Welcome to my new series, Blogging 101!  In this series, I will share with you what I know about blogging.  From how to monetize your blog to creating a custom favicon, I’ll try to cover it all.  This is a long-term series, and just may go on until the end of time because blogging is always changing.  My blogging “career” is still very young and I’m completely self-taught, so this series is far from perfect. I’ll just tell you what I know.

Today’s Blogging 101 is on REVIEWS & GIVEAWAYS.

LET’S GO WAY BACK. When I first created Mom Spark, I was baffled at the giveaways I saw on other mom sites.  They were giving away expensive electronics, clothing, and other high ticket items.  How were they doing this and how could I get in on that?  I didn’t have a clue.  In my own naivety and inexperience, I reached out to a fellow blogger who was giving away a Flip Camera and asked her for her contact’s info.  Obviously, I didn’t receive a response and I soon felt like an idiot for asking.  I quickly realized that I needed to start from the bottom and work my way up.  You know, like my fellow bloggers did.  Who did I think I was anyway?  It’s takes time to build up relationships with companies, and I had just begun.  I wasn’t even receiving pitches or inquires from brands at that point, and even if I had, I wouldn’t have known what to do with it.

HOW I STARTED DOING IT. I began giving away items that I purchased myself.  I would purchase things that I would put into my own household and thought my readers would like.  I remember my first giveaway VERY clearly.  I didn’t have much of a budget, so I searching high and low in Target’s clearance isle.  I found some awesome photo frames and purchased them.  I had my first prize, and I very excited!  At this point, I wasn’t reviewing the products, just simply giving them away.  Finally getting my feet wet.  Not expecting or wanting anything in return, but the pleasure of providing something cool to my readers.  It also gave me lots of practice. [Read more...]