The Joys and Trials of Being a Mom Blogger (Changes Ahead!)
Fun Stuff, Parenting — By Lindsey on March 3, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Sharing my heart and my thoughts on being a mom blogger
I’ve been thinking a lot about my blogging goals and what I want to be doing with this blog right now. It is HARD to know what to do sometimes. Over the past couple of years, I’ve followed some wonderful blogs myself and I have an idea of how I want things to change so that I’ll be more like my favorite blogs. Blogs that obviously care about their followers, use their blog for good and to help others, and aren’t just one huge toy commercial. ;-) The changes ahead will be good, and I’m hoping for your feedback on ways to improve!
My Story
When I first started my blog, it was right after Emma was born (May 2008) and I loooved it. It was just a simple blog then, with very few followers and a free .blogspot.com address. I knew nothing. But still, I linked to a few Wordless Wednesdays and began to gain readers, other great moms who took an interest in my little family and self – from my birth story and my daughter’s first interest in books to just random thoughts on new mommyhood. It was a wonderful way to connect with other moms and share all my hopes, fears, and mommy moments – and know that someone out there would understand me. It was (and still is) awesome.
Then I got started doing product reviews – which I love as well… but I had no idea that there is so much pressure once you get going! It wasn’t long before I began to feel pressure to make my blog prettier with a new and unique design, purchase my own domain, move to WordPress (and those were all good decisions, I must admit), and, of course, post something new and exciting that would fascinate my readers every day. No pressure, right?
The Lightbulb over My Head
At some point, I began to lose some of my excitement for blogging – it became another thing I had to do. Not that I don’t enjoy it – I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t! But even things you love can become burdensome if you lose your focus. I have no time to visit other loved blogs, stay connected with my readers, and take the time to visit a few of those Wordless Wednesday posts (unless you post a comment and I see it on my blog).
Isn’t that why I started blogging?
I really do love testing products, taking photos, and being able to offer products to my readers for free. It’s really a lot of fun – unless you take on too much, that is. And that I definitely have done in the past – remember everything going on at Christmastime? I had noooo idea what I was getting into, lol. Don’t get me wrong, we had a fantastic Christmas. But I found myself surrounded by all of this cool stuff that I didn’t need. And honestly, although Emma really likes a few of the toys (mainly the wooden kitchen and Melissa and Doug rocking horse), she doesn’t need all of those toys.
And I don’t want to send the message that your kids won’t be happy unless they have all the new toys and gadgets out there.
It’s so not true. Emma is most happy with a coloring book and crayons (from the dollar store), measuring cups and pots and pans, and boxes that the packages come in. And a few choice wooden toys and special stuffed animals that I’ve come across. But honestly, she doesn’t need everything she has and I’ve sort of overdone it in the past. The nice part is that I’ve been able to share toys with friends and people who have children.
Oh, the trials of being a mom blogger and trying to keep up with the crowd.
Really, it can be easy to fall into the vicious circle of trying to get more page views and readers so that your ads and reviews get clicked on, and so that PR will contact you about reviewing products. And if you want the bigger, better products you have to have a lot more page views. Can you see how this can get crazy? It’s not easy to be a mom blogger if you’re going to get competitive. It can be done, of course, and many bloggers do it brilliantly! But I’ve recently discovered that I don’t want to do it. I’m tired of worrying about what everyone will think, losing followers, getting my page views up so that PR will be more likely to work with me, etc. I think the keyword here is tired. lol I’m tired! I have a toddler going through the terrible twos and she’s wearing me out, too.
Changes!
So there will be some small changes around here. I’ve already been winding things down, you may have noticed. I’ll be doing maybe two to five reviews/giveaways a month instead of … 20. lol And that’s just a goal, there will probably be more or less some months depending on my energy level and whether or not I think you’ll love the product.
Don’t worry though, there won’t be less content!
I’m just trying to free up time for the things I love to do and blog about like crafting, entertainment, cooking, and more things like that. And I still want to review things that we love and need like children’s shoes, clothing, and some of the nice toys out there, but I won’t be saying yes to everything anymore. I’m going to be a little more picky. Which is good for you because then I’ll have nicer reviews for you to read and products for you to win! And it won’t be all sponsored reviews, either. I have a pretty big list of things I’ve purchased in the past that I want to share thoughts on and recommend/warn you about. It just hasn’t been at the top of my list of priorities. But that will be changing soon. :-)
Okay, I’m going to end this here because it has gotten pretty long.
I will be posting later, though, with some questions for you. If you have a moment and can think of something you want to see more of or less of, or if there are any problems with ads, etc – let me know! I’m really interested. But there will be a dedicated post for that later in the week, too. And I’ll be finishing up some of my reviews in the next two weeks, too – so there will be quite a few. But then things should slow down on the product review end.
I’m really excited about getting to know you all better and being able to post some things that really interest us mommies! And I want to say that I really appreciate all of you and your comments and faithful following. You rock!
28 Comments
Good for you! I look forward to seeing where your blog goes from here.
