Written on April 30th, 2008 at 03:04 am by Darren Rowse
Five Reasons Why Mom Blogs Are the Blogs to Watch
The following post exploring the rise of Mom Blogs is by Michelle Mitchell from Scribbit.
In the Wall Street Journal’s April 10th issue Sue Shellenbarger interviewed Heather Armstrong (known to millions of fascinated fans as Dooce) and a gasp of surprise went up from print media around the country (even my hometown paper The Anchorage Daily News picked the article up off the AP wire).
But I’m here to tell you that there’s nothing surprising about Dooce’s super-stardom and in fact not only is it to be expected but other mom blogs are following in her wake. Mom blogs are poised to become the next big “It” when it comes to the internet–they’re gathering power like no other blogging niche and will only get bigger and better. Here’s why:
1. Moms can blog at home
You don’t need a PhD, an office or a small business loan to start up a blog and this especially appeals to mothers who are looking for ways to bring in extra income while they’re at home with their children. It’s a job that they can do while the kids are napping or away at school and allows women like me who have left the work force to raise a family to feel part of the tech age–always a benefit when your days are filled with diapers, dishes and drool.
Mom bloggers don’t have to leave their day jobs and they don’t have to make enough money to live off of–all they need is a little extra to pay for soccer lessons or a family vacation.
2. Moms need the sociality of the net
I couldn’t possibly count the number of days that I’ve spent without the live interaction of another adult (except maybe the clerk at the grocery store). Women want–no we crave and demand–social interaction and for those of us whose office is our home the internet and blogging opens up a new world of friendship, debate, learning and conversation. No longer do we have to pretend to hold conversations with Steve on Blues Clues just to talk to another adult, now we can blog. Women need to read about other moms’ struggles and disasters–it’s how we feel that maybe our own traumas aren’t so bad–and there are more and more moms daily that are discovering how the world of mom blogs helps them feel connected to other women.
3. Moms have a wealth of material to use
Tech blogs are just about technology, celebrity blogs are strictly about celebs but a mom blog could focus on parenting, protecting the environment, politics, crafts, food, homeschooling, gardening, household products, design, travel or just funny stories.
They’re usually written with an emotion and personality which connects with readers in ways that other niches often can’t and they speak about subjects that naturally carry strong emotions: home, family, marriage, children, the environment–all of which encourage dedicated readers. A blog about the latest techy gadget, while interesting, doesn’t carry the emotional weight that a post about home and family does. While other bloggers may sneer over moms posting stories about life with little ones and the oddities of every day life there have been plenty of writers from Erma Bombeck to Dave Barry to Jerry Seinfeld that have built careers on noticing life’s quirks and inconsistencies and mom blogs are cashing in on this.
4. Moms are record keepers
Blog means “web-log” and most blogs are started as online journals. Moms naturally tend to be the record keepers for their families whether it’s a newsletter, scrapbook or photo album and more and more women are turning to blogs as an easy way to keep their family’s diary. Staying in touch with Grandma, recording a child’s growth, these are the reasons women are turning to blogs and even though 99% of them will never see traffic outside of their family those who blog read other blogs. And who are they going to read? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not TechCrunch.
5. Mom blogs wield economic power
In Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point he writes of the importance of mavens–those who are trusted for their opinions and who pass along information on what products, services and ideas are the best–and mom blogs are the maven nesting grounds. Moms want to know which products work and which don’t; they want to give an opinion on what’s worked for them and share their experiences with others and advertisers are just beginning to discover this advertising pot of gold.
Because women are generally the buyers for their homes in everything from clothing to food to minivans mom blogs talk about things that can be bought and sold, products that can be promoted and services that most households need. Proctor and Gamble, Sony or General Electric can throw up their logos on PerezHilton and that might make them look rather hip but if they can get Dooce to say she liked their stuff that’s when the sales start rolling in. You’ve heard “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”? Well she who does the shopping then blogs about it rules the net.
Mom blogs are growing and it’s not going to be too long before Dooce stops being an anomaly in the blogosphere and becomes the matriarch of mom blogs everywhere.
104 Responses to “Five Reasons Why Mom Blogs Are the Blogs to Watch”
Joe Boomer
April 30th, 2008 3:37 am
Interesting, I never thought about this. All all this time, I have been ignoring mom blogs and it turns out they can be very useful!
Alejandro Reyes
April 30th, 2008 3:38 am
makes me think my wife should be blogging now that she just had our first baby!
Terra Andersen
April 30th, 2008 3:49 am
It’s amazing how much purchasing power the average mom has. Women control most of what comes in and out of the home as far as food, hygiene, and more. The mommy bloggers have grown substantially over the past few years, and I think they are finally learning to expand their blogs to other subjects other than just being a mom… which is also adding fuel to this “mommy blog” fire.
