Though some Moms cringe at the word “sales” and are quick to say they are “not a salesperson” – really isn’t everything in life sales? When we tell a friend about a great restaurant we just dined at and why they should go, we are “selling ” that restaurant to them. Same for a movie we see and recommend. So let’s think of it as sharing, instead of selling. Is that better? It’s called “social selling” – with the surge of websites like Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter – which allow Moms to market their businesses online by sharing with connections they made.

So when you find the company that you love, that has a line of products  that you adore, it’s simply  a matter of sharing it with others. How can your item enrich someone else’s life or fill a need? How can your business opportunity help another person? See? It’s not that hard. And when you think of it that way and bring passion along with you, you can do very well.

While there are many things to look for when joining a direct sales company, there are a few points that stand out to me and that you should consider.

• Is the company reputable? If you google “complaints” do you find a long list? Are they listed with the DSA or the BBB?
• Does the company have a product line you like, use and believe in? When you use and love the line, you will find it much easier to share it and hence, grow your business and customer base. To me, this is a key issue. If you don’t love what you do, it’ll be challenging at best. When you love the line,  and you feel in alignment with the products and company values, then go for it.
• Does the company have values that fit with your lifestyle?
• Is the company a sales-driven company, not just focused on recruiting? Talk to consultants and research it. Perhaps follow a few consultants on Facebook and see if they are focusing on the products or only recruiting?
• Does the company offer a reasonable start-up investment? Many will range from $79 to several hundred dollars for a large kit. But make sure you are getting products for that money and not just paying a set up fee. Check return and cancellation policy as well.
• Does the company have an auto ship? It it reasonable? While some people love the idea of getting new products each month, others would rather order when they choose.
• Are parties a requirement? Some require parties, some allow them as optional ways to gain business. IF you want to have parties, then great! However if your focus will be retailing online, check around and see if any consultants do that, how it works for them, and how it fits with the company.
• What kind of support will you get? Ask about team training and resources, ask if your potential leader works the business daily, ask what the company offers as far as training. Training ranges from phone calls, text support, webinars, in person meetings, and company sponsored events. Make sure most of these, if not all, are available to you when you sign up.

There are many more points but I’ve focused on the few important ones I feel necessary when shopping around to join a direct sales company.

Some new Moms, or even busy Moms of 3 or 4 wonder how they will find the time to work their businesses. Ask a direct sales Mom who already has a successful business plus  multiple children, sports games, schools , etc and she will tell you she is busy but has learned to carve out notches of time to make business a priority as well. When your business is in direct match with your core values and lifestyle, it’s never “work” and always fun. Check out these five tips for growing your direct sales business.

There are an abundance of apps available that can make your life easier when it comes to planning and preparing meals.  We checked them out and came up with a list of five great ones that are worth downloading.

BigOven (free)

The BigOven app is loaded with more 250,000 recipes, offering new takes on old classics.  A cool feature is the ability to drag and drop recipes into a calendar so that you can keep track of your plans at a glance.  Upgrading to the Pro version ($15) also gives you the ability to automatically generate a grocery list based on the meals you’ve selected.

Perfect Produce ($1.99)

Want to eat more fruits and vegetables but are confused about buying, storing and using them?  Perfect Produce is a handy tool that will give you tips so that you can start planning healthier meals.  There really is a method behind the madness when you see people tapping on melons and smelling peppers. This app helps you take the guesswork out of picking the perfect produce!

Fast Paleo ($0.99)

It seems like everyone is checking out the Paleo diet these days but, as they get started, it can be confusing to determine what foods they can eat. The Fast Paleo app helps keep users on track with their caveman diet and offers a huge selection of tasty recipes.

Crock-Pot Recipes ($3.99)

For many busy moms, the slow-cooker can be their best friend.  Grab a roast, throw it in the pot, put it on low and come home to a tasty, hot meal.  Sounds easy, right?  The thing is that it can also be a little tricky and mundane.  This app provides clear instructions for making the best meals and offers a great selection of meal ideas.

