Overture Media

As I begin this blog, I want to share that my goal in blogging is to connect with those that I’m working with and those that are interested in my clients as well as the PR industry.  This industry that I entered in more than six years ago, is changing on a daily basis.  I hope that in communicating via this blog, I can express my thoughts and learn more about where my focus is for my company and clients.

With that said, as the shift from traditional media is being made to social media, digital outlets, Twitter, etc., I have been intrigued by the recent controversy with the Mom Bloggers.  The admin for the MomDot blog made a public call to mommy bloggers to boycott pitches this month from the 10th to the 16th (next week).

Initiator, Trisha Haas, said “The idea was to get back to basics for a week and to celebrate and lift each other up as bloggers.”

When I first read this story, I asked myself “Are Mom bloggers getting abused by PR, marketing and advertising individuals?”  My answer of course was “Absolutely.” However, I think anyone in the position of influence, and recently this is a mom blogger with any following, will be abused by communications representatives wanting their product pushed.

I think about my sister who has 3 amazing, active kids ages 5-10 in addition to maintaining a full-time teaching job.  She has no free time whatsoever; however, if she tried a new product and was “wow-ed” by it, she is going to tell the whole world because if it worked in her crazy, fun world, she wants others around her to know about it.  So I know that a Mom has a voice!

I am sure that these Mom bloggers get hit on all sides with “Talk about this new diaper” “Make sure to link to our new baby boutique” “We want to be our special mommy blogger if you promote our products once a week” blah blah blah.  I know the importance of getting a message and new product out, but the most important thing is to first have that desire communicated that they WANT to share your product, etc.  I think there should be a few guidelines in working with Mom bloggers, any bloggers or journalist for that matter.  It really isn’t rocket science.

1. Relationships:  I want to know who I’m working with…not just name, email, Twitter.  want to know about them, get to know them, have them get to know me. It is a two way relationship.  Until trust has been built, both parties won’t be fully committed.
2. Respect: I want to respect the contact/blogger’s time.  Everyone is wearing a million hats these days to make ends meet — especially a mom who parenting, maintaining a household, and possibly a job.  I too have a ton on my plate so again — respecting those you communicate with on a regular basis.
3. Trust:  I have to know that when I’m sharing information or a product that has yet to be released (such as a new CD), I have to have 100% trust in that contact that they will not 1. leak the product 2. not give away the product without permission 3. not post or allow downloads without permission.  Same goes on my end, they need to trust that if they want to work with me what I say is true.

As a publicist, I hope that I don’t cross that boundary of pushing my clients onto those that do help share the word about a new product, tour or information onto their audience.  Any contact that a publicist has should be treated with the upmost respect as they are very important in sharing information with their audience.  I hope that I get to work with bloggers and Mom bloggers more in the future because I see what a huge sphere they reach with their amusing posts and stories.

If you are a mom blogger what are your thoughts on this subject?  Agree to boycott or not?