Happy Friday, friends! Before diving into new content next week, I want to wrap up 2024 with my annual Year In Review. I always enjoy looking back on the year and sharing the highlights before we officially turn the page to 2025. Like any year, 2024 had its fair share of ups and downs, but let’s focus on the highs!
State of the Blog Address
I thought I’d kick off this post again this year with a bit a ‘blog audit’, so let’s talk stats. Growth was slower in 2024 than it has been in previous years, which I’m afraid is a sign of the times. But even so, I grew my email list by 4100 subscribers and welcomed over 700 new members to the JLS Insiders Facebook Group. I published 290 blog posts in 2024 and participated in just nine brand partnerships.
I’m very selective about the brands I work with, so I’m thrilled that many have hired me for extended campaigns with multiple activations. I feel like this consistency benefits both you as a reader and me as the creator. The income I earn from sponsored posts, affiliate relationships, and my ad network allows me to provide all the content you see here on the blog and on my social media channels for free. I truly appreciate your support of these collaborations—whether it’s through commenting, purchasing, or simply showing up to read.
Most Popular Posts of 2024
The most popular blog posts of the year were:
- Fall Fashion Trends: What’s In and What’s Out for 2024
- What to Wear with Wide Leg Jeans This Fall
- What Shoes to Wear with All Types of Jeans
- Denim Mistakes You May Be Making & How To Fix Them
- Dos and Don’ts for Wearing Shorts
- How to Wear a Denim Skirt This Fall
- How to Wear Grey Jeans This Winter
- Outdated Fashion Trends and What To Wear Instead
A lot of these posts are evergreen content—meaning posts I update and republish year after year—and I think you can see the theme. Clearly, you all like my coverage of fashion trends, as well as denim and shoes!
It’s hard to believe, but the blog turned 18 in March! What started back in 2006 as a simple online diary for our family of five has grown into an everyday style destination and a virtual community that now serves over half a million women each month. I still find that absolutely mind-boggling.
Who remembers my first ‘professional’ blog header? I felt like I was big time when I invested in this little bit of branding back in 2007—little did I know, it would be the first of many!
Speaking of investing in branding, I took the plunge on an extensive blog redesign in the spring of 2024, and I’m so glad I did! I feel like Brooke at NARI Creative truly nailed my vision, creating a space that feels both professional and relatable. Then Logan and his team at Argyle Interactive took her design and brought it to life beautifully. The process was a bit painful, as it always is, but I love how it turned out.
I have both NARI Creative and Argyle Interactive on retainer to keep my design fresh and user-friendly. Brooke’s team handles most of the graphics you see in my blog posts, while Logan keeps things running smoothly behind the scenes, regularly updating the site and stepping in when things go awry.
Another way I invested in my business in 2024 was by continuing to work with Kayla Watkins, who I hired at the end of 2023 to manage my Pinterest. Pinterest has changed a lot and isn’t the traffic driver it once was, but it’s still my #2 referrer (Google is #1). Having someone who understands the algorithm and can help get my posts in front of the right audience feels like time and money well spent.
I still meet weekly with Sydney at Seeside Creative to strategize and plan content, and Amy still works with me daily on the administrative side of things. Kate comes to my house a few times a week to help with returns and other tasks here on the ground, and of course, Alison is my photographer extraordinaire. She is incredibly reliable and quick with the turnaround, and she makes photo shoots… which are not my favorite part of this job, actually fun.
All that to say, this is not a one woman show over here. I could not do this alone. As it is, I put in crazy hours, and there’s always more that I want to do—that’s just the nature of this space. But having these ladies working along with me makes it manageable and a lot more fun!
Goals for 2025
One of my goals for 2024 was to grow my email list and make those emails more valuable to you, and I feel like I did that, but I would like to do even more. I expanded my Saturday Weekly Recap to include a Q&A section and the Weekend Sales Roundup. I also added the Top Ten of the Week to my Sunday emails and moved Coffee Talk (a former blog feature) exclusively to email. While I’ve tried to be more consistent with the Daily Finds section, I still feel there’s room for improvement there.