Substitutions ($0.99)

How many times have you been in the middle of a glorious recipe, things are going great and then you look for a main ingredient and realize you don’t have it?  It’s so frustrating and it can also result in wasted food if you feel like you’ve got to abandon the meal.  This fantastic app will help you look for substitutions for your missing item so that you can continue on with your masterpiece.  It also works for those who are looking to modify a recipe to be low-sodium and gluten-free.

So many of the apps on our phones do little more than drain our batteries.  Hopefully, some of these apps will help you actually save time instead of waste it. And check out these meal planning apps while you’re at it!

While there are a lot of unusual gadgets available on the market, here are the top eight worst Mother’s Day tech gifts for moms:

Bluetooth Handset Gloves These gloves, by Think Geek, are advertised as “warm and comfortable capacitive-touch gloves with a Bluetooth headset built-in,” and allow moms to talk on their smart phone by extending their thumb to their ear and pinky-finger to their mouth. Unless you really want to appear as if you’ve lost touch with reality, these gloves are probably not a gift you want to add to your list.	Image Credit: ThinkGeek.com
Sonic Grenade For those who have a hard time waking up, this gadget by Firebox boasts its ability to wake even the heaviest sleeper.  It claims that “within twenty seconds a piercingly loud, spectacularly annoying noise will blast from this comedy grenade’s innards, causing the sleeper to wake up faster than you can say ‘I love it when a plan comes together’.” Though you might be tempted to purchase this one yourself for your hard-to-wake-up teenager, using this gadget is most likely not the best way to wake someone up … just guessing.	Image Credit: Firebox.com
EyeSeeCam For the mom who wants to get noticed while recording those memorable moments, this gift is perfect.  However, if you are the least bit concerned with looks, this may not be the tech gift you request for Mother’s Day.  This award-winning camera system is operated by your eyes and records what the user’s eyes really sees.  This device will also record video onto virtually any laptop device. Though not visually appealing, this scientific breakthrough is quite impressive.	Image Credit: PC World
Gun Camera While on the subject of cameras, this uniquely designed gun camera is nothing to sneeze at. Though is looks like a 9mm handgun, it’s actually a 16mm camera called the Doryu 2-16.  To make its gun-like appearance even more real, you load the camera with magnesium bullet cartridges and then point, aim and fire to get your shot.  Apparently it was initially a police-issue device in Japan, but is now available via auction in London. Just guessing that this gadget hasn’t made the top of the “want” list for moms.	Image Credit: Christie’s Auctions
LED Umbrella For Star Wars enthusiasts, this gift by Think Geek should be first on your list. For the rest, this gadget definitely makes our Top Eight list.  Now you can walk in the rain at night and not lose your way. As their ad states, you can have the “coolest umbrella on the street. With a push of a button, the shaft lights up, illuminating you and your path.”  Though probably not the best gift for mom, your kids will most likely love it.	Image Credit: ThinkGeek.com
Grassy Charging Station Though currently not available (who could guess why?), this tech gift deserves an honorable mention.  It’s unique design allows it to serve two purposes in one compact container. Now moms can add greenery to their home and charge their electronic devices at the same time. Talk about efficiency.	Image Credit: PC World
GoJo Handsfree Headset Moms are multi-taskers and need to be able to move their arms freely while talking on their smart phone.  What better gift than the GoJo Handsfree Headset. Though this may help you get more done around the house, you might want to avoid heading outdoors with a full-sized smartphone strapped to your head. You just might send your neighbors walking in the opposite direction. But if this gift is meant for you, here’s a way to save a little money: you can accomplish pretty much the same functionality (and look) with a stretchy wrap-around headband.	Image Credit: Time Tech
USB Heating Gloves For moms who spend a lot of time on the computer at the office, you no longer have to worry about having chilled fingers. You can now keep your hands warm and toasty as you type with these USB Heating Gloves by USB Geek.  These gloves come with a hidden warming pad inside that plugs into any USB port. Now you never have to remove your gloves. Just, please, remember to unplug before getting up from your desk.	Image Credit: USB Geeks

Your Turn: What is the worst the least favorite Mother’s Day gift you have received?

