WAHM, WAHD - WAHhubbers section - what categories do we need?

[bubhub]

As some of you will have seen before, we have been discussing have a business directory within the forum for all our Work-at-home-Mums (WAHMs) and Dads (WAHD).

There's a thread here if you missed the original discussion

http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?429198-Want-a-WAHM-amp-WAHD-area-on-bubhub

This would be an area where active forum members are able to have a directory entry telling us all about their WAH business and linking to their website, facebook page, ebay store, etc, etc

It can be a hobby business - doesn't have to be anything formal
Talented members who are able to offer services to other members - such as Graphic Design, website design, copy writing, data entry etc - will also be able to take an entry in the directory.

Everyone will be able to view the area and ask questions of the business owners. Only certain members will be allowed to add entries to the business directory (currently the idea is that this will be restricted to those with 300+ posts and there'll be a fee/month - say $5/month - to ensure that the directory stays current.)

I think I've found a piece of software that will achieve all of this for us and I'm playing with that right now.

So the next thing that I need to know, is what categories do you want in the directory???

Let's come up with a list between us of suitable categories and sub-categories.

[bubhub]

This is my first thoughts ...

for babies & kids
Kids clothing
Kids shoes
Kids accessories (eg hair things, jewellery, etc)
Kids furniture & decor

kids activities


for parents & parents-to-be
beauty & hairdressing
health services
photographers
home help services (eg nannies, electricians, etc)
personal trainers

business services
graphic design, web design, copy writing



OK - that's a really quick list. Please cut and paste or start again. We need some higher level categories and then sub-categories within that.

I think that any member with more than 300 posts can have a listing in the directory for their business - be it parenting related or not - as long as it will be of interest to our viewers and they are prepared to pay the $5/month fee.

[bubhub]

Maybe to start with members should just post what sort of business they have - eg kids clothing - and then we can see what categories we need

[Lovemyfam]

web design
photography

[Hannahly]

Legal services - wills, estate, probate,
Contracts, franchising, licensing
Trademark registration

[bubhub]

any more suggestions?

[CupidsVictim]

edibles - cake/cupcake decorating etc

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Bubhub

[Luna Lovegood]

SME marketing (SEO, SEM, social media, print ect)

[BlissedOut]

Is there going to be a WAHHubbers section in the forum where people can discuss business ideas and ask questions (esp regarding FB businesses)?

[bubhub]

Is there going to be a WAHHubbers section in the forum where people can discuss business ideas and ask questions (esp regarding FB businesses)?

Yes - I was going to make a suitable area. There is already a Work & Study Issues section under Chat with others http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/forumdisplay.php?699-Work-amp-Study-Issues so I was thinking that we'd probably need to change that section a bit to encourage more business discussion. And also perhaps have a private area for those with listings in the forum business directory where the directory itself could be discussed.

I was thinking that we'd call it a Bubhubbers Business Directory - or if anybody's got ideas for better names, feel free to suggest.

I think that we should allow any bubhubber with more than 300 posts who is happy to pay the $5/month a listing to promote their business - whether they run it from home, whether it's just a hobby, or whether it's a bigger business that they run from an office or shop outside of their home. wdyt? I thought the idea was more that hubbers just the members that they know through the forum and are happy to use their services more than those of stranger.

[me+he=3]

Virtual P.A./Secretarial services

[Buttoneska]

some sort of home section or section thats not specifily for ppl with kids?

I run a retail food business so something with that would be good.

Services - like carpentary, gardening, lawn mowing etc

In addition to virtual pa/bookkeeping/accounting

[Buttoneska]

oh and

-info/how to sections with areas such as
-tax
-business planning
-small business website links
-liscenses and registrations
-gst/abn

business networks groups
-either for ppl in same area
-ppl in same industry

there is a really great website/forum i use in relation to all the above - if you would like me to PM you the details I can - may be some good ideas you can incorporate.

also - with the paying/subscription thing would it mean ALL the hubbers can view your business/ask questions or only other ppl who have subscribed/have businesses? or both?

[bubhub]

Anyone would be able to view the directory, only members who are logged in will be able to post 'comments' to businesses (ie ask questions etc) and only members with 300+ posts and who sign up can list in the directory.

We can set up a How To area in the forum section for discussing business matters (which will be separate to the actual directory)

[Misschief]

I'm a toy maker I guess. I make sock monkeys and will soon be adding other sock critters. So maybe a toys area? I know some people who make beautiful wooden toys too.

I would love to see a tradies section and maybe a section for people who only have a Facebook page and not an actual website?
I will have to look at getting a website at some stage, but for now it is Facebook only

[bubhub]

I think that any eligible bubhubber should be able to list - you don't need to have a registered business. So if you are a graphic designer, for example, at home with your kids & you don't have a job, but you'd be happy to offer your experience for odd jobs here & there, I think you should be able to have a listing too. Agree?

[CatRog]

I think this is a fabulous idea, however I have been a regular visitor to bubhub for a couple of years now but only recently signed up, so does that mean I would miss out on this opportunity because I don't post on the forum and only get great advice from reading all the info on here? I really hope this isn't the case, otherwise I'm going to be very busy posting to get my numbers up...
I am just about to launch my new business which is baby swimwear/swim nappies (specialising in sizes 000-1).

