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Happy Mother’s Day to every mom, everywhere!

A very special Happy Working Moms Day to all in the Working Moms Only community.

For the joyous responsibility you embark on every day, raising a family and nurturing a career, this issue is in honor of you!

I have been thinking a lot lately about what being a mom means to me. Maybe because of up rooting my family and moving from South Florida where the kids were very grounded in their schools, sports teams and friends and moving to Austin, Texas where everything was new and unknown.

In the interest of full disclosure, it was tough for the kids at first. But, as a mom, this was a decision that I, along with my husband, thought long and hard over. One where we took our time and seriously weighed out the pro’s and con’s.

In the end, the kids knew we were making this decision for the betterment of the family.  They knew that being a member of a family means making occasional sacrifices for the greater good.

The way they handled this move made me realize how much respect and admiration I have for these children. The time that I spend watching my kids in action is my greatest pleasure. Out of all my accomplishments, my kids are the source of my proudest moments.

Of course, as a mom, I have days when I feel disappointment, fear, anger, and sadness when one of my children behaves or acts in a certain way.

But, the one feeling that is constant, the only feeling that is with me every minute of every day, is the unconditional love that I hold in my heart and soul for these children. This is a gift given to me by each one of my kids. They taught me that unconditional love not only exists, but is also the reason I exist.

And because of this – I would like to give you that very same gift. It is because I know that you are working everyday to give your kids and family the best life possible that I am giving you the gift of the Working Moms Only Success Club.

And, when you sign up today, as a special Mother’s Day gift, you get to a FREE 30 day trial membership.

This your opportunity to partner with women similar to you, learn from leading experts in all different fields and get in on some of my top success secrets.

Click here: http://www.workingmomsonly.com/the-success-club

Thank you for participating and making a difference in the world everyday.

Before I sign off I would like to take a moment to publicly thank the working moms who have made a difference in my life.

I have known many of these moms for years; some I’ve met only recently. But, no matter how long I’ve known them, each of these women has taught me something along the way.

These moms live all over the world; they come from very different economic and social backgrounds; they have diverse skill sets. But, the one thing all these moms have in common is that I have learned from them. They have all been an inspiration to me – inspired me to be the best mom I can be!

To Jodi Ahlers, Jen Clement, Connie Tribby, Tiffany Kennedy, Catherine Astalos, Lori Taylor, Sandy Bradshaw, Emily Berrera, Gina Parris, Baeth Davis, Shenoah Grove, Mandy Cavanaugh, Karen Glazer, Forbes Riley, Nicole Benavides, Andrea Warner, Laura Betterly, Babette St. John, Ann Marie Sornson, Gayla Churchman, Joyce Bone, Ellie Drake, Mariel Hemingway, Marie Forleo, Ann Devere, Stacey McCarthy, Laura Day, Kristi Frank, Carline Anglade-Cole, Julie McManus, Denise Gosnell, Kim Castle, Andrea Warner, Wendy Montes de Oca, Tracey Butz, Sandy Franks, Kara Mohr, Wendy Makepeace, Jackie Stone, Christine Johnston, Emily Gehring, Liz Kramer, Deb Pilgram, Elle Swan, Daryl Grant, Sue Mathison, Roe Teed, Mindy Tyson, Allison Gilchrist, Tatyana Gann, Maureen Tribby, Palma DeSanto, Susan Preston, Tina Franks, Suzanne Gerety, Mollie Marti, Lisa Bruette, Alisa Padget, Cindy Tribby, Deb Englander, LuAn Mitchell, Kristin Morelli, Paula Knight, Patty Gale, Erica Rueschoff, Vicki Reece, Carrie Wilkerson, Lucia Brown (R.I.P), Joanne Romus, Mary Tribby (R.I.P) and Ellen Petrone:

I could never fully express my gratitude for everything I’ve learned from you and everything you’ve done for me. Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day!

