Mom Bloggers and Marketing
Moms are some of the most influential people in our lives and in the last decade or so, moms have taken their influence online to create what has become one of the most talked about online communities: Mom Bloggers.
It’s a demographic us PR pros long to find a way into….hard when you’re not a mom. Think of what power a group of moms…with blogs…can bring to a family-friendly event, a new baby product, or a cause affecting millions of kids? They have outlets, they have connections, they trust each other, they talk and they listen.
But as with any blogger, pitching our clients to be featured isn’t easy. So webinar after webinar we discuss the proper way of reaching bloggers.
I was lucky enough to bypass the chatter and connect with a few San Diego mom bloggers last week. @ADramaticMommy, @SanDiegoMomma and @VirtuelIMC coordinated this year’s Mom’s Nite Out, a national event taking place across the country with groups of moms gathering to bring their online communities face to face. I put them in touch with our client Seaport Village to host their evening at Buster’s Beach House. When I stopped in to say hello, they were accommodating enough to spend time with me providing insight into the world of mom blogging, why they do it and how to best reach them. So here’s some sound advice straight from mom.
I walked away from Mom’s Nite Out with much insight into who these women are behind the sites. In sum, you can find what I learned below. To my mom bloggers, I hope you’ll comment with some additional insight; let’s clear the path between PR pro and blogger.
- Treat a mom blog as more than a publication, because it is. It’s one woman’s insight into her life. Hopefully the information you want to give her interests her. If you’re not positive, read her blog to be sure. Along the way you’ll get to know mom, so no need to hide that. Relate to her, befriend her, share your information and keep an open dialogue.
- If you really like what she’s doing, consider advertising and remember that if she accepts your advertisement, that has added value, because it’s not all about the money for these women. It’s about the endorsement.
- Take this seriously. Consider famous mom blog, Dooce, she makes an approximately $40,000 a month, supporting her entire family with just her blog!
Thanks to my mom blogger interviewees!
Deb Anderson – www.sandiegomomma.com
Melanie Sheridan – www.meladramaticmommy.com
Joan Hunt – www.dagoddess.com
Great post Lizzie! I am very impressed with your video editing skills. Everything about this event was a win/win.
I’m fascinated with the growth of mom (and pop) blogging and how useful the information is for me as a parent. It is now one of the first places I go for unbiased, real information on the best places for kid stuff, or even just to be assured that I am not alone in some of my frustrations.
And don’t forget the daddy blogs — @petcobra writes for a great one called http://www.dadcentric.com/. It’s honest and edgy.
Thank you for editing this to make me look less dweeby than I really am. I do believe I may need to have you do more like this for me in the future.
I had a wonderful time and am so happy to have met you. Hope we can all get together and do this again soon!
Thanks for making the event so special
Oh how I do go on.
Also! I always knew I had half a head, but i didn’t know it was so obvious to the naked eye.
You did wonderful with this Lizzie and thanks again for hooking us up with the Buster’s. Tons of fun was had by all!
My apologies to you Deb! I do have to work on my video skills….BUT, the insight is what’s key and there was no lack of that!
Glad you all had a good time!
Oh the head thing is fine. I like me better that way!
Thanks Lizzie! It was very nice to meet you. Thanks for including our opinions in the video. It will be interesting to see how blogging changes now that the FTC is involved. Battle lines are being drawn. I hope those in your industry are watching with eagle eyes. I think it’s going to get ugly(er) but once the dust settles it will benefit all of us.