Jessica Smith is Chief Mom Advisor of
MomForce.com and Chief Mom Officer for
Wishpot.com. She chronicles her experiences
as a mom and virtual executive at JessicaKnows.com.
More and more moms are leaving the nine-to-five corporate grind and finding themselves working
virtually from home in order to spend more quality time with their children. These
balance-achieving moms need to stay productive, flexible, and as stress-free as possible what
with carpooling the kids, making dinner, and advancing their careers.
As a mom who works virtually myself, I’ve tried out my share of productivity and
communications tools. Now I’m going to share with you the five I can’t live without:
Google Apps 
I use GMail to manage five different accounts related to the different projects I’m working
on. I use Google docs to collaborate with other moms
for event planning, project execution, and information capture. And Google calendar is a life saver when
scheduling meetings because it plays nice with just about any calendaring platform out there. The
bonus? Now that I have a T-Mobile G1, I cut out the step of a daily sync because Google’s
Android platform syncs “over the air.” Meaning, I can focus on my child, the dishes,
my clients, the mom communities, etc. instead of trying to remember the last time I synched my
BlackBerry.
Remember the Milk 
As a busy mom, every second counts. Fleeting ideas and phone calls can happen unexpectedly and
sometimes at the most distracted part of my day (erm…that would be every part). Remember
the Milk is a task list tool that I also use to capture those ideas, jot a quick note, or write
down a few words to jog my memory later.
Using the Gmail Remember
the Milk Add-on, this nifty little tool now lives within my Gmail screen. Handy and
unintrusive, I don’t have to open any extra windows to get what’s in my head on that
list. Literally, within seconds, it’s captured and saved. And with my hectic life? Every
second counts. Alternatives to Remember the Milk include Jott and Evernote.
Twitter 
Seems like more and more moms are on Twitter every day. So it was no surprise when the
moms’ twitter streams made headlines recently after a Motrin ad rubbed many moms the wrong way.
However, a lot of moms, like me, use Twitter as a way to keep up with current events, parenting
resources, and developing friendships. And more moms than you might think are using Twitter as a
professional networking tool. I’d even argue that I use Twitter stream as a blog reader
that sees more action than my Google Reader.
Want to find moms on Twitter?
- Use Twitter Search with the search
term mom, baby, or other keyword like baby sling, preschool, etc to find other like-minded moms
on Twitter.
- Sign up for the Twitter Moms Ning
group to connect and share with other Moms on Twitter and find new ones to follow.
- Look for a link to the mommy blogger’s Twitter profile on your mommy blogs.
Facebook 
Sure, I’ve connected with childhood chums on Facebook as far back as elementary school on
this ever-popular (some might even say THE most popular) social networking site. However, I also
use it as an effective way to make important announcements about projects I’m working on,
sharing resources I’ve found helpful with other moms, and discovering new blogs and
websites to read and explore further.
The Notes application makes it easy to share my feed with those that might not be avid blog
readers and the Groups function lets me make new connections within various niches of interest.
I’ve even designed my own flair with the logos of the companies I work with. Facebook can
be a total time waster, but if used properly it can be a valuable tool.
Feeling overwhelmed? Start with these mom-friendly Facebook apps:
- Add your blog, support your favorites and discover new ones with Blog Network.
- Support your favorite charity or express your passion for a cause with the Facebook application
Causes.
- Escape from preschool TV show line-up and be entertained by taking your friends quizzes or
making up your own with the Quizzes
app.
YouMail 
This is a neat application that works with your cell phone’s voicemail. A lot of people
will find this useful, but moms especially. I know there are some times when because of a yapping
puppy and a tired, cranky preschooler, I just can’t get to the phone. With YouMail, not
only can I set up different voicemails depending on who the caller is, I can also see who left a
voicemail in my email. This, with the ability to forward a voicemail by email to some else, helps
me prioritize and therefore makes me productive.
Plus, it takes Caller-ID to a whole different level, by showing me not just the number but the
location, too. Working virtually, I get calls from all over the country, so this feature is very
useful when taking time zones and the appropriate time to return a call into consideration.
Living a balanced life as a full-time mom and a virtual executive isn’t easy and it’s
certainly not without stress. But I’ve found that using a few key tools consistently, makes
for a more productive and therefore, more successful outcome both with my family and my career.
What are your must have tools?
Jessica Smith has successfully brought her 8 years of marketing and business development
experience home with her, literally. She is Chief Mom Advisor and the woman behind the idea for
MomForce.com, Chief Mom Officer for
Wishpot.com, and works with big brands
including Walmart and Ford. Jessica offers a personal glimpse into her life as a mom and virtual
executive at JessicaKnows.com. Her
specialties include creating buzz and community for companies that target moms through new media.
She has also been recently tapped as one of the 50 Most Influential and Powerful Women in Social
Media as #23. Jessica enjoys the best of both worlds, motherhood and career, at home in the DC
Metro area with her husband and young son. You can find her on Twitter as @jessicaknows.
Image courtesy of iStockPhoto, iofoto
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