Gender Roles

Incredibly, a 2012 study by the Entertainment Software Association showed that a whopping 47% of all game players are women.  What’s even more astounding is that female players who are over 18 actually significantly outnumber male players 17 and under.  Of course, it hasn’t always been this way but tides are clearly changing – the average male has been playing for 16 years but females aren’t that far behind with an average of 12 years of gaming experience.

What They Play

While a variety of online games are popular, the most played are puzzle, board game, game show, cards and trivia games.  The invention of technology such as Smart Phones and social media likely contributed to these games’ success.

The top-selling video games fall within the strategy, role-playing and casual categories with titles such as Call of Duty and Just Dance being among the most purchased.  That serves to demonstrate how the demographics are changing and developers have had to adjust their releases accordingly.

How They Play

It’s hard to believe but 49% of U.S. households own at least one dedicated game console which can range from the family-friendly Nintendo to the more mature Playstation.  Some consoles allow players to connect online, promoting multiplayer gaming while other games require solo gameplay.

Smartphones, mobile devices and computers are also widely used for gaming.  In a report, USA Today explained that 60% of female gamers played on mobile devices.  Just think of how many people played Angry Birds and you will realize the mass appeal of gaming today.

The Future

Women have repeatedly been offended over the years by campaigns geared towards “girl gamers.”  Clearly, if they represent such a large percentage of the gaming population, they have been enjoying what has been offered over the years.  One thing that is interesting, however, is that parents are using video games as an opportunity to spend time with their children.  In fact, 40% of parents play with their children at least weekly while 59% engage in gaming with their kids at least monthly.

Will this be replacing board games as the new family pastime?  It’s very possible.

To start, here are 5 creative tips to get you thinking. Implement the ones that you haven’t tried, or the ones that can fit into your lifestyle.

1. Have a Spring Fling or Re-Launch Party

You can do this at your home, have a friend host it, or even work with a local business. You’ll need products, samples, catalogs and perhaps some gift baggies. Invite friends and colleagues to come over for a casual event, showcasing your company’s new products or new catalog. Offer a free gift for anyone who brings a friend and add an incentive by giving out a door prize/raffle for anyone who attends. You can also offer a sale on either the products on hand or you can offer a sale on orders you take. I recommend doing both actually, since people do like to be able to go home with a product. Instant satisfaction!

For your invitations, I like a three step process. Call your friend, send a postcard, and then follow-up by text or Facebook. Start off by calling your friends to invite them. Let them know it’s a casual event and they aren’t required to purchase anything. Encourage them to invite friends and that there will be prizes, food, and fun. Then send a postcard so they have a visual reminder at home. Include all the details, the date/time and location. The night before, get in touch again with a quick reminder.

2. Grow Your Business Online

It all starts with YOU, not the business. Lead with WHO you are and make solid connections. On Facebook , make 3-5 new friends a week by seeing who you have mutual friends with. I always send a brief message when I make a friend request and then, after accepted, I write again, either in a message or on their wall. The key is to truly make a connection, not just search for a business lead or customer. There are many wonderful people in the world that you will have a lot in common with. Find some and make new online friends. They will see your business at some point , and if interested, they will ask.

Don’t solicit, but DO grow your friend list consistently each month. You can also make a business or personal fan page (follow company and Facebook rules for this) and invite friends to join if they are interested in learning more about your line. Then visit other pages. Like them, and post with a quick link back to your page. Many times other companies will reciprocate with a like back. This drives more people to see your business and product line.

3. Market Locally

This mainly involves flyers, brochures and business cards. Have them on you, or in your car, at all times. Post at community bulletin boards and ask if you can leave catalogs in the lobby of your doctor, dance studio, salon, etc.  Have business cards with your picture on them, your website, and all pertinent company info. Hand them out when someone asks for your number (even if it’s a Mom for the carpool to soccer).

