A PR Firm that Gets It. (Or the shocking revelation that there can be mutual respect between mom bloggers and the PR world)
I have been wanting to write about this for a while now. But, by now you know me and know that I get sidetracked and busy with life and deadlines and forget to share these things with you.
With such “fine examples” as the one Liz shared with us of how some PR firms handle their bloggers, I want to share with you a company that has forever earned my respect.
Recently, I was asked to speak at a workshop as part of a special Social Media Month at the Dallas office of the international firm of Weber Shandwick Worldwide. They wanted me to speak at their workshop on reaching out to Mom and Parenting Blogs. They wanted to get a feel for what readers and mom bloggers want to hear about, what they’re looking for, best ways and reasons to contact them, and some of the best practices I have come across with marketing to moms.
Let me say right now, I told them upfront that I was in no way speaking for all mom bloggers or all parenting bloggers. I also said made sure they knew what I was sharing were things I preferred, my experiences and the experiences of mom bloggers that I have spoken to when it comes to marketing to mom bloggers. (Yes, Virginia, there is a mom blogger back channel that talks about blog pitches–the good, the bad and the “what were they thinking?!”)
The room was filled and even had the *”phantom voice of one who is connected” all there to try to learn how to approach mom bloggers. They wanted to know some do’s and don’ts. They also wanted to hear the good stories and the horror stories. I shared with them what I knew. What I preferred. What I have heard other moms say they prefer. And things that will quickly insult us or get you sent straight to our spam folder. I shared a few of our insider secrets and they shared a few of theirs.
If I had to sum it all up in one word?