I am a mom blogger.
I am a mommy blogger.
I am a mom that blogs.
I find none of those terms degrading. I love being a mom. A wife. If you want, you can call me a wife blogger too. I blog about my husband as much as my daughter. If it were not for them, I would not have a blog. Or content.
Its very fitting that I can term myself after my family.
I blog reviews. I blog giveaways on occasion. I blog about my husband, my daughter, my opinions. I vlog. I vlog with friends. I dance. I twitter. I youtube. I sometimes facebook. I most definitely forum chat. Basically, I socialize.
When you have only one child and she is at school, you get lots of free time. It’s awesome.
I have no niche because my niche is…well…me. That’s the beauty of purchasing my own hosting and putting my little picture on the top there. It’s all Trisha, all the time. If I wanted to sit here and pick my nose and eat it, I am sure someone would watch.
Admit it. You would.
I sell ads on my site. I sell advertorials under my promotional side. I write product opinions for public relations. I am a brand ambassador for very specific brands. I’m a writer for several websites. I am paid for that writing. Someone has to provide for those bon-bons I get to eat all day for being a stay at home mom, right?
I will be a published author in October. I am speaking at a conference in September. I feel guilty for none of it.
Now here is the fun part.
I don’t care if someone thinks I need to spell out all of my dealings on line every time I write a post. I don’t. In fact, I am highly opposed to the ‘blog police’ trying to regulate who says what and why and how and if you dont follow some “A-list” bloggy rule, you get ostracized and attacked. I am not trying to be A-list. I’m trying to be ME. And “me” is not that good at following a crowd.
Isn’t it kinda obvious?
I will, out of personal ethics, notify my readers that I received a product as part of a review blog post, but other than that, if you see my name on a company, a graphic listed on my site, or a link in a post, chances are its a mutually beneficial relationship. That may or may not mean I was compensated or otherwise bartered with for that company.
And yes, I believe gift cards, trips, and products can be a very fair bargain for blog space, if you feel the time you invested is worth what you are being offered. Its a crappy economy. Even doctors are bartering. You know what YOUR worth is. I can assure you that regardless of dealings that other bloggers have, it has not affected my contractual agreements. I receive what I give out and in no way, shape, or form feel that I am ever being taken advantage of.
Regardless, its according to my terms. Not some terms that some random person I have never met decided I should have.
In fact, I think I’ll just sit by and wait for the FTC to show up, if they ever do, with some real rules before I’m bending over for social networking divas. And if they do, I am quite sure none of it will apply to me as I am not out to deceive anyone as it is. Basically, its a bunch of hokey drummed up controversy for inflammatory networkers with no real ending that will actually affect most review and giveaway bloggers.
Yes, I am willing to put $100 on that.
You know what I think? I think there are women out there so incredibly jealous of other successful women online that they find a way to berate and belittle them by trying to undermine their success by making them feel inadequate and devalued. By forcing them to pick apart their online relationships and corporate sponsorships into tiny details and put it on display for prying eyes so others can be jealous and they can feel guilty for their hard work. I am sorry but you cant back me into that corner.
There are companies I love: Frigidaire, Gymboree, Apple (this also falls into one I hate on occasion. I love the MAC. I hate the iPod), Walmart (and yes, I LOOOOOOOVE Walmart), Sams Club, Outback Steak House, VH1, MTv, The Childrens Place, Shabby Apple, Kristens Custom Creations, Tide, and shockingly, Disney World.
Am I being told to say that? No. Do I have relationships with some or all of those companies? Yes. Do I need to disclose that to you? Not really. Because telling you which ones I have a formal relationship and ‘disclosing’ it, would not define whether or not my words were organic or not. You believe that I love those companies when I say it, or you don’t.
If you don’t trust me, you don’t come here. Its just that simple.
Trisha, you’re freaking brilliant.
And Newsflash. I like to be talked about. I would imagine most bloggers like to be talked about. I like links and I like my name being used. I do not care if its negative or positive because people show up. This is a blog. There are thousands of blogs. You send them. I’ll keep them. I am happy to be differentiated and even if you talk hateraide about me, you have made me important.
It helps sell ads. My new veneers thank you.
So does that Tahiti trip I always wanted, cute new shoes and of course the Christmas presents (oops, did I just say Christmas instead of “winter”, nope, dont feel bad for that either) I need to buy. It also allows me to stay at home with my child without too many sacrifices.