4. Join Pinterest

Or if you already have an account, create a special board specifically for your business. Pin images that you are allowed to use, pin your blog articles, pin tips for people on how a particular product works and add your website to the board description. Pinterest is creative marketing mania that is on fire! Pin at least 4-5 days a week and make sure to follow other pinners. The key, as with all social media marketing, is to get as many interested followers as you can and create that connection. Don’t just have business boards, though. Add your personality too. I can tell about someone instantly by looking at their  boards … whether they are an animal lover, an avid cook, a shoe junkie, or a crafter.  Let the true you shine through, so people want to follow you and see value in your pins.

5. Get to Company Events

Check if your company is holding an event near you and get registered. If that is not possible, at the very least, get back on every company and team phone call, webinar and training possible. Often we do that in the beginning, and then taper off, or forget completely. They are so important in keeping you motivated and well-connected and in the know about all company related events, growth and new products! So clear the schedule and set aside some “business  meeting time” where you can re-commit to taking major action and growing your direct sales business bigger than ever!

But there’s help. Jenny Gudmundsen in her new book, iPad Apps For Kids For Dummies^®, offers parents a reliable resource for choosing the best apps for their kids. As a respected USA TODAY Kid-Tech columnist, Jenny has tested a host of apps and offers parents an objective view of  the best apps for kids of all ages. Here’s a review of five of her favorite free iPad apps for kids:

Squiggles! (Free US/CAN/UK, Ages 3-6, Lazoo Worldwide, Inc.).

Most young children like to draw, making this app a winner. Squiggles provides a fail-proof drawing playground that allows kids to paint with their fingers. A scene is presented that needs a squiggle, and the app then demonstrates how to do it. For example, kids may be asked to draw the mane on a lion, the exhaust on a car, or the wool on a lamb. Once the drawing is complete, the player hits the “Go” button, and the squiggles begin to animate.

“The app also lets you take a photo and add squiggles to it, and includes an interactive story adventure,” adds Gudmundsen. “I love that this app teaches kids that by using their creativity, drawings can become anything they can imagine.”

Alien Assignment (Free US/CAN/UK, Ages 4-8, Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College).

This fun app takes kids on a scavenger hunt to take photos using the iPad. An alien family, called the Gloops, has just crashed-landed on earth and needs the child’s help in repairing their spaceship. Not knowing what’s available, the Gloops’ on-board computer asks the child to take pictures of what’s around them so it can figure out how to replicate things to fix the ship. New requests are given each time the game is played.

“By playing this app, kids learn to solve problems and think creatively,” Gudmundsen says. “They must reflect upon everyday objects in new and different ways. Another great aspect of this app is that after kids take the requested number of photos (you can set it to be between 4 and 20), they are asked to ‘show your grown-up’ the photos. This provides you an opportunity to interact with your child and talk about why they chose the objects.”

LEGO Creationary (Free US/CAN/UK, Ages 5-10, The LEGO Group).

LEGO lovers will jump at the chance to play this game which tests how quickly you can determine what specific object is being built with LEGO bricks. Categories of items being built (nature, vehicles, buildings, things, and two random options) are determined by a roll of the die at the start of the game. Four different completed objects appear in each corner of the screen with the object being built in the center. The player has to tap the correct corner object before the center one is completed to win the game.

“The building is superfast so that kids need to use observation skills, imagination, and knowledge of Lego-building to be successful,” Gudmundsen notes. “Don’t miss this one if you have a Lego aficionado who enjoys high-adrenaline fun. It will help your kids hone their observation skills and quick thinking.”

Scribble Press (Free US/CAN/UK, Ages 6 and up, Scribble Press).

This free app is great for budding writers. Kids are able to write and illustrate their own books and share them on the iPad (with your permission, of course) on the moderated Scribble Press server for other kids to view and enjoy. Links to email, Facebook and Twitter are also available to allow kids to share their work with friends and family. Completed books can also be stored in your iBooks bookshelf.

“This app provides 50 story templates to help your child on her path to becoming an author,” comments Gudmundsen. “The templates provide a framework for kids in which some of the story is already written, and all they have to do is add in their own details. In addition to writing, kids are encouraged to add their own artwork or photos.”

Awesome Eats (Free US/CAN/UK, Ages 6 and up, Whole Kids Foundation).

