The Lady Okie Blog Survey Results! Round 2

6.15.2014


This is the second blog survey I've done in my four years of blogging. (Click here for the results of the first survey.) Putting this together takes some time, but it's so fun to read the responses. This is not a short post, so buckle your seatbelt.


To be honest, it's always a bit nerve-wracking to do a survey, because I realize someone could take the chance to say something rude or mean. It is anonymous, after all. But in four years of blogging, I have somehow managed to avoid any blogging drama, and I only got the nicest of comments on this survey! Seriously, you all are the best, and I loved reading what you all had to say. Thanks so much for the feedback!

Now on to the survey.
There were four questions, and I got a total of 159 responses. Woo! Prepare yourself for pie chart awesomeness.
I assumed most of the people who read this blog are bloggers, and I was right. I think having almost a third of my readers be non bloggers is pretty good, though!

Kiki wrote a post about this idea of whether or not you talk about your blog to people who know you. A lot of people say it's awkward to talk about their blog to other people, and I agree. It is a bit awkward and self-serving. 

But I also know for a fact that my friends and family enjoy reading my blog because they like seeing what we're up to. Friends from college and high school that I don't get to see very often have texted or called to tell me that they love reading my blog because it's like I'm sitting there having a conversation with them. In the past I've even sent an email to some of my girl friends with a link to a post that I think they'd enjoy. So because of the fact that I like to pimp out my blog, I'm not surprised that so many people who are not bloggers read this blog.

Here were some of the "other" comments on this question with my comment written in italics next to it.

___________

No. I am not clever. <--- Let's be honest. None of us are actually THAT clever. We're just good at faking it.


I have intentions and a URL, but consistently fail to actually blog...does that count? <-- I guess technically it counts, but then again not really.


Heck no! I wouldn't have enough interesting things to write about <-- I never think I have anything interesting to write about. I live in Oklahoma, okay? I don't even have a pet or a child to keep it interesting. If I can do it, you can do it.

I don't say "heck" <-- Stop being difficult.

Looking into starting one! <-- You should! Just know that you will spend the rest of your Friday nights from now until forever writing blog posts.

No <-- I'm confused about this answer. Wasn't "no" already an option?




This question was obviously just for fun, so thanks for humoring me. I do think it's hilarious that out of 159 responses, ONE person said they plead the fifth. 

Not as many of you went with the weird option as I thought. You were probably just trying to be nice. But it's okay. I know I'm weird.

I'll bet most of the people who know me in real life checked the weird one. I know Jordan did. That guy.


So, most of you who took this survey have been hanging around for about a year. This makes sense, because last year when I did the Blog Every Day in May with Jenny, I gained a bunch of followers. Is that where you all came from? According to my first survey, most of you linked here from another blog, so maybe that's it.

In any case, I'd say the spring of 2013 is when I started consistently getting more than 10 comments on a post. I still feel like a rockstar when I get over 10 comments.

Eleven percent of you have been around since the dark ages. Aka when my blog was first birthed and had the name Breathing in the Wind.  I got a couple of confused comments like, "Your blog used to be called Breathing in the Wind?" 

Then I got this comment: 
So glad your name isn't Breathing in the Wind anymore, sounds like the title of a romantic novel with Fabio on the cover.

To which I say, you may have a point. 

I can't say the idea of a romantic novel with that title didn't intrigue me, however, so I've taken it upon myself to create a mockup of the cover of my first novel:



Coming soon to bookstores near you! It's gonna be steamy.

P.S. For those of you interested in the story behind my blog name, click the image below:




This is the only question that is the same as my first survey, except I changed up the categories a bit, so really it's not the same at all. 

In the first round, your favorite posts were my fitness/running and my "funny family posts." This time, fitness/running are still high one the list, but I was actually surprised that my "real life" posts took the top spot.

However, I suppose that is the point of a lifestyle blog, yes? To write about one's life. But sometimes I think we all feel so much pressure to be funny or to offer a helpful tip or use a "Pinterest-worthy photo" that we forget that the best posts are the ones that come from the heart where we're just sharing about our lives. It was unexpected, I think, but it really makes me happy that you like my real life posts the best. That's what I like writing about the most anyway.

I'm not surprised that my God/faith posts are ranked lowest. I honestly don't know if I would choose that at my absolute favorite category on most of the blogs I read either. But as I talked about in this post, my faith is such a huge part of the my life that it's kind of in everything I write about even if I'm not outwardly talking about it. I hope you guys know that.

Here are some of the comments I got in the "other" category: 
_________


everything except running <--- WE ARE NOT FRIENDS. Just kidding. No, but seriously.

Anything that contains the names Jeff and Peerman <--- This would be Jordan's friend Jeff Peerman. Hi, Jeff! You're so sneaky.

