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.
Awesome, Heather. And 'way to go' because that's an awesome pledge. I'm a reader who loves content. I usually unsubscribe to blogs who only do giveaways. But I never really considered yours to be focusing on that.
Good luck with your WordPress switch! You're going to love Thesis.
I am a new follower!!
I just found you through Erin @ The Mother Load & MJ @ Dirty Little Confessions….
anyway – I was passed the THETA mom tag. I have not done it yet – but I plan to tomorrow and just wanted to stop by and add your blog to my list and let you know I will be following!
(I did just do a nice little post about my teenage boy…you must check it out!)
Your blog is FAB!!
Tami G
http://www.everydayingray.blogspot.com
amen amen AMEN!
form over fluff, every day
and you're wonderful.
I am a new follower. I have signed up so I know where to go after Nov 16. I really like your philosophy so look forward to reading more.
Best wishes, Natasha.
Way to be! We feel the same way at BonBon. We love to offer our loyal readers the chance to win things but hope they keep coming back for our content! Don't worry. Your loyal fans will do the same!
wonderful post! I agree and can't wait to catch up on your WordPress version. I am in the middle of setting up at WordPress also and hope to be done soon. I love your blog:)
Hope you love your new home. I don't know why I don't get here more often. Still trying to figure out how to read all of the blogs I follow. Love yours though. Come on over for a visit…we long hangin with friends. Holly at lifelaughlatte.blogspot.com
Oh hon, I can only speak for myself, but I definitely come by to read your blog and hear your perspective. I think blogging does give us a unique opportunity to connect and share with other mothers – which can be very challenging to do with any kind of regularity IRL (in real life).
I think the way you're doing it is just right. ** hugs **
I'd love to hear all about your Blogger/Wordpress experience.
I'm here to read your content, Heather… I think many of us do.
Good luck with the switch over. Only blogging four months and over 700 followers wow…
I never in a million years would have thought of putting you in the "review/giveaway" category!! It just would not have even entered my mind!
I am not a giveaway blog fan, really. I think it's great that people do them, but I just don't have time to enter them all and read all the reviews. When I read and follow a blog, it's for content, and that's why I follow yours.
To me, if a (content driven) blog that I really like offers an occasional review and giveaway of a great product, I really appreciate it, and then I will usually take the time to enter. So, in my opinion, you are definitely on the right track!!
Don't take it to heart. Maybe they listed every blog that has EVER had a giveaway, or something!
Good luck making the switch! Can't wait to see the new and improved and updated version. Thank you for standing up for Motherhood, it makes this place just a great place to hang out:)
Kristin
good luck with the move! and thanks for the pledge! you're definetly not a giveaway blog to me! you help me take time for myself (almost)every week, and remind me that i deserve it! i've found so many other great moms out there through you!
thank you!
I wouldn't consider you a "giveaway blog". Good luck with the move! Please post the link so we can head over there and follow/subscribe :).
I love your blog
Can't wait for the big move!
Good luck with the move…and I love your pledge. I would categorize you as content based…not giveaway based. And I really enjoy reading your blog.
Blogger has been giving me problems lately so I can't wait to hear how the move over to WordPress goes!
I definitely wouldn't consider you a giveaway blog. I love coming to read your posts. Thanks for keepin' it real!
I think your pledge is wonderful. And by the way I read your blog for the "good stuff" not the reviews/giveaways. I find you refreshing and honest and a sense of community like you want it.
I support your blogging choice.
You started the blog FOUR months ago? How did you get so many readers so quickly?
Beautifully written Theta Mom. I'm so proud of you. Good luck with the transition. You're an fantastic blogger. Keep Posting.
It's good to reassess sometimes & writing out a pledge can keep front & center what you blog for. I have enjoyed reading & your support since day one.
And I am looking forward to seeing what you do in the future! Along with the WordPress transition–I hope you love it as much as I do after it's all done.
I appreciate your heart and your honest and your pledge. Always something to think about as I move forward in my blogging experience as well. Thanks!
