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Ever since blogs started competing with traditional media several years ago, some journalists have been trying to minimize and disrespect mothers who blog.
In fact, their very use of the term “mommy blogger” is often said with a mocking tone of voice. I prefer the terms “Mom Blog” and “Mom Blogger”.
Yesterday, the Atlantic published a post using Dooce’s “semi-retirement” as proof of “the challenges of earning money as an individual blogger today” and implying an end to the “Mommy Blogging” era.
My short answer to The Atlantic’s question, “Can Mommy Bloggers Still Make a Living?” is…
“YES, Mom Bloggers CAN still make a living.”
But if you are sincerely interested in the earning potential of mom bloggers, here’s the full story…
Blogging is NOT Dying — It is EVOLVING
If you’re in the business of New Media, you’d better be ready for it to change.
There is no point in hanging on to the past. If you’ve elected to build a business based on pushing boundaries and creating income opportunities where none used to exist, you need to be ready to lay ground on the next road.
The blogging business is NOT easy and it IS getting harder every day.
[Tweet “Blogging is NOT Dying. It is EVOLVING.”]
Heather Armstrong says she wouldn’t recommend blogging to make money — and neither would I. There are easier ways to make a living.
BUT, if you are determined to making a living as a mom blogger, you CAN do it.
In fact, I’d say you have a better chance of earning a full time income as a mom blogger today than when we started in 2006.
It wasn’t until about 2010 that many mom bloggers started making significant incomes. Now in some ways making money blogging seems to be be getting HARDER and you have to push and stretch yourself.
You need to learn to shoot and edit better photos. You need to take time to create compelling visual elements for your posts. You have to grow several social channels. Once you press publish on a post, the work doesn’t stop.
It is HARD.
And I wouldn’t blame anyone for quitting.
(In fact, I actually share many of our personal secrets and strategies in a weekly email for bloggers who are trying to build a business.)
Dooce was never representative of Mom Bloggers
Yes, Heather may have been awarded the title of the most popular “Mommy Blogger in the World”, but she never actually represented the group.
[Tweet “Heather Armstrong aka @Dooce was more of a ‘Blogging Rockstar’ than a ‘Queen of Mommy Blogging’.”]
First of all, let me say, I have tons of respect for Heather and the blog and business she created. One of our first blog posts in March 2006 was actually about how funny and talented we thought Dooce was.
Dooce was unique.
Heather wrote publicly about topics no one else would have. She created an audience that craved her irreverent, honest voice.
But that audience was also the type that fought back when she put ads in her sidebars.
It’s no wonder that her particular audience didn’t embrace her writing sponsored posts.
However, just because Dooce doesn’t like writing sponsored posts and some of her readers didn’t like reading sponsored posts, it does NOT mean that sponsored content doesn’t work for other bloggers.
Sponsored Content Can Be Awesome – But It Takes Work
Yes, as the article points out, banner ads are dying.
But I’d venture to say, the fact that banner ads aren’t generating as much revenue is worse news for The Atlantic and other media sites than it is for mom bloggers.
[Tweet “The death of banner ads is worse for big media sites than it is for bloggers.”]
The mom bloggers that are successfully generating full time incomes are creative writers, talented photographers, and smart business women who know how to create content that serves both their audience and their advertisers.
Again I say, it isn’t easy. Managing that difficult balance day in and out, gave Heather panic attacks.
I am not surprised she quit.
Heather can make more money speaking and consulting to brands, so it makes sense for her to do that rather than write blog posts.
But don’t make the mistake of thinking that sponsored content is subpar or inferior to posts penned on a whim.
Most professional mom bloggers spend FAR longer crafting a post when it is sponsored.
Mom Bloggers Who ARE Making FABULOUS Livings
This article asks, “Can Mommy Bloggers Still Make a Living?”
The answer is YES and here are 10 examples of women who are running very successful businesses with their “Mom Blogs” as the enterprise foundation.
