Life Balance: Who Decides?
November 30, 2009
It’s probably fair to say that whenever we hear the topic of work/life balance, we all wonder if we’re doing it right. I decided quite a while ago that because my family is who I make those efforts for, it’s best to be checking with them when I wonder how I’m doing. (This article was written by Carol Rice of Cherish Bound and Startup Princess Fairy Godmother) Read more
Join Kelly King Anderson at Current Mom 2010 Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
November 26, 2009
I’m delighted to announce that Startup Princess is a Media Sponsor for Current Mom 2010 Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida February 1-3. It’s been a dream of mine to connect with women on the East Coast so I’m particularly excited to attend as a media sponsor, speaker and participant. I hope to see many of our Startup Princess readers there as well! Speakers, Networking, Meals & Spa Treatments all for Just $199 until Dec. 1! Read more
Utah Blogger Event- Learn about New Legal Issues * December 1st
November 25, 2009
Utah Bloggers are invited to attend a Free Luncheon Seminar December 1 hosted by Bank of American Fork (in American Fork) featuring Attorney John Rees to learn about the new government guidelines aimed specifically at bloggers.
RSVP: Register for a FREE ticket through Eventbrite by Nov. 30. Space is limited to 25 attendees.
Why attend? Newly released Federal Trade Commission guidelines may:
1) Affect the way you advertise on your blog or social media platform.
2) Require you to declare when you have been paid to blog about a product.
3) Require you to reveal when you’ve received free product.
4) Require certain disclaimers on your blog.
5) Make you more cautious when blogging about news, products, businesses and people.
Bank of American Fork knows that Utah bloggers are active and influential–both in Utah and around the world. Our goals with this workshop:
1) Help you with your blogging and social networking efforts
2) Invite you to tell your social network about Bank of American Fork’s 10th annual Project Teddy Bear to benefit thousands of Utah’s at-risk children
Schedule
11:30 a.m. – noon: Free lunch, networking
Noon – 12:30: Legal advice presented by John Rees of Callister Nebeker & McCullough
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.: Learn about Project Teddy Bear, networking
3 Secrets to Measuring Success in Your Online Community
November 25, 2009
Let’s say you’ve launched your blog and are ready to understand more about your audience. How do you determine the most important metrics for your community?
The old way of marketing said that visitors were all potential customers. It attached visitor actions to a definitive revenue goal, and conversion rates were based on this Point A to Point B method. Often, communication with these customers beyond the sale was not a strong consideration, if at all.
However, today we expect to have more understanding of how a product works in our life, possibly quite early in the buying cycle, and we need more than a large Buy Now button to get us interested. We want to know what others think about the product and what their experience has been. Thus, the value of blogs and online communities. If you’re now managing a community or planning one, understanding Return On Engagement metrics, as well as Return on Investment metrics will have notable impact on the longevity, activity, cohesion, and profitability of your community.
I’ve assembled a list of 3 tips that any blog owner or community manager can use to measure both definitive and qualitative impact.
Secret #1 : Analyze Community Dynamics
The first secret of analyzing your community is learning about the members. If your blog is targeted to say, moms in a specified geographical area whose husbands are airline pilots, don’t automatically assume that such tight targeting will mean they all have the same motivations – they won’t. Learn what they are. And focus on offering them what they want.
A good way to do this is to ask them, but everyone hates surveys, and you may not get enough information to make an informed decision about improving your community in specific ways. One of the easiest and most effective ways is to simply watch how members engage with each other. Who are your community influencers? How can they help create cohesion in the community? Which members are getting shut down and not heard? What ways can you reach out to them? Why do most people join your community? To build social links, or because the community brand appealed to them?
To ensure a robust community, really come to understand your member’s lives and how they relate to one another. This is important stuff.
Secret #2 : Analyze Community Cohesion
Closely related to Secret #1 is community cohesion. How does your community identify itself? Communities are social units chosen because an individual identifies with the members there and shares a sense of “we-ness” with them. Not all people will socially fit into your community. That being the case, look for opportunities to strengthen unity within your community, create a sense of contrast with other communities, and create camaraderie around a shared mission.
Example: PepsiWeInspire.com brought women of color together from all walks of life to share their beauty, wisdom and inspiration with each other, and in the process fight long entrenched industry ideals of beauty.
