I’ve spent a lot of time the last few days thinking about what I want to do with my blog in the New Year.
I started this blog in January of 06, so we are rapidly approaching my 2 year Blogoversary! To be honest I had no idea what I was doing when I started (oh so different from now-insert sarcasm here), and I’ve learned a lot as I’ve gone along. But what I’ve learned the most is that I love the interaction from my readers-I admit it, every time I get a comment I still feel a thrill! I know, cheesy of me. It’s like getting a popularity vote in high school. . . .
Right now there are tons of ideas swirling around in my mind on how to improve Frugal Upstate, but only so much time to implement these ideas while still having time for my husband, family, church, friends and activities. Oh, and not to mention continuing to settle in, decorate and organize a new house. . . and start a garden in the summer, and pick up my craft projects. . . have I mentioned I like to do a lot of stuff???
So I thought the logical thing to do would be to post a few of my ideas, in no particular order, and ask my loyal readers (that would be you all) to let me know what types of things they are interested in seeing. Feel free to include ideas that I haven’t thought of.
Here goes:
-Get a new blog template that looks more professional and cleaner. I might have to *gasp* purchase this.
-Take more pictures
-Include more organizing on a budget ideas-both household (calendars, notebooks, chores-all areas I personally need to grow in) and physical space (cabinets, closets, drawers)
-Do more book reviews, maybe once a month?
-Weight Loss info (can you tell I made a personal resolution?)
-A more regular posting schedule. Both frequency, and a bit more of a “pattern” such as regular features on regular days
-get back into the lunchbox report groove (does anyone miss this or still want to see it?)
-create some downloadable forms, and templates and figure out how to post them so folks can use them (price book spreadsheet, organizing sheets, thank you notes etc)
-more entertainment ideas
-reorganize categories to make browsing easier
-come up with some cool pictures/icons that go with certain sort of posts, you know, like a cool graphic that is at the start of every “readers question” posts and such.
-Do a “learn how to cook” series.
-Do an April “improve your blog” month again.
-Do a fashion week again.
-Have more guest posts on a regular basis.
-I’ve noticed that several blogs I read do a “posts from my blogroll” type thing. Maybe post (weekly, monthly?) a list of interesting articles from the blogs I read, or else just highlight the blogs I read, again on a regular basis.
-Include more ideas for folks who are NOT in the young family demographic that I occupy-such as ideas for singles (this would probably require some sort of guest writer)
-Come up with some sort of fun “rating system” for posts to let folks know what “level” of frugality they are, like “black belt” for the very most frugal ideas or “dabbler” for something that is just nominally frugal (like my steak and lobster dinner-more frugal than eating out, but not really frugal frugal, if you know what I mean).
-Bring back the Festival of Frugality roundup.
OK-those are just some of the things that have been rattling around in my brain. As you can see, I really can’t do all of these ideas at the same time. Or rather I could, but it wouldn’t be able to keep it up for long. That is why I would really appreciate input from you all!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Good morning and Happy New Year! I wanted to take a moment and tell you that I love reading the Frugal Upstate blog — it keeps me engaged with the same degree of enthusiasm that was generated by *finding* a regional upstate blog in the first place.
That said, reading through your list of ideas does seem daunting (as a reader, completely ignoring the fact that you have to write all of it!), until I realized that a lot of those ideas could work together to make the blog easier for you to work with.
For instance, if you determine what things you really want to post about regularly, a frequency and pattern schedule could arise from that. For example (and this is all completely subjective) maybe Weight-loss Wednesdays, organizational posts on Fridays, a learn-to-cook post on Mondays, a blogroll roundup on the last day of the month and a book review on the fifteenth. As the pattern develops, the resources that are most used and (most frequently looked for) would become clearer to you, inspiring a blog reorganization mash-up based on the organic need. Does that make sense?
On a completely selfish note, I would totally like to see frugal ideas for singles — so many of the tips that are out there focus on families with small kids living in rural/suburban areas, or “single professionals” in major metropolitan areas. Tips for keeping to a $300 weekend entertainment budget *might* be frugal for someone in Brooklyn, but are completely over the top for upstaters!
Anyway, two cents for you to take or leave as you like. Thanks so much for everything you share with your readers — I really look forward to your posts!
Honestly, I rarely jump to the site anymore as I read all my blogs in bloglines (love it!)
So I don’t really have any opinion re: format. And if I’m ever looking for anything, I usually know what it is, so I do a keyword search (example, your quiche recipe) so I don’t use categories much, either.
But I would love downloadable templates, etc.! And another fashion week! That was great.
I love your blog. And don’t have any other suggestions. Have a great 2008! And if you’re thinking weight loss, have you had a look at Carmen? momtothescreamingmasses, she has an ELFF diet web site. You’ll have to check it out.
Hi, I have been reading for a while but can’t remember if I’ve commented before. As the earlier comment said, some of your proposed categories might create an organization in themselves. I like categories, and I think the ones you’ve proposed sound fun — as long as you don’t box yourself in. I missed fashion week, too, so I’m curious. And I would like to see more lunchbox reports, and the learn to cook series. I really like the idea of downloadable templates.
I don’t really think you need to update your template, though, unless you really want to: changes to make things more “modern,” in my experience, usually lead to something not working right for readers who are too cheap…er, frugal…to update their computers every two weeks.
I love the lunchbox report! It’s one of the reasons I kept coming back to your blog after I originally found it.
I second Alison’s vote for the lunchbox report. I often get stuck in the same rut of leftovers or PBandJ for my daughter (who eats anything). Your posting helps me switch up what I’m making
I would LOVE to read about frugal organizing ideas! I was just saying to Mr.W last night that all the shows I watch and info I read tells you to buy X container and buy X closet organizer system… well what if you don’t have the money to do that? What can I do with zero-to-little investment now? I’ll keep reading to hopefully find out!
I think those are some great ideas. I would particularly appreciate the downloadable templates, reorganizing categories to make browsing easier, the rating system on frugality, and the learn to cook series. Thanks! I really enjoy your site!
Good ideas. I lost a lot of weight last year. I hope to loose more this year. Annette
That word was lose ha ha maybe I should work on my spelling too ha ha ha
Hi, I am not sure if I have commented before either but I do enjoy reading your blog. The ones that would like to see most are more on organizing and lunchboxes. I also like categories as I enjoy reading/browsing through different subjects
Those all sound like fabulous ideas–some really good ones in there. I’m impressed you’ve been at it that long.
For my goals I really need to figure out the whole monetizing your blog thing. It’s not my strong point and I’d really like to learn more about how to do it properly.
Don’t spend money on a new format. I love your blog the way it is. Keep it simple, we know you are busy. I vote for more pictures, it is so neat to see what you are talking about.
Seattle, WA
I’m counting on you to do the blog improvement event in April; everytime I think about doing stuff, I remind myself to put it off until then.
Also, I agree with anonymous about spending money on a template – it’s somehow at odds with the simplicity and frugality of what you are doing here. Of course, if this one doesn’t function as you would like that’s different. But don’t spend money just for looks, you are a great encouragement the way you are.
Thank you all for your comments and ideas. I’ve been mulling it all over in my mind, trying to balance the things I’d like to do here on the blog with my obligations in “real” life. . . I’ll post soon with some of my plans.
Oh, and I do plan on doing amateur improve your blog month again in April. . .