How To Create a Kick Ass Media Kit that Glows

Oh hello, fancy seeing you here. Are you here for the all the boob and lady parts talk? No? Oh right, maybe the post where I rant about dickhead doctors or my boy's wonky noggin? Hrmm not that either? OK how about the schmaltzy posts that are obviously written when I'm high on hormones? Wow not that either! Oooh I know why you're here. The kick ass media kit!

If you were at Blogopolis or were following #nnb2011 you might have heard that Andrew Hughes of Reprise Media mentioned that I had a good media kit. He went as far as saying it was better than some of the professional ones he's seen. Woah. That's one hell of a compliment, I had no idea it was coming and it left me blushing (though I was also having an allergic reaction to seafood at the time so maybe it was just that).

If I hadn't been sucking down on antihistamines I would have taken a screen capture of all the tweets that followed and stuck it on my mirror instead of those "You're a wonderful, worthy person" post it notes that are meant to send you down the path of enlightenment. Because a wall of Tweets from other people saying you rock absolutely kicks "Live each day to the fullest" to the kerb.

My inbox has been jam packed full of requests to see it ever since. I have shared my media kit, sponsorship request letters and the like with lots of Bloggers before because it's only fair I pass on the knowledge that was shared with me when I was starting out.

So here we go... this won't be what you're expecting...

Why yes that IS my award smack bang in the centre
so you know right away I'm awesome!

There was one person who was amazingly helpful when I first started looking for sponsorship, who sent me her kit and then looked over mine when I'd put only the smallest of personal touches on it (like my then follower count of 82). That woman is Tina Gray from TinaGray{dot}Me and the PR Friendly Aussie Blog Directory.

It's been about a year since Tina looked over my kit and gave it a nod of approval. In that time it has changed a lot and morphed in to something that is truly my own. The flesh is different but the bones of it? Well they are still the same and it would be dishonest of me to claim that I am some fancy pants media kit creator when it was her framework that I built upon.

Now I bet you weren't expecting an attention whore like me to say that, were you?

I encourage you all to check out Tina's eBook about how to create a media kit and then build on it so that you end up with a finished product that reflects you and your blog.

All I can add was the feedback I received from Andrew about why he liked it. He said I "communicate all of the important things that I needed to know quickly and up front – then all of the detail was there If I wanted".

In my now infamous kit I have all the important stuff on the front page including:

• a section about my blog written in my usual "blog voice" so up front you know I'm rather tongue-in-cheek. I will admit this less than professional tone could lose me some business, but I want a company to know what I'm like
• a section about me, also written in my usual "blog voice"
• a section about my audience demographics and level of reader engagement in a more professional tone (well as professional as someone like me can get)
• a section about why a company should choose to go with me as a Mummy Blogger
• a table with all my stats and where they came from 

Yep, all of that one ONE PAGE. If you can't fit that all on one page you're saying too much. If a company likes what they see there, they can flip over and read more. If you make them go searching through a massive kit for the information they need, chances are they'll pop you in the 'too hard basket'.

Over the next five pages (ya-huh, it's loooong!) I have:

• links to the websites I've been featured on and a list of the magazines I've been featured in
• a list of the awards I've won (OK so it was only one but it totally deserves a section)
• a testimony page showing reader engagement and praise for my sarcasm writing 
• terms and conditions of running a review/giveaway/sponsored post and links to examples of each
• sponsorship packages currently available and a summary of previous ones
• advertising rates and payment options
• contact details

So there you have it. Anticlimactic much?

I wanna say a massive thank you to everyone who linked to me in their Blogopolis wrap ups and of course to Andrew for mentioning me in the first place. My site stats have jumped about 25% because of it and it's both  completely awesome and overwhelming at the same time. My ego is so freakin big right now that I'm needing a neck brace to support my fat head. So, um, in closing, if you're a blogger, go make your Media Kit Glow. If you're a company... you should totally sponsor me to go to BlogHer12 with Zoey and Louisa.

The Perfect Gift Guide

This is a sponsored post. Writing it got me on a plane home from Blogopolis. A plane I almost missed.

I am obsessed with finding The Perfect Gift. I am really easy to buy for, give me something shiny and I'll love you forever, and since I always get such amazing gifts I strive to give back at the same level. 

There are three elements to consider when purchasing The Perfect Gift:

1) It has to be thoughtful - just grabbing anything because it's the day before the birthday or Christmas Eve doesn't cut it. You need to prepare in advance. Start thinking about Christmas now.

2) It has to be useful/wanted - don't buy something that you want them to use but that they would hate, especially if you're only doing it so that they'll let you use it. This includes all domestic appliances, anything BBQ related, and car cleaning equipment. This is of course null and void if they have specifically asked for it.

3) It has to be cheap - wait, that's not what you expected was it? Well this is, after all, my guide to The Perfect Gift, and we all know I'm cheap. If it makes you feel better, say "value for money" and be snooty. 

For your convenience I've created an awesome Venn Diagram that will help you understand The Perfect Gift guidelines:

You're welcome.

Now there is one thing that I have come across that sits smack, bang in the middle, in Holy Grail territory... a gift subscription from Mag Shop!

For the past four years Map Guy has been the recipient of a Wheels Magazine subscription because he is a bogan  rev head... but I could find a mag to suit every member of my family.

Mum - Woman's Day, Dad - Choice Magazine, Aunty Penny - Take 5, MIL - Burke's Backyard, FIL - 4x4 Australia, SIL - Rolling Stone, BIL - FHM. 

And because they keep getting a present weekly or monthly, it makes you look really good. Just think about it, you've had a bit of a tiff with your hubby and then the next day his copy of Inside Sport arrives and voila! all is forgiven. 

