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If I ask my real life friends what they think a mommy blogger is they say "oh one of those women who threatens to blog about something if they don't get their way or emails you to ask you for something FREE in exchange for a blog post"
Seriously, this is what I am starting to associate with mommy bloggers as well. I own a boutique, but you already know that. I get tons of emails from bloggers that ask if they can review and giveaway a product. Most of the time, I say yes. Lately I have been just ignoring the emails because there is a template going around and I am getting the EXACT SAME EMAIL from different bloggers! Talk about lame...this is BAD! You don't start a pitch with "Hey, my name is SO AND SO and I like your website"
If you like my website that much, then why don't you tell me which product specifically you like so much instead of sending a vague email basically asking for anything to review. Sounds a tad bit desperate. More bloggers need to work on their pitching skills and learn how to approach a business owner as a professional.
Back to why I don't want to be called a mommy blogger--they are CRAZY!! I saw for myself at BlogHer how absoltely STUPID it is to want to meet these "A-List" bloggers. Many looked at my name tag, looked at my face, and said "I've never heard of you" and barely smiled at me let alone gave me the time of day to say "Thank you for your kind words on my blog--I see that you comment often" or at least just a plesant "Nice to meet you" would have been sufficient. To say "I never heard of you" WOW!! So, I guess I forgot that you are GOD'S GIFT to the world--my bad!
Swag....oh the swag. Crocs are UGLY, no thanks I'll pass. Kodak HD camera--ok, cool...but I have a Flip and a Vado...why do I need another FREE camcorder? If I would have got a Kodak HD camcorder, I would have given away my Vado. I actually am giving away my Flip because I don't need it, I have the Vado which I like more. I'm not selfish, I was blessed to have been given these 2 camcorders, there is no need for yet another. Land's End backpacks...some people took more than they needed. It's a backpack...get over it. I don't get why people were fighting and shoving over Build-A-Bear bears...seriously? It was a bear...if you need a teddy, you have issues. If it was for your kid, come on now...ONE will do and if your kids are going to fight over the one bear then you need to teach your kids to share. Or get each kid something different. It was just TERRIBLE to see people fight over free crap.
Then, the Nikon party...oh, the Nikon party. WHY DOES NIKON HATE BABIES??!!! You tried to take your baby to a BAR...are you for real? There are laws against minors in bars so the fact that you went and threw a hissy fit on Twitter about it makes you look like an ass. Nikon doesn't hate babies...you just wanted some attention.
To the girl in the elevator--you know who you are...that was COMEDY for me that you were so nervous or weirded out by being in the elevator with me. Thanks for the laughs...you really need to re-think your Twitter handle...it's really not fitting.
Brand About Town. I NEVER want to work with you, not never ever ever! Your reps in Room 1029 were TERRIBLE and RUDE and soooo unclassy. I was shocked to hear your rep say one minute that you are "the Chanel of marketing" and then have her trash my friends website which she has NEVER visited. It disgusts me even more to have you email me to "apologize" yet you don't even ASK ME WHAT HAPPENED! How can you genuinely apologize unless you now what you did wrong so you can fix it? I was a Customer Service Manager and am now a Brand Manager. In my 12+ years of experience I have never before come across such a tacky way to try to resolve an issue. I can't even call it a half-ass attempt...there was NO attempt to resolve it. You lost a pretty good portion of respect from many people. I'm not just "a blogger", I work with many brands...too bad I can't recommend you.
I am going to continue to write about what I know...how I am successful at what I do. I am going to continue to only write reviews on products that I would buy myself or have bought myself. I will also continue to be ME. It's the only thing I know how to be and it is why you are here reading this post.
And before I end this post, I do want to say that there are some AMAZING WOMEN who call themselves Mommy Bloggers...to those very few--thank you for being you. I just can't do what you do, I can't keep up with your stats, your PR contacts and your ability to do it all. There are just way too many wannabe Mommy Bloggers who are giving you a bad rap.
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22 comments:
Clarissa! We totally didn't get to spend enough time together, but at least we met and did spend a little time together. You rock lady!
The whole thing seems weird :) I wish I was there to meet you all!
Amen to that sista!! LMAO!! You hit the nail on the head with this post. Thank you for being honest and YOU!! I loved meeting you...your totally fun and awesome.
Oh and the Brand About Town thing...yeah I checked my email and it was THEM that contacted Me!! So for her to say she never heard of us.....Suck It!!
Great post, Clarissa.
It sucks how grown women acted like greedy, spoiled, entitled wenches. It really pisses me off that ALL mommy bloggers are being painted with that broad stroke brush. We are not all like that.
Excellent post Clarissa and while I don't think all "Mommy Bloggers" fall under the same dark cloud, they certainly did help themselves over the weekend.
I cannot tell you how happy I am to see this post. I did not attend Blogher, but I did see a lot of the negative comments on Twitter and on some of the blogs about the event. It is very disheartening to me that an event that should bring women together could create such mayhem and discontent. You are absolutely right to say that there are tons of women who give the term "Mommy Blogger" a bad name. I do NOT consider myself to be a Mommy Blogger, nor do I consider some of these imposters Mommy Bloggers either. Since starting my blog this year, I have run into more women who claim to be "professional" Mommy Bloggers, yet have websites with poorly written posts, and horrible etiquette. Having access to a computer and a free blog template does not make you a professional AT ALL.