As a creator, there are so many things I can’t control—Google algorithms shift on a whim, and social media platforms constantly favor new types of content—but I own my email list. That makes it one of the most reliable ways to stay connected, so I want to use that platform to its fullest potential. I’m always open to ideas and suggestions!
I’ve also been toying with the idea of starting a Substack*. The challenge is figuring out what I’d share there versus on the blog, since the blog remains my primary focus. That said, I’m always looking for ways to expand my audience, and Substack could be worth exploring—especially since I enjoy writing more than creating video content.
When I floated the idea to my newsletter subscribers, most weren’t too keen on it, but if you’re a Substack user, I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you enjoy about it compared to blogs? Maybe there’s a way to use both platforms to serve different audiences without compromising the community we’ve built here. Rest assured, the blog (and my email newsletter) will always be my top priority and the focus of most of my time and energy.
*I also want to add, a Substack does not have to have a subscription fee, and I would definitely not start out that way. I would try it and see where it goes and then eventually decide if I felt like I needed to charge for the added content there. I much prefer the blog model I have now, both as a creator and a consumer. I just wonder if I could expand my audience if I produced content in both places.
As for other goals, I’m looking at ways I can ‘work smarter and not harder’ in 2025 because I’m feeling tapped out lately. My posts have gotten longer and more extensive over the past few years, and I’m not sure I can continue putting out a post every weekday. I’m going to try to at least vary the lengths a bit, and sprinkle in a few more roundups to help me better manage my time.
All in all, I’m proud of how my business has grown and the content I’ve created this year. Growth doesn’t always show in the numbers, but I feel the energy in this community every day. Blogs are far from dead—least of all this one—and I’m so excited to continue this style journey with you as we head into 2025!
2024 Recap in Pictures
Okay, let’s just do a quick walk down memory lane! January started off with a bang, when my 17-year-old daughter totaled her car in an auto accident on the way home from school. (Fortunately no one was hurt.) I also went on a wellness retreat to Miraval in Austin, TX, in January. I was able to relax and recharge and reconnect with my friend Jen, and I also met some new friends, for whom I’m incredibly grateful as I navigate this new “empty nest” stage of life.
Then in February, we visited my parents in Virginia. We were able to get together with my brother’s family, and I also grabbed lunch with my best friend from high school.
The next weekend, Paul and I took a trip to Cape May, NJ, where we stayed at Congress Hall and we enjoyed a couple’s massage at their highly acclaimed Sea Spa, as well as a lovely Valentine’s Day dinner at Grana GYOB.
A week later, I headed to Sarasota, Florida to shoot spring outfit pictures. I met up with Deb and Lindsey, and Alison met us there to take pictures, which was so much fun.
March and April brought all of the Indoor Percussion competitions that Becca was a part of, and we spent most weekends traveling around the region to see her group perform.
That’s also when I fell on the stairs and tore four tendons in my ankle and was relegated to a fancy medical boot for 6 weeks.
We took the girls to Delray Beach, Florida, for Spring Break in April, where we stayed at the Opal Grand—HIGHLY recommend! (David opted to stay home and work.) Later in the month, we went to Dayton, Ohio, to see Becca and her Indoor Percussion team compete in the World Championships.
May brought an emergency surgery for an ovarian cyst (Becca’s, not mine.) Just a few days later, she was off to her Senior Prom—thanks to the wonders of laparoscopic surgical technology. Kids are amazingly resilient!
She also performed with the high school Jazz Band one last time at their annual show at Knoebels, and later that month, she attended her boyfriend’s Senior Prom. By then, she was feeling much better and was able to dance and have fun, which felt like a much-deserved ‘do-over.’
The next morning, we were up bright and early to drive her to Cleveland, Ohio, where she joined the high school musical groups to perform in front of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That was such a cool experience, and it was really nice that there was no competition involved. They just got to enjoy playing together one last time. Of course, all of my pictures have other kids in them, so I can’t share here. But Paul and I took some fun ones while we waited for them to get set up.
