Reader Survey Results

First of all, I can not thank you enough for taking the time out of your very busy schedules to fill out our reader survey!  I was shocked at how many of you filled it out!  Your feedback proved to be very
valuable, and while some of your answers were expected, some were a surprise (a very insightful, good, "why didn't I think of that", kind of surprise).  So enough of me blabbing, here's the results of that fun little questionnaire (warning, this post is long winded): 

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The majority of you prefer blogs that focus on many topics.

Most of you check in on your favorite blogs, first thing in the morning or right before bed.

Your favorite blogs to follow?

45% said DIY and 45% said Home & Family

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I would like to see the following added to IRON & TWINE:

A whopping 75% of you asked for Home Styling to be added.

Heard, triple heard, and I've got some projects in the works hoping to accomplish this for you!

53% of you asked we share Products We Love & Use

and I am sooooooo excited for this!  I've worked really hard to start a new series, highlighting those products...no infomercial material...just products I truly love and stand by and to kick it off, I have a really fun post for you next Thursday!  (stay posted!)

48% commented wanting more Life with Twins / Baby & Kid Posts

I have to be honest, this one threw me for a loop.  Comments were split 50/50 with this.  Half of you told me you wanted more kid/baby posts and the other half made it very clear that you didn't want any baby/ kid posts.  So, frankly, I'm not sure where I'll go with this.  Maybe post these on a certain day? or keep it limited?  Honestly, I'm still brainstorming this one. 

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I wish IRON & TWINE would focus more on:

60% of you said DIY & Tutorials

This surprised me a bit.  Honestly, I'm honored so many of you want to follow that part of the blog and I'm super pumped for the challenge of creating this content.  So, for this, I ask for a little added patience.  In order to give good quality, great content and continued inspiration, I'm taking the next month to work on some ideas and will start posting these more regularly this summer.

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My least favorite post on IRON & TWINE is:

More than a third of you stated Antique & Vintage.

WHAT?!

Antique & Vintage?!

Putting it all on the table...

I shed a tear over this one.

But, with all things...good & bad,

they must come to an end (sniff, sniff).

And I get it.

Nothing's worse than someone sharing some obscure object that they found at some hole in the wall for 50 cents.  An object that you, yourself can not easily find or can not purchase for the ridiculous deal that this blogger is bragging about.

I get it.

I'll get over it.

Just please pass the tissues in the meantime.

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I wish IRON & TWINE would post ____ times a week

41% of you asked for 3 posts a week.

And I think this is totally fair.

I'm still trying to decide if we keep a schedule (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), or what specifically, but I'm excited to recommit to you on a regular basis!

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If I had one question for Michelle it would be:

Your responses to this were overwhelming!  And it felt like a lot of fun questions from a close friend.  So, to make this space more open and fun, I've decided to start a mini-series of Ask Michelle.  I'll answer your questions there and give more insight to who I am, who I want to be and more behind the scenes to my daily life.  Sound like a plan?

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Any additional constructive criticism for IRON & TWINE:

The number one request?

More consistent posting.

And I couldn't agree more!

But, first, I have to say, it truly makes me happy to hear you want to hear more from me.  A lot of times there's a lot of silence from the other end of my computer...and besides the cheering on from my mother (thanks Mom!)...I do wonder if anyone really cares.  So, thanks for your kind words and encouragement!

You know how they say the first step to recovery is admitting it.

I know my greatest downfall with this blog has been consistency!

A lot of professionals in the field have given me that same advice.

And reading your comments on this only confirmed that realization.

So, for this I thank you!

I also want to say thanks for all the feedback I received.  So many of you were honest, yet kind with your insights and so much of it has me really thinking about ways to make this blog better.  I'm still going over all the comments and promise to implement that feedback.

Now, for what you all are probably wondering...

Did anyone really give me the blunt, honest, rude, truth?

Every.single.one.of.you.

was kind.  Nice actually.

The only criticism I received that is (dare I say, not gonna change) were comments about the "cuteness" and "flowery language" that I use on the blog.  A few of you asked I be more real, get to the point and stop adding "fluff" to my writing.

And I'm here to tell you...

suprise, surprise...

I'm not a writer.

If I had it my way I'd stop writing words and make this a blog of pictures.

But, this is a blog and a lot of times I have to write to express a process, my thoughts or feelings.

And that voice you hear, is 100% my own.

Cute...Fluffy...whatever you want to call it.

That's me.

I tend to look on the bright side of life, and if I'm completely honest, it's not the first time someones told me I'm "too happy".  So, if you're willing to put up with the "cute", "flowery language", I'd love for us to be friends.

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So, where have I been the past two weeks?  Brian is taking the rest of his paternity leave and we've been enjoying the simple things of new family life.  We took an amazing 17 day vacation with the twins ~ I have some blog posts associated with that and you can follow along our adventures on Instagram.  And in the meantime, I'm ironing out the plan for the new and improved Iron & Twine,

So, again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being patient with me and believing in this community that is Iron & Twine!