Great post Michelle!
noemi
April 30th, 2008 3:54 am
Cheers to Mom Bloggers. Setting aside the commercial value of mom blogs, it can benefit not only moms but children who want to understand their moms. I often get comments from daughters/sons thanking me for my thoughts.
MrCooker
April 30th, 2008 4:02 am
Not often do I read mom blogs, but the few times I do, I quite enjoy them. Keep on blogging Moms!
Cecelia
April 30th, 2008 4:16 am
This article is right on the money (so to speak). I hope this is good news for my blog!
Trula
April 30th, 2008 4:33 am
Oooooh that’s good to know! My very first blog was a mom blog, and my first books about various aspects of my mothering experience :0
65 Ways To Get Traffic
April 30th, 2008 4:34 am
Great insight!
I know my mom made most of the buying decisions and would frequently get advice from other moms.
Erica
April 30th, 2008 4:36 am
I would just like to say,
http://thepioneerwoman.com .
Not your traditional ‘mom blog’, but somehow (through her writing and photography and giveaways) she has generated this incredible following.
patricia
April 30th, 2008 4:43 am
I agree that Mom blogging has great potential due to all the factors you mention however I don’t think Dooce will stop being an anomaly any time soon. Her blog’s uber popularity has as much to do with the extraordinary style (photography, design) and unique voice as the subject matter. Mom blogs will most likely become the next big “it” and there’ll be some good ones, but there won’t be many (any) Docces.
I feel that if Heather Armstrong were blogging about almost any subject out there, she’d still be a superstar. She’s got a unique combination of talents and skills that make her the perfect blogger.
Sleeping Mommy
April 30th, 2008 4:44 am
I’ve watched the explosion in mom blogs (and blogging in general) since I began my blog in 2004–without even realizing what I was getting into.
Michelle hits it on the mark when she talks about mom’s blogging with emotion. And the best writing is based in passion. I’m so glad to see the recognition this genre is gaining. We (women and moms) still have a long way to go but the progress we’ve made so far is simply amazing.
Lori
April 30th, 2008 4:45 am
When I first started blogging, I didn’t want to be associated as a “mommy blogger” but now I am proud to be. In fact, I have moved away from certain areas in the blogosphere and have begun networking with the WOMEN!
Great post..I’ve always been a fan of yours Michelle.
Craig Taylor
April 30th, 2008 4:51 am
As a regular Dooce.com reader, I have to make a very important point. Heather is an incredible writer. With her wit and writing style, she could easily be writing a nationally syndicated column in mainstream newspapers (if she isn’t already). She is funnier than most “lifestyle” columnists, she is edgy enough and pisses just enough people off to keep a loyal fan base of those who “get” her humour, and she is active in the blogging community. It takes effort and real talent to get to the level of Dooce.com. Of course the beauty of blogging is that everyone has an equal chance to show off their talent.
CK
April 30th, 2008 4:53 am
I appreciate this post! The few times I’ve posted a comment here, I referred to my little blog world, when in reality my little blog world has a niche. I’m a mom blogger.
Frugal Dad
April 30th, 2008 4:58 am
I would add to that - most “mom” blogs I read have authors who write in excellent conversational tones. This is usually why their blogs are so wildly popular, and I’ve tried to apply the same lessons in my blogging from a “frugal dad’s” perspective.
If anyone ever wanted to take a lesson on building readership, providing outstanding product reviews, and grass-roots marketing I would advise them to go find one of the top “mom” blogs and take notes!
Craig Taylor
April 30th, 2008 5:00 am
I just reread my comment, and it sounds bit negative towards Mom bloggers. I didn’t mean it that way. It was meant more as a compliment to Heather. I just think that mainstream media often uses the term “blogger” negatively, and doesn’t give enough bloggers credit as real writers. (I, for one, am not even worthy of being called a blogger, let alone a writer.)
anneglamore
April 30th, 2008 5:01 am
Yep– the term “mommyblogger” used to bug me, but I’m over it now. You can find it all, from moms who use blogs just to record day-to-day activities, moms with a special interest (infertility, autism, knitting, coupons), moms who have a political point of view, and so much more.
I cover the gamut with 3 boys - books, food, blood, and trying to find the humor in the days where a kid falls off the counter AND knocks the ant farm off in the process, and the result is frighteningly large ants wading in a puddle of your son’s blood on the floor.
But my sex talk for boys is probably my most popular post. I’m about to have to give it again.
