What Mom Spark Media Means to Me

When I started blogging, I never knew that almost 3 years down the road, I would have formed such lasting relationships online. Networking with other bloggers and groups has truly been the greatest part of my whole blogging experience.

Mom Spark Media is one group that I’m so excited to be a part of; in fact, I even encourage my own bloggers/reviewers to join this group and be a part of it because it’s a way that they can really grow their blogs. I’ve had such a great experience that I want to let my readers know about it too.

Mom Spark Media does offer review and social media opportunities like ambassador programs, in-home parties, sponsored posts, sponsorship programs, etc. I’ve had the chance to work with Jockey as an ambassador and a few other brands on reviews. Lately, I’ve tried to slow down on the opportunities a bit, though, because I’m really focusing more on my own brand, my own group, here on MamaBuzz. I’ve really started to take full advantage of the other things that Mom Spark Media has to offer, like their online courses. The online courses they have to offer are, in one word, awesome. I can’t stress this enough. They are unique in that we, as bloggers, come first. The girls behind Mom Spark Media want to educate us further, thus helping us to grow, not only in our blogs, but in our value to the companies that we work with. Some of the courses they’ve offered delve into topics like media kits, SEO, blog design, using Google Analytics, and the list goes on and on. There is no end to learning; in fact, I feel like there is always something fresh and new to learn. Now I’m really excited to be working behind the scenes with Mom Spark Media, scheduling their online courses and live chats (in addition to courses, they have live chats, as well, educating and talking together as a group; makes for great camaraderie).

Another reason I absolutely love and support this group is that the ladies who run Mom Spark Media are absolutely approachable. They are there to consult with, to get advice from, or to help if you run into a problem with a review (which honestly has not happened; things have run very smoothly in an organized fashion). I’ve emailed Amy asking her for advice, and I’ve always gotten a pleasant, helpful response. Many groups online simply aren’t like that….it’s one thing that really makes this group stand out. Not only that, but the community within Mom Spark Media is awesome in and of itself. Bloggers can discuss things in the forum, support each other’s posts, etc. Honestly, I can’t wait to meet up with these ladies at Blogher ’11! It’s going to be awesome!

Why would I be promoting Mom Spark Media, even though I run my own group here on MamaBuzz? Because I believe bloggers and groups should support one another….and Mom Spark Media is a group that I wholeheartedly support and will encourage everyone to join. Blogging shouldn’t be about competition….reach down deep to find the reason you started blogging in the first place….it probably had to do with expressing yourself, writing maybe even as a release, networking with other bloggers, growing your own brand, etc. If you are wanting to truly grow your blog, as well as network and make lasting friendships, gaining the support of other bloggers, join Mom Spark Media. It’s only $5/month or $40/year, so worth every single penny; think of it as an investment into your blog or your brand. You won’t regret it for a second.

(Even though I was compensated to write this post, these are still my true opinions, thoughts, and views that I would have gladly shared even without compensation.)

My Blogging Mindset Has Done a 180

If you’ve been reading MamaBuzz for some time, you know that we try to keep moms and families up to date on the latest products, whether via reviews or giveaways….but that we also try to provide inspirational and helpful articles, as well. When I first started blogging on my personal blog (Real Heart Prints), I was so excited just to write my thoughts, to write my heart out….to share those thoughts and ideas with whoever would listen, even to provide inspiration. Writing was my top priority, along with getting to know other bloggers by reading their blogs and commenting.

As time went by, I soon came to realize that companies would offer me review products, especially in my work with the TOS Crew and the startup of MamaBuzz. In exchange for those review products, all I had to do was write a review, maybe tweet and Facebook it out, maybe even offer a giveaway, as well. This became exciting to me, and I started to trap myself into what I like to call the “review and forget” cycle. Please keep in mind, I do not mean to offend in any way. However, I became so entrapped in this cycle, not really having time to blog my personal thoughts anymore, no time to blog about real life anymore. I was too caught up in the material side of blogging.

Around the end of November, it all came to a head….everything inside of me just started to scream for change. I realized that my thinking needed to change, and my heart needed to change. I needed to get back to the roots of why I started blogging in the first place. Not only that, but I’ve become very passionate about working in social media with all of the different projects and things I’ve done, even the networking, that I want to incorporate more of that into my work. I was so busy through the holiday season that I just about burnt myself out on reviews and giveaways. As I delved into working more and more projects with Collective Bias, my thinking started to do a 180. The work that they do is such a different kind of work; it’s social media at its best. As we talked about in Florida this week, it’s not just an invite and a special treat….it’s an open ear, a path toward success for both blogger and company. I’ve realized that it’s not just about the reviews; it’s not just about the giveaways. Do I really want my followers to be just the followers who come back for the giveaways? Or do I want my followers to be loyal readers who come back, not just for the giveaways, but for the writing within my blogs, for the quality within my reviews, the personableness, the relevancy as a mom who has something to say? I choose the latter.

Now, I’m not saying that reviews and giveaways are bad; they’re not! And I’m going to continue to do reviews and giveaways, even blog tours set up with my reviewers. That is a huge niche for MamaBuzz. However, I’m going to scale it back a bit. That means that there might not be a review/giveaway going up every single day; there may not be more than 1-3 a week in some instances. And yes, there will still be blog tours, but I’ve got other things up my sleeve for MamaBuzz reviewers, as well, along with those blog tours.:) You may find me participating in more campaigns, even long-term projects. I want to build that quality readership, that loyal readership who think about MamaBuzz when asked about their favorite blogs, the blogs that encourage them, the blogs that inspire them, the blogs that uplift and motivate them to truly LIVE.

I’ve also realized, through working with Collective Bias, that my opinions and thoughts are so valuable….as we sat around a table discussing ideas and thoughts with Elmer’s this week, I felt such a gratitude toward this group of people and the work that they do, the way they stand behind their bloggers, realizing their true worth. I am forever grateful.

Life is waiting, dear blogger. Don’t lose your focus and your momentum, only to get caught up in a whirlwind frenzy of products on your doorstep. Yes, reviews are awesome to do….but only do the reviews and giveaways that fit your readers, the reviews you can put relevancy and personality behind. Social media is a vast network of endless possibilities; it’s an awesome way to forge lasting, online (and offline) relationships with both other bloggers and companies. It’s not just about the numbers in your stats; it’s about you being real. My mindset has come full-circle, in that it’s not just about what I can get….it’s about what I can do for the companies that I truly value and partner with. It’s about living life out loud, sharing bits and pieces with my readers. It’s about forging new friendships with other bloggers. It’s about valuing my readers enough to motivate and inspire them, no matter what I’m writing about.

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