Each of these blogs has evolved dramatically from their early days, but none are at risk of closing… instead they are flourishing. And YES, they all publish high quality, engaging sponsored content that their readers love.
Here are 10 women who prove “Mom Bloggers” can make fabulous livings…
- Audrey Couto McClelland – momgenerations.com
Audrey is a perfect example of a blogger who uses her talents online to create a phenomenal life for her 5 kids and her husband who stays home and helps in what has become a family business.
- Vera Sweeney – ladyandtheblog.com
Vera and Audrey partner on various projects but Vera’s site Lady and the Blog is the hub of her online empire which enlists her husband and 3 kids and supports a fabulous lifestyle living in New York.
- Jo-Lynne Shane – jolynneshane.com
Evolving and crafting high quality content that specializes in fashion and food, Jo-Lynne is in high demand by advertisers and her readers love her posts. She’s built an awesome business and includes her 3 kids in posts only when she feels it’s a good fit.
- Amy Mascott – teachmama.com
Don’t put “Mom Blogs” in a box. Amy, as well as other teachers and homeschoolers, combine personal blogging with valuable insight and resources for their audiences.
- Christine Koh – bostonmamas.com
Christine started blogging when we did in 2006 and has used her influence to become an author and highly successful business owner. She’s a “neuroscientist turned multimedia creative.”
- Stacie Haight Connerty – divinelifestyle.com
Stacie has huge social reach and blogs at Divine Lifestyle. She writes product reviews, stories about her family, tales of their latest travels and lots of tasty recipes.
In my opinion, Stacie is a great example of a “Mom Blogger” who makes an awesome income from her blog and social channels.
- Jill Seiman – glamamom.com
Jill focuses on beauty and style on GlamaMom.com. The blog has multiple contributors and often their kids help out with sponsored content and pose for stunning photos.
- Nicole Feliciano – momtrends.com
I don’t recommend calling Nicole a “Mom Blogger”. She’s now the CEO and employer of several full time staff in New York running the lifestyle site Mom Trends and Shopping Mama http://www.theshoppingmama.com/
Nicole’s expansion of these blogs is an example of the growth of “mom blogs” into lifestyle websites that use their influence and reach to share branding messages in creative ways to a truly interested audience.
- Crissy Page – dearcrissy.com
Photography is key in blogging these days. The posts on Dear Crissy are bursting with amazing photos whether they’re about food, crafts or her family. And YES, Crissy is making a good living from her “Mom Blog” and her kids are often featured in campaigns.
- Kayla Aimee – kaylaaimee.com
Kayla loves to write and through her blog, she’s become an author and speaker who creates a full time income around her family’s schedule. She’s got a lot going on, and it still includes writing fantastic sponsored content featuring her adorable daughter Scarlette.
And yes, Janice and I are both single moms who support our families through this blog and our social influence.
We work incredibly hard and many days we might wish we could quit. But the blessings of this creative challenge are beyond anything we could have imagined when we started “mom blogging” in 2006.
What Do You Say?
Are you a “mom blogger”? What’s your response to The Atlantic article? Please share it in a comment.
Also…
It was difficult to select ONLY 10 successful mom bloggers for this post. The list could go on and on for pages. We personally know so many women who earn their incomes from “Mom Blogs”, but we selected a group of ten that we feel show quite a variety of blogging styles.
If you’d like to mention another mom blogger who is making her living blogging, please tell us in a comment…
UPDATE: This is an interesting article about Dooce’s interview on stage at the 2015 Problogger conference.
Share With Your Friends
We’d love, love, love a tweet or a pin… Thanks so much! 🙂
[Tweet “Here are 10 Mom Bloggers who answer @TheAtlantic article’s question about @Dooce…”]
Want To Know More About What We Actually Do?
Janice and I have been blogging and making our living online since 2006. It’s not always easy, but we’ve learned tons over the years and we keep learning everyday.
