State of the Blog 2014 Part 1: Results & the Deal with Sponsors and Guts

I feel like I need to post a survey at the end of every single post!  I LOVE hearing what you guys think.  Seriously, best.answers.ever.  Thank you so much for being honest with me, I know that can be hard sometimes but I truly am grateful for it!

If you still havent taken it and want to be entered into a giveaway for $50 to HomeGoods click here! I still really want your feedback!

Now for the results (granted we are only a day into the survey, but as the numbers have changed the results have stayed really consistent, so I thought it would be ok to share!)  And I cant believe that as of midnight over 1500 of you have taken this survey.  I bow to your awesomeness.

 

Now for the essay questions…

Where Can I Improve?

The most consistent answer on what I can improve is regularly posting and keeping you guys updated with the progress of projects.

I know this is where I totally fail.  Its not just on the blog, its sort of all of my life and one of my biggest character weaknesses.  One problem that I have is that if I feel like I don’t have anything mind blowing to say, or I am writing a post that is just not gel-ing I don’t want to share it with you because I feel like it is a waste of your time.  I just have so much love for you guys that I don’t ever want you to click away from VR thinking “Wow.  That was so not worth the 20 seconds it took to read.”  But after reading your responses I get that I am being too freaky about it, and not every post needs to be ROFL hilarious or mind blowing amazing.   Just most of them (wink!)

Another problem that I have when it comes to follow through, is that the ideas never stop. Ever.   I have so many ideas all the time that I want to try, that it is really hard for me to edit.  I feel like I am doing a little bit better than I used to (FFA anyone?).  New ideas are my drug.   So if anyone needs ideas for Etsy shops,  13 new websites,  countless series,  and a few ways to change the world, hit your girl up.  I have more than enough to go around.

The Skinny on Sponsors:

This is sort of the giant elephant in the blogging living room that no one wants to address.  But I mean,  lets talk about it,  it is obviously a touchy subject for most parties involved and I really value hearing where you are coming from and would love to share my thoughts on it too!

I remember a conversation that I had about 3 years ago with Brooke.  I told her that all I wanted out of the blog (money wise) was to be able to write what I want to write about,  use products that I love (in real life) and have the company be so impressed with all of it that they WANT to pay me.   I mean its like a dream right?  It would be like your kids noticing all of your hard work and giving you a weekly spa day just because you did SUCH a good job scrubbing their toilet.   Amazingly that is sort of what happened.  (Insert a whispery voice) “If you build it, they will come.”

For those that have been reading for a while you have probably noticed that while I do do sponsored posts, it is almost always for the same companies.  Sherwin Williams, 3M (ScotchBlue etc.),  P&G.  Companies that I love.  Companies that I sought out and sent “stalker” emails to (they were a little bit more profesh than your average stalker email but you get the idea.)   

I always want roll my eyes when bloggers are like “Don’t you know how many sponsored posts I turn down on a daily basis?!”  Like it is such a sacrifice to have a little bit of loyalty?  Here is the thing,  I turn down opportunities from other companies because when I tell you guys that a $60 gallon of paint is worth it, its because I really believe that.  And as great as that exclusivity is for the companies I work with, my loyalty is to YOU.  I don’t ever want you to feel like I lead you astray to make a buck.  I know that my viewpoint on this is not the way 95% of bloggers feel and that is totally fine.  Everyone runs things the way that they feel is best.  This is the way I have found that works best for me.  I want the take away to be “this is who I am” not “this is what I am trying to sell.”  #offmysoapbox

Sponsors lead to money (which quite a few of you asked about) and lucky for you I am not known for my privacy.  After 3.5 years of blogging I am so humbled and excited to say that yes, I do make an income off of my blog.  It is what keeps the projects flowing and my husband from grumbling (too much!)  But money is not the reason I blog, I would do it for free because I love sharing ideas with perfect strangers that I think of as my best friends.

What happened to your Master Bedroom Makeover? 

I swear I am not just leaving you guys hanging while secretly keeping this amazing room design under wraps.  The room hit a creative dead end and so it sits, just as you saw it last.  I  am just waiting to hit the creative gold vein that has to be in there somewhere.  Or maybe I just need to start over.  We will see where it goes.