Secret #3: Analyze Your Community Traffic Data
Now that you’ve put the needs of people first in your community analysis and planning, consider the next step taking a more data-driven approach to help you develop and meet conversion metrics. Make sure to always think in terms of people before tools, and when it’s time to use tools, consider these analytics:
- Search engine ranking
- Social bookmarking activity
- Video/podcast views/listens
- Inbound links
- Technorati rankings
- Blog trackbacks
- RSS subscriptions
- Blog comments on your blog
- Active commenting on complimentary blogs
- Visitors (first-time and repeat)
- Visitor paths
- Referrers
- Size of community – daily signups/logins
This is clearly just the tip of the iceberg of what it takes to effectively measure success in your community, but it’s a great starting point for the kind of attitude it takes to make your community truly worth spending time at. What’s important is that you focus on the member’s needs first because there are countless other networks where they can choose to spend their time.
Setting your analytics focus on putting members first pays off dividends in helping you learn how to win members over, develop a clear idea of the kinds of experiences you want to provide, and illustrate each day why your blog or community is the place to be.
Ghennipher Weeks is a Startup Princess Fairy Godmother and a principal at Cindikate, a consultancy that helps companies who market to women create effective lifestyle brand communities. Ghennipher’s background includes a decade of public speaking and consulting corporate clients in search marketing and online conversion, with 5 of those years focused specifically on online brand communities and corporate blogs. Her forthcoming community management book, to be released by Humans and Technology, gives tactical advice to companies seeking to create groups of ardent customers organized around a brand’s lifestyle.
Introducing Nate Bagley, SEM Wizard and Startup Princess Site Manager
November 24, 2009
As you’ve probably noticed it’s not everyday that we feature a guy on Startup Princess, let alone a Wizard. In fact, this is our first interview ever with a guy and probably one of the few we’ll ever do. Why the exception? Well, the answer is Nate Bagley. He’s our new site manager and he’s awesome. Really. He’s smart and charming. I’m grateful he’s managing our site in his spare time (he’s a senior in college at UVU) because he’s brought a whole new level of organization to things and expanded my view of how to keep things running here more smoothly. Hurray for genius. Hurray for Nate’s uber social networking skills too or else I’d never have met him in the first place. Thanks Twitter. This tweet from May still makes me laugh; I saved it in my favorites: “One time I hugged a puppy. It licked my face. It felt almost as good as being followed by @startupprincess #FollowFriday her for warmfuzzies”.
Speaking of Twitter…Nate is quite the celebrity on Twitter locally and beyond. He just won a Utah Social Media Award for Best Use of Twitter, the only individual to win the honor (the other two were Mozy and SL Tribune). It was great to see him accept his award, he zigzagged through the audience and high-fived Fairy Godmother Rachael Herrscher of Today’s Mama who also won an award that night. 
If you don’t already know Nate, follow him on Twitter and you’ll also fall in love with him and if you’re single- you’re going to want to marry him…seriously. Look at his Bucket List- kissing in the rain? how romantic is that? And the other thing is that Nate is extremely lucky. His roommate Seth Jenks said he has a Leprechaun in his pocket and I’d have to agree. Here’s how he got to Blogworld and how he won hotel stay at the Hilton…and it doesn’t end there, he’s constantly winning stuff. So single ladies, I have a little plan: you think Nate is the man of your dreams and want to meet him in real life, just leave a comment here and say you want to meet him and if I feel that you’re worthy of my newly adopted brother then I’ll even pay for the date. If there’s a lot of you then we’ll rent out an entire theater for you all to see New Moon. 
Enjoy getting to know Nate Bagley!
Professional Background: I’ve been working in the internet marketing industry for over 3 years. I have been incredibly fortunate to become proficient in the search marketing trifecta consisting of paid search (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO) and social media.
I worked for OrangeSoda for nearly two years. During this time I was put in charge of the creation of their PPC training manual, worked on the SEO team and was the Social Media Coordinator. So yeah… I know stuff.
Currently am an SEM consultant attempting to put myself through my last semester and a half of college, and to buy enough Mac and Cheese and Top Ramen to avoid withering away.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: My dad. Still do. If I can be half the man he is, I’ll be satisfied.
Blog? My personal blog is The Big Bags. That’s where I got my start. I have a marketing blog called AtomFly, but I don’t update it very often because I’m busy with homework and the ladies… yeah… that’s right. The ladies.
What inspires you? Fear of being lonely and poor inspires me. But mostly lonely. I can handle poor. But really, I just have a passion for being creative and original. I love taking an idea from my head and seeing it take form. There’s nothing more exciting to me… except for maybe kissing a girl on the lips.
How long have you been in business? Since my mother birthed me in 1984. I exited the womb with a mouse in hand (my mom had a weird pregnancy cravings).
Current Business Challenge? It’s been said that I put the “nate” in “procrastinate.” Yeah… corny joke, I know. But it’s true. I think the biggest challenge I face, though, is paying myself what I’m worth. I am too much of a ‘Yes Man.’
