I took down my mommy blog this month, closing a chapter in my life. My blog brought me many rewards and some lifelong friends. I don’t regret the experience but it was time to move on.
I started a personal blog in 2005 so I could find out more about how blogs worked. Because my family has southern roots and I am a smart-aleck, I called my blog WhiteTrashMom. The whole point of launching a blog in 2005 was because I wanted to figure how to DO it. I never planned on my blog becoming part of my identity OR becoming an author.
I’m from the “method” school of marketing. When I did the national marketing for Jiffy Lube, I learned how to change oil. When I headed up the marketing for a Apria Health Care Division, I become a licensed pharmacy technician, qualified to answer customer service phone calls from patients. Marketing is successful when the marketing team understands the business they are creating the marketing plan for! So the first thing I do when I get a new client is learn their business.
I blogged about parenting in 2005 as a way of testing the blogging waters, I never meant to make a money from my blog. I am a marketer and I have over 15 years experience with national brands—-that’s my career.
Hello? If I wanted to monetize a blog, I would not have put the term WHITE TRASH in the name.
White Trash Mom became a popular parenting blog and was listed as one of the web’s best mom blogs on Alltop.com. The blog was listed on many “Best Of the Web” pages over the years. In December 2009, Babble.com named it one of the Top 50 Mom Blogs.
St. Martin’s Press published a book based on the blog, The White Trash Mom Handbook in 2008.
A few weeks ago I was talking to my friend Wendy Piersall:
Me: I’m taking down White Trash Mom.
Wendy: Don’t you think you should sleep on it? Maybe? It’s five years worth of content. Don’t you want to leave it up?
Me: Nope. I want to start fresh and move on.
Wendy: [Thinks to herself "Michelle is kind of crazy"]
At the end of the day, I couldn’t afford to invest the time in a blog that didn’t make money and had the potential to harm me professionally. Let’s face it—not everyone sees the humor in WT. My book and blog were very popular in California, especially LA and Silicon Valley. But the world in general is NOT LA and Silicon Valley.
There are other reasons why I took down my mom blog but I’ll cover those another day. Just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who supported my little blog experiment gone wild. It was a fun ride that enriched my life and brought me many good friends and experiences. I’ll be around the web writing but I wanted to let you know that you won’t see White Trash Mom anymore.
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I’ll miss White Trash Mom but I know where to find you!!!!
I LOVED the WT humor myself and will miss it a great deal but I completely understand hun.
RIP White Trash Mom. VIVA LA MICHELLE!
xo
Thanks girlfriend, the fact that YOU approve makes me feel better about the decision.
DUDE. I’m still around and the humor is still there, just no blog, LOL. You can’t escape me woman.
Stalking you….that’s where I’ll be….
I’ve missed the WT posts but am glad I’ve been able to keep up via FB and Twitter. Not to mention Gloss. This Southern gal knows that WT is not always bad but for those who don’t understand, maybe Blanc Debris would work better? We’ll miss it but I’m sure you’ll find another way to entertain us all with your writings.
as long as YOU aren’t going anywhere…we’re good~
You’ll have to take my laptop outta my cold, dead hands to keep me away from my online people, LOL
Thanks Leiah, you rock! Blanc Debris would have been better, LOL
Michelle, I love you no matter where you are!
Steph
thanks for all the lurve, you know you are one of my favorite people, right?
It is because of you that I am a happier mama. You wrote on cafemom about Maddie Sphor. Before that I thought blogs were people to discuss things like star wars. I never knew about “mommy blogging”. I have now found a place where I fit in and have made friends. I am even going to Blogher. So thank you.
I’ve been going back and forth in my mind for a year. I’m ***this close** to finally taking Fussypants down.
Good for you, babe.
And be sure to check your email.
The best blogs *are* because people do it for the joy it brings. SO wise to stay true to that premise. To happy new beginnings.
Thanks! You just made my day girl.
Thanks Amanda:)
Thanks Alli, makes me feel good to know you support me doll. I am LOOKING for email too, mystery…..
NOOOOOOOOOOO.
Um, I mean…
Good for you for knowing where and what to do next. I think more of us should follow that example. After we’re done wiping our eyes and rereading all of your archives.
Add me to the list of those who will miss WTM – although, we all know the moniker was not exactly truth in advertising. Whatever you call yourself, I know you will continue to soar.
