ‘not good enough’ and possibly never will be. It makes us want to crawl back into bed and hide from that to do list.

So I just want to remind you, you are doing a good job.

It’s okay if you don’t do everything you read that you should do. It’s okay if you don’t do the same things all of the other biz builders are doing. It’s okay if your business isn’t absolutely perfect and where you wish it was. It’s okay if what you are doing is a work in progress. It’s okay if you do things your way because it is more fun, your customers like it better, or your gut is screaming at you that is what you need to do right now. It’s okay if you can’t get it all done, right now, at once.

Are you doing something to build your biz? You are doing more than what many people do, who have the dream but never give it a go!

So stop. Take a deep breath. And try this…?

1. Consider one thing you LOVE doing for your biz.

Maybe it is making your product. Maybe it is talking to customers. Maybe it is helping someone with your expertise. Whatever it is, forget about the rest of the giant to do list for awhile and book in time to do that thing. Today. Everyday.

2. Go read some of the great feedback you have already received from your customers or clients.

Make a little folder of those emails or thank you cards or facebook comments. Be reminded that what you do matters to people, and that you are doing a good job.

3. Pick one thing, just one, from that to do list that will help you build or grow or improve your biz.

Focus on that. Stick it up on your wall in big letters so you can keep your eye on the ball. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to do one thing at a time, and do it well.

In the meantime, remember…

You are doing a good job. You wouldn’t have started a biz if you didn’t have something amazing to offer others.

You are doing something and that is more than a lot of people do.

It will all get done. One month from now, one year from now, you will be ahead of where you are now. Just keep marching on, one foot in front of the other.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to spend the rest of my day doing the stuff I really love, the stuff that got me starting my biz in the first place…