As a way to give back to our loyal readers, we created a weekly email series called “Become a Better Blogger”. In each edition, you will learn something from our 8 years of full-time blogging experience.
Get Become a Better Blogger delivered FREE to your Inbox every Monday…
Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with me at pinterest.com/5minutesformom
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Helen Holley says
Way to go, 5!!
The first part of my morning routine is reading the blogs I subscribe to with a big cup of coffee. I can’t imagine my life without them! In the words of a famous song…. Heather, “check ya-self before you wreck ya-self!”
Allison says
Yes, blogging is still lucrative for moms. My income increases every month. I am close to surpassing my full-time day-job income with my online income. I will be leaving behind a corporate career to write, write, write because it does pay the bills. I’ve never had a more emotionally rewarding money-earning experience than blogging.
Désirée Fawn says
Brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing this 🙂 You nailed it.
Donna says
Great article, Susan! I was a teacher and I make more money from my blog than I could teaching… And I get to work from home.
Robin Gagnon @MomFoodie says
I would say the potential for those of us who integrate brands into creative and useful articles has never been better. Recipes, crafts, styling, and DIY topics are a natural fit for product placement, while still being useful and appealing to readers.
Crystal Green says
I believe you are spot on in your assessment of The Atlantic’s article.
I’m a full-time blogger who makes pretty decent income from my blog. The more hours I get to dedicate to it, the more money I make. However, I make enough that I was able to bring my husband home and have him just start helping with the blog too. It is a full family affair now, and we wouldn’t trade it.
Mommy Blogging is NOT dead! I do feel it’s shifting and we have to change with those tides, but as long as we’re willing to do that we should be fine.
Susan says
Amen Crystal.
I love that your husband is now working with you too! What a blessing that you’re able to turn it into a “full family affair”.
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! says
BTW, Heather is still blogging. And for someone who says sponsored posting is soul sucking, she just did a sponsored post for Target. Sigh.
I’m a mom who publishes a food and healthy lifestyle blog. And I make a great full time income.
Susan says
Thanks for reading and commenting Anne-Marie…. yes you are another awesome example of a woman rocking it in this space.
I think you’ve been blogging about the same number of years that we have, haven’t you?
About Heather still blogging and doing that Target post… my guess is that Target post was a leftover campaign that she’s still finishing her obligations.
But yes, I believe she still plans on continuing to blog but not as consistently and apparently not for brands.
Becky says
Great insight! I don’t know if I identify as a mom(my) blogger, but I am a mom who blogs. I think the key to sponsored posts is to work with brands we honestly love, and be choosey with which products we support, and fit into our niche and audience. We don’t have to “sell our soul” so to speak, but with research we can find opportunities best fit with our unique missions.
Susan says
Absolutely Becky!
And I agree that many of the women who have children and also have blogs – and even those who blog about their children – do not identify with the label “Mom(my) Bloggers”.
I do not like the term “Mommy Blogger” and I regularly explain to PR people and others who are in the business of contacting and communicating with bloggers that it is not a great way to address bloggers.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
Spot on ladies!
Susan says
Thanks Valerie!
Rebecca West says
It can’t be the end of Mommy Bloggers! I’ve just started, and I am determined to make a little side income for my family while doing something that I absolutely love, which is to write. I’m hoping that as a new mom on the scene, I can learn from blogs like the ones you mentioned, and grow a successful following. Thank you for giving all the small mom blogs hope. 😉
Susan says
That’s awesome that you’ve started blogging! And YES, there’s lots of room in the space to grow your blog and earn income.
Stay in touch!
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Kelly @ IdealistMom.com says
Excellent food for thought! That article on Dooce missed the mark, I thought. Thank you for clearing the air!
Susan says
Thanks Kelly.
Yes, I think the article really did miss the mark… as is common when journalists and other non-bloggers try to describe what blogging is and what it isn’t.