Today is my half-blogaversary.
Yes, yes, I am celebrating. Haven't we already established that I celebrate my own half-birthday?
Yes, yes, I expect you to celebrate with me. What's a party without guests?
It just so happens that tonight, in honor of my half-blogaversary, President Obama will deliver his first State Of The Union address in office (Press Secretary Robert Gibbs confirms the date of the address was intended to correlate with my momentous blog milestone). And, I figured today would be the perfect time for me to examine...
And here's the thing...
I write this blog for YOU. For ME. For US. For the relationship I have formed with so many for you; those of you who leave comments almost daily to tell me what you think about a particular post. Those of you who play along with my weekly "Truthful Tuesdays" feature. Those of you with whom I exchange emails off the blogosphere. My blog, quite honestly, wouldn't be the same without each and every one of you. And today, I am looking for your advice, your comments, your vision.
It's kind of like a
"Pick Your Own Adventure" book.
I know that in the grand scheme of life, six months isn't that long of a time. But in the scheme of blogging, it seems like a lifetime. In that time, I feel like my blog has evolved in many ways.
When I first created this site, I was searching for a cathartic outlet. DH & I had just started couples counseling, precipitated by my at-the-time untreated post-partum depression. Our therapist had suggested I find a way to get out so many of the thoughts that were consuming my waking (and sleeping) hours, and thanks to a couple of other friends, I found blogging. Then, my goal was only to write down my day to day musings. And then, I found you.
I'm not ashamed to admit that you, ladies (and I think six gentlemen, at last count), are my inspiration. You are what gives me and this blog direction. I enjoy reading each and every comment you send me. They are like written gold. And while my thoughts on this blog are always undoubtedly, brutally honest, I have tailored my choice of topics to appeal to a broader audience. I like to hear what you think about my little internal dialogue, because without your comments it's, well, just internal dialogue! Are they keeping you entertained? Interested? Inspired? What can I do to get YOU more involved?
I fear one of my blogging shortfalls is in the design and layout of my page. You can see I've already implemented some changes this week in an effort to keep it as clean and streamlined as possible; but there's always so much I want to include. I want to tell you about me and my family on the home page; I want to tell you about the latest giveaways; I want easy access for you to link up to my other accounts. But I don't want all that to come at the expense of a tidy layout. I've also resisted the move to a custom design. So many of you have them already-- and I'm going to be honest here, I covet them. Up to this point, I have done ALL my own design here, and I know it's elementary at best. I am at a crossroads, so to speak, with the visual future of this blog. What are your thoughts on this? Would you be more likely to stop by on a regular basis if I had a custom design/layout? Or am I worrying over nothing?
I have a grand vision for the future of this blog, and our relationship as writer/reader. Because, it is a relationship. I think about what you might like to read; you comment if you like it; I repay the visit to your own page. We depend on each other for feedback, and dare I say it, bloggy validation. I pledge to visit as many of your blogs as humanly possible. I pledge to keep in touch with you via twitter and email, and to answer your questions, comments, or favors in a timely manner. I pledge to bring you more giveaways on some of your favorite brands and products (anything you're looking for, in particular?). And, as always, I pledge to be painfully honest with you-- and myself-- along the way.
And this, is where I need your help:
How can I make blogging a little better for all of us?
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, January 27, 2010
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First of all, happy half blogoversary! Blogging sure is fun, isn't it?
Second, I think you are worrying way too much about the layout, though admittedly, I worry about mine too. But I read blogs for the posts, not because they are pretty to look at. And yours is pretty to look at, so I think it's just great.
And of all the blogs I read, yours offers so much. The daily tips are amazing. I probably copy and paste at least one a week into a word document. I read these maybe once a week and they really help with so many things.
I like the questions at the end as well. You make it easy to leave comments and often give ideas for blog posts of my own.
So that's all I have. Have fun celebrating!
I love your blog! I usually read it through Google Reader and your entire post used to show up, now it's only the title so I have to click on it to open the post. It would be great if you could make the entire post show up in Google Reader.
Hi Elizabeth! What a great idea, a half blogiversary! Love it!
I have made a lot of changes over the last few months to my blog, because I just wasn't liking the cluttered thing it was becoming. I had crazy backgrounds and buttons and blinkies....a little Las Vegas showgirl.
I finally stripped everything away and it's pretty simple (and maybe a little boring) to read now but it's easier on my eyes.
I really like your argyle border. Just ONE little suggestion and this is purely my opinion. I'm finding for ME, white backgrounds where the text shows up is just much easier for me to read. I think I read somewhere that blogs get more hits with white backgrounds on the text, but seriously I could be imagining that. The pink is nice, but you might experiment with white and see what you think.
first off your tips are great,especially today and thanks for that reminder I will be making our appts today!
I love the look of those custom blogs also but I want mine to be something I put together.
your blog looks great,no worrying needed!
