Welcome to Mommy, for real’s beautiful brand-new website! With this, my maiden post, I am both welcoming you and humbly asking for your help.
When an author writes a book, the release day is sometimes called Launch Day, and a gallant effort is made to get the book onto the Bestseller List. The author rallies all his/her friends, readers, and strangers off the street to all buy the book on the same day to boost it as high as possible on the bestseller list. This seems like a lot of work.
As I am not actually “selling” anything or making money, my Launch Day is going to look a little bit different. I am not asking you to go and buy something, but I am asking you for some favors. With as much gratitude, humility, and cuteness as I can muster. So here goes:
Today, on Launch Day of my new site, I am enthusiastically asking you to:
- Consider subscribing to my posts, either by email or RSS feed. To those of you who previously received my posts by email, you have my deepest apologies regarding the cumbersome act of re-subscribing all over again, and you have my solemn vow that I will not be changing websites again! RSS feed is another handy way for bloggers and multi-blog readers to keep all their favorite blogs in one place. It’s the little orange and white button by the Facebook and Twitter icons at the top right of my sidebar.
- You can still add me into your Google Circles with that cute little g+ heart button. Don’t ask me exactly what this means, because I haven’t quite figured it out. Best as I can tell, it is some sort of ill-advised popularity contest designed to make people feel stupid.
- Follow me on Facebook, but rely on FB updates at your own peril. Pages that you may have “liked” aren’t necessarily showing up in your newsfeed, so if you want to guarantee that you are getting all my latest posts, consider also signing up for email or RSS subscriptions. But you should definitely still “like” my FB page, because in addition to sharing my posts, I often write meaningful updates about things like my kids peeing on the carpet and throwing my underwear all over the place. I am probably going toÂ
whore myself outpay to “promote” this Facebook post, in an effort to get as many people who actually “like” my page to see it. Will you do me the following very big favor? Please “like” the post or comment on it, even if you think it is a piece of crap rip-off, since I’m not actually posting my usual attempt at motherhood-humor piece. The more you like or comment on my FB posts, the more likely you are to actually see them in your newsfeed in the future, and it also helps boost my “Likes”. Since this is Launch Day, let’s get my Facebook numbers up there! 600 or bust!
- Find me on Twitter! No, I’m sorry you cannot follow me on Pinterest, but as I have deviated from pretty much all of my previous “I will never” principles (joining Twitter, switching to WordPress, ditching my PC), I will likely suck it up and take the Pinterest Plunge, mostly because of Sisterhood of the Sensible Moms Pintershit posts.
- Share! Share! Share! On Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email, whatever your particular poison is, I would be extremely appreciative of your help getting the word out there that I have moved my blog.
OK, confession time. I am now sitting down with a glass of wine, some clinical strength anti-perspirant, and a box of tissues, because that self-promotion stuff makes me sweat, cry, and drink. I suck at it. It feels horribly unnatural, and I like it even less than I liked going door to door selling Girl Scout cookies. And everybody loves those damn cookies. I hate selling things. I hate self-promotion.
I was recently syndicated on BlogHer, an event that caused me to literally jump up and down, clap my hands, and shriek when I got the email. I had submitted a small handful of parenting pieces to them in the past few months, and had waited with anticipation only to hear crickets and tumbleweed. The post that they finally showed interest in was none other than The Awkward Blogger. This is no coincidence, and it makes sense that the post that resonated the most with BlogHer (and other blogger friends of mine- I received more comments on that post than any other I have written) was one in which I plainly laid out all of my hang-ups about being a blogger.
To sum it up, promoting my blog goes against every fiber of my nice-girl upbringing. I was socialized to be humble, polite, and reserved. I’m sure this was challenging for my parents, because I was loud as fuck when I was growing up. I still talk way too much. But my point is this- many of us nice Midwest Lutheran girls who grew up in the 80s were taught not  to brag or show off. It was one thing if someone said, “Wow, Stephanie, you have a beautiful voice!” causing me to blush and say, “Do you really think so?” and something entirely different to walk around saying, “I am a fantastic singer. Would you like to listen to me perform?”
Ah, the confidence and ease of youth.