(”It’s Natural But It’s Rated “R”)
Rich Miller
April 30th, 2008 5:17 am
In the Christian blogosphere, there are a significant number of popular “Mom blogs,” including quite a few by moms who home school their kids. These blogs seem to network and cross-link pretty effectively.
David Cheong
April 30th, 2008 5:27 am
Well, last week, my wife already started to read Mom’s blog, stuff which related on how to be a good mommy :) hinting something here, Darren’s blog will be the first to know.
Dennis Ray Nestor Jr.
April 30th, 2008 5:32 am
OK THIS IS WEIRD!
My wife comes up to me LAST NIGHT…
“Honey I want to start a blog.” Crazy!!!
Now we just have to pick a domain.
This is going to be fun.
Rick
April 30th, 2008 5:33 am
I was thinking about this recently after reading an article on purchasing decisions in the family and there is no doubt in my mind that “mom blogs” will be a force to contend with - and rightly so. They will tend to be more outspoken about the products they support and I would trust their opinion more than “pitch page” any day.
Michelle at Scribbit
April 30th, 2008 5:38 am
Thanks for your input on this–I’ve been blogging seriously for a couple years now and love the momblogging community–and I would add that momblogs don’t necessarily refer strictly to bloggers who are moms. There are plenty of women without children joining the team as well.
If you want to know more about women blogging consider Blogher conference which is being held July 18-21 in San Francisco. I’ll be speaking and looking forward to meeting some of the amazing women bloggers I admire so much.
Rhea
April 30th, 2008 5:40 am
OH, all right. I’ll have the kid already.
Erica
April 30th, 2008 5:41 am
Excellent article, although I’ve come to expect nothing less from Michelle, I’ve been an avid reader of Scribbit for over two years now!
Michelle at Scribbit
April 30th, 2008 5:42 am
You crack me up–who knew Rhea that this post could have such long lasting effect? :)
Talking Books Librarian
April 30th, 2008 5:43 am
Mom blogs are fun! There’s are also lots of librarians who blog. And then of course there are the librarian who are also moms that blog! :)
Talking Books Librarian
April 30th, 2008 5:44 am
Mom blogs are fun! There’s also lots of librarians who blog. And then of course there are the librarians, who are also moms that blog! :)
Amy Bowllan
April 30th, 2008 5:55 am
I agree with your post - even though I am a working mom. And along these same lines, I am running a series on homeschoolers
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/620000062.html#530025653
Karen Putz / DeafMom
April 30th, 2008 6:14 am
Power to the Moms! After Steak ‘n Shake refused to serve me, I went home and blogged about it. It definitely got their attention and we’ll see what the outcome is– hopefully accessible drive-thrus as a result.
Michelle at Scribbit
April 30th, 2008 6:15 am
I just had a similar experience with Frigidaire/Electrolux and have seen interesting results from my rants against their poor service.
SpaceAgeSage
April 30th, 2008 6:16 am
I just visited DOOCE blog for the first time via the link in the post. It is refreshingly honest and funny. I can see why Mom Blogs are on the rise. I think I will let my nieces who are moms know about Mom Blogging because the kid-rearing stories my nieces tell are nothing short of shoot-milk-out-of-the-nose hilarious.
Killer Picke
April 30th, 2008 6:23 am
Yeah Mommycast.com seems to be a pretty huge site and they constantly have content
madsow
April 30th, 2008 6:32 am
I have read some great stuff in some of the “mom” blogs. As a blogging dad, I enjoy seeing the different perspective, just as I hope people reading my blog enjoy my perspective.
Honestly, it seems like almost all of the frugal type blogs I read are authored by mommy. It seems there isn’t a whole log of frugal blogging daddies. Not all men hate cooking, cleaning and like sports. Ack, did I just say that !
merlotmom
April 30th, 2008 6:43 am
Thank you, Michelle. I started a momblog in January and was a bit embarrassed by it (with everyone except other bloggers of course). I don’t know anyone else with a blog so I was all alone until I made new blogger friends. I now have a community of friends and can’t wait to meet many of them at BlogHer this summer! Not to mention it’s been a ton of fun. You got the momblog description and raison d’etre just right. There’s a lot of great moms out there with plenty of info and advice to share. I wish blogs were around when my kids were babies. I look forward to many other great mom blogs out there - success to us all!
Andrea
April 30th, 2008 6:45 am
Yep, I’ve been a mommy blogger for along time. I wish I’d started when my oldest children were little as it’s easier to keep a record.
So there are huge benefits for the mom writing it as well.
