The relationship between bloggers and businesses is important. As bloggers we have a wide network.. between our readers and our relationships with other mom bloggers we have the potential to not only create a buzz about a company's products but we also have the chance to help them in becoming successful through search engine optimization. When YOU'RE excited about a product that a company offers it's easy for your readers to become excited about it too. Because of our relationships with other mom bloggers and our networks we're able to help companies in creating a partnership with not only us but also other mom bloggers in the blogosphere.

Blogger's voices are HUGE. I have always said word of mouth is the true lead way for marketing a business. Basically blogging is a huge wave length of word of mouth marketing. Customers are more out to listen to a true blogger's words from their heart than to listen to a commercial from a paid actor or a paid advertisement. If a blogger likes your product and they blog about it, it has created a domino effect throughout the blogging community. The reason this is, the commenters on that particular blog post will try the service or product and then they will tell friends/do a blog post/twitter/post on facebook. Then, those commenters will do the same... on down the line.

We reach out with our voices. We tell it with our heart and let our voices be heard about the products we love and use throughout a daily basis. Bloggers have so many social media tools at their hands to where we can reach more customers/clients at the tip of a hat. Yes, businesses can use social marketing, but come on for real. Most moms and dads are going to listen MORE to another mom or dad then solely to the business themselves.

Bloggers are a great form of marketing and I highly encourage it :).

I twittered this! :)

@cheeriokeeper

I twittered this!

Bloggers are a fantastic voice for businesses. Many times, people search Google for first hand testimonials of products. The product website is useful to find out what it is and how much it costs, but the blogger is able to convey how well the product works and if it is a great value.

When I research a new item to purchase, I tend to put more weight in what I'm finding on the blogs, because those people usually don't have a big financial stake in whether the item succeeds or not, thus more accurate feedback results.

I twittered this!

I have the button on my side bar

I twittered this!

A blogger can give a business an honest true to life opinion on their product or service, while opening up the lines of communication for the company. We offer, sometimes, free reviews and gain them exposure for their products/services. With a readership, any readership, you have the ability to open up the lines of communication between consumer and services provider making it easier for them to do their job. Bloggers provide excellent resources for Research and Development since we use so many products on a daily basis. If we like a product we will "shout" it the hill tops, the same with a positive customer service experience. Also, many of our posts are up forever, so if anyone does a "search" for their product on any of the many search engines they will find the post and you are once again giving them advertising. Free Advertisement, Unlimited Exposure. With bloggers you can reach a broader demographic than you would with traditional advertisement. Traditionally the thought is if a consumer liked something they would tell 10 people; with bloggers the reach is astronomical. I tend to be very loyal. When I like a product/service/or company I stick with them. I tell my readers about them often; new products, new services, experiences I have had. I have readers from India to Alaska, so my reach would be beneficial for them. I always offer an honest review from a mother's perspective and direct all of my readers to their website and the product it's self. Many blogger's readers trust their judgment and are much more likely to purchase a product/service from a company if it got a positive review. I know I am.

Label Daddy is on my blogroll

I have the button on my sidebar.

On the blogroll!!! Under other great sites!

I added your button to my site... appreciate the give away, but I don't have anyone to leave the munchkin with, so I'll pass; but I'll talk ya up from time to time... Great day to you, Sara!

I added the Label Daddy BlogHer '09 button to my right sidebar. :)

When businesses team up with bloggers they are opening themselves up to some powerful word of mouth advertising and tons of new clientele.

I think word of mouth advertising is more valuable than any other kind of advertising because it is more genuine and less obtrusive. Plus bloggers build a vast network of readers via post, social networking and much more...

Businesses that want to expand their reach and to widen their target audience simply have to find established bloggers who are also targeting a similar audience.

Holding contests or product giveaways is a great way for businesses to market to a bloggers network of readers without "in your face" unwanted advertising and it helps the bloggers in return.

It really is a perfect match when bloggers and businesses team up! More should do it.

Tweeted this post and put the button on my sidebar.

What a great opportunity for someone!

I tweeted and am now following labeldaddy!!

I'm following them and I tweeted about this sponsorship!

I think bloggers and companies working together is a wonderful concept. A blog is a way to reach so many people that you would never reach in real life. A company can use bloggers to help spread the word about their products. In regular advertising, it costs plenty of money, and then is only there for a set amount of time. For example, if you advertise in a magazine, your advertisement is gone when the next issue comes out. On a blog, a post is usually left up FOREVER! That means continuous advertisement for every blog a company works with. For the cost of a few products, you get constant ads and buzz about your product.

A blog can also help a company by spreading lots of links. The more links you have out there, the higher google will rank you in their search engines. So when someone is looking to buy what you sell, your product will come up higher on their list. Since most people don't go past the first few pages, you want to be high on that list in order to get noticed!

Blogs also help to spread a lot of buzz. If I hear about a product on several different blogs, I am more likely to remember that when I am interested in purchasing it. For example, I have never heard of Carolyn's Kitchen outside of blogging. Because I have seen so many giveaways for these aprons, I now go to them every time I want to buy an apron. This is a product I never would have known about if it wasn't for blogs.