Happy half-blogaversary!
happy half blogversary! I love reading your blog.
Yay we totally celebrate half birthdays! So fun!
I like your layout and colors! As long as I can get around then I like it! And I love your header!
Happy half-blogaversary!!!
Happy 6-month blogaversary! How nice of the President to honor this day :-) Honestly, I know this is a lame answer, but I do like your blog the way it is. My favorite part of blogs though, is reading about the day-to-day musings, so I do like that aspect of it more than the giveaways, the trivia stuff, etc. I just like to read about what's going on in your head and your heart! As a "real life friend" that's my favorite part. Less of the "entertainment" aspect, and more of "you".
Happy half blogaversary!!! I like the look of the custom blogs too and was thinking about getting a custom blog for myself too. Your blog looks really good though!! I like your new header and I love the fact that you did this all on your own :o)
I hope G is feeling better today!
Happy Half-Blogaversary!
Personally, I love your blog. I don't think you should change a thing!
Plus, you have nearly 500 followers, and you've only been open 6 months?! You must be doing EVERYTHING right :)
Thanks for visiting my blog...I don't have a Wii Fit, but I would love to try it out on the days I don't run.
I don't think that I have ever been here, but I am so glad that I hopped on over...and Happy half blogiversary to you! I have been blogging for almost 3 years I think and I now have 3 blogs...scary huh? It is very much a creative outlet for me and it is the only way I document our family adventures. Well, nice to meet you and I look forward to coming back...shhhh, don't tell my hubby that I found another blog to follow!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am so glad I clicked back to yours!
My first impression of your blog was that I liked it. I haven't really looked around yet. I just read this post. Happy blog 1/2 anniversary. Wow! You have a very nice following in such a short time. I've been blogging since May 09 and am nowhere near you! I must be really boring.:(
I'll be back for more!
Thanks again for stopping by!
Tina
www.mypricelessfishers.com
Oh I forgot....
I too really love looking at design and layout of blogs. I see ideas and want to change mine all the time.
I have some really neat professional pictures I've thought about using and I've thought about paying for a custom blog design but I can't. I just can't. 1. My hubby would not appreciate me using money for this. 2. I think it says something about you to do it yourself. I don't sew, or make any of that artsy fartsy stuff so I think this is my thing....take pictures, learn html code. But truthfully, I've been really close to just do it anyway! This week as a matter of fact!
I'll be curious to see your blog progression.
I like this new design! My favorite part is how your daughter's picture is your screen saver on your monitor, and it's in color, everything else is black and white. Very creative!
Thanks for stopping by my blog & the nice comments! The watermark was made in photoshop ... thanks! It is super easy to use & I use it a lot :) There are numerous tutorials on the internet on how to create them. If your interested check out CoffeeShop.
Robin
I think you are a wonderful writer and that is why I keep coming back. Of course, that fact that you have little girl that is only a few months older than my little boy is what got me hooked on your blog. I have enjoyed reading your mommy posts. :-)
I appreciate your dedication to your readers and the fact that you visit and comment on our blogs(thanks for the Wordless Wednesday comment, by the way.:).
As far as you blog content, I find it interesting and I think you are doing fine. Like I said before, you are a great writer so that helps.
For your blog design, I think it is good now. There was too much pink before and it was a little hard to read (maybe I just need new reading glasses, though! :)
Good job on doing the designing yourself! Oh, and I don't think it needs to be streamlined anymore. It gives it a personal feel when you have your family's pics out.
Congratulations on your blogaversary! :-)
Happy Blogiversary!! :)
Your blog is lovely my dear. I read somewhere to get your blog to 80% of where you wish it would be and then leave it alone. I follow blogs for the content, not the design.
Well hello there and congratz' on the Blogiversary!!
Thanks for the tip too. I'm a big believer in preventative maintenance when it comes to trips to the Dr and germs. I'm never with out my hand sanitizer!
Thanks for stopping by The Blessings of Modern Domestication today and saying hi.
Your blog is pretty sweet!
I think your blog looks great! I'm so jealous that you did it by yourself. I have to rely on whatever free layouts I can find and currently want a 3 column!
I think I stop by every day, so a move to your own wouldn't make a difference to me.
I loved how you posted your truthful Tuesdays topic early this time, since I need time to think about what I want to write. I've only played along once and that was because I could link to an old post. I like to have my posts all scheduled the night before.
That's my only suggestion, though!
Happy half-blogaversary! I think most people visit a blog for the content so I wouldn't worry about the layout too much. I read somewhere that the main thing people want is one that loads fast : ) I tested mine...supposedly its best to get it loaded in under 4 seconds. We're an impatient lot I guess!
I just like reading what you have to say. I'm always laughing at something on here :) And I"m glad that we email once in a while too! :) And thanks for the button too! :)
Congrats on 6 months!! I can't believe how quickly the time has flown...
