Tenille Lafontaine, creator of Feisty, Frugal, & Fabulous began blogging two years ago because she wanted to get free stuff. Now she has a business that won't make her a millionaire, she says, but does give her enough money to pay for the family vacation or buy new furniture. She also gets to keep the toys, clothes, and other products she reviews, and go on free trips to places like Cancun and Los Angeles.

"I see it as my part-time job, but it's really 24/7 because I'm always on email or testing products, which takes time," she says, "or taking pictures of the kids with the products."

HOW SHE GOT STARTED

A stay-at-home mom (SAHM) with a toddler, Tenille was always online researching deals and looking for coupons, free samples, and contests to enter. However, most of the blogs that were giving things away only shipped within the US. Tenille, who lives in Canada, found this quite frustrating.

One day she thought, "Why don't I do it?"

"It was never with aspirations of making money off my blog" she said, noting her first product reviews were for $10 hair bows and $5 bibs. "It was more that maybe I could get a couple of products for my kids instead of waiting to win one."

FROM HOBBY TO BUSINESS

She realized she could turn this into a business about a year later when a company (whose product she had reviewed) contacted her and asked if she did any advertising.

"I said, 'no, I don't, but I could,' and they offered me payment for placing advertising on my sidebar," she says.

Because she's established, now, most companies contact her directly or through their PR Reps. However, in the beginning she had to contact the companies herself and pitch why they should send her a product to review. She puts in more than 40-hours a week including weekends, and even bought a Blackberry last year to help her keep on top of things when she's away from home. In spite of the time commitment, she enjoys being able to create her own schedule and work when her kids are playing or taking a nap.

POTENTIAL PITFALLS

Sometimes being a mom and an entrepreneur conflict with each other. A company offered to fly her from her home in Saskatchewan (Canada) to New York (USA), to cover an event, and she really wanted to do it, but the flight was scheduled to take place on her son's first day of Kindergarten.

"It killed me," she says, "because, what do you do? But working moms everywhere have that all the time."

In the end, the company offered to fly her to an event a few days later in Los Angeles, instead.

Another potential pitfall is when one partner becomes an entrepreneur, especially a blogger, it can affect a marriage in ways you may not anticipate.

"I've been very fortunate that my husband has been very good about it," she says, but she's read on some forums that other bloggers have experienced problems. For example, your partner may not view what you do as 'work.' They think you're just 'playing' on the computer. They may resent having to look after the kids when they get home from work so you can get to work, or they may miss your attention.

OPPORTUNITIES

Tenille is quick to point out that blogging isn't going to make you rich. What it can do for you is open up other opportunities, such as:

• employment offers
• blogging mom programs
• contest hosting

Employment:

A few months ago, a California-based company called and offered her a paid position as their "Social Media Manager."

"I had actually worked with Label Daddy in the past a couple of times, and one day, when I was shopping for paint, [the owner] called me up and pitched the job to me," she says. "I handle their Facebook and Twitter accounts, and Blog Reviews. When another blogger wants to review their products, I get the email and line up the review."

Blogging mom programs:

Another opportunity open to bloggers is "blogging moms programs," also called "Brand Ambassadors." Tenille was one of two Canadians invited to join the 12-person blogging team for Constructive Playthings. Each month, team members choose toys from the company's catalogue to review. The product review appears on the bloggers page, and links back to the company's site. In return, the company does banner advertising on all the mom-blogger's websites. "Every program you have under your belt gives you that much more credibility," says Tenille.

Contest hosting:

If a company is running a contest on their own website, they may pay a blogger to have the contest introduced to that blogger's audience.

"It's a huge learning curve. You can't expect to start today, and then be on a plane to LA next week," she says, but points out that even though many people doing it now, there's still opportunity because social media is 'exploding.'

TIPS

1. If you want to get into review blogging, start by reading review blogs so you can get a good idea of what's involved and network with other bloggers.

2. Blog for awhile and build up your following before you approach companies, so you have a better idea of what you can offer the companies.

3. Know your worth. In the beginning it's very exciting to get free products in the mail, but it quickly becomes work. Make sure you value your work and your time.

4. Give a lot of thought to your blog title; it makes a difference in how people find you. "'Frugal' worked well for me," says Tenille. "Companies that focus on saving money will all find me."

5. Be accountable to your readers. Take photos that show you're actually using the products that you're reviewing and give your honest opinion in the reviews.