As it turns out, Cleveland is a pretty cool city, and Paul and I enjoyed exploring while Becca was busy with her school activities. We had lunch at the Hofbräuhaus, a fun spot modeled after the legendary 400 year-old Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany. Paul had visited the original and was excited to see this one.
The next thing we knew, it was time for Becca’s high school graduation! A bittersweet moment, for sure, but she was so ready. It’s strange, how this suddenly feels so long ago. Alison came over and took a bunch of photos for us on her high school campus. They turned out beautifully. I have so many I could share, but I picked two of my faves.
In June, we took her to Nashville for freshman orientation at Belmont University. And yes, if it sounds like the first half of the year revolved around Becca, that’s because it did! No wonder I felt so lost and lonely when both girls left for college in August.
We wrapped up June with a graduation pool party for Becca and a family vacation to Fenwick Island, Delaware, with Paul’s side of the family. That was a lot of fun and a great way to kick off the summer.
In July, we celebrated my 52nd birthday with a quiet dinner for four—David was away at camp, where he works as a counselor every summer, so he wasn’t able to join us.
The following weekend, my dad came up for a visit, and we celebrated the 4th of July with him and some friends with a backyard pool party. And before I knew it, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale rolled around again, keeping me busy as always. Shortly after, we took another family vacation—this time to Maine with my parents.
Then came August, and with it, the biggest transition of the year: moving both girls into college. Caroline headed to Boston, and Becca to Nashville. Having Caroline home for her spring semester made it an even bigger adjustment to see them both leave at the same time, but they were so excited and ready for their next chapter, which made it a little easier to let go.
In September, Paul and I kept ourselves busy with dinners out and plans with friends. Mid-month, I made a quick trip to Boston for a family funeral, which also gave me a chance to see Caroline. At the end of the month, we headed to Nashville for Parents’ Weekend.
October took me back to Nashville, where I rented an Airbnb (actually in Franklin) with a group of ‘influencer’ friends. (I hate that term—it sounds so pretentious! But it’s what we use these days, as we are not all bloggers.) While I was there, I managed to spend some time with Becca and celebrate her birthday.
In November, Paul and I were off again. We flew to Roanoke, Virginia, to see my family, then rented a car and drove to Roan Mountain, Tennessee, to visit good friends who moved there a few years ago. It was our first time visiting, and wow—what a beautiful place!
We also celebrated David’s 25th birthday, which was another big milestone for our family. He lives at home and works as a Behavior Tech, helping kids with autism. He prefers to fly under the radar, which is why you don’t see much of him here. It’s always a fine line to walk—sharing authentically while respecting my adult kids’ privacy. It was so much easier when they were younger!
Everyone came home for Thanksgiving, and it was so nice to have a full house again! We actually had some extended family staying with us, as well, and we all had a great time reconnecting after the busy fall. And before we knew it, the girls were back home again for Christmas!
Alison came over and took family pictures, since we didn’t have any good ones of the five of us from the year, and I love how they turned out. I’m so happy to have these to commemorate a memorable year.
We celebrated Caroline’s birthday on Christmas Eve and enjoyed a quiet Christmas Day at home with just the five of us. The following weekend, we had our big Shane family Christmas party, which is always a highlight of the season. (We’re planning to visit my family in Virginia in a few weeks to wrap up the holidays.)
In Conclusion
This year has been a good one in so many ways, but in the interest of keeping it real, I want to acknowledge that there were also some really difficult times—lest you think my life is all butterflies and rainbows. No one’s is. I know what it’s like to watch other people’s highlight reels and feel like I’m the only one going through tough stuff, but that’s simply not true. It’s just not my place to share most of it here, and besides, this is no longer a diary blog. I prefer to keep the focus on fashion and style, but please know that if you’re going through tough times, you are not alone.
What I can tell you is this: God is faithful, and I’m so thankful for His provisions this year. As we head into a new year, my goal is to give my worries over to Him, trusting His perfect plan and resting in the knowledge that He knows what’s best for my life and for those I love most in this world.