I am also a review shopper. Before I buy anything, I want to see a review on it. Sure pictures on a site are nice, but pictures can be deceiving! I like to read another person's real opinion. I want to know what other moms think before I buy. Blog reviews are a great way to do this. By getting many reviews out about a product, I believe a person is more likely to purchase it.

Blogs are a HUGE resource for companies because they can help them in so many ways. I am so glad that so many companies are beginning to realize this.

I twittered about this Label Daddy Blogher sponsorship again today! :)

@cheeriokeeper

Bloggers and Label Daddy should definitely "stick together" (pun intended) and let me tell you why!

Bloggers, like myself, have a unique opportunity to share their thoughts and opinions with their readers on a personal level. Customers do their research before spending their hard earned dollars and seek out product reviews from real people before making a purchase.

By submitting a product for review to a blogger, a company is gaining valuable exposure to a whole community of readers. The company will gain links around the web which will increase the traffic to their own site as well as elevate their ranking in search engines.

The reviewer plays the part of a marketing specialist when they do a review. They let their readers know exactly what they think of the product and how it will benefit the potential customer. They can provide text links, pictures and sometimes even video of the product! Where else can you buy advertising like that for the price of one product sample?

So, what can I do for Label Daddy at BlogHer '09? Let me help get people "stuck" on your labels! Send me with a few sheets of labels printed with the saying, "You've been tagged by Label Daddy!" and let me loose! I can tag purses, clothing, pastries (they DO have pastries, right? LOL!), binders, nametags, etc. You name it, I'll tag it!

On a more serious note, I would love to be sponsored by Label Daddy at BlogHer '09. I am very eager to learn more about the blogging world and how I can better promote my "brand" and my sponsors. Helping ME would be helping YOU in the long run!

Thank you for the chance!
Bridgette
The Not-So-Blog

I twittered about this!

I follow Label Daddy on Twitter.

Label Daddy is on my Blogroll!

The BlogHer '09 sponsorship button is on my right sidebar.

It's important because most bloggers started their blogs to be heard. So when we like (or hate) something, we don't shut up about it. We tweet, we order from sites and tell everybody about it, we give gifts to our blogger friends and THEY tell everybody about it. We're unstoppable.

Blogging as a medium finally provided me with an outlet to tell even MORE people what I think about stuff. My friends and family have heard plenty. Now that I blog in several places, my opinion gets heard by many people, and I am not afraid to share it. If there is a product I have extreme feelings about, I'll tell everyone. Incidentally, I'm always looking for good stuff to pimp at The Mommy Times, so email me at ktprince at gmail dot come for a promo opp for the labels.

In this globally-connected, mobile world, Word-of-Mouth can make or break a product! Bloggers are the most connected people on the planet, and their opinions spread across the internet like wildfire.

Witness the Motrin Moms fiasco -- one poorly targeted message (that babywearing causes pain and is done by moms who want to look "cool") was actually pulled because of the uproar on Twitter and the blogosphere.

Bloggers can be marketing companies' best friends or worst enemies, so establishing a relationship with them is in everyone's best interest.

Thanks for this great contest -- Label Daddy is awesome, an example of a company that *does* understand the reach of bloggers.

bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

The Label Daddy button is on my site:

www.bonggafinds.blogspot.com

thanks
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

I tweeted this:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1159846085

thanks
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

I'm now following LabelDaddy on twitter! My username is bonggafinds.

thanks
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Label Daddy is now on my blogroll at

www.bonggamom.com

thanks
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Working with bloggers gets companies a BIG bang for their buck. For the price of a product sample or two, reviews and giveaways for product create static links that are there pretty much forever! This helps boost the vendor's Google Page Rank, which means they pop up higher on the list in google searches. Label Daddy might want to ask bloggers who review, giveaway, or blog for extra entries to link key phrases like "personalized sticky labels" or "dishwasher safe labels", "kids name labels", etc., etc.
I think using bloggers to promote products work because we know each other, we feel like a community of friends.
Also when I see something popping up on multiple blogs (like Skin MD Natural lotion) I start to pay attention!
Another idea would to create a "market research" type group of all bloggers. I am in 2 groups, Medela Mom Mavens and Baby Bjorn Believers. They ask us (the bloggers) questions and we give them feedback. The motivation is usually to be entered into a prize drawing of some sort. I feel really connected w/ those 2 companies and I feel like they value my opinion and they also know my name!
I love it!

I'm now following Label Daddy on twitter as @MomMostTraveled

Tweeted this contest for Jan. 30:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1162816905

bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Especially now, businesses need to look for new and different ways to reach customers.

Traditional advertising and promotion channels are expensive. With the advent of DVRs and more subscription radio, their advertising may not even be heard.

Bloggers can reach those audiences who have become immune to advertising, because they develop a following that comes to know them and their values. It's implied that if they trust and respect the blogger, in turn, they'll give the product a shot.

It's a win win, because reaching out to bloggers helps the same bloggers build their audience.

