State of the American Mom

The Marketing to Mom Coalition, of which I am a Founding Member, today released the results of the State of American Moms. It's a wonderful report focused on everything from technology to shopping behaviors of mothers. The full report is available from the Marketing to Moms Coalition, www.marketingtomomcoalition.org.

I am excited to share a few of the highlights with you:

STATE OF AMERICAN MOM REPORT RELEASED TODAY

Survey Shows More Moms are Stressed Out in 2008, Cites Top Issues of Concern

October 9, 2008, Chicago, Ill. -- Stress levels were brewing among moms across the country well before the recent financial crisis began, and the current economic environment isn’t helping matters. According to the recent State of the American Mom Report from the Marketing to Moms Coalition, nearly all moms (90%) saw the economy getting weaker even before the collapse on Wall Street. According to the nationwide survey of 1,033 mothers, more moms (40%) feel stressed about their current family life, than feel good about the way things are (33%).

Among many findings, the report shows an increase in moms admitting to be stressed, particularly full-time working mothers and those with lower incomes. Also, stress appears to be on the rise for divorced moms (47%).

“There’s no question that moms continue to have a growing list of concerns in this country,” said Michal Clements, founding member of the Marketing to Mom Coalition and partner of Incite to Action, the research firm that fielded the study. “The State of the American Mom Report shows that moms are feeling more overwhelmed, more concerned about their children versus themselves. Moms are continuing to try to find ways to streamline and simplify their lives – now more than ever.”

Stress Varies by Season

Overall, moms say the holidays are the most stressful time of year (40%), followed by summer when children aren’t in school (32%), back-to-school time (25%) and the end of the school year (6%). However, there were some interesting differences:

· Self-employed moms (43%) and moms with more children at home think summer is the busiest time of year for them, as they juggle working and childcare on top of children’s summertime activities.

· African American moms also say that summer is most stressful (34%) followed by back to school time (33%), and the holidays (28%).

What Moms Do to Save Time and Money

The majority of moms (75%) say they have been using leftovers more this year in an effort to save money, especially Caucasian moms (78%) and Hispanic moms (74%). Conversely, one in three African American moms (31%) either doesn’t use left overs or uses them less now than in the past.

Many moms are trying to find ways to do more one-stop shopping to save time and money. Sixty three percent of moms try to one-stop shop, especially those moms with children age two and under (69%). Other top ways moms try to save time and cut costs include making meals at home (63%), shopping/paying bills online (55%), enlisting children to help in household chores (46%), and shopping in bulk (45%).

What Matters Most to Moms

When asked to what are the most important issues on moms’ minds in 2008, collectively the respondents provided this ranking:

1. Relationship/communication with their child
2. Quality of education for their children
3. Safety in the world for their children
4. Drug use among their children’s peer group
5. Cyber/Online safety for their children

Listen Up, Girlfriends

In spite of all stress, more moms are becoming experts in the art of parenting – or so they think. When compared to 2007 data, more moms in 2008 identify themselves as an ”opinion leaders” and say they are likely to share information among their friends and family. This may be correlated to the boom in mommy blogs and web sites over the past year.

The State of the American Report surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,033 mothers with at least one child aged under age 18 in the household. Data was analyzed by working status, household income, ethnicity as well as number of children living at home. To see the executive summary of the study and to purchase the full report, visit www.marketingtomomscoalition.org. _

About The Marketing to Moms Coalition

The Marketing to Moms Coalition is the only industry group dedicated to furthering an understanding of America’s most powerful consumers. A not-for-profit organization, the group’s goal is to share knowledge and insights about moms to help marketers create programs that engage and empower this driving force of the American economy. More information about the coalition can be found at www.marketingtomomscoalition.org.

Mommy Blogger Monologues

This week the Marketing to Moms Coalition and BSM Media, www.bsmmedia.com hosted the Mommy Blogger Monologues. It was the second of a national tour of events planned to educate, inform and create a dialogue between Mommy Bloggers and companies.

When I created the Mommy Blogger Monologues it was the outcome of reading hundreds of mom blog posts which expressed a discontentment with how marketers were reaching out to them. Bloggers complained that their in-boxes were being clogged with irrelevant press releases and emails asking for one-sided favors.

