It’s January, so like millions of other Americans, I have all sorts of ideas in my head about things I need to organize. My need to de-clutter kicks into overdrive every year when I’m putting away the Christmas decorations. (Which I haven’t actually started yet, by the way. But I haven’t even been home for a full week yet, so I think that excuses me. For now.)
My desire to organize and rearrange spills over into the digital realm. I need to clean out files I don’t need anymore, because my poor iMac is choking and needs more space. (Anyone else notice that it’s way harder to organize virtual file folders than it is to clean out a junk drawer? Or is it just me?)
And, I feel the itch to reevaluate — and redesign — this blog. During 2012, this blog grew by leaps and bounds, a dramatic jump up from the year before. But then, throughout 2013, traffic remained exactly the same as 2012, almost to the digit. Sure, I maintained the growth this blog saw in 2012, but I feel like I didn’t really build on it throughout 2013. So that’s kind of discouraging — to get to the end of the year and look back and realize this blog didn’t reach the kind of growth I wanted it to.
Interestingly, though, engagement across social media skyrocketed during that time — with Instagram, Twitter and Facebook chatter climbing up the charts. I think a lot of that has to do with how we spend our time online these days. Blogs are evolving as the internet becomes more and more saturated with content, and I am constantly trying to figure out what the “it” factor is that makes some blogs really take off while others remain stagnant.
So, in addition to doing a little visual spruce up in the coming weeks, I’m thinking hard about how I’m going to approach this blog and its content in 2014. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve been blogging since 2004 and couldn’t imagine NOT doing this. But I want to set some big, yet realistic, goals for Oaxacaborn in 2014.
I’m just not sure yet what they are.
What do you love most about this blog? What do you want more of? What types of posts could you do without? I’m all ears!
The Oaxacaborn Blog 
I like your blog.Gina and have no ideas to suggest. It is always an insightful, relaxing blog and I enjoy it!
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Thank you so much! I always enjoy your thoughtful comments as well :)
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Pictures of cute Aveline and her musings are a favorite. I’m always inspired by Monday’s pretty things, and I enjoy your poetry & words.
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Thanks, Sofija! I guess I don’t really post the funny things Aveline says here, do I? Just on Facebook. I should save them up each week and do a whole post! Now you’ve got me thinking….
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I enjoy your Scandinavian postings, which is how I found this blog during the Christmas season.
Also, I agree that tidying up digital stuff is harder than doing the kitchen junk drawer. I think it’s mainly because in the digital world, stuff can be buried ten layers deep in sub-sub-sub folders. But the junk drawer can just be dumped out onto the bed. You can see everything all at once, and if you don’t get it sorted out by bedtime, you have to sleep on the couch. :-P
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Haha, that’s a great analogy! Digital sorting is easy to ignore when it’s half-done. :-P
I want to keep the Scandinavian theme alive all year…and do a special Midsummer series this summer, too.
(P.S. Thanks for your RTs, comments, etc. So encouraging!)
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You’re welcome! ;-)
I look forward to the Midsummer posts. That will be another nice way to get my Nordic fix while I’m sweltering away in the south-eastern US. :)
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I love your blog because it is “you”–your creativity, thoughts & dreams. Your writings take me from mundane day-to-day routines, to places far away…Keep up the great work. I wouldn’t change a thing!
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Why thank you! :) :)
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I just started to write pretty much the same post, haha. I actually have some changes coming too. My goal is to focus and bring things in a bit, rather than blog about whatever I’m trying to have set parameters. Does that make sense? Probably not :)
Anyway, I love your blog. I love seeing your creativity and you know me, your writing!
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