Project Costs?

As your blog has gotten more popular, you’ve moved from cheaper to more expensive materials for your tutorials, which is kind of lame. I’m assuming it’s due to your sponsors. Not that I don’t still love your blog, though!

I absolutely have done this.  It isn’t so much due to sponsors, but just that the projects that I am doing require more/different supplies.  I remember when I wrote a post about the most expensive piece of furniture that I had ever purchased.  It was $50.  I mean.  How is that for setting yourself up for failure?!  I feel like the last year or so I have been doing more building and creating things from scratch as opposed to refinishing something I found at the thrift store, which tends to cost more.

 

I love the uniqueness of your projects, but many times I feel they are so unique that I could never do them. Like "Here’s this craptastic thing that I found at this thrift store that no one will ever find again because it is so insanely unique. . . and here’s what I did with it." Those are awesome, but sometimes I think I would like to see more "Here’s this basic chair from Ikea, some Styrofoam, puffy paint, and cheap fabric from Wal-Mart. . . and here’s what I did with them." Of course I understand your blog is totally about things YOU love and finding stuff that speaks to you and how we should all be doing the same. . . So I can see why you don’t have more of the posts I’m talking about. But maybe if you had something once a month or so like "back to basics" or something for those of us who are newbie’s to DIY or don’t have access to amazing stores or the ability to hit up a thrift store multiple times a week.

This is something that I have totally been trying to fight against (hence the building and creating explained above) but I love the idea of using more mainstream materials!

What’s with Guts?  It’s sort of gross.

I actually get this question a lot, but I don’t know if it is something that I have ever talked about on the blog.  Some people think that it is a really contrived way of branding,  extremely juvenile, or just plain annoying.  So let me tell you about guts,  it may change your mind.  When I came upon the world of DIY blogs I was in the darkest place of my life.   Everything I felt was wrapped up in Court’s addiction and it was all darkened with the pain that goes along with that. 

When I found All Things Thrifty, it was like something inside me changed.  I was SO inspired to create something, anything.  I wanted to spray paint anything that didn’t move.  It was ok that I didn’t have any money,  and that the black slightly distressed living room group that all of my friends had would never be mine.  I sent Brooke an email to tell her how much this all meant to me and it was impossible to describe the hope that she gave me.  That these simple projects made me feel like I could be in control of something.  The only way I could put the excitement and joy it into words was “I love your guts!”  So that is where it started.  I still say it because I never want to forget how she made me feel.  If I can make even one person feel like that then this is all worth it.  And on a lighter note, I really do love people!  I am a textbook extrovert and I really just want to be around people and get to know them and love them all day, every day.  Who wants to hug?

Part 2 will be up tomorrow (I PROMISE! The post is already written and scheduled!  Look at me being all responsible!  You guys!!)  And then I will be doing a separate post on the loaded Pinterest question next week (so many great responses!!)

I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart and let you know how much I really do appreciate the time you took to take the survey and read VR.  As I was reading the responses I found myself wishing I had email addresses to respond to.  Especially for those that shared the stuff they wanted to get off their chests. 

Just a few messages to my anonymous friends. 

Sisters forgive (mine have to forgive me all the time) just love her and it will be ok!

Career burnout is horrible.  Don’t be scared.  You are in my prayers!

Kids that are sick (although fiercely ornery) do love you so much!  You are a wonderful mom!

If you are ever in St. George message me on FB and we will totally meet up ( I am DEAD serious.)

I’ve already cheated on my diet too…its ok we can start tomorrow…err Monday?

Yes I wear Mormon underwear.  You can read all about that situation here.

I am going to ALT and SNAP!  Lets meet up!  Since I have no idea who wrote this meet me in the lobby wearing blue.  Bring a yellow rose.

I am so sorry that I didn’t respond to your email!  I try really hard to respond as much as possible.  I would love for you to resend it with a big fat star in the subject line and I will totally respond!

The DIY Fail cloud is TOTALLY a real thing.  Take a breather and don’t force it.  This storm too shall pass.

Don’t be mad at yourself.  No one is perfect and we all fail sometimes.  You have another chance so grab it by the you-know-what and learn from your mistakes!

And a big fat resounding YES!  We can be best friends!