Photo Credit: Instagram

Do you use Instagram? I’m new to Instagram because it was just released for Android users but I love it and can now see why all my Apple friends were gaga for it! Except, how do you measure the use of it, if you’re in the social media space and you’re interested in these types of metrics you might be wondering. Ahem, I am and therefore I scratched my head wondering how to capture the metrics of my Instagram account for my own professional benefit and how my clients could use Instagram and measure this application.  At Mom 2.0 I asked a room full of people and a panel of PR professionals this question and nobody had an answer! Either nobody was going to share this little secret or I’ve stumbled onto something sweet! Well, actually a friend of mine did and she knows who is and how appreciative I am for her find

Statigram.am

A simple web application that allows you to register your Instagram account do the following:

• Print Photos {I always wondered how to do this.}
• Create an RSS Feed and have other subscribe to your latest photos
• Create a Facebook tab for your Facebook Fan Page
• Create a Facebook profile cover from all of your Instagram Pictures
• Gather stats on photos, likes, comments, followers – including growth
• Measure engagement and see which #hashtag was used the most
• See which filter you use the most

With Statigram you can be notified daily of this activity via email! For my own personal and professional use this is handy! Here is my public profile, check it out.

As a Blogger:

• I can finally measure what my sphere of influence is for Instagram and share it visually with brands and potential clients. This is a must add to my media kit!
• Allow my clients to subscribe to my RSS feed and see what content I am posting for their brand or for other brands. This gives them a feel for what I post and if they want to work with me. They can view the comments and how many hearts I have on photos.

For my Clients:

• I can see which bloggers are using this web based application and subscribe to their feed to see their activity. Which bloggers using Instagram do I want to work with based on their activity?
• Ask for a blogger to provide me with their Statigram stats to capture their engagement and growth.
  

  Photo Credit: http://statigr.am/

• View a bloggers profile that’s using Statigram and see easily how many followers they have, how many people they are following, the number of photos they have and visually have a sense for the engagement level with the comments and hearts.
• Measure a contents using Statigram with their request tool kit. This allows for statistics, participant listing, and a tool to select winners and publish prizes and map visualization.
• Ask bloggers that are working with my clients to use Instagram to forward their weekly of daily email if it should include a most liked photo.

Perhaps I’m the only one excited about this web based tool but then again, I like metrics and stats and find it handy. Sure, it doesn’t reflect someone’s complete sphere of influence online but for Instagram it’s handy.

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Have you ever stewed over something for a long time and then there’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, or so they say? I’ve received a P.R. pitch from a company that will remain nameless for the time being but it’s a brand/company I like and use which annoys me because this pitch was insulting and um, exactly how a brand should not work with a blogger.

It went something like this minus the sarcasm, editing and possible vomit hanging off a few words:

Dear Blogger,

We really like your blog and loved your article on <insert most recent post>. We want to invite you to be an exclusive blogger for _______________. You’ll write 2 posts each month with content we feed you <insert my sarcasm> and we’ll benefit but provide you with a few coupons and some product.

Oh and after four months if you have the most comments, social media shares and traffic you could win a $500 gift card to a store you’ll never shop at but you have to sell your soul to the devil and compete with your blogging friend.  Doesn’t that sound great!

Want to be an exclusive blogger for __________________? We love your blog it is a great fit for both of us!

Signed,

P.R. professional that came up with this really stupid idea where we could use bloggers and benefit but our firm is being paid money and you’re not –ha! Ha!

The beef of this pitch is insanely true. Four months of two posts each month of content provided to me that I have to slave to promote and I could win something. Aren’t I lucky?

The deal-e-o is this, bloggers will bite because they feel special to work with this brand and it could be a foot in the door, or so they want to believe or hope.  What I see is a blogger being used to benefit a brand and a P.R. firm making money of a campaign for a measly $750, their cost for the gift cards the blogger(s) could win. As professionals we are selling ourselves short and hurting the larger community of professional bloggers.

That’s just my 2 cents – 4 what it worth.

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Like any business, there’s a lot to staying afloat, being ahead of the competition and making money. Blogging is not an out of the box type of business. I had this call yesterday with a client wanted to know how I was a business, I was “just a blogger”. I explained that I am selling my book, my consulting services, building my traffic for affiliate sales and advertising dollars and I often speak at conferences.  A diverse business model and not all blogger make money the same way. Some don’t make any money.

