There has been a lot of discussion and even backlash to the idea that was formulated last Friday night when a group of mom bloggers discussed “bloggy burnout” on the Momdot Friday Night Live radio show.
And let me tell you…I was the other voice on the line talking to Trisha about how I contemplated shutting down my blog and joining the Carnival to free myself from my stress. But don’t jump to conclusions, I listed a bunch of other things stressing me out too, but that show led us to try and address the one we have some real control over.
The discussion prompted my post about bloggy burnout that I published to the admin blog on Momdot and that discussion also resulted in something we are calling “PR Blackout“. In order to truly understand the motivation and intention behind the PR Blackout, you need to listen to the Friday Night Live episode that is available for listening at Blog Talk Radio at the link above.
Let me start out by assuring PR that we value our relationships with you and this “blackout” is not meant to infer that we are disgruntled with you, especially those of you that we work with regularly and whom we have fantastic relationships with. It’s not about you really. It’s about us re-evaluating our priorities, going “back-to-basics” for a week and blogging for the enjoyment of sharing our lives, not for the purpose of promoting products. I have met so many great PR pros, bloggers who work in PR, small business owners and more whom I greatly VALUE my relationship with, and those relationships are not going to change as a result of me taking a week to blog only about my life. Who doesn’t need a vacation?
This also has nothing to do with any of the controversy surrounding review bloggers and the talks of regulating blogs who provide product reviews. Those of us involved in the “PR Blackout” are ethical, believe in disclosure and have never intentionally misled our readers for the purposes of getting “free” stuff.
Speaking of “free” stuff, to make this as brief as possible, I just want to say that something I receive in exchange for hours of my time testing, reviewing, organizing and communicating with reps, readers, and contest winners is not FREE, in fact if you did the math, I’d probably make more money playing a harmonica in the subway. And I don’t play the harmonica. But I digress….I just wanted to make sure that people understand that there are responsibilities attached to “free” products, and those of us involved in the PR Blackout take that very seriously, which is one of the reasons we have been feeling so overwhelmed.
I also want to take a moment to defend my friend Trisha because what started as an idea to help relieve some of the stress in the lives of not only herself, but her blogging friends as well, has turned into some kind of weird, angry backlash with people making negative assumptions about her motives. Until you have spent over a year with her, talking to her every day, benefiting from her knowledge and her generosity DON’T YOU DARE JUDGE HER or anyone who is a part of the Momdot community.
And that brings up why people have gotten their panties in such a wad over a group of bloggers deciding to take a week off to only blog about personal stuff. Why does this bother people so much to bring them not only to write about it, but to become defensive and judgemental? Why are other bloggers so concerned about what other bloggers are doing on their own blogs? If you don’t agree with it, don’t do it. We won’t judge you – you obviously have different goals for your blog than we do right now, or are at different places in your blogging life. What is it about this that angers you so much? It causes you no harm, so what is your problem?
Somebody please explain to me why this is getting such negative press (ironic eh?) and why it has led to personal attacks on Trisha and even members of the Momdot community as a whole?
Because while I am angry that there are “haters”, more importantly I am sad that we don’t support each other as a community of mom bloggers. We are preparing for the biggest mom blogging conference of the year, we will all gather and talk about improving our blogs and improving our relationships with brands and with each other. We will finally get to meet the people we have become good friends with and form new friendships – in real life. Yet, there will be tension and, I fear, negative emotions that go even deeper surrounding the event. We should be celebrating our roles as mom bloggers and what it has meant in our own lives and exploring the diversity around us, not tearing each other down.
Before I get off my soapbox, I have one more thing to share, and that pretty much is a summary of what I wrote in the “My Bloggy Burnout” article over on the Momdot blog. I have made a change in the way I will run my blog, and that is that we are cutting back on reviews and giveaways in a major way. For PR, this means you will receive a copy of our media kit via email when you send us a pitch that we are interested in, but it also means that we will no longer be responding to every request we receive. It has gotten to be too much. For those we have established relationships with (you know who you are…or aren’t) we will still work to maintain those relationships but realize that we are cutting back and our “no thank you’s” will be more frequent than our “love to’s”. For our readers, this means fewer giveaways, if any, each month and I apologize if that disappoints you but I believe that in the long run, it will make us stronger and better. We want to be proud of the products and companies we choose to represent, and not take a review or giveaway simply for greed or traffic. In the end, I believe this is a win-win-win scenario for all of us – the blog, the readers, and the companies.
Because I am a blogger, and if I can’t find the time to exercise my voice, then all I am is a commercial. And everyone has Tivo nowadays….
I have put a Mr. Linky below for those who have written articles about this issue to share their links. I want to hear your take on it so please leave your link if you wrote something about the PR Blackout.
About Kim
Posted my article, I can not blame the PR alone for this problem. I also can not blame Trisha for simply suggesting something, do it or don’t do it, simple as that. Don’t get all bothered by it. People just love drama that all it is about and in a few weeks something new will be the “rage” to talk about!
