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 Missy Lowe on February 14, 2013 at 7:32am: Will someone please explain this well? The video is gone, and my Wordpress blog does not seem to recognize the widget...

Comment by Nancy Welker on September 11, 2012 at 4:32pm: So if you're tracking the link itself, that's all that matters I gather. The widget just makes it more convenient.

Comment by Nancy Cavillones on January 1, 2012 at 10:04pm: The widget doesn't appear here but it does appear on the main Blog Network page: http://www.socialmoms.net/notes/TwitterMoms_Blog_Network

Just a note that my blog is now private, so it is not possible to access the post in which I shared a screencast with installation instructions for self-hosted WP blogs. I tried to transfer the screencast to my blog here on SocialMoms but it didn't work. Sorry about that!

Comment by Billie Everly on July 29, 2011 at 5:13am: I don't see the widget. I'd love to have it on my blog! Please help!!

Comment by Breanna on July 6, 2011 at 4:45am: I got mine to work. I am using GoogleBlogger so I clicked on the orangeE. I was logged into my blog on another page and it confirmed that I wanted to add the widget. It was then added to my page. Make sure you are clicking the correct option for the type of place you want to have it posted on. I found that being logged in already worked. Good Luck. Here is my blog site if you want to see it. http://moms-island.blogspot.com

Comment by Linda Kirkpatrick on June 3, 2011 at 1:58pm: I have been part of the cause to end domestic violence for over 7 years. It is something I never thought I would be so passionate about. It always amazes me the way those that don't understand and judge without knowing. Is their anyone who is part of this Twitter Moms blog that know how to identify domestic violence? Have lived it? Know of someone who has survived? Know of someone who had died? The organization I am the executive director for is small but we do incredible work with God's Grace sustaining us. www.communitywelcomehouse.org

Comment by April Flanigan on June 3, 2011 at 6:49am: confused

Comment by Jessica Bailey on May 28, 2011 at 7:20am: I don't see the widget either :( It sounds cool! I am having a 100 Fan Giveaway on my site at SuperMomSurveys until June 15, 2011. Everyone is welcome to enter!