I love how honest & open you are... And for suggestions, I'm a novice, so I will leave that for the experts.
However, my 1 piece of advice... Listen to your heart & follow where it takes you...
Ooooo! I like your new banner! Happy day to you too!
The only part I don't care for is the moving buttons. They distract my eyes from your wonderful posts. But no worries, I keep coming back anyway!
I am impressed that you have only been doing this for 6 months. Impressed you have 464 followers, impressed at your design and layout. I too think about my "simple" blog design that took me 3 months to put together since I had no knowledge of what I was doing. I have been blogging for just over a month, so am still learning the ropes. If you could share some tidbits of what you have learned in the last 6 months...what to do and what not to do. I feel like I spin my wheels some days or that I am at the computer for hours. I do love it, but I don't want it to interfere with family life. Those are things that I would love to hear about. Thanks for all the encouragement on my WL by the way. I have your button displayed in my cheerleader section now! :)
I think you are worrying to much about your layout. It doesn't matter to me what it looks like. I love reading what you right and I don't plan on going anywhere!
I think that your blog is awesome and I enjoy reading everything on it! You're great at blogging and I'm pretty jealous!
Happy half blogaversary. Thank you for stopping over at my blog. You have 464 followers and probably many in reader too, you must be doing something right.
Don't change your writing style, honesty about little things (you are able to say that your daughter still has her pacifier without worrying what someone might say)or the attitude you sometimes convey. These things make you real, approachable and identifiable.
If you want a "custom" design, go for it... but don't do it because you think you have to. If you are happy with what you have now I see no reason to change for anyone else. What it LOOKS like won't change the value of the posts... and they are perfectly valuable as they stand now.
Happy 6 month!
I like the new changes to the blog. I love that the desk is OCD clean ;-) My only complaint is the grainy-ness of G's photo, but #1) I don't blame you b/c then people won't steal it, #2) it is supposed to look like it is coming off a computer screen, 3) I am OCD about photos ;-)
To help you on your quest to watermark photos... I found a good tut on the free picasa software. I used picasa for a long time and was very happy with it. I could never figure out how to watermark though, so when I read this tut, I was excited. Read the whole thing b/c the important info is at the end!
http://iffles.com/2009/07/03/storing-and-organizing-photos/
Cheers!
PS... I like what you say in your blog... so I don't pay near as much attention to what it looks like :-) I'd say that is success!
http://rasl365.blogspot.com/
Hi Elizabeth! Thanks so much for stopping by the Southern Institute and commenting. Happy 1/2 blogoversary! Since I am new to your blog I won't give you any feedback, but I will say that I'm looking forward to getting to know you through your blog! Have a great night!
oooo.... so more on picasa...
I hadn't used it in a while, and brought it up to try out the auto resize/watermark and discovered some new things! **DAMN** good for free software.
Here is another tut on watermarking:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4713656_add-watermark-digital-photo-picasa.html
:-)
Happy to help. Also, if you ever have a particularly meaningful photo you want to post, but be really sure is MARKED... send it to me and I will happily work with it in photoshop. Coo?
:-)
Happy Blogoversary! Or half one anyhow. I am quite convinced that you started on July 27th b/c you subconsciously knew we'd become friends and you wanted to join my birthday party with your bloggy party! So the dessert I had at dinner tonight at Ruth Chris' was also on your behalf. It was delicious by the way! ;-)
You know I'd visit your blog whether it was Wordpress-ified or not! It's the content that matters and as far as I am concerned, your content rocks!
Tamara
www.theunexperiencedmom.com
I really like the idea of celebrating 1/2 bdays! My bday is the day after Christmas and it sucks!
Anyhow - Happy Blogaversary!
I love your new header!
Just keep it coming. Fresh content, daily (or almost daily) posting, contests, giveaways, Truthful Tuesdays are all great. I am personally very interested in your work-life balance (as it's an issue I deal with) and how you selected childcare to keep G safe and happy while you're working. =) Of course, church and childrearing stories always make my day and the fact that you write well--and inject humor--doesn't hurt!
Happy Half Blogoversary!
this is not me kissing up: I hope you don't change a thing. I love you just the way you are. You are open, and fun, and a joy to read. There is a reason you were one of the first blogs I ever subscribed to on my blog. In my opinion, you're not broke, so don't go fixing yourself (of course that's just my opinion, and really you should do what makes you happy LOL).
Toni @ Hemp & High Heels
I really enjoy your blog, and I am so impressed that you have only been at it for 6 months and are so successful at it:) How do you manage to find time blogging with a full-time job as well as being a mommy? You're doing a fantastic job:)
Just stopped by from SITS to say hello. Love all your pictures. Thanks for sharing your wonderful site. Cheers, Lia