Good for you! I think it takes more courage to give up something that was considered “popular” than it must have been to start something called White Trash Mom. Congrats for realizing that courage and walking away with class…
You know where to find me girlfriend, just had to do it. Made me sad.
SMOOCH! Right back at cha mamacita…..
Thanks Tara, don’t know if it was courage or plain laziness but appreciate the love. You’re the best.
That chapter may be closing – but I’m so very thankful for WTM, because if not for that, we wouldn’t have met. So I’m more than thankful for WTM. I’m ecstatic. But also know just what you mean re being defined by a blog’s name or a book title and all that goes along with that. And while, like me, you are very much a WTM (tg), you are also one GAZILLION things more than just that.
And I’m the lucky one. Lucky to have met you because of WTM and even more blessed to have you by side these days as we embark upon yet another adventure. And that is using the marketing side of that brain of yours and doing cool stuff that not only makes our clients money, but that makes us money, too. After all, girls have gotta have new shoes on a regular basis, dude.
And that, my friend, is that.
Damn glad to know ya. Let’s go create yet another story.
Shelly Kramer
@shellykramer
http://v3im.com
RIP WTM blog. Glad to call you one of my nearest and dearest bloggy friends and I will sleep tonight with my autographed copy of your book under my pillow.
You’ll never get rid of me though….even if the blog is down for the count…our friendship will remain!
xoxoxo twin,
m
Redneck Mommy may just be steps behind you. Whatever you call yourself, I am just glad to have found you and your friendship.
So, when I take mine down, I can totally just be all, “Well, MICHELLE DID IT FIRST!”, right?
Sweet.
Also, seriously, rock the fuck on.
I understand. I really do. Sometimes, I wonder if my own blog is going to bite me in the ass when I go back out to be all professional-like.
New is good. It doesn’t remove the past, but neither leaves you a slave to it. I’m going to look forward to any side projects that might sneak out. Thanks for WTM, lurker that I was.
Thanks doll. One of the best things about blogging was meeting you my friend.
My fabulous RN friend, you are one of the big reasons I stuck it out so long in the mom blog thing was because of the fab friends I made in the process. You are one of the reasons I loved mom blogging girl! I will be around and easy to find my wild woman from the Great White North! xoxoxoxoxxox You rock.
Thanks sweetie! SInce we’ll be related someday via marriage of our kids—-I know we’ll stay in touch, LOL.
Thanks for the lurve. At least it’s not called WT mom! Hee hee!
Aw, THANKS. Coming from you, means a ton. BTW, I totally lurk on your blog too, LOL.
Oh no I loved your posts. But I guess I can continue to follow your insight on your new blog. Thanks for all of the great readings.
Wow and end of an era, will miss reading but I am happy for you that you knew it was time. Good luck on your next adventure!
Hey! Thanks for the love, I’m still around, just not with my own mom blog.
You’re going to devote yourself 24/7 to Tampon crafts, aren’t you?
White Trash Mom was one of the very first blogs I ever read when Aviva and I entered the blogosphere in 2005. You are a dear friend and you can’t stop me from reading your insight and snark on Twitter and FB. And…
We’ll always have Wichita!
xxoo,
Devra
So now we say we’ve been “dooced” when we’ve been fired,
and we can say we’ve been “White Trashed” when we move on.
Brilliant move- and I wish you only the best. You are an inspiration- whether you know it or not.
xxxx
AW, shucks, you are too kind. You go get ‘em girl!
*Sigh* Your blog was one of my FIRST too, LOL, back in the old days of 2005. But you know I’ll be around, just not as WTM. And yes, you have busted me. It’s Tampon Crafts, all the way!
Meee-shelle. ma Belle!
Couldn’t help myself. You are amazing regardless of chosen moniker, and I agree with those who say knowing when the cons outweigh the pros is good sense with any brand.
But it’s hard when a brand is so damn FUNNY.
And CLEARLY, you weren’t in it to monetize- then you would have put Vagina in the title!
Last word. I said vagina. Close the comments. (POWNED, JG! Tag! You’re it!)
j/K, please do not close them for reallls y’all. Thank you for being you- the method prototype. The real deal.
I can (somewhat) handle WTM being closed up, but if you so much as THINK about leaving teh Interwebs, I will hunt you down. That’s a promise.
XOXOXOXOX
you are too nice to me sam.
Now that’s a decision. Good for you, for doing what you feel is best and following your gut.
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