Dave Atkins
April 30th, 2008 7:03 am
I’m surprised by some of this–my wife is at home with our 3 kids (3.5, 2, and 2 mo) and I don’t see how a mom of very young children would have time to blog. I’ve tried to blog with a baby on my lap or a toddler in the room and it does not work. My two year old turns my computer off and the baby becomes unhappy when held with one hand. Our kids stopped taking naps before they were 2 years old, so there is no break between 8am and 8pm. As for social interaction, we have playgroups and classes and such going on each day–the number of adults we interact with has increased 100-fold since having kids. We are pretty tech savvy–my wife instant messages me from her laptop downstairs. And I can twitter with a baby in one hand and cell phone in the other. But blogging is something to do at 3am when we should be sleeping.
Jenny Wells AKA Tea Party Girl
April 30th, 2008 7:10 am
Wow, Michelle! You were one of the first bloggers I followed regularly two years ago and here you are on ProBlogger! I love it! I’ve been blogging for as long, but didn’t find my groove until last summer. Thanks for the continued encouragement.
Jenny Wells AKA Tea Party Girl
April 30th, 2008 7:14 am
Oh, and Dave…as a mother of three may I suggest you are in the highest demand season there is. My youngest is now six and there’s no way I could have done it when the youngest was two months. And they weren’t as closely spaced as yours! If your wife is blogging, she needs to get her feet massaged (and sip tea, I might add) at the same time.
Jenny Wells AKA Tea Party Girl
April 30th, 2008 7:15 am
Oh, and Dave…as a mother of three may I suggest you are in the highest demand season there is. My youngest is now six and there’s no way I could have done it when she was two months. And they weren’t as closely spaced as yours! If your wife is blogging, she needs to get her feet massaged (and sip tea, I might add) at the same time.
Michelle at Scribbit
April 30th, 2008 8:02 am
Yes, to add to what Dave and Tea Party Girl are saying I should add that my children are old enough to allow me time for blogging. I spend at least four or five hours a day blogging but all of my children are in school. That time issue is one that gets raised frequently among mom blogs so your question is certainly valid.
Michelle (The Beartwinsmom)
April 30th, 2008 8:02 am
Way to go, Michelle at Scribbit!! She is on my Google Reader and on my blogroll. I love reading her insightful blog.
Vered - MomGrind
April 30th, 2008 8:05 am
I write a mom blog. You should definitely not ignore us. :)
Mrs. Organic
April 30th, 2008 8:35 am
Michelle - I’m glad to know you’ve had some response from the Frigidaire post (hope they made good on it).
Mom blogs are a geat social outlet; I especially love reading women who can put a humorous spin on things. There are some women out there (dooce included) with an amazing gift for capturing life and sharing it with us.
H.E.Eigler
April 30th, 2008 9:08 am
I was a blogger before becoming a mom, but now, everything revolves around baby. So it was inevitable that I changed my bloggy tune and started a ‘mom blog’. I completely agree that it is a fantastic way for us mommies to connect with each other.
To all the other mom bloggers….a poop post will get you lots of hits. My blog is only a few months old and my poop post got about 20 comments. Who knew.
http://maternalspark.blogspot.com
Lightening
April 30th, 2008 9:30 am
I have been blogging for over a year now and only recently heard about Dooce. In all honesty, it didn’t really grab me. But I guess that’s the great thing about blogging - there are plenty to CHOOSE from. However, I also think this is the biggest struggle in the “mommy blogging” niche. SO much COMPETITION for readers. I don’t actually class my blog as a “Mommy” blog (or mummy here in Australia) because I don’t actually talk about my kids all that often. It’s more a “personal” blog and because I’m a mum, it happens to cover motherhood as well as a gamut of other topics.
I do think those “mommy bloggers” who have been around from the start have a better chance at high popularity because there just wasn’t as much competition when they began. Then again, there possibly weren’t as many readers either???
I would LOVE to earn a part-time income from blogging (for all the reasons you’ve stated here) but it certainly is a HARD SLOG!!!!
Great article Michelle and thanks for publishing it Darren.
JoLynn Braley
April 30th, 2008 9:33 am
I agree with this post and the power of the mom blogs - I participated in a “blog party” a couple months ago that was mainly mom blogs (it was open to female bloggers, you didn’t have to be a mom but most were) and there were well over 2,000 participants. I actually increased my rss readership during that time and my blog isn’t a mom blog.
Just goes to show that the gadget, gizmo, and techy blogs don’t rule the blogosphere. ;) ….but I’ll bet there are some moms out there blogging about those topics, too!
Jen / domestika
April 30th, 2008 9:51 am
It’s going to be fascinating to watch the niche evolve, this next six months or so. And you can bet a whole lot of analysts will be charting how/where the marketing money gets distributed online, when we roll up to the next holiday gift frenzy season.