Hi, I am new to blogging and new to mom dot. I just wanted to say that I think it is pretty dumb that people are fighting about this. People are gonna do what they want to do be it take a break or not take a break. It is kinda weird that there is a “war” going on about it. Never did I see Trisha say you better do this or else. No one is holding a gun to your head. It is something people are choosing to do or not to do. I don’t see why it matters what a particular group of people or one person is going to do? It’s not the end of the world. The PR’s and the companies aren’t gonna toss us off the bus. I am sure the good ones will understand that you guys need a short vacation from reviews/ giveaways. I keep reading about “taking sides or choosing sides” It’s not about sides. We aren’t Elementary School children that need to sit there and say IF YOU DO THIS I WON’T BE YOUR FRIEND ANYMORE. That is just silly. Everyone is different and will do things their own way. If you guys wanna throw away your friendships and connections over this that is ridiculous!
The reason I started my blog was to talk about my family and my life. I want to do product reviews but not for the free stuff just because I like giving my opinon and helping others. As corny as that sounds it is the truth.
Bravo Kim! I’m for the PRBO (I like that Sarah). I’m for it because I didn’t start out as a review blogger. I just started out as me, blogging about my life. I don’t do that many reviews or giveaways now. But they are stressful and after just coming back from my own blogcation I loved the idea behind this. I’m not going to judge who does or doesn’t join. It’s a free country blog and do what you want.
And this whole list thing. WTH? Seriously why in the world would you make a list of who is or isn’t participating unless you are trying to cause more drama. Just stop the nonsense and worry about yourselves.
Well give me my “Scarlett letter”, then. A list, HA! So because we want a vacation to gather our thoughts and breathe for SEVEN DAYS we will be what? Blackballed? Give me a fucking break!
You said it well, Kim. Those of us who were there at FNL know EXACTLY how this came about. And why.
All of you NEED to listen to FNL to get all the facts before you judge.
All others can SUCK IT!
Shannon – I didn’t mean to imply anyone was thinking of “blackballing” anyone. See my responses to Sarah and Cindi below. I just saw this chatter on Twitter today – the lines drawn in the sand – and it irked me. As if we *are* being sorted and sided.
you completely nailed it when you ask why do bloggers care so much about what other bloggers are doing on their own…THEIR OWN…blog. it’s your blog. you wanna get back to basics…get back to basics. anyone who judges those who are doing that should…well…get a life.
I enjoy doing product reviews from the perspective of a Baby Boomer Grandmom, and thought I chose my products carefully to review. However, I am now going to become far more selective in what I write about, not for the sake of just having something to post. Also, according to Stacey – I didn’t know that lines were being drawn in the sand – “Lists” – where?
There were lots of “who’s in” and “who’s out” questions on Twitter today. I apologize for the very literal use of the word “lists” in my first comment – it was more likely meant as figurative by people on Twitter – though it does make me wonder if someone (PR even?) are watching how bloggers answer.
i am completely neutral. I have no interest in reviews or blackouts. but i love to see moms discovering and celebrating who they are and just being who and what they are created to be. And it sounds like you are well on your way :)
Very well written Kim.
You know where I stand. I was on that call. I saw the button before it went up and I supported it then and I support it now.
More than anything this whole controversy (which was so off the mark) has made our community stronger (those at momdot) so phooey on all the haters ;)
From one goon to another… Can’t wait to meet you at blogher and will be taking part in PRBO in August.
(we should have named it something PR friendly..like “PR Friendly….every other week but August 10th-16th” ha!)
I love it, Kim. Very well said.
The newest part of this that is making me nervous are the lists being created on who is or isn’t participating. Really? We need to make LISTS? How easy will it then be to associate some kind of meaning or intent based on which “list” a blogger is on?
What about if I completely applaude this Blackout, but personally choose not to participate? Where does that put me? I need to choose a side?
That’s bull as far as I’m concerned.
How did a call to empowerment suddenly become a mad scurry to put ourselves into even more classifications as mom bloggers? Boo.
There’s lists going around…????
I feel like we are back in time…scarlet letter anyone?
I’m referring to this tweet today from JessicaKnows:
“thanks for all the bloggers for letting me you will be not be blacking out. I’m making a list and checking it twice :)”
She says she wants to know which bloggers will be “available” for that week in August, which I can see makes some sense, but I did see other tweets today asking who was in and who was out. I just don’t like the implication that we have to (a) take sides and (b) being asked to reveal that.
I have been away and missed this discussion but I applaud any blogger who takes the reigns to their blog back and makes changes that increases her quality of life. Stress is not worth one more giveaway or saying yes to a product you don’t think will benefit your readers or you.
My blog isn’t a traditional “Mommy blog” and although I review products very randomly I get stressed when I do, and only choose to when I beleive in the product and think a giveaway will benefit my readers. So we don’t do them much- I’m picky and have worried about being too picky. But I sleep well, have great loyal readers and wouldn’t change a thing. Do what you need to do and grab those reigns!