Advertising · Partnerships · Sponsorships

Wanna REACH OC MOMS?

Newsletter Sponsorship & Advertising for Orange County Families

Shitty Mom Guide is a free weekly newsletter for OC families, founded by an OC mom who couldn't find a good list of what to do with her kids, so she built one. If your business serves Orange County families, this is how you reach the ones who are looking for things to do every week.

4K
OC subscribers
68%
Open rate
29%
Click rate
Thu
Weekly,
every Thursday

This Audience Shows Up

When SMG throws an event, it sells out :)

"The best event I've ever been to. It made me feel like a good dad."

Dad who attended
Hair 101 for Dads · 40k+ views · sold out 3×

"I still can't believe I made it out and how much fun it was. It was definitely much needed."

Mom who attended
Pole Dancing for Moms · sold out 2×

Who Reads This

The audience!

Location
Orange County, CA, concentrated in Irvine, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Mission Viejo, and surrounding cities
Who they are
Moms (mostly) with kids under 12. High-intent, thoughtful weekend planners.
What they do
They open the newsletter to figure out what to do this weekend. They use the guide to plan outings. They refer friends.
Engagement
Above-average open rates. Clicks on local events and spots. Shares recommendations with their own friend groups.

Why It Works

It's not a random ad that feels like an ad. It's fun, engaging, and memorable, because it's in the SMG voice. 

Most ads say come here, and everyone knows you paid to say it. This is Frances telling her readers about you, in her own words, in something they opened on purpose. It reads like a real person, not a marketing department. That's the one thing you can't buy on Meta.

You can buy a bigger list anywhere. You can't buy this one anywhere else.

How This Works

1
Frances writes the copy. You tell us the facts. We write the recommendation. Sponsors who need to control the language are not the right fit. Our audience trusts the voice because it's consistent (and fun!).
2
We only say yes to things we'd actually recommend. If we wouldn't tell a friend about it, we won't tell our readers about it. Unfortunately, we cannot be bought. 
3
One sponsor per surface. One sponsor per guide category. 
4
Everything is labeled. Sponsored content is labeled. Partner cards are labeled. We don't do native content that pretends to be editorial. The audience is smart.

What's Available

Newsletter packages run 3 placements per quarter, about one a month. Local Partner is month-to-month. We recommend the quarterly because tbh, the ROI on a one time placement is rough. 

Newsletter · Top Placement
Featured
$2,400
/quarter
Dedicated top-of-newsletter section in 3 issues over the quarter, 150-200 words each, written by Frances. You're in the header as "Brought to you by."
  • 2 optional IG posts or custom Reel (Frances films + edits)
  • UGC + pro photoshoot (30 min)
  • All assets and footage go to sponsor
  • Priority access to featured event spots
Newsletter · The Fridge
Fridge Most Popular
$1,200
/quarter
Listicle-style feature in the Fridge section, the weekly billboard inside the newsletter. 50-75 words, written by Frances, link naturally embedded.
  • Link naturally embedded, never looks like an ad
  • IG story mention
Newsletter · Events
Event List
$450
/quarter
First placement in the weekly event listings, the section OC parents open specifically to plan the weekend.
  • IG story mention
Always-On · Website + Newsletter
Newsletter + Website · Recurring
Local Partner
$375
/month · recurring
The always-on option. OC parents are on the guide all month, not just on Thursdays. This puts you in front of them in both places, the inbox and the map, for a flat monthly rate.
  • Monthly feature in the Fridge section, 50-75 words in Frances's voice, in front of ~2,800 engaged opens per issue
  • Evergreen Featured Partner pin on the OC Family Spots Map, always visible and distinct from regular pins
  • Featured Partner card at the top of the relevant guide category page (splash pads, indoor activities, markets, etc.)
  • One partner per category, exclusive placement
  • Month-to-month, no long contracts

Let's Talk

Email me directly. Just tell me what you do and why Orange County moms should know about it. First time doing this? You'll approve every word before it runs, and we'll set up a tracking link or code so you see exactly what came from the newsletter, not a guess.

Email Frances →

frances@shittymomguide.com · Usually responds within 48 hours

Have something bigger in mind? Events, collabs, pop-ups, giveaways, or ask about Frankie (our SMS weekend concierge) and the Passport local-perks program. Just email me what you're thinking. No decks.