@Suzannadanna Twittered this!

Added Label Daddy to my blogroll!

Women, especially mama's, are the typical decison makers when it comes to purchasing many items for the family. Whether it is clothes, toys, food, cars, and almost anything else, Mom has the say. Therefore, bloggers like us can have a significant impact on getting the word out about a product to other moms and folks looking for advice and honest feedback. This is a cost effective way for businesses to reach their target audience and a win-win for the bloggers by having products to review/giveaway and thereby increasing their blog traffic. Going to follow LabelDaddy now.

I twittered again today!

Here's my tweet for Jan. 31:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1164980970

thank you!
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Tweet o' the day:
http://www.mommafindings.com/2009/01/label-daddy-wants-to-send-you-to.html

I twittered!

Suzannadanna Label Daddy wants to send YOU to BlogHer! http://tinyurl.com/cbv4vv less than 5 seconds ago from web

Forgot to mention, I put the button on my blog, too!

I tweeted.

http://twitter.com/mclanek/status/1167008259

Businesses are wise to reach out to bloggers, but not in a superficial pay-per-blog sort of way. Bloggers are the human faces for companies they are representing. Companies must build trust with the consumer and in turn, the consumer will have the confidence to invest in that company or product. When I purchase a product endorsed on a blog, I don't just consider the product, I also consider the integrity of the blogger promoting the product. When I can relate to that blogger (i.e. she is a mom like me, she demonstrates need for the product, she is honest about likes and dislikes of the product), I am more likely to try the product for myself.

Companies are also wise to reach out to bloggers from a financial standpoint. In this viral marketing world, it makes more money sense to invest in a blog campaign (if your intended audience is represented by bloggers) than to invest in a huge ad in local newspaper.

When administered with sincerity, viral marketing is a win-win situation for the company and the blogger.

I tweeted today:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1167337343

bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Tweeted today! 2/1/09

I am amazed at how some companies still do not understand the relationship between a blogger and their company. Bloggers can say whatever they want if they are honest about a product. When a company does something wrong, the bloggers unite and something gets done about it. We all remember "the baby wearing incident"

I personally wrote about Target when they didn't honor a price on-line. However, they rectified the situation after a few days.

We do positive things to, and I'm sure that is what you are looking for in an answer. Bloggers reach numbers. In a way it is viral marketing. Say we have a giveaway, I post it on my site, I reach my readers, I advertise on another blog, I reach their readers, then one of these readers tells another reader, they might reach all of their readers and the number grows exponentially. This is how buzz marketing works. Moms love to talk so we talk and when we like something we love to talk about it.

I love the shoes that I wear, I sell them all the time. I no longer work in a shoe store but I still sell them. I tell people how much I love them and where they can find them. I think I could go on and on about the relationship between bloggers/mothers/women and companies. ;-)

I put their button on my site

I tweeted @Momstart I forgot to do the #labeldaddy though I'll do it again

Final Entry, they are added to my blog roll

Suzannadanna Label Daddy wants to sponsor a blogger's trip to BlogHer '09! http://tinyurl.com/cbv4vv less than 5 seconds ago from web

Bloggers help companies understand how to market to the family that is low on cash. Bloggers help companies understand the mood of the mind of the person who buys. Bloggers let the companies inside the mind of the buyer before the buyer decides to purchase a product. Free research for companies.

Denise

I've tweeted today!

@cheeriokeeper

I originally had no intent for my blog to be anything more than a site for me to journal my children and our lives. As I learned about other blogs and I managed to follow links from one blog to the next off of blogrolls, I realized n one night that I had bookmarked over 70 blogs to read. Yea, I thought I could keep up with 70, that was 3 or 4 years ago. Now I have more like 270 but that's fine.

Anyway, as I look at the number of people that I was able to reach by simply following one link on one blog, I am continuously amazed. And, for businesses, that's the most ideal manner to market. Word of mouth is better than any paid advertisement in the world.

I owned a daycare and I rarely used any written advertising because the word of mouth of my customers was much more influential than any ad in a newspaper.

As for mommy bloggers, women tend to follow other women and if I read about a product from a company on a highly respected blog, I trust that this product may or may not be a better fit for me. It might not be fair, but it's a fact.

Currently I have several blogs. My degree is in Education and Counseling. I write a wide genre of blogs, my personal blog for documenting my children and our lives, a blog that revolves around hot men that you find on TV, a blog that revolves around education from all angles, homeschooling, public schools, online educations, etc. and I also own a blog where I discuss mental and emotional health. One blog where I critique stories I find in the media and finally a site for parents to use as a reference to find other informative parenting sites. That last site is a great example of how businesses can benefit from bloggers. That blog is strictly to pass on information about other companies and websites.

I also have two other blogs, one that revolves around Wentworth Miller from Prison Break and one about Michelle Obama.

Obviously with that large of an audience, I have the opportunity to reach out to people with interests in many areas. I can help a company build their business by promoting them in more than on place but also I can promote a larger audience of businesses because of the flexibility of the topics covered on each blog.

