Mommy Talk Show Candid Conversation with a TV Mom
Thanks to a recent conversation with some of my colleagues, I created this video about the uniqueness of being a Black Mom Blogger with a culturally diverse audience. Be sure to watch the whole video AND I’d love for you to comment below!
- Atlanta Mom Blogger
- Georgia Mom Blogger
- Food Allergy Mom Blogger – See my review of Mabel’s Labels Allergy Alerts:
- Married Mom Blogger
- Preschool Mom Blogger
- Potty Training Mom Blogger
- Breastfeeding Mom Blogger
- Disney/Disney Junior Mom Blogger – Watch my review of the Doc Mobile Experience in Atlanta:
- Boy Mom Blogger
- Southern Mom Blogger
- Twitter Party Blogger
- Social Media Blogger
- Brand Ambassador
- Spokesperson Mom Blogger
- Content Creator Blogger
- Work at Home/Stay at Home Mom Blogger
- Video Blogger
- Media Mom Blogger
- Web Host Blogger
- Product Review Blogger
- Giveaway Blogger
- Travel Mom Blogger
- Automobile Review Blogger – Watch my review of the 2013 Kia Soul:
- Child with Glasses Mom Blogger
- Only Child Mom Blogger
- Fitness Mom Blogger
- 40-something Mom Blogger
- Mid-life Mom Blogger
- E-book/Author Mom Blogger – My e-book, Use What You Know: A Business Idea Guide for Moms, features interviews with successful mompreneurs.
Comment below:
To my non-Black readers, does my race & topics I blog about make a difference to you?
To my blogging buddies, what’s your blogging niche and do you make it clear on your site?
When it comes to paid opportunities for me, brand ambassadorships and spokesperson gigs I’m going to be clear that I am a Black Mom Blogger who has a diverse audience of moms to want to read/watch the topics and product reviews I create.
See a list of more Influential African American Mom Bloggers created by Brandi Riley from Mama Knows It All.
Diversity has been a priority for me and inspired my career in TV news. When I pursed my Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia, I created a minority source list so that local TV news reporters could use diverse sources in daily news coverage. My professor and mentor, Lillian Dunlap, Ph.D continues to work with major corporations and universities to promote diversity.
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Watch @MommyTalkShow #vlog about her influence “I am a Black Mom Blogger and so much more!” http://t.co/FDmyk5NhDl pic.twitter.com/Vi6NzKml7s
— Joyce Brewer (@MommyTalkShow) April 7, 2014
Brand and businesses: Would you like to work with me on a professionally produced video review, Twitter party or blogger campaign?
Here’s how to get featured on my show and here’s a link to the Mommy Talk Show media kit (February 2014).
I love this post because there are so many ‘titles’ or ‘labels’ that we could all fit into but I don’t think that they really hold relevance for what we do as bloggers. Each of us brings something different to our blogs and each of us has a diverse audience. I absolutely don’t think that ethinic background/colour of skin is the reason I would or would not read a blog. I read it based on topics that interest me.
Great post! You are an amazing vlogger!! I don’t think that one title defines a blog, like you said we fit under many niches!
I wish I could do a blog, I am far to shy though. You did a great job
WOW–what a great post all about YOU!! I had no idea you had so many niches-I’ve been following you for quite a while now-this is a great piece-I hope you get lots more offers to work with great companies because of all you do-keep up the great work 🙂
Thanks Kathleen.
I appreciate it.
I know there are plenty of brands who choose to work with me regardless of my race. But when it comes to searches, I guess I need to optimize my site for SEO so I can be found by those looking for Black/Brown/African-American bloggers.
Being a niche blogger myself, I can definitely say that everyone has their own unique experiences, lifestyle, and way of looking at things. If everyone was a thirtysomething white female blogger with 2.2 children living in the burbs the internet would be a very boring place!
So true.
Unfortunately, brands and PR reps search for Black Bloggers and Black Mom Bloggers on Google. So I feel like I need to play their “game” to get selected.
I think you did a great job! I really am in aww that you did this post. I wish I could copy, but I will just tell people the same thing I AM A BLACK BLOGGER AND SO MUCH MORE!
Bernetta,
If you feel the same way, write it in your own voice. There are so many things you do better than me!
Especially – FASHION!
Nice list. I hate being labeled a “Mommy Blogger”. I’m trying to let people know that I’m much more than that. I enjoyed your post, and video. Way to let the masses know.
Mommy blogger is like a 4-letter word to me (and not one of the nice ones!). I hate being labeled and having to pick a niche but I totally understand the reasoning why.
Love this post Joyce. You pretty much captured everything there is about you and what a brand would be amazingly blessed to have if you were on their team. Love it.
Thanks Val.
