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

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Comment by carole harris on January 21, 2009 at 8:45am: It wouldn't go in my sidebar, and it wouldn't go into both my blogger blogs. I have yet to try it in wordpress.

Comment by Ruthie Appleby on January 19, 2009 at 12:37am: I hope I was able to get my blog here :)
http://theruthienews.blogspot.com/

Comment by Baby Bump Fitness on January 11, 2009 at 10:00am: Put the widget up last week, now I think I have to write a blog post that picks up my tags by google and then it is linked to twitter moms. Please correct me if I'm wrong or help.

thanks

Comment by Dawn Lidwell on January 10, 2009 at 4:07pm: I cant even get the badge to show up right on my wordpress blog :((

Comment by Bonnie Irving on January 10, 2009 at 4:05pm: Ok, i was able to make the smaller one work on my sidebar all by my self! I am SOOO learning

Comment by Dawn Lidwell on January 10, 2009 at 3:52pm: I am having a problem with the code. I personally think its wordpress issue because I have issues with all codes i try to use other than photobucket codes. Is there another way I can participate in this?

Comment by Bonnie Irving on January 10, 2009 at 3:36pm: its too wide for my SIdebar also. it doesnt quite fit! HELP!

Comment by ResourcefulMommy on January 8, 2009 at 4:08pm: This is great! The feature that posts it directly on to my site might not work for people who have more than one blog. For example, I wanted it on my ResourcefulMommy site, but it put it on a different blogger blog - right in the middle of the post. :) I was able to copy the HTML from there and move it in case that happens to anyone else.

Comment by Kristen Andrews: Featured Contributor of Style on January 8, 2009 at 7:49am: just added it to my sidebar!

Comment by Whateverebay on January 7, 2009 at 10:24am: It is too wide, but I added it anyway. It would be best for me to add it to another page where it will fit properly. Would this make a difference? Great idea and am so happy be be part of it.