Ok, you've been tweeted on Feb. 3 here

http://twitter.com/jareason/status/1172210033

Your button is on my sidebar here
http://www.momecentric.com

You've been added to the TOP of my blogroll here

http://www.momecentric.com/?page_id=1473

I tweeted this contest for Feb. 3:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1173925100

bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

The time when people think of "I" is over and it is now "We". The brand is not what you present but what the community sees it to be. Foolish people have disregarded the masses and the power they hold for too long, thanks to social media and blogging they can't anymore ignore what people think. By listening to what people want you waste less time and money concentrating on what people want.

I followed. MommyNiri (twitter id)

I'm not interested in attending BlogHer '09 (I'll have a 4-month-old baby in July and the conference is "on the other side of the country"...), but I thought I'd chime in on this discussion anyway.

I always appreciate when companies understand the social media/blogging platform (as it seems evident that Label Daddy does...). Bloggers wield a lot of power in their circle of influence. Many bloggers have hundreds, if not thousands, of readers and RSS subscribers. More importantly, bloggers often have a very "loyal following" who will eagerly listen to their opinion about products and services. I can't tell you how many times I've blogged about a product and automatically received a comment or e-mail that says, "I bought such-and-such product because you said..." That's marketing power at its finest.

Tweeted today 2/3/09

I tweeted for Feb. 4:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1176871173

the relationship is very important because we reach a very wide audience that has the same interests as us. I want to know what other moms are using and what they like and dislike. i feel as if I can trust their opinion because I "know" them.


I tweeted! www.twitter.com/workoutmommy

I added the Label Daddy button to my site today, also added you to my blog roll :).

I also tweeted today:
twitter.com/onemomsworld

I tweeted for Feb 5 (can you tell I really want to win? :)

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1180276932

Tweeted today! 2/5

Tweeted this contest for Feb. 6:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1184109408

I tweeted today. Working for Bloggers Give keeps me so busy I forget to tweet every day

@Momstart

Sick of me yet?!? LOL! I tweeted today 2/6

Bloggers have a unique relationship with companies. Not only do they help promote a particular product but they make the brand more human. They give a voice to a company and the products they sell. Mom bloggers in particular have an advantage in that they can usually come up with new and innovative ways to use a product and that can only help companies.

I tweeted about the contest
http://twitter.com/amomspeaks/status/1186372112

I have the button on the sidebar, but I'm not sure if that really counts or not. :)

I work for an internet marketing company, so I know very well how important it is for bloggers and companies to help each other out. In this economy, businesses need as much help as they can get.

By reaching out to bloggers, companies not only have the opportunity to market their products and get exposure, but they have the potential of turning bloggers into brand evangelists that may turn into loyal customers and recruit more loyal customers through word of mouth marketing in their blogs and in various social media arenas.

Aside from that, the SEO value of bloggers for companies is huge. While search engines like Google frown upon paid links, including do-follow links in exchange for free products, the word-of-mouth reach of blog marketing efforts can reach far beyond the original blogger who may have no-followed the original business link in a prduct review, when other bloggers who haven't received compensation start responding and linking to the business of their own accord.

Whie my personal blog is still growing its following, my goal is to expand my efforts to start more conversations and get other people interested. As a Mom Editor on Type-A Mom, I'm getting more involved in the mommy blogger community, and I think I can be an asset to companies who are on the same wavelength as I am.

I followed and tweeted today: http://twitter.com/cutestkidever/status/1186401656

Tweet, tweet!

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1186949799

tweet tweet 2/7

button on my side bar

tweeted today =)

I like the 3-way color.

Remember that old saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world"? Actually it was a poem by William Ross Wallace. That's how I see bloggers.
It's becoming a blogger's world!
The mama who blogs....is helping the world go round. She's doing everything and can try out anything at the same time. All while telling the world all about it through her BLOG!
I am soooooooo wanting to go to Blogher 09!

I tweeted today! 2/8

I harp on the importance bloggers have to businesses all the time. I'm in PR, so I try my best to connect bloggers with my clients because they are the true heralds of what is worthy. They tell their readers what is worth buying and what isn't, so businesses need to pay attention which side of the fence they're on.

Bloggers also can be a more effective way to reach consumers than traditional marketing. They're (usually) cheaper and know their audiences better than, say, a billboard.

I'm excited about BlogHer because I like looking for products I can blog about, and I like introducing my clients to bloggers!

PS I'm tweeting this, so don't miss my extra entries!

I twittered today :)

http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1195427230

I tweeted today (2/10):

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1196467060

tweeted! 2/10

Bloggers, and especially Mom Bloggers are not only prime consumers but first rate voices.
In today's market, businesses need to reach every possible audience, in a way that touches them and makes them feel. Feeling audiences care enough to have an opinion and purchase products, no matter what the economy.
Businesses give Bloggers the chance to try out their wonderful products and develop opinions about them. Bloggers then use their voices and help create those fortuitous feelings in their audiences. It is a win-win situation for everyone!:)

I really commend you and your hubby for not only being creative and giving us the benefit of your creativity but for helping to educate the PR world on the benefit of bloggers! Whether I win or not, thank you!!