.-= Carrie´s last blog ..Review: Baby Cozies from North American Bear Co. =-.
I understand completely! I have only been blogging for about 2 months, but I have busted my booty to get followers and I also have a full time job. I basically, blog and work. My hubby gets a little time in between. I remember one day I had 9 packages of stuff delivered for reviews…9!! I was happy at first because it was like Christmas, then I was like….ohh crap! I have to review all this (plus more) in the next week or two. Yikes. I will continue to read your blog. I like giveaway only blogs, but I also love content blogs. I am subscribed to both & I try to balance my blog between the two. Best of luck!
.-= Crystal Hamilton´s last blog ..Free Tan this Saturday (03/06) at Hollywood Tans =-.
I totally get ya there – I have to keep a list of what I have to review or I would lose track! And in the beginning I promised to get a product review done within two weeks but I don’t do that now, lol. I just do my best and keep in touch with the person. I also like to have a decent amount of time with the product before reviewing.
And I enjoy giveaway blogs as well! I just didn’t want this to be an all review/giveaway blog and it’s getting kind of close. ;-) I want to try to keep things more balanced.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Good for you! I totally understand you. I’m only been doing product reviews for a month and I’m already tired. I still wonder how other bloggers do it. Some do a lot of reviews and giveaways and have little kids. The only time I get to blog is when my kids are sleeping. Sometimes I wonder if it is worth sleeping late every night.
.-= Ethel´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday 3/03 =-.
I’ve wondered how other bloggers do it as well! And I only have one kid – lol. Many have three or four or more. They deserve medals. :-)
Thanks for a great post. It really gave me a lot to think about. I recently started a blog and honestly I don’t know what I am doing. At first I wanted it to be all reviews and giveaways but I realize that personal content is great as well. I have few readers but I am grateful for everyone who stops by. I am going to try very hard to not worry about PR and # of hits but I can see why people get swept up in the numbers. I enjoy your blog…thanks for sharing!
.-= Christine´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Dr. Suess =-.
Oh I like your blog just the way it is. But I know exactly how you feel too. It’s hard to keep up. Sometimes I tell myself I don’t care, and that our family blog is just for us (husband, kiddos+ fam) but the truth is- there are a lot of other blogs out there that are so inspiring! I want mine to be just that! FYI- yours is one of those already!
.-= Jamie E´s last blog ..Silent Sunday =-.
Thank you, Jamie! :-) That means a lot that you said that. I do like my blog, I just want to change the way I think about it – not worrying about silly things and just enjoying it!
I know that feeling! There are days when I post 10 times a day and just want to rest when my monkey is napping instead. sometimes I love writing but it’s all the stuff that goes with it. Good for you!
It sounds like you’re finding a happy medium, and good for you. Something we all need to do now and then.
.-= Hear Mum Roar´s last blog ..One activity, three budgets =-.
Great post and exactly how I feel! I have review from november to get done!! Giveaways are a lot of work!
.-= anne´s last blog ..Chocolate Cheerios Giveaway =-.
Good for you! It’s hard to keep priorities straight (it’s a constant struggle for me) but it’s always worth it.
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..New Campbell’s Kitchen Soup =-.
wow that is good for you ! yes sometimes blogging is overwhelming while attending to a two year old. I am new in this blogging thing and sometimes it becomes a chore rather than a hobby. Sometimes I was trying to push myself to work to make more traffic in my blog that I pass up the opportunity to teach my daughter how to write or read. Good thing my husband is there to always remind me not to forget my motherly obligation and my priorities..hehehe…
Goodluck and see you around !
.-= melanie´s last blog ..A Tree within a Tree =-.
Hi there,
I can barely keep up with writing each day on top of everything else I have to do from day to day. I am a little frustrated and maybe a little bored and uninspired by having to write something of interest so I take time away from blogging though this has had a negative effect on my readership. Never mind. I continue to write but only when I feel like it. Best to you and your blog.
.-= Tanya´s last blog ..Remembering fun times =-.
I love your honesty. Staying true to yourself and your family seems like the right path. Good thing for me to remember, thanks!
Yes, I can well imagine the pressure! I have a blog and I write about my kids – but I am in Warsaw, Poland, so ‘product reviews’ are just not aomething that I think I will ever have to deal with. I mean, I can’t GET any of that stuff here and so my kids make do with whatever products are shipped in to Poland. Compared to the US and Canada and the UK – it’s not much of a selection :)
I think that our blogs need to be our place to escape from the pressures of our lives; that means we need to ENJOY blogging. When it becomes a chore or a duty or an obligation, it’s time to do things differently.
Good for you to recognise this and make the changes you need to, in order to start enjoying your blog again. Good luck (or as we say in Poland, ‘Powodzenia!’).
I understand that completely.
.-= Deborah´s last blog ..Welcome to FeedBurner =-.
Good for you! It is important to prioritize the things we love in life. Blogging should be fun & it helps me a great deal to work on a schedule. That way I don’t get overwhelmed or burnt out.