Written by Karie Herring
Mom Types -
Mommy Bloggers
In the world of blogs there are those who have blogs and those who have SUPER blogs. These blogs and super blogs are like the Young and the Restless of the net. When I say super blog I mean the women, generally a mom of sorts, who have a product review and or giveaway just about once a week, if not every day. These women bloggers are paid either in cash or some form of benefit and are the envy of some of the blog-less.
The blog-less truly are not without a blog, they are merely the guppy fish in the sea of blogging mommy sharks trying to earn their share of the pond. The blog-less moms really aren't trying to be a super blogger or make a full time living off of wolfing down cardboard flavored yogurt, supplied and paid on behalf of a Fortune 500 brand; the blog-less just want to have fun, try new things, share their experiences, and maybe, just maybe earn a measly cent or two. I am experiencing my time as a blog-less blogger and I can tell you that the view from the bottom is an eye opener.
Cool Kids of Blogging
I began my blog as most others probably had, a way to share antics, musings, and fun stories to family and friends about the day-to-day of the family, being a mom, and or other entertaining factor. I have twins, so this was my primary motivation to share my day-to-day as personal insurance that I am not totally insane for what I experience. But one day while talking to my sister I asked how she gained so many followers and was conducting fantastic product giveaways and reviews and she told me about the social networking of bloggers and the power of Twitter. So I jumped in with both feet, eager to learn, ready to see what was in store. I found the super bloggers through the power of social networking with great support sites like the Mom Bloggers Club and of course the women here at Type-A Mom. But once I really got involved and began to use Twitter as a vessel to promote my blog and my assets I saw that I truly am at the bottom for mom bloggers.
I was so in awe to see how these women operated and to watch their successes. I, being the newbie that I am, wanted to learn from the cool kids of blogging just how to become successful. But, I did not expect my blog to be an overnight success or just arrive without hard work, I was merely asking for support and advice. The exact propaganda that was advertised and how these women would support other mom bloggers I feel can be a bait and switch by those who claim to be reputable. To some degree I do see support from those who have been a blog-less type blogger, they remember the time of fighting for a piece of the pie. Others are rude, cold, and back bite for their own gain.
The Truth in the Tweet
I think a large number of blog women forget that the blog-less follow them for guidance, advice, inspiration; they literally hang on their coat tails just to see if they can catch something along the way that will further their cause. But while they blog and tweet away about this giveaway or that freebie or support this mom, they back bite at the same time not watching the audience. I witnessed this first hand as I saw a super blogger call her audience trolls and goats. I am not sure who gave her divine right but I was disgusted.
Were these tweets really that of an "ethical blogger?" I also see numerous giveaways and reviews and have to ask myself are these bloggers promoting this for the good of the blog and her audience or are they doing this for self gain, self alone, or maybe have they lost sense of self and write reviews and giveaways purely for the profit. To me I would think that a blog was started and is tweeted to promote moms and bloggers everywhere, as we are not alone. But I come back to the question about what the truth really is in the tweet?
I know personally, I tweet to support. I am a born cheerleader and have my uniform to prove this fact. But I feel that good women bloggers are like a great bra, support where you need support. I re-tweet to support these women that are really out there doing something fantastic not because General Mills is going to buy ad space on her blog for "x" amount per month and then she is a dog and pony show and ignores all others that helped her reach that point.
"Oh, She's a Blog-Less"
Why do these super blog women feel the need to judge so harshly of other blogs, to judge at all? Again I have watched all the banter and tweets about other blogs, I have seen blogs about blogs and I have to wonder. I wonder if I am like some others who are saplings of the blog world, am so much less than a blogger because my blog is categorized as a blog-less by these super blogger women. I would think creating a post about building a better blog would be more instructional rather than critical. I would think that posting about another woman's would be more about support rather than degradation? Posting headlines and banners about support should be about being true to that purpose for other bloggers and should not as act an application for blog worthiness.
I could be wrong or I could be hitting a vein. I also think that comments are huge. If someone leaves a comment, comment back. Drop by the fellow blogger's site and give her a pat on the back, a hand up, a lift in the right area where she needs the lift, regardless of how she found your blog. No matter what category blogger or blog a mom, woman or man has built, they shouldn't be categorized, and they shouldn't have to choose between choking down the yogurt and or being just a social blogger.
Blogs were created as their name sake, a web log. Blogs come in all shapes, sizes, colors, flavors, and varieties. Blogs shouldn't have to fit any mold because no matter what the super bloggers may say an audience exists for all the different masses of bloggers. I would rather read a blog that is non-conforming, true to the author's voice, and one that speaks to me as a woman, mother, and fellow blogger. I don't want a blog that talks at me and speaks as if I am not worthy enough to subscribe to the feed.
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