Got ya on Twitter - http://twitter.com/3PsinaPod

Seriously!

I added the Label Daddy BlogHer sponsorship badge to my blog, 3Ps in a Pod

Thanks!

Tweeted for Feb. 11:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1200648713

Tweeted today 2/11
http://twitter.com/amomspeaks/status/1201087183

I gave a shout out on twitter today about the contest again :) http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1199731935

I'm back! http://twitter.com/3PsinaPod has today's tweet.:)

Yay.. I twittered again :). I want to win soooo bad hehe :).

http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1205149996

tweeted 2/12

Buisiness NEED bloggy friends! The EPIC 2014 video says that tradtional media will be dead by the year 2014...I'm not sure it will take that long.

Already social media is where it's at, and events like BlogHer are clear evidence of that. We blog, we Twitter, we Facebook, we MySpace. We're getting our info from sources we've decided that we know and trust, and not just accepting what we see on tv or read in the paper. Sure, that glossy magazine ad looks great, but I won't buy it until I have a friend who's already tried the product and can vouch for its worthiness. We no longer have to believe what a company spoon feeds us; with a few clicks of the mouse we can get a 'real mom's' opinion.

That's huge! Not only does it change our buying habits, it changes companys selling as well. We are more informed consumers. They can't put out junk and think we'll buy it unknowingly - oh no. We're savvy, and the word is out. Standards are raised.

From a business standpoint, bloggers are also cheap advertising. Donate a free product here and there, and reach hundreds of thousands of consumers worldwide. Not a bad way to spend your advertising dollar. And any business with a quality product should know that letting people try theitr product and give an honest review is worth its weight in gold. We believe what we read on a blog, because it's not always sunshine and roses. If something is less-than-perfect, we'll hear about it from a blogger before we;ll hear about it in a commercial. And contrary to popular opinion, that doesn't diminish the appeal of said product. We love you more when we see you for what you are, warts and all. If we get an honest review with pros and cons, we trust that. Spoon-feeding us only the best parts makes us doubt you.

Business definitely need bloggers, and women in particular in my opinion. Women are definitely on the social media bandwagon, and our dollars are there for the taking. You just have to show us you're worth it.

Tweeted 2/13 (WDWMomHeather)

Added to my blogroll!

Added the button link to my blog too! :)

Added the button link to my blog too! :)

I Twittered again...can you tell I REALLY want to go? ;)

http://twitter.com/3PsinaPod

Tweeted, Feb. 13:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1208790094

thanks!
bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

tweety tweet tweet! LOL!
2/13

Happy Valentine's, tweet tweet!

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1210404371

Tweeted today! 2/15

Make that Twittered again today -http://twitter.com/3PsinaPod/status/1212793055

See, I can be taught but this is just part of WHY I need to go to BlogHer!!

My tweet for Feb. 15 (sorry I forgot to leave a comment yesterday, but the tweet did go out yesterday!):

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1212771354

... and here's today's tweet, Feb. 16 (Happy Presidents Day!)

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1216000788

Marketing in traditional methods is becoming more entertainment than an effective way to get a positive reputation. In an era of lightning fast communication, simply raising awareness is not enough. There are so many products that consumers are somewhat jaded. We seek out recommendations and reviews to guide us in our purchases, Because bloggers are such rich SEO fodder, and because bloggers build relationships with their readers that makes the word-of-mouth identical to the neighborhood conversations of yesteryear, businesses should not only add bloggers to their PR campaigns, but they should shift toward making them a key part of them.

I've added the button to my sidebar. :)

I also twittered it: http://twitter.com/CheekySweetie/status/1217550845

And I am following Label Daddy on Twitter now. http://twitter.com/LabelDaddy/followers

Businesses should reach out to bloggers for a myriad of reasons, all of which make them more successful and grow the community that is interlaced between product and consumer.

When businesses reach out to bloggers, it enables them to find the people who are a best fit for their products, and who can give their audience of normal, every day consumers an honest, reliable point of view which benefits all three: the business (helping them to reach new clients and consumers as well as giving them the kind of feedback that enables them to improve existing products and develop new ones), the consumer (by getting honest opinions and advice about products that helps them make informed decisions) and the blogger (building their influence and giving them street cred, and offering them the opportunity to get involved with valuable products and services).

It's a win/win/win when businesses reach out to bloggers, and bloggers speak with honesty about their experience about the products and services involved.

Just followed Label Daddy on Twitter, as well.

http://twitter.com/LabelDaddy/followers

This is my profile:

http://twitter.com/SarcasticMomLC

tweet tweet
2/16

Bloggers give companies a "real time" feedback that is not obtainable from any other traditional market research. The viral exposure can be really remarkable, especially when you add in other networking platforms like Twitter and Facebook. I do a lot of product reviews on my blog and have told PR reps on several occasions that I would prefer not to write about a certain item because I didn't like it. Word of mouth is very important to me and I know which bloggers' opinions I trust and which I take with a grain of salt. (I hope I am in the former category!)