What are you doing about it? Trying to prioritize my work schedule so that I’m more profitable… and I’m telling people no. Seriously. I might not even finish the rest of this interview. Who am I kidding, yes I will.
Favorite motivational quote: In one way or another, I live by this mantra: “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” -Dr. Seuss
What do you do to relax? I love to read and write. When I’m stressed I read really nerdy books like Twilight, and write dramatic blog posts that confuse all two of my readers.
What do you want to change most about your world? I want balance. I don’t want to be that guy who gets consumed by any single thing. I want to have a healthy balance.
What are you most proud of? I’m proud of my parents. It sounds kind of backwards to say that, but they are amazing examples of loyalty, hard work and selflessness. When you realize that your parents are just normal human beings, accomplishments like being in love for over 25 years and raising a litter of kids with values, goals and drive becomes quite an inspiration.
If I’m supposed to be proud of one of my own accomplishments, it would be the fact that I am finally becoming the best at something. I’ve been a Jack of All Trades, Master of None for my whole life. Internet marketing is one thing I’m determine to be really great at.
What advice would you like to offer Startup Princesses? Treat everyone like they’re important. You never know who has the knowledge or influence to help you in your future.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? Twitter. Hands down. Play to your strengths. Social media worked wonders for a social guy.
-Thanks, Nate! Great interview. Way to woo the ladies. Who’ll be first in line?
*I’m taking a few liberties, as being the blog manager grants me administrative access to any and all content on this website. Some ladies (or possibly men disguised as ladies) in the comments have asked about my ambitions and what the future holds in store for me.
To put it briefly, I plan to graduate in April of 2010 and pursue a career in internet marketing. I’ve had some great job offers, and depending on how I feel come graduation day, I may stay in UT, or move… wherever I feel I should go.
Since this is more of a career oriented website, I’ll leave it at that. If you want me to answer personal questions, feel free to hit up my blog or Twitter (both linked above). I’m pretty much an open book…
-Nate
Suggest a Speaker for 2010 Startup Princess Events (or Nominate Yourself!)
November 23, 2009
We’re in the midst of planning our events for 2010 and we love to feature new speakers…so please leave a comment about who you’d like to hear speak! We don’t pay speakers…but sometimes we cover airfare and lodging depending on the event and you’re welcome to sell your books, etc. at the event if you speak after your session. Also, typically we give first priority to Startup Princesses and Fairy Godmothers who have been active in our community.
Here’s the events we have planned as of now…11/23/09
Utah County Chapter Events (5) locals only
SLC Chapter Events (5) locals only
Orange County Chapter Events (5) locals only
St. George Event (1) locals only
Logan, Utah Event (1) locals only
Anaheim, CA * Startup Princess Academy* SPRING (1) * we’d possibly be willing to pay lodging for this event
3-5 speakers
SLC, Utah *TOUCHPOINT Conference * we’d possibly be willing to fly out speaker/pay lodging for this event * Multiple speakers needed for breakouts
Sundance, Utah * Startup Princess Image & Media Academy * locals only
3-5 speakers
Tell Us Your StartupPrincess Wishlist, Please Take our Survey!
November 23, 2009
We’re in the midst of finalizing our StartupPrincess.com editorial and event calendar, but it depends on YOU. Please take a second to fill out this survey and give us feedback of the types of articles you would like to see on our site. Thank you so much! We look forward to granting your wishes.
Getting Organized at Home with Laura Lawrence and Vicki Winterton of “The Organized Woman Show”
November 21, 2009
When Professional Organizers Laura Lawrence and Vicki Winterton, Co-Hosts of “The Organized Woman Show” offered to help me organize my home office I said, “Yes, Please!” We were already acquainted because they have been to Startup Princess events and so I already knew that I’d love working Read more
Read Quinn Curtis and Emily Hill’s Reviews of Startup Princes Image & Media Academy
November 20, 2009
I’ve had good intentions all week to write more about the fabulous Startup Princess Image & Media Academy but it just hasn’t happened yet so I’m grateful Quinn Curtis, Founder of Created by Mom, Limelight Food Photography and Created by Chicks and Blogger/Writer Emily Hill, and Co-Founder of Georgie Tees both sponsored by APX Alarm wrote. READ Quinn’s post 1 and post 2 and Emily’s post here. Read more
Meet Vanessa Brown- Blogger, Internet Marketer, and Entrepreneur
November 19, 2009
It’s been a pleasure to watch Startup Princess Vanessa Brown of our Salt Lake City Chapter grow and develop her multiple businesses- INeverGrewUp.net (blog), MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com (membership site to learn to make money with a blog), and AKickIntheBuzz.com (social media marketing company). Vanessa’s organized, resourceful, innovative, and inspiring– a true bootstrapping, “get it done” business owner who demonstrates that it’s possible to make money doing what you love. If you’re on Twitter be sure to follow Vanessa @inevergrewup
Enjoy getting to know Vanessa!
