I’m Giving Away a Gift Card Because THIS PR Person Gets It

// 8.7.08 // 40 Comments » // My Daughter, Tech & Blogging

Over the past couple years a lot of bloggers have bashed public relations professionals. They don’t get it. They send us form letters blatantly demonstrating that they do not read our blogs and often don’t even take the time to discover our names. They ask for something for nothing and the mommy bloggers for free.

But I’ve been seeing a shift lately. Bloggers are hot commodities and companies who want to reach our audiences are figuring out how to do it.

Case in point: Build-A-Bear Workshop. I got an email from their Social Media Strategist (love that title) which I will reprint in part below:

Greetings on behalf of Build-A-Bear Workshop®! You’ve mentioned that you’re a big Disney Channel fan, and we’d like to send you a Beary Limited® edition High School Musical Bear to keep for FREE – before it arrives in stores! Plus, we’ll send you a $25 gift card to give away to one of your blog readers in any way you choose.

Yes! First, she addressed me by name. Second, she did some research because we are indeed Disney Channel fans. Third, she did not say “I love your blog” or “I enjoy reading your blog.”  (Um, PR peeps? We KNOW you don’t read our blogs regularly so just stop trying to pretend you do.) Fourth, she’s not asking for a review. She’s giving me a gift card to give away and that adds value to my blog and helps me get more readers and traffic.

The Social Media Strategist from Build-A-Bear gets it. And my daughter loves the bear.

So now for the best part… YOU can win a $25 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop. And all you have to do is leave a comment on this post.

UPDATE: This contest is closed. The winner has been chosen and will be announced shortly.

In Which I Officially Shift My Focus

// 7.24.08 // 12 Comments » // Tech & Blogging, Thriving

I’m back from BlogHer08 (photos here) and reflecting on my experience, which was quite different from last year.

Last year – my first at BlogHer – I was excited, nervous, and intent on finding a few new friends to tag along with so I never had to walk around looking like a lost puppy. This year I spent a good amount of time wandering around alone, in search of new people, making eye contact and introducing myself. And still there are SO MANY people I never got to meet, or only shared an all-too-brief squee with.

It seemed to me that the BlogHer receptions (Friday and Saturday nights) were attended by a lot of mommy bloggers, but not by the tech bloggers. And while I love me my mommy blogging friends, I really wanted to spend some time with the women who have been inspiring me of late, like Gwen Bell, Tara Anderson, Tara Hunt, and Laura Mayes.

I’ve written before about my increasing discomfort with blogging about my kids and my desire to pursue a career in social media marketing and blog design. I had decided to try to mash it all together on this blog, but being at BlogHer around all those brilliant women helped me to admit something that I’ve known deep inside for awhile now: I have to focus. It can’t all work the way I want it to under the name “PHAT Mommy.”

I recently read an interesting article called “We Need Social Media Interpreters, not more Evangelists.” Shey makes a good point. There are many bloggers who would love to understand more about social media, building their blog traffic and increasing their revenue stream, but who have little interest in becoming “experts” or “evangelists.” They can use someone to show them the ropes… to interpret, as Shey says. I think I have a lot to offer in that space, so that’s where I’m headed.

I love the internet. I love information. I love designing and coding (well, maybe not so much the coding). I love social media. I love marketing. THAT is where I need to be now.

Note: I’m especially interested in social media “camp-type” events held in the NYC area. If you know of any, drop me a comment.

Blogolution

// 6.2.08 // 20 Comments » // My Daughter, My Son, Parenting, Tech & Blogging

Look! I’ve updated my blog!

I can’t believe it’s been an entire month since I’ve posted. Let me share with you the three main reasons for my lack of internet participation.

1. Re-evaluating my blogging. I’ve been increasingly uncomfortable blogging about my kids. Now that they are getting older, there just aren’t that many cute stories to share. There’s a lot going on, of course, but it’s stuff that I don’t want to publicize, or want them to read and be embarrassed by in ten years. So I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where I want this blogging thing to go. (more…)