We’ve all been there when the reality sets in that this time (maybe every time) you have to pass on the chance to connect in a real live “face to face” situation with heavy hitters in your industry. It’s crushing, it’s depressing, you wonder if you can ever develop a connection and lasting business relationship using alternative means of networking. Can you get results, win friends and influence people without the actual face to face connect a conference setting provides?

This is the topic we’re tweeting about and discussing in the Boutique Cafe Facebook group this week. Have you had a similar experience please come share it. If you have found other means and methods of alternative networking it’s time to spill the beans and share your secret to networking success. That way the next conference that rolls around that we can’t attend won’t send us into a tailspin of chocolate eating and deep sobs. – Daria

Let’s chat NETWORKING >>

Along with all my mompreneur responsibilities I am also a stay at home mom of one, and wife. With this job, like many of you, I am also responsible for the family finances. When I quit working for the USPS six years ago, our family’s income was greatly reduced. I had to learn a lot about being frugal and saving money. I actually started my business to support my yarn and craft habit!

Now, I am in no way an expert on this subject, but through the years I have met many people and found many sites that are! With their help, I am happy to say that not only is my business growing, but my family has been debt free (with the exception of our home) for almost 2 years now! I’d like to share some of my secrets with you!

Every morning, with my cup of coffee, I have a series of websites that I visit. My hands down favorite is One Pretty Thing. She has compiled a list of some of the BEST do-it-yourself projects on the web! From Christmas and Hanukkah décor, easy to make handmade gifts, and even tips for your business, you can find tons of useful and inexpensive ideas on her site. And the best part is that she does the internet searching for you! Not crafty or too busy? I bet you know another mom who is and could use a little extra money this holiday season.

Now, for the savvy shopper in you, I always check out Slick Deals. Every day you can find some great deals on items, especially now for your Christmas shopping!! The other day I scored an awesome deal at Victoria’s Secret, three sweaters and a free scarf for only $31! Guess what will be under my Christmas tree this year? I’m currently on the lookout here for some other great gift ideas!

And if your dream this holiday season is to be debt free, you must check out Dave Ramsey! My family listens to his radio show a lot and we got tons of tips and great ideas that helped us. When refinancing our house this summer, we contacted one of his preferred mortgage providers and they actually told us that the deal we were offered from our current mortgage company was better than anything they could do for us! I was shocked…they were turning down our business! We managed to combine our original 30-year mortgage along with our Home Equity Loan and drop down to a 15 year mortgage. We paid cash for the closing costs and our monthly payments dropped $30!! Our new goal is to have the house paid off before our first grader graduates from High School.

Well, I hope you enjoyed a sneak peek at some of my secrets. I look forward to sharing more with you through Mompreneur Corner.

Jennifer Cirka
www.jaybird-designs.com
www.jaybirddesigns.etsy.com

CANADA—November 30, 2009— From the very beginning Boutique Café’s passion has been supporting mom entrepreneurs (“mompreneurs”) and women in business. For over five years the website’s podcast interviews, fashion show spotlights, product reviews and various forms of advertising have given added attention to women business owners.

Daria Muirhead, Boutique Café’s owner and podcast hostess, is all about helping these women fulfill their dreams. In another effort to do so she recently launched Mompreneur Corner, a new feature on Boutique Café that will showcase featured articles by and for incredible business women. The weekly articles will cover a wide range of topics, from the importance of branding your business to better balancing family and business. Mompreneur Corner will offer readers specific how-to’s from expert panelists in areas such as fabric design, product placement, advertising, stress management, mothering from behind a desk and zeroing in on your passion.

“I have put together a wonderfully talented group of women for our Mompreneur Corner feature. They will quickly become an integral and ongoing part of Boutique Café and I am excited to share their talents and expertise with our audience,” said Daria.

In addition to the new Mompreneur section on Boutique Café, the site is currently showcasing its 2009 Boutique Cafe Holiday Gift Guide. The gift guide is packed full of discount codes, free shipping offers and other special promotions. This is fourth installment of the website’s popular holiday shopping guide and is a tremendous draw for readers and advertisers alike (many of whom happen to be work-at-home moms and mompreneurs).

Whether you’re interest is family or business (or holiday shopping), you can find what you’re looking for on Boutique Café.

About Boutique Café

Boutique Café is the world’s first boutique podcast. The site’s weekly shows highlight topics of interest to fashion savvy moms around the world. Whether readers are looking for a new muse, the latest in fashion for children, reviews on must-have products or tips and tricks for women business owners, Boutique Café can help. Besides producing a highly portable and downloadable radio show, the site also supports a community forum of buyers, designers, moms and professionals. Boutique Café has experienced great success in its first five years of operation and has gained thousands of subscribers to the show as well as thousands of visitors to the site each day. Visit BoutiqueCafe.com for more information.

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Sure, I’ve written press releases before but I was at a loss as to how I could best utilize the power of PR to grow our company. I don’t have much faith in (or a budget for) advertising, so what other options exist? Let me tell you, after browsing PR Cafe’s Definitive Guide to PR a whole new world has opened before my eyes. The Guide includes all three of PR Cafe’s guides: Fresh PR Press Release Pack, Fresh PR Strategy Pack, and Fresh PR Awards, Product Reviews, and Speaking Pack. And when they say “pack” them mean pack! We’re talking 72 pages of detailed, informative, easy-to-read and easy-to-implement ideas to turn your business into a million-dollar-plus business all by harnessing the power of PR.

When I said I had only browsed the Guide, don’t think it meant that’s all I’m planning to do. You can’t just browse this baby. I’ve only made it partway through the first section (Press Release Pack) because literally everything I’ve read is something I can implement into my own business. If the rest of the Guide is as quality as this first section it’s going to take me a while to get through it all as I’ll be reading every single word! I can’t wait to get to the section on creating the killer pitch for those hard-to-pitch editors!

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