The Daily Grind of a Work @ Home Mom...

PR Fail #231

I love PR.  I used to work in PR, I count on (my own) PR for my company, and I enjoy being reached out to by PR people who wish to combine their client's products with my blog.  But man, sometimes it gets outta hand.

I mean, if you read my blog and have an iota of common sense then you know that the reviews I give and the giveaways I'm lucky enough to host are mainly the result of these PR relationships.  But you also know that something, in some way, is exchanged in order for these reviews to happen.  99.9% of the time it's a sample of the product I'm reviewing.  Just a sample, for me to test-drive, so I can bring you my sincere opinion on product x.  Just as i provide blogs with a sample when I ask them to review a product from Alex Casey Baby.

So how would you feel if you saw a review of a product here that I hadn't put my hands on?  A product that I'd seen in pictures, that I'd read about, but had never used?  I mean, what would that do to my credibility?  Would you ever trust me again?

I didn't think so.  Which is essentially what I told Ms. PR Pro when she sent this email:

Jill,

Hope you're well! I thought this line would be right up your alley for your blog..

Keeping babies and toddler cozy, warm and safe at night just got even more stylish thanks to a savvy line!

Blah Blah Blah...

Happy to share photos, or more information with you. I think your readers will adore this line and it lasts forever!

All my best,

Ms. PR Pro

 

So I responded:

 

Ms. PR Pro,

 

This line looks FAB!  Since I'm the mom of a toddler who still uses sleepsacks (and it's hard to fine ones large enough!), I'd love to review a sleepsack in the toddler section.  We can do this with or without a giveaway, but I think this will be a great success since I receive TONS of hits about swaddles and sleepsacks (and tend to write a lot about them).

Let me know if this works and we can go from there.

Best,

Jill

 

To which she replied:

 

Hi Jill,

Unfortunately at this time we do not have samples to send.  I'd be more than happy to send you photos or additional information, but at this time that's all we'd be able to do.  Thanks so much for your interest.

 

Ummm...  Did I miss something here?  I responded by letting her know that I couldn't imagine how it'd be possible to review something I hadn't seen and let her know that this might be called an advertorial.  But I'm wondering what kind of PR firm thinks this type of outreach, or more importantly, this type of review, might be all that beneficial to the client.  I'm tempted to reveal the firm that bothered with this, and the client's name too, but since that's not really my style, I digress.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

 

I might get black-balled for this but...

This post is really directed toward other bloggers.  It also might come off as obnoxious, self-serving and ballsy.  But it directly relates to a topic I've been thinking a lot about recently, so I though I'd put it out there.

I'm wondering - when you are invited by a PR firm to a corporate event for bloggers, do you ever ask the firm if they are offering any incentive to the blogger?  For example, a gift certificate (and I don't mean for $10) to the company's store, a sample of their product, a goodie bag filled with actual goodies, etc... 

I don't.  But I might start.

Here's why. I'm fortunate enough that I do get invited to a handful of blogger events each month.  Typically, they're fun, informative, and well, long.  I want to estimate that every event uses at the very least 2 to 3 hours of my day.  And those are hours that I could use for whatever I choose.

If I choose to use it to listen to information about your company to potentially tell my audience about, shouldn't you say thank you? 

I really started thinking about this after reading Liz Gumbinner's post entitled What are you worth as a blogger?  If you read her piece, she states that when she attends an event in order to find content for her review blog, she does not ask to be compensated.  But, she goes on to say:

...when I'm asked to sit down, learn about a brand, and then brainstorm for them and lend my expertise as a blogger and marketer, I've got to say, "thanks for the free deli platter but I'm going to need a check."

And here's the thing - NO brand is inviting you, a blogger with pretty decent insight into your demographic, without asking you for your ideas on how to appeal to customers like you.  I mean, bloggers, have you ever gotten out of a corp.orate event without at least being asked the question?  And if you're a blogger, then you definitely have an opinion that you just cannot keep to yourself and chances are - you give it!  Right?

So is it out of line to ask for a little thanks in a form other than a hand-shake?

A Blog For All Seasons

If there's one thing that I did learn at BlogHer, it's that everyone blogs for their own personal reasons.  Since we spend most of our time blogging in a bubble, it's nice to get out and remember what brought us here in the first place. 