Video games <--- This is either Jordan or one of Jordan's friends. They all got a huge kick out of this post and now Jordan is paranoid I'll do it again.
________

To conclude, I want to share some of the comments you left in the "do you have anything else to tell me?" box. I seriously was blushing as I read some of these, because you left me the nicest little notes! I can't thank you enough. I got a lot of great comments, so I hope you don't feel left out if I don't include yours below. I just grabbed some of the ones I thought everyone would be interested in.





1) Honestly, I didn't like all of the posts about running and would skip over them because I hated everything about running. BUT over time I've been getting more interested in running and have found myself using your blog as a running resource. And now I look forward to those posts. I guess I didn't know a good thing when I saw it, huh? <--- This is kind of awesome. I'm making running converts! You guys all better watch out.

2) I have no recollection of how I found your blog. I do remember that one of the first posts I read was a lesson on grammar, which I enjoyed. Also......I hope it will become a mommy blog someday!  <---- Can I tell you guys a secret? Sometimes I brainstorm funny ways of announcing my pregnancy on this blog. Is that weird? Jordan and I are not trying or anything, but sometimes I'm just like, "How will I announce it to everyone?" I mean, it's kind of a big deal.

3) You continue to brighten my day everytime you post! It's almost as exciting as reading RealitySteve...ok, maybe sometimes it's as exciting. You could amp it up if you sent in an app for me to date the next Bachelor and then you could blog about all the witty, funny things I say on the show. <--- This is really only funny to me because I totally know which of my friends would write this. Liz, it means a lot that you love me almost as much as you love Reality Steve :)

4) Really loving the Runners Tell All link-up! I love all the topics and getting everyone to share their crazy stories behind why they willingly lace up shoes and pound pavement without Godzilla or the Zombie Apocalypse chasing after them {both of which, aside from "the Army makes me run" used to be the only excuses I would accept for voluntary long distance running}.  

***That reminds me. The next RTA linkup is Saturday! If you can't link up on the weekend, the linky will be open all next week. The topic is: Your Favorite and/or Proudest Running Moment. There will be another giveaway with TWO winners!***

5) You're my favorite blog. I sometimes will wait to read your post as a treat after I do something icky like clean the house. I'm a beginner runner, married no kids. And I think you're wicked funny. Love love! :-) <--- Okay, who is this?  That is so nice of you to say. And also kind of intimidating. That would suck if my post was a letdown. But seriously, what a compliment.

6) I feel as if your blog could use a bit more Jeff Peerman. There is a distinct lack of it and that should be fixed immediately. -Concerned Reader  <--- GOOD GRIEF. This is what happens when boys read your blog. They complain you don't talk about them enough.

Just for that, here's a picture of our friends Jeff and Kyle. This is the only one I could find on short notice. Kyle also likes to complain that I don't showcase him enough on the blog, so I hope both of you are happy.

7) Sometimes I like to access your blog through absurd google searches just to amuse you. You can track what searches people arrive via, right? I sure hope so because some of them are quite ridiculous and amusing. To me. <--- So, yeah. This is kind of the best thing ever. Seriously, when I read that I laughed for like five minutes. Whoever you are, you might have too much time on your hands.


 On that note, I guess Blog Survey 2014 is a wrap! 

Now let's continue in the tradition from Survey Result Post #1 and have a moment of silence for the hours I spent making pie charts that I will never get back. I hope it was worth it. Thank you again for reading and commenting and taking my survey. Cheers to you all. 

Stay tuned for scenes from my upcoming romance novel....
shelleystirs said...

I had to laugh about the pregnancy announcement ideas. You do realize that we are going to expect something amazingly creative when that day comes, right?

Ashley said...

I am BUSTING A GUT, ROLLING ON THE FLOOR laughing at the Fabio cover.. oh my that's hilarious! And great job on the pie charts! I'm curious what program you used to make them look so awesome?!

Kristin said...

Confession: you're not alone in brainstorming pregnancy announcement ideas. My husband keeps reminding me that if/when we ever find out, it's important that we call family - and then figure out the rest of the announcement. Sigh.

Dying laughing at the Fabio version of "Breathing in the Wind!"

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

I love reading the results! Always fun to see what people think about what you do. I beg to differ on the romance novel since you blush at provocative covers!! Hehe!

Unknown said...

You were made to be a pie charter.

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

Interesting to see where faith lands :) that is ALL I talk about :)

Robyn B said...

love reading through this! your pie charts are da bomb!

Food, Booze, & Baggage said...

This was hilarious, I love all your added comments. I love you chose "I think your weird, but also funny" as one of your categories. I think it takes a special talent to make a survey funny:)

Kiki said...

