This past year I've been very lucky in the "free stuff" department

First, I went to Johnson's Camp Baby earlier in the year. That involved lots of "free" and lots of fun. Although I didn't go post-crazy about every product about which we learned, the conference has still had an impact on me and my spending.

Second, at the BlogHer Conference, we got a lot of swag. I got even more swag because of my associations with things like the Experience Project and the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. The unfortunate thing about the sheer volume of products - plus the post-conference BlogHebola virus that carries with it sheer exhaustion - is that it is very difficult (if not impossible) to post about every product, nor would I want to. After all, I want to post only about those things that I truly endorse; not feel "guilted into" posting about something simply because it is free. (You know that junk mail you receive with free address labels, or a free nickel with the "this nickel could save a child's life, please send it back to us along with your further donation.)

Although I love the "free," it doesn't necessarily translate directly to immediate blog posts. (And yes, I am disappointed when I feel "too busy" to mention products that are really worth a shout-out. But there are still benefits to swag...)

So - if you are someone hoping to get on someone's blog (or more importantly, everyone's blog,) then, should you stop the swag and only email specific bloggers for that "personal contact" that might entice them to actually write about your product?*

Well, no.

I don't say so out of greed - because after all, there were plenty of things that I passed on to others, but that is the key: I passed them on to others who would truly appreciate them..

Rather, wait a little bit, and see the "ripples" of the swag.

After Camp Baby, I posted about uterine prolapse (Johnson's makes surgical gadgets for this,) Neutrogena sun products (Yes, Johnson's makes Neutrogena and Aveeno,) Safe Kids Week, and the Thanks Mom! commercials aired during the Olympic games.

I didn't post necessarily so much about the products themselves, but here's a tip: I had a sample size bottle of Johnson's Baby Lotion by my bed. I've since used it up, so purchased another. Yes, that is right - I used my own dollars to purchase a J&J product. Similarly, I regularly use the Neutrogena cosmetics that had been in our "welcome" bag at Camp Baby. When they run out, I'll be running to the store to purchase more.

Spliggle loves the Bedtime toddler-sudsing bars. Alas, I cannot find the product on the website, so I am not sure if it has been continued, although I found bedtime washclothes, which I bet are nice - but the enclosed bar is so much sturdier than a washcloth. Perhaps I'll have to go back to that old Girl Scout trick of sticking soap inside a pantyhose leg? We could still use Johnson's Baby soap inside if Splig really wants that smell. We really depend on their detangling conditioner, too: Splig the gymnast flips and somersaults his way into some rather knotty tangles.

So I have become a J&J customer - I am purchasing products that I probably otherwise wouldn't.

Other ripples include things like the photo of me and Ted Allen on my Flickr page. People ask how I met Ted Allen, and thus I mention Camp Baby - viola! More publicity for Johnson's.

And then there is Nintendo, the sponsor of one of the Camp Baby parties. During that party, we got a chance to preview Wii Fit, which I promptly pre-ordered (and I swear I'll review it one of these days.) At the end of the party, we each got a DS.

Well I am sure you can surmise what happened next: certainly we needed more games for the DS than just the one I got at Camp Baby. And of course each son had to have his own "tiny computer." So we've spent quite a lot of money on Nintendo products that we probably wouldn't have otherwise. Not that I am complaining, the boys are thrilled and have had tons of fun! But I bet I've now paid them enough to cover that one night of free stuff, and will likely continue to buy - that's good marketing!

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"Tune in" next week when I continue the "MommyBlogger Marketing Monday" mini-series with some other examples of swag-turned-profit.