How to Host a Sucessful Mom Blogger Event

August 4th, 2009 in Giveaways

Companies are searching out “Mom Bloggers” with the highest traffic for their target market and pitching them their services, food, photography, museums, jewelry stores, book lines…pretty much everything. Here in Utah it is becoming more and more a common practice, and to be quite honest I have been to some really horrible “parties” (aka “reviews” and “get-togethers”) and some pretty fantastic ones.

If you are looking to create a huge buzz about your business, contacting local bloggers to try out whatever it is you offer can be quite huge for your business, especially if they end up liking it and blogging about it. But how do you host a SUCCESSFUL blogger event?

Last week I was invited to another “Mom Blogger” event put on by Thanksgiving Point and it was pure perfection. Yes, Thanksgiving Point is a huge company but even a mom-and-pop store with no budget can host one and have it be an equal success. Here’s how:

#1) Be geniune. I cannot tell you how many places or products I have been asked to review where the company/PR agent/owner made me feel as if I was a huge inconvience, as if I had come to them and they reluctantly agreed to “give me free stuff.” From the moment my daughter and I arrived at Thanksgiving Point to the time we left, I could tell they were genuinely excited to have us there. When they showed off their museums, stores, gardens to us you could feel how much they loved working there and showing it to us! Sure, Thanksgiving Point had the budget to spoil us but I can honestly say I would have felt the same exact way if a local bakery had invited us to try their new pastry and the owner was excited we were there, excited to show off his new product and excited to hear what we thought!

#2) Make them feel like an indivdual just not a name on the list.. You can do this before the event, during the event and after the event. I love when people take the time to contact me and I can tell they have taken the time to get to know more about me and my blog. Go up to each blogger during the event and make sure all their questions are being answered and someone is taking care of them. For example, my favorite part of the event at Thanksgiving Point is when the two leaders of the tour were so worried about one of the blogger’s daughters dropping her toy into the water they jumped in to save it!

Photobucket

#3) Little details make all the difference. Little details don’t need to cost a fortune but as Martha would say, they really do make the event! It takes it to such a different level. Just look at these cute name cards they had typed up for us–perfection! Saying hello to my little one and remembering her name when you say goodbye is enough of a “little detail” to make a difference to me!

Photobucket

#4) Show your passion for what you do. The best part of the event at Thanksgiving Point was our golf cart ride back to our car. I started talking with one of the men in charge just to make conversation about the area, their future plans, etc. But then he started talking he got really excited and you could see how proud he was of Thanksgiving Point. He had passion and excitement for the company he helped run and that made me an even bigger fan.

#5) Show respect for the bloggers’ time and schedules. Invite bloggers well in advance before you want to do the event. When working with Mom Bloggers think, well, moms; they have to find a sitter or arrange for their baby to stay home with Dad. We have doctor appointments, dance classes–it is a busy life and we need to know way ahead of time! Be flexible and respect the schedules of those you are inviting. And during the event do NOT start late or go overtime!

Photobucket

#6) Have good communication. Whoever is in charge of the communication before and after the event needs to be readily available and make sure they follow through. Nothing is worse than having a question about the event and never receiving a response, or after going to event asking a follow-up question and no one taking the time to email you a reply. It doesn’t matter how perfect the event was, the whole experience can be ruined by lack of a response or a snooty response from the company.

#7) Provide valuable content. This is the most important one–there has to be a reason to go! Great examples are educating the bloggers on the history of the city they live in, hosting a cooking class to get them excited to cook with their children or teaching them about the plants in your garden. What makes your event interesting? What makes me want to come? And what makes me glad I attended? Is it in your budget to provide free product or host a giveaway later on your site? Consider all of this when figuring out your budget and event so it can be a sucess!

Photobucket

Thanksgivng Point, your event was just perfect! Kudos to you! Hopefully other companies can learn from this wonderful event!

Tags: ,

Comments are closed.