Heather, great post. Funny you should mention the contests, I personally don't even bother with them. When I see a blog with a pitch or give away, I pass over it. I only tune in for the blog posts they have written. Maybe I'm missing something Lol.
I'll start out with your contest and giveaway posts and take it from there. In the meantime, I love the content of your posts!
I should really comment here more often, but as I have no children, and feel that it is a waste of time entering competitions because I live in England, It just seems that I have nothing to say, so I feel a bit left out of things. But I do read your pages everyday, and most of them are really funny!
Looking forward to your new home!
Big Hug!
Best of luck with the move. I would love to hear how it goes and the ins and outs – any tips, in case I need to do that at some point too.
Very well written. And no your blog is not one that I come to for just the giveaways. LOL Four months blogging, WOW!!! You are awesome!
First of all, I want to congratulate you on creating a wonderful blog with amazing followers in such a short time. Great job!
I understand what you mean about the giveaways. I share your same philosophy of the type of giveaway you will accept. I refuse a lot more giveaways than I accept because I don't want it to be the focal point of my blog either.
Let me know how the move goes…that's a big one. Frankly, I stay away from the review blogs, but not yours, because I never thought of it as a review blog!
Great pledge! I have never participated in any giveaway blogs because I prefer going to blogs to read the content. I've been enjoying yours and hope that your transition to wordpress goes well!
In answer to your question on my blog, I decided to get my children vaccinated because their pediatrician recommended it and a few other doctors I heard also.
I just didn't want to worry about that darn H1N1 being given to my kids and me thinking I should have gotten the vaccine.
I've never thought of this as a review blog. I stay away from those, generally. I'm more into what other moms are experiencing, doing, etc.
Hope the transition is smooth!
Fun changes for you! I think this is great.
I am a fairly new follower…but I have been enjoying your blog. I think you are doing a good job of balancing quality content with fun giveaways.
I'm thinking about making the wordpress switch….I hope your switch goes smoothly and I look forward to reading about your transition (and hopefully picking up some pointers before I make my switch!!)
I'll be looking for the switch! I've always enjoyed reading the content of your blog, that's why I visit.
I've always visiting your blog and what you have to offer…..I am not a big giveaway person so I am looking forward to learning even more of you, Theta Mom!!!!!!!!
Kudos. I think your blog is the best of your reality, giveaways and day to day such and such. Perfect.
Good luck with the switch to WordPress. I do love to read your blog.
Good for you! I am also moving to WP. I'm just tweaking the site before I make the move completely.
Good luck with your move to WP! I'm nowhere ready for that.
Great post and you said it well! I never think of you as a giveaway blog. I always think of you as the Theta Mom who gives us all permission to take an hour for ourselves each week! I am grateful that I found your blog and I enjoy reading it all. Please continue!
So it there really are problems with Internet Explorer and Blogger. Google should really sort that out. It's been going on too long. AND I had a reader tell me today that she wanted to follow me but she couldn't.
TM, Just tagged you for an award over @ my place
XOXO
788 followers in 4 months? How'd you do that?
Honestly- I don't remember a single give-a-way from your blog. Does that make you feel better or worse? hahaha
Sounds like a THETA mom thing to me! I am here for the long haul!
Great post and awesome pledge!
I'm also looking at making the shift to WordPress. Good luck!
I am so interested in hearing about your blogger experience and why you are switching. of course, i love your blog and will continue to read it!!!
I'm a big content person and don't care about giveaways, so i appreciate your pledge!!!!
good luck making the switch!
Cameron
http://www.conquerthemonkey.com
Wow! You've built quite a community in 4 months! For what it is worth, I've never thought of you as a Review/Giveaway blog!
Will follow ya anywhere!
Very Beautifully said. And I have never thought of you as a giveaway blog (heck, no one can touch the giveaways you have, you are on a whole other level!)I think you have formed a wonderful community in a very short time!
Nice post! Good for you on taking this pledge.