Many of you know that I was (and still am) having some Blogger/Google issues. I shared my frustration not only through some posts, but also all over Twitterville. I have been thinking about a change from Blogger to WordPress for quite some time, and this drama solidified my need to make that transition. Beginning November 16th, that change will be taking place. I will be sure to post my experience and reasons for making the move as I’m sure many of you will be curious to hear. Actually, my fellow SITS girls just made the move and I couldn’t be more excited for them.
All of this change has given me time to reflect over the last couple of weeks. When I wasn’t commenting as much as I usually do on your blogs because of the challenges I was facing, it gave me a chance to take a step back and really think about this whole blogging process…
I began this blog over four months ago with the sincere intention of building a community of Theta Moms everywhere. This is why I wrote a Mission which you can read here. I wanted to use this website as a platform to share the voice that we all want heard; the fact that motherhood is so rewarding, yet isn’t always easy. I wanted to open the line of communication and start redefining this role of motherhood (as my tag line states) which is in itself quite an evolving process. Since starting this blog, I have met some of the most amazing, creative, and inspiring women. I haven’t met one of you face-to-face yet, but there isn’t a need to. I feel your passion, I hear your stories and I share in this commitment that you have for your own blogs. Through your comments, I have started to build a community. And this is exactly my intention for starting this blog, to begin the conversation…
However, I was on twitter recently and one of my followers (who I adore) categorized me in one of her lists. She listed me as a “Reviews/Giveaways” blog. I have to be honest with you, my heart sank a little. Don’t get me wrong, of course I like Review/Giveaway blogs. In fact, there are so many out there and so many of them do a beautiful job of rolling out multiple contests daily. And, I have started performing reviews and giveaways myself on this blog! Do I enjoy doing them? Absolutely! Do I want to continue to bring you excellent reviews and quality products? For sure! But is this what I want readers to remember me by? Not quite…
I don’t want someone coming to my blog just to see the new “contest” or free product I have available for them. I want a reader to come by and read my blog. I don’t want the fact that by performing reviews/giveaways that I am categorized as just that. I don’t want these giveaways to be the focal point of my blog. I want the content to speak for itself.
Therefore, I pledge to you that although I perform reviews and giveaways, this will never be the center of my blog. Although I get emails from companies pitching me their product(s), I do not and will not work with any company and/or product that I don’t fully endorse myself 100%. I won’t perform a review/giveaway just to do it. It must be worth my time and also your time. At the end of the day, this is not the sole reason my blog is running. It’s running because of the community of Theta Moms I have built since day one, and I will never lose sight of that.
I want you to come to my blog to read compelling content, to relate to an honest and sincere approach on motherhood, and/or share a different perspective. Do I still want you to enter my giveaways? Of course! Will I still get really excited about the products and companies I endorse? Of course! I just don’t want these contests to take away from the community that I have worked so hard to build.
Moving forward, I look forward to your follows, subscriptions, your comments, and your commitment to this process. Just as motherhood is an evolving process, so is this blogging experience. There are a million blogs out there…I want to be one of the ones that you remember and keep coming back to because of the content, not the free products.
For this, I have taken the pledge and I look forward to building this community together with you. After all, we are Theta Moms, and motherhood doesn’t get more authentic than that.
Good luck with the switch! I like your blog and a giveaway here and there is great, but I love stories and content!
Holly @ 504 Main
I do not think of you as a review/giveaway blog. I think of this as a content driven blog that on occasion does reviews/giveways. You were simple put on the wrong list.
Hi Heather,
I will still follow your blog on wordpress, your blog is great and honestly, I never considered your blog a giveaway blog. I think you've done a fabulous job~i love your writing and mom info.
FYI tho, I moved my blog from wordpress to blogspot cuz I couldn't stand wordpress. I'm curious to find out why you are moving….
I think your blog is excellent and my blog wants to be like yours when it grows up. And I don't enter any contests or giveaways. Honestly, I'm not a mom yet and I really like to see how real moms handle life so I can maybe see a peak into what I'm getting into one day.
Ok that's enough of not being funny. wow exhausting.
Heather, I always enjoy to share my time outs with my readers and other theta moms.And i really appreciate to meet new awesome moms through you. BTW,good luck with the switch to WordPress.
I've never thought of you as a review/giveaway so I have no problems here. I love how you connect with each and every commentor.
Please stop over at my blog I left you an award.
First good luck with the transition:) I am afraid of change and will probably never leave blogger. But, I still follow people who are on WordPress.
Second…perhaps the fellow twitter also put you on another list? I have you on two. Mommy Twitters and blogs I follow. I am having fun putting my lists together. I am not even done yet!!
I didn't think of your blog as a reviewer blog but a fun blog:)
i haven't done the giveaways for that reason. i don't want lumped in that category and honestly you have NOT done that many so it does shock me to see you being lumped in there. nothing against those gals but my blog is about my writing and nothing else
hang in there girl! you're doing a great job!
Hi, Heather – This was very timely. I was thinking the same thing about my blog. I certainly will look at your blog through other eyes and not the giveaway eyes. Thanks for your mission!
I think you have a fantastic blog sprnkled with a dash of free stuff. and who doesn't like free stuff?
GO THETA MOM!!!
http://www.thewannabewahm.com
you're so welcome! you deserve it
not wishing my life away- but can't wait until i'm a theta mom! (because that's the only kind there is!) XOXO
Your blog is wonderful. The last thing I come to your blog is reviews/giveaways. Your posts are so moving, and memorable. I enjoy your blog. I have a review/giveaway blog and it's very overwhelming. I have also thought about switching to WP. Let me know how it goes!
I love this blog. Good for you for wanting to be heard and defined by your words not your gimmicks. Thanks for stopping by. Sorry you were having so much trouble with blogger:(
I really enjoy your blog! You always have positive, encouraging messages which I can identify with!
Good luck with your transfer to WordPress!
Brilliant! I love this post and your pledge! Reading your post has really given me a different insight into how i would love to continue my fashion blog and how i would love it to go….
best of luck with Word Press eagerly awaiting the new site!!!
I love blogs. To tell you the truth, I rarely stay at a blog that does the giveaways and all that. I love reading. I love the stories. I heart your layout and look forward to becoming a regular!
.-= Mariah´s last blog ..Fix It Friday: Red Headed cutie =-.
VERY nicely written! If I could write that well, I would be right there with you. Unfortunately, I can’t…so people come to me for the giveaways…not the great posts.
I love your site. It truly is a great place to look around. God bless!
.-= April Sexton´s last blog ..Mmm…waffles… =-.
Thank you for that April!
.-= Theta Mom´s last blog ..My Seven =-.