I’ve been grateful for every opportunity I’ve had. Paid and unpaid. I will step up my game to stand out as a “Black Mom Blogger” if that’s what PR reps are searching for – then they’ll find out about ALL the only things I can do!
I love that you’ve made this post all about you. I love your videos. I need to stop being so shy and get in front of the camera.
Crystal,
Thanks.
Jump in front of the camera if you wish OR put the rest of your family on camera. Either way, just vlog!
I definitely feel that I fit in to so many different niches for my blogs. I haven’t really “identified” them for my readers – It’s definitely something fun to think about!
I guess I can understand why it would matter to brands. When I first started surfing around the blogosphere, I loved finding blogs with people who looked like me! I love blogs from all women, men, single, married, moms, childless, and cultures. It’s still nice finding people who share similar experiences whether it’s cultural, social, educational, familial ect! Happy I found you today too!
Hmmm this is interesting.
So I have a couple of questions: Are you looking to work with ethnic brands? Or are you hoping to work with larger, more mainstream brands and are you thinking they have only a few slots for bloggers of color? I think the answer to that question sort of dictates how you brand yourself. To answer your question, I’ve always seen you and your content as “color-neutral” .
I’ve always worked in general market television, until last year when I took a job as a co-host on Exhale, on Magic Johnson’s Aspire network. In terms of brands I work with, I’ve never been hired as a “Black blogger” or “African American Blogger” just as a blogger with a diverse audience. Even the hair care brands/products I work with have diverse appeal.
Ultimately I think you brand yourself based on who you are and who you want to work with.
Just my .02
Thanks Rene.
I like working w/ brands that fit my lifestyle at the time, especially as A.J. gets older. Right now we’re in pre-k mode so I’ll be doing some learning tools for home etc. If we decide to home school him or do online school, that’ll change.
I have worked with African American brands and mainstream brands. I really like the mix!
I really dislike labels. As a women and as a mother we can all relate. To me it doesn’t matter your color, nationality, sexual orientation, and so on.
I love your blog and your vlogs. I think you are a great writer and you share great information that to me is what makes me want to come back and see what is new on your page.
I love, love, love the list of all the things that you are in the blogosphere. I am many of those things too! I think the things that make me like you so much is that we have so many things in common. We do not share the same color skin, but that doesn’t matter. As a caucasian blogger I can see why it is important for you to share your title as Black Mom Blogger. But I can also see it as an issue that divides. Hear me out. We want to love and respect everyone irregardless of skin color. When people highlight the color of their skin, their hair, their eyes, it puts an emphasis on an area that maybe we weren’t thinking about. Maybe it’s because we are friends, but your skin color was not what I was focused on in this video. I love that you shot it in your bathroom!
I would love to take the issue of race a step further than this. I would love to find a racially diverse group of bloggers who talked about what is and what is not acceptable for people of other races to say. For example, can I tell my kids that you are my black friend? Or do I say that you are my African American friend? I don’t mean to be insensitive and hope that is not taken negatively. We live in a world where we are trying to be politically correct. However, there is sometimes a disconnect between real life and what is acceptable.
It was a treat seeing my picture in your video. You are the best!
Leandra,
I appreciate your comment. You know we’ve had some great conversations about blogging whenever we see each other.
It’s important to ask the questions you did and ask it with friends of another race, like me.
And no, you shouldn’t introduce anyone to your friends or children by their race, size, sexual preference etc.
I wouldn’t introduce you as my “white friend” Leandra.
But I’d definitely pump you up as a runner just because that’s what I admire about you!
If you ever want to have a cross-blog conversation about this, I’d love to chat about it.
Although I’m not a mom (yet), if I was looking for parenting advice, I would first look for someone who has great insight into parenting. Race or ethnicity would not be a factor high on my list. Good advice is just good advice, regardless of who it’s coming from. So, I don’t think you should feel obligated to put yourself in one box or another. As long as you continue providing great information for parents, that’s all that matters, and people will continue to flock to your site and watch your videos.
Misty,
Thanks. As a PR rep I know you look for certain audience to reach.
Like you I don’t feel it’s necessary to say that you are a “black mommy blogger”. The title mommy blogger alone encompasses so many things, why state the obvious. I personally and I’m sure most of your followers look at you and your blog/youtube simply as a reliable source of information regardless of color. just for clarification are you thinking of including your race in your bio?
Yolanda,
I’ve added this blog post to my about page and I may send it to some of my PR contacts. I’d love to hear what they think.
I can think of a handful of opportunities I got because I’m a Black Blogger. But mostly, people like my audience and my work.
I dont think it is necessary to label yourself as “Black Mom Blogger”. You have such as diverse audience which is great. I just learned 65% of men were visiting my Blog. I started to run out and just slap a ton of items catering to men and then I realized nope they are shopping for their ladies. I will just keep it the way it is and add a few pieces for me.
Keep doing what you are doing Joyce. Great post.
