As questions come through, I will update this page. Hopefully, after reading these, you have a better understanding of what all The Toolbox entails.
Paper & Crayons: How does this work?
This is basically a coordinated email share concept with a BONUS “digital magazine”.
Email Share: you would write an email and put 3-6 links (dependent on your group) in it AND a link to the entire toolbox. The other 2-5 (your group minus yourself) people in your group are sending the same links. So, you get promotion to 2-5 people’s newsletter.
Digital Magazine: You also get promoted to all members of The Toolbox that you participate in! The Digital Magazine link gets promoted in every single participant’s email – not just your group members!
You will send an email to your list (the one you applied with!) that includes EVERY link on your group document -groups consist of 3-6 people depending on the subject and the number of participants. PLUS a link to the correct toolbox.
You do this up to 3 times per month, depending on which “toolboxes” you participate in.
How Many Emails Do I Have to Send Each Month?
You will send up to 3 emails per month – it is completely dependent on the number of “toolboxes” or emails you sign up to join.
If you just join one toolbox, then you will only send 1 email that month. If you join all three, you will send 3 emails that month.
Also, if none fit for you that month, or if you have a big promotion happening and don’t want too many other emails going, you just don’t sign up for any that month.
Dates will be provided in advance to help you determine which one(s) you want to sign up for.
How Much Does it Cost?
At this time, Membership is FREE for the contributors AND for the “members”!
But your “payment” to have your link shared is to help build The Toolbox by including a link to it in each of the email shares you participate in.
Full disclosure: Eventually, to make this worth it for me, the person handling all the organization, hosting of two sites, the expense of setting all this mess up, expensive email list, etc I hope to get sponsors for each toolbox.
However, I am assuming this won’t happen until 2022, when we have plenty of data to present to potential sponsors. 🙂
What Kinds of Links are Included?
There are Two Toolboxes which include 3 emails per month.
The “themes” or “niches” are:
- Kids: Includes free printables and activities for up to approximately grade 3. (Homeschoolers’ Toolbox)
- Recipes: Includes kid-friendly, quick, and easy recipes (Homemakers’ Toolbox)
- Homemaker: Is themed-based and includes a selection of homemaking resources – typically a holiday theme or seasonal. (Homemakers’ Toolbox)
You MUST wait a minimum of 6 months before sharing the same link again.
Are there any rules about the types of links I can submit?
You will need to fill out the link submission form each month with the link(s) you want to share – new forms will be available by the 5th of the previous month.
The Toolbox is kid-friendly. Period. So, no alcohol, no tobacco, no CBD oils, no cannabis, etc.
What if I Submit a Link But Don’t Actually Send an Email to My List?
If you flake, you get banned. Period. We are all grown adults here, we should not need micromanaging nor babysitting.
Things happen, we totally understand that. However, COMMUNICATION IS KEY! I do not have time to be chasing people down to be sure they did what they were supposed to!
Who Will Be in My Email Share Group?
Groups will be determined around the 15th of the preceding month.
Groups will change every month and will be determined based on links shared and # of participants.
We will try our hardest to make sure we are matching similar sized & similarly engaged email lists in groups.
How Much Notice Will I have?
To help you plan ahead, we will try our hardest to keep themes and dates planned at least 3 months in advance.
Submission forms will open a month in advance.
This should give you plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming email share.
When will the emails need to be sent?
The emails will vary depending on the month.
When the participation information opens each month, the dates are provided – make a note in your calendar (whatever form of reminder you use to check into the group for details AND to send your email(s)).
Trust me, though, we will provide plenty of reminders within the Facebook group!
