Comments on: Do mommy bloggers need to grow up?

A community site encourages going a full week without any contact with the PR industry. But the problem isn't freebies and press releases--it's what bloggers do with them.

[kymleeisawesome]

I'm pretty sure that the word for taking gifts in exchange for media coverage is called "payola." I don't see anything wrong with advertorials in and of themselves, but I think it should definitely think transparency is important. If it's a paid review, it should be disclosed. But a PR blackout is ridiculous.

[intownmommy]

I am a mommy (not blogger, yet) and PR pro. Talk about sticking your head in the sand. MomDot: how about a "PR Educate" week where you encourage bloggers to tell the PR folks how they want to be communicated with, what their rules are on product promos/giveaways, etc. Provide mommy bloggers with some guidelines on how to effectively work with PR and how to maintain objectivity, if that's what you are trying to promote. The good PR folks I know always check to see how a blogger (or any journalist for that matter) wants to be contacted and what, if any rules they have on receiving products, etc. <b> Advising mommy bloggers to shut out PR completely is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[MomDot]

Hmm, interesting. Cause we do that...nearly weekly. We not only insist that bloggers act ethical and have distributed a widely used "ethical blogger" badge to assist PR, but we do classes (Free!) on how to grow your blog, work with PR, and make it win/win.

This challenge has little to do w/ not working wtih PR and more about bloggers feeling overwhelmed. Yet again MSM taking things out of context for their own usage.

And if bloggers, or PR, cannot exist without eachother for a week, thats just a sad state of life, isnt it.

[MissBlondie919]

First of all, try reading MomDot before you make an ignorant comment such as this one. MomDot has done SEVERAL posts advising PR how to approach bloggers and likewise with bloggers and PR.

And Second of all..... shutting out PR is like cutting off your nose to spite your face??!! Are you kidding me?? I sincerely advise you to go read MomDot's article on the PR blackout. Do you honestly think, if I stopped checking my emails and ignored PR for a week that they would go away??!! NO!! All Momdot is doing (as it is stated in her post), is for bloggers to not feel like we "have" to do something for PR. Blog about what we want instead. And besides, I wouldn't stop blogging if I stopped getting pitches from reps. So cutting off my nose to spite my face...I don't think so. I can live without spending two hours of my life writing about a $2 box of cereal I got for free!

[LGumbinner]

Caroline, I couldn't agree more. Every single word. With one exception: When you suggest that "mommybloggers" need to grow up, you paint all parents who blog with one unattractive stroke. Plenty of us (as you suggest) are professionals and focus on creating great, relevant, entertaining content for our readers, whatever its source.

There's one point that hasn't been touched on however:

The vast majority of pitches come not from huge companies but smaller ones. My site aims to get the word out to parents about small businesses and emerging artists and designers, many of whom wouldn't be able to what they do without the support of blogs and our readers. This so-called blackout does nothing but create fear and antagonism.

It also seems to draw lines in the sand between bloggers. Just today, MomDot wrote a post suggesting that those not supporting the blackout are whiny and weak.

It all makes for very good linkbait, doesn't it.

[MomDot]

Fear?

LMAO! About what exactly? About not writing about snackcakes for a week? Oh, im rolling over here.

~Trisha

[MomDot]

I have never laughed so hard in my life...a non mommy blogger reads a quote from ANOTHER article and writes a post that has nothing to do with our call to action with a title that has nothing to do with the article written.

This is what dreams are made of.

~trisha

[genamorris]

I wonder WHEN this non mommy blogger actually sat down and LISTENED to the Friday Night Live show when the PR blackout first came out! Unless you listened to that show (it's on blog Talk Radio) Then you really have NO clue what you are talking about.

[ETuma]

As an individual who is interested in PR and finds blogs interesting and entertaining, I find myself agreeing with some aspects of both sides of this issue. I can see that some bloggers are a little over the top with their product "reviews" and should take a step back. In this case, the blackout is a great idea. However, like mentioned above by many commenters, many bloggers do in fact spend time reviewing products and writing meaningful reviews, which can be just as interesting and meaningful as stories about their lives, especially since in many cases, the topics can go hand in hand. It may be that I do not know the whole story behind your blackout (and if this is the case, then neither did the author of this article), so it is possible that we have a skewed view of what you are trying to accomplish with the blackout. However, you refuse to even consider the other side of the argument, instead attacking whoever posts something you don't agree with. Instead of directing blatant sarcasm and disdain toward the other posters, I feel that it would be much more constructive to teach these same posters about your true purpose behind the blackout. I understand that you may feel that this article is undermining everything that you are trying to accomplish, but you would win many more followers by educating rather than attacking. I hope you accept my comments for what they are worth, as they are not meant to be an attack on you. I am genuinly interested in what you have to say and I hope that you take the time to explain what you are trying to accomplish in more detail.
Thanks.