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In February, Google updated its algorithm, which is the set of rules that Google uses to determine how websites move up the search engine.  These changes are important to be aware of because they affect anyone who has a website online. Google has explained that this change is to create a better user experience. They would like for every search to serve up exactly what the searcher is looking for.  Its updates have always favored high quality content that creates a great user experience.

However, the one negative side to this change is that it has penalized sites for using certain blog networks to help move them higher up in the search engines.  In fact, several networks have been de-indexed, which means the sites in question can’t be found on Google at all. What Google has done here (including sending out over 700,000 notices to webmasters who appear to have some unusual links to their sites) has hurt a lot of innocent people who have good sites.  These are sites with good content and are now forced to either pay for their traffic or go out of business.

My research has found that Google is also favoring content that has been shared on Google+ over that on Facebook.  Google+ is a great platform BUT it isn’t gaining the popularity that I originally thought it would have.  Although many people have Google+ profiles and share something on there occasionally, it seems to be a bit of a ghost town.  Is Google forcing us to use its social networking platform in order to help our rankings on Google proper?  In my opinion, I believe that they are and it’s not fair.
Google’s owner Matt Cutts stated at South by South West, that Google will be penalizing sites for “over-optimization.”  What is over-optimization?  Well, it’s a general term.  And, there are no steadfast rules.  If you do any type of link building there is a point at which Google considers it to be overdone.  None of us in the search engine community know exactly what they look for – although badly spun articles and blog networks are what they are looking for right now.  All we can do is try one thing or another and see how it affects the search engines.  You can overdo it by linking internally to pages within your site, but it is unknown as to which point Google will consider it to be overdone.

Google is saying that they are doing this to level the playing field and that the search engine will find the most relevant content for the user. I however tend to disagree. If you are optimizing your site and creating what people want to read, you shouldn’t be penalized for being smarter than your competitor.

Another important point to be aware of with this recent algorithm change is that it has also opened up a huge hole for the unethical and nefarious.  It is now possible to effectively knock out your competition by sending links to their site.  This practice, called “negative SEO,” is where you take garbage links (from comments or x-rated sites) and send them to a competitor’s site.  This has been tested by a few and I’ve seen the case studies. Unfortunately, negative SEO works and it’s totally unethical.  This is a gaping hole in the new Google algorithm and I hope they fix this sooner rather than later.

So, what can we do?  Well, many people in the search engine optimization community have also correctly pointed out that we could be giving too much information about who we are and what we do to Google. Many sites that are not affected by these changes are not using Google’s free analytics products, and instead are using other software to measure their stats.  I haven’t taken the plunge to moving all our sites to another platform, but we are researching alternatives.
It is also important to be pro-active and continue to make sure you are continuially adding good, quality content to your site.  This content should be well written and easy to navigate.  You should also watch your analytics on the site.  If your traffic suddenly drops, you will know there is a problem.
This game of cat and mouse can be frustrating.  But, it is important to pay attention to these changes when updating your site.  I would love for our efforts and those of our clients to generate a great user experience that will in turn bring in more business.  A lofty goal?  Maybe.  But, if we keep up-to-date with the ever-changing Google algorithm, we can do our best to continue to supply good content and relevant information to our readers.

About the Author

Laura is the President and CEO of Yada Yada Markeing, Inc. She is an early entrant in the online marketing field, having established online music company named Visiosonic also known as PCDJ.COM. She forged relationships with other tech companies such as MP3.com and Live365.com and worked with celebrities such as Ice T, Nile Rodgers, Jam Master Jay and Chaka Kahn. Laura grew up in a hi-tech environment as her father, the inventor of instant-replay, instilled a sound background in business and technology in her at an early age. She has been a featured speaker at such diverse functions as CES (The Consumer Electronics Show), Winter Music Conference, NARAS, the Grammy’s organization as well as the Federal Trade Commission. Laura has been interviewed extensively and featured in such newspapers as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and Newsday as well as on CNN, CNNfN and NPR to name just a few; In fact, she has been interviewed in and been on over 200 newspaper, TV, and radio shows.