I'm so sad that I didn't get a chance to take this survey! But now I'm just looking forward to the next one, haha. :) I've actually been thinking it's about time that I had a survey for my blog (is it weird that I actually started creating the survey last night? We have some crazy timing, I tell ya!) because I love reading other peoples' surveys and love seeing people's responses, too. Why are surveys so much fun? :)

Oh, and thanks for the shoutout! I saw my name and had to take a second look because I couldn't believe that you would link to me. :) Thanks for making my day!

Rebecca Jo said...

I'm just trying to remember what I posted wondering if any of those were my comments :)

I get low feedback on God posts all the time... which I agree, I try to slide it in every day somehow anyways :)

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

I can't believe I missed the survey! Boo! It looks like you got some useful and funny feedback. :) I laughed for like 5 minutes at your romance novel cover. It's so great! That title does remind me of a steamy novel. Ha!

Allison said...

Haha I love the comment about your old blog name, which I totally remember by the way!!

Katie said...

love the comment about your old blog name too. so funny :) I liked reading these results. makes me want to do a survey! I love your blog and like the variety of posts! and I do think you're funny.

Niken said...

haha,,
this is another proof that you're funny!

Erika from America said...

These surveys + the results are always so interesting to read! And I admire your confidence in sharing your blog with people you know offline! I don't tend to mind if people find it, but I don't really advertise it. I feel shy about it!! :)

KBizzle said...

1) I severely protest to the one and only picture you have ever posted of me being a picture where I'm standing next to Peerman. 2) I will say that your blog could use a lot more of myself, but in contrast, much less references to Peerman. 3) In answer to your previous survey about what type of posts make me want to read your blog less, there was not an option for posts about blogging. So my response would have been, "posts of this nature". Other than that, keep up the adequate work.

J said...

Oh my goodness, the weird search one! I used to look at the searches that brought people to my blog, but it started to creep me out, because there were SO many weirdly specific ones! At least now I can have hope that someone is just pranking me? And I love the book cover ;-)

The Lady Okie said...

I use http://piecolor.com/, but then I remove their numbers and add my own fonts and such. It's a bit more work, but I think they look better!

Unknown said...

so I'm the awkward person that once skipped the running posts and but now love them. thanks for being an inspiration :)

Unknown said...

I don't know why it is assumed that I am the one that sent that survey in. I think it is perfectly logical to think that I have a giant mega fan that reads your blog only for the purpose of getting some morsel about myself from your perspective. Having said that, obviously your blog needs more JeffPeerman just like the Blue Oyster Cult needs more cowbell.

PS - I would like to also object to one of my pictures in this post having Kyle in it. I feel it detracts from my own good looks. The first picture of me with a leather flying suit standing on a biplane with my long flowing locks of golden hair blowing in the wind is perfectly acceptable though.

Jeneric Generation said...

How do you manage to make survey results so entertaining? I love reading your survery results, every time!

Rach said...

I totally have had that same thought about how I would announce my pregnancy on the blog someday, ha! Glad I'm not the only one who likes to think about random hypothetical scenarios! :)

Anonymous said...

Damn, I didn't take the survey. BUT YOU ARE SO FUNNY. Ha. I'm laughing pretty hard. Ha. geez. ha. :)

EB said...

Great idea to do a survey. And who doesn't love a good pie chart? :)

Jennifer Prod said...

So glad your name isn't Breathing in the Wind anymore, sounds like the title of a romantic novel with Fabio on the cover.

To which I say, you may have a point.

hehe, can we make that book happen? i love the cover and i'm pretty sure the book would be hilarious book club reading :)

Rachel said...

I would think that "everything except running" would be me except that it's not a full sentence, nor is it capitalized so, definitely not me. I have not converted!! This was definitely interesting, I love that a lot of people left you cool comments!

It's true that some people complain that there's a lot of "drama" in blogging but it hasn't come over to my blog yet, for which I'm grateful. I suspect some personalities or even some topics in blogging are more likely to attract it than others.

The Girl who Loved to Write said...

"I live in Oklahoma, okay?" Haha! You are hilariously wonderful. I am so thankful for your blog. And those charts are fantastic, TOTALLY worth the time.

Lauren said...

I legitimately just laugh, giggle, chuckle, choke-coughed at the whole Fabio/romance novel title. Now that I can breathe again...thank you.

The Lady Okie said...

Happy to help :)

The Lady Okie said...

Laughter was the ENTIRE POINT of this. So yay. :)

Amy said...

LITERALLY rolling at the fabio comment...ROLLING!
i love all of this, it's always so interesting to see what others have to say about our space...maybe i should do one of these soon...hmmm.

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

Sometimes I read your blog and forget to comment ... until now that is. I love your surveys and pie charts! They are fun, funny, and interesting.

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