Dear readers, winters are at a peak on this side of the world. Fingers are numb, feet are freezing and the body wants to go into a hibernation mode. How is the weather at your end? I was recently introduced to a term called “Doom scrolling”, watching reels/scrolling through social media platforms with no purpose for longer. We all struggle to find the meaning of “how much” is “too much” when it comes to social media. Let me know if you find a solution for this, which has worked for you. Yesterday while doom scrolling I came across a reel mentioning a term that brought back a ton of memories of my initial writing days, “Momspresso”.
For the people who don’t know, Momspresso was a parenting platform. Quite a known one amongst mom bloggers. It gave hope and wings to many authors, writers, and moms who wanted to start their financial journey of being independent. I was one of those mom bloggers, the one who joined the platform when it was known as Mycity4kids. I was looking for support from someone during my postpartum days and Momspresso’sblog posts came to my rescue. It was back in 2016, I did not know anything about blogs, writing, or product promotions. Life happened and I moved on from one platform to another, I ended up owning a couple of websites.
Almost a decade later when I was reminded of the first platform which made me fall in love with writing, I went down the internet rabbit hole to know more of its shutdown story. Let me start by saying there isn’t much on the internet about this other than the usual information about hefty financial losses. Momspresso was a huge platform with thousands of moms writing on different topics daily, sharing pictures, and promoting the platform regularly. They also introduced the “My Money app and card”. The app was meant to ease the process of collaboration and earnings for its users. However, all I understood after using the app for some time and speaking to other moms was that it was such a harrowing task to even find collaboration opportunities on it. The card came with its challenges and worsened the situation.
End of Momspresso: The one that made me fall in love with writing and camera
While all this was going on we heard the news that the platform was acquired by Mamaearth (D2C brand) in December 2021. By June 2023, the decision to shut down Momspresso was all over the news.
I remember reading about it and felt a pang of emotional outbursts. The platform was very close to many of us, we all gave our hearts to it and in return received something that cannot be measured in numbers. From finding myself in front of the camera to buying my gadgets with the money earned through brand collaborations, it opened a brand new world for many moms like me. The qualities we did not know existed within us were out in the open, we thrived on this newfound form of love for ourselves.
I attended my first brand meet through them and remember being in awe of everything. However, a lot was changed in the later years. Due to the surge of mom bloggers in the market and the competitiveness of the brands, collaboration became a nightmare. The communication gap, confusion with the deliverables, untimely payments, and many such negative experiences were soaring high.
My last collaboration with them was before it was taken over by The Glamm Group, I moved on and found my little foot in this world. But many known to me were still working with the platform and kept listening to their worries.
Here is something we all can learn from this shutdown of this major platform :
- The Importance of Adaptability: Even successful platforms need to continuously adapt to the changing landscape of digital media, technology, and user needs. The rise of new competitors, shifts in consumer behavior, and internal mismanagement of features (like the problematic “My Money” app) show how crucial it is for any platform or service to evolve and stay relevant.
- The Unpredictability of Digital Ventures: The story of Momspresso is a reminder that even widely successful platforms can face unpredictable challenges. The shutdown of a platform that once empowered so many women emphasizes how fragile digital businesses can be, even with significant user bases and promising prospects.
- The Emotional and Human Impact of Digital Communities: For many, platforms like Momspresso were more than just businesses; they were spaces for connection, growth, and self-discovery. The emotional attachment to such platforms highlights the human need for belonging and validation, especially for individuals navigating personal transitions, like new motherhood.
- The Rise and Fall of Platforms: The rise of mom bloggers and subsequent over-saturation in the market reflects the broader trend of digital content creation becoming increasingly competitive. As more people flock to online platforms for visibility, the dynamics of collaboration and brand engagement can shift, leading to oversupply, diminishing returns, and dissatisfaction among creators.
- The Value of Financial Independence and Empowerment: Despite its challenges, Momspresso provided a sense of financial independence and empowerment to many mothers. It was a stepping stone for personal growth, allowing creators to monetize their talents and build careers in ways that were previously inaccessible.
While the shutdown of Momspresso is a loss for its community, it teaches us about the volatile nature of online platforms, the importance of continuous innovation, and the emotional ties we form with digital spaces.
I am sure the stories would be similar for people who were thriving on other platforms like TikTok which ended up being banned overnight. Building community with your content is the priority here. Digital platforms are volatile, so it is important to find something substantial to grow with. More on this will be in our next blog, stay tuned mamas!
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