I started A Daily Grind as an extension of my business.  That, and the fact that I'm actually a trained writer (shocking, I know) is what inspired me to sit down and put words out there for whoever wanted to read.  At the time, I didn't realize I was joining a "tribe" or would soon be labeled a "mommy blogger."  Cuz, really, I never thought of myself that way until someone told me that's what I was.

And really, I'm not sure I like labels (unless they say Tory Burch or Marc Jacobs, that is).

Over the course of the conference, I was asked "so, what's your blog about?" like 127 times and 127 I stumbled.

"Ummm..., it's like about, uh, I guess... stu-uff?"

Cuz really, I didn't know what to say.

So I spent a little time thinking about it.  What is this blog about?  And what I came up with is not a one-word answer.  My blog is like me - all over the place, sometimes disorganized, but it always has a touch more personality than you'd think on first glance.

It's true, I do reviews and giveaways here cuz, hey, someone's gotta put applesauce on the table. ;)  But I do reviews and stuff because I really do like trying new products and also because I know the influence bloggers can have when they write a truthful and honest review.  I know this because I know the influence other bloggers have had on my brand.  So if you're you're a company or even just an individual with a product and you're on the fence about whether or not bloggers can help you, give it a shot.  I bet you'll be happy with the results.

But as much as I like spreading the word about the latest and greatest, I feel like my best posts, the ones that really reflect my true personality are those that really come from the heart.  Anecdotes about something that happened in my day, my rants and raves... Those are the pieces that tell a story about me. 

So next time someone asks me what my blog's really about?  I'll probably answer simply: me.

BlogHer '09 - The Good, the Swag, and the Ugly.

So I'm back.  After almost 5 months of like OMG, what should I wear, I'm finally back from BlogHer '09 and if nothing else, I met some very cool people, some moderately cool people, and some people that I'm sort of embarrassed to share oxygen with.  But whatever.  Here goes.

I have to say that my experience was mostly good.  I really liked the opening remarks and the stats on bloggers and women made me feel proud to be part of this community.  The sessions I attended were engaging, if not all a variation of each other.  Some highlights included Liz Gumbinner of Cool Mom Picks encouraging bloggers to know their passion, and Jessica Bern's hilarious story about calling her dentist to complain of vaginal itch (ya, it related to blogging. At the time.).  Oh, and I laughed like crazy at Danielle Henderson's rendition of her blog post entitled stuck in the middle with you.  Read it.  You won't be sorry.  It's about her vagina and it's funny.

I met some awesome people.  But perhaps my favorite meeting was that of Jozet of Halushki fame.  Why?  Because on Friday night she was the strict scary "bouncer" who wouldn't let me in to the MamaPop party because my name was mysteriously omitted from "the list."  Then on Saturday night she became one of my new favorite people as she inadvertently took the seat beside me (sucks for her!) at an intimate dinner for 6 people.  Seriously, this girl started on my shit list and ended up my new bff.  There goes my bitch sessions about her.  (Don't worry, many others to take that spot.)

But almost as shocking as the total turn-around made by @Halushki was the fact that I actually was totally unimpressed with many of the people I was looking forward to meeting.  Girls who are typically fun to tweet with, others who I've worked with on Alex Casey Baby who I thought might be interested in meeting me were tripping over their own egos as they headed in the other direction.  WTF!!  Ladies (and you know who you are), GET OVER YOURSELVES, K?  Seriously girls, you're running blogs, not the world, so take it down a notch.  And you're not that skinny. 

Speaking of taking it down a notch, I'm so not into all this debbie-downer drama about the swag.  My opinion is this - these companies rely on swag to promote their products.  They are at these events because we are their target market.  It actually matters to these companies that we try and hopefully talk about their stuff.  Now, I'm not talking about those ridiculous bitches who stood in line at the fab TypeAMom party, walked in, grabbed a swag bag and left.  No, those are really icky women who do deserve to be banned from the free shit.  And I'm also not talking about those classy ladies who knocked over pregnant women and children in search of a free pen or laundry detergent sample.  I mean people like myself, who walked the expo floor and was happy to pick up free shit that I thought I or my family might enjoy.  ALSO(hold on, I need to climb higher on that soapbox o' mine), these sponsors who are handing out evil swag are also helping relieve some of the financial strain of getting us to the conference.  I mean $200 for a ticket is not a huge deal (I got earlybird ;) and $199 for a room that can be shared is also do-able so you know, think before you tweet, people.