Fascinating, the blogosphere: yesterday’s term of derision — ‘mommy blogger’ — has a whole different ring to it in 2008, doesn’t it?
I see the sector dividing naturally into two main types of ‘mom blogs’ from here on in:
(1) those that nickel-and-dime themselves to death-by-no-readers with PPP posts, one step above reading the classified ads; and
(2) those that develop into unique ‘personality blogs’ engaged in conversation with their readers — with their success built on the model of a magazine columnist, or television talk-show host, or the funny clever caring if slightly madcap neighbour whom everyone wants to have for a best friend.
Christine
April 30th, 2008 9:52 am
When I started my blog in December 2006, I had no idea that I was also entering into an amazing community. It is so wonderful to be a part of this movement that empowers mommies (and daddies!) on so many levels.
Wonderful article!
Becky
April 30th, 2008 9:57 am
Excellent points. I saw the article in WSJ (and tweeted it), and I was familiar with not only Dooce but the other blogs listed.
Syn
April 30th, 2008 10:24 am
I just started blogging seriously three months ago and finding I like it. I should’ve done this a long time ago!! As a mom with four kids, I can do this around dirty diapers, homework, burning dinner, and bathtime!
Syn
http://www.lifeofsyn.com
http://www.stepfamilysanctuary.com
http://www.everythingohio.net
Wendy
April 30th, 2008 10:24 am
What’s that old quote - “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. Seems extremely apt!
Shawn Farner
April 30th, 2008 10:37 am
I would make the same argument for student bloggers. Most go to class for two or three hours a day but have lots of free time afterward. Add that to the fact that the college culture is pretty entertaining to write about and you’ll see the draw. :)
Veronica
April 30th, 2008 10:40 am
Wonderfully said Michelle.
Trevor Carpenter
April 30th, 2008 10:48 am
Daddy blogs too!
http://beagooddad.com
TJ Hirst
April 30th, 2008 10:54 am
Great points from Michelle whose blog has been an influence and an inspiration for me and many other women who are just getting started. Her writing skills are what makes her blog interesting and informative. To me, that is a high priority whether I am reading or writing a blog.
Robin (PENSIEVE)
April 30th, 2008 11:02 am
Michelle ~ GREAT to see you writing here representing well The Mom Articulate.
Blogging gives a mom creative outlet, stage, forum, community, sway and voice–elements that in the past weren’t so readily available. Where in the past a mom’s world (for a season) was made smaller, now? There’s a parallel universe where mommies shine, making a difference in the lives of many.
Annie
April 30th, 2008 11:14 am
I couldn’t agree more with the author. Watch out for the Mommy Bloggers!
Dennis Ray Nestor Jr.
April 30th, 2008 11:20 am
So we settled on http://www.mommymetropolis.com
What do you think?
Lori Reed
April 30th, 2008 11:35 am
The mommy mafia is alive and well in the blogosphere! :)
jen
April 30th, 2008 12:12 pm
Good to see Michelle over here at Problogger. Mummy blogs are huge and not to be underestimated. I too love the personal style that many mum bloggers have and word of mouth marketing that many mummy bloggers do is huge and again, not to be underestimated.
Stephanie Kimbro
April 30th, 2008 12:17 pm
Some of us Mommy bloggers use blogging to create things like my virtual law office where we can blog about our professional sides while working at home as mothers. Best of both worlds with tons of flexibility.
Fiar
April 30th, 2008 12:50 pm
Am I the only person that sees mommy blogs as the insipid reality television of the internet? The humor directory Humor-Blogs.com has been absolutely invaded by dull, whiny, humorless mommy blogs, and the rest of us in the directory just want to puke.
I don’t care about your kid. Even if I did, I still wouldn’t want to hear about the “oh-so-clever” shenanigans of your 4 high-fructose corn syrup addled children.
The last thing we need is to have these people encouraged.
Gah!
Michelle at Scribbit
April 30th, 2008 1:00 pm
Dennis–Thats pretty exciting to pick your domain. It’s like naming your child and about as important in terms of long-term effect. I would suggest though (and just a suggestion only) that you consider finding a title that doesn’t use the words mommy, mother, random, musings, thoughts, family, or mom. It may sound counter intuitive but think of Dooce. She’s become a verb (what higher honor can the internet bestow I ask?) and she made up her title herself. Try to be different to set yourself apart from the huge crowd of momblogs out there that use those words and it’ll help–you know, that purple cow Seth Godin talks about. Then concentrate on a good angle and great content.. A name is pretty darn important.
