The BritMums Blog

Why do you blog?

We're getting to the heart of it here on BMB. Why do you blog? What keeps you opening your dashboard and tapping away? There's more to blogging than blogger events, products to review, advertising and monetising isn't there? Or is there? What drives you to keep blogging amongst the sea of bloggers?

We will be starting a new WEEKLY feature on the BMB Blog called "WHY DO YOU BLOG?" We are inviting bloggers new and old to submit their answers to the following questions:

Blogger of the week plus 10 other must-reads!

Blogger of the Week returns with a blogger who is relatively new on the scene but has definitely made an impression.

She describes herself thus:

I am a deeply lost New Mexican in London, and a former staffer at The Economist turned full time Soup Developer to the Boss and the Colleague. I am a lapsed Lutheran/die-hard Garrison Keillor fan, an unashamed caffiene addict, a lover of schlocky kids movies and an avid consumer of junk food. I have a childish tendancy towards bursts of activity and long desolate stretches of disengagement.

What the new ASA online guidelines mean for mum bloggers

How blogs and brands work together has been an ongoing topic of conversation in the blogging world as well as at the Office of Fair Trading and the Advertising Standards Agency. This week the ASA has issued new guidelines for online advertising and marketing that have provoked mixed reaction.

The goal of the guidelines is to promote clear and truthful advertising and marketing to protect consumers.

So what does this mean for you?

According to a conversation I had yesterday with a man at Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), what you say on your blog is not affected. CAP is the committee that writes the advertising rules for the industry. Using his example of a shampoo review, you can write your review as usual - eg, “I loved this shampoo. It left my hair shinier than my usual brand.”

Guest post from @mtjam: 8 ways social media changed my life

When Emily Carlisle, aka More than Just a Mother, started blogging in 2008, little did she know it would change her life.  In this post she tells us how social media has opened up all kinds of doors, including finding a literary agent for her  manuscript.

Blogging is just one of the options in your social media toolbox and just like any other piece of kit, it can do whatever you want it to do for you.  This article explains what social media does for me;

1. Social media gives me a platform
I’ve been writing all my life.  I’ve edited charity newsletters, produced articles for the local rag and scrawled the beginnings of a hundred stories across the pages of crisp, clean notebooks.  I’ve always had to search for an outlet; for the right medium to use.  The advent of social media gave me a platform to write exactly what I want, in the way I want, when I want.  Whether you confine your views to 140 characters, use the notes field of Facebook or pontificate across several blog posts, there’s always a forum available for your message.

Celeb Twitter dad: Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens @thatdanstevens

We love dads that tweet and we love Downton Abbey!

Celeb Twitter dad Dan Stevens (@thatdanstevens) just kicked off filming the new series of period drama Downton Abbey, which, BTW apparently has a HUGE mum following.

He is just finding his feet on twitter and is endeavoring to tweet more about daddyhood. His daughter Willow just turned 17-months-old and he says he's often on nappy duty.

Dan would love some new mummy followers (he'll follow you back). So go on make his day and tweet hello @thatdanstevens and while you are at it "like" his facebook page.

-Susanna

Don't miss Sarah Brown's Tuesday Twitter party

Loads of BMB members have been coming to our Twitter parties lately to share tips, trade advice. crack jokes and generally chat. Now you have the chance to do the same with Sarah Brown as she launches her new book Behind the Black Door!

Today at 16:30 - 17:30 Sarah will be hosting a live Q&A to talk about her new book and life in Number 10. Make sure you're following @SarahBrownUK and tweet using the hash tag #SBBlackDoor. You can find out more on her book's promotional site, www.behindtheblackdoor.co.uk.