So I find myself struggling with this show-offy, braggy, equivalent of me saying, “Hey guys! Come check out my new blog! It’s awesome, and so am I!” I guess what I am saying is, forgive me, dear readers, and know that my desperate pleas for your support, subscriptions, and sharing on this very special Launch Day! are not triggered by some egomaniacal desire for the fame to which I am so clearly entitled. In contrast, it makes me incredibly self-conscious. And a bit ill.
In The Awkward Blogger, I confided that here in the blogosphere, I feel like the shy girl that has no one to sit with at lunch. There are so many witty, intelligent, successful bloggers out there that I have crushes on, and I still feel like I am struggling to “fit in” here, and sometimes my poor fragile self-esteem wants to throw in the towel. I was overwhelmed and moved by the number of bloggers who shared with me that they also feel this way; I want to extend a big thank you and virtual hug to all my blog friends who have helped me not to feel so isolated and neurotic on this strange journey.
In conclusion, I am so happy to have you all as readers and friends- thank you so much for stopping by my new website! I sincerely hope you’ll be back. I will gleefully accept your compliments below in the comment section, though in all fairness they should be directed to Julie at Fabulous Blogging in the form of Facebook likes, Twitter follows, and blog consults. I will now attempt to stop drinking, crying, and blubbering, and get straight to work on an actual post for you to read bright and early tomorrow. If you will do me the honor of stopping by again, that is!
With much love, gratitude, and awkwardness,
Stephanie xo
(That’s right…one more favor! You’re on a roll- just a quick click!)
You did a beautiful job and your begging was artfully done 🙂 Congrats on the new site. It’s look fantabulous!
Glad the begging was artfully done- I can’t take credit for much of the rest! Thanks for stopping by- glad you liked it! 🙂
Congrats on the new site and absolutely love it. I will share this on twitter and have also voted for you on Top Mommy Blogs. It took me awhile to be self-promoting and know exactly what you mean about this. So I could relate to this. As much of an outgoing personality that I have, I still sometimes am that shy little girl that wouldn’t dare stand there and brag about myself. So, yes I can relate. That said congrats again and excited to see where you will go with the new look and space!!
Thank you SO much Janine! You are such a supportive blogger friend! Any kind of “bragging” feels so strange, and I am glad I am not alone!
The New Digs look GREAT! I love what you did with the place and of course, I’ll be glad to share:)
Thanks for sharing,and of course we both know we actually “did stuff with the place”- ha! 😀
This post was f*^%*n epic! I loved it! And now, I am going to share it everywhere.
You pull off the self-deprecating “love me” quite well.
And who is this chic who helped you design your site? 😛
Phew- I was *totally* going for f*#$king epic! Not to mention the self-deprecating “love me” bit. Glad I hit the mark! Have I mentioned this awesome blog design guru I know?
The site looks FANTASTIC!! And I just obliged you on all your “favors.” I too hate the whole self-promotion thing and I have a background in marketing! I KNOW what I need to do; I just don’t WANT to do it!
Aw, thanks Emily, I really appreciate it! It makes me feel a lot better knowing even a marketing person hates this stuff!
I am GLAD you share, and promote yourself, otherwise I would never have heard of your blog, but completely understand your hesitation. The site looks wonderful!
Thank you so much, Rachel! Blech, blog promotion is my least favorite thing!
I love the new look! Well done….
Thanks Molley! 🙂
Love it! I know how you feel about the blog promotion, I struggle with that a bit too but the best bloggers didn’t get great without self promotion! Site looks fab x
Thanks mama! Julie did great work, as usual. Thanks for making me feel better about the awkward blog promotion- you are definitely right!
Well, you pulled it off extremely well. If we all didn’t know you better we might even believe you were humble by nature! lol Great job and great looking website!
Ha! Thanks, Rich! (I think…) 😀
I agree, it looks great, thanks to Julie!
Your new site looks wonderful. I have a feeling I am going to be taking the plunge soon. And you did your self-promotion so well to. I suck at that. I think if I was better at begging I would probably go much further…. maybe not! Well done – I enjoyed this!
I am glad to hear you will be taking the plunge soon…I am not sure I agree that I did the self-promotion well- it really makes me squirm. Thanks for stopping by!
I found you! I found you!!
Love, love, love the new site! You brag away, girl! You deserve it!!
I’ve re-subscribed to your RSS feed. Whoo Hoo!!
