Tips

How to Reach Influential Moms Online

May 3, 2015 by The Motherhood

Moms rule social media. It’s that simple.

So, how do brands reach moms on these various platforms? Through other moms, of course!

According to a study conducted by The Motherhood, in partnership with University of Pittsburgh Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence and the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, more than half (56 percent) of moms view social networks as a good source of information, and 42 percent make purchases based on recommendations from social networks.

With that in mind, it’s never been more critical for brands to connect directly with influential moms in order to tap this broad consumer audience of fellow moms who are making the majority of household purchases.

A few tips to get you started:

1. Focus on a personalized pitch

Bloggers are always being contacted by brands and agencies looking to work with them. As we recently reported, bloggers also dislike being referred to by marketers as mommy bloggers, so your pitch should be careful not to pigeonhole moms with this term. It’s also important to know about a blogger’s lifestyle, interests and preferences before you ask them to write content for your brand. Bloggers are often turned off by generic, impersonal pitches that don’t speak to their blog’s overarching theme, topic or tone. Before you reach out to an influential mom online, take some time to get to know her blog to see if your brand and/or similar brands have been discussed previously. Take note of the writing style and language a blogger uses and make sure it is aligned with your product or brand messaging. Finding a personal connection between your brand and a blogger is a great way to cultivate a new relationship, and in turn, can create authentic, meaningful dialogue for your brand among moms online.

2. Pay attention to social media

Moms are an active and savvy group on social media. It’s important to know what is being said on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram before you approach a blogger to represent your brand or organization. See if the blogger has mentioned your brand on social and don’t be afraid to engage with them in a genuine, two-way conversation. You can also use social media to understand what type of brand work a blogger is comfortable with, because many may specialize in a particular social channel. Do they regularly participate as co-hosts in Twitter parties for brands? Do they host Facebook or Pinterest contests and giveaways? Do they have experience as brand ambassadors? Navigating through social media activity is a great way to find influential moms online who are the right bloggers for your brand.

3. Contact a blogger network

Social media marketing companies with strong blogger networks like The Motherhood provide a huge advantage for brands and companies looking to find influential moms online to represent them and reach their target audiences. The Motherhood has created hundreds of meaningful opportunities for brands, organizations and influencers to develop relationships and exceptional online content that make a difference. High-touch, strategic blogger campaigns can help drive engagement, increase sales, build reputations, provide insights, generate rich, searchable online content that lives on and spark deep loyalty among your most important constituency – moms. The Motherhood’s proprietary database is filled with top bloggers in all areas of expertise – moms, food, fashion, tech, DIY, millennials, you name it – and we have the ability to narrow in and customize the most influential and meaningful campaign for your brand.

Interested in learning more? Check out TheMotherhood.com or contact us here.

4 Tips for Spring Cleaning to Feel Refreshed

March 20, 2015 by The Motherhood

After the year of record-breaking snow and bitter cold many parts of the country experienced, it’s safe to say that we’ve been counting down to March 20 — the first official day of spring! Several months after many people made (and perhaps dropped) their New Year’s resolutions, the spring season brings a welcome sense of energy and desire to refresh many areas of our lives.

Here are four of our favorite ways to feel renewed as we usher in spring:

1. Do a Closet Clean Out

Take inventory of our closets and weed out unused clothing. Organization experts suggest eliminating wardrobe items that don’t meet the following criteria:

It currently fits
You have worn it in the past 12 months
You’re likely to wear it again
It’s in good condition (or you are willing to get it repaired)
It accurately represents your personal style
It makes you feel confident

If you can’t check those boxes for it, that item doesn’t make the cut! Make piles for items to keep, items to sell and items to donate to streamline your clean-out process.

Photo courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user Emily May.

Another fun option for pieces that are still in good condition is to host a clothing swap! Gather a few friends and ask them to bring a suggested minimum number of items. Create a festive party atmosphere with fun food and drinks (check out www.sweetswaps.com for some great ideas), and let the swapping begin! To make sure everyone gets a turn to shop, draw numbers and take turns picking one item from the selections. After a few rounds, you can open it up to a “free for all” so every item can find a new home.

