Now before you assume where this is going I can guarantee you are totally wrong. This is a letter from one Ohio mom blogger to fellow mom bloggers!
Dear Mommy Blogger,
You may or may not know me my name is Ellen and I am your fan. But here is the thing if I am your fan you actually do know me because I follow you on Twitter, I am your fan on Facebook. I follow you on Pinterest and I found you on Instagram. I even signed up for your news letter!
You see you influence me and I appreciate that, but I also know that numbers matter and even though I could read your post in my email and not click on the link to give you the permanent knowledge of my visit I choose to click on the link. Because I did read what you had to say and it mattered. I loved your recipe so I Pinned it. Your giveaway looked great so I tweeted about it and you Facebook post did not go unnoticed for I Liked it.
Like you for many years I was too busy to support my fellow mom bloggers. Time is limited I have 4 kids, I work at night, I need sleep…. the list goes on and on. Sure I tweeted with you but did I promote your fabulous blog? Did I recommend you to others? Did I give credit where credit was due? Sometimes, but not always! But this year, 2013 I am challenging myself to truly support my community of bloggers. I am tired of companies basing my value on numbers that are not accurate of my true influence. The fact that a majority of the people in my life have made purchases based on me is nowhere to be found on my blog. They stopped me in person and asked my opinion, there is no traceable link for that purchase! They texted me from the store, heck my daughters ballet class even went out to my car to look at my car seats, yet many of them never have nor will they ever visit my blog. My influence is so much more than my blog readers and since I don’t see companies getting that any time soon I am taking things into my own hands. I can’t change the clicks on my blog but I can for others. You see I bought a book because of Andrea, I bought lipstick because of Felicia, I bought wall stickers because of Emilie and I bought clothes because of Kate and I even started working out again because of Jennifer, Sara and Erin and I tried some new food thanks to Liz the list goes on and on. And even though they may never get credit for those purchases I visited there blog, I clicked, I commented and I gave love to my fellow bloggers who are working hard just like me.
So for 2013 I challenge you my fellow bloggers to give credit where credit is due and to love on and support those blogs that you love. I am not saying false promotion but if you love what they are doing let them know and speak with your mouse! We are a powerful industry let’s make sure we are taking care of our own!
And now I step off of my soapbox to go see what great things you all are writing about!
About Ellen Peppercorn
Well said.
Thanks Stacey!
You know I completely agree!! I made this challenge as well for myself.. thanks for keeping me motivated to keep going!!
I know you are great at this
*sinister laugh* and now you will buy the nail polish….
Just kidding. I love you and I have bought many things because of your influence as well. Note the Jillian Michael’s DVD in my Amazon shopping cart. Just looking for one more thing to make it a $25 purchase
Yes now I want the nail polish too!
I love this post! I will do this my blog sometimes later.. Thanks for the ideas!!
So glad you liked it
So true! Sometimes I don’t click on a link or buy a product right away, but my fellow Mom Bloggers to influence my buying decisions. Love the idea of being conscious of giving credit.
Exactly Andrea the influence is often down the road!
This is so sweet and honest! I really, really try to support my blog friends too, and I must admit that some days are easier than others for that, for sure. I wish I was organized enough to do it through all avenues of social media, but I hit and run when I can where I can!
You are very good about it Liz!
Well said. Blogging is a team sport – even through some bloggers don’t see it that way.
Yes it is Jeri!
Thank you Ellen for the awesome post! I myself have committed to the same challenge for 2013 Wishing you the best!
That’s wonderful Marla!
Yes, we need to support each other so the bar can be raised for us all!
BTW I want a certain pair of shoes, shirt, and pants! lol
I know which shoes but what shirt and pants?
Well said,I could not have built my blog without all my blog friends. I accept the challange.
Me either blog friends helped me get where I am today!
Great post, Ellen! I love the little community we have built and you definite inspire me to be more active in supporting my blog friends. Your actions do not go unnoticed! I appreciate every like, tweet and comment!
Aw thanks Bridgette, me too we have great community!
I think this just reminded the importance of posting on blogs if they encouraged me in any way. I find that I will read a post via email in the newsletter or on FB and respond ther. But I guess I see why it would be important to respond on ones blog.
I am not blogger, but I follow many, including yours
We appreciate your support Olivia and I am so glad you find encouragement from blogs!