Small businesses can use the person-to-person element of blogging to connect with potential customers. Reaching out to bloggers, especially parent/family bloggers, is a great way to say that you care about your audience. And hopefully the love will be mutual.

followed on Twitter and buttoned up my sidebar!

I tweeted today!

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1219710441

bonggamom (at) yahoo (dot) com

Ear thermometer was great

http://twitter.com/CheekySweetie/status/1220681153

Twittered again today!

I tweeted, 2/18!

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1223651270

I added the button!

I tweeted

wow

Guess what I tweeted today :)

http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1226729564

We’re now in the age of social marketing like never before. If companies aren’t realizing this, taking hold of the power, and utilizing all forms of social media then they’re missing out on huge profit and potential.

You’ve got twitter, facebook, myspace and more. What’s the more? Bloggers, of course. And not just any old bloggers, but more specicially Mommy Bloggers. Why is this? Because everyone knows that Mom holds the power of the purse strings. She is the one shopping the most. She handles the grocery shopping, clothes shopping, car shopping, house shopping and, you betcha, the label shopping.

The power we Mom’s hold in our credit card toting hands is undeniable. And smart companies see that, such as Label Daddy. One has to think that if these companies mostly market to Mom’s then why wouldn’t they use those same Mom’s to market to other Mom’s? It’s smart business, if you ask me.

They gain credibility when Mom’s market their products. They gain great insight into what could be better about their product when asking a Mom to review their product. They also gain a loyal following and a Mom who is more than happy to promote their product or company in all her social circles.

If a company is really smart, then they’ll utilize all forms of advertising, and one very vital form is the Mom Blogger.

But, while it’s important for the company to realize the power of the Mom, it’s equally as important for the Mom Blogger to not only realize the worth of her blog, but also realize how important it is to give the company a fair shake in this deal. Bloggers shouldn’t take, take, take and not expect to really give to these companies.

What do I mean?

If I were a company and I teamed up with a Mom Blogger, I would be terribly disappointed if the blogger simply buried my button or provided a half thought out review, loaded with spelling mistakes. Someone who obviously didn’t care about giving their all back to me, even though I was giving them so much.

So my advice to Mom Bloggers, that want to team up with companies, is to make sure your blog is ready for them, and ready to provide them real value.

Post to your blog often. When you post often, you keep readers coming back every day. Readers coming back every day means more traffic, more eyes on your blog, but most importantly more eyes on the company you’ve teamed with.

Comment on other blogs often. When you visit a blog, leave a comment. Simple as that. Not only are you forming relationships that are so valuable to us Mom Bloggers, but you’re also growing a loyal readership and following…increasing traffic and therefore more eyes on the company you’ve teamed with.

Don’t promote anything and everything that comes your way. I’ve found, that if you promote only what you really feel is quality and worth your hard earned money then people will not only respect you more, but they’ll also be more interested in the items you promote. Hence, yes you guessed it, more quality traffic/eyes on the company you team with.

Think of the company and what you can give them, not just what you’re going to get from the company. For example, with blogher09 sponsorships, you need to have a good plan in place as to what the company will receive in return for sending you to blogher09. When I approached a company I have a relationship with, I sent a well thought out plan of what they’d receive from me in return of them sending me to blogher09. The company was impressed with my ideas and I’m sure that is why they’re in talks of making this happen!

I really could go on and on, but I don’t want to turn this into a book.

As you can see I am opinionated on this topic, because there is the time for companies to grasp the concept of social marketing via Mom Bloggers. It’s time for the personal touch. So many of us aren’t spending money like we used to. And companies aren’t able to spend as much on big marketing practices. But if these companies would just team with Mom Bloggers they’d get the best of both worlds. Viral marketing and marketing that works because other Mom’s trust each other and their thoughts, opinions on a product/company. Therefore are more willing to buy, or at least listen to the marketing message of a company.

Nell Taliercio
casualfridayeveryday.com
casualfridayeveryday@gmail.com

I tweeted it: http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1226833627

Nell Taliercio
www.casualfridayeveryday.com

I've actually been following labeldaddy for a bit now.

Nell Taliercio
www.casualfridayeveryday.com

They've been added to my blogroll: http://casualfridayeveryday.com/blogs-i-heart/

Nell Taliercio
www.casualfridayeveryday.com

And I've had their button up for awhile too.

Nell Taliercio
www.casualfridayeveryday.com

I tweeted for today: http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1227475184

Tweeted it
http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1230574368

Nell

My tweet for yesterday, Feb. 20:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1231384099

... and for today, Feb. 21:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1234728266

My tweet for the day;
http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1235255734

Nell Taliercio
casual friday everyday at gmail . com

The Blogger community is definately is biggest community on the net. The networking is huge!

lizlatham46350@yahoo.com

I twittered about the giveaway!
@HomeBizLiz
Thanks for sharing!

