Mom Entrepreneur Support Group

The Mom Entrepreneur Support Group is an interactive group that allows mom entrepreneur members to network with one another and share their stories and advice for balancing motherhood and running a company. Membership is free.

In addition, the group is strictly moderated. A list of guidelines has been established in order to keep members on track with the mission of the group. I hope you will consider joining us and contributing your experience.

We have over 650 members and 2,800 discussions. We also have a resource file for members that includes a cash flow analysis template, a list of mom entrepreneur grants and contests, a list of members who offer exposure on their sites, buy in rights to our Co-op Shop and much more.

If interested, I invite you to click the following link for more information: http://tinyurl.com/MomEntSG.

Halftile Ads for the CanadianBabies Babble

We're still accepting haltfile ads from members of our Parentpreneur Program (PEP) we will use in rotation in our weekly national e-newsletter, the CanadianBabies Babble. This e-newsletter goes out to over 11,000 e-subscribers and features many of our contests, product reviews and parentpreneur articles.

If you haven't yet please forward your halftile ad sized 300 pixels by 125 pixels. You can see our ad specifications, click here. And you can see halftile ad samples here:

http://www.canadianbabies.ca/images/halftiles/bugalug_halftile.jpg

http://www.canadianbabies.ca/images/halftiles/littletraveler_halftile.jpg

If you need any help creating your own halftile ad, please visit this page:

http://www.jvgraphic.com

Please let us know if you would like to join our Parentpreneur Program (PEP).

Join us on LinkedIn

We've also created a group for our parentpreneurs on LinkedIn. You can join it by visiting this page:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2052553&trk=anet_ug_grppro

You'll be able to interact here and you may find some great connections!

CanadianBabies Fan Page

We've created a CanadianBabies Fan Page that you can access here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/CanadianBabies/220198635314?ref=s

When we have more than 100 Fans we get to customize the above URL so please become a fan! As well, as tweeted about your business each month, as your Parentpreneur Program (PEP) subscription is automatically renewed, we'll also copy this tweet onto our CanadianBabies Fan Page.

To help promote your business, we recommend that you have a clear image of your logo on your site's homepage as well as your BUSINESS NAME and your BUSINESS tag line in your website's title metatags. Facebook can use this image to highlight our posts about your business.

Optimize Your Title Tag for Twitter

The CanadianBabies twitter profile (with 2,999 followers) is here:

http://twitter.com/canadianbabies

Each month as your subscription to our Parentpreneur Program (PEP) is automatically renewed, we'll tweet about your business. This tweet will appear on our site's homepage.

I highly recommend having your BUSINESS NAME and your BUSINESS tag line in your website's title metatags. Here are some examples of past tweets:

Finest Expressions - Special Gifts for Special Occasions http://ow.ly/h5A9

Baby Kneez - Childrens Kneepads In 8 Great Colours http://ow.ly/h5y3

We'll also be tweeted about new parentpreneur and product review articles and contests that appear on our site to promote your involvement even more!

You can find out more about optimizing your title tag here:

http://websearch.about.com/od/quicktipsandtricks/ht/meta_tags_title.htm

To Tweet or not to tweet!

First there was Facebook and now there's Twitter.

"Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

If you are a small parent run company, I suggest you twitter. Don't get obsessive about it but do tweet when you can.

"Why? Because even basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues—especially when they’re timely."

You can join Twitter here and create an account named after your business. Here are more Twitter basics for small business that you'll find helpful:

• Twitter 101: Twitter Basics
• Twitter: the Basics

High cost of child care

Something is seriously wrong with childcare in Canada. I've seen articles regarding some Chinese immigrants send thier children (babies) back to China to be raise by relatives.

Earlier this year, I was speaking to an advocate from Ottawa who was concern about our new childcare benefits. Naming the $100 a month that families are getting childcare benefits doesn't really cut it. I know when my kids were in part-time care with a wonderful woman down the street we were charged a reasonable $180 per week. $100 would have only made a small dent in the $720+ we paid per month.

Just reading this article made me think of all the conversations I've had over the past 12 months on the topic of childcare in Canada...and it's just wrong. Parents and are children need more help and support.

Boot Scootin' Baby...where are you!

As usual, I spent much of my time today at the computer getting sidetracked on the internet. Unbelievable if you know me, right? :) I found two ADORABLE products/services this time though....

The first is the cutest mom/baby exercise imaginable, besides Salsa Babies!), but it's along the same lines. It's born in Toronto, created this year by Jackie Davidson, and is called "Boot Scootin' Baby"! How cute is that! Check out the photo of a class with cowboy hats on on this page.

The other product I found through Halifax's Next Inline's newsletter and it's the Giggle Bug Toddler Tracker. My mom would have SOOOOO used this on me! It has two pieces, one (the Tamper resistant "Giggle Bug") you clip on your toddler and the other you have on you. If you lose track (!) of your little one, you press the button on your "Activator Fob" and "Giggle Bug" that's clip onto your little one "will “beep” and the lights will flash until the child is located". It's a little like a combination "clapper" (to turn your lights on/off) and what you have on your key chain to lock your car. Very smart!

Holiday Shopping Guide

Happy Holidays! Oh, that's the first time I said that this year and the days are ticking away! I have started my holiday shopping though and I've started it online - no malls, no line ups and home delivery - it's great! We've decided to share our favourite online retailers with you!

Click here to see the first CanadianBabies Holiday Shopping Guide! Our favourite shops spread the joy!

free hugs

I just found this on urbanmoms.ca. It definately made me smile, laugh and hug my kids. Enjoy and please share! Take a look:

http://www.youtube.com/v/vr3x_RRJdd4

Free Hugs Campaign has become a global movement. This is what the people at the '>Free Hugs Campaign said:

Free hugs is a real life controversial story of Juan Mann, A man whose sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives. In this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact, the effects of the Free Hugs campaign became phenomenal.

As this symbol of human hope spread accross the city, police and officials ordered the Free Hugs campaign BANNED. What we then witnessed is the true spirit of humanity coming together in what can only be described as awe inspiring.

In the Spirit of the free hugs campaign, PASS THIS TO A FRIEND and HUG A STRANGER! After all, If you can reach just one person...

The response to this video has been nothing short of overwhelming and touching. Hugs to every single one of you who messaged. There have been thousands of emails from all over the world by people seeking to participate in the Free Hugs campaign and asking for permission. You do not need permission. This is the peoples' movement, this is *your* movement. With nothing but your bare hands you can make THE difference.