In a private Facebook group, I noticed a lot of people were looking for a tech person to work with. So, I introduced myself. Upon returning to check on the status, I saw a post at the very top of the wall from a guy who also introduced himself as a coder.

Now, I’m not that naive to think I am the only geek in a group. There are probably many people better at tech than me in any group. What gave me pause was, why this guy’s introduction got so many responses when mine hardly went noticed.

A horrifying thought flashed through my mind. It couldn’t be true. Did he get more attention because he’s a man? Maybe you have experienced something similar. Something that made you stop to wonder if you didn’t win the bid, secure that client or get that exposure because you are a woman. Then, you look around and it looks like all the top dogs are men.

Of course it depends on the industry you are in but I’m here to tell you, even in seemingly male-centric arenas, there are plenty of women quietly making serious coin. Sometimes, we aren’t seeing the ladies because women simply aren’t vocal about their successes. And, when we toot our own horn, we often express it in an entirely different manner.

For us, being able to support our families and being there when the kids get off the bus mean a whole lot more than ‘crushing it’ or making a million dollars in 24 hours. I’m not saying women don’t strive for that. I’d love to make that kind of money any day. It’s just, our goals are often more immediate and realistic.

That is why it’s always refreshing to hear stories about real women and how they broke through the barriers. If you need a little inspiration from authentic women just like you, head on over to SoloMasterminds. They are bragging on three ladies who turned their wildest dreams into reality while juggling homework, laundry, whiny children, soccer practices and meal plans.

As for that little incident I told you about earlier, after giving it more thought, I decided it had nothing to do with gender nor discrimination of any kind. There were plenty of logical and probably more accurate explanations like the timing of our posts and how quickly my post got buried under a flurry of activity.

What I learned that week – focus on being awesome instead of speculating about something that may not be true because when working for yourself, there is no glass ceiling. Especially with an Internet business. Don’t take my word for it. Check out the three case studies and let those women tell you their story.

— BIO —
Lynette Chandler helps small businesses leverage technology in their marketing. She is also the resident tech expert at SoloMasterminds and credits it for helping to turn her business around. Lynette would love to connect with you in this special community and invites you to come check it out.

Technology is wonderful – when it is simple and works. Anyone who’s ever had to run both a PC and a Mac in order to be able to use the applications they need understands that the technology we depend upon to make our lives easier can sometimes complicate things.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways – some low-tech, others leading-edge – to simplify your tech life.

Duel Operating System Software Tools

More than half of us use both a Mac and PC, either at home or work, according to a recent survey by Lab42. If given their choice, 53 percent of us would prefer to use a Mac that also runs Windows PC applications without rebooting for work, the survey revealed. Getting Windows applications to work on a Mac used to be a complicated, technically arduous process. Many users got around the issue by running a PC and Mac side by side.

Today products like Parallels Desktop 7 for Mac simplify the task. The software enables users to run Windows and Mac applications side-by-side on their Macs without rebooting, thereby eliminating the need for two computers. Parallels will even move your entire PC onto your Mac so you can keep your software investments and enjoy everything you need on one computer. A free trial of Parallels Desktop for Mac is available for download at www.parallels.com/desktop.

Apps For Everything

For many of us, functioning without our smartphones and mobile apps would be impossible. Apps that stream up-to-date news and weather information can be handy, but the rock stars of today’s apps are ones that make our communications, shopping and financial transactions even easier. You can download apps that let you block unwanted calls, connect to Facebook and Twitter, shop at Amazon, and access your bank or brokerage to view balances, deposit checks or trade stocks.

Remote or Cloud Data Access

Sure you wouldn’t dream of traveling without your laptop, but isn’t it great to know if you don’t want to carry a computer that you actually don’t have to in order to use it? It’s no longer necessary to tote around a Mac or PC to capture all your communications and any changes you need to make to files that normally live on your desktop at home or work. Remote access software allows you to connect to and work off of your Mac or PC at home or work as if you were actually there using it. For example, Parallels Mobile for iPad and iPhone lets you remotely access and run all of your Mac and Windows files and applications on your Macs when you’re on the go.

1 POP Email for Multiple Email Accounts

Most of us have multiple email accounts, from ones we use only for work to personal accounts associated with the various social media we use. Managing multiple email accounts can be easy if you use a desktop email client such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird which can do the task for you. You’ll need to remember your email addresses and passwords just once – when you enter them into the tool. After that, you’ll be able to easily check all your email accounts from.

Password Managers

Speaking of passwords, how often have you tried to access an online account only to realize you couldn’t remember the password? Yet you’ve also heard that it’s not a great idea to keep passwords written down anywhere. Password managers can solve the problem. The software stores your passwords and automatically places them in the appropriate field when you need them. The manager is protected by a single, powerful password and many tools can now be used from your smartphone. Even better – some very good ones such as LastPass 1.72 are completely free to download and use. (ARA)

For the last few months I have been using text broker.com for article writing. Don’t get me wrong, I write most if my posts, but for some projects I get help.

Textbroker is an article writing service the offers inexpensive writers to handle your writing needs. The writers are classified as level 2-5. The higher the level the better the writer. This same system is used for article quality. You can order short and long articles, press releases, and reports. You can even order an ebook.

With your order you can specify how quickly you need the articles back. Whether you have one or 10 articles you can get them back within a few hours because several writers are ready to write for you.

So how much does this cost? A 200 word article costs $ 2.70! It either sounds fabulous or unfair, depending on who is talking. That price is for a level two article. The higher the level and the longer the article the more it costs. Of course we can’t forget about the fee Textbroker charges. They take a small percentage which is included in the price.

Ordering single or multiple articles is easy with the ordering wizard. If you have several titles you can upload through a spreadsheet or you can copy and paste the titles. The order is automatically calculated based on your criteria (I.e. word count, quality level, and type).

You will have to deposit money into your account to place an order. This guarantees the writer will get paid. You will be able to review and approve the article before the writer is paid. You may request a revision of you do not like it or want modifications. You may reject the article if it is still not to your liking. The Textbroker team will evaluate the rejection and pass it on to another writer if your rejection is reasonable.

Overall I really like using this service. The system is easy to use and the price is reasonable. It’s a great way to add more content to your site or create an info product.

I learned about SocialMonkee.com a few moths ago. It’s a social media distribution tool you can use to share your lastest blog posts. This is a great way to get back links and attract more traffic to your website.

The downside is you must set up all your accounts to connect them to the site. The good news is you only have to do it once.

With a million other things it seems I have to do, it feels like I will never get to it. Hopefully you will take this idea and run with it.

Have you heard of this tool before? Do you use it? If so how has it been for back links and traffic?