Ok! This is exciting! I twittered today (CathyBend is my twitter ID), I added Label Daddy to my blog roll and I added the graphic button to my blog's sidebar.
The reason businesses should reach out to bloggers is for several very important reasons.
Bloggers, if they are honest in their reviews, are much more believable than advertisements. A REAL person wrote it, a person who has a followers in the business's target market. These followers are much more likely to believe, and try a product promoted by a blogger than they will an advertisement. Also bloggers are more cost effective than ads are.

Bloggers trust each other. We read blogs voluntarily, and because we enjoy the content. Parents ALWAYS look to other parents for advice, even before they turn book or doctors. Companies really have to embrace social media as the new way that parents seek information. We ignore ads. We read content.

I tweeted :) @mommymelee

Graphic on my sidebar!

Tweeted! 2/22

Tweeted, 2/22

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1237711090

thanks!

You know, something I had never considered was that although a large part of the corporate world is men, the majority of the decision making process occurs in the brilliant minds of women. So, why would a successful businessman not want to know what even the most average woman thinks?

So, as a business starts to market their material, it can only be common sense to find a slew of women out there for consulting. As a blogger, I feel as if my opinion is being valued by many companies as I do product reviews. And, apparently plenty of companies have enjoyed my thoughts because I’ve received additional products that were not initially part of a promotion. And, let’s be honest, I don’t write what they want to hear. I write what my brain tells me.

I enjoy knowing that as a consumer, my opinion matters where as even the generation before mine assumed that they were to do as they were told. Now, business know, women every where are taking the initiative and making the majority of the decisions in households all over America. So, why not seek these women out and ask them for their opinion?

I just commented again today on twitter:)
http://twitter.com/CathyBend

tweeted:
http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1239768260

nell

I've tweeted again.

http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1242021126

Nell

I retreated again http://twitter.com/CathyBend

I tweeted again today. It's getting down to the wire. Oh so close :)
http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1243357654

Wow, what a great opportunity! Ok here I go:

I think it's important for businesses to reach out to bloggers because it's the way people are gathering their information today. I've worked in the news industry for years and I'm used to hearing "this is where people get their news, and their information," but that's not the case anymore. Now people have selective viewing and they're choosing to find their own news, and tailor what they receive by searching site on the internet... Especially blogs which have an abundance of information coming from all types of sources.

A business reaching out to bloggers is genius because that's where people are today... Where people are getting their information.

Bloggers can do a lot for companies in their products. People are driven by contest and "free things" (like this contest I'm entering at the moment). Bloggers can promote companies through contest, through reviews, through twittering and PR, there's countless opportunities, but I think what's most important is believing in the product and being sincere. I can tell when a person is just writing a review just for the money. You have to believe in the product to sell it.

I am fairly new to blogging as well but in less than 3 months my new blog about my "journey toward motherhood" has already had nearly 10,000 hits. I think I have a great way of relating to people and connecting with other bloggers and blog readers on a personal level. Also having a background in journalism, writing and dealing a lot with public relations helps. I would use my talents to help the company see growth, and help the company reach a broader audience. I think my background and diversity brings a lot to the table.

I think what sets me apart is the fact that I am a down to earth woman... A consumer who can see both sides of the fence. I know what I'm willing to do and not to do to enter a contest, and what makes me interested in a company... And I also have the knowledge of what inspires people to inquire further into things.

Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to enter this contest.

babymakingmachine@gmail.com

I'm following you on Twitter now! Ok and I must say... I've been looking for a product like this for my dog collars... Think these labels could stick to them?!?! I'm excited now! haha!

Ok anyway... I Tweeted about this blog and your contest! So yay for another entry!
@babymakinmachin

You've been tweeted again:

Label Daddy wants to send you to blogher09. http://tinyurl.com/cbv4vv :--)

http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1245292889

Nell

Okay... prolly the loooongest comment ever!

From wikipedia (paraphrased):

The fourth wall is an element of fiction. Originally... referred to the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a proscenium theater, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. Now applies to the boundary between any fictional setting and its audience. When this boundary is broken (for example by an actor speaking to the audience directly through the camera in a television sitcom), it is called "breaking the fourth wall."

With the power of the immediacy of linking, bloggers continue to break down many kinds of fourth walls daily. In politics, we scream back at the tee vee and are now, we are actually heard. We were, of course, yelling (or cheering) all along, but our words were not captured, not shared beyond our living rooms- Now these bright little bits are caught like handfuls of fireflies lighting the night, a Tweet here, a status update here... Our tribe is fundamentally electronic- we walk the streets talking out loud from street corners to what to Shakespeare would have looked like... ourselves.

Every day, everyday bloggers change the world a little bit more. We're hunters & collectors of information, engaging in the oldest of human activities, searching & looking to fill our needs & desires.

Empowered, we are moving from being passive observers & absorbers to active participants. The "soap operas" of old were actually advertising vehicles to sell laundry soap & household products. Today, should we so choose, you & I can create our own laundry detergent or even dispense with the soap company altogether, by researching formulas online with a few clicks to find DIY versions. Product reviews allow us to be introduced to or to consider a product in a new light, instantly, from the comfort & craziness of home.