Companies on the other hand are eager to get to these influential mothers. Last week's New York Mommy Blogger Monologues seemed to hit the mark for both bloggers and marketers. In fact, you can read some of the great recaps from the bloggers’ perspectives here, here, here and here.

The panel was filled with eight very smart and savvy mom bloggers:

Gabrielle Blair, founder of Kirtsy.com, www.kirtsy.com and www.designmom.com

Kimberly Coleman of www.mominthecity.com

Kelcey Kintner of www.mambirddiaries.com

Alexis Martin Neely of www.FamilyWealthSecrets.com

Amy Oztan of www.filminginbrooklyn.com and www.selfishmom.com

Kim Pace of www.joggingincircles.com

Amy Platt of www.LIParentSource.com

Andi Silverman of www.mamaknowsbreast.com

These women provided many very good tips for working with moms in the blogosphere. Among them:

- Read the blog before sending a release to determine if your product is a good fit for the mom and her audience

- Be honest and transparent

- Introduce yourself and speak to the moms as you would anyone else

- Present a mutually beneficial marketing idea

- Don't pay for placement but do remember that some blogs are a business

- Ultimately the blogger is loyal to her readers

I feel very fortunate to know mom bloggers and even more grateful that they are willing to share their insights with companies.

For more information about reaching mom bloggers or data on the mom blogosphere, visit www.marketingtomoms.com

The Precious Girls Club

If you've read my blog, heard me on Mom Talk Radio or read one of my articles on Desexualizing Six Year Olds, you know that I've been working on an exciting new project, the Precious Girls Club^TM. It’s a new virtual world website and chapter book series for young girls. Since it’s from Precious Moments®, the site has all the same wholesome values we associate with this trusted brand and those we are trying to instill in our own children like loving, caring and responsibility. These values are reinforced throughout the site in fun and engaging experiences for girls and through a chapter book series and related products that go along with the site. The site just launched and the books are available in stores and online.

I hope you’ll take a minute to explore www.preciousgirlsclub.com and share it with your daughter. Feel free to share the news of Precious Girls Club and the free access code which follows. Let them know that playing on the site is free, but they can also get a free month of premium Rainbow Club membership by entering 8137-KTQ1-NZCG on the web access code page. I think you’ll find this site to be different and refreshing – a place that encourages girls to be girls.

I am very passionate about providing young girls an environment and place to play which is safe and mirrors the values of friendship, caring, loving and more.

More from the Campaign Trail....

Since I’m always interested in the attitudes and intentions of Moms, we recently polled Moms nationwide on a topic that is on everyone’s minds these days: campaign 2008. We know that Moms are planning to come out to the polls and we know the hot-button issues in the Presidential race. But, debate topics aside, what do Moms really think about what they’re seeing on the campaign trail? Let’s find out. Here are some of the results of our most recent Presidential Campaign Survey.

Moms on the Election:

• 63% try to stay abreast of major issues

- 22% read and watch everything, from political blogs to shows

· 85% plan to vote for President in 2008

- 10% are unsure

- 5% don’t plan to vote

On the Running Mate Decisions:

• 65% have not changed their opinions of the candidates since the running mates were announced, while 15% have changed their feelings

- 20% are not sure if their feelings have changed

· Of those whose feelings have changed:

- 28% are still undecided

- 7% were previously undecided but now voting Republican

- 6% were previously leaning towards the Democrats but are now voting Republican

- 5% were previously undecided but now voting Democrat

- 3% were previously leaning towards the Republicans but are now voting Democrat

• 78% said the running mate choice has a significant impact on their vote
• 70% have not changed their feelings on John McCain since his running mate announcement

- Of those whose feelings changed, 53% are now more inclined to vote McCain/Palin

On Sarah Palin:

• When asked to describe their feelings on Sarah Palin:

- 36% think she was a great choice and are planning on voting Republican

- 24% think it was a contrived political move

- 14% are encouraged that a woman could potentially be our VP but don’t agree with her stance on issues

- 11% like her a strong woman but are not planning on voting for her

- 9% don’t think it was a wise choice for John McCain

- 5% said they were unsure of their vote before, but don’t want to pass up the chance to see a woman in the white house

· When asked if Sarah Palin’s role as mother of 5 influences their view of her:

- 29% said yes

- 24% said somewhat

- 43% said no

- 4% don’t know

· 74% relate to Palin as a woman and mother

- Of those:

