We're On TV Tonight: 5 Mom Blogger Myths Busted Before You Watch
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
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The producer at KPRC Houston, emailed to let me know they would be airing our interview on Mom Bloggers and to look for clips in between commercials as an advertisement on the story. I did this interview, MONTHS ago. I don't even remember what I said. If you're here, on my site, because you've seen the interview.. Welcome. If you're here because you usually visit? It's readers like you that make blogging worth it. If you're here because you want to make thousands and thousands of dollars being a Stay-at-Home-Mom.. Well? Let's talk about that.
Now, I don't want to sell myself short by any stretch of the imagination. I am a blogger. I am honored to have been asked to interview with two other Houston Area bloggers Simply Being Mommy and That Tech Chick about Mom Bloggers. Some questions they asked us:
- How did you get started?
- Can other Moms do it?
- Do you make money?
- What's your typical day like?
Well, all those questions will be answered in the interview, but what I'm most worried about is the notion that Stay-At-Home-Moms are going to see this interview and think Hmm.. if she can do it. So, can I. I want to make thousands of dollars sitting in my pajamas all day. While, yes I do work in my pajamas sometimes, it's few and far between. There are a few myths I felt the need to bust before the interview airs tonight.
1. Most Mom Bloggers make thousands of dollars a month: They don't. There I said it. While, yes we do make money from our blogs, there are only a few of us who are raking in a steady paycheck of "thousands" every month. It's very sporadic income, an income that can not be predicted, not relied on unless you're a big time blogger like, let's say Dooce.
2. Mom Bloggers have the best of both worlds: Ummmm.. well. Let's see. My typical day starts between 5:30 - 6:00 am. I blog. I answer emails. I create proposals. I sign contracts. I jump on conference calls. I travel. I speak at local events and conferences. I market content for myself and clients on Facebook and Twitter. I invoice. I organize. I edit pictures and videos. I write. I try, every day, to get my work done before the kids arrive from school at 3:45 pm, all while trying to nurture the time I have with my preschooler here at home. It's hard. It's not guilt free.
3. Mom Bloggers get free stuff all the time: Yes. We do. On any typical day I receive between 2-5 packages. This can range from cereal, to toys, to clothes, shoes, and yes... even a washer and dryer. I'm a Whirlpool Mom and was honored to be chosen as one, but it came with a price tag that involved time, effort, lots of small print, contracts, and commitment. Most people think getting "free stuff" is cool, but I have to say, it's not FREE. I look at these boxes and my brain automatically shifts to Okay, spend time taking pictures, try it out, interview the kids to see how they liked it, edit said pictures, come up with a cute and catchy blog post, write said blog post, add in hyperlinks, market on Twitter and Facebook, email PR rep, and host a giveaway. Pull winners, fulfill prizes, add to spreadsheet, and voila. Five hours of work for a box of cereal. Free stuff isn't free when it means I'm spending time away from my family. Just sayin.
4. Mom Bloggers get to travel and meet celebrities: While a lot of my blogger friends travel, I don't do a lot of it. In the last few years, I've averaged 3-5 trips a year. This year I went to Los Angeles three times for a conference and press junkets for Disney and 20th Century Fox. I've met some cool celebrities along the way, like Alvin and the Chipmunks:
Oh and the cast of Winnie the Pooh! Can't forget my time as Piglet:
Wait.. and meeting Taylor Swift was pretty cool:
... But this is not typical. It's years and years of dedicating yourself online. Did you know I'm going on five years of blogging? The first three years I didn't receive much of ANY income, just something to think about. Oh and while traveling seems very fancy, press trips are exhausting with early mornings, jam packed itineraries, time away from family, balance of babysitters, and days upon days of organizing interviews for your blog posts.
5. Mom Bloggers are Queen Bees of the Blogosphere: Uhhh. Yeahhh. I don't feel like that. I have met some pretty amazing people online who have become great friends of mine, but for the most part? I'm not here to be popular. I'm not here to show off. I'm here because I love writing. I love the marketing side of brands. I love the community it's helped me create. Most of all? I love that I can show my children anything is possible when you follow your passion.