Lisa,
Great observation about your audience.
I will add Black Mom Blogger to my about page and see what happens in terms of who reached out to me!
Oh dear, I don’t introduce my friends by any attributes other than kids (to my kids) or accomplishments (to my friends). That being said, I do have two friends with the same name and they have different skin color. We see both of these friends rarely and the girls can’t remember their kids anymore. Then it becomes easier to use physical attributes to describe them. My girls think people are peach and brown right now. 🙂
I agree–I am more than a Black blogger (I’m a Pittsburgher, a Christian, a first time mom, a single mom, a working mom, a journalist, etc.). But I will say my blackness in part creates my unique experiences and develops my distinctive voice. Although I write with ALL moms in mind, many of my articles target African American mothers in hopes of raising awareness about breastfeeding, infant mortality rates and inequities in education.That’s why I started my site. There aren’t more than 30-40 AA mom bloggers I am aware of. Our numbers pale in comparison to our white counterparts. It’s important to make sure our voices our heard. It’s important to illustrate that are voices are diverse. I collaborate with two other AA mom bloggers–I’m a single mom, another is married, the third is a stepmom. We have different perspectives on issues. The more we tell our stories, the more more will know that we are more alike than we think.
From an agency perspective however, if I want to reach a Black audience, I’m hiring a Black blogger. I managed a blogger campaign to promote an AA mentoring program. I hired AA males. That was my audience. Yes, other bloggers could tell the story, but if I wanted to get the most bang for my buck, I had to target who I wanted to sign up for the program. I did another campaign for promoting preschool enrollment. I hired moms of different races/backgrounds. Race wasn’t a factor, however I did ensure there was diversity–which comes in the form of more than race. i.e. stay-at-home mom, working mom, mom of multiples, first time mom, etc.
Hate typos–our voices:)
I value being African-American and would love to see more of us producing more in every form of media. It’s always interesting to me, though, that White people rarely have these sorts of public conversations. I’ve seen it once on a site called “White Mom Blog” http://whitemomblog.com/ but would be interested in hearing more.
Great perspective Joyce! Loving the diversity which you are embracing and celebrating.
I love that you fit into so many different categories. I feel i am the same way. I have so many interests. I try to express them all on my blog but it is so hard. I would say my niche is parenting, product reviews, book reviews, and i guess baby other things cause I have a lot of interests.
I think not being labeled into ine specific categorie make you more if a well rounded person. You get the chance to experience so much more that life and people have to offer. I wish more people felt the way you do.
I dont ever label anyone because of thier race, color, religion, orientation or otherwise. To Me, we are all human beings put on this earth by god, no matter what we look like, or what color we may be. I wish more people would feel and think this way. This was a wonderful review. I enjoyed reading it!
I love that you embrace diversity and rely that information throughout your blog.
I enjoy all your blog posts!
This is my first visit to your blog.
I strongly dislike that there is still so much racial issues today. It’s a sad truth. I think you have a great blog for anyone, no matter their background.
I love your blog and will definitely be spending more time reading all of your great posts and watching the videos. Stay blessed sis.
Of course youre so much more than skin color……you certainly arent one dimensional at all. I also would add you are an honest and up frront blogger and youre also one that doesnt need a bunch of ‘yes men’ (or yes women) agreeing with everything you say. I cant tell you how many bloggers truly dont like honesty. You disagree or dont pat them on the baack they get bent out of shape. I like how you listen, (or read) you weigh it and you respect others opinions. As long as someone doesnt get ugly of course.
This is the first time I’m visiting your blog, found it it through Tight Wad in Utah! It’s so true too that people don’t ever just fit into one category and one thing isn’t what defines a whole person!
You’re a great vlogger and blogger. You have great humor and video presence. I am bi-racial, half asian, and I agree we need more diversity among bloggers.
Love this. Shows how labels can work and not always hurt. While I’m still learning and growing, it’s great to have friends like you who can give a great example.
Like your blog. Seems like you are well accomplished at your “young” age!! Congrats on your successes so far. I like peppy, fun bloggers. You fit the description.
no it does not bother me and hope it would not bother others!
i am also in an interracial relationship so some of your posts can be beneficial to my spouse if they are not beneficial to me.
thank you!
Wow. Thank you! This is so true. As an African American mommy blogger in Chicago I can relate. My readers are diverse and when I write I mostly write about my experience as a mom or a woman in general however some post I dig deep and I write about my experience and thoughts as a black mom or black woman. My blog name even reflects that “A REAL urban mom” (some people catch it. LOL) When I look at your post or videos I see you as a mom with ideas, thoughts, and helpful tips no color attached. Great work Joyce!
Great post! That’s cool that diversity inspired your career. I’ve been a follower of your blog for awhile and have always enjoyed your content.
Your race & topics does not make a difference to me.