§ 75% relate to her facing family difficulties

§ 45% relate to the way she balances a career and family

§ 42% relate to her conservative views

§ 30% relate to her having children later in life

§ 24% relate to her having a child with a disability

§ 16% relate to her political aspirations

· When asked if they agreed with the way Palin is handling her pregnant daughter’s situation:

- 52% said Yes

- 32% said Somewhat

- 16% said No

· 63% believe that Palin’s family life will have a significant impact on her campaign

On Michelle Obama:

· 60% relate to Obama as a woman and mother

On Women/Moms in Politics:

· When asked if they would consider supporting a ticket that included a female candidate, even if they didn’t agree with the party’s view on the issues:

- 53% said no

- 26% didn’t know

- 21% said yes

· When asked how much the parenting styles of Michelle Obama or Sarah Palin play into their decision

- 47% give it some consideration

- 40% said it makes no impact

- 11% give it a lot of consideration

- 3% said it greatly impacts their vote

· 80% think there is a double standard facing women in politics

· When asked if they believe a mother can adequately balance family and a position such as VP of the US

- 63% said Yes

- 24% aren’t sure

- 14% said No

· 56% believe that it’s equally taxing to balance the roles of both Vice President and First Lady with motherhood

- 30% think it’s easier balancing motherhood as the First Lady

- 5% think it’s easier balancing motherhood as the Vice President

On Candidates Speaking to Motherhood:

· 47% think Barack Obama is doing a better job speaking to the issues that are important to mothers

· 40% think John McCain is doing the better job

Relationships Are Key When Marketing to Mothers

What is your agency’s definition of “relationship”?

For almost two decades, I’ve written and preached about the importance of relationships when it comes to marketing to mothers. Today more than ever, taking the time to establish meaningful relationships is imperative, particularly with mommy bloggers. The backlash that can occur when public relations and marketing agencies don’t take the time to get to know their target consumers has been well chronicled online in blog posts, tweets and social networks. Nothing can ignite the fuse between bloggers and marketers faster than an irrelevant press release or pitch sent blindly to a mom blogger. The marketing world seems to have learned from the mistakes of peers and recently made more attempts to learn something about the mom behind the blog. However, there is still a long road to go in getting it right.

The mistake I see marketers currently making lies in trusting the definition of “relationship” when their agencies say, “we have a relationships with bloggers.” What does this really mean? What kind of relationship? Does it mean that the blogger accepts email from the agency or does it mean they actually know the blogger by her first name? I find, as an objective observer, that the definition of “relationship” differs greatly from agency to agency and project to project. Let’s face it. Your agency knows that mommy bloggers are hot. They know you want the buzz a few good posts can provide and they want to please you, their client. All too often, I hear, “we have relationships” only to find out later that the “relationship” doesn’t even include knowing the topics that the mommy blogger addresses.

Recently, a company asked me to look over a list of bloggers their agency had recommended to them. Bloggers the agency apparently had relationships with. Two blogs on the list didn’t even exist anymore because I personally know the women who folded them. Another had the wrong contact name attached to it. Another was the name of a blog that is actually a network of over 50 mom bloggers. Does this mean they have a relationship with all 50 mom bloggers?

I will be the first to admit that it is time consuming to maintain a relationship with hundreds of mommy bloggers. I know this first hand. I have a relationship with over 700 of them. However, that relationship is maintained on different levels. Some I only know by name and content while others invite me to their baby showers. It’s sometime a point of necessity to leverage the relationships of others; however, as a marketer who owns your brand, its just as important to define the relationship you are leveraging. Take the time to ask some of the following questions of your agency:

- How long have you known this blogger?
- Have you worked with her before?
- What are the topics and characteristics of her blog that make her a good fit for my brand?
- How often do you use her for your programs? Is she willing to do so much so often?
- What are the ages of her children?
- How active are her readers? Do they engage with comments?

If they can’t answer at least a few of these questions, you should question their level of relationship with their suggested mommy bloggers. The level of relationship between the mommy blogger and the company is directly proportional to the level of results you will gain through your marketing efforts.