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Every good marketer I know loves marketing. They read as much as they can about it, understand the elements that make up a good marketing campaign, and are always thinking of ways to make each campaign better.

However, every great marketer I know not only loves marketing, but they also understand that marketing is a methodical process. They know that the science behind marketing is MORE important than the creative driving the marketing.

But...the greatest marketers of all are those who love marketing AND use logic to track and read results. They are the ones who understand the value of testing and live it every day.

Know Your ABT's

If you ask any great marketer the number rule of marketing they will say ALWAYS BE TESTING!

It saddens me when I meet young marketers and they dismiss testing with a wave of the hand. They assume a single panel campaign they send to their prospects is the best way to go.

If you don't test, your business will not grow. Think about it. How can you possibly improve on your results if you do not go through the testing process? You can't?

Because this is one of the only ways to discover what your prospects want, let's start at the beginning.

What Is Testing

In direct response marketing, testing is the process of two or more variations of a single variable offered to prospects simultaneously and coming to some conclusion based on responses.

Testing is a great way to tap into a new audience, explore a new market or niche, compare response rates on direct marketing fundamental elements, and get insight on a new concept or promotional package.

Testing is beyond theory and can be applied to most any business and marketing channel. If you have ever wondered to yourself, "can I sell my product or service the way I want and at the price I want" - testing gives you the answers.

You could be asking if you can charge more for your product, or whether a new marketing message will work to your target audience. You might want to see if you can cut costs by reducing the number of bonuses offered or changing your shipping and handling charges.

Generally testing will fall into four categories. You should either be testing:

* Copy
* Product
* Offer/Price
* List/Media

Copy: The Message Behind Your Product

When talking about copy tests, I am talking about any test where you change copy against your control. Don't be scared off by thinking that it will be an expensive test and you have to have a full blown new creative package against your control. This is not always the case. There are lots of ways for you to test copy.

The best copy tests are:

* Subject lines
* Senders
* You can test formats: Long coy vs. short copy or text vs. HTML
* You can test leads (the first two to three pages of your copy)
* You can test headlines
* Background colors
* Graphics
* You can test closes (adding a P.S.)
* And, you can test entirely new packages

In the long run your biggest breakthroughs will come from completely new creative packages with new messaging and positioning.

Always ask yourself if your test is meaningful and will provide you with a significant boost in response. Do not test minor and frivolous things. Meaning, always test things that SCREAM not whisper.

Product: Evolution is a Must

Good products are things that meet certain needs and solve particular problems. But, what solves a problem today is not necessarily what will work tomorrow.

A common mistake many entrepreneurs make is becoming very knowledgeable about a product without knowing how to market. Extreme product knowledge without marketing knowledge gives you a false sense of control. Sure it allows you to answer all the questions. But, in the long run, it is NOT as important as knowing how, when and why customers buy.

Having market knowledge means that you understand the attractiveness of the product rather than the product itself. It means you understand its benefits, not just its features. It means that you know what the customers' want, need and desire so intimately that you can reinvent the product before they even realize it needs to be reinvented.

At this point you can test the products against each other. This part is hard because you have to assume you know nothing and let the market tell which product they want.

Being a market expert implies having a very good understanding of the selling process. Everything from how its done, why it works, what is essential and what's not.

Rate yourself by answering these questions:

1. What is the most important psychological benefit your product offers?
2. What is the most common mistakes other marketers make when selling a similar product.
3. How have YOUR customers' need and desires changed in the recent past?
4. What changes have you made to accommodate those changes?

Products and services are not static things. They exist in relation to markets. Markets are a collection of individuals with changing needs, values and perceptions. As time passes, these things change - and if your products/service doesn't change, you will be handing your market share to your competitor.

