My Interview With Daphne Brogdon

I felt lucky to be able to interview TV host and prominent mom blogger Daphne Brogdon the other day in regards to her blog as well as a new campaign that she is working on with Upromise World MasterCard card from Bank of America.

1) How did you build you blog into being one of top influential blogs today?

I think it‘s a couple factors. For one, I partnered with Deca to create the site; I knew I would need help with my vision of one minute comedic videos for moms. I used to host shows for CNET and sort of knew the online world, but knew it enough to know I needed greater expertise then I had. Michael Wayne, president of Deca, was the one who said to me that I would also need to blog and have a sitting site. I had some vision of blasting my videos out there and that they would be picked up by sites and seen so I essentially backed into blogging. The other reason is I think there was a void. If a street doesn’t have a frozen yogurt store and you put one on that block, people will come because people love frozen yogurt, especially the do it yourself kind. Thus, the analogy CoolMom.com is the frozen yogurt store. I know I wanted to see a relatable voice and I didn’t have much time.

2) What are the top five things that you would you recommend to other bloggers that are working to build their own blog?

1. Tell shorter stories. Some people ramble. I usually read during nap time or when I’m holding my baby. Get to the point.
2. Be consistent. It’s a drag when you find a blog you like or a voice that connects and their last entry was 3 weeks ago. Doesn’t ‘make you want to come back.
3. Take a risk. It’s easy as mom bloggers to all want to play nice, but so much more interesting when you have a real opinion and people don’t slam you for it like you may think they will
4. Make friends with other bloggers. Link to each other. Twitter follow. . .all that.
5. Don’t listen too much to me, because I’m still trying to figure it all out as well!

3) What are the plans that you have for the future for your blog?

Next year I want to change it so it scrolls down. I like the sites that do that. Like Perez Hilton. I think it makes it more “sticky,” easier to navigate. You start reading and can just scroll down. If you have to click around, you can loose the thread and it takes more work. You can see I’m lazy and assume others are as well. I’d like to try to have a forum on a subject and would like to try a giveaway, which I haven’t done before. Curious about those.
4) There is much talk lately about Dad Bloggers (like myself) coming into the limelight, such as Mom Bloggers have done in the past, what are your thoughts on this?

I love that. It’s a little like seeing an involved dad who changes diapers though. Like, oh, wow, what a 21st century guy! It’s easier to be the classic dad. Come in with the big tricks and leave the nuances to mom. If a dad is blogging I think he gets the nuances and he is paying attention, which a lot of dads don’t. I think the dad bloggers seem to have a good sense of humor which I love.
5) Tell me about the program you are working on with Upromise and MasterCard…
I was asked if I would like to partner with Upromise, MasterCard and Bank of America and their Upromise World MasterCard credit card from Bank of America. Upromise as a program seems like such a no brainer that I was happy to partner up. The Upromise World MasterCard is a credit card where 1% of your purchases goes into a college savings account. There is no cap. And if grandma has a Upromise World MasterCard card she can also save for junior. Same with the Upromise website, which I can’t believe I didn’t know about before. Over 650 retailers participate and even relatives, godparents, grandparents, etc. can also have their purchases count towards your child’s education and their Upromise savings account.

It’s simple, you just sign up for the program and then let’s say you need a winter jacket for your kid and you want to buy from L.L. Bean. Click through from Upromise.com and when you buy from L.L. Bean, 3% of what you paid for that jacket will now go into junior’s college fund. I know I love to do the “kids are asleep” shopping, so the program is a natural for me. So, I’ve been chatting it up and will also do a live Q&A on Upromise’s facebook page at 1pm EST on December 17th. It will be about ways to save for college, which weighs heavy in my house. And for everyone who joins the conversation at www.upromise.com/facebook, MasterCard will donate $100 to the Upromise Scholarship Fund, up to $10,000. So join in on the 17th!

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