I wish we could go back to where blogging was five years ago, when it was just about the writing and the connecting and none of the free stuff and the vacations and the swag bags,” said Ms. Smokler, of ScaryMommy .com. Her blog recently landed her a full-time job with the Nickelodeon ParentsConnect.com social-networking site, despite her not having a résumé. “I think it dilutes the point.
Honey, Don’t Bother Mommy. I’m Too Busy Building My Brand.
I think the idea of “mommy blogging” is great - a series of websites where mothers can exchange parenting information and learn from one another. However, it has turned into a bloated cesspool of poorly designed Blogger and Wordpress sites hawking a bunch of crap to house wives. While there are some that actually adhere to the original concept and provide insight into their daily lives as parents, an entire industry has been built on not just blogging for corporate sponsorship and free swag (read: selling out), but also building your brand as a mommy.
If you want to share your insight as a mother for the benefit of other mothers out there, fine - I totally support you. However, if you start a mommy blog with the intention of raking in money from Amazon Affiliate links and Procter and Gamble sponsorships, you need to think long and hard before you hit “Publish”.
I don’t mind the occasional ad here and there on blogs, I mean, we ALL have to make money somehow, but I don’t agree with what blogs like SoMuchMoreThanaMom.com do to their sites. Look along the right side of her page - It’s an eye sore and takes away from the valuable content available.
Ads are fine. Digital flea markets are not.