Offer: It Can Make it or Break it

The offer is the third make it or break it factor in the direct response world. When it comes to testing there are three main components to test. In order of importance they are:

Price: For example if you have published a special report on how to lose weight by eating three grapefruits a day. How much will people pay for it? Maybe $9.95 or $19.95 or $29.95? You just don't know until you test. Often you will be amazed at how many people place orders at prices you thought were sky high. Look at what your competition is charging to give you an idea of where your price points should be. Then, test from there.

Term: Should be for orders or leads. Should you offer a 1-year and a 2-year subscription or a 1 year and 5 year subscription? Do you offer 3 free bonuses or 6 free bonuses? Do you offer a physical product such as supplement holder or information on the benefits of a certain type of supplement? You just will not know until you test.

Refund policy: The "If you are not 100 percent satisfied, simply return this product to us within xx days and we will gladly refund 100% of your money" is really one of the most used refund policy.

But what is that xx magic number? Is it 30 day, 60 days, 90 days, one full year or your life time? Generally speaking, the longer the refund period, the lower the refund rate. But, too many marketers are afraid to offer long-term refunds. So, what do you do? - TEST.

List/Media: The Best for Last

List and media testing is something you will do when launching your online business and something you should continue to do with each mailing.

You will always be on the lookout for potential new lists of people to buy your products. List testing will reveal new segments of buyers and help grow your business. Here's how it works:

You may take previously mentioned "Forget Cholesterol" package and test it to a variety of different health lists to see which list produced the better response. When you start your list research for a particular product you will generally find the lists fall into different categories. For our example for a heart health product you can break down the list universe into the following categories:

* Other alternative heart health products
* Other heart lists (subscriptions, fundraising)
* General nutritional health lists
* Specific condition alternative health lists
* Health newsletter list

Take the time to go through this exercise BEFORE your next mailing. Once you have categorized your lists you will see which category has the most available names.

You should always consider the longterm implications of your testing. If you bring people in on a heavily discounted offer, that is what they will want to see in other offers from you. If you have tests that are premium intensive, then your customers will want to see those kind of offers again and again.

Consider this when you are setting up your tests. Be sure whatever copy you use is clear and specific.

The important thing is to be selective. Don't test everything. Don't over test. Use tests only to increase your current response rates by AT LEAST 25% and up to 100%.

It was a busy season as I was building my new coaching business. I had managed to combine my love of sports and the stock market to help both athletes and market traders win big under pressure. My clients paid me very well to master their mindset, and I was euphoric, and then, obsessed.

One night, after more countless hours on the computer and the phone, I walked into the bedroom and announced, “I was BORN to be a performance coach!”

My husband’s face showed zero enthusiasm.

Oh no. I felt my defensiveness rising, even as my guilt kicked in. There was definitely one performance that I was unable to master. I hated thinking about it because it was humiliating and a source of contention. It was sex. In the bedroom I was a flop. Disinterested. Unfulfilling.

Oh I had drive all right, just no sex drive.

“Sometimes I resent your business,” my husband said, with a frown.

I looked at that handsome man who had stood by me at the altar all those years earlier. I wondered how I could bring so much frustration to someone I loved so much. I was pretty sure there was something wrong with me. Could it possibly be normal to have no libido?

I knew I was capable of having sex – we had 4 kids in just 3 pregnancies. I remember loving it some of those years too, but any more, sex was the subject of our fights.  He wanted more sex and I wanted more money. We needed more money. In fact, how could I even relax and enjoy myself when there was so much work to do? By the time I was done working my tail off for more money, running the home and caring for the kids, I was exhausted.

Scarcity ran through my veins.

And then something happened-

I learned how to master my own mind and body connection to feel great on demand.

An amazing thing happened when I flipped the switch on my sex drive: My husband almost immediately doubled his income. I realized then, that there really is something to the sex and money connection!

The more we connected physically, the more we connected emotionally and spiritually also. As we did, both of us grew in our careers. Perhaps most importantly, both of us became happier at home. I am not saying that sex is the main thing in a marriage, but the steps it takes to connect sexually, happen to make us feel better.

