I'm a Mommy blogger*. I might not blog about raising a baby or poop or child-rearing issues. I might not blog about life at home, the trials and tribulations about raising a family, but I'm still a Mommy blogger.
(*Not actually a Mom (or a Dad at this time) and don't blog on Mom or Dad issues.)
But I do nurture and help others grow with my blog and working with others. So in that sense, I'm a Mom (or Dad) to others.
Even though I'm not really a Mommy blogger, I am part (and an early member) of Clever Girls Collective and I do attend the conferences that are part of that community, such as Mom 2.0 (first time attendee), BlogHer (8 time attendee) and Evo (first time attendee, when it happens). The plan is still to get to Blogalicious, Blissdom and others. In other words, I attend the conferences that really matter.
But this is about labels. This is why I embrace the Mommy blogger title. Because, well, too often, people knee-jerk and just lump all female bloggers into the "Mommy blogger" category. I experience it all the time when I try to explain to people that I don't do SXSWi but will continue to go to BlogHer ... "why do you go to that, it's only Mommy bloggers?"
It's not. And for those that think that way - ironically, usually the same social media people that sheep herd mentality go to SXSW question why I go to these conferences - well, you just don't get it.
A few weeks ago, I was at Mom 2.0 - and was able to meet up with women that are the top of their game (be it vidcasts or blogging or social media). A conference that had panels that was advanced thinking for an advanced audience, that people attended and participated and asked questions. You had a community (that's what differs at these conferences) that listened and took notes and engaged with the speakers (and the audience) and spoke about the future of media with heavy hitters across the gamut.
But that's the thing people don't get - and the problem with just looking but not seeing. These are not Mommy bloggers. These are women that write on a wide variety of topics. Through the years, I've met female bloggers that write on:
- Food
- Politics
- Law
- Fashion
- Beauty
- Romance / Love
- Medicine / Health & Wellness
- Money and Finance
- Green / Eco blogging
- Gender
- Technology
- Sports
- Publishing and Media
- And, yes, even parenting
But the joke of social media people only talking to social media ... you're missing the point. Look at any nuclear family, and it's the woman that controls the budget. In a conversation last night, I talked to a friend who is starting her Mommy blog and we talked about household budgets and who really controls it. It's the Mom - not because she has the time, but because she tends to be smarter with purchases.
Big brands, if you want to reach social media people, keep going to SXSWi and missing the point on reaching audiences that are interested in your products and have real audiences and communities.
So for all the Mommy bloggers out there that I have met over the years - and the non-Mommy females that I have met - Happy Mother's Day to you. All my love for you, what you have done with your communities, and all you have helped me with the past years (and bringing me gifts - total call out to Jennui and link love to her - and being my LA mom ... yes, that's you, Erin).
And from my other LA Mom, Kimberley Clayton Blaine, a special Mother's Day gift and love for your Mother (psst, use the M2MTV coupon code at SonyStyle.com on the T99 digital video cameras for her special Mom Day gift).
And to my own Mom, love you lots and thanks for everything. Happy Mother's Day. :)
Oh my Jeremy... While I totally hear what you're saying about how people assume a conference that's mostly geared towards women is seen as less interesting or not as important (we get that in the food space all the time), but I don't know if calling yourself a mommy blogger is the right way to go about changing that perception.
ReplyDeleteThe reality is that a conference producer has to market their conference to a certain type of attendee so they will come to hear the content that is relevant to them. Until conference producers stop labeling their own conferences and selling sponsorships to brands as "come and meet the mommys" it will continue.
Also, attendees need to use the conference hashtag to share useful information instead of rushing around sponsored parties and gossiping about what's in the swag bag... if you want people to take your conference seriously then inspire them to learn.
I think you are coming from a good place, but I am not sure real mommies will appreciate using the term "mommy" so liberally. It took 9 months and a lot of labor to get that badge of honor...
All in all, you know we love you. Just keep telling folks how awesome other conferences are - one day they'll get it.
@Babette - I think I have enough leeway in the Mommy blogging world to get away with my title. If not, well, then those people that complain don't really know me and that's fine.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think that these conferences bill themselves specifically as Mommy conferences; but at the same time, brands are hungry for that audience and will glom onto anything female-oriented and think of it as a Mom conference.
As for the hashtag and swag bag and parties comment, while that is part of many conferences, there IS a lot of education and learning and more at these conferences. As a multiple attendee, I can tell you that I learn something valuable and new each time I go and the panels - while sometimes 101 level - are something new and interesting and insightful. I can say the same about BWE or SXSW (actually, most of the panels were meh at both this year, and there as a loud exclamation about both).
You do a great job with Techmunch, and I love what you have done there. I think you've taken Bakespace and expanded the brand into those conferences, and can (and should) probably jettison away from BWE and SXSW and do them on your own. At BWE, your stuff was the only thing of value for a lot of people. You should wear that badge of honor with pride.
Thanks!
Sigh. How many posts will we all have to write before it sinks in? And thanks ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Jeremy. Quite an interesting post. I never really thought of mommy bloggers speaking about subjects other than their children nor did I think a man could be a mommy blogger. You have definitely re-directed my thinking with this post.
ReplyDeleteYeah...well done, Jeremy. More people need to talk about this. The gross generalization of "Mommy Blogger" is one my biggest pet peeves (and our clients use the term ALL THE TIME). I vented my frustration in a post last year (http://traackr.com/blog/2010/07/are-we-entering-a-post-demographic-era/), but I don't think it had an impact. Glad to see you adding some weight to this perspective. #propz!
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