[AccidentalMommy]

Something that requires hours of time writing, organizing and following up regarding is NOT something I consider to be FREE and that is part of the problem. But many of us got caught up in the perception of FREE and took on too much too fast and the pressure to meet these commitments (because yes we have standards) has literally sucked the life out of our enjoyment of blogging.

How long did it take to write this article? How much did YOU get paid for your time? Would you accept a few coupons for some free granola bars in exchange for writing this?

This is not about IGNORING PR, it is about taking a step back and realizing that "free stuff" comes with strings attached and for some of us, we are no longer willing to allow it to take over our lives.

It is about re-prioritizing and examining our goals and our relationships and filtering out the things that have turned blogging into a chore. We used to blog when the inspiration struck, we used to enjoy sharing our lives with our friends, family and readers. But then it became something we HAD to do. A deadline we had to meet, a commitment we had to keep. But it was responsibility without proportional compensation for someone else's gain.

We are not being sent products with no strings attached. We have responsibilities to test, review and then write about those products. And those of us who have integrity and care about what we tell our readers put our hearts and souls into each and every review. This isn't FREE, especially when it takes time away from our families. And some of us are slowly realizing that if blogging is going to take time away from our families it should be considered a job....but if that's the case, this job pays the equivalent of $.25 an hour and we'd be better off bagging groceries or even playing a guitar in the subway.

In our minds, we are growing up by doing this. We are standing up for our value and our influence and saying our voice is worth more than "free snack cakes" (no matter how good they tasted).

As for your solution to "bloggy burnout" - seriously it misses the whole point.

One other thing..you mentioned that Momdot assumes bloggers rehash press releases and are PR mouthpieces...and the problem is that for many of us, the opposite is the case and that is Trisha's whole point. We are thoroughly reviewing a product, sharing our thoughts about it with our readers, influencing their purchase decisions and putting an incredible amount of time and energy into making sure we do it accurately and ethically. If all we were doing is taking the FREE stuff, posting a press release and a photo and walking away, this wouldn't even be an issue.

So if anything is insulting, it is the assumption from someone who pretty much admitted to never having read a mom blog let alone the one you are referring to, and passing judgement implying that we should just be thankful to get FREE stuff no matter what the sacrifice. And it is very easy to separate this from the controversy over blogger freebies - it has nothing to do with the issue of disclosure, it has to do with moms valueing their time more than the stuff they can get "free" in the mail.

[BabyLovingMama]

My thoughts exactly, Accidental Mommy. As a fellow mommy blogger I couldn't have said it any better myself.

I think the biggest insult in this article was the admission of not really reading mommy blogs but being able to thoroughly criticize and take an event completely out of context. You somehow managed to take something meant to simply be a break for one week from reviews, giveaways and press releases and turned it into an article about disclosure and ethical standards. Seriously? It just shows how out of touch you really are. You shouldn't pass judgement on something you obviously know nothing about.

If you wanted to talk about disclosure and compensation that should have been another article entirely.

MomDot is a fabulous community that promotes ethical standards and helps to grow bloggers in every way. I appreciate Trisha's support and know her true intentions behind the blackout. It is obvious you do not.

Next time you decide to write an article I would suggest making sure your title matches what you write, do a lot more research before posting and stay on track with the original topic. The PR Blackout has NOTHING to do with disclosure.

[genamorris]

I just want to add that after this break, I think we will be better off TO the PR. Why? Because we will be coming back rejuvenated! We will be ready to put our hearts back into it. Don't you come back from a vacation and just feel ready to go? You NEED time to get back to your roots. Re evaluate what you want out of stuff. It's not easy to do that when you have pitch after pitch.

[TXBlogginMom]

As a Mommy Blogger AND Review Blogger, I think the PR Blackout is just another "Drama Stunt" created by Yours Truly, Trisha Haas. You play the part well *claps* You play the part well.