Mike
April 30th, 2008 1:45 pm
The parenting blogs in general seem to be a growing thing. Even the dads are finding that having a place to go for support/tips/ideas/entertainment is a great resource.
Most of those points could apply just as easily to dads as moms.
The last one though seems to really be true. I know that I’ve talked about products from time to time on my blog but when my wife talks about them on hers she normally gets a much stronger response.
Lisa
April 30th, 2008 3:43 pm
Mom Blogs Rock! That’s right. I said it! Thanks Darren for taking notice. ;)
julie
April 30th, 2008 5:15 pm
Agree there’s great deal of value in mom blogs for participants and that they are obviously influential as a marketing area, but think there is still a clear sense of a niche for those with shared concerns.
I’ve been blogging widely for six months but have only just run across the term (previously defining them as ‘family’ blogs); sure some women blog to have mental space from their kids!
Dominique
April 30th, 2008 5:44 pm
Great post about mummy bloggers. Being a mum of toddlers blogging has allowed me to maintain my sanity while at home with the kids. Really hope that someday my blog can be as popular as Dooce.
Kathie Thomas, A Clayton's Secretary
April 30th, 2008 8:35 pm
heck! I work at home, am a mum to 5 daughters and I blog. That must mean I own a mom blog too, or should I say two. Actually it’s more than that, but you know what I mean! ;-)
Reid
April 30th, 2008 10:23 pm
I find it really interesting that Dooce is being used as a runaway success of a mommy blog. She’s been one of the most popular blogs since around 2002, when she gained fame for being fired for writing about her coworkers on her blog. She already had massive success when she became a mother, so if you’re going to use her as an example, you should probably give the caveat that, to be a WSJ-interviewed, massively successful mommy blogger, the first step is to be a massively successful blogger!
Point being that surely there are better examples of bloggers who started as mommy bloggers and then became successful rather than the other way around.
Janiebabes
April 30th, 2008 10:43 pm
Mothers are more and more looking for information on parenting on the internet, in discussion forums and in blogs - people learn to trust them. And they become active through them. Breastfeeding advocacy, birthing choices, parenting styles, homeschooling - these are all niche markets with powerful, educated consumers who often aren’t reached by more mainstream media.
I think it will be interesting to watch this develop.
Stephen Hopson
April 30th, 2008 11:04 pm
And on top of everything you said Darren plus the WSJ and all these comments, I should add Moms certainly know a thing or two about adversity, my area of specialty. It all starts with giving birth (OUCH) and then raising the child - the hardest job in the world but probably the most rewarding (I’m not a mom nor am I a woman, LOL but I can empathize with them).
Thanks for letting us know about Heather Armstrong - I must have had my head buried in the sand for I didn’t know about her. I’m now a new subscriber because of this article. :)
Mom2Miles
May 1st, 2008 12:15 am
Great article, Michelle! I agree with everything you said. I started my blog, diaryofanewmom.blogspot.com, 2 years ago for a variety of reasons. Partly to keep far-flung friends & family informed about my pregnancy & baby, but also because I’m a writer by trade & grew tired of not being able to get my funny parenting essays published. I have kept it up this long because it’s fun & I get to connect with other moms. The response has been so great & supportive, plus I’ve found a whole bunch of new mom blogs to read.
Bill
May 1st, 2008 12:24 am
I keep telling my wife, who does work part time, to start a Mom blog. She home-schools our two children (the older three from her previous marriage go to high school), and I told her that it would be great to compile and brain dump all the info that she has had to learn and sift through to make good informed decisions as far as curriculum, time management, child management.
She says she doesn’t have time, but I think I may convince her yet….
Adventures In Babywearing
May 1st, 2008 12:24 am
Michelle, great job! And yes, so true! Power to the Mommy Blogger.
Steph
Anna (Green Talk)
May 1st, 2008 12:37 am
Thanks Michelle for writing this article. Mom blogs are not all about rearing children. Some terrific moms write about everything. I am a mother of four and write about greening your home and garden from my own personal perspective. The funny thing is most of my commenters are males! (This may be because I talk about green building products sometimes)
Does everyone remember the EF Hutton commercial? Well, when Moms talk, people listen!
I just went and visited Heather’s blog. It is hilarious and reminds me that I should not take myself so seriously.
April-Living the Sweet Life
May 1st, 2008 12:55 am
I love this post by Michelle. It is so true and the marketing world is taking note!
Maria
May 1st, 2008 1:59 am
I started out my blog as a single clueless blogger, then I got pregnant, and it became the clueless expecting woman who blogs about birds out here office window … then I gave birth and before I know it, I became a mom blogger who exchanged blogging about Cher [impersonator] scootering down commercial street to, well, blogging about my son and life as a mom.
