The Little Mommy’s Website That Could

When I stop to reflect on how far MomsOutLoud.com has come, I’m pretty darn proud. 

A shorter version of the post below appears in our July 9, 2009 newsletter.  For a little extra “oomph”, click this link to play my interview (go to #33 on the page) on the North Texas Kids Radio Show talking about my journey in starting MomsOutLoud.com while you read this post.

I bumped into a (male) neighbor a few weeks ago at a local coffee shop.  When he saw me, he asked me:  “How’s your ‘little mommy’s website’ coming?”  Little. Mommy’s. Website.  I could actually see the quotation marks around the three words as he spoke them.  The only way he could have said it more condescendingly was if he’d used the word “silly” in place of the word “little”.

Ever- (or, at least, most-of-the-time) polite, I smiled and said, “Oh, you know, it keeps me busy.”  I was raised to be a nice Southern girl, after all.  And, truly, I didn’t have the time to elaborate: I was racing to finish the newsletter for this “little mommy’s website”.  But, I thought to myself three things:

#1 – Mister Neighbor, you obviously don’t understand the power of Moms in the marketplace, or you wouldn’t call us “little”.  After all, us “little mommys” in the U.S. spend over $3.7 Trillion in consumer goods and services.  We influence 85% of household spending decisions.  We sign over 80% of the checks written in the U.S.   (Thanks to marketing-to-moms guru and author of my new favorite book Mom 3.0, Maria Bailey, for providing these statistics on her website:  www.BSMMedia.com.)

#2 – And, Mister Neighbor, as far as this “little Mommy’s website”?  We’re not so little, either.  In the past 8 months since going live in DFW,

• We’re up to over 5200 newsletter subscribers and get about 10,000 visitors per month on the MomsOutLoud.com. 
  
• We’ve introduced Moms to many new things to do in our local community with their families through our fun, exhaustively researched original articles (like the Top 11 Things to Do in Your DFW Spring Break Staycation, Eight Great Adventures for Dad in DFW for Father’s Day, and our current popular article 25 Free (or Cheap!) Things to Do with Your Kids This Summer in DFW.)
• We’ve hosted or sponsored dozens of free events for Moms and families, including the hugely successful First Annual Dallas Mom’s Nite Out (part of the National Mom’s Nite Out program). 
  
• We’ve given away thousands of dollars worth of prizes to our community, including an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge with 2 days of waterpark passes for a family of 4, a full year of free bouncing for an entire family from Jump Zone in Southlake, several summer camp sessions, birthday parties, gift certificates, museum tickets, and more.
• We’ve gotten some great press in magazines, radio, and TV (see our press page for a full run down). 

#3 – Finally, Mister Neighbor, the best part of it all is that the “little mommys” who read my “little” newsletter and use my “little” website have grown it through the power of their own word of mouth!  I don’t have a marketing budget.  Shoot, I barely have a grocery budget, being a starving entrepreneur (seriously, note to self, must make some money before the boys become teenagers).  But I haven’t needed one, because our community is spreading the word themselves.

I wanted to share this story with you all, because it’s because of YOU this website has grown.  YOU ALL have shared it with each other and therefore have made it successful.  And as it grows, we all benefit – with more knowledge shared, more connections made, and more businesses will provide great service, discounts, and prizes to the community!!

So, Ladies, if you ever find yourself saying “I’m just a Mom”, remember – you are important!! If you ever wonder if your opinion matters, remember – yes, what you think counts!!  If you ever wonder if telling your friend about a great pediatrician or birthday party place or MomsOutLoud.com means anything, remember – sharing your experience helps!! 

You are a Mom.  Wear that badge with honor!!!

If you want to hear more about my journey in starting MomsOutLoud.com – from corporate executive, through engaging a life coach (thank you, Brooke O’Shea!), to “chucking in the day job”, to researching and writing the business plan for MomsOutLoud.com, and then plowing through roadblocks to get this vision into reality, listen to my interview with Dr. Minette Riordan on the North Texas Kids Radio Show (#33 on the page). The NTK Radio Show airs weekdays from 2:00-2:30pm on 100.7FM The Word in DFW.  All of her prior podcasts from guests are available for listening on your computer or downloading to your iPod via this link.  You can also see her list of upcoming guests at the North Texas Kids Radio Show webpage.

It’s been a fun, busy, challenging, joyful, and fulfilling 8 months.  I am so excited to grow MomsOutLoud.com with all of you in the coming months and years and hope you stay along with me for the ride (and bring your friends, family, co-workers, and every Mom – and Dad! – you know with us, too!).

Rebekah Cooksey is the Founder and Chief Executive Mom of MomsOutLoud.com.  She is married with three kids under age four and lives in Plano.  She loves to read, scrapbook, and run – none of which she has done in the past 15 months since starting on this entrepreneurial journey, but hopes to get back to soon!