BlogHer - The Blogger PR Blackout - The good, the bad, and the completely puzzling - Comments

I totally missed this but,

anaesthetic — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:30:38 -0600

I totally missed this but, then again, I'm not a mom nor am I really connected. I have a couple thought on this and some of them are even contradictory.

On the one hand, I agree. If it's work, stop. Write something else. Almost all of my reviews have been things I have purchased myseld and I write them.. because I like to. Because I have something to say. Because, so many times, I have wanted to read a quality review but could not find one. If I get sick of writing reviews, I focus on shopping or maybe I just take a break.

But as a blog reader? I would love to see a break from reviews. Maybe it is insulting and not quite true to call ALL reviews cheap PR tactics but most of them are horrible, not anything I do want to read or posts that feel "organic" in nature. I stopped at a blog today to read a review/giveaway and wanted to earn extra entries by commenting on other posts.. except, every post on the front page was a review/giveaway and none of them actually interested me. There's definitely some saturation here and the focus on reviews, especially "reviews" in exchange for product is oustanding in a bad way. It makes me want to scream "enough is enough, already!". So, as a reader, I wouldn't mind everyone backing off a bit.

Not that I don't read several blogs that don't have any reviews at all; those certainly do exist (and many of those aren't great reading, either) but it does seem like "Mommy blogger" has become synonomous with "review blogger".

Integrity is Key

mindfulmomma — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:56:12 -0500

Thank you Liz, for your very thoughtful take on this whole strange PR blackout thing. I personally find no need to take part in it because I 'do PR' on my own terms and in my own good time. Honestly, I feel really good about supporting small eco-friendly businesses by promoting their products and I think that my readers appreciate the heads up about products that might make sense in their lives. In fact I'm just about to put up a post about another wonderful Mom-run business today...blackout or not! BTW - I just signed the Blog with Integrity pledge and will proudly display the badge!

Blackout

Dorotheaa — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:12:23 -0500

Sounds like someoone just wants to get some press herself I'm 63 been blogging for almost three years haven't done any reviews however I would if a product was something I used. After all we're here to share our experiences in life and tell our stories. If someone doesn't like what bloggers have evovled too tell them to go to Barnes and Nobles and buy books.

I love this writing world and hope we're around a long time each blogger doing what works for them and us readers choosing whatever makes us smile or where we are able to learn something from each other. Isn't there always a party pooper around.

My Best,

Dorothy from grammology

grammology.com

just a mommy blogger

melbs1969 — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:48:47 -0500

i started blogging 2 years ago...as a mommy blogger.

and here i am, 2 years later...a mommy blogger. i've had a couple of giveaways. and i've done a couple reviews. but really, i'm not huge on them so i don't accept them very often.

but...that's the choice i made.

it's all about choices.

i'm finding this whole thing so silly, aren't you?

you're bored? got a little somethin' for you to read...http://www.rockanddrool.com

Brilliant point Danielle

white trash mom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:46:42 -0500

Why do you need badges? Exactly.

White Trash Mom Blog

My Book Website

Email Me!

Just Say No?

white trash mom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:40:33 -0500

I am with you sister, amen.

White Trash Mom Blog

My Book Website

Email Me!

Just Say No?

white trash mom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:40:19 -0500

I am with you sister, amen.

White Trash Mom Blog

My Book Website

Email Me!

Don't Get it Either

white trash mom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:37:40 -0500

I don't get it. I totally agree with your point that the option of deleting emails or not responding to calls to do PR is a step in the right direction. Quick and easy to solution to all the STRESS.

It's a free country, so if the blogger that started this boycott wants to create a PR Blackout, it's her right. But the PR blackout makes me cringe a little, especially when it gets national media attention----she does not speak for all of us.

WhiteTrashMom

My Book Website

Email Me!

Don't Get it Either

white trash mom — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:37:31 -0500

I don't get it. I totally agree with your point that the option of deleting emails or not responding to calls to do PR is a step in the right direction. Quick and easy to solution to all the STRESS.

WhiteTrashMom

My Book Website

Email Me!

Focus on writing

norarachel — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:03:13 -0500

I like the idea of "write well" month, or at least a "write" month. I tend to skip over review posts because I am not interested in them. (Bring on the boob and poop posts, and I'm right there with you, so that tells you something about my life right now.)

Nora

http://www.nonlineargirl.com

Thanks for the clarification Trish

Mom101 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:39:36 -0500

I thank you for your thoughtful response here. And for not calling me a whiny bitch. I'd hate to make the baby jesus cry. (Kidding!)