I do not participate in reviews or giveaways very much because I feel my site needs to be improved before I go out there claiming to be an expert. My focus is on reconnecting with my first love: writing. So while these women argue over swag, and continue their many run-on sentences, I will be busy studying and perfecting my craft. Thank you for your well-written post on this extreme tackiness!
~Eve
If I went...which I didn't I didn't have a place there amongst other reasons - but if I did I would've been pretty darn nervous to meet you. I think you are one upstanding woman who does a lot of good and may not be "A-List" but you are in my book. You are smart, helpful, witty and caring. That makes for someone to be admired and to be intimidated by! Enough of the crazy stalker talk LOL - I'm glad you are telling it like it is. I'm reading a lot of fluff happy stories about BlogHer. I like to hear the whole truth!
It was a pleasure to meet you too, and thanks for the compliment. RIGHT BACK AT YOU!!! I'm thinking we need a new "label" too...and I'm right there with you. :)
I didn't go to BlogHer but this has got to be the most REAL account I'm hearing of it. Though I have to say I have read on some other blogs, sorta the same complaints about folks not being themselves. Who else can they be? I'm taking my lessons now for next year. Thanks for being so honest with your post.
*is glad to have never even considered the mayhem*
Thank you for this post, Clarissa. Just because someone is a "mom" and works mostly "from home" and/or publishes a blog does not, in fact, make them a Mommy Blogger. Props to those who can do it and do it both well and in a classy manner. There's way too few of you, but those that there are definitely shine.
I am SO glad you wrote this! I needed a laugh after meeting with these twats. They were RUDE and ..well... rude.
They should be begging to work with bloggers, yet they have some lame 'we come to your house' crap.
"We have a very special screening process". Yeah -- screen this
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LOL
It is sad to see companies treat bloggers like this. :(
It's always a pleasure to read your posts Clarissa! Wish I would have been there... but then again, maybe not so much. Personally, I love and support all the women who I know online (bloggers or not) and you are on the top of the list!! {Hugs}
I heart your blog because well...you can write! and you do it damn well. Enjoyed the post!
These are the posts that make me glad I wasn't there. Great post and I follow you now :)
Standing Ovation!!! Bravo! I too am not a mommy blogger. Am I a mommy - well, my 26 year old son calls me "Zippy", but by definition, I'm a mommy. Am I a blogger? Well, yes and no. I don't journal my life, which is what a blog is (weblog), but I do use a blogging platform to write. Like you Clarissa I am a writer. Not only do I maintain a site or two (*ahem), but I'm also a freelance travel writer. My background in the arts (actress/dancer - yes, you may have seen me on Broadway if you squinted to the back row of the chorus), district manager (I'm a Starbucks retiree) and former restaurateur allow me a background in what I write about on my sites...LIVING THE GOOD LIFE. If companies can not understand that we are WOMEN who WRITE, then I say - move on. There are plenty of "mommy bloggers" who are willing to do anything for a freebie.
I never met or read your blog, but this is awesome. I got the eye roll of disgust by a blogger sponsoring a big party. I met an A-lister before and I was told "ugh I don't go to that high school." So these mommy bloggers need to get over themselves. For the baby thing--I have a 7 month old and I wouldn't find it appropriate or being a good mom dragging him to a 11 pm party because I wanted to go. He should be in bed not breathed on by 150 women risking him for getting a cold. The whole conference reminded me why I can't stand 90% of women I meet--catty, fake, and selfish. I'll stick with the 10%.
You hit it right on.
BlogHer was a little insane. I just hung out with the other food bloggers, it was great to connect with and meet some of them for the first time.
But yeah, the fighting over swag and Nikon hates baby thing was something I hope never to witness again.
Holy crap! This is the first post in your blog that I read and I love you already! That's awesome you aren't afraid to say it like it is. Very cool!
I'll be coming back real soon!
Happy Friday!
I stumbled over here from Once a Month Mom. I just have to agree with you about Brand about Town!
There was one lady I spoke to (the US rep) who was super nice and helpful. But, the rep who actually had information on their programs acted as though she was annoyed by our inquiry. I mean, I wasn't just there to get their free shirt and jeans, I wanted to see how I could partner with them. They need business etiquette help tremendously!!!
Other than that, BlogHer was a blast - cause the people made it awesome!!!
What a fantastic entry as well as the others I have read on this blog. You write so well, it is fun to read. I am new to blogging, and it seems everyone is running competitions and giveaways, but there has to be more to blogging than this. I plan to share some of my personal life, some of my art, and some of the things I have PURCHASED and want to share my opinions about!
I'm late in the game but I'm just now making the rounds on the blogs of everyone I met at BlogHer (including you :)
I didn't really understand the concept of the Brand About Town...were they the ones that gave us the Gap shirts and jeans? No one talked to me in there.
I'm surprised that more than one person said "I have never heard of you", that is so disrespectful. There are other ways to say it that aren't rude. Some of the "famous" bloggers I met weren't rude but weren't warm either.
Were people really fighting over those bears? I would have sold them mine ;). There was a huge pile when I calmly collected my teddy.
I didn't really have any drama moments except the PR reps from the T-Mobile booth being rather rude in our forcibly shared cab ride to the hotel.
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