what it means to be a mommy blogger
WARNING: This is not a usual June Cleaver Nirvana post. I am not quitting blogging. I am not having a nervous breakdown. In fact, it has been a lovely day. This post is about how my blog has unknowingly turned into a BRAND. Writing about the fact that my blog has turned into a brand doesn’t fall within my brand. IRONIC, eh?
I read a post earlier today from Jenn over at Mommy Needs Coffee that really made me think. Her post is about forgiving herself in relation to mommy blogging.
Mommy blogging is a funny thing. I think it has allowed me better perspective in the moment, but it has increased my likelihood of crying during a Hallmark commercial due to imposed self-reflection.
It has widened my dreams and exposed me to possibilities that I couldn’t dream.
It has caused me to laugh more and connect like never before.
It has lead to creativity and work.
It has lead to writing practice.
I think it has been great.
I think it has been awful.
I hate that my kids run when I pull out the camera.
I hate that wherever I go or whatever I do has the asterisk of what I will write about it in the back of my mind.*
In most cases that is a self-imposed asterisk.
I hate that time that it takes to crop photos, arrange posts, research topics.
I hate that I haven’t visited every person who has commented here.
I hate that there are Alexa scores, Twitter Karma, Klout, PR, likes, followers, “friends” and PR.
What started out as a scrapbook is now a brand.
What started out as a journal is now a platform.
What started out as something agenda-less now has a 1500 word disclosure page.
What does all this mean?
I haven’t a clue.
I don’t think anyone else does either.
I do believe I may have been misleading by titling this, “what it means to be a mommy blogger“. I have no insight.
What I can say is that I plan to continue what I love…
the writing.
the recording.
the laughing.
I will also try and rein in my competitive nature in this arena. I don’t have time to participate right now. I am opting out of the competition for the time being despite the possibility of regrets.
I hope to have time in the future and when the time is right, I will be all in.
Or maybe I will just go play poker...
I didn’t expect this post from you Holly. It’s good, just surprising. I think we are all processing what to do. Sometimes I really appreciate my smaller “audience” because it gives me so much more lee-way to find my voice and my direction. It’s a constant balancing of who we are (on and off-line) mommies, businesswomen, creators, dreamers, etc.
Don’t stop sweetie, you’re doing just great. And, you have pretty, pretty hair.
I love your blog. My blog is so small that I don’t have to “play the game” it really is just a scrapbook per-say. I think you do great though. For a little laugh check out this new blog I came across recently:
http://bedtimesareforsuckers.com/2010/10/06/why-i-think-all-%E2%80%9Cmommy-blogs%E2%80%9D-are-bullsht/
Ha! I love it. My favorite part is the link to CPS in the sidebar! Genius.
Thanks for your sweet words. I need to stop thinking about the game and do what is fun.
This is so true.
oohh my friend June- I’m hoping I should not be scared…
gulp and a heavy swallow, nerves, and fingernail biting…
dumb blonds aren’t good with code babble.
I think everything has it’s ups and downs. I tried to be all competitive & SEO & all the rest of that stuff a couple years ago. Honestly, it was too much work for a hobby. And this is a hobby for me so I ignore the metrics, try to write decent material & do my best to respond to my commentors or at least visit them in return. I don’t have a big following so it’s relatively easy still. I kind of enjoy the asterisk on things, makes me take less than great experiences and consider how to put a positive or at least humorous spin on them.
You already know how I feel. 😉
Kudos for putting it back up!
That gets to the heart of it, really. The love, the pain, the infernal jealousy…it’s all part of one beautiful thing.
When I saw the link in today’s B2B e-mail I just knew I had to click through. I can resonate with so much of what you said!
My blog was much more fun before House Beautiful noticed me. Granted, I love that they like what I do, but then the pressure I put on myself really grew. And I still struggle every day, between having spurts of creativity, and then total apathy. It doesn’t help that it is painful to blog sometimes and I may have to have surgery on my wrists. I still do it, but have decided to take it at my pace, and not stress about what I “think” this blog should become.
I started my blog with the idea that it would be a space for my personal reflections, to show off my knitting (finished and in-progress) and to occasionally review a book or personal product now and then. Somehow, it’s turned into a book blog with occasional product reviews and even less occasionally, a personal post (although THOSE are the ones I LOVE doing). I love meeting new people online; it’s awesome. I HATE thinking to myself, “Oh, my gosh! I HAVE to get that post up TODAY!” I love being contacted for reviews. I hate it when someone expects me to simply post something for them without any type of compensation (product or otherwise) for myself or my visitors (therefore, it doesn’t happen .. I don’t have enough time in the day to do the things I WANT to do). I love finding so many people with my same interests. I hate that I know I’ll really need to make my own Facebook page just for my blog, as my personal Facebook page is off limits (in my own mind). I love seeing my visitors’ counts go up, because that means that people are really at least reading what I have to say, and my time isn’t being wasted. I hate that there isn’t enough time in the day to visit all of the people I’D like to visit. I love love love that I always have something to do. I hate it when one of the bebes says “Please don’t put that in your blog, Mom”!
For what it’s worth, I don’t think of any blog I read as a brand – not sure if that makes you feel better or not. I just enjoy coming over here every few days and seeing what kind of cool story you write/draw and sometimes comment. Sure, I’m jealous (a bit) that you have more time, and talent and whatever else than I do (except kids, I have lapped you there!), but I don’t let that keep me from visiting you and your family here. I like hanging out here and everywhere else I visit because you make me laugh/smile/feel good. I also think that this site is good for you, so I’m glad that you aren’t quiting – imagine what your boys will have to look back on in the future, not to mention future grandkids, they’ll see what a cool grandma they have. 🙂
Not sure if my comment is very relevant, but it feels okay and I hope it comes across as being from someone that appreciates what you have to offer, and if I were an agent, I’d ask you to write a book, or three. 🙂
Okay, must go back to work now.
Oh the lovely asterisk. How do I know the… let me count the ways.
And you do have great hair! 🙂
Don’t worry, be happy. Yeah. Sometimes playing the game is fun, sometimes not so much. Right now, I’m kicking myself for decimating my page rank by changing my domain. I did it because I needed to say what I wanted to say, the way I wanted to say it. And yes, I thought about branding and all the mommy blog biz that I’d recently learned about at the mommy blog conferences. Ultimately, though, it’s about getting in touch with the creativity and the power inherent in being true to yourself. Sounds smarmy, right? Truth is sappy.