One of the many reasons I love you (seriously) is because of your care for others and your giving spirit. Whether you are uplifting fellow bloggers, sharing a cause, or checking in personally. Good things may or may not come to you, but I hope you remember just how amazing you are and that nothing you do goes unseen or unheard. Xo
Aw you are the sweetest Jennifer
Found this via Nichole of http://theguiltyparent.com ~ what a wonderful testament to the power and kinship of mom blogging!
Thanks for stopping by Melissa!
Well done, Ma’am.
Thank you!
You are really good at this and have inspired us all to do the same Ellen!!
Thanks Cissy I try!
Oh my goodness. So True!!! You’ve just cut through the unnecessary and created a straight-forward, wonderful, endearing post. Love this. SUPPORT!!!
Thanks Ann glad you agree!
Love this! I’ll be sharing for sure
Thanks for this great post!!
Thanks Ruth!
Just one more reason why you rock! I am so glad that I’ve had the chance to get to know you better this past year and I agree completely. I do try to share the love but I know that I could do a better job! A lot of times my support is behind the scenes, especially with referrals but I love uplifting fellow bloggers that I admire. You are definitely one of them!
Emilie you are very good at recommending other bloggers to companies I love that about you!
This is so true you can just measure influence in numbers. I support many mom bloggers on a daily basis. I can’t tell you how many times I have been influence by something I read on a blog.
I love that Denise so glad you love mom bloggers too!
Thank you for the love! And glad I inspire at least one person! :heart: That’s why we blog, right? To help other women and moms! I have purchased items because of other moms and bloggers. For example, my most recent purchase was LockLaces for my running shoes because of a fellow Tampa Bay blogger. You remind me that I need to give her a call-out on the brands page, letting her know she made a difference. I DID comment on her post and on her FB letting her know I purchased them, but brands need to know bloggers are influential with a targeted market.
Exactly Erin it is sad they can see the value in a magazine ad but not a blog it
s the same idea in many ways
I love your honesty and your call to action in this post.. I really do try to be a reciprocal blogging buddy. Sometimes it may take me a few days to get to everybody, but I think bloggers are a caring understand tribe.
Yes I agree support is the great thing about blogging!
Bravo, Ellen! This is so true! I’m on a mission to do the same this year and I so appreciate all of the support that you have given me. You are awesome! xoxo
Thanks Piera, You do a great job of helping brands see the value of bloggers and I so appreciate that!
What a great post! I think you are on to something!
Kim
Thanks Kim!
Well stated. There are times when I do visit other bloggers and find what they have to say interesting or encouraging enough to make me want to purchase things.
Our influence definitely does go beyond just our numbers on our blog. I know in our family our numbers are pretty high if we count the amount of people we talk to offline about the products we get to review and try out.
I also think I fail to keep track of who deserves the proper credit for some of the things I’ve decided to try and do as a result of a blogger.
Yes our reach is so much farther that’s what makes working with bloggers so effective! it is hard to keep track but if you know its great to share it!
This is great! Very well said! I will join the challenge and start giving credit where credit is do!
Great Tiffanie!
I love this post, Ellen. FYI, I’m going to be purchasing a ZeroWater pitcher because of you!
Crissy I am Zero Water obsessed I drink nothing else, I have even taken my pitcher on vacation with me because yes I am a water snob! You will love it!
Love this post! Thanks for sharing Crissy! I am trying to start re-reading some blogs I used to love, you know, before the endless emails started coming. Thank you!
Thanks for coming to read it and thanks to Crissy for sharing it!
I totally agree and I loved this post. So many people visit my blog and email me about how they enjoyed it, but they don’t click “follow.” It’s discouraging, because I know I matter, but how do I prove that to the numbers-oriented companies?
I have been showing a lot of love for other blogs for that very reason. They deserve it
It can be very frustrated they just don’t understand
What a great post and great ideas! I’ve been trying more lately to leave comments and tweets when I find something interesting to show a little sign that it’s appreciated and noticed. Thanks for the great reminder and encouragement
Love this post, and it is so true.
Thank you for putting this out there. I love networking with fellow bloggers, and nothing makes a person feel better when credit is given! They say imitation is the best form of flattery, so why not let them know.
I loved this post because it is so true. I think I’m going to use this post as a jumping board for a similar article I’ve had in my head for a while…one that will encourage readers, bloggers and nonbloggers, to participate and let me know they are there. Thank you!