I completely appreciate that this was an honest and sincere attempt to provide some relief to the bloggers in your community who, if nothing else, are extremely loyal to you and passionate about your site. It seems you've had some time to reasses the notion of this all and you're coming to some great conclusions. Even so, I stand by my premise that the name you assigned to the campaign, as well as some of your original comments around the web and your first follow-up post created a lot of unnecessary tension.

We all have to take responsibility for the words we use as bloggers.

It's still not too late to change the name of the campaign to something more positive, particularly if it's not accurately describing your original intent.

Mom-101

Cool Mom Picks.com

driving traffic isn't a bad thing

Mom101 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:19:07 -0500

I do want to add however that I don't have a problem with bloggers like MomDot creating a meme or spearheading an effort that will drive traffic to their blogs. In fact, I think that's probably a more admirable way to drive traffic than all these paid posts and sponsored giveaways.

I'm seeing a lot of criticism of them "just trying to drive traffic" and I don't think that's inherently an issue. I just wish they weren't doing it at the expense of the PR industry.

Mom-101

Cool Mom Picks.com

Me neither

humanbeing — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:49:36 -0500

I only review things I want to review, and then rarely, and then not for free product or etc. My journalism school training makes me cringe at the thought of it. I appreciate some of my favorite bloggers, like Miss Britt, who stopped promoting on her personal blog and instead created a second blog for that purpose.

I can understand the burnout of blogging contests and giveaways and reviews, but if some people are on that treadmill, they can just step off. I imagine this blackout is a bit of biting the hand that feeds.

Lynn @ human, being

http://www.humanbeingblog.com

hit enter twice by accident

5m4m — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:42:40 -0500

hit enter twice by accident - can you delete this comment? - thanks

Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)

http://www.5minutesformom.com

http://twitter.com/5minutesformom

Susan (5 Minutes for

5m4m — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:30:58 -0500

Susan (5 Minutes for Mom)

http://www.5minutesformom.com

http://twitter.com/5minutesformom

The Blogger PR Blackout - The good, the bad, and the completely puzzling

Mom101 — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:51:38 -0500

There have been any number of times that I have eagerly clicked over to my favorite personal blog, awaiting a hilarious breastfeeding story or an engaging rant about reality TV (Kelly Bensimmon, you just kill me with that orange skin!) only to find an uninspired giveaway of Consumer Package Good X. I'd be lying if I didn't admit I often wonder what the blog world would be like if everyone got back to blogging their passions, as they mostly did 3 or 4 years ago (I know, call me Granny), and away from the half-hearted marketing plugs.

So I was intrigued to learn that this week, a blogging community called MomDot issued a call for a PR Blackout next month.

MomDot is challenging bloggers to participate for one week in August in a PR Blackout challenge where you do not blog ANY giveaways, ANY reviews, and Zero press releases. In fact, we don't want you to talk to PR at ALL that whole week. We want to see your blog naked, raw, and back to basics.

Evidently this is necessary because bloggers in this community are now experiencing "deadline stress equivalent to what the General Motors CEO must feel every time he drives into work." Wow, writing your opinion about soup is now comparable to being responsible for the livelihood of 325,000 employees and their families! That is a lot of stress!

Admittedly my first thought was, it's a nice idea, but haven't bloggers learned to use the delete key on their email accounts?

Unless you are receiving money from a sponsor or have some other contract, a blogger never has an obligation to post about a product. Never. Not even if that product came free. Not even if that product came free, hand-delivered to your door by a shirtless Hugh Jackman. But then, I would wonder what in the world is going on in your life that's more interesting than writing about a shirtless Hugh Jackman at your door.

Susan Getgood, a respected marketer and PR professional in the mom
blogger community cut right to the chase on her own blog, Marketing Roadmaps:

I really cannot figure out the reason for the boycott. If product reviews are too much work, don’t do them. Or do fewer. If you aren’t getting joy from something, stop. If the value isn’t there, don’t do it.

Seems logical to me. But it would seem that this Product Review Stress Syndrome is palpable and does somehow need to be addressed, as a few dozen bloggers have eagerly embraced the effort. Grandma blogger (cool!) Cindy of Moomette's Magnificents suggests that she didn't start as a product reviewer, but it has increasingly taken over her time. Similar thoughts have been echoed by Heather at Maternal Spark and Tammy of of Autism Learning Felt who says quite clearly:

This is not to shun PR, but to give us mommies a break. We put a lot of time into doing reviews and giveaways. Time that we don’t get paid for. Yes, we got a free product. Big whoopee. A $10, $25, or $50 item for all the hours we put into reviewing an item, writing up the post and promoting the giveaways. The main reason most of us do it is because at one time it was fun. Lately, for some of us, we miss just blogging about our family and our life. We want a break.