Are you a magazine fiend? Do you subscribe or head to the shops each month to grab your mags?

FlogYoBlog Friday: The Jeans for Genes Edition

Goooooood morning Floggers and welcome to another week of FlogYoBlog Friday.

It's Jeans for Genes day today and that means the folk at the Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) need our help.

Pull on your jeans and make a donation to help their research in to the treatment and prevention of genetic diseases, and then, if you wanna get something spiffy like my jeans patch just there, head to their Facebook page and create your own. If you don't know what to put on yours, I suggest making one that says Glowless Rocks.

Donations can be made via the website or by purchasing one of the double helix Jeans for Genes badges from one of the retail partners. For a full list see here.

But for now, let's get Flogging. If you're new here have a check of the rules, they're really simple. If you break the rules my forgiveness can be bought in chocolates and/or wine.

The Rules

(As stolen from Lori, thus making Baby Jesus cry... sorry)

1. Follow Where's My Glow? 
2. Bow down at the alter of Mummy Time; Blog-goddess, all round groovy gal and creator of FYBF
3. Grab the FYBF button and post it on your sidebar or in the post you're linking up
4. Link in your favourite/best post from the week (don't just put your homepage URL)
5. Follow at least 1 linkyer/blogger (Be nice and spread the comment love)
6. The list will be open for linkyers on Fridays (and for the foreigners Friday as well)
7. A new and fresh linky list will open every Friday. And you will have to link up AGAIN. The previous link list does not carry over to the following week
8. Because I live in Dullsville Perth the list will open around 7am AWST - I'm not getting up at 5am and the last time I scheduled a post it didn't work.

<a href="http://www.wheresmyglow.com/search/label/FlogYoBlog"><img alt="FYBF" src="http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv316/mummy-time/FlogYoBlog/flogyoblog-1.jpg" border="0" alt="FYBF"/></a>

get the InLinkz code

Hi, Chair! - Boomer Highchair Review

In the spirit of full disclosure, this post is part of my sponsorship to attend Blogopolis. I would love it if you could read it. 

When we were buying everything in preparation for Tricky to enter this world I gave myself a $1000 budget to get everything. Cot, change table, baby clothes for a year, pram, car seat and even my own maternity clothes (I failed at this task, but scraped in at just under $2K).

When we got Tricky's highchair it didn't break the bank... we spent a whopping $7.50 on a second hand one from the Baby & Kids Markets - it was one of those moulded plastic jobbies from that Swedish place known for allen keys and meatballs. I didn't see the point in spending a fortune on something that would be used for less than 12 months before he was sitting up at the table anyway.

Now the Boomer Highchair is considerably more expensive than $7.50... but it's also going to last considerably longer than a year. You're looking at fifteen years of use. FIFTEEN! 15! Possibly even more because the Boomer grows with your munchkin from a first solids high chair to booster chair to dining chair, see:

It's European influenced so it's like the BMWof highchairs; well engineered, functional and funky, but it's Australian designed so it's like a Holden too; easy to use, long lasting and durable.

The Boomer ticks a couple of important boxes too: it's made from plantation rubber wood so it's eco friendly and because of the foot platform it encourages good posture.

There's an optional five point harness available if your child is a daredevil and likes to launch himself from furniture like Tricky does. Strapping him in will be necessary until he develops a sense of danger (either of falling or being yelled at).

One thing Tricky didn't like about the chair was how sturdy it was. The kid likes to push furniture around and has done so at every opportunity since he could coast along (he's practising his furniture removal skills at nine months old in this video). As a result my floors will not be worn down with the incessant scraaaaape, a rather unexpected bonus!

But what I really like about the Boomer is that it is easy to clean (just a quick wipe, no grooves for food to get caught in) and it gets kids at the table for mealtimes and gives them the opportunity to learn about how meal times work to encourage good habits young!

If you want to get your hands on a Boomer Highchair they are available at selected children's boutiques or you can go straight to the source and buy one online. They are currently retailing at the introductory price of $199.95 (plus $25 flat rate postage) which makes it about $13 per year of use! After that they'll be around $290 so jump in quick to grab a bargain and tell Piccolo Innovations that Glowless sent you!

He Did What!? Wednesday - By Going Left

S/He Did What!? Wednesday is a series of guest posts where anyone can submit a funny story about a time their partner has done something eye-roll worthy. If you want to have your blog featured here, email me!

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He SAID What!? - By Going Left

The Chef is a good man.

Totally not a handyman, but he makes good coffee so it makes up for it.

 Also has the weakest stomach you have ever seen!

During the labour of our first child he spent a heck of a lot of time laying on the couch moaning that he did not feel well.

He also passed out, cold on the floor during MY epidural.

The poor kid, he just can’t take needles

To give him credit, he was wonderfully supportive in between (his) vomiting and passing out,

BUT, I will never forget how hard I wanted to shake the heck out of him for this little gem:

As the epidural took effect and our baby started to crown the nurse called him and said come and have a look your baby is coming, his exact words were “That’s not going to fit out of there!”

Urgh! Are you kidding me! I assure you it is… God love him I’m sure it was shock…

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Lil is from Going Left. When nothing goes right, go left. Easy, right? But not for too long or you'll end up swimming in circles.

She is a mama to Pooky, Dinosaur and Moo and wife to one man who obviously doesn't always think before he speaks and they all live together on a farm 

She is currently studying to be a midwife because cooking, cleaning and ferrying kids everywhere isn't really challenging enough.

For ease of stalking you can find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Next week: Mother's Love Letters writes a different type of letter

Send your S/He Did What!? submissions to glowless@wheresmyglow.com

New reader here after the #nnb2011 hype? I'm currently seeking submissions for September, don't make me beg