Claire Jones-Hughes is a founding member of Brighton & Hove Community Reporters and has been blogging about her experience as a mum for several years, under the name of contented mummy. She gave a great report to the July Community Reporters meetup about how parent bloggers are attracting the attention of big brands and the PR agencies that promote them.

1. Parent bloggers: leading the blogging revolution?

3. 175 delegates in 2010, 425+ in 2011

4. London venue – delegates from all over country

5. Corporate event: exhibition area, sponsorsVideo: Shameful swag hag

6. Guest speakers Lord Richard Allan – EU Director of Policy, Facebook Lib Dem Peer, Nick Clegg campaign mgr Key points: Don’t have to like Facebook to use it Benefits for business/ causes Largest photo sharing site globally Child safety features Cleared up ownership of content issues: not owned by FB Challenged on ‘opt out’ policy: erodes consumer patience to ‘opt in’

7. Guest speakers Sarah Brown – former first lady Campaigner for children’s charity PiggyBankKids Key points: Engages through Twitter: 1.1m followers Social media she was less ‘available’ MLF showed her power of digital voice through mico blogging Could separate private/ public life Collectively bloggers can make a difference

8. Workshops/ panel discussions Panel – Marketing your blog Writing Workshop with Sophie King CyberLab – Social networking Panel – Working with brands and making money CyberLab – Keeping your blog legal Workshop – Photography Panel – How to be a blogger activist Workshop – Blogging Essentials Blogger-to-blogger inspiration Workshop – Video blogging CyberLab – Getting to know and love WordPress Workshop – Blog-life balance Writing about your life: Rachel Johnson

9. Key themes from the day Find your niche Interact/ build a community Vlogging: more scope for this medium Quality not quantity: although post consistently eBook: next step for those wanting to raise cash Have a voice: write what makes you passionate

10. Leading the revolution? Sort of.... Estimated 200+ parent blogs in 2009, now 100,000 Parent opinions are valuable to brands PR companies are schmoozing parents Brands are leveraging partnerships direct with parents Not all bloggers are in it to make money: Therapeutic, outlet for coping with parenthood Raising awareness for causes: #Blogadesh 10 million people reached Twitter community: sharing problems & experiences Networking: smashing the myth you SEO The Independent ‘actively using the net to change women’s lives.’

11. However... £105 ticket + train + hotel: bHComm Rep training is FREE! Current Tots100 stats are blurry – traffic driven Cliquey: top blogger personality are good networkers on Twitter In-fighting: backlash from Cybermummy: Sophie King writing workshop Rachel Johnson public vs. private life Britmums.com vs. netmums.com – parent blog hubs Parent Blogger Facebook group Fragmented: 100,000 bloggers,which one should I follow? Element of Americanised get rich quick, making money out of other parents?

12. What’s the future? Patchy answer!!!!