Stuff that sucked.  There's not too much to moan about but since you're here... The food was god-awful.  While I'm typically a fan of Ragu and did enjoy the upbeat decor in the buffet area, I don't know if I'm alone in the fact that I would've loooved a vegetable or two to go with my heavily sauced chicken and my hearty meat upside-down pie thing.  However, I'm grateful for their support, yada yada, and actually do buy their products (seriously, I do).  Once I glimpsed the Mexican fiesta going on on Saturday I hit the door for some actual protein (which I got but not before almost having it out with a restaurant manager, the waiter, and due to a monstrously hungry stomach, my lunch-mates).  But hey, a little scurvy never killed anyone.  ;)

The parties were fun.  The free crap was a treat.  I even didn't mind seeing cute little babies here and there (as long as I'm not the one getting up to feed 'em, we're all good).  The down-side to any event featuring 1400 women?  DRAMA.  A drama-free zone it was not.  Obv.

I wasn't on the guest list for most of the little corporate soirees but I'm totally fine with that.  I don't need a list of names above and below mine to feel part of something and I don't need brands to covet me in order to feel good about myself.  While I felt that these private parties interfered with the general feeling of community surrounding the weekend (like, if you bother to travel to a networking conference, why spend so much time with peeps you already know?), I really have no strong opinion on this. 

But the real event after my own heart?  CheeseburgHers and fries at 10pm.  I mean really, as a girl with a weakness for junk food and fast food, McD's sure don't have to buy my love with a sponsored event.  But I'm sure glad they did.  :)

NOTE: I reserve the right to update, add to, or even publish additional posts about BlogHer as my memory allows...

 

 

BlogHer Sponsors? Who Needs 'Em...

I don't have a sponsor for BlogHer.  And based on the number of companies/PR firms/monied peeps that I deal with on an excruciatingly regular basis, this might seem strange.  But it's not.  Because I (sort of) wanted it this way.

When I bought my BlogHer ticket waaaaay back when the pricing was still considered "earlybird", it didn't even occur to me that I could actually get a sponsor to pick up the tab.  I know.  Rookie.  And then as I read the Twitter stream and talked to my blog-friends, I realized that it wouldn't take much to actually get this whole ordeal paid-for!  What was I waiting for?

So I created a cute little media package with neat little headings that included, Who Am I?  and What Do you Stand to Gain?  I added the number of unique visitors I get and some ideas I had that would get us (you) noticed at the big event.

And it sat in my documents.

At first, I scolded myself.  How will you ever find a sponsor if you don't actively look?  Put out feelers?  At least tweet that you're looking to represent someone?  Blog about it?

But nothing.

And the weeks and months rolled on.

And shockingly, nobody banged down my door in search of a blogger to sponsor.

And as time marched on, I noticed that most of my peers had sponsors.  What was wrong with me?  So I entered a few "no strings attached" contests, in hopes of being the lucky winner of an all (or partly) expense paid trip to Chicago.  But alas, I'm not one of those who wins things. 

Then it hit me.  I never went out to find a sponsor because I don't think I actually ever really wanted one.  I don't think I wanted the responsibility of representing anyone else's brand at BlogHer.  After all, I am a business-owner myself.  And a blogger.  And a big part of the reason why I'm so looking forward to BlogHer is the prospect of meeting people who might be interested in me and my brand.  And if I'm busy promoting others, I may miss that opportunity.  Next year might be different, but for now, something about representing others just wasn't feeling organic to me.

So there you have it.  I have finally secured an official sponsor for BlogHer '09 - and it's me.  See you there.  :)     

BlogHer Fashion. Selling Out.

I'm selling out.  I'm not only planning my BlogHer wardrobe TWO whole days before I need to pack it, I'm actually going to talk publicly about what the contents of my suitcase might hold.  Blame Audrey over at Mom Generations, whose incessant fashion posts have inspired some shopping and actual thought about what I might wear at what is turning into the fashion event of the year (however, I'll be the judge of that).

Ok.  So here's what I'm thinking. 

Jeans are going to be an integral part of my BlogHer wardrobe for this reason - I can wear them more than once and that would be socially acceptable.  I mean, pair a great pair of jeans with a few cute tops, and I'm good to go.  So my brand new Joe's Jeans will definitely be making the trip. 