Here are some key ideas to spicing up your love life while also building your career.

• Recognize that you were made for pleasure.

Having sex with our mate is not something we do just as another chore to check off the list. When we truly connect in a place of love and passion, we actually become stronger, healthier and less prone to stress.

Did you know that during orgasm, oxytocin floods your body and your spouse’s body, making you feel closer to each other? This is the same bonding hormone released when we nurse our own babies.  Pleasure itself is a connector too. When was the last time you and your guy did something together just for the joy of it? You deserve to feel great, and he may be longing to connect with you and bring you pleasure.

• Your sexual pleasure makes him feel masculine.

Okay, this is a stereotype, but generally, nothing boosts a man’s self-esteem like being able to please his woman in bed. His sexual success makes him feel loved, valued and close to you. In his mind it also validates his masculinity and confidence.

Being rejected of course has the opposite painful result. As one husband so bluntly put it, “If my wife doesn’t want me sexually, I can’t believe she wants me at all.”

• Sexual confidence makes both men and women more effective in the marketplace.

In his classic book, Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill talks about the power of the emotion of sex. His whole “tenth step towards riches” is about channeling and honoring the relationship that includes love, sex and romance.  He points out that all successful leaders, politicians and sales-people have a strong magnetism, which is really their sexual energy. This is not a sexuality that seduces everyone around them, but that operates in masculine or feminine confidence.  In fact, he insists that most men fail to achieve greatness until they reach an age where their sexual energy is under control and combined with true love and romance.

So these ideas might sound great in theory, but in reality, how is a busy Mom supposed to turn on her inner “sex kitten?”

Here are just a few ideas:

1. Get enough sleep.

I know you’re thinking that’s the problem.  “I don’t have sex because I need more sleep!” I hear you, but do you really need those late night TV shows to relax? Do you need to keep working late, with your laptop in the bedroom? If you make the bedroom a sanctuary for just sleeping and sex, you’re more likely to have more of both. Somehow then you can be energized to get more done in less time.

2. Get in touch with your senses.

We often live with so much stress that we can rush through our day detached from our senses all together. We have noisy television channels instead of lovely music. We scarf down fast food, rather than lingering over great a great meal. We women are even capable of having sex while planning our week. Oops. We didn’t mean to have our mind wander like that.

So, instead of rushing, try doing the opposite. Sloooow down.  Take a shower and savor all the fragrances. Enjoy the water as you breathe deeply and slowly. Celebrate your body just the way it is throughout the day. You are perfect. Then look for the beauty around you and revel in the present moment. The more you enjoy sensual pleasures throughout the day, the faster you will tune in to pleasure with your mate.

Great sex, after all, is a sensuous experience.

3. Finally, focus on what is great about your mate. He may not be perfect, but he probably still has some qualities that first attracted you. Look for what is admirable about him and let your self enjoy his desire for you. Love is a profound emotion and more than that, it is the result of a decision. Choose to express your love and see how it makes the love grow.

There is a fascinating bi-product of seeing the best in those around us; it raises our own self-esteem. When you look for the beauty and sexiness in your mate, your own beauty and sexiness is heightened. That’s good news.

Raising kids and creating a career are noble activities.  Why not do so while also building a marriage that is sizzling, sexy and sacred?

About the Author

Gina Parris is a peak performance coach, speaker and a champion for the sexy marriage. She is the founder of WinningAtRomance.com. For more than 25 years, Gina has been helping people reach their full potential - joyfully. Her passion shines through as she helps people heal their sexual and relational issues.  She has worked on the staff of several large churches, and addressed hundreds of audiences in person, on TV, radio, and the web. Her private coaching clients range from professional athletes to work- from-home professionals.  Gina combines her background in ministry, sports performance and energy psychology to help people build a love life, and a livelihood that is filled with victory.