[JPT]

Celebrant

[bubhub]

I would love to see a tradies section and maybe a section for people who only have a Facebook page and not an actual website?
I will have to look at getting a website at some stage, but for now it is Facebook only

Doesn't matter whether you have a facebook page, a website, no website at all, you just link to whatever you want to link for your listing in the forum directory so we don't need a separate section for those with only FB pages. (this is different to our main directory).

[bubhub]

I think this is a fabulous idea, however I have been a regular visitor to bubhub for a couple of years now but only recently signed up, so does that mean I would miss out on this opportunity because I don't post on the forum and only get great advice from reading all the info on here? I really hope this isn't the case, otherwise I'm going to be very busy posting to get my numbers up...
I am just about to launch my new business which is baby swimwear/swim nappies (specialising in sizes 000-1).

Hi CatRog

We already have a popular and successful directory on the bubhub http://www.bubhub.com.au/directory/ where business can list for free. You don't have to be a member of the forum or anything like that at all.

The idea behind the new forum directory that we are discussing here, is to allow our regular contributors the opportunity to promote their businesses or services - be they full-on registered businesses, small at-home businesses or just a skill that's not being used whilst you are a stay-at-home-parent (eg design skills, data entry, etc). Members want to be able to deal with other members that they interact with on here.

We love that you are able to find the info that you are after by reading the forums - but whilst you may know our members from their posts, they don't know you if you don't post! You are welcome to a free listing in our main directory - but at the moment, the forum directory is aimed at providing listings for regular contributors to the forum only (ie those with 300+ posts).

The forum directory will be visible by everyone though

[bubhub]

I'm thinking of a different name for this area...

Really it's not just about mums working at home WAHMs (or Dads) and it's not about necessarily owning a business. This section will also encompass talented parents who are not working, but can offer their professional services (legal, technical, etc) and members running a small hobby business. It's also for our members who run a business, but it might not be from home - a small shop, for example.

So ... can we come up with a new name? WAH (working-at-home) doesn't cut it.

I was thinking of Parents Earning for Themselves (PETs :)) or Parents Working for Themselves (no natty acronym). Or Mums Earning for Themselves METs and DETs ?

wdyt?

[Chew the Mintie]

Maybe you should just call it Hubber market place or something? (ply your wares/trade, etc).

I think if you go into the mets & dets it might confuse people.

ps. I've just come back to the Hub so t his is all new, has it actually happened yet? Is there a link or should I just read the beginning of this thread :p

[bubhub]

Hasn't happened yet - just a few final things to nut out

[Chew the Mintie]

Anyway I am taking it that this will be for a sort of 'find a hubber /support a hubber business/ buy from someone you know' kind of thing so I think emphasising the community vibe is great (ie village square)

[bubhub]

Love this idea - bubhubber marketplace sounds great.

Almost 'sell' it as a market square with 'stalls' where you can promote your business / services.

Love it.

[Buttoneska]

i like the marktetplace suggestion!!

I don't have kids and even though this is a parenting website - everything seems to be called parents, mums, dad etc. Sometimes it hard to find a section to post.

If this section coudl be name for ALL hubbers that would be ace!

[bubhub]

Will definitely be for ALL hubbers.

Apologies if we keep mentioning parents - I try to remember to mention 'parents-to-be' and those who want to be parents, but it all gets a bit long sometimes. Thanks for the reminder :)

[Buttoneska]

Will definitely be for ALL hubbers.

Apologies if we keep mentioning parents - I try to remember to mention 'parents-to-be' and those who want to be parents, but it all gets a bit long sometimes. Thanks for the reminder :)

nah thats cool - after all it is a parenting site.. makes sense.

But i love that this section will be for anyone who has a service/product :goodvibes:

[Misschief]

I know its been mentioned before, but we need a place for photography businesses. I cant see any. My good friend has an awesome little business on FB and does some amazing photoshoots.

[Chew the Mintie]

My business is TENS for labour, dopplers, fertility monitors & breast pumps so basically pregnancy related. Maybe a birth & pregnancy section? There might be doulas who want to have a stall too?

Would be great for people who do web design, book keeping, ecommerce setups too to have a category.. wahp-support?

[RaryGirl]

A section for Health Services as I'm a Remedial Massage Therapist :D


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Sent from my mobile device ... please excuse the typing missed cakes.

[bubhub]

I know its been mentioned before, but we need a place for photography businesses. I cant see any. My good friend has an awesome little business on FB and does some amazing photoshoots.

I've added a photography & digital editing category


My business is TENS for labour, dopplers, fertility monitors & breast pumps so basically pregnancy related. Maybe a birth & pregnancy section? There might be doulas who want to have a stall too?

Would be great for people who do web design, book keeping, ecommerce setups too to have a category.. wahp-support?

I've added a Pregnancy, Birth & Fertility category.
There is a Business Services category already. We can add sub-categories at a later date to divide that up better once we've got enough listings.

A section for Health Services as I'm a Remedial Massage Therapist :D



There's an 'exercise, therapies & health' subcategory already within the Stuff for You category. Is that enough? Sorry, that sub-category wasn't very clear before. I don't like the way the sub-categories are displayed atm, I'll work on that at a later date.