Check out my recent posts from Momeo Magazine on increasing your blogging traffic for money and why traffic does matter.  Here’s a quick excerpt:

Bloggers want traffic. It feels good to know that hundreds and thousands of people are reading what you write. It is for the ego, of course. It is also good for the wallet.

Don’t be fooled by the bloggers who say that they don’t want to profit from blogging. Whatever. Let me be perfectly honest: if you hear this baloney, the blogger either does not have traffic that justifies money or does not understand how traffic can equal money.

I recently wrote about why you need a media kit as a blogger and what your media kit should have and why:

A media kit is your online marketing tool for telling those who are interested in working with you or those you want to work with why you are worth it. The media kit separates you for the other millions of bloggers because yes, a blogger has competition – lots of it. There are 3.9 million women with children write blogs in the US. By 2014, that number will jump to 4.4 million (source: eMarketer). That’s competition!

I had a good blogging friend; a successful one tell me she does not think her blog is her business. I asked her if her blog did not exist would she have a business. Her answer was probably not; her business comes from her blog and her blogging connections.

So let me ask you, is your blog your business?

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Some blogger do reviews. Not all bloggers. When I first started blogging I liked to do the reviews. It was fun to get new products and try them out, share them with my readers and my in person friends and family. I learned quickly that reviewing products for companies takes more time than I realized.

Reviews Take Time

I try the product for a length of time.

I research the product, visit the website, look for other reviews and if there are ingredients involved that means more research.

I take photos.

I write the post.

I edit the post.

I publish the post and then promote the most through Twitter, Facebook and other social media channels.

I let the company know I posted the review.

If the product is over $25, I log the product in a spread sheet I have created for tax purposes because I need to claim that product on my taxes.

There are many steps involved when it comes to reviewing a product and if the product value is on the low end of the scale my time and effort can outweigh the effort I put into reviewing the product.  Which is why now I am more cautious at which products I say yes and not to reviewing and why I now have another writer who does reviews, it helps me tremendously.

A Review Twist

Now companies would like for you to do a review, a giveaway and they have an extensive list of expectations. Here is how I feel about this, I will do a review. I might post the giveaway with my rules if I think my audience would like this but giveaways take even more time but they do bring me extra traffic so I’m okay with it. I promote the review and/or giveaway but additional links, extra efforts, banners and items that are really part of a campaign – that is not a review it is a marketing campaign that I should be paid for!

Bloggers, need to be careful because there is a fine line between a review and a full fledge marketing campaign that you’re part of and not being paid for. Find that line and draw it or else you are being taken advantage of.

A Review Blog or More than That

Another thought, are you more than just a review blog? Do you provide quality content, share stories about your life? What is the purpose of your blog? It is easy to become a review blog where all you do is talk about brands you use, products that you like and review items. Think carefully when you accept that review product and plan carefully as to how that will coordinate into your editorial calendar. Do not let the brands take over your blog, control what you are about. Stuff does not make a person successful.

What is Your Policy?

If you do reviews, do you have a policy? Have you let the company know if you return products, what your time frame is or how you will communicate with the company? You are business if you are working with brands, accepting product and reviewing items.  Not only should you claim the product you review on your taxes you should be letting those you work with know your policies. Do you know what the law means to you and your blog reviews and giveaways? If not, it is time to get serious.

My Examples:

http://greenandcleanmom.org/advertise/

http://greenandcleanmom.org/product-submission/

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Your child wants to start blogging but you’re not sure if it is safe. Should kid’s blog? There are potential risks in sharing information online through a blog. Kids might not realize that strangers are reading what they write and not all of those strangers are friendly.  Yet blogging has many potential benefits such as improved writing skills, communication skills, graphic design and more. It isn’t whether your child should blog it is whether you are ready to spend time teaching your child to be safe online and monitor their blogging efforts.

4 Simple Blogging Tips for Parents:

1.  Establish rules. What are the rules in your home and where is the computer located? Is there a limit to screen time? Set the rules and stick to them. Decide what the consequences will be if the rules are broken.
2. Proof and approve. Before your child can publish any blog post it has to go through you.
3. Blogging service. What blogging service is your child using and can you password protect the blog or make it private?
4. Review. Even though you proof and approve make sure you review your child’s blog on a regular basis, just to be safe. Bookmark the blog URL and check it daily.

If you decide to let your child blog consider reading some blogs from other parents and teachers using blogs with kids. Do some research, ask questions and talk with others before diving in. A good example is from a homeschooling family that has clearly defined rules or Mrs. Skolbert’s fourth grade class blog.

