This week we're talking about the phenomenon of "Mommy Bloggers." This doesn't mean every mom has a blog, but they're certainly turning to them & helping make them really come to life with comments galore. Indeed, you MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AND MOST PASSIONATE GROUPS OF BLOGGERS ONLINE ARE MOMS ... Here are some related notes we've put together for upcoming TV/Radio appearances ..

The Internet's more than 32.4 million busy moms are connecting 24/7 online on blogs and social-networking sites geared specifically for moms.

Moms have so many balls in the air each day – their "TO DO" list can be endless – and they are sometimes referred to as the "CEO" of the household – CEO in this case standing for Chief Everything Officer.

When moms need advice, they turn to other moms. Moms listen to moms ... they trust each other. While many are fortunate enough to have a relatively tight-knit group of peers they depend on, the Web is broadening those networks exponentially.

YOU'VE TAKEN THE PULSE OF THE KINDS OF THINGS MOMS ARE BLOGGING ABOUT ONLINE ... WHAT DID YOU FIND?
What didn't we find? Guys ... if you're listening, you might want to spend some time on these mommy blogs ... could be a lot like men reading Cosmo' ... They might learn a few things they didn't know or maybe don't want to know.

But in general, some moms/wives are venting about their husbands ... wishing they'd pitch in a little more with the kids. Others are sharing their advice online on topics from saving money and spotting online shopping deals to potty training, postpartum depression, baby's first steps ... you name it.


WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF SOME OF THE MORE POPULAR SITES FOR MOMS ... WHERE ARE THEY MEETING UP, SHARING SECRETS? BLOGGING, ETC.?
On popular site is ParentDish.com. ParentDish features regular blog posts from parenting experts and celebrity contributors, as well as parenting news, health news, polls, photo galleries, etc. It's a one stop shop for parents with kids of all ages.


Then, there are other sites with names like 5MinutesforMom.com, MommyNeedsCoffee, MomSpace, MomJunction, CafeMom ... there's even HotMomsClub.com. It's all part of the Web 2.0 world for Mom.


Most of them operate pretty similarly. It's moms helping moms. Part blogging, part social-networking and online support is a big factor in each case. You and your current circle of moms, meet other moms and so on and so on ... it becomes strength in numbers.

MOMS ALSO SEEM TO GIVE EACH OTHER A LOT OF TIPS ON WHAT TO BUY/WHAT NOT TO BUY?
Mom Trusted Services: Another component of the sites are recommendations or reviews. Again, moms trust moms ... so, if there are businesses, preschools, daycare centers or restaurants in your local area that are highly-rated by others moms, that's great intel. You'll probably go there and give them a try.


I IMAGINE THE INTERNET ALSO HELPS SOME MOMS FROM FEELING ISOLATED ... NOT ALWAYS A LOT OF ADULT COVERSATION TO BE HAD WHEN YOU SPEND ALL DAY WITH THE KIDS, RIGHT?
Connecting with other moms
It used to be you'd meet up at the park or run into each other at the grocery store or the carpool line. Now, a lot of this is done virtually. It can be of particular help for someone who has just moved to a new area. They can quickly connect with other moms and network – to schedule play dates, learn about the local schools, activities for kids, etc.

Personal Journals
Personal journals are another element ... One entry we came across starts off, A horrible tear-filled morning ... It's from a mom who's struggling with sending her little boy off to kindergarten. Dozens of comments poured in, offering her comfort and a little perspective.

Mommy Groups Form
The sites also have mommy groups that form – a few we saw had names like: "Young Mothers," "Pregnant 2008," "Need 2 Vent," "Unperfect Moms," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and "Custody Issues."

YOU SAY SOME MOMS ARE EVEN BLOGGING AS A WAY OF MAKING A FEW EXTRA DOLLARS ... MAYBE WHILE THE KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL OR BABY IS ASLEEP?
New Blogs Looking for Contributors
On some blogs, whether they're "Mommy Blogs" or any other topic, you may come across offers to be paid to contribute. Don't expect to get rich, but you could make a few extra bucks to pay for gas/drive the carpool.

Attracting Advertisers/Sponsors
If you start your own "Mommy Blog" or you go in with a group of moms together to do so ....as your readership/site visitors grow, advertisers are likely to take note. They know moms are spending a lot of time online and it's definitely an audience they want to reach.

Pay Per Post
Probably the easiest way to start getting paid to blog in your spare time is by getting leads on website payperpost.com. It's essentially a way to monetize your existing blog. PayPerPost lists opportunities for bloggers. For example, they want someone to review or try out a digital camera. So someone has said, `Hey, if you write about this,' depending on the size of your blog and the traffic you get and your audience – if you're reaching moms (their target audience) – they might pay you $5 to say, `Hey, I tried the camera. Here's what I thought.' Or maybe it's a food product they want you to try out because your blog has a lot of recipes on it.



The Original Blogging Mom
One of the most popular mommy blogs online is www.dooce.com, written by a 32 year-old stay-at-home mom from Salt Lake. She's been at this since 2001 (after she was fired from her job for blogging) and reportedly garners about 4 million page views each month. Some estimates she makes as much as $40,000 a month in advertising from the site. This is an extreme example ... don't expect to make this kind of money, but it's something to aspire to.

Related: A Song for all Moms