And I totally see her point. We--especially moms with such limited time and resources but really all bloggers--should all be putting our energy towards the activities that give us the most reward and fulfillment in life. Online and off.

But then, why take the shot at PR people? Why not call it "Write Well Week" or "Blog About Life Week" if the idea isn't to antagonize or alienate the PR community? Ostensibly, that's what an effort called "PR Blackout" is doing.

And if the effort is such a sincere act of community building, I cannot figure out why MomDot would seek to antagonize those who don't participate. The day after the call for a blackout, MomDot editor Trish initiated a further call to bloggers, suggesting that they are "whiny" and "weak" if they won't or can't commit to the blackout because of existing obligations to marketers.

Listen up whiny babies of the blogosphere: If your [sic] afraid to take a WEEK, a WEEK off of PR blogging, then you have a PROBLEM.

Now go dry your eyes with your boogie wipes and jump on the bandwagon...The real question is, are you strong enough to take the step?

Hm.

I keep channeling Eden Marriott Kennedy of Fussy (WWEMKD?) and the creator of National Blog Posting Month. Her own effort was designed to promote great writing by simply encouraging bloggers to write each day for a month. There was no villain in this equation. No tension. No blackballing. No bad guy. Unless you consider lethargy to be a bad guy, as it often is.

Writer Caroline McCarthy at Cnet writes a sharp analysis of the blackout on her article, Do Mommybloggers Need to Grow Up? in which she suggests the effort is not only misguided it's "immature," and even "insulting."

Working with the public relations industry is core to any journalist's (and now blogger's) job, as is the use of press releases and in some cases review products. What MomDot is assuming is that "mommy bloggers" are simply rehashing press releases and posting photos of stuff they got for free, turning less into independent bloggers and more into PR mouthpieces.

That's a little bit insulting, in my opinion, to the scores of
smart, funny, and critical bloggers who happen to write about their
lifestyles as mothers.

I have to agree, there are indeed plenty of wonderful sites that deliver outstanding content while relying in part from tips from public relations. BlogHer itself springs to mind first. Then I think of the food blogs, political blogs, design blogs, and tech blogs, many of which are published by moms. Even my own shoppping blog, Cool Mom Picks relies on our marketer relationships for scoop - on charitable efforts, breaking news, big sales and other info that would be valuable information for our readers. To perceive PR as simply a source of free products seems to be a limited view.

In fact, while the Hershey's and Pepsi's of the world certainly are invested in social media, the majority of our outreach comes from entrepreneurs and mom-run startups who rely heavily on journalists and bloggers to get the word out in lieu of an advertising budget. Shutting them out would be counter to our mission to help support small business, particularly in such a challenging economy.

I suppose, like Susan, I'm having trouble getting to the root of the real intent of the blackout. Something about it just doesn't sit well with me.

It seems too provocative to seem authentic, too antagonistic to be about community building, and even at odds with some other posts on MomDot about dissatisfaction with the current level of compensation currently received for posting reviews. Could the blackout be an effort to harness the collective power of mom bloggers to strong arm marketers into paying for posts or increasing the value of freebies?

Kim, one of the admins of MomDot had blogged earlier this week:

I joked the other day that if it ain’t a car, a computer or major electronics, that I will not be doing reviews and as much as I laughed, it’s pretty much true. It is going to take something REALLY shiny to get my attention from now on. Or something green. Green and with the face of a former President.

Well, there's one way to cut down on the number of pitches you get.

If you don't like what you're blogging, don't do it any more. If you're not passionate about reviews, don't write them. And if there are actually PR people out there willing to blackball you for not covering a product, I'd report them on ethics violations.

I'm with Christy of More Than a Mommy, a member of the MomDot community who suggested in comments,

Rather than an anti-PR/product week,why not a back-to-basics day where we all just post about something that inspires and refreshes us?

And then with Susan who summed up her post beautifully:

Instead of polarizing boycotts, teeth gnashing and wailing, let’s all pledge to Blog with Integrity.

Why wait until August? I say let's start now.

Liz Gumbinner is the author of Mom-101 which does not review products, and Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Cool Mom Picks, which is happy to accept relevant pitches in August and beyond.