Finally, thank you all so much for being here. I’m deeply grateful for those of you who have stuck around for many years, and I’m equally excited to welcome new faces to this community. The conversation, encouragement, and connection that happens here—whether in the comments, emails, or on social media—means so much to me.
This blog has been such a constant in my life for the past 18 years, and it wouldn’t be possible without your support. Whether you’ve been reading since the early days or just found your way here recently, thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of sharing life and style. Cheers to 2025!
54 Responses
Wow, Jolynne, this is a beautiful recap post. I especially appreciate how you are honest and real with your blog – that credibility goes a long way with me. Thank you for all you do, and your team too!
Thank you so much for all your work. It inspires me and helps guide my fashion. I’m particularly grateful that you partnered with Frank and Eileen this year and I paid attention. I’ve purchased many of their items. Nordstrom posts are also very useful for me. I enjoy most the content on what you’ve worn lately, and your posts on fashion updates/what’s current. Thank you for helping me stay fashion forward rather than frumpy.
Thanks for the fun and honest recap of your business and family travels/activities. I enjoy your blog daily as I am in the same life stage as you with the empty nest and have a similar fashion style. It helps to see what’s current and fun in the real fashion world of women in middle-age, not the runaway or college campuses. Happy new year!
Thank you for this recap. I enjoy all your content! I love the what I’ve worn and when you talk through your outfit – what you liked, didn’t like, changes you made to make it look more put together. I find those really useful to learn what silhouettes work with what tops, bottoms etc.
What is the difference between substack & a blog?
Substack is more of a newsletter platform with built-in tools for paid subscriptions, and a blog is a website that you can run on a variety of platforms – mine uses WordPress.
Thanks for all of your helpful fashion advice & tips in 2024! I really enjoy your blog & newsletter & am looking forward to following you in 2025!
I’ve been one of your biggest fans for a few years now – always telling people about something you said, prefacing it with “A fashion blogger I follow”…and then your wise nugget. I even recently had a dream that I ran into you while shopping! 😀 What I really value is your honesty, integrity, and sense of humor. I appreciate how you take the time to explain why clothes items work together (or not), and your thought process for why you choose certain pairings (shoes, jewelry, tucking or leaving out, etc.). Love your yearly highlights, what’s in and out, how to wear certain clothing items, even the trends. And thank you for sharing your faith ❤ Wishing you and your family a wonderful 2025!
Thank you for all the work you do for all of us. You give more information on each item than any other blogger I follow. Since we are roughly the same size, it is easy to imagine how your outfits would look on me. Even though some of what you post is beyond my means, you always give me good ideas. I never even shopped at Nordstrom until I started reading your posts. I also love Gap Outlet and Loft. You have made me look at what I wear more closely (the fashion gene went from my mom, who always dressed so stylishly, to my daughter, who has great taste.) Now I don’t feel so frumpy and stuck in a rut when I spend time with our daughter haha!
You introduced me to Intermittent Fasting, which I have been doing daily for 5 years, and Yoga with Adriene, which I do daily with my workouts, for almost the same amount of time.
Thank you, again, and your team. You all do a wonderful job of keeping us fashionable, comfortable, and stylish.
Agree with Arna, thanks for feauturing Gap Outlet and Loft! Great sources for frugal fashion that don’t look cheap! While I try to be cost conscious, I still care about quality and don’t want to pay for products that are poorly made or produced under unethical conditions.
I truly enjoyed your recap of the past year! I’m looking forward to seeing what you have in store for us in 2025.
You put so much work and detail into your posts that I can see why they would be time consuming and that you might possibly want to cut back!
I’ll be here to support whatever path you choose.
Happy 2025! What a great recap. I wish I had a digital history like this of my family…times flies! Our family spent some time in Nashville over Christmas, and I thought of Becca, as we drove by Belmont. I even looked back at your suggestions for visiting. Love your advice and style! Thanks for all of the content you provide us.
Wow! Beautiful post! Cheers to 2025!
