Shooting at Bubbles - Latest Comments in I hate the term mommybloggers

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Paul O'Flaherty — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:25:43 -0000

Don't get me started on this one mate. As you know I hate these "defining" terms and would much prefer to see us all just realize that we are bloggers first and don't need to define ourselves any further.

The beauty of the tagging ecosystem that we have now is that we can put out content about anything and if properly tagged it will be found in that arena.

What gets me though is when bloggers of any type complain about being in a nice, or feel that they have to be in a niche.

Nobody puts you in a niche except yourself.

The beauty of the internet is that we can all define who we want to be. Bundling your blog with other blogs of a particular niche may well have benefits initially in terms of traffic, however in the long run it can restrict you as an author and you may well find yourself always playing second fiddle to the "authority" or "a-list bloggers" in your niche.

If you go it by yourself, you will suffer somewhat in terms of initial exposure and becoming part of a ready made community. However you will start to build your own unique community who appreciate and read what you write, not just because you are part of the "gang" but because they have a genuine interest in you and the content you produce.

The community you develop around your own brand, may well prove to be stronger and more loyal to YOU as a blogger than any prerolled community we try to insert ourselves into.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Ontario Emperor — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 10:37:10 -0000

Technically the term would be daddybloggers rather than fatherbloggers, but the issue still applies.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Karoli — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:24:27 -0000

I know some mommybloggers who feel that way. I am not technically a mommyblogger, though I am a mom. The thing is, mommybloggers as a group are a powerhouse. If they called themselves something else they'd still be a powerhouse, but it's a self-identifying term that is actually more helpful, than harmful to them.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Rob Safuto — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 12:08:49 -0000

I'm not a fan of the term myself. But then I'm not a fan of any term that lumps people together in a generic way. It seems that some are very proud of their mommyblogger status. Perhaps because it helps them land lucrative perks from companies desperate to put their products in front of women with kids. It's a huge market. I hear that BlogHer is going on in New York next week. Sounds like the perfect forum for this question.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

carlat — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:50:02 -0000

I don't even know where to start. Since becoming a mom, a bizarre world has been revealed to me. Women who stay at home to raise their kids - either out of their own desire to do so or because society guilts them into it - become extremely defensive about this decision and adopt their "mommy" status as a fierce badge of honor. They don't want to be seen as losing their own identity or brain power, so they immerse themselves fully and completely into the world of mommy. It's sort of an attitude of, "If I'm no longer _____ [teacher, accountant, attorney, whatever] then I am damn sure a MOMMMY!" It's a very complicated world and even other mothers have trouble understanding it.

P.S. - @Brett, not sure what you mean? I haven't encountered a lot of product giveaways, mostly just prolific discussion of poop, weird rashes, and - god help anyone who treads here - breastfeeding.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Guest — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:21:32 -0000

Here's how you can spot a mommyblogger and keep moving: they will be running some type of product giveaway. It can't get much more annoying than that.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Matt Shaulis — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:07:08 -0000

i'm not a "mom", but i'll still let you know... http://daddytypes.com/ there are "fatehrbloggers". And that's a funny blog, to boot. Just like tech blogging is a tech thing, parent blogging is a parent thing... :)

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

felix — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:38:34 -0000

They're daddybloggers as I understand it... :)

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

BillV — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:57:36 -0000

Hell, I'm still cringing every time I hear the word "meme". Man, that word is nails on a chalkboard, and I don't know why.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Corvida Raven — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:07:44 -0000

I find the term pretty irritating, but then again I'm not a mom and a lot of the women who are grouped under this term promote it heavily. I guess in the end it's done more for niche promotion rather than for actual label segregation.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Velveteen Mind Megan — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:01:40 -0000

I am not too fond of the term, either, but when everyone is telling you to embrace your niche, it's tough to make the call. I've been trying to decide whether or not to lose the "Life of a mom articulate." bit of my tagline, so this has been on my mind. I'm interested to see your responses.

Re: I hate the term mommybloggers

Honeycut — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 21:01:29 -0000

Sticks and stones mate. Sticks and stones.