BLOG TIPS - A popular mommy blogger,MomDot, that called for a week-long "PR blackout" by her peers has told PRWeek that she didn't intend to sound anti-PR industry in her pitch, but that the boycott should be a lesson to agencies that inundate bloggers with irrelevant pitches.
We were surprised when we heard about her campaign, as Mom Bloggers have gotten considerable attention, power and press over the recent years and have become a blogosphere force that's been willing to promote products and services to the unsuspecting public (do readers know that the bloggers get free stuff?). This is less a PR industry problem, but a blogger problem. Why an organized "blackout" would be called for is confusing to BtG. Momdot, why not organize productive campaigns and blogging services for Mom's Bloggers to help them create better blog content that doesn't require the services/products from PR and Marketing firms. To blame the PR industry and call for a PR Blackout, which in itself is quite a PR move, calls attention to the problem of bloggers losing focus on the point of their blog. Most blogs don't start out to be servants of the PR community, but if you take "free stuff" for too long, you get hooked.
I suggest Mom's Blogs, and all bloggers, always remain focused on the point of their blog, whether it's monetizing a blog, kid's activities, camp ideas, college selection process, breastfeeding, etc. Don't get trapped by promoting goods or services not in your niche. You're not forced to post anything, so when you do, make sure it's worthwhile.
Your thoughts? Do you post about free stuff, services? Do you feel used by the PR Industry?
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