Congratulations!!!
Oh, bless you! I am so happy you found me, like the site, and re-subscribed! A million thanks for following me- it means a lot since I think you are pretty much the coolest! xo
So happy for you! Loved your post. I’m the same way with self-promotion. Somehow when I’ve type all that self-promo stuff I’ve managed to convince myself that nobody’s reading my posts, wait…yes, I’ve CONVINCED myself that nobody is reading.
Nice job! Your blog is going to go far! You rock!
I know you get me on the awkward self-promotion stuff. Thanks for the encouragement;I can honestly say this would not have happened if I hadn’t met you. OK, sappy moment over.
Hooray! Congratulations and happy launch day!
Thanks, friend!
Wow! It looks fantastic! You and your professional web designer (FabulousBlogging.com) did an phenomenal job! This one is worthy of being proud of! I wish you much success and hope you enjoy it. And lastly, CONGRATULATIONS! 🙂
Thank you so much, Terrye! I agree that Julie did a phenomenal job- I am thrilled beyond belief. I appreciate you stopping by!
You crack me up.lol
I love the new site and offer congrats to you!! I’m off to re-subscribe to your new feeds.
Oh you sweet thing….thank you so much! I truly appreciate it!
Love you new site!!!! And congrats on making it on BlogHer. That’s awesome!!!!
Thanks Dani! It has been a big last few weeks for me! I need a big drink and then a nap.
I’m HERE! And sharing your gorgeous ass (well I haven’t seen your ass but I mean, like, you…awkward…but you know…)
YAY you! Also. What did you do to collapse the posts? I’m in WP too, and can’t do that (as in I don’t know how to).
Love the new site. I’m sharing you on FB now but you better “like” my page back or I might feel bad for a really long time. LOVE this. You have guts, chickita! YAY you!
Yeah, I’m a dumbass. I don’t even know what “collapse the posts” means. If you can give me a tutorial, then I will let you know. 😉 Is it my theme? You should totally ask Julie at http://www.fabulousblogging.com She did all this for me and was so worth the money. Thanks for all the sharing, my sweet, and you should know I have liked you on FB as my real life self for a long time now, but now my “page” likes you too. Take that! Thanks for the love and support!
Whoop! Whoop! To the you’ve “liked me on FB” too. I actually hate that if I like something from my page vs. me, that it’s totally different. I get it – as in there are people I have no desire that they know my real id – who like Finding Ninee on FB, but really, not, as it seems transparent anyway.
And yes, re: collapse, it might be your theme. I’m on twenty-twelve (I think) and can’t “collapse” so all of my posts are just long. Part of me likes that. But part of me thinks yours is better. Green grass, and all.
Oh and YOU will ALWAYS have my love and support. Unless you get really icky or something. Don’t see that happening though. 😉
<3
MWAH,
me.
Wow! Gorgeous site! I saw Awkward Blogger on Blogher and I really liked it. Super psyched I’m able to subscribe to you. Also, right there with you on the self-promotion. The difference between us is that you’ve accomplished so much. Congrats! Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much; I really appreciate that! I am still so new at this that I am really flattered by your comment that I have accomplished a lot! Somedays it seems so daunting and doesn’t feel that way at all! I really appreciate your encouraging comment- thanks for coming and I hope you’ll be back!
Congratulations! I just started a new spin-off blog, and self-promotion makes my skin crawl. Thanks for giving me tips, directions and general moral support in the blogging world. Good luck – beautiful site!
Thank you…. and you’re welcome! Always nice to have someone else in your boat, isn’t it?
Happy Launch! Sorry I’m a little late to the party. Promote away honey, it’s how it works. And I am so honored we are to be credited (blamed?) for luring you into Pinterest. Mwahahaha! Ellen
Are you kidding? I am always late to the party… Thanks for the vote of confidence on the icky promotion stuff! 😉 And when I finally take the Pinterest Plunge, you ladies will be the first ones I follow! (It’s called “following” on Pinterest, right?) 😉
Congratulations on the new site!! Already am subscribed!!! :))
Oh happy day!! Seriously, thanks so much Roshni! 😀
I’m the same way with asking for things and trying to promote myself. Though I should probably learn to get over that if I want to be a successful teacher and business owner! Don’t worry, you did it quite gracefully.
TALU!