...because home doesn't happen overnight.

This is officially my 100th post here at House*Tweaking.  Not really a milestone to brag about in the blogging world…many professional bloggers have 1000’s of posts under their belts…but it’s a milestone to me nonetheless.

(courtesy of The Mailbox Blog)

It’s a strange coincidence that I’m on vacation with my family this week.  So please excuse my leave of absence for a few days.  We’re actually going back to our Illinois stomping grounds (where Handy Hubby and I lived for nearly 7 years before moving back to Ohio) to visit dear friends and special places.  Seriously, sometimes we wonder why we ever left!  But back to my Happy Hundredth…I’m asking for your help this week.  Help with my blog.  I’ve heard from several “successful” bloggers that feedback is the best tool in improving a blog.  So, I’m asking for feedback.  And in an effort to get your feedback juices flowing, I’ve got a bunch of questions for you!

1) What types of posts do you like/dislike most on my blog?  (i.e. DIY, inspirational, randomness)

2) What do you like to read about on my blog?  My home, my daily life, my kids, my Handy Hubby? 

3) Would you find my blog more attractive with an updated web page and/or header (i.e. the big space at the top of the home page which now includes a homemade graphic)?

4) Is there something I haven’t written about or included in my blog that you would like to see/hear about?

5) What do you like best about my blog?  The photos?  The ideas?  My writing style? 

6) Would you be offended or turned off if I started offering advertisements on my web page?

7) Would you like to see a “Home Tour” page?

8) How many posts would you like to see me churn out in a week?  1, 2…20?

9) Are the photos easy to see?

10) Is my site easy to navigate?  Do you have suggestions for improving the way I have it organized?

11) Have you commented on my site ever?  If so, what made you leave a comment and did you find it easy to do?

12) What has been your favorite House*Tweaking post to date?  Why?

Of course, you don’t have to answer each and every question I’ve asked…I’m just trying to conjure up some thoughts.  Even if you have never commented before, please…please…PLEASE (can you tell I’m begging?) offer up any ideas, criticisms or suggestions you may have.  No need to worry about getting spam or junk mail from leaving a comment.  I do not give out email addresses.  In fact, even though I’m pretty new at this stuff, securing a spam-free site was my #1 priority when I began this adventure.  If you’ve never left a comment before, it won’t pop up right away as I must approve or deny all new commenters.  Since I’m on “hiatus” (i.e. vacation) this week, I won’t get to check comments until Thursday or Friday. 

So, when I get back I expect to see LOTS of comments.  And you can expect me to read and consider each and every one of them.  Speak now or forever hold your peace.

11 Comments

08.June.2010

Congratulations on your milestone! I’m a recenter reader/follower. I like a lot of your posts (DIY and organization) and your writing style. I’ll comment on a few…
3. There’s something about the header…maybe lose the gray shadow on the letters? and add some photos?
6. I absolutely would not be offended if you added advertisements. Go for it!
7. Yes, please!
8. (or smiley face) – a daily post (M-F)
9. Your photos are great; they’re easy to view and the more photos, the merrier viewer I am.
11. I don’t know if I’ve left a comment in the past but I am now. You asked for it and it’s easy.

FYI, I read a recent post about successful blogging over at Bower Power and it’s right on the money from my perspective.

Have a great vacation!

08.June.2010

1) DIY and inspirational
2) The projects you do in your home to improve and organize it.
3) Read from Google Reader
4) Great content already
5) I love the encouragement to tackle my own project after seeing you tackle yours
6) Not at all, if you could make any extra from offering a fun blog read, I say go for it, you deserve it!
7) Yes please!
8) Whatever is practical for you. Right now seems fine, I say whatever you feel comfortable with so that they easily stay at this great quality. No use pushing yourself to do extra that you might not have time for.
9) Yes
11) Yes, a fun inspiring project. Easy.
12) I loved when you organized that guest/craft closet. Helped push me to start tackling mine.
Thanks for the great read!

09.June.2010

Love your blog!
I wouldn’t mind the advertisements.
I love your DIY posts, especially the craft room redo and chalkboard wall, definately taking some ideas:)
A home tour would be awesome!
I love your ideas and crisp pictures. What camera do you have?

09.June.2010

1) Your DIY and inspirational posts are great.
2) I like reading about your “projects” (the man cave, mudroom, laundry room, etc.)
5) I love the ideas you come up with. Your projects are *mostly* small enough that even an uncreative person like me feels like I could tackle and complete the same type of project.
6) Advertising is definitely your choice, and I say go for it if you want. But if advertisements hinder how quickly a page loads, I tend to not visit that page as often. But that’s just me.
7) Absolutely! I would love to see what other design projects I could steal from you! :-)
11) Yes. I loved the laundry room and kitchen makeovers. They were awesome ideas! And yes, the commenting process is very user friendly.

10.June.2010

1, 2, 5) I like reading all of your posts – especially the DIY and organisational ones, because of the ideas that I can use in my own home. But I also like to read random stories about your family and daily life.
3) I don’t mind what kind of style or layout you use. I like what you have now, but if you want a change – go for it!
4) I’d love to see a home tour! It’d be great if you could add a page showing a photo of each room.
6) Advertisements don’t bother me at all.
7) Yes! I vote for a home tour! :D
8 ) Only do as many posts as you are comfortable doing. I check for new posts through an RSS feed, so I just read them whenever they pop up in the list. No pressure.
9) The before/during/after photos for your projects have been great. Sometimes the photos are a bit small, and I can’t always click to open a larger one.
10) The category links make it easy to narrow down and find what I’m looking for. It’d be nice to have finer-grained categories somewhere, e.g. to jump right to the laundry posts, or garden posts, etc.
11) Just this once, and only because you begged :) It’s very easy to use the comment feature.
12) The mini mudroom posts were my favourite, because it was such a great idea and the end result was awesome. It’s a project I’d like to do in my home.
Congrats on the 100th post milestone! I’ve enjoyed reading them.

10.June.2010

Michelle – I use an older digital Canon PowerShot SD400. It seems to work well for what I’ve got goin’ on. Of course, I’m eyeing some of the new DSLR’s but that’s not in my budget right now.

10.June.2010

Jill – I read the Bower Power post on blogging also. Don’t you just love Katie?

10.June.2010

First of all, I love reading your blog and seeing what you are up to in your decorating world. I have to admit, I really like all of the stuff that you have put on here. I would really like for you to come to my house and help me out :).

I love the “voice” you use when you write. I feel like you are sitting down to chat, very informal, yet informative. I also love that you take pictures before, during and after. That really helps when seeing how to do a project.

I would like to see a home tour page, just to put all of the pieces together.

I wouldn’t be turned off or offended if you put advertisements on here. So many sites have them, so I think many people are used to them.

I think you have done a really great job and I really enjoy reading your blog. I think it is great that you are looking for feedback to help you grow and improve as a blogger! Keep up the good work!

13.June.2010

congrats on your 100th post!

I like your DIY posts the best, they’re very inspiring. A house tour would be fun, although you have a good system of tagging your posts, so people could look at all the posts about a particular area/room fairly easily, even without a house tour.

I think the first post I read was about your laundry room, and that’s probably still my favourite. I liked seeing your outside projects, too (the shed, the pillows for the porch.) Advertising is fine, non-pop-up-ads preferred!

Keep up the good work, you’re doing a great job!

14.June.2010

You should definitely write more about Handy Hubby.

14.June.2010

Handy Hubby – Typical Handy Hubby mumbo jumbo. Love you.