Today’s Friday Featured Female is Jennifer Tankersley from ListPlanIt.com. List Plan It is a wonderful web resource where members can access over 300 printable lists and planning pages in PDF format and save them on to their computer and use them to organize their busy lives. You can find grocery lists and menu planning, holiday and party planning, calendars and to do lists. It’s every list you need in one convenient place!Â
Tell me about your products on ListPlanIt.com.
Until recently, the main thing offered at ListPlanIt.com has been access to the more than 300 lists and planning pages available to members for either 3 or 12 month subscriptions. Just this week, however, ListPlanIt.com has launched a new line of ePlanners (like eBooks)! This way, someone looking for just one type of list, such as meal planning, will be able to focus on the topic of her choice. Each ePlanner can be purchased for just $4.95 and has between 10 and 25 lists and planning pages all of the same topic such as baby, financial, birthday, holiday, travel, and more.
What is the difference between a membership and ePlanners? And can you buy a list individually?
Memberships give you access to everything ListPlanIt.com has to offer – including the new pages that are frequently being created. No need to store anything on your hard drive (unless you want to). You can also type into the pages that can be accessed as a member. The lists in each ePlanner are downloaded to your computer and yours to keep forever. You can narrow the lists and planning pages that you need down to a certain topic instead of committing to the entire selection available at ListPlanIt.com.
How did you come up with the idea for your product?
I’ve always been a list maker, but found that motherhood took the art of listmaking to a whole new level. One night as I was preparing for bed, I was mentally making a list of all the lists I needed to make for the following day and thought it would be great if all I had to do was just print out a form and fill in my own information. Suddenly, the concept for ListPlanIt.com was born! I sat right down and made a list of list ideas and in 30 minutes had over 500 pages that I would like to make.
When did you start your blog and why?
I reserved a blog back in September, but found little motivation to get started even though I kept reading how great a blog could be for your business. In January, the format of the Top 10 style of lists hit me and suddenly List Mama Blog was born. I was worried that blogging would take up too much of my already precious time, but I love it! I enjoy the opportunity to look for topics that would be meaningful to both myself and to my readers. Being a mom certainly has a plethora of interesting topics.
How do you come up with the lists you on your site?
Basically, if I need it myself, then there is a list for it. There are a few pages that I created for people that I would never use, but mostly I encounter a scenario where I think, “It sure would be nice to have a list (or record or journal or log or timetable) for that!” and then I make it.  I love the creative part of it!
What list or lists do you use most in your every day life?
My most frequently used lists are the Grocery List, Menu Planner, Daily Planner, Weekly Planner, Monthly Cleaning Schedule, Contact pages (address book), Newsletter Lineup, Goals and Achievements, almost all of the Financial pages in the Finance section, and since I have 3 children, I am very often printing pages for birthday/holiday planning.
What does the future hold for ListPlanIt.com?
I hope to begin to work with professional life coaches and organizers. Lists can really help people gain control of their lives once they learn to prioritize. I am also hoping to eventually put the lists and planning pages into print form and sell as a kind of workbook.
What are some of your favorite websites for business and pleasure?
Oh, there are so many out there! I LOVE Allrecipes.com, Amazon, Cafemom.com, BlogCatalog.com, ConstantContact.com, Craigslist.org.
Is there any advice you would like to give someone who is thinking about starting a business?
Yes, pick something that you can really stand behind and feel passionate about. I have had so many business ideas in my life, but not until this one came along did I really feel like I could make a go of it. Because I love the concept of ListPlanIt.com, I can throw myself wholeheartedly into developing, promoting, and maintaining the business. It takes a LOT of work! I had the misunderstanding that a website would be easy and that after I created the content, I could jut sit back and watch people flock. I have learned that that was wrong. It takes a lot of time and energy, just like any business. Thankfully, I LOVE it! It is difficult to pry me from my computer during the day. Since I have 3 young children, I don’t get to spend as much time with it as I would like to, but I certainly work as often as I have the chance.
Check out Jennifer’s Blog at : List Mama Blog:Â Lists of Lists for List-Lovin’ MamasÂ
Enter to win a ListPlanIt Yearly Membership
ListPlanIt.com is offering a special contest to HerBigIdea’s readers and listeners. Enter to win a chance to win a yearly membership to ListPlanIt.com (retail value $29.95). As a member, you will have access to over 300 lists and planning pages such as grocery lists, menu planning pages, birthday/holiday planning pages, to do lists, calendars, packing lists, and so much more.
To enter:
1. Go to the ListPlanIt website and find three (3) lists you could use in your everyday life.
2. Write a comment in this blog post saying which three lists you would use in your everyday life.
Rules:
1. You must be at least 18 years of age to enter.
2. One entry per person.
3. All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific on May 29, 2008.
Until next week. Remember to live your life to aspire and inspire with HerBigIdea.com.
Elaine of Her Big Idea, writes for Posh Mama Online Magazine and Social Network every Tuesday.