None of which I feel guilty or the least bit upset about. Why? Let me wrap it up in a neat little box, red bow, and simple sentence.
Cause this is my blog. So suck it.
~Trisha
Cant read? Watch it in a blog. Yep. I said it in text and in video.
So you could see my pretty face and rolling eyes. It holds more charm this way, dont you think?
[flashvideo filename="videos/disclosure.flv" width="448" height="361" /]
You F***ING ROCK TRISHA! Very well said!
and THAT is why I love blogging. Very well written and said. Is that a shirt or a dress that you’re wearing? I love that print.
I would have just said:
“Dear Blogosphere,
Whatever I put on my blog is my business so suck it!”
But I guess yours was good too. LOL.
Hey, How does the song go by Bobby Brown.
“Everybody’s talking all this stuff about me
Now now why don’t they just let me live
Oh oh oh i don’t need permission
Make my own decisions oh
That’s my prerogative”
God Bless Ya!
Love it!!!
Wait, did I read or see something about veneers???????? Did you get them? Are you part of the club too?
Funny post. I like to think of a lot of it this way when it comes to jealousy among other bloggers — there’s office politics everywhere — in offices and online. I try to take everything with a grain of salt. We’re all hard workers. And the best part is seeing personalities come to play… thanks for the smile today while I read!
Thanks Trisha for this fun and very true post – and for all the support you give to Mom Bloggers. Totally agree. Keep up the good work! xo colleen
I love this post! Why the heck (yes I said heck) do people care so much what anyone else does with THEIR OWN blog???? Thanks for the validation, I’ve been thinking this same thing for AWHILE now.
Great, great post Trisha. I agree that I think a lot of the attacks come out of jealousy. And, sadly, that morphs into an attempt to discredit people by questioning motives and compensation.
Thanks for saying what needed to be said!
Amen.
Well said chica!
It’s about time someone stepped up to the plate. Fantastically worded/said. I am also proud to be a mommy blogger.
Well said Tricia! You go girl!
Thanks for saying what needs to be said. AMEN SISTER!!
I, too, am proud to be called a mommy blogger! I had to laugh when I read the first parts of this post. I have an almost identical beginning – title and all – sitting in my draft folder, waiting for the uncharacteristic snarky-ness to be edited out!
I appreciate your support, Trisha. I really do. I’m not ashamed (and certainly not upset) that I had to write that post about what we, as the ElevenMoms, do for Walmart. Honestly, I think it should have been done a long time ago, because there have been many misconceptions about the program from the start. A post like mine should have been posted on the ElevenMoms site, to be honest.
What I am upset about, however, is the fact that people think we owed them an explanation! THAT grinds my every last nerve. You are absolutely right, though, I didn’t and don’t owe any one an explanation regarding my business relationships.
As for the jealousy – sure, I think it’s probably there, but I don’t believe for a second that my success is holding any one back… Perhaps if certain people would work as hard at getting what they want as they do tearing others down, they would be successful, too!
@ Keonte’:
Kiss my ads? LMFAO!!!!!!!! You’re brilliant.
I feel like you should redo the video standing behind a podium with some teacheresque (not a word) glasses. There could be flashes to an audience of women with picket signs saying, “Kiss my Ads”, “Blog or Bust”, and “Free Stuff Rocks”.
I love this video and the post. Very well said!
Lisa wrote:
I love that you freely admit to usually disagreeing with me but still show up here to read what i have to say. See, now that is how life should be.
I would make out with you too, but chances are, we are 1000s of miles a part.
I bet that would make our blogs very popular….ha!
trisha
Lisa wrote:
HAHAHA
Ok, more from me…
I think it is actually pretty normal for people to “question” those who are more successful than themselves, and probably plenty of people in a position of power and wealth (comparative wealth…where blog earnings are concerned) get accused of all sorts of things in order to get where they are.
I think the issue at hand with blogging is that most people don’t realize the possibilities that are available to mom bloggers, so when people do start blogging, they look at other mom blogs who have these “power positions” and they can’t quite figure out why or what got them there. It’s not like in a normal career or sports or something like that where you can identify WHY someone got a promotion over someone else (based upon their job skills) or why someone got a Nike sponsorship (more skilled player) over someone else. Blogging is more INTANGIBLE and is definitely an arena where social skills can pay off. It also doesn’t have any defined rules. It is so much more organic than most things too. And in today’s mom blog world, writing well alone isn’t usually enough to gain “star status” if that is your goal.