Separation of (Blogging) Business and (Blogging) Pleasure

 
image source: Getty Images

Lately I've been feeling that my once "mommy blog" has become consumed with product reviews and contests.  Though I've made no secret of the fact that I welcome and enjoy PR, I fear I may have somewhere along the road lost sight of the original reason I started this blog in the first place - to give long distance family/friends an opportunity to be part of Chase's ever-evolving life each day, and to also document this very special time in my life (a cyber "baby book," if you will).  But these days it seems I spend more time engaging in PR business than sharing personal experiences/reflections.  And while reviews are fun to do and giveaways my way of "thanking" those of you who have been loyal/supportive of the blog... I wonder if it isn't unfair to those readers (namely family) who come to my blog, eagerly expecting to read a funny/silly/cute Chase/mommy anecdote, but instead see yet another contest.

Now in the same token I think product reviews are extremely invaluable tools.  It's no secret that women have tremendous buying power.  But more specifically, I learned at Blogalicious that women of color actually control 85% of all purchase decisions made today!  So naturally companies are coming to us mom bloggers for review and assessment of their products.  Word of mouth is a powerful animal and we sure use it - in our church groups, our PTA meetings, our message boards, our book clubs and sister-friend luncheons...  I think the reviews I do are important and I want to continue providing a young, African-American mom perspective to those companies/campaigns that value feedback. 

However, what I don't want to do is mix "business with pleasure" any longer.  I want to find a way to continue enjoying both worlds - blogging about Chase and the prissy mommy life, and also sampling and reviewing new, cutting edge products that could impact me and my household.    

So with that said, Ive decided to create a "sister blog" of sorts. It will strictly be for PR.  I'll of course announce contests on this site (and tweet about them), but those posts will now be reserved for The Prissy Mommy Reviews & Giveaways.  I hope you all support me in this new endeavor!

Muchas Smoochas!

Comments

[Nadia]

We really missed the boat on Blogalicious this year. By the time we found out about it was too late but we are so there next year. You can count on us to check out your reviews blog!

[michelle]

I love your blog but I understand what you mean re: family!! Keep up the good work!!

[Kristina brooke]

You know I could have written this post too. LOL. When I first began doing reviews I had a separate review blog but I was not getting a lot of reviews at the time. I combined my two blogs. Now, I am getting so many products to review that my personal blog became overwhelmed with reviews. LOL

Good luck to you and I will definitely add your review blog to my read list.

[Pat]

OK, all I know is my blog wants to be yours when it grows up...and the graphic of you with Chase in the shopping cart is KILLING me!!!!!!!

[Shantel]

Yeah... I'm down for MORE CHASE, less PR... well on Chase's page at least. The giveaways did bring a "fun" aspect to the blog.

[kim]

I'm glad you're doing this. I love reading about Chase's everyday life. I also like the reviews, but I'm glad you are separating the two.

[Missy @ The Marketing Mama]

Great idea! I've done something similar as well to try and keep it separate. Another thing I've done is limit contests and give aways to 1 per month... that helps keep me from spending too much time on them and not on the editorial content that keeps my readers coming back. :)

[Queeny]

I think that's a great idea. I have 4 as well that each serve a different purpose. Q