If ANY blogger is burned out, overwhelmed, or thirsting for time away from the computer, PR, and blogosphere, what do you do? Close the laptop. Say No. Do it on YOUR time, not during "Trisha's time". I've gotta say she's the publicity queen, thinking everything revolves around her. What she says, goes, right? It's probably because she spends zero time with her daughter and her husband finally just had enough. "A week away from the PR and crap you think is more important than us Trish!"

So, for those NOT participating in the PR Blackout, I'm sure you're not doing it out of fear of never being contacted again, it's probably because you know Trisha all too well and think she's the most unethical person to work with.

It's great that all the MomDot goons are here sticking up for her. They follow her every move. You train them well Trisha.

[AccidentalMommy]

I've never been called a goon before. Goofy yes, but never a goon. I kind of like it in a weird way.

Why does this bother you so much? If you don't like it, go do your own thing. Why is your energy spent judging Trisha and us "goons" rather than just ignoring it.

I'll tell you why. Because you are WRONG.

I will stand proudly as head goon and tell you that there are few people in this world who think of others as much as Trisha does and that she is wired to be a genuine sensitive person who truly cares about people. Have you seen Bloggers Give? Hello?

And while I joke about being called a goon, I want to make one thing clear. All of the great moms who make up the Momdot community are intelligent, wonderful women who would do anything to help each other out, and for you to imply that they are anything but honest and ethical and don't make their own choices or decisions, really says a lot about your own character and how you view other bloggers.

[genamorris]

Wow I must have missed something? Trisha selfish? I have never seen anyone so unselfish! As she's giving us her invaluable time for free to help us better ourselves, she's raising a wonderful daughter! She got the ball rolling for Bloggers Give which just donated nearly 13 thousand dollars to charity! Oh but I suppose YOU have done this right? Yep Trisha did all this out of her own selfish needs! Because she has nothing better to do with her time than to give to others! Maybe your opinion is what it is, because you are JEALOUS. Yep I said it! The PR Blackout should never have been a personal attack on Trisha at all. This wasn't a controversial topic. Trisha is woman enough to stand up and say F**** All of you and the ship you rode in on. She will tell you straight up that she is going to get controversy stirred up. She will also SIGN her name to all of it! She will pull her big girl panties up and take ACCOUNTABILITY for what she has done. We have discussed how it is beyond asinine that you are all focused on this stuff but what about the programs that Trisha has stood behind! How about we stand up and support each other as fellow bloggers! Oh that's right cause you are too busy raising money for charity and hosting free chats to teach other bloggers how to improve right?

[AccidentalMommy]

Also, it's sad really, that we can't come together and support each other. That people have to judge and take cheap shots rather than saying "well, it's not my thing, but if it makes you happy, then knock yourself out." I would think that those bloggers who are review bloggers and don't intend to participate in the blackout would be happy to "pick up the slack" we leave behind for that week and get some extra opportunities.

[Victoria_Arya]

Oh no you don't! Do NOT go painting me (a non participating member of the blackout) with your b*tchy brush. I choose to not do it because of commitments and projects that I already had scheduled, not because I am afraid of anyone.

Man, I don't know who peed in your cherrios this morning, but seriously, get over yourself.

PS- I agree with everything AccidentalMommy said so I am not going to reiterate it. Thanks.

[RobertAPierce]

Wow, another terrible hack piece of "journalism" from cnet. Did you even bother to contact the owner of momdot before posting? Perhaps get her take on the matter before you jump to stupid conclusions?

My goodness, the quality level of cnet has dropped to new depths.

[genamorris]

This IS the problem! Everything was out of context, Trisha from Momdot was not contacted. PR Blackout HAS nothing to do with the FTC and it was never meant to cause such controversy.

[amodernmother]

GREAT post!

Mummy blogging is just starting to take off across the pond and it?s nice to be able to learn from our US counterparts.

You can see our take on it here: May British Mummy Bloggers Never Need a PR blackout: http://tinyurl.com/kobe6u

But I learned never to say never. I do a lot of things with my kids that I SWORE I wouldn't pre-kids.

[vickieheully]

I think the concept of this blackout is interesting depending on how you look at it. I started blogging as a way of documenting my household's goings-on and photos for extended family that live far away. As time went on, I made blogger friends, and now blogging has become an enjoyable addiction.

