Introducing the TwitterMoms Blog Network

Today, we're launching a new, free way for our members to drive additional traffic to their blogs. Learn more and get started here:

There are about 330+ members who link their blogs to TwitterMoms using badges or text links. I have featured these blogs on our homepage, mostly to say "thank you" and give something back to the members. We never officially launched this feature, but lots of moms figured out that all it took to get your blog featured on our home page was for your blog to include a link to TwitterMoms.com.

This got me thinking. How could we help all these industrious mom bloggers build up their traffic as TwitterMoms grows? The answer came in the form of a simple "blogroll widget" that anyone can install on their blog. The widget features the latest posts from moms participating in the ad hoc "TwitterMoms Blog Network." Copy, paste, relax. Simple as that!

The widget is easy to install and configure if you've got a blog or web site. Many of you have installed the TwitterMoms.com badge, and you might consider this a replacement for that (or install both) if you'd like to participate in this "traffic ring." If you're reading this post, I certainly hope you will!

Introducing this widget is a first step in one of my 2009 resolutions, which is to help bring economic opportunities to moms who are interested in them. Many of you put your hearts and souls into your blogs, and a traffic ring like this can help you build your audience and discover new bloggers with whom you have a connection.

Here's what it looks like:

TwitterMoms: The Influential Moms Network

You can customize the size of this widget here to fit a sidebar.

NEW! Check out this awesome screencast on how to install the TwitterMoms Blog widget!

How It Works

Using the magic of Google Blog Search, I track the blogs that link to http://www.twittermoms.com and surface them on this site using RSS. I've now created a widget that includes both the RSS feed for this search and a link back to TwitterMoms.com. If you've got a blog and want to get traffic this way, all you need to do is install this widget on your blog! As new postings hit Google's radar, they are automatically included in this network and your headline gets displayed on this site and across any other member sites displaying the widget. Easy, huh? I have "locked down" the widget in case nefarious outsiders try to game the system. From time to time, I may be forced to change the Google Blog Search to be more sophisticated.

The tagline at the bottom of the widget is a text link that helps brand this site (at least in the eyes of Google) as "The Influential Moms Network". Along with this tagline (and some rebranding as we get to it) we'll start rolling out more lucrative opportunities for members of the network. Stay tuned!

Installation Instructions

Hover your mouse over the widget above. Where you see "copy me" simply click, and you will see options for places to publish this widget automatically. Blogger and TypePad are supported from directly within the widget -- everyone else should select the black plus (+) sign and copy the code. You can then paste this into your blog template.

Install, discover new blogs, and watch your traffic grow! More fun stuff to come in 2009. Let me know what you think!

Tags: blogs

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of twitter moms: the influential moms network to add comments!

Join this Ning Network

Comment by Deanne on March 4, 2009 at 11:25pm: Hi Moms :)
I've added the widget to my blog, too big on the sidelines but I'll figure that out later, way too early at the moment lol
right off to nosey around :)
I'm here http://deezkatz.blogspot.com if anyone fancied popping on by

Comment by yadayada6 on March 3, 2009 at 2:27pm: It didn't work. It just posted on my blog as the title of my blog. How do I fix this?

Comment by i-amthat on March 2, 2009 at 5:37am: Thanks for this http://i-amthat.blogspot.com (just in case lol)

Comment by Michelle Branco on February 26, 2009 at 11:39pm: Does this work with wordpress?

Comment by Monica on February 24, 2009 at 6:24pm: Dang it, can't I edit!

Megan. not Meagan. :P

Comment by Monica on February 24, 2009 at 6:23pm: Meagan, I've seen this widget in action on blogs, but it didn't occur to me that I could put it on my blog. Duh! Thanks for a great opportunity to find new bloggers and have folks find me. :)

monica

PS I used the custom-sized widget and it was very easy for this non-techie to figure it out. Go for it, girls!

Comment by Sharon on February 22, 2009 at 10:39am: Thanks for the great widget. I have installed it on my blog -- check it out if you're interested! Good, True and Beautiful

BTW, the "yourminis" website was attacked by pop-ups... Firefox blocked over 150!

Comment by LaSara on February 21, 2009 at 5:10pm: I'm on board! Thanks, Megan!

Comment by ejly on January 25, 2009 at 9:00am: Do you have html available for someone like me who doesn't want to share my blog password with yourminis.com folks? I'm sad - the widget configuration device is flakey on my Mac, and I'm not comfortable with password sharing (remember what happened with twitter a while back when 3rd party apps started spamming twitter user pages?) but I would like to participate.

Comment by Michelle on January 24, 2009 at 12:53am: I think this is great and added it to my blog. I want to read other moms' blogs so I look forward to checking it out. But, how do I get Google Blog Search to notice me???