• 
• • Dresses.  I'm deciding which dresses might be worthy of this 

event.  I'm thinking a simple black shift dress by Ella Moss paired with leggings and my new peep-toe heels might work.

Next, I'm thinking either my cute maxi-dress (which is actually not that maxi since I'm only 5'2 in heels) or this plain black sundress which can be paired with sandals for day.  Both are super easy to wear and comfortable. 

And that's about as far as I've gotten.  Now the real question is, what does one wear to bowl with Tim Gun?? 

Blogher here, BlogHer there...

Why does it feel like BlogHer is just EVERYWHERE!! 

I'm excited!!  I am!!  But all this anticipation is making me nervous in places I didn't even know I had nerves!  I mean, there's the clothes.  Whatever.  I'm over that.  Then there's the parties.  How am I even supposed to know about them all, much less attend them all?

BREAKING NEWS - I'm no longer a big party girl.  I used up all the hours one is allotted to party in their lifetime in my 20s and I'm still catching up on sleep.  Seriously, I'm still tired!  I grew up in Montreal where the after-parties are twice as nice as the regular parties!  So yes, I'm still tired.

The other thing is, I have heard very little about the sessions themselves (one of the major reasons I'm traveling to Chicago for a 3-day period).  I mean, I suppose I could head on over to the BlogHer site, but since I'm getting almost 100% of my BlogHer info via Twitter and blogs, it seems reasonable to think that this other info should be sprouting up here and there as well.  After attending BlogHer Boston, part of the Reach-Out Tour last summer, I can say that I definitely enjoyed the panelists and am looking forward to more of the same. 

10mins later...  Matter of fact, I just checked out the agenda and I am stoked!!  Only problem I can foresee is that I might have trouble deciding where to be!  So many awesome sessions, only one me!  So do I opt-in to a mommy-blogging panel (a title which I do not necessarily identity with, btw) or should I check-in to the HTML seminar and become more adept at working the code on my blog? 

And if memory serves, the snacks at Blogher Boston were outstanding.  How ever will I fit in snack-time with all this other stuff going on?

And most importantly, how will I find time in my busy sessions & snacking schedule to check out what each and every one of you is wearing?

Mom Bloggers on Fox News

A few weeks ago, I was contacted via Twitter by @Sara_Underwood, anchor at Fox25 News in Boston, asking if she could use a screenshot of my blog for a story on mom bloggers.  Not shy about sharing ;), I invited her to use what she liked.  So while I was not interviewed for the piece (but see my friend @BostonMamas fab spot), I'm proud that my beautiful blog design (by Domestic Chicky Designs) was deemed fab enough by Ms. Underwood to decorate her piece with.  

Maybe next time I'll even get to talk on camera. :)

See the piece here: Mom Bloggers or below.

What goes around comes around.

Look, I don't condone violence.  I don't think using force solves problems, nor do I think it gets a point across.  But Perez Hilton, I do believe in karma.

Karma: that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect.

Cause: Perez Hilton is long since infamous for offering up his own crass reviews of Hollywood gossip.  He is not shy to opine on, well, anything related to, well, anything.  This is truly critiques without boundaries.

Effect:  He got the crap beat outta him.

Only surprise here is that it hasn't happened sooner.  And remember when I said I don't condone violence?  I also think Hilton got what was coming to him.

Have you watched his loooong vlog which tells his side of the story?  In it, he appears distraught (understandably) but makes some remarks which prove that this "guy" thinks the rules of engagement don't apply to him.  After going through his version of the event, Hilton goes on about how he likes to write about the drama in other people's lives, but that he doesn't want drama in his.

Uh, SERIOUSLY?

Ok - this is deranged on so many levels.  First, if you're the biggest gossip in town, people are NOT gonna like you.  And you know, don't be surprised if they talk crap about you too.  After all, you invented the no-holds-barred approach.

Second - don't you, as a citizen of the world, have some responsibility to it?  Like, are there boundaries at all?  Clearly not since you attack mere children and go on and on about their looks, their bodies, their talent.  (hey, Bruce Willis, where were you when Fight Club broke out?)