Hometown: Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Texas, Arizona, Utah (we moved quite a bit)
Current Residence (City, State): Salt Lake City, Utah
Education: ‘The School of Hard Knocks‘
Professional Background: I have the cliched resume of dead end, no-brainer jobs, sprinkled in with a few nanny jobs that I loved. Everything changed when I started working for myself and since that has happened I’ve been a writer, blogger, marketer, and consultant helping to promote my own products and those of local businesses.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A teacher or writer.
What you are: A mother, a writer/blogger, owner of a social media marketing company and of an online membership site to teach others to make money with their blogs.
Brief Summary of your Start Up: Two years ago after having my second daughter I was starting to feel very stuck and empty inside. For my 5th wedding anniversary my husband bought me two years of website hosting fees and told me I should write about something I love, which is what INeverGrewUp.net is. That is when I found the blogging world and soon knew that this was it! Nine months later after learning the social media world I put together for a few good friends (the owners of the restaurant Blue Lemon) a blogger event and signed them up for Twitter, the reponse was huge. My name for social media marketing spread like wildfire so I started my own company, AKickIntheBuzz.com. About six months ago emails, facebook messages, voicemails, neighbors popping by asking me how to start a blog and make money with is started pouring in everyday. Three months ago I launched my MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com online membership site where I teach women through a seven month program how to make money with their blogs.
Company Website? INeverGrewUp.net (blog), MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com (membership site to learn to make money with a blog), AKickIntheBuzz.com (social media marketing company)
What inspired you? My husband. When my daughter was born he decided to make his career dreams come true by starting his own business and he did it successfully. He helped me to realize my potential and how to be successful with it.
How long have you been in business? Been blogging for 18 months, owned the social media company for 8 months and online membership site for 3 months.
How did you fund it? My only cost was the design of the sites (averaging $100 each) and my $4.95 monthly hosting fee! I have never spent any money on marketing and have not needed to spend big bucks and instead have been doing things like press releases to gain free press, link building in many different ways, by word of mouth, affiliate programs, article marketing, etc.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I am still looking for “my mentor” although I have a great group of fellow blogging friends that I learn from and bounce ideas off of.
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Startup Princess and luckily I meet a lot of Utah business owners through my husband’s line of work.
Current Business Challenge? How to continue to get my name out there for my online membership site, MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com where I teach my members how to make money through their blogs. My membership numbers are growing every month but I am looking for it to grow quite a bit more!
What are you doing about it? I started an affiliate program that has been quite profitable for the affiliates but also in gaining more leads. I have a button they put on their site with certain coding that gives them 50% of the sale per month that I get off of every lead. So it is very profitable for both of us.
Favorite motivational quote: “You’ll wish you would have tried harder when you realize who you really are.” –Henry B. Eyring
Family? Husband, two daughters (two and three) and two dogs!
If so, how do you balance family and business? Recently my husband and I decided that he would take off Mondays from work so I could spend the whole day working. Every other Tuesday my mother helps me with my girls so I can meet with clients. Then I spend 2-4 hours per day Tuesday – Friday working on whatever I did not finish. I am quite a stickler with my schedule, swear by time mapping my week and when I don’t the whole family suffers! When I am with my girls, I don’t do work, I just enjoy them and I love it.
Favorite book? Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
What do you do to relax? Reading, wasting time on Facebook and Twitter, cooking with my family, hiking with my girls, we try to be outside most of the day.
What do you want to change most about your world? I want to become more financially stable, we are a self employed family and even though we have been so blessed I would love to feel more stable. We are working towards owning a house in Spain soon and living there three months out of every year.
What are you most proud of? That I am more and more getting over my fear of meeting new people, speaking in public and that I have created three successful companies in the past two years.
What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Believe in yourself, believe in what you can become, take a deep breath and put yourself out there. Don’t hold back, don’t live a life where you “wish” you had done this or that.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? The book Time Management from the Inside Out: The Foolproof System for Taking Control of Your Schedule and Your Life by Julie Morgenstern. It is a must read and will be such a huge help to you.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? It would have none, it would be even more simple than my thin fake silver wedding band but even more beautiful. It would be made out of the things my girls and I use to make “fairy houses” up in the mountains; twigs, wild flowers and pinecones.