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Christmas is right around the corner and that means it is time to start planning, making lists and shopping. My Mommy is a Blogger makes the perfect gift for any of the following people:

1.  Your Child’s Teacher – help them understand what you do and why you might drop your little one off in a sweat suit and baseball hat! You were up all night blogging and tweeting of course!
2. YOUR Child – they’ll love that they are reading a book that calls you a booger!
3. Any Family Member – they’ll finally understand in simple terms why you need a sitter for a blogging conference!
4. A Librarian – they’re always looking for new books to suggest to parents!
5. Blogging Pal – any blogging buddy will love this as a gift and enjoy reading it to her children.

To help you save some money this holiday season use the code Xmas30 at checkout and save 30% off your order! Stock up because this sale ends December 31, 2011!

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Has your child ever asked what it is you do online all day? Mine have! As we strive to be digital moms who grow a business online and still make the car pool lane it is confusing for our children to understand exactly what it is we do. It is a dream for many of us to work from home, earn a living, do what we love and still be there for our children! Recently I read the book, The Digital Mom Handbook and I can tell you from first hand experience that it is possible to have your dream! If you are a mom who is looking to find your passion, live happily ever after and work online I am giving a copy of The Digital Mom Handbook along with one copy of My Mommy is a Blogger.

To enter:

Leave a comment telling me how you balance motherhood and work.

For additional entries leave a comment that you have done any of the following:

1.  Tweet the following: @greenmom is giving away The Digital Mom Handbook by @classymommy @audreymcclellan http://ow.ly/6iWfA #giveaway

2.  Tweet the following: Check out @greenmom review of The Digital Mom Handbook by @classymommy @audreymcclellan http://ow.ly/6iWM6 #giveaway

3.  Follow @greenmom on Twitter

4.  Follow Green and Clean Mom on Facebook

5.  Tweet the following:  30% off My Mommy is a Blogger children’s book code BOOK30 http://ow.ly/6iXuW

One random winner will be drawn on September 12, 2011 at 12pm EST and contacted through email. The winner will win a copy of The Digital Handbook and My Mommy is a Blogger. U.S. entries only.

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I am a paid blogger. Blogging is an income for me and I cannot pay my bills with a free hair cut or bottle of shampoo. Those are great perks but I have bills to pay. This doesn’t mean I get paid for everything and that each review or brand I work with I am compensated for but I believe in paying bloggers for marketing campaigns. I even talk about brands working with bloggers in the children’s book.

A Blog Review and Marketing Campaign: The Difference

♦A blogger who does a review of a product is compensated by the product and that product is something they should claim on their taxes.

♦A blogger that is asked to review a product and then asked to post, tweet, and post on their Facebook and make a video is now working on a campaign for a company and should be compensated. This is now a marketing tactic not just a product review.

Do you see the difference? When you ask me to do x, y and z you should pay me because I am helping your company sell something and I’m using my sphere of influence that I’ve worked hard achieving – you can’t use me for free.

Authenticity and Paying Bloggers

A blogger can be paid and be authentic. A blogger who has a large sphere of influence has earned the trust of their audience and built a relationship with their community.  A good blogger doesn’t say yes to every brand and every opportunity. They find a fit for their site and their beliefs. A blogger that is part of a paid campaign is loyal to the brand, loves the brand and wants to tell others about the brand – in an authentic way offline and online.  Their integrity means something to them and to not be authentic they lose the trust of their audience and community and their integrity is at stake.  A blogger like me who blogs as a business is not willing to risk their integrity for any brand – it tarnishes their own brand. A brand should very easily be able to tell which bloggers are authentic.

How Can You Tell a Blogger is Authentic?

♦Look at their tweet stream and following.

♦Look at their Facebook page and what they are saying.

♦What are others saying about the blogger- do some Google research.

♦What is the bloggers Klout?

♦Has the blogger work with brands on paid campaigns before?

♦What does their site look like? Is their sidebar cluttered with junk and advertisements that are consistent with their message? An example is a “green blogger” advertising for Tide in their side bar.

♦Do they blog as a business? What does their disclaimer say, media kit and about page?

♦Read their blog posts where they are doing a review or part of a paid campaign – when you read it does it feel authentic? Are they good at content integration?

Why Pay Bloggers?

