Last week when I spoke at BlogWorld (Barbara’s recap), I presented with Dave Nalle from BlogCritics.org and Matt Colebourne from CoComment. Although the session covered commenting quite heavily, I steered our conversation in the last part of the presentation to talk about the bigger picture: Community.
In fact, probably one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is ‘how did I build up such a strong community around this blog’? Although I can tell you some of the things I have done, my first answer is always:
It wasn’t me. It was you.
I have always put readers before my own agenda, I have always taken your feedback and used it to drive the direction of the site, and I have worked daily to add value to your experience, both on this blog and in your own businesses and lives.
You spoke, I listened.
In the very early stages of this blog, I had to face a decision – do I drop my other business to work on eMoms full time, or stay with something that obviously wasn’t working as well as this site was? At the time it was a truly heart-wrenching decision (today it would be a no-brainer 
).
So today, I want to reach out to you again. I have some really big plans for this site, and I have my hunches about what you want and need, based on your feedback in the past. But I like to live by the phrase, “Ask and Ye Shall Receive”.
So I am asking for your input. Because this isn’t my site. It’s OUR site.
As a work at home mom or dad, what more could this site offer you to really impact the bottom line of your business and your life?
Is there content that you want more of?
Is there more community building we could do?
Is there a way we can help spotlight you and your businesses more effectively?
How can we support your business offline?
Our businesses aren’t just about money – we are all here to make a difference and live an extraordinary life along the way. How can we support you in your personal goals?
If you don’t want to leave a comment, please shoot me a note via my contact form. I will read each and every one of your thoughts before I go to bed tonight.
Get Your FREE 21-Page Internet Business Idea Guide
Enter your name and email below and we’ll send you our unique 21-page guide chock full of Internet business ideas – for free! Your information will be kept private, of course.
Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow). 
Easton Ellsworth is owner of 
Two helpful expansions to the site, I think, would be a job bank and a forum. Now that you have become more of a community of blogs I think a job bank would greatly help your readers. Likewise, a forum would be a great way for readers to discuss their concerns about working from home (and might even stimulate further blog topics).
I would like to see a forum added to the site! It would be a great place to “meet” the other members of this community and share insights, ideas, and strategies.
A forum would be wonderful!
And how about a regular feature on an e-mom business?
Eileen
I don’t have a business, and, I don’t work at home, I just like to read and learn.
I’ll read whatever you decide to go with, and I’ll try not to end this sentence with a preposition.
First, I love what you are doing here. The tips, and lists, and small business and e-business material is top notch, and very helpful.
I would say that it would be nice to see more parenting information added, like the 25 Parent Productivity Tools for Busy Moms, Dads and Kids article you already have.
I also agree with the other readers about adding a forum, perhaps that would help facilitate adding more actual parenting information and tips.
I agree with those proposing a forum. I am also trolling constantly for additional work, as my contract work doesn’t pay much, and I don’t bring in much from my own site (which I am in the process of redirecting!!), so a job bank would be helpful. I don’t know if you do this or not, but a Q&A session would be helpful, especially for those of us just starting out as work-from-home parents.
Thanks for the link – and for your great information during your speech. Just got back from presenting a business blogging 101 seminar. First question: How do I build a community? Glad I have the notes from your talk on my blog as a reference. RE: this site and what’s next/better/bigger – I love the way you’re always ramping up, both for your own business and your community. Would like to see/hear more Wendy in more places.
I second Busy Mom’s comment.
Though I’d also like to throw support towards a forum.
Wow – I really didn’t think demand for a forum would be this strong! Something I need to seriously think about!
Here’s a few more specific questions:
What about new content channels, what do you want to learn more about?
How about a way for users to self-promote – and got any ideas as to how we can do that in a way that isn’t too spammy or offensive?
How about contributing your own content and showcasing your talents?
I am new on your website and I live in Canada. I don’t have a business, I am on mat leave and undecided if I go back to work or not. I would like to learn from the feedbacks….Maybe a forum on about finances..budgeting??
Wendy,
Here’s an idea for us to promote each other. Start a channel called “Hire an eMom.” Your readers can create a profile of their skills, or describe their business. To keep it from totally getting ignored you could randomly profile one of the eMoms on the front page each week.
As the others have said I think now that you have such a strong community a forum would be the next progression to building a stronger bond.
Also with that being said I think that a forum would also address the issue of self promotion and showcasing of talents especially for those of us who are graphic designers and internet how to freaks.
I would also like to see more group research projects I enjoyed the last two that I contributed to and would love to tackle another one soon as winter break is coming up and I will need something to keep me busy. Also something that I will enjoy doing as well.
I will be taking 16 hours next semester so some great distractions during winter break would be awesome.
I really like Eileen’s idea about featuring an e-mom business– I’d love to read how others got started and what they overcame to make it successful.
Wendy;
Again, I love your site and would love to model your success. You may be able to grow in the following areas:
There are lots of single parents out there who face unique challenges. Helping the single parent who’s trying to juggle a full time job, kids, and an online business would be great.
There are a lot of parents with children who have special needs and can’t find the information they need to help their child in school and at home. And these parents may not be able to work outside the home because of the challenges. Helping these parents with online business ideas/advice would be great.
Another thought is; you have so much information packed into emoms which is great. Maybe it’s time for an emoms spa or lounge where anything from silliness, to favorite products, to NLP techniques could be a topic.
However you expand I’m sure it will be great.
Start up a review program. Have readers submit their sites and their businesses to you to write a review about, and that will give you something new to write about and help them get some much needed traffic. This is especially important for new startups.
The forum would be nice too, but there are so many forums already.