Learning about healthy eating can be fun with the use of this free app. Awesome Eats is a fast-paced game that allows kids to learn how eating can be healthy while sorting life-like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. At each level of the game, kids are asked to move the food characters from one conveyor belt to another to eventually get the food in the correct box at the end.

“In between each of the 32 levels, the app presents kids with interesting nuggets of information about good nutrition,” Gudmundsen explains. “It’s one of my favorite free apps because it’s fun to play, teaches kids about healthy eating, and doesn’t contain ads or in-app purchases.”

If you’re looking for ways to educate and entertain your kids using your iPad, these five apps are a good start. What’s great is that they are just a small sample of all the free apps reviewed in Gudmundsen’s book, and many more can be found by searching the App Store or the internet.

Here are a few things to double check that you may not have thought about when gifting the device to your kids.

1. Clear it of all of your important data. No need for your 12-year-old to have to read your boring spreadsheets from work. If you are gifting a computer, back up and remove all of your files. If you are passing on a smartphone reset it to remove your contacts, text messages, photos, and calendar appointments.

2. Uninstall unnecessary programs. If you have specialized programs for work, IM programs that you don’t want the kids to use, VPN programs or anything else that kids will look at and say “huh?” uninstall it before passing on the device. The less clutter, the better.

3. Update the virus software:  You do not want your little ones browsing the web and inadvertently infecting their computer. Make sure that the virus software is up-to-date. For PCs I recommend Free AVG. Set it to update automatically and to run frequent late night scans so that you don’t have to worry about it.

4. Install a Spyware/Malware protector: Just like you need to protect the device from viruses, you also need to guard against Spyware. Spybot is a great, free option.

5. Configure Paternal Controls: This is the most important one on the list. You do not want little eyes to see what they should not see. And you certainly do not want your kids having a ball in the app store making purchases. Be sure to enable parental controls on the computer, tablet, or smartphone that your kids will use.  All phone carriers have great products available to install on smartphones to protect your kids. Check with your carrier for details. The iPad, iPod Touch, and Kindle Fire also offer parental controls in the settings. And the app store for iOS, and the Play Store for Android there are plenty of parental control apps that you can download. Many are free and offer great protection.

6. Give them a quick lesson: Ok yes… we know that most kids will not need it at all. My 6 year-olds have been good with the computer, smartphone, iPad, game system, etc. since they were 4. But, if you think that they need it, point them in the right direction.  Sit together and decide what apps to download or what websites to bookmark. They will be happy and not have to ask you every 5 minutes to install a new app, or approve a new website.

7. Let them enjoy: Technology is a part of our kid’s lives now. Our job as parents is to nuture the learning process, and teach moderation. Let them learn and enjoy..

Are you kids using a new device this holiday season?

So how do you launch a successful year-end sale?  Here are 5 steps to making it happen:

Identify Current Trends

Study your target and look for trends in your industry. Which of your products are people really longing for? Stock up on those items.  If you provide a service, which of your service offerings is most popular?  Create more openings for those services.

It will also help to talk to other people in your industry and try to figure out what items are going to be hot sellers during the holiday season.

Create a New Product

If your market is clamoring for an item or service you don’t currently provide, consider creating a new one.  Consider creating an ebook around your area of expertise.  Offer DIY tips in a video tutorial around a topic your market is frequently challenged by.

As you plan your sale of your product, consider enlisting the help of joint venture partners, affiliates, or even your current customers to increase your product’s visibility and expand your reach.

Have a Strong Upsell System

Having a strong upsell during the holidays is essential, and having successful upsells can boost your profits enormously.

Creating an add-on service or product that’s offered to a customer at the right time can add tremendous value.  For example, if you provide web design service for WordPress blogs, you can offer a video tutorial on how to manage the site once published.  Clients who hire you to create their site will find this to be a tremendous value.

Advertise Your Sale

Creating the offer is a good first step, but without advertising, you may miss out on hundreds of potential sales.  As long as you offer something that people want and as long as you differentiate yourself from others in your industry, your advertising dollars are going to multiply themselves many times over.

