Tracking your marketing online is very important and something that should be done on a continual basis.  This is the only way to determine whether your marketing strategies are working or not.  If you do not track your marketing efforts you may be investing time and money into a strategy that may not be beneficial for your business.  We will discuss here some ways to track the results of your different marketing strategies.

Business owners who use banner ads have a simple way to track whether or not their banner ads are effective. This is possible because they can place code in the banner ad which will supply them with feedback each time a user clicks on the banner ad. This information is transmitted to the business owner so he can evaluate which of his banner ads are generating the most interest. If the business owner is currently using two different styles of banner ads on comparable websites he can use this information to determine which design is most effective. This is important because if one style is significantly more effective than the other it might be worthwhile to convert all of the banner ads to this style or to make changes which will make the two different styles more similar.

If the business owner is using the same banner ad on a number of different websites, the feedback can help him determine which websites are generating the most traffic for him. If he determines some websites are not generating a great deal of traffic it makes sense to discontinue the banner ads on these websites as they are not cost effective.

Some business owners will incorporate affiliate marketing campaigns and these too can be tracked. This type of tracking is actually necessary because affiliates are often paid according to the results they generate but it is also useful for determining which affiliates are most successful. This information can be useful if different ads are running on different affiliate websites because it can be an indication of which websites are most effective. Tracking the results of affiliate marketing is similar to tracking the results of banner ads. You can place code in the ads which appear on the affiliate’s website to provide you with feedback each time a user clicks on the ad.

Another way to evaluate the results of an Internet marketing campaign is to simply closely monitor your own website traffic and sales. This is especially important when it is done in consideration with the type of marketing you are currently running. For example if you launch a new banner ad campaign with ads appearing on numerous high profile websites concurrently, you may notice an almost immediate increase in website traffic and sales. This information most likely indicates the banner ads are successful.  Another method to track your marketing strategies on your own site is to ask customers or clients to fill out a survey stating where they saw your advertisement so you can solicit feedback on your marketing efforts.

These are just some ways to track your marketing efforts, but most important tip I can share with you is that you must track your different marketing strategies.  This will be the only way to determine if all your efforts are working or if you need to develop a different method.

WAHMs – work at home moms. You’re convinced that being a self-made business person will lead you to the path of flexibility, peace, and prosperity. You could never make ends meet with that measly salary you were paid anyway so it was time to chuck it. You’ve picked a part of the house to be your new cubicle, bought the equipment, and created your Excel spreadsheets. You’ve got everything figured out.

Thing is…

Your husband’s complaining that this is the umpteenth time you’ve served “dinner in a box” and he’s beginning to feel a little processed, your daughter is teething and begging for your attention and your aging mother-in-law who lives with you is screaming help because her crochet is missing loops and cross-overs. Fido also has a bad case of diarrhea. And the house, which is supposed to be immaculate, because now you’re home all the time – is a wreck!

What Do You Mean “Balance?”

Balancing family and work is a worthwhile concept and inspires the poet in some of us, but once you begin working at home, it’s a principle that isn’t compatible with the grand scheme of things. The fact is – and women who work from home will agree – a certain degree of periodical imbalance is necessary because it teaches you to be a juggler automatically. You won’t need to sign up for a course on balancing because work-at-home-moms achieve it effortlessly and beautifully – in time, of course.

The first few months will be helter-skelter. Eventually though, you’ll manage to identify your comfort level and adjust as gracefully as you can. So don’t worry that the balls are not synchronized when you juggle and the scales are tipped more heavily towards one side. To be a WAHM is not like going through a brand new, well-greased revolving door. Actually, it’s more like prying open a decrepit barn door that’s been shut for decades.

Welcome the chaos and the imbalance because they strengthen your soul, fortify your spirit, and test your mettle. When the chaos ends and balance finally reigns, you’ll realize that the hellish periods were worth it.

“In the not-too-distant past, many home-based business owners tried to camouflage the fact that they didn’t have fancy offices at posh addresses. They never divulged the fact that they wor^ked from home. Today, with the growing acceptance of home-based businesses, this dodge is, by and large, no longer necessary. On the contrary, having a home-based business is (almost) a thing to be proud of.” (Barbara Weltman, 1997)

“I Could Use Some Advice”

We’re delighted to share some:

• Months before your “JOB” resignation, remind your husband and kids gently that “mom can’t always be there for you and you’ll sometimes need to be independent when I’m working.” Say this often – so that the idea sinks in. (Yes, hubby needs to hear that too). Explain that there will be times where you will be inaccessible but assure them that the situation is temporary. 
• If you and can afford it, hire someone who could come in a few days and do some cooking and cleaning. Don’t try to be a super WAHM. You need to concentrate on your work and delegating tasks means less stress for you. How much per hour is a housekeeper or a few hours of a nanny? How much per hour can you be generating with your business? Do the math!
• Cut back on useless, time-wasting activities. Tell your friends you can’t play bunko, meet at Starbucks, or go shopping for awhile. Don’t browse fashion magazines, store catalogs, or surf the internet. Invest some time instead on the skills you need to get your business flowing smoothly. (TV? What’s that?)
• Arrange dental appointments, PTA meetings, and community work during times when your workload eases up. Space out your commitments and your deadlines. Don’t be afraid to say “NO” when you should. Just because you work at home doesn’t mean your job or business is any less important than women who work outside the home (this is a tough one that we all battle constantly!)
• Do spend quality time with your family – make it a scheduled priority. But don’t make your family an excuse NOT to work. Make every minute count that you’re with them. For awhile, it might be that you need to “pretend” you’re still reporting to someone else as a boss…until everyone figures out that you really ARE working!