One of the latest trends these days is mommy bloggers. Stay-at-home moms and working mothers have found a niche in blogging that other parents and parents-to-be find useful – there's nothing like getting someone's firsthand experience and advice. Child rearing books are limited in what they can offer, and they aren't interactive or responsive – the ability to get in touch with an experienced mom who can answer questions is one of the things that makes mommy blogging so appealing to readers.
Although this is a big plus, it's not the only reason mommy bloggers are so popular. In many ways, blogging is a business that goes beyond an online fellowship of women sharing their trials and triumphs. So what is it that keeps mommy bloggers on the scene? Maybe you're like me and are surprised mothers can earn extra money like this – but I'll tell you why it works!
First, mommy bloggers do make extra money from writing. How? It's easier said than done, but the secret lies within the readers. Online advertising has grown in the past decade, to the point it's crucial for businesses to market online to stay in the game. However, finding places to put ads where people will see might be difficult for smaller businesses. Bigger websites, such as Yahoo or AOL, are inundated with requests every day – most of which will get ignored. Even then, there's no guarantee you'll reach your target market. So if you can find a blogger in your market who has a good following of readers, you're set! Bloggers charge for banner and side bar ads, but that's not their only source of revenue. Some bloggers also charge for their writing services, in case brands want them to feature them in a blog post, do a review, or a giveaway. It works too; many mommy bloggers get so many requests they even have to turn some down! Who would've thought?
Another upside for mommy bloggers is they get to test free products (for reviews and giveaways). Many companies will eagerly send them samples just for a chance to get some exposure and links back to their site. Moms don't always have time to write about every sample they get, but that doesn't rule out the possibility in the future – and it saves them some money if they find something they really like. Brands, don't be discouraged from sending free samples even if a review isn't guaranteed! Because there's still word of mouth, and sometimes going back to the basics is all you need.
So what about companies? What makes them want to go after mommy bloggers in particular, instead of just anyone? It might be baffling at first glance, but upon deeper inspection, it makes sense. For one thing, never underestimate the power moms have over other moms. Anyone with kids understands that parents want only the best for their kids; they're more willing to listen to someone who's in the same situation, seeing her as an ally. In fact, you'd be surprised - according to Cynthia Boris with marketingpilgrim.com, 69% of moms that were surveyed got their branding information and recommendations from mommy bloggers. Wow, talk about staggering statistics!
The final incentive to get companies to work with mom bloggers is perhaps the most simple of all – far reach exposure. With the Internet, anyone from around the world can tune into weekly blog posts and find new ideas and brands in an instant. And since the readers trust mom bloggers, whom they've come to know and relate to through warm, personal posts, they're more willing to check it out and even blog about it themselves! Information spreads fast thanks to RSS feeds and social media, where people can get updates instantly. And microblogging by sharing through Facebook or retweets on Twitter just makes it all the easier to get that information to a wider audience. This is something I've experienced too, when readers of bubblewrappd tweeted about our CAPEtees!
Follow Leap of Faith Clothing on Twitter!
That just goes to show how much influence moms hold over our lives. They are truly some of the most powerful women – and human beings – you'll ever encounter. And with Mother's Day upon us, I think we should take a moment to recognize their reach goes on past those days when they tucked us into bed every night; they really do touch the world around us in a huge way!
About Leap of Faith Clothing
Leap of Faith Clothing is located in Charlotte, NC, and is a line of boys’ and girls’ clothing - specifically CAPEtees, T-shirts with a velcro attached cape that will make any kid feel like a superhero! We also produce baby products such as bibs and onesies, and a line of pet tees!
For more information or to check out our products, visit us out online at www.leapoffaithclothing.com or follow us on Twitter @lofclothing!