Third - why aren't the celebs that he slanders on a daily basis suing this loser?  What about verbal assault?  Imagine sleeping at night knowing you make your living spewing libelous and horrible crap about others on the Internet?  Knowing that what you contribute to the world does nothing other than pollute it?

EW.

Perez Hilton is playing a victim.  This guy needs to get real.  He victimizes the people he badmouths every day.  They are not present to defend themselves against his ridiculous words, the way he was present to defend himself in the fight.  He could've walked away.  He could've taken the high road.  Instead, he hung around (who wouldn't have hit the guy?) then proceded to Tweet/cry to the public.  Words aren't gonna get you very far this time, Perez.

Here's the real issue.  What is this world coming to?  Why are we so anti-everything and everyone?  I know, I know, I blog constantly about the reality TV "people" and have called them d-bags and boring and whatever else I have thought.  But do Heidi & Spencer really count anyway?  Joke people, joke. ;)

Bottom line is anyone who dedicates their life's ambition to gossip and the mean-spirited dissemination of information deserves to get cracked in the face.

Maybe it'll be an improvement anyway.

 

Does the FTC Belong in the Blogosphere?

It's a new form of advertising and everyone is doing it.  And I mean everyone.  Big companies, medium companies, even teeny tiny companies like Alex Casey Baby are taking advantage of the wonderful reach bloggers have and are using it to promote their latest and greatest.  It essentially works like this: company y contacts blogger x (or vice versa) and it is mutually determined that blog x and company y are a good match for a partnership.  Discussions ensue, product or service is provided free of charge by company y, blogger x "tests" said product  or service and voila.  A review post is born.

Simple, right?

Not anymore.

This summer, it is expected that the Federal Trade Commission will set forth guidelines designed to outline how companies can "inspire" bloggers to post about their company's products. Additionally, the FTC will require that bloggers disclose when they're writing about a product that is sponsored and voicing opinions that aren't their own. 

I sometimes refer to this phenomenon as transparency.

It's definitely an issue.  Bloggers are looking for good content and are sometimes selling out in order to arrive at it.  I've seen some blogs who ask for cash in exchange for a review (just wrong on all counts) which begs the question - is accepting cash the same as accepting a sample of the product or products?

Here at The Daily Grind, I require a sample of any product I review and/or giveaway.  The reason is simple and two-fold:

1. I cannot accurately and objectively review a product I have not actually tested, and
2. There needs to be some sort of compensation for services rendered (ie, promoting your product).

But the payback for the sponsor is two-fold as well:

1. They receive a review that (hopefully) is well-read and results in new customers (since moms notoriously trust other moms opinions), and
2. They didn't have to dip into their budget to make this happen.

If I had accepted cash, I would call it an advertisement and those belong in my sidebar to the left.  Sometimes it happens that I am reviewing a product made by a sponsor.  I still require a sample and the review is still comprised of my own opinion.  If I receive a sample that I don't believe stands up to my standards, I simply put it to the side and don't review it.   

There is definitely fine-print when it comes to providing and accepting free product.  First of all, it is my opinion that every blogger should reserve the right to not review any item they wouldn't personally recommend to their BFF despite the freebie.  Also, bloggers who are worth their salt should consider what it is they are accepting - is it a product that looks interesting to you?  Do you think the quality will stand-up to the quality of  your own product (your blog)?  One example is my friend Christine at Boston Mamas.  This wonderful blog is filled with reviews that I know I can trust, simply because she is particular about what she even accepts for review.  Another is Christine at From Dates to Diapers who includes a full disclosure policy which assures readers that while she may have accepted compensation for her opinions, that her opinions are always just that - her honest opinion.  And I think this is what the FTC is looking for.

Recently I signed on to be a Frigidaire Test-Drive Mom.  This means that I was lucky enough to be selected to receive a new range and microwave from Frigidaire, completely free.  In exchange, I will post about my experiences with my new appliances from time to time.  See that button on your right indicating my participation in this program?  This is full-disclosure.  This is my way of letting readers know that I am part of a campaign and not just reviewing the oven I walked in and purchased last week.  And my posts will indicate that clearly as well.

All this to say that I welcome the FTC into the blogosphere with open arms.  As long as they wipe their feet before entering (ie, respectfully and without disrupting the intended spirit of the blogosphere), I welcome them to sift through the rubbish to find the true gems because there are so many gems and we shouldn't settle for anything less.