I love to read other mom-blogs, but if I see one that is all about reviews, giveaways, contests, etc, all the PR stuff crowds the blog and it loses its personal touch. That's usually when I grow bored and move on to the next blog.

I write posts about items I have for sale, but I also write personal entries as well. I think it's important to balance the two.

Vickie Heully
www.vickieheully.com

[strawberyred]

I find it interesting that this simple idea has grown into something so big. Honestly Trisha was just encouraging those of us who are getting burned out to TAKE A VACATION! Everyone gets vacation time from their job. Why then can we mommy bloggers not take a vacation from the stress of our job.

A vacation is good for everyone. It rejuvenates us, and then when we come back we can do a better job of everything.

If this had been called something different, like Vacation week, no one would care!

It was designed to help those feeling stressed to realize why they fell in love with blogging in the first place. If you are not feeling stressed, then you don't need to participate. Simple as that. She's not calling for everyone to stop working with PR reps, she's just asking that those who are tired and stressed take a short break. It's only a week. It's a vacation.

[that_Danielle]

It's called a vacation. Take one. Don't blame everyone because you can't say no.

[BlogbyDonna]

I am concerned with the way this blackout is reflecting upon ?mommy? bloggers. Do you hear of tech, entertainment and social media bloggers, as an example, staging blackouts? NO.

So mom bloggers can?t handle the stress and pressure that blogging entails? Trust me far more moms can than not. And if you are so burned out, a week will not help you. Which is another issue I have? why does everyone take this ?vacation? at the same time? If everyone at a company took a vacation at the same time it would be a ?walk-out? or ?strike?.

Instead of rallying moms to stage a blackout? maybe it would be better to encourage them. Tell them maybe they need a break or give the PR rep another moms name. Teach them how to say ?no?.

It is not PR?s fault you strayed away from blogging about what was important to you. So why have the "PR" in the blackout?

Just learn to say ?no?. And as some others have said, if you don?t want to do a review or are too overwhelmed, recommend another mom blogger. Pay it forward? Karma is a wonderful thing.

My best to all the moms who are burned out!

[birdonawire55]

I can speak from all sides here..as a mom, a blogger and as a media connection. What's gone on with the momdot author is clearly a slick piece of linkbait. Designed to get attention and that's exactly what she did. Counter-intuitive to what she claims to be about, to what her audience is expecting. She got raucous attention, they stand to lose. Curiously her site is heavily sponsored and it'll be interesting to see if the sponsorships and pr links disappear during the "blackout" my guess is not. The whole bunch just has it wrong. Instead of putting on the big girl panties and saying no to opportunities they'd rather not cover, they simply whine and call a blackout. They've chosen, clearly to make businesses out of their blogs and now they see its real work and that takes balance. Can't just wake up one day and have it all. It takes WORK. So, for all the bloggers out there who know what it takes and can say no, and manage their blog/life balance. I say congratulations. For the rest of you, there's help around the corner. But for the love of pat, don't fall into this "blackout' trap!

[the-dustpan]

Yes, many of the mommy bloggers need to grow up, especially over at the MomDot, the originator of the PR blackout idea. What the PR machinery doesn't seem to realize yet is that the readers of the mommy blogs are just as fed up with the mommy blogs as the mommy blogs are fed up with the PR machinery.

Too many of the mommy bloggers hosting review giveaways are unethical. They're doing the giveaways for the free loot and, too often, their giveaways are rigged. The supposedly random giveaways are heavily skewed towards fellow mommy bloggers, which only angers and alienates the very readers the PR firms are trying to reach. Some of the mommy bloggers openly share private information about their giveaway participants with other bloggers. (Trish at MomDot recently posted that she does this.)

There is currently no oversight on the giveaways. None. If a reader wants to win that whats-it, all she can do is hope that the blogger is honest and will respect her privacy. There's going to be a backlash alright, but it isn't going to be the mommy bloggers that revolt--it's going to be the blog readers entering the giveaways! We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!

Listen up sponsors, we want fair giveaways and we want our privacy respected. In short, we want oversight on the giveaways. There's a reason all 50 states have had to enact sweepstakes laws. I see no reason why the mommy blogs (and their PR companies) should be exempt.

The Dustpan
the-dustpan.blogspot.com