Last week I reached out to some of my amazing blogger friends that I feel have 'made it' in a way that I would be proud to tell you about. My friends ROCKED with their advice and I will be sharing that here over the next few weeks. But one of my friends wrote back a mini post with what she is passionate about. It was written roughly, as an email between friends usually is, but I wanted to share it because I think the questions she poses are so valuable. This is one blogger who I personally really look up to so I hope that you all can glean some wonderful advice from her.So much talk is going on about monetization. The conversation is good, because strong and honest dialogue between bloggers and brands is key to building successful relationships. However, without assessing what you, as a blogger—regardless of how long you've been blogging—can offer the brand and the ways in which you can track your success measures, how can you really demand compensation for your time?I think it's important to ask yourself: What are you offering? What is your unique difference? Do you have reach and influence? If so, what is it? Are you passionate about the product or have a unique way in which your ...
A Pink Frosting Birthday
A Pink Frosting Birthday We really lucked out with the weather that day. When the rain began, I worried it may ruin our backyard birthday party. Our daughter Stella and friends were celebrating her third birthday, and she was quite ready for cake. Soon the sun burst out and a brilliant rainbow arched above. Parents pulled out cameras and snapped away. The rain dried up as fast as it came. Cake eating could commence!Stella, the birthday girl, was proudly wearing her favorite lacy, pink Barbie dress and couldn’t have been more excited to notice she matched the Barbie cake I had so painstakingly crafted that morning.These kinds of baking projects always look easier than they are. The inverted 8 cup measuring glass produced a gorgeous skirt-shaped cake. Unfortunately, Barbie only sank up to her thighs in the soft white cake mound. It turned out to be easier to make another cake than to cut off Barbie’s legs. I know, because my husband and I tried! Needless to say, wire cutters, pliers and a steak knife weren’t up to the task of rendering a shorter Barbie. I then hastily prepared a small cake to place on top of the first cake. It was soon trimmed to size and set into ...
PR Monday: Straight Talk From PR
Hey everyone! In Feb I am going to use this space to highlight straight talk from PR reps. I sent out a survey to some of the reps that I really respect and enjoy working with. In the interest of getting the most candid answers from them I am going to post their comments as anonymous. Lets face it, I can blab all day long about what I think but wouldn't you rather know what they have to say?So, here are a few questions and answers for them.How does a mom blogger gain your attention? What puts them on your radar?"If a mom blogger reaches out to me directly, I always make sure to check out her blog. I also discover a lot of great bloggers via Twitter. Whether it’s a new blog post on recipes or an industry-related article, I’m always reading everything I can (or that time allows!)""Honestly, someone who I know and interact with via Twitter, my blog or who emails me to keep a relationship going. If I know you, know you write great content and are fun to work with, I’ll likely include you in all the outreach I do for my clients and also recommend you to my colleagues.Beyond that, bloggers who are regularly included in other high-profile campaigns (Walmart Eleven Moms, Lifetime Moms ect) ...
PR Mondays: Blog Frog
Can you believe that it has been a whole month of PR Mondays already? In January we concentrated on getting your ways to get exposure to your blog and we have one more awesome article for you on that from Holly. I have been busy interviewing PR reps for major companies and for the rest of Feb I will share their thoughts directly with you. If you missed any of the Jan posts make sure to go back and get your blog ready!By Holly Hamann, 1.30.2010holly@theblogfrog.comWhat is BlogFrog and how did it all start?Every wonder how BlogFrog got its start? I’m delighted to be guest blogging for Barb and I thought I’d share a little bit of background on what BlogFrog is and how it all got started.BlogFrog is the brainchild of Rustin Banks, who developed the beta product in 2008 during nights and weekends while still a full-time engineer at a local Aerospace company. Banks said he got the idea from his wife, a casual blogger who used her blog to keep their friends and family updated. There was no simple way for blog authors to have real discussions with readers and interact on their blogs. “A blog might have thousands of like-minded readers but what if I want to ask another reader a question ...
Poor Mama
This could be a wordless Wednesday but I had to comment. Nope, this isn't my baby girl Nala. But this Leonberger new mama set the record for number of surviving pups in a litter-19!!!Get this poor woman some dog flavored xanax please.... ...