Bloggers and Brands 3

[CookingUpAStormTonight]

New thread I hope.

@CookingUpAStormTonight my husband, Matt has taken over my account for a bit because we have some contracted (#ad) content that has to go up next week. (I didn’t consider that properly when edging away.) I’ll be back on Instagram after a bit of a rethink on various elements - some covered in this thread.

@CookingUpAStorm and yes, it is absolutely a business, you are right.

@Badmotherpukka - thanks for the update, it makes sense. I hope that you can enjoy some time away, clearing your head and preparing your next move. I don't follow you - wrong end of the parenting spectrum - but I do know that people on here value your commitment and energy.

@CookingUpAStorm who do you follow if you don’t mind me asking? I always get asked if I know bloggers/Instagrammers who cover the teen and above years. (I can only imagine most teens would point blank refuse to be involved//spoken about - something we will, perhaps, come up against when our kids look back at what we are doing here). But yes, in terms of Matt’s involvement, it is also (hopefully) an opportunity to give the flexible working campaign an equal voice, instead of just me parping on into the Instagram ether. So (hopefully) flexible working isn’t seen as “mummy just wants to see more of her Weetabix-covered kid” issue. Contracted #ads aside, that was the thought behind him getting involved for a few weeks. He isn’t a huge fan of Instagram, just sees it as a channel to get a message across.

I see FOD was asking his followers on IG if he should send in an audition tape for a CBBC presenter role and asked for input....trying to break into the big screen

To be fair to MP I don't think she ever tried to omit the fact that her account is related to her work. I think that is what stands her apart from the other IG mums that I know of. There is no pretence of 'we are friends/sisters and I'm just like you'. I see her as using IG as a platform for her Flex, it isn't her raison d'etre.

@easypeasylife while you are here, we (along with another campaigner) are planning to launch an anonymous forum-based platform for people to share their experiences of discrimination/flexible working. (So that there aren’t any legal implications if someone wants to download about a specific company.) But need a name that is inclusive, stands out and highlights there is an issue. The final two are ‘Workitout.com’ or ‘Workshitout.com’. Either one put you off or draw you in? If you have any ideas, definitely welcomed because we are hitting a slight brick wall. Need to decide by Friday/ tomorrow.

Workitout.com. Think of it on a billboard

Yes absolutely what Facebook said.

Hmmm Mother Pukka maybe do this on your on insta account. Don't kill this thread filling it with market research.

I always get asked if I know bloggers/Instagrammers who cover the teen and above years

I don't think there are that many, if any. I haven't come across any that are specifically about parenting teens, probably because (having some myself) I know they would rather die than have me post anything about them on SM, let alone a photo of them.

I know you've stopped putting your eldest on your IG as much, but I'm really uncomfortable with the amount of exposure some of the kids in the Insta families get, for all sorts of reasons.

@FacebookAteMyBrain yeah, I think ‘Work Shit Out’ is maybe a bit needy? Work It Out clearer?

I think it's ok for MP to ask on here. She's more likely to get truthful answers on MN than she is on IG.

(I also think Workitout is better by the way, but neither of them put them me in mind of flexible working).

@Fruitbowl2 will do.

In answer to the question of who I follow (as I am not at the baby stage of parenting either), my feed is a mixture of brands (small and high street), some fashion (now restricted to a handful that disclose), interiors (professional accounts and house renovators), and sport. It reflects my interests really. I follow quite a few bloggers where I used to follow their blogs, mainly crafters and other creative types - I have noticed that a few of these haven't monetised their blogs and some have dropped off Insta entirely. I don't follow any of the really big Instagram accounts, the whole staged/churning out pretty pictures turns me off. I prefer accounts with a 'point' to them, so where ads are a sideline, a way to pay the mortgage (I really don't mind this) so that person can carry on producing their other content and focus on their other interests (which may not pay the mortgage, yet).

I think you being on this thread is a bit needy Mother Pukka.

I like workitout - it suggests problem solving, relates to work and it feels fresh. I don't particularly like swear words anyway (although I'm happy to use them myself, in context ) but I don't think you'll be taken as seriously with a swear word in the name of your enterprise.

I don't, @fruitbowl2. At all!

Out of curiosity as someone who's considered having an IG account just to chat about bringing up teens, what would an account about parenting that didn't ever show the child or lots of 'look at this thing I bought' or 'look at my perfect house' look like? What sort of posts would it have regularly? Asking as I haven't really seen any like that, it does mostly seem to be cute shots of kids and nice 'things'.

I don't, @fruitbowl2. At all

Me neither.

@PavlovaPrincess so it’s meant to encompass everything from maternity/paternity discrimination through to flexible working. But I think @fruitbowl2 is right, I can work it out myself. Just interested in different perspectives before pressing the button. Apologies if the above comes across as irksomely worthy/fishing for information. I’ll leave it here.

Nice one @fruitbowl2 🙄

Work Shit Out is unnecessary. It detracts from and cheapens your message.

I have adult children who ten years ago, when they were teens, asked that I didn't share photos of them on FB. There was much eye rolling from friends with babies and toddlers.

I wonder if they are still eye rolling now their own children are tweens and teenagers?

@FacebookAteMyBrain @PavlovaPrincess thanks and agree. Workitout.com. More inclusive. Thanks for the pre-7.30am input.

Slitherout

An account about bringing up teens would include a photo of a badly loaded dishwasher, a photo of a poorly mown lawn, and a photo of that one time the expensive juicer was turned on while a metal spoon was still inside.

HTH.