Happy new year, friends!
Don’t know ’bout you, but I couldn’t push 2016 out the door fast enough. Not my bestest year. But so looking forward to bigger and better things in 2017. And hoping you will be along to share some of them with me.
Today we are counting down my top 10 blog posts for the yucky year that was. There were so many glorious moments in 2016 that it really isn’t very nice of me to call the whole year bad. Guess there’s some truth to that whole Donny Osmond philosophy of ‘one bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch, girl’, circa 1970. It is fair to say that 2016 had me down with TKOs and low blows a couple of times. But this girl’s still in standing, ready for the next round.
The Numbers
I really rarely…really RARELY look at the statistics for my blog. Guess it goes along with not really try to make any money at blogging. In it more for the enjoyment of writing and growing friendships. That being said, when everyone else starting publishing “Top Ten Posts” for the year, I didn’t want to be left behind. So here we go…
Number 10
Coming in at number 10 is a post from May 4, entitled “My Fashion Haus: Leggings and a Scarf, a TBB Style Perspectives Link-up”.
I felt so uncomfortable in this outfit. But apparently, a couple of you guys liked it…or enjoyed a good laugh reading about how much I didn’t like it.
Number 9 (x3)
There was a three-way tie for my ninth most popular post of the year. First up, “Sentence a Day Link-Up: 5.2016”.
Followed by, “My Summer Book Shelf: What I’m Reading this Summer”. This post featured my first stab at making a graphic using the program Canva. Learning and conquering a new program or app is a real achievement for this old dog.
Third post in this three-way tie was written in September and was actually one of my favorite posts to write. I give you “16 Activities on my Autumn Bucket List”, fun to dream about, fun to write about and fun to bring to fruition.
Number 8
I am happy and hopeful that some of my most recent posts were among my best received. Looking forward to growing my readership and friendships in 2017. The eighth most popular post was a Christmas home tour link-up with my sisters at The Blended Blog, “My Home for the Holidays: TBB Home Tour”.
Number 7
Hopping back to last spring again, for a ‘fashion’ (I use the term loosely) post about a blazer, tee, sneakers and me coincidentally entitled “My Fashion Haus: Blazer, Tee, Sneakers and Me, a TBB Style Perspectives Link-up”.
Number 6
“My Fashion Haus: Feelin’ Mad in my Plaid, a TBB Style Perspectives Link-up” was written in April. Really surprised that this next post made the top ten. You might be able to deduct from the title that I wasn’t feeling too comfortable wearing plaid. Actually, it wasn’t the plaid that bothered me as much as the tight fit on my denim skirt.
Number 5
In January, I participated in a challenge designed to help bloggers grow their blogs. I shared a little of what I learned during through this experience in my fifth most popular post entitled “Blogging Challenge: A Solidarity Sisters Link-up”.
I created this Tagxedo graphic using some of what I took away from the challenge.
At this point in examining my statistics for the year, I began to notice a trend. My most successful posts are those where I link-up with other bloggers. Hope that in the new year, some of my stand-alone posts will gain more readership.
Number 4
Back to September for number 4. We are hopping back and forth, from season to season like a poorly played ping-pong ball. This post finds us back in my fashion haus again for “What I Wore: Week 2”.
I was so tickled to learn a few days after this post went live, that mine was one of the most “clicked on” pics on a link-up at Pocketful of Polka Dots. What an honor! My skinny mirror served me well.
And apparently, my readers get a kick out of my attempts at fashion! Half of my top ten posts are style related. Who’d a thunk?
Number 3
We are getting close to discovering which was my number one post of the year. Is the suspense killing you? I know it is me…and I already know which post it is. But with my 58-year-old ‘rememberer’ I have forgotten which one!
The first post in a blog-hop series I created for the Blended Blog is my third most popular post. “TBB Tasty Tuesday: Progressive Dinner Blog Hop, Chicken Pot Pie” was a lot of fun to write. Probably because there was eating involved.
Maybe I need to do a food post monthly?
Number 2
Almost there. My second place post is another one on fashion. And another link-up. Guess I do better when I get dressed in a crowd rather than alone!
Have only worn this outfit in “Getting Cozy for the Holidays” a couple of times. I think it might be just the thing for New Year’s Day.