As usual, you made a very valid point about mom bloggers. I used to have just a blog with passing readers, then by the by they began pause and read through my entries, then they started commenting on my imp of a crustini, and then when I write about something, sometimes they say, hey I haven’t heard of that, I’ll check it out now - which I think is very exciting as my blog slowly becomes relevant.
Anne
May 1st, 2008 2:51 am
Thanks Darren for posting Michelle’s post. As a new mom and newbie to blogging, the post grants encouragement and confidence to continue on blogging.
Husbandhood
May 1st, 2008 3:07 am
Great article. I was just thinking yesterday that I needed to find a selection of parenting blogs and here we have a nice chunk in your comments. I need to start visiting other parenting blogs.
Katy
May 1st, 2008 3:09 am
I am a mom blogger with a mission to reach other moms to indeed rule the world by raising the next generation with “good kids”. Thanks for validating our worth.
Rachel Anne
May 1st, 2008 3:19 am
I wondered why “mom blogs” didn’t get its own category in the poll. I sighed and hit “other,” along with all the other mom bloggers.
Michelle, I wish I could meet you in San Francisco but maybe it will have to be the next time around. You’re an inspiration, and your site helped me make my “Company Girl” button clickable. I’m indebted.
What’s interesting is all the categories within the “mom blogger” title. Product review, parenting, organization, homeschooling, special needs, marriage, spiritual, work-at-home, crafting…even motivational, which is the sub-category I might stick mine into. Mom blogs run the gamut and when you put them all together, it’s a formidable block. Perhaps it will get its own category someday…;)
I only wish I had more time to blog and read other blogs, but the life of a mom is incredibly full already. Thanks for posting Michelle’s article!
Tim
May 1st, 2008 5:43 am
My wife keeps talking about this extraordinarymommy.com website. Apparently, the woman who blogs on this site is a fantastic writer and very inspirational. My wife wont stop talking about it. And, she seems to have a lighter spring in her step. So, thank you to whomever created extraordinarymommy.com.
Michelle at Scribbit
May 1st, 2008 7:13 am
I suppose all these comments go to prove something I didn’t even mention in my post: that mom bloggers are almost always very, very nice people. Thanks and good luck with your growing blogs!
pinaywife
May 1st, 2008 5:15 pm
I can relate a lot with the reasons mentioned in the article. I’m a mom blogger and what inspired me to blog are other mom-blogs I usually read. Moms have the wealth of information and wisdom we could share and earning a little extra is another plus factor in blogging.
I do also noticed that mom or home-related blogs that I own get more opportunities for paid reviews.. Must be because advertisers are now realizing who wields the household purchasing power eh?
Cheers to mom bloggers!
Teresa
May 1st, 2008 10:37 pm
I must admit, I’ve moved to reading Mom Blogs because they are more genuine. Sorry, boys, but you are just to “sales pitchy” or analytical.
Evelyn Lim | Attraction Mind Map
May 2nd, 2008 12:53 am
I’m a mom blogger but to me, the internet seemed to be dominated by the males. So it is a nice surprise to read about the growing interest and popularity of mom bloggers. Hooray!!!
NML
May 2nd, 2008 6:07 am
This is very exciting to read. I am a mum who blogs and particularly since I have started writing about baby and mother products, I am seeing huge traffic growth each month and I’m now generating an income. Mums spend a lot of time online and as their babies grow so do their product and information needs. This is great news and unsurprising to me - I’m just glad that it’s getting noticed and excited for what it means for myself and other mums. In the UK, I think that mum blogs are hugely undertapped so it’ll be interesting to see if there is a rise here.
Kim @ What's That Smell?
May 2nd, 2008 7:59 am
It’s inspiring to know that someone is paying attention to us!
Amy
May 3rd, 2008 2:43 am
I am a mom blogger, I blog about being a mom going through a divorce… Soon I will be a working mom blogger… that will take on a whole new meaning!
Internet Junkie
May 4th, 2008 12:11 am
I am a full-time time mom and I have a blog which is not a mommy blog and it’s true that some mommy blogs are a bit too “mommy” for me but there are some mommy jewels in the blogosphere.
I also found a few interesting “Daddy blogs”.
Pentad
May 5th, 2008 12:02 am
Go Moms!
Genesis
May 6th, 2008 1:14 pm
I´m a mommy blogger who has been blogging since my firstborn was a year old and I was pregnant with my second . . . then with two boys under two. It was really my escape from the endless diapers and feedings!