If you're looking to start a Mom Blog, take heed. It's an amazing opportunity, especially if you're a stay-at-home, but it's not for the faint of heart. It'll consume a large part of your life. It'll take years of learning and at the rate of all the NEW Social Media debuting, it'll be a continued process as you dedicate yourself to KEEP learning. Are Mom Bloggers well off? Personally, I feel Mom Blogging has given me once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, income during hardships, and an expertise I can nurture and be proud of.
We're On TV!!!
If you're in the Houston area, make sure to check out our interview about Mom Bloggers tonight on KPRC Channel 2 at 10:00pm and again Wednesday morning between 5am-7am. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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I'm a mom blogger too, but I've only been blogging for about 15 months. I get free stuff because I ask for it. I rarely get offers, but hopefully I will in the future. I mostly write about my hometown of St. Peyersburg, FL. I love sharing good businesses, restaurants, markets, parks and books with my readers. However, I'm not the best writer so I'm working on doing more vlogging
Yes Indeed, They made it sound soo easy! I however KNEW nothing in this world is free and you clearly spoke of this.. I think you did a great post about the news segment! It's for sure that many people thought "Oh, I'm gonna write a blog too and get rich, go on trips, and get free stuff" Glad you again you wrote this! Good luck and KUdos to you on all your hard work. Realy neat site here and it certainly doesen't look like you started yeaterday either! I do think you got some really good advertisement- Perhaps those deals might be a bit sweeter in the next few days from all those big comapnies who want to get there name in here for the rush
Vanessa
Cypress TX
Congratulations!!! on your great interview, I watched it last night and this morning. It is very interesting what you do. I am not a blogger but I am considering it now. The point is not to work for the money, the point is to work passionately for what you like, and this is a proof that you started to do this and you started getting money after three years. It is amazing, congratulations again, and hopefully you keep on doing this because you are a big and great example for stay-home-moms.
jenny
Well said! Being a blogger is rewarding, but very time-consuming and takes a lot of work. I've had my blog for 2.5 years now and am just now seeing decent benefits from it. The perks don't happen overnight. I have a full-time job outside of my home and work on my blog, which I consider a full-time job as well. It's not an "instant success" scheme to get "lots of free stuff".
Thank you all for tuning into our interview on Mom Bloggers in Houston. It was definitely a great experience!
A lot of new readers have asked how to get started. Well, I have a guest post in the works by an influential Mom Blogger in Houston. She'll post exactly how to become a Mom Blogger and great resources you can utilize as you begin. Stay tuned for that.
Oh, my - Thanks for this post! I saw the interview and I was so unhappy with how they portrayed "mommy bloggers" and the realities of blogging. Did you see the comments on click2houston(dot)com? A string of people asking how they can make thousands of dollars, too. (You were fine - the angle they took was misleading.)
I am a mom. I am a blogger. I don't do product reviews - I just write. I have made exactly $0.00 since I started blogging last spring. I'm not trying to make money and actually wouldn't even know where to start if I wanted to, but I love to write and that's why I blog.
Thanks so much for this post - I hope people who watched the story will visit your blog and read it so they have realistic expectations.
Candy, I was a little disturbed that the story may mislead Moms into believing they can start a blog today and tomorrow they'll be getting products, trips, and paychecks. It's just not that way. It took almost 3 years for me to start making money.
I wasn't sure what angle the news would portray because they left a LOT of what I said out like knowing the technical side of SEO, Marketing, Demographics, Advertising, and even the extra work I do to earn money like blog tours, media work, speaking gigs, and Twitter parties.
Thank you for stopping by today Candy. :)
Just found your blog, but not in time to see your interview.I too have a blog, but make very little money on adsense. Hoping I can learn some pointers from you.
This was very insightful. I'm not a Mom blogger but am new to the blogging community. I think your tips easily apply to all bloggers. Thanks!
Hi, Im not a Mom and I have only just made my first blogger account so thanks for your tips because I'm slightly overwhelmed at the moment!
I just started my own blog, and have done 2 posts! I had no idea the Blogger world could get so complex. I guess I consider myself lucky that I did not do this for money, fame, free stuff, etc. I did it for the love of writing, and to keep my sanity staying at home. I have ALWAYS worked until I had my twins. Even owned my own brick and mortar store for 6 years, so this is a nice, relaxed change of pace :-) Thanks for the honesty!
I really enjoyed the insight that your blog brought to me. I love my blog but truthfully I know that my chances of every making money out of it are very slim. I work on it every spare moment and I have become very selfish with my time.