What a wonderful, well written year end review. You really did get to do a lot of fun trips and make fun memories with family and friends. You are soooo right. We all have our good seasons and our bad and it’s the Lord that gets us through and He is the One we can always rely on. Prayers for you to be able to give those worries over to Him and know He is in control. I’ve so enjoyed your blog. I found you in 2015 and it’s gotten me through many tough days of living with chronic migraines (something fun to focus on… I love fashion) and not to mention reading your blog way back during Covid was community we all needed when we weren’t leaving our houses. You do such a wonderful job and after reading this and seeing how many that work under you, it’s more work than any of us probably realize. Blessings in the New Year as you navigate your days.
I have enjoyed your blog since 2015 and am sure I will continue to do so in the coming years. Blessings to you & all the best in the coming year. 2025 is the perfect time to give your worries to God. In fact, I will be doing the same!
I really do enjoy all the hard work you do with your blog and look forward to your posts and fashion inspiration. I swear we have such similar style as sometimes when you feature something new, I already bought it and think see we have great taste, LOL. Many times through your fashion posts, I then cant wait to try on and purchase. I love how you keep it all so real and appreciate you being so authentic. It is so nice that you do take the time to answer any questions, requests for recommendations for something specific. Wishing you, your family and your business all the best in 2025!
What a beautiful post! I love seeing and hearing about your family, and it’s interesting to hear how running a blog works and all that goes into it. I’m so glad your business is growing, and I pray that 2025 will be even better for you! I look forward to all you will bring this year and beyond. Thank you for all you do! Wishing your family a happy and blessed year ahead!
Thanks for the recap of the year! I have been a follower of yours for years and noticed you kept this blog as a traditional blog (although with appropriate changes) over the years. Other blogers would only sporadically blog or did away with their blogs, but have now made a move to Subslack. At first I didn’t understand, bc it feels a lot like their old blogs, but on a new platform. I agree with you that you would essentially be doing the same thing on Subslack as you do here.
Totally didn’t realize you had an email Listserve so I signed up for that.
When I have downtime, your blog has been one of my favorites to follow along regularly. So my vote is keep doing what you’re doing!wishing you much success in 2025!
Thanks you! And that is interesting that you’ve seen some bloggers move to Substack. I can say this, it would a whole lot cheaper to run and operate, but I have no intention of replacing my blog with a Substack. It would be primarily to reach a different audience that may not find my blog otherwise, and I suppose it could be a good backup in case things ever change in a major way so that blogging is no longer viable. I don’t see that happening, though.
Thank you for putting together such a memorable recap of 2024–it was wonderful!
That was a great re -cap . I look forward to another year reading your blog.
Happy New Year and thank you for your time to create your daily emails.
I follow a favorite peloton instructor on Substack for her motivational and positive posts. However, it’s not my preferred space. I’m constantly sent content I’m not interested in. If I start to read it one place I have to finish in app. And if I mistakenly log on via my work email vs personal it’s a whole hassle to reset.
I won’t read you on Substack but I’ll happily continue to look forward to your emails each morning.
I enjoy your content so much! Thank you!
I enjoyed your detailed and informative year-end recap of both your business and your family. I had wondered why you stopped doing your Sunday “coffee talk” blog post but I understand that was a way for you to pull back a little a give yourself a break. Glad to hear your blog membership increased and that you’re not stopping anytime soon! Cheers to the new year my friend!
Thank you for all you do, Jo-Lynne!
Blessings for 2025♥️🙏
Love the annual recap! I think I have been following your blog since 2009 which is a huge compliment to you and your content. I rarely comment, occasionally purchase but read you almost every single day. I think I have a better, more useful and more flattering wardrobe than I did thanks to your explanations, pictures and general advice. I also spend less money with fewer wardrobe mistakes these days. I think of you as a friend and know we could be if our paths crossed in real life. Thanks for all you do!!
Thank you so much for publishing your blog. I look forward to reading your posts! It’s a wonderful way to stay connected while continuing to learn about current styles and fashion. Happy New Year and sending many blessings to you and your family!
