Today's mothers are part of an ever-growing adult female Internet user population that boasted nearly 81 million users last year with projected growth to reach more than 91.3 million by 2012. Forty percent of these women in the U.S. - approximately 35 million - are mothers who have children under 18 at home, according to a March 2008 eMarketer's report, Moms Online: Browsing, Researching, Buying.
Moms are buying, blogging, socializing, seeking advice, networking, and more - all through the sites listed below.
Networking Moms
- Circle of Moms on Facebook: Facebook is ubiquitous these days and with Circle of Moms as the fastest-growing community for mothers on the Internet, it's the place to be to link up with fellow moms. Circle of Moms boasts 1 million users; 4,000 daily thread posts; and more than 10 responses, on average, to every question, according to Facebook statistics. Mothers can join any of the 1,600 public communities that range in topics from recipe swaps to stylish mamas to moms of special-needs children. Circle of Moms is also used as a way for mothers to come together for the benefit of a cause, such as Parents of Children with Autism.
- TwitterMoms.com: When avid Twitterer Megan Calhoun realized that there were thousands of moms on the social messaging site who had no way to find each other, she came up with TwitterMoms, according to Redbook's March 2009 article, "What's Buzzing on the Net: TwitterMoms". Twitter itself has millions of users, who post short "tweets" of up to 140 characters, or about 30 words, about what they are doing. On TwitterMoms, mothers - 5,000 of them to date - can join groups of interest (everything under the sun from photographer moms to potty-training moms to online marketing moms to fitness moms), start discussions, and share ideas.
- BabyCenter.com: The premier interactive parenting network has reached 100 million users since its launch in 1997. Its Community area is teeming with parents (not just moms) sharing "kidisms," experts giving advice, and much more. It's a one-stop-shop for moms looking to socialize, learn, and share.
Blogging Moms
- Mombloggersclub.com: With more than 3,100 members, Mom Bloggers Club is one of the largest communities dedicated toward bloggin' mommies. Here, writers can find out about the latest trends in blogging, learn about RSS feeds and widgets, and even get some good old-fashioned parenting advice. And, the site is on the same social networking platform as TwitterMoms so friends are transferable.
- Momversation.com: Momversation is a video show and website that brings together outspoken moms who want to talk about what matters to them. Each episode features four mom bloggers who share their thoughts on a specific topic. The site also has forums where listeners can get in on the action by commenting on episodes and starting conversations of their own.
- BlogHer.com: Not just for moms, BlogHer is for women bloggers everywhere. The site does more than unite the blogging masses; it has a publishing network focused on providing quality sponsors and advertisers to bloggers. Members also meet annually for a conference. The "Mommy & Family" section features "Backtalk," a new videoblogging area focused on parenting issues, as well as guest bloggers writing about issues related to "Family Dynamics" and "Pregnancy."
Trading Moms
- SwapMamas.com: The idea of buying and exchanging used baby/children clothing, furniture over the Internet is not new news. But, what this site does differently is adds a personal touch by creating a community of parents that - in addition to swapping - can share pictures, ideas, advice, and more. The site launched just this past year, but has already garnered a consistent following with 700 members and an average of 100 added each week. Users can receive a "Swap Karma" badge, listing the number of "Gives" and "Gets" they have been part of. One blogger dubbed the site "more wholesome than Craigslist, more convenient and simple than Ebay."
In many ways, it's not the same motherhood of moms a generation ago. Advertisers have targeted this group of internet-savvy mothers and their influence continues to grow. The proof is in the ever-increasing membership on these sites that continue to give mothers everywhere access to parenting products, information, advice... and each other.
Rosana Vollmerhausen - Rosana Vollmerhausen's decade-long writing career is comprised of reporting, writing and editing for daily newspapers, weekly industry ...