We (as a small mom & daughter run business) struggle with having an extremely limited marketing budget, particularly for print. It's also unclear whether or not any print campaign is even effective at bringing people into our physical shop or online. We actually don't know, unless there is a coupon code we can track or we learn this through conversation. "What brings you in today..." (Besides the giant Amberjewelry.com sign on the front!!!)"

And, this former high school yearbook editor has recently had three conversations with three print media outfits, which went like this:

#1 "Thanks for calling (during dinner)... But, seriously- We didn't ever subscribe to the newspaper, you kindly gave us a complimentary subscription when we moved here... I'm really sorry the carrier is disappointed (using a 13 year old kid to guilt trip me?!), but we just really don't need a newspaper subscription right now..."

#2 "I'm sorry, you can only offer us this ad rate if we sign a contract for a year... You mean like 365 days?! $XXX.00 a month... What?! Um, no, we can't do that."

#3 You want me to pay $180 for a CD-ROMs (Really. They said "cd-rom" ha ha) for a listing of... my college classmates? When exactly do you think I'd get my money's worth out of that? Try F-A-C-E-B-O-O-K.com...

On the other hand, online, we recently sponsored a giveaway through bloggygiveaways which generated skyward of 700 comments over four days, Valentine's Day weekend. These comments were literally priceless. These helped us learn so much about how people see amber, our designs and general freeform insights as well as sharing whether or not they would keep or gift items and who they might give it to. We didn't retain any personal information, but the feedback is enormously helpful & actually inspiring- some of it is certain to find its way onto our site, such as "Wearing fossils keeps you grounded."

Afterwards, we examined the traffic & review coupon codes (some were indeed used from that campaign). We had a nice spike in traffic and page views were way up, to December like levels for at least a few days. We feel strongly that this kind of awareness will come back to us in the future.

The giveaway generated an enormous amount of good will... crucially, the goodwill was for the most part generated by the people commenting, because they too are bloggers after a fashion- 700 of them. Amber (and many other beautiful things, handmade soap, etc.) sells itself once you can get it in front of someone, the trick is getting it there.

The giveaway host & winner were both delightful. We exchanged tons of ideas with the host & will return to work with them again. We connected with people & many people bookmarked us & will come again. Amber is a specialty item... something odd, something people don't think of. Perhaps if they see someone wearing amber or it comes up in conversation they will mention us, because word of mouth is our most powerful way of connecting.

And this is what it is, at heart, sharing personal experiences that enrich our lives, that have some benefit for us. We choose to surround ourselves with items that are practical or please us in some way. We are so online, so wired that I often wish I had Google or a finder for my house... Where ARE those car keys?

Our culture is so saturated with ads that it is almost impossible to get word of a small company out. The business environment and the diminished state of the economy means almost everyone has to do more with far less.

We are undergoing a lifestyle shift that is likely to be permanent. It seems that half the headlines I read are all about how to cut down your spending, for those who even have any discretionary income left. Small objects are more & more dear. I do cringe a bit when I read these headlines advising women to color their hair at home (which I've always done in the first place!), etc. - not because this isn't smart but because it makes me think of a friend of the family who is a beautician really struggling to pay her shop rent after 20 years in the same location & losing customers left & right. Trust me, we're all struggling.

Beauticians, the restaurant businesses... I'm not one for crass consumerism & was never a big mall rat, but it is true that small businesses are in the fight of their lives right now. Many of us just won't survive without embracing and cultivating alternate media in a sincere way. Sites like Etsy and the handmade movement really do give me hope.

Because regardless of the economy, we still need to tend to our basic & higher needs.
As a consumer, I can look around this room and name a few dozen things that I bought online after reading reviews. A certain kind of daylight balanced bulb. Dymo printer, I certainly picked my camera after reading product reviews. Really- and a dozen more things, definitely skin care.

Bloggers break through that fourth wall more and more, because time and attention are becoming increasingly precious. A personal recommendation means everything. Also on some level, if people are watching say television, they are trying to watch a show, they are not trying to be advertised to. Some of the very best sites for us as a business are sites like Stumbleupon, because people go there with the spirit of discovery, seeking out interesting content in mind so it seems they are more likely to encounter a product or company because they are open to it. Bloggers hold that door open & invite them inside.

My tweet for 2/23:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1241640249

thanks!

And here's my tweet for Feb. 24:

http://twitter.com/bonggafinds/status/1245734476

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed! Thanks again for giving bloggers this wonderful chance to attend BlogHer....

Tweet Tweet Tweet.. I tweeted for you today :)

http://twitter.com/onemomsworld/status/1247560186

It's midnight here, on the 25th and here is my final tweet:
http://twitter.com/casualeveryday/statuses/1248259488

Nell

I twittered
Suzannadannahttp://tinyurl.com/cbv4vv Label Daddy wants to send YOU to BlogHer!less than 5 seconds ago from web

We Tweet & follow LabelDaddy... on behalf of Holly's comment below

We Tweet & follow LabelDaddy... on behalf of Holly's comment below

I can't wait to hear who won this!!!

Hope it's me LOL

Nell

I just retweeted again today at http://twitter.com/CathyBend