By Jennifer Ascher

Being an organizer I am always looking for helpful tools to make my life easier and less stressful. If you are anything like me and have your own blog plus write or do things online for numerous other places, than let me introduce you to a sanity saver called an editorial calendar.

This little gem of a tool will save your sanity in many different ways because…

• Not only does it allow for flexibility, put it also keeps you from over scheduling yourself with too many projects / articles on any given day. At a glance you know what is coming up and are able to plan accordingly.
• It forces you to discipline yourself because the deadlines are all laid out in front of you ( it’s a proven fact when you put deadlines on things or assign accountability they’re more likely to happen).
• It helps you avoid an overlap of topics or assist you if you are planning on doing a series.
• It’s a great place to write down ideas you may have for future articles.

Now that you know how an editorial will help you, let’s look at some things to consider or do when creating one. (more…)

By Holly Reisem Hanna

Last year I compiled a list of the 50 best blogs by women, however over the past year I have met a ton of cool people on Twitter and I have stumbled across some truly amazing blogs. So I thought it would be fun to make this an annual affair. Just like last year I have decided not to feature any of the power bloggers like Heather Armstrong and Ree Drummond (even though they totally rock), but these blogs below have been my go-to resources for awesome information, a bit of humor and some fantastic recreational reading.

I think you’re really going to like these – enjoy!

And if you happen to be one of our top 50 bloggers, congratulations! (You can download our new logo by right clicking and saving to your computer) or feel free to email me at holly (at) theworkathomewoman (dot) com and I’ll send you the logo. (more…)

By Donna L. Johnson

How often are you drawn to blog posts and articles with a title like, “10 Things to _____” or “The Top 5 Secrets of _____”? I must admit they’re quite catchy and as writers, we use these kinds of titles to bait our readers (please don’t tell anyone I shared this insider information with you!).

What I’ve found from reading and writing these types of posts is that sometimes they’re appropriate and sometimes they aren’t, depending on the message and content. And for the purpose of today’s message, I’m giving you one thing to focus on. Once you’ve successfully mastered this principle, you can then move on, build upon it, and apply it to all areas of your personal and professional lives. (more…)

Enter to win a $50 Premier Designs Jewelry Gift Certificate!

Premier Designs offers a vast array of beautiful, affordably-priced jewelry that will suit a variety of fashion styles. You’ll find something that touches your heart regardless of whether you prefer classic elegance, contemporary pieces, vintage romantic or you have a naturally simple style. Jewelers market quality high fashion jewelry to small groups through interactive Home Fashion Shows. Their catalog includes more than 700 pieces, with the average item retailing for about $34. Each item of jewelry is backed by their Golden Guarantee to ensure it “keeps its good looks” through many seasons of wear.

How to Enter:

To enter this giveaway, please leave a comment below and let us know what type of jewelry you would like to buy with this gift certificate (necklace, bracelet, ring or earrings).

Earn Extra Entries:

You can earn extra 6 entries by doing the following. You must leave a new comment for each! (more…)

Tell us a little bit about Cherry Communications and how you got started.

Well, I started Cherry Communications in 2002 after abruptly quitting a job only after three months. The boss of that PR firm was verbally abusive. He believed that you could get the best from people by being demeaning. Three months into my job, he called me to task about ‘only getting the client on Good Morning America.’ ONLY! So I quit. Crying and upset, I told the story to my husband. I wondered what I would do. He handed me a piece of paper. On it was my first domain, because he  felt I could do it better on my own. And Cherry Communications was born.

It’s now grown into essentially to companies: Cherry Communications, a virtual creative marketing and public relations firm, and Be Heard Solutions, an info marketing company for people who want to learn creative marketing and publicity.

What did you do before launching your own business?

I worked for a couple major public relation firms. Prior to that, I was a TV anchor and reporter.

How many hours do you work a week and how much is spent is your home office? (more…)