However, I would like to point out that not all mommy blogs have to be just about our kids. For example, I have two mom blogs, one focuses on working at home with kids and the other is on my life as a Canadian expat living in Guatemala. The second has a lot more to do with motherhood, but I consider them both to be mommy blogs.
Ann
May 7th, 2008 1:49 pm
I want to say that there are some amazing blogs out there besides “mommy” blogs. My personal favorites include http://www.dogwalkblog.com
http://www.plainjoe.com
and of course, for all of us moms who want to work from home, check out
http://www.retailjoboffers.com
Keep on blogging!
KimC
May 8th, 2008 4:25 am
Sony has begun to harness the power of mommybloggers: they recently had a posh event to help market their digital cameras at mommybloggers. Fifteen participants were brought from all over the US and one from Canada, treated like royalty, trained to use the products, and were sent home with a selection of free cameras.
You can read more about at (ahem) my blog by searching “Sony.”
Nicole Feliciano
May 8th, 2008 5:57 am
I started as freelance writer on the parenting scene. Soon I had more material than I knew what to do with…a blog was born. Now almost a year old, Momtrends, is like my third child. I’ve got a high-style low-pressure tone. Being able to write about motherhood helps keeps things form getting too serious.
Kath
May 9th, 2008 3:17 am
Echoing what another commenter said re: Dooce…she was blogging before she married Jon and long before she became a mom.
I’m not a fan of Mommyblogs or Daddyblogs per se…I have no kids and don’t want them plus many of them are just sooo boring. Sorry if that offends, but it’s my perception.
What I do like are bloggers that have their own voice, have varied interests and being a parent is not the ‘only’ thing they represent.
If anything, I think classifying yourself as a Mommy or Daddy blogger could prevent those of us that could care less about kids from finding you.
Just a thought?
Lara Kulpa
May 9th, 2008 7:40 am
Wow, Kath. Pretty harsh coming from someone whose blog is full of things like one-liners about how you love Colorado, or how much sleep you got over the weekend. You call mom/dad blogs “sooo boring” yet what are YOU bringing to the table as a blogger?
“Sorry if that offends, but it’s my perception.”
Ditto to you.
codadiva
May 9th, 2008 11:36 am
I’ve been bloggin’ for about a year, and got into a bit of a lull. I’ve now created a plan. I started out bloggin as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) mom raising three Kodas (Kids of Deaf Adults) Basically I have deaf parents and my husband is deaf. Making the experiences I see in my children the first time I’ve bonded with what it must have been like growing up having Deaf parent(s).
I think most Mommy blogs do not just define that they are a Mom, therefore they blog. I think that most of the great content can only come from having children. So for that, yes, a mommy blog is a different view. I’m grateful! Yea for Mommy blogs, moms that blogs and blogs about moms!
Kath
May 10th, 2008 7:42 am
@Lara - not at all offended :-)
Different strokes, ya know?
Chabelamarie
May 12th, 2008 2:02 am
What a great post. I think you have hit the nail on the head. I cannot tell you have much I enjoy reading other Mom’s blogs and writing on mine. It started as a way to have a creative outlet and to force me to write (English is my second language so I felt I needed the mental exercise) and now, I’ve discovered I love writing. Definitely mom blogs rocks!
Tamara Provost
May 13th, 2008 3:05 pm
I’ve been keeping a personal blog for years, as both a creative outlet and a way of keeping a host of family and friends updated in one fell swoop.
This past week, I took the big leap, and created a public blog!
It’s a personal account of the delightful and mundane moments of a radical mama of four, committed to “parenting outside the lines.”
In the near future, I hope to add craft tutorials, and eventually add a storefront for my own art.
It’s in its infancy, but come take a peek!
Zig Zig Mama!
http://zigzagmama.typepad.com/zig_zag_mama/
Parents Overnight
June 22nd, 2008 10:23 am
Yes, I couldn’t agree more. Mom and Parent blogs in general are growing and here to stay. There will always be tons of useful, fun, and entertaining content from many parents out there with their own blogs.
Once you’re a parent, starting a blog is a great way to share advice, stories, and tips with other parents or even expecting parents. So yes, mom blogs are the blogs to watch!!!
Julie N
June 24th, 2008 2:57 pm
Interesting article…I have noticed lately that there seem to be more and more mom/parent blogs popping up. I put up my blog in conjunction with my website, but I can see now what the draw is for other moms. You can connect and express yourself with thousands of other moms. I’ve also found that I enjoy reviewing other mom products to help support that community. :)
simone
June 26th, 2008 5:16 am
oh…i forgot to mention that the show baby borrowers premieres tonight june 25th at 9pm on nbc for those of you who want to watch it…it’s a great show for moms like us…i highly recommend it…to learn about parenting…:)
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