You and your blog are a delight!! I found you recently and commend you on your consistency in putting out interesting content. And to learn you’ve been blogging for years!! That is impressive!! Congratulations on the growth, and thank you for your work! I’m enjoying it very much!!
Jo-Lynne, such a beautiful recap of your year! Thank you to you and your team for consistently showing up in my email every morning. I have been following you for many years and what I appreciate is your indepth blog posts. Not every fashion blogger does this. I can tell you pour your heart into each post and it shows! So, thank YOU! Cheers to a blessed 2025!
I really enjoy your blog. May God bless you and your family this year.
It was such a pleasure to read your ‘24 recap.
I’ve been a devoted reader for years, though this is my first comment.
I always enjoy your fashion news and find it inspiring as I shop for new outfits and accessories each season.
Thank you and your team for all that you do!
Wishing you and all your readers the best ever 2025.
Would love to meet you one of these days here in Nashville! Thanks for all of your thoughtful content.
I must say..I enjoy your blog.. and it’s nice you keep it professional and about fashion and beauty and great products you enjoy.. it’s a nice secret escape to look at pretty clothes and shopping for oneself or others.. we all go through bad times but you can join a blog for that and this one I joined is for your great sense of humor and your great style! Wishing you a happy 2025!
All your work does not go unnoticed. Your interaction with everyone too is appreciated too. Here’s to a great 2025…
Wonderful recap! Thank you for “keeping it real”. Wishing you and your family a very Happy and Healthy New Year!
What a beautiful post! Thank you for enriching my life as well as many others. Your heartfelt messages really hit home with me. I, too, will give my worries over to God for a change.
Looking forward to a fantastic year with you and this beautiful community community.
This is a beautiful recap. I admire and appreciate all the hard work you put into running such a high quality blog. I never miss a post!
Love your blog! Thanks for keeping it real and for sharing your fashion talents with us! Looking forward to 2025! Thanks also for sharing your faith with us and helping us remember the important things in life. God is faithful.
Beautiful family photo. I started following in 2015 and witnessed your kids growing into adults. It’s been fun to see your business grow and change too. While the content keeps me engaged it’s your authenticity that makes me stay. Thank you, and your team, for all you do in this space. It’s is something I look forward everyday.
Great post! I am a big fan of Substack!
I love everything about your blog! Please keep on 🙂 I’m not sure about Substack; I associate it with some anti vax physicians because that is where they promote their craziness and grift. Guess I’m giving away my age!
You have a beautiful family; the empty nest will grow on you. Loving and being friends and advisor to your adult kids is a special blessing that unfolds with time. It is a special relationship.
Thanks so much for the update, and for sharing so authentically. I’ve been around since those very early days of “Musings” and appreciate all you do to keep us fashion-forward in our 50s 🙂 Happy 2025!
Jo-Lynne, want you to know you were an answer to prayer 3 months ago. At 51 years young I found myself feeling grown up for the first time in my life, and longed to reflect on the outside some healing God had done on the inside. I’ve sat under your gracious teaching and know I’m blossoming in leaps and bounds—those around me can see the change! I can’t thank you enough!! God bless you, your family and your business.
Great recap post. I’m so grateful for finding you several years ago n ut following you more this year. I really love your style and personality. It’s very inspiring and real. Thank you for all of your hard work keeping us stylish and modern. And it was pretty awesome seeing you a d your husband in front of the Rock Hall in CLE. It’s where we live and we think Cleveland is pretty amazing.
Looking forward to 2025. Blessings.
Ok, you convinced me to sign up for emails lol. But it was unclear whether the Saturday recap would include everything from the week? Or by choosing Daily (which I did) ensure I’d not miss anything? If Saturday is one big email (everything from the week), I think I’d prefer that option (so how do I change to it? I was very quick to check Daily…hyped up on too much sugar from leftover Christmas cookies haha) Thanks for all you do!