A blogger that is going to be part of a campaign to sell hundreds of bottles of shampoo and build a brands reputation is not a journalist.  Yes, the Tech Crunch survey showed 52% of bloggers think of themselves as bloggers but I boldly disagree.  Jessica Gottlieb writes a great post on this and for the love of God even the courts are ruling bloggers aren’t journalists! I especially love Chris Brogan’s post flat out saying he is not a journalist and I want to loudly say, “DITTO”!

So if bloggers aren’t journalists what are they and why should a brand be willing to pay a blogger?

♦A blogger who has influence and Klout online and offline, that writes authentically has something to offer a brand that is equal to hiring a celebrity. It is true, just read the BlogHer 2011 Social Media Study!

♦Rhetorical but I would ask any brand agency employee it answer this question: “Would you work for a bottle of shampoo?”

♦Sponsored conversations are here to stay! As Ad Age revealed in a great article about when and how to pay bloggers – it isn’t something a brand will be able to avoid forever. If so – they’ll be left at the station and the train will pass them by! Bye-Bye!

♦As Mom Blog Magazine points out bloggers are providing a service, a talent, influence, relationships and more. They deserve to be paid!

This post if spurred by a resent session presentation at the evo Conference in Utah where a brand representative presented a slide presentation saying that that bloggers should not be expected to be paid and then proceeded to point out a successful  campaign where bloggers were not paid and how much money the brand made. I do not believe the representative represents the true essence of the company or their marketing practices – I think it was a mistake and not very well planned, thought out, reviewed and communicated by one person. Luckily the brand cleared it up on Twitter and welcomed the conversation on their policies.

Let’s talk. What are your feelings on this topic?

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“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

It seems like yesterday I had the idea to write this book and today it is in my hands!  I feel so fortunate to have had Book Bridge be my partner in the process of self publishing. I could have pitched the book to 100 agents and still not have a published copy but today my idea has become reality and it is because I made a decision to try. An investment in myself (financial and emotional)!  From here where will I go and what do I hope to accomplish from writing this book?

My Goals:

Sell all 2000 copies and get these copies into the hands of the children that have mommies that blog!

To bring more respect and understanding to the blogging profession for women, like myself.

To work with schools or libraries.

How will I know I have reached my Goals?

I will have to order more books.

I will have gotten good reviews from my fellow colleagues.

I have received local, regional and national press.

I have been invited to speak at schools or libraries.

My strategies for reaching my goals:

I will sell my books on Amazon.

I will have a Twitter party launch.

I will advertise and promote via Jennifer James and The Mom Blog Network.

I will connect with bloggers to review my book and spread the word.

I will host book signings.

I will develop downloadable activities for my children to accompany my book.

I will regionally look to sell my book in book stores.

I will use Twitter and Facebook to promote my book.

I will use traditional media for outreach through press releases.

I will network and build relationship with other bloggers.

I will work to partner with other bloggers with books similar to mine.

I will guest post on other blogs.

What do I hope to learn from this or how will I grow?

I hope to financially be successful and to publish another book.

It is my hope that I’ll further my connections and relationships with my fellow colleagues/bloggers.

I hope my children will better understand what I do and be proud to tell their friends.

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Over at Green and Clean Mom (my personal blog), I talk about developing my marketing plan and curriculum to help parents and teachers use my book to help their child start a blog. Through this research process I’ve learned a great deal about online safety and cyber bulling, a definite concern for any parent or teacher.  Thinking about the great unknown of cyberspace and predators online, adults have a great sense of responsibility. We give our kids bike helmets, knee pads, clean food free of pesticides and we make sure they walk in pairs but now there is the online world to shield our children from and that is scary! But anything and everything is scary when it comes to raising children and teaching them how to be safe and the difference between right and wrong. Now adults have to navigate a new world of social media and embrace the positive and teach our children how to have blogs, use social media and be safe! Just like we teach a child to ride a bike with a helmet we can teach them how to blog and be safe.

I’ll soon be posting some interviews with popular mom bloggers who have helped their children start blogging, so stay tuned and hear their thoughts and how they deal with the issue of online safety. I’ll be sharing some great kids friendly blog tools, examples and online sites to help you and your child start blogging together.  Until then watch a few of these informative videos and perhaps share some of them with your children if they are online:

Cyber bullying:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdQBurXQOeQ&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT7-dKrc0jg&feature=related

Do you know who you are talking to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ_f7yOAzPU&feature=related

Think before you post:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im1aLcCP9xQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE2Ru-jqyrY&feature=related

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