Mom blogs are the blogs to watch

Michelle at Scribbit has a piece about the power of mom blogs that was published over at Problogger. In it she argues that mom blogs are the blogs to watch, and she's absolutely right. She writes why mom blogs will only grow. However, her strongest argument is her final one. Here's a portion of what she writes:

In Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point he writes of the importance of mavens–those who are trusted for their opinions and who pass along information on what products, services and ideas are the best–and mom blogs are the maven nesting grounds. Moms want to know which products work and which don’t; they want to give an opinion on what’s worked for them and share their experiences with others and advertisers are just beginning to discover this advertising pot of gold.

Because women are generally the buyers for their homes in everything from clothing to food to minivans mom blogs talk about things that can be bought and sold, products that can be promoted and services that most households need. Proctor and Gamble, Sony or General Electric can throw up their logos on PerezHilton and that might make them look rather hip but if they can get Dooce to say she liked their stuff that’s when the sales start rolling in. You’ve heard “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”? Well she who does the shopping then blogs about it rules the net.

Michelle's argument is entirely true. Take for example the mom blog 5 Minutes for Mom. Twin sisters and moms Susan and Janice are constantly being asked by a variety of companies who are trying to market their products to moms and their families to review products for them.  That's huge exposure for these companies that is in some ways far more effective than television advertising. Commercials are shown on the television, but there's no guarantee that people will actually see those commercials or even pay attention to them if they do. It's advertising into the unknown in many ways. However, when a mom other moms trust blog about a product and recommend it, that's an interactive advertising that is better than the passivity of television commercials.

Comments

[Darla]

Hey! I have that blog in my google reader too....coinky-dink? I think not! Good taste, I say!

[Kim Priestap]

Hey there, Darla. I enjoy both Scribbit and 5 Minutes for Mom. Michelle kills me. She's so funny.

[Michelle at Scribbit]

Well thanks for linking to it--it was nice of Darren to print it for me, it's been exciting to watch the growth of the niche this past year. I think it's only going to get bigger and better.

[Kim Priestap]

Not a problem, Michelle. I liked the article and thought others would, too.