2. Tackle Digital Clutter

Now is a great time to delete unneeded content and back up important files that are on your mobile devices. Not only will you feel more organized, but you’ll have the security of knowing your digital memories, such as special photos and videos, aren’t in danger of being lost forever. There are several simple ways to back up your files, and a quick search of some of these methods will yield some easy-to-follow instructions:

Import files to your desktop
Store your photos in the cloud using Dropbox or Google Drive
Upload your images to Flickr

3. Revamp Your Recipe Repertoire

A pantry clean-out is a great spring cleaning idea, but another way to refresh your kitchen this spring is to add some new recipes to your rotation! We love the idea of making simple lifestyle changes, such as swapping full sugar for SPLENDA® Sweetener Products in recipes, to find balance and enjoy the sweet life.

Through the SWEET SWAPS™ Initiative, the SPLENDA® Brand is dishing out creative ways to swap full sugar for SPLENDA® Sweetener Products in order to save calories. SweetSwaps.com is a treasure trove of creative and delicious ways to use SPLENDA® Sweetener Products no matter what type of dish you’re preparing!

To celebrate spring and enjoy the sweet life without all the calories of added sugar, we’re loving the citrus flavor of freshly made lemon chiffon pie that swaps full sugar for SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener!

4. Develop a “Spot Clean” Strategy

Every house has a “hot spot” or two — places that always tend to accumulate clutter. Common areas include your dining room table, kitchen island or entryway. To stop tripping over backpacks or feeling overwhelmed by piles of paper, take charge of these hot spots and develop a cleaning and organizing system that works for your family. By installing a mailbox organizer with a labeled slot for each family member, or placing a coat rack and bench with individual cubbies or even some canvas storage cubes just inside your front door, you can help stop clutter in its tracks.

We’d love to hear your ideas for simplifying your life this spring! Leave us a comment with your favorite tips.

This post is part of the SPLENDA® Brand Sweet Life blogger program by McNeil Nutritionals, LLC. All opinions are our own.

The featured image at the top of this post is courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user Tristan Martin.

Top 7 Halloween Safety Tips from Energizer

October 16, 2014 by The Motherhood

For many of us, October is our favorite month because of the beautiful change of seasons and arrival of all things pumpkin! And of course, it’s always fun to prepare the perfect costume for our little ones (like these adorable ideas from Mom Spotted, Mess for Less, The Butterfly Mom and The Mommyhood Chronicles). Halloween can be such a fun experience for children as they head out in their costumes with friends and family in search of sweet treats.

1391687_10151935028959356_170551108_n — Melissa, of The Mommyhood Chronicles shared this great photo of her and her kiddos in their costumes!

Of course, safety is always top of mind, so to keep things fun and safe, we’ve partnered with Energizer to share seven great safety tips for trick-or-treating:

Energizer Halloween Safety Tips

Plan a trick-or-treat route ahead of time. Create a route that avoids major intersections, but that does have safe crosswalks and sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, be sure to walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Always look both ways before crossing any street.

Find new ways to celebrate the holiday. Seek out neighborhood “trunk-or-treats” as alternatives to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. These events are great for younger children or in neighborhoods that might be difficult to navigate on Halloween night.

Keep a portable light on hand (or head). As the sun sets, you don’t want to be caught in the dark. Energizer portable lights ensure you’re ready to hit the streets on Halloween night:
- Energizer_® LED 2 in 1 light Fusion Flashlights – Compact and versatile, Energizer Light Fusion Technology products are convenient, water resistant and provide impressively bright long lasting light—easily seen by drivers and other pedestrians.

Headlights – Powerful Energizer LED headlights are lightweight and convenient – perfect for keeping hands free. That way, you may hold your child’s hand, while their other clutches the ever-important candy container. The headlight can even add to or be a part of a costume!
Pick the right costume. Choose lightly colored costumes, while avoiding head-to-toe dark selections. Make sure the costume fits properly and shoes are comfortable. If possible, avoid masks and opt for face paint so that vision is not impaired.

Walk, don’t run. Take your time and walk; don’t run from house to house on Halloween night. Use Energizer portable lights to be aware of decorations or other obstructions in yard and on sidewalks to avoid trips and falls.

Be selective. Only visit well-lit houses and avoid stopping at dark houses. Remind your children to stay in groups and never accept rides from strangers or enter homes without a parent or guardian.

Charge your devices. Make sure to charge cell phones and ensure that your flashlight has fresh batteries. Energizer_® MAX® with Power Seal Technology is long-lasting and no leaks guaranteed*. Use your cell phone for necessary communications (and adorable photos), otherwise keep it in a purse or pocket to avoid distractions. *Or they will replace your device. See www.energizer.com/guarantee.

Have a fun, safe Halloween trick-or-treating with your little ones!