Making Your Mark as a Mom Blogger, Author or Entrepreneur
I know it's a little late in the day, but since I've had a marathon week of events, I've had time to think about the ways you can drive traffic and awareness to your book or brand by following some simple steps. Here are some of my thoughts on ways to make your mark in an incredibly saturated field.
1. FOCUS ON YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE - If you're the "Coupon Queen" or a Nutrition or Fitness Guru or maybe you're a fashionista (hello Audrey at Mom Generations), whatever you did in your life B.C. (before children) - use it to build your platform. You'd be surprised how your past skills will come in handy if you offer well thought out advice on your blog. And the more specific you are about your area of interest, the better. If you are all over the map, no one will know what you stand for. Producers and journalists love when you make it simple for them - and that means if they're looking for a way to save money on groceries they're going to hit the Coupon Lady - or Amy Clark at Mom Advice . It's great to share stories about your family but if you are looking to build your brand, then figure out who you want to be and focus, focus, focus.
2. DON'T USE THE KID CARD! - I know you've been there (because I've been there too) - you're invited to an event where you're going to get the chance to network with an incredible group of women, or maybe you've even been selected as a speaker, but here's the problem. You've put off getting a sitter and now it's the day of the event and you're in a panic because you just found out she can't make it. I know, we've all been there - but if you have two weeks to plan to attend an event then make sure you get babysitting coverage so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to meet incredible like-minded women, get some great ideas or maybe even increase web traffic to your blog (love it when my favorite bloggers give link love to all the attendees at events - in the end, it helps everyone's traffic). As my Grandma Dora used to say, "If you don't come, you don't have to come home." But if you don't show up, you'll never know what you missed. And if you're a new mom with an infant, then bring them along - you'll have plenty of extra hands to help out and will still get the chance to enjoy yourself!
3. SPOKESPERSON OPPORTUNITIES - When you're invited to a lot of really cool events, here's a little secret I'd like to let you in on. When I meet a fabulous mom blogger (and thankfully, I've met a lot of them), I instantly think of ways I could potentially work with them as a spokesperson for a client or as a speaker for one of my events. They're looking to build they're platform and I might actually have a company that can provide free PR if they've embraced their product or brand. It's a win win for everyone. But in order to be considered for these opportunities, you've got to be in the game. That's why the incredible women of Walmart 11 Moms are in so much demand. While promoting the Walmart brand, they're also building traffic on their individual sites by taking part in a host of incredible events and opportunities.
4. VIRAL MARKETING TO MOMS - A fabulous post you might want to check out comes from Liz Thompson with This Full House who shares her picks for her favorite companies that are marketing directly to mom bloggers. Liz is an incredibly gifted writer who has attended everything from Glamour Reel Moments (with me) to the Campbell Soup Headquarters this week. She's also a mom of four and is a leading mom blogger who praises some of the great PR and marketing firms that are reaching out to moms the right way.
5. READ BOOKS BY MALCOLM GLADWELL AND SETH GODIN: I'm currently reading The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell (who also wrote The Tipping Point) and Seth Godin's best books are Small is the New Big and The Dip. Bottom line - if you can't find out some great pearls of wisdom from your friends, then you can find it in a book too. And these two authors offer a treasure trove of great marketing advice.
That's it for this week! And for more of my musings about work, life and everything in between, visit me at Role Mommy.
1. FOCUS ON YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE - If you're the "Coupon Queen" or a Nutrition or Fitness Guru or maybe you're a fashionista (hello Audrey at Mom Generations), whatever you did in your life B.C. (before children) - use it to build your platform. You'd be surprised how your past skills will come in handy if you offer well thought out advice on your blog. And the more specific you are about your area of interest, the better. If you are all over the map, no one will know what you stand for. Producers and journalists love when you make it simple for them - and that means if they're looking for a way to save money on groceries they're going to hit the Coupon Lady - or Amy Clark at Mom Advice . It's great to share stories about your family but if you are looking to build your brand, then figure out who you want to be and focus, focus, focus.
2. DON'T USE THE KID CARD! - I know you've been there (because I've been there too) - you're invited to an event where you're going to get the chance to network with an incredible group of women, or maybe you've even been selected as a speaker, but here's the problem. You've put off getting a sitter and now it's the day of the event and you're in a panic because you just found out she can't make it. I know, we've all been there - but if you have two weeks to plan to attend an event then make sure you get babysitting coverage so that you don't miss out on the opportunity to meet incredible like-minded women, get some great ideas or maybe even increase web traffic to your blog (love it when my favorite bloggers give link love to all the attendees at events - in the end, it helps everyone's traffic). As my Grandma Dora used to say, "If you don't come, you don't have to come home." But if you don't show up, you'll never know what you missed. And if you're a new mom with an infant, then bring them along - you'll have plenty of extra hands to help out and will still get the chance to enjoy yourself!