Are you ready for the big reveal? The top post for 2016…
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE
Number 1
Yup, another link-up. This time with my friend Sheila at Making the Most of Every Day. And another recently written post from December. With three top ten posts, December was a bumper month.
My most popular blog post of the year…“RWLF: Read, Watch, Listen, Follow, 12.16”.
Another post I enjoyed writing.
In Conclusion
So, what have I learned about my blogging by examining the statistics I have tried to ignore?
- Somehow the fashion posts I struggle to do are something I need to get more comfortable with because they are among my most popular.
- Link-ups are my friend.
- I need to do more food posts.
- Some of the posts I enjoy writing most are also the ones readers enjoy reading.
Your Turn
Now, it’s your turn. Now that I peeked at the numbers, I know that there are a few folks out there reading my blog from time to time. So, if that’s YOU…and it must be because you are here…what posts do YOU enjoy reading most? What would you like to see more of? Please, please leave a comment below. Would love to hear from YOU!!
It is 30 minutes til midnight Mountain Time in El Paso, Texas. My Prince and I are going to take a quick dip in the hot tub before drinking a glass of champagne and heading to bed.
Happy new year, my dears! May this year bring us health and happiness. May our world know peace. May we all love and be loved.
Hugs and kisses,
Andrea@WellnessNotes
Happy 2017 dear Leslie! Wishing you health & much happiness!
I loved reading about your top 10 posts. I first found your blog through a Blended Blog fashion link up I believe. But I enjoy reading a mixture of posts – the kids’ book review series in summer was wonderful, and I always love reading your Sentence a Day posts. And I love your fashion posts! So, yes, you’ll just have to learn to love them… Because we love reading them… 🙂
I’m glad you are my blogging friend!
Andrea
Andrea’s Wellness Notes
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so kind to always take time to leave a comment when you visit. Thank you. Ha! Can’t believe you
found my blog through TBB fashion link-ups. I always feel like Bozo the Clown when I try to link-up my
outfits with you fashionable gals!!
Can’t wait til we can do a link-up or blog hop or something together with Sentence a Day. I am glad you
enjoy reading those posts…they are fun for me to write. And thank you for mentioning the kids’ book reviews.
I enjoy those, too.
I am so glad that you find time to come by. You brighten my day with your kind words. I am tickled to be
your blogging buddy. XO Happy new year! XOXO
Sarah @ Foxy's Domestic Side
Happy New Year Friend! I love your fashion posts! I feel like the real you comes out and you are just so funny and real in them. Keep them coming!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha! Thank you, sweet Sarah. I am tickled to read another vote for my fashion posts. I feel so timid about
writing anything about fashion. But if I can have fun doing it, then it makes it a little less frightening.
Happy new year, sugar foot! Sure enjoyed all of the your holiday-goings-on. You have such a precious family.
dsimair
I love when you just write as you think…I know I’ve never met you but I feel like your writer’s voice is authentically you.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. What a terrific comment. Happy new year!! XO
Cathy crandall
Hello Leslie with the ‘Donny Osmond philosophy ‘! You’re killin me smalls-what a blast from our teeny-bopper past!!😂 Just wanted you to know how much I enjoy and look forward to your posts. I especially like your sentence a day & monthly review, we seem to have some rather similar tastes in books we enjoy reading/or listening to, and yes your fashion ‘haus’ picture always makes me smile but you do quite a good job putting your outfits together ( no matter how much you may not always be feeling it!). I like reading about your running events & your school & library stuff (that’s the teacher background in me). It’s also great seeing some of the fun things you & Mr. PC do together and spending time with your two daughters which is something that’s always extra special & so near to my heart also. So for 2017 please keep up your great blogging, you are inspiring to me in many ways & talk to you soon! G’nite from rainy MI, Cathy C.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I just love you, Cathy! Your comments warm me from head to toe. Thank you so much. Are you on Facebook?
Did I ask you before? I want to see a picture of you so I have a face to put with your name. Tell me more
about YOU.
What did you teach? What grades?
What are you reading? What are you scrapbooking? Do you ever do scrapbooking get-aways. Retreats, that’s the
word.
Do you have any resolutions?
I feel so close to you and we seem to have much in common. Tell me more about YOU!! My email is mommyhon333@hotmail.
Would love to hear from you.
Happy new year. Stay dry in that rain. XO