Just buying some sort of advertising, such as Facebook, Twitter or PPC ads, for a single month to boost holiday sales can bring a whole rush of ready to buy holiday shoppers.

Clearly Identify the Sale on Your Website

Your website is your main hub for your business, so you want to update it to reflect your sale.  You don’t need to redesign your website, but make sure that whatever special deals you have running are clearly displayed on the site.

Offering a year-end sale is a wise decision for many businesses. You get an enormous rush of sales, you move more products, and you expose yourself to a slew of new customers.

Asurion is the world’s leading cell phone insurance provider and works with customers to protect their cell phone against damage AND loss and theft. It’s a cost-effective way of making sure your loved ones are always connected. Most customers receive their replacement devices in one business day after they file a claim! This is great, considering Asurion data shows that 80 percent of loss and theft incidents occur within the first 12 months of purchasing the device.   

If you’re purchasing (or you receive) a cell phone this holiday season, Asurion reminds you that you typically only have 30 days after phone activation to insure your device. Make it a priority, as replacing your brand new smartphone can cost upwards of $600 if you do not have insurance!

So How Does it Work? 

Cell phone insurance is an insurance product, just like your home or auto insurance, and is regulated by insurance laws in each state. Here are the details for the Asurion plans:

• The fee is paid monthly with an average of $5 – $7 for the basic insurance coverage. (For instance AT&T and Verizon’s fee for iPhones is $6.99 – $9.99 per month.) This is added to your cell phone bill, so no extra bills to pay.
• When you file a claim, you pay a deductible, typically $50 – $199, depending on the phone. (For instance the iPhone deductible ranges from $169- $199.)
• Keep in mind, the insurance program’s goal is to get you back in the same model phone. The phone may be new or remanufactured. Every replacement device is backed by a 12-month warranty.

What About My Warranty?

Your mobile phone warranty mostly covers mechanical and electrical issues. Warranties, such as AppleCare, do NOT cover loss or theft of a phone. Asurion offers comprehensive coverage for the iPhone, covering loss  and theft that others do not offer.

Make sure to follow Asurion on Facebook and also enter to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate from SocialMoms by leaving a comment below! (Official Rules) Tell us if you’ve ever lost or damaged your phone and had to replace it (I know I have!)

Every day people search the Internet for all sorts of opportunities with the goal of finding ways to make money with low startup costs. Many of the basic equipment needed to begin earning extra income are in your home right now. If you have a computer with a high-speed internet connection, a telephone, a desk, and a printer, you can get going right away.  Here are 5 quick ways you can make money for your holiday purchases:

Blog Ads.

If you have a good online presence and decent traffic to your blog, you can begin generating income with ads.  A blog with a niche will perform better than a personal one, but you can set up either to make money with programs like Google Adwords and AdSense. Pay per Click advertising also works for generating revenue.

Blogsvertise

If you have a blog and enjoy writing, you can make money by writing advertising posts for other businesses.  By registering your blog with Blogsvertise, you allow advertisers to discover your blog and choose it for a review or guest post.  The general topic or theme is given to you and you create the post, linking it to the advertiser’s site.  Each post is paid and good writing gets rewarded with more frequent offers.

WordGigs

If you have a talent for writing and you enjoy it, you may find a good position with WordGigs.  This company receives requests from businesses for blurbs, articles, short posts, and other written materials which they distribute to their team of writers.  Writers are paid per project every two weeks.  You must have good writing skills and pass their screening process to qualify.  However, once hired, you can begin earning right away.

Selling on eBay

With this idea, you set up an online shop on eBay. You can sell products you created or items you own that you want to sell. Many now make a living selling on eBay. As your business grows, you can expand to involve other product markets.  This is a relatively easy way to earn quick money from home.

Hire My Mom

If you like the security of working for others instead of going into business for yourself, then this online professional job resource matches businesses with moms who want to do professional work from home.  There is a small quarterly fee to access the job boards, but the positions are legitimate and don’t require start-up fees.

If you are looking for ways to earn income for the holidays, this list should get you started.  Review these resources or search online for others and start earning your holiday cash.