Our Business Grows Quicker When We Get Some Support ~ Part Two
Yesterday, I shared how it only took 14 days to get my blog up, from idea to launch. Today I'm sharing what happened next.
Mums Got A Business.com was ready to launch on Monday 21st of March, but that wasn’t where the hard work finished.
Putting up a blog and sitting back to wait for the traffic to arrive is like opening a shop and waiting for the customers to come and find you – you will be very disappointed.
There was lots of networking to be done. Spreading the word is an art in itself. So I was now ready to go tell everyone who I social network with on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
I also visited forums in my new niche and commented on other blogs in related niches.
But the most important thing I did was to ask for support from the communities I belong to: Connie Ragen Green’s 21 Day Productivity Challenge and Helen Rappy’s 30 Day Productivity Challenge.
When you’re a member of an online group you are like a little family and we all want to give support and help each other’s businesses grow. I was absolutely delighted with the reaction from my online family – I just knew they were 100% behind me, cheering me on.
At the end of that first day I looked at my statistics and this is what they said:
I’d had over 100 visitors to the blog
46 people shared my link on facebook
7 people had retweeted me
9 comments were left on the blog
This resulted in:
20 people signing up for my short report
8 people agreeing to be interviewed and featured on the blog
3 people approached me to become JV partners in the future
And the absolute icing on the cake was finding that my blog had been featured in a video on YouTube by Donna from Social Media on Steroids as a good example of using the 2010 theme.
Update: Just over a week after launch date I have made my first 2 sales from my blog – WooHoo!
Stop Press: I've just had Mums Got A Business.com featured on Family Friendly Working's Blog Carnival with the best mummy bloggers in Britain! And I've been approached to be in a book all about mumpreneurs ~ good going for my first week 🙂
I Hope this has inspired those of you not quite there yet. My message is to just keep going – it’s SO worth all the effort. I just know this blog is going to keep growing and becoming a great resource for mumpreneurs everywhere!
Fantastic result Heather and thanks for the heads up on the productivity groups to join. I am not a Mummy.. but I support what you are doing whole-heartedly 🙂
xx
Anita-Clare,
Since I came on-line in 2007 I’ve been in a number of groups and communities and I’ve really found that productivity groups keep me so motivated and focused and everyone shares their expertise. So, whatever you’re working on, someone will know what you need to do and will want to help you do it. It’s fab!
Hx
You are a hero, this is awesome and such a great example to others starting out or thinking about blogging, You also are an inspiration to me to get suzicheel.com rocking
Suzie Cheel recently posted..The Power of Gratitude
Suzie,
Thank you! I’ve watched you grow over the last few months too. I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do with suzicheel.com I’ll be cheering you on. You can do it – you know you can.
Let me know how I can help.
Hx
This is fantastic. Congratulations! You inspire me. You are a perfect example of focusing on one’s dreams, putting some action behind it, and watching a dream come to fruition. WaHoo!
Cindy
Cindy Caldwell recently posted..Competition or Collaboration – Guess Which One Contributes to Your Authentic Happiness
Cindy,
Thanks so much for your kind words.
I really do hope that sharing my journey will help others to see that ‘if I can do it – then so can they’ – I love seeing us all succeed and want to help any way I can.
Hx
Well done Heather – you are such an inspiration and as mentioned before, I shall be returning to your blog for updates. Mentors are really great as they are there to guide and direct not necessarily cheerlead.
Kifayat recently posted..Im Participating in the Ultimate Blog Challenge!
Kifayat,
Thanks so much for that. I hope that I inspire you to achieve your on-line dreams too.
I love working with mentors – we move so much further, so much faster when we learn from those who have been before.
I’ve spent so much time learning the hard way. Why re-invent the wheel, when someone is prepared to share their journey.
Hx
Hi Heather,
I just read your previous post and this one and I must say you are a superstar! Congratulations on all your work and sharing your results so soon out of the gate. I’m so proud of you.
This new blog is so inviting and your Facebook page is a perfect example of branding done right. Absolutely fabulous.
I look forward to reading more. XO
Deb Augur recently posted..Designing Your Social Media Game Plan
WooHoo!
Thanks Deb, your kind words mean the world to me. You’ve watched me grow over the last year or so and you know what it’s taken for me to get here. I’m learning more and more each day.
So glad you like the page and the branding. I had a wonderful feeling when it all came together – it just felt so right!
Watch this space and see me fly – yipeeeee!
Hx
Hi Heather
I am always amazed at how much you manage to achieve an how much love you are willing to spread around. Two productivity groups, that’s quite something! Thank you for all your support x
Nicky Kriel recently posted..5 Reasons to show your Face
Nicky,
There is so much lovely support out there.
I love being part of these groups.
If this is something you want to do too, then we’d be delighted to have you join our group.
Or get a taste of what Helen has to offer by signing up for her free call this month.
You’ll find an advert for free productivity training above on the right. That’s Helen’s April call – you’ll love it.
Heather x
Good going Heather. I think what you are role modelling really well here is the importance of taking action. Not just taking action, but taking action fast. I see many people full of great ideas, spend ages planning (often paralysed by the curse of perfectionism) but don’t get the results they wish for. Action and implementation are key to getting results.
Ali Davies recently posted..Why You Should Embrace The “F” Word More
Thanks so much Ali,
I totally agree that ‘taking action’ is probably the one thing that makes the difference. I remember being that perfectionist!
My blog is a work in progress. I’m happy that it’s up and I’m tweaking as I go. So many action takers that I’ve spoken to lately have encouraged me to take that scary step. It doesn’t matter that it’s not finished/perfect/right/etc …. just get it out there and keep moving forward.
I’m so glad I did
Hx
Quite impressive results, Heather!
And I love how you don’t pull any punches. Without knowing how and where to promote your biz (and yourself), you’re blog will just be lingering about like a duck out of water. Setting everything up is one phase and equally critical to your success is “promotion”. You’ve become a superstar at it!
Now I’m going to pop over to YouTube and check out the video.
Looking forward to watching your community grow and grow. 🙂
Melanie Kissell @SoloMompreneur recently posted..Blogging Causes Insomnia
Thank you Melanie,
You’re my inspiration when I get out there and spread the word.
You’re such an amazing networker – thank you for all your support and for spreading the love.
Heather x
P.S. Donna’s website critique on YouTube is outstanding, Heather — she really knows her stuff! And I love her accent. 🙂
She gave some great, yet simple, suggestions. And I learned a new little trick from her for inbound and outbound linking.
Three cheers and two thumbs up for your mini makeover on YouTube!
Melanie Kissell @SoloMompreneur recently posted..Pasteurize Homogenize And Monetize
Isn’t it wonderful and you can imagine what a lovely surprise it was for me – she’s an absolute star!
Hx