3. SPOKESPERSON OPPORTUNITIES - When you're invited to a lot of really cool events, here's a little secret I'd like to let you in on. When I meet a fabulous mom blogger (and thankfully, I've met a lot of them), I instantly think of ways I could potentially work with them as a spokesperson for a client or as a speaker for one of my events. They're looking to build they're platform and I might actually have a company that can provide free PR if they've embraced their product or brand. It's a win win for everyone. But in order to be considered for these opportunities, you've got to be in the game. That's why the incredible women of Walmart 11 Moms are in so much demand. While promoting the Walmart brand, they're also building traffic on their individual sites by taking part in a host of incredible events and opportunities.
4. VIRAL MARKETING TO MOMS - A fabulous post you might want to check out comes from Liz Thompson with This Full House who shares her picks for her favorite companies that are marketing directly to mom bloggers. Liz is an incredibly gifted writer who has attended everything from Glamour Reel Moments (with me) to the Campbell Soup Headquarters this week. She's also a mom of four and is a leading mom blogger who praises some of the great PR and marketing firms that are reaching out to moms the right way.
5. READ BOOKS BY MALCOLM GLADWELL AND SETH GODIN: I'm currently reading The Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell (who also wrote The Tipping Point) and Seth Godin's best books are Small is the New Big and The Dip. Bottom line - if you can't find out some great pearls of wisdom from your friends, then you can find it in a book too. And these two authors offer a treasure trove of great marketing advice.
That's it for this week! And for more of my musings about work, life and everything in between, visit me at Role Mommy.
Comment
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Comment by Lauren on February 4, 2009 at 12:43am
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Wow! What a wealth of information and great tips! Thank you so much for sharing - looking forward to bumping into you at a blogger event someday!
- Lauren @ SuperMom Central
http://www.supermomcentral.blogspot.com
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Comment by SuZ @ NYTM on February 3, 2009 at 5:40pm
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Thanks for all this great info!
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Comment by Jenn on February 2, 2009 at 10:08am -
Thank you for the helpful tips, links and book suggestions. Will check them out.
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Comment by Angelina Howard on February 2, 2009 at 9:53am -
Great Tips. Thank you!
Angelina
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Comment by overallbeauty ~ Kim Snyder on February 2, 2009 at 9:07am -
Wonderful post, great information!
I am also a Big Seth and Malcolm fan, in fact I reading The Tipping Point right now.. lol
I also agree that a blog should be all about one thing but don't forget its not just for marketing, throw a bit of your personality in it and it helps your readers and future buyers get to know you a bit better. If someone feels they know you, are in the same boat as you, they are more willing to buy from you.
The more you give the more you receive back..
I run 4 blogs that are all in the same beauty field but are focusing on one part of the field so that it doesn't seem they are all the same. It helps if your templates are not the same either..
And not all mom's have little ones either, I'm a mom of 2 grown men who happens to have one still living at home. So if you are focusing on mom's for whatever it is that you do, it may be even easier to pick a age group as well.. I don't care about diapers but would love to know how to get my son a better job so he would move out.. lol
http://Overallbeauty.com/beauty-blog
http://easyskincaretips.net
http://havecoffee.blogspot.com
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Comment by Melissa Jarquin on February 2, 2009 at 8:50am -
I've had a "Blink" for way too long to not have read it ten times by now! Thanks for the inspiration to get out there and meet other women!
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Comment by Anissa on February 2, 2009 at 7:29am -
Really great tips! I have been learning about marketing and building my web presence for several years, although I was mostly helping my husband and now clients. I might add a resource to all of you who would like some free info/advice from someone I have come to trust, and that is Jack Humphrey. On his blog, he gives away a ton of information. Here is his blog: http://jackhupmhrey.com/fridaytrafficreport/
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Comment by Mea Culpa Body and Bath on February 2, 2009 at 7:09am -
that is some good pointers....now its up to me how am I gonna use my blog to make people interested in my products
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Comment by overthetopaprons on February 2, 2009 at 7:01am -
Thanks for the post, good information and great book recommendations.
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Comment by Rae Lynn Glispin on February 2, 2009 at 6:30am -
Great post. I have to work harder at focusing on more limited topics. I do find that I may just all over the place in my blog and I can see your point about figuring out who I want to be.
It's nice to have a reminder of that once in a while.
thanks!
raelynn
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