You may know me from NewBaby.com where I am in charge of Marketing Initiatives and Community Development. I am also working on the launch of MomTV in addition to recruiting moms who video blog (vlog) to join NewBaby.com and share their content.
NewBaby.com has been around for about 4 years now and is the largest video blog destination site for parenting out there. NewBaby.com has a Mom Vlogger program where we have purchased 100+ FLIP video cameras to give to Mom Bloggers who want to add video to their blogging.
We try to make it a Win - Win for our Mom Vloggers with the added exposure from NewBaby.com... and then there is the budget dollars to buy more video cameras. We don't just give the camera's out without a commitment from our Mom blogger partner - as it is important to justify this program with content that is uploaded to our site.
For the most part - the Mom's who have received the FLIP video camera from us have become active contributors for which we are excited and grateful for. However, NewBaby.com has footed the bill for these 100 FLIP video cameras that the Mom's tweet and talk about... which is fine but FLIP has gotten lots of FREE PR from this.
Bottom line...
FLIP doesn't give back. As much exposure as they get from NewBaby.com and Mom Bloggers who get these FLIP cameras - they have not given back.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HEAR NO?
You cannot imagine how shocked I was when I sent in a request of how great our program was going, what awesome Mom Bloggers were doing and how they were getting FREE advertising... and they requested more info. Like how will it benefit them etc... 5 questions.
I spent an hour on a response - articulating the value to their brand, pointing out that Mom's like the WiiMom / CoolMomGuide, Julie, Stephanie from Adventures In Babywearing, Amanda from OhAmanda, and other mom's were getting FLIP video cameras for video blogging, we were supplying cameras for twitter parties and Mom's were talking about the FLIP video camera in their video's.... and then I went into page views and tweets quantifying these views and the value to them from WOM marketing etc.... I was so sure the response would be favorable, that I was in disbelief when I went back into my inbox and found....
A response back in under 60 seconds!
Can you imagine?? It was very frustrating to know that if they truly read what was written, gone to the videos and blogs of these Moms who use FLIP video cameras from NewBaby.com they would have had to take at least 10 minutes to see the value and then make a decision...
60 seconds. How's that for a quick response and "sorry" we can't help you with your program........
Okay - so one door closes... (slam) and another one opens. I did some Google searches, used my trusty www.jigsaw.com account and found some execs at Creative Labs - where the competitive product to the FLIP -the VADO pocket video camera comes from.
I sent my email - detailing what we were doing with Mom Bloggers, how much exposure FLIP was getting and how we wanted to find a partner who wanted to help Mom Bloggers add video with NewBaby.com.... someone who knew the value of Mom Bloggers!
Even though it was late - it was worth it. I received a response from an exec who was very excited about what we were doing and wanted to help support our program - by sending us 150 PINK VADO video cameras.
I don't know about you - but that buys a LOT of loyalty from NewBaby.com and hopefully from the Mom Blogger community.
OH and the Creative Lab Vado Camera is the OFFICIAL VIDEO CAMERA OF NEWBABY.COM.... Thanks Creative Labs!
Now we have the tough job of shipping these awesome cameras out to you Mommy Bloggers!
If you are ready to add video and can commit to uploading video to NewBaby as a regular contributor - please email me at stephanie@newbaby.com or on Twitter @VideoBlogDiva.
Just remember - NO is not the end... just the beginning. It fired me up and for the better - love this new camera.... and you will too!!