Hi Grace, the weekly (Saturday) email DOES include a roundup with every post from the week. I created that option for people who don’t want an email every day but still don’t want to miss a post. I can change your subscription to the weekly option on my end, but when I checked your account and it says you didn’t opt-in yet, so I re-sent the opt-in email. If you don’t see it, check Spam or Trash folders. Hope that helps! 🙂 It is also easy to unsubscribe – there is a link at the bottom of every email – if you decide you don’t want them, although I hope you enjoy them!
❤️
Whew what a busy year, but looks like a fun one! I’m sure there were some hard times, especially with your kids leaving the nest, but you’re so right that God is faithful in all of it! (Also while I fully understand you not wanting to share details, please don’t hesitate to ever ask for prayers when facing these challenges!) As to the blog, I personally have never been one to subscribe to emails since I get so many already, but I did not know you have exclusive content there. I’ll definitely have to give it a try! As to the posts, I truly enjoy your in depth analysis- especially compared to some influencers that only share a lot of links. I noticed that being a trend in your top posts as well, not only are they all fashion related, but they’re all “how to” instructional type posts not just “what to buy.” That said, these are lengthier so I’m sure it does require a bit more work and I understand if you need to cut back. Maybe you could do a couple days a week that are just a styled outfit, then the other three days do unboxing, what I wore, how to wear, etc? Also you could split “What I Wore Wed” into a weekly post instead of biweekly. It would be quicker to write for one week versus two, and would eliminate having to come up with alternate content on the opposite Wednesdays. Overall, do whatever makes it easier for you – this should be a fun job after all! But please do keep the informative posts even if you don’t post every day! You’re one of the few that hasn’t resorted to just peddling products, and I truly appreciate that.
This is all helpful – I have thought of doing WIWL every week, but for as many people who love it, I have a portion who really don’t care for it. I always lose more email subscribers on the day I post WIWL – isn’t that interesting? It’s also a popular feature, so it’s hard to gauge how often to post it. I’ve even thought of going to monthly and only hitting the best outfits.
Maybe it’s time for another reader survey?? You could make it short and sweet, but it’d probably be more helpful to you if it was a little longer and more comprehensive. If so, you might could encourage participation by making it a giveaway with the winner getting a gift card of some sort? For types of posts, you could list each type and have an option to select “love”, “like”, “neutral”, or “not a fan.” I would add a free text box for suggestions, you might get ideas for a new type post. You could do the same for your sponsored partners and brands you feature. Even though I’m sure your website gives you some analytics based on purchases, that’s not always a perfect reflection (for example I’m watching spending right now so I’m more likely to buy from Loft or Gap Factory but still love Nordstrom and Evereve). You could also ask questions about forum (blog, email, social media, Substack, etc) as well as length and frequency of posts. Hopefully it would be helpful in deciding what to focus on!
Ha I replied to your comment here before opening today’s post and seeing your reader survey! Great minds think alike! Hope you get lots of helpful feedback!
Haha! Too funnny.
Congratulations on your success! Half million followers…wow that is amazing…And lots of hard work and dedication! I just “found” you this year. So glad I did. We are about the same size, and I so appreciate how you share the sizes of what you wear in particular items. I appreciate the shops that you feature. I hope to see an Anthropologie post sometime. I know that may not go with your style. But if you’re ever feeling it, would love to see what you come up with there! Thanks for all of your inspiration, I do appreciate you and seeing your emails in my inbox.
I am a Substack user. For me, I receive the Substack content as an email so it doesn’t feel like it would be all that different from your email newsletter in how I interact with it. If you have different content, that would be a change. I am currently a weekly email newsletter recipient. The volume of email that I receive is considerable. For me, you weekly email newsletter may be sufficient though I would probably check out a Substack if you put something there.
Yes, I follow Alyson Haley (not sure if you do or not) but she just switched her email list over to Substack, so it is replacing her email. That is something to consider, but I think a lot of my email subscribers would balk. I don’t think I’m ready for that just yet. She also talked about the value of the community building aspect of Substack, but I feel like we have that here in the blog comments and in my FB Group. So, yeah… not sure I’m ready for a new platform to manage just yet. 🙂 But I appreciate your insights and feedback!