Some call it the happiest place on earth; I call it the richest data mine on Earth, particularly when it comes to marketing to moms. I am poolside at Walt Disney World where there is more validation of mom trends, insights and research than one could find in a week of focus groups. Yes, it’s Saturday afternoon and some might say that I should take the day off but when I'm at Disney, I'm the happiest person on Earth for reasons beyond the thrill of Space Mountain or the excitement of meeting Buzz Lightyear. I am immersed in the greatest cross section of moms in the world and there's no shortage of things to learn. Maybe this is why my kids hate to wait in lines with me at Disney- I strategically position myself so we are sandwiched between moms in line. This way, if I can't get one engaged in a conversation, I can turn behind me and hopefully engage another. The questions are endless and I've been known to get an entire personal history along with buying behaviors, ages of children and online engagement habits in the time it takes to get on Peter Pan. The longer the line the better! No FASTPASS for this hardy researcher!

Today I've already observed a dozen things. First and foremost, I realized sitting here that I definitely do not fit into any mainstream mom segment. It didn't take long to realize that I was the only mom joyfully reading Brandweek, DM News and an old article on Brand Influencers. I can honestly say I'm a one-of-a-kind mom. After all I'm the only mom on Earth who takes such joy in writing about Mom Marketing. I only point out my self observation because it a confirmation to my loyal readers that I WILL NEVER base my mom insights on my own behaviors.

My next observation- 60 percent of moms want healthy food choices for their children according to the BSM Media Obesity Report. They may answer such on a poll but by the number of ice cream sundaes and buckets of French fries passing my chair, they aren't buying them. Disney actually does an amazing job offering healthy fare, and it’s in fact a company wide initiative, but apparently even Mickey can't talk a kid into the carrots and celery.

My next observation-Friendly competition is alive and well among moms. I've heard no fewer that 6 conversations on doing Disney right and "little known secrets" that only the lucky mom disclosing them knows. By the way, two out of six moms dished out inaccurate information in an attempt to look more knowledgeable than the others about shuffling kids through the park. Finally, word of mouth is by far the most effective means of marketing to moms. Today the Maria Bailey question of the day was, "how did you plan your trip to Disney?". Overwhelmingly, they garnered their recommendations and tips from another mom. It might have been a classmate’s mom, The Disney Moms Panel or a blog post but it still was another mom.

My legs are turning red and my sunscreen needs to be reapplied and my daughters are approaching my chair. It’s time for me to put away the Blackberry, grab my towel and get back to being a mom.

Excerpt from Maria Bailey's upcoming new book, "Mom 3.0"

In over a decade of formally studying moms, I have never seen as much of a frenzy surrounding one type of marketing initiative as I’ve seen with mom bloggers. In the recent history of marketing to moms there have been certain initiatives that gather attention of media, marketers and the consumer. Few will forget the popularity of affiliate marketing in the hay day of the Internet. It was a popular way for companies to form an alliance with mom webmasters that included a revenue stream for the mom and access to the mom’s peers. Freebie offers and online coupons soon followed giving moms access to special discounts they could electronically share with their friends. Chat rooms and message boards created forums for dialogues between, moms, brands and experts. Technology evolved and then podcasting became a popular way to connect with moms. Attention turned to consumer generated content as word of mouth marketing formalized itself into a national association and Time put YOU on the cover in 2006 as Person of the Year. Through all these stages of marketing to moms the media has never focused so much on the involvement and engagement of companies and moms as it has on Mommy Bloggers. Companies have never scrambled so quickly to understand mom bloggers. I’ve watched media buyers, public relations and advertising managers blindly spend unallocated budgets on mommy blogger programs with little regard for reach, impressions or other measurements. Adding to the rush to play are the accidental business women formerly known as mom bloggers. Mothers who simply started a blog to chronicle their journey as a mother or to find like-minded women with children are suddenly receiving hundreds of product samples, special event invitations and free merchandise in their in-boxes. In fact, the present activity in the mom blogosphere makes this chapter the most exciting to write yet the most difficult. My fear is that the mom blogosphere is changing and evolving so quickly that what I write today will not be relevant six months or a year from now. However I remind myself that there is a great of knowledge in understanding the evolution of a media as well as knowing how to execute successful campaigns with it. As I write this book, blogging is the most explosive marketing initiative in the marketplace today; however I feel it is only halfway to maturity. I believe the progression of mom blogging as it approaches maturity will affect not only how marketers of the future will deliver their messages but also what consumers expect from companies when they deliver that message to their peers. The days of free word of mouth marketing might be coming to an end. Only time will tell.