2016! It’s here, how utterly exciting *waves arms around wildly*, and 2016 is going to be so much better. My motto for 2016 is Do More, and that absolutely applies to my blog goals too. I spent a lot of 2015 just talking about beauty, and while that is a passion of mine this was never meant to be a beauty blog. For 2016 there’s going to be more content that’s less beauty related, but because of my new schedule (more on that in a minute), there’s actually going to be more beauty content in general, so a win all around. *confetti cannon*
Stats
2015 was all about being brave, and being brave for my blog meant putting myself out there more by producing content. I think I did a pretty good job of that.
- I organically reached the top of Google rankings for searches about cushion foundations and darker skin. Which is pretty awesome. I guess there’s no-one else as rabid as I am when it comes to Western Cushion info for darker skin tones!
- My blog grew immensely, as my average monthly pageviews and visitors were greater than the combined views and visitor count in 2014. I remember looking at January and being like, “Wait what, I beat 2014 already?!” GET IT.
- I reached 156 countries! Which is amazing. Seriously, amazing. I had to Google some of these countries, like are you even real?! *gasps*
Still no hits from Vatican City, but fingers crossed for 2016! Haha~
Goal for 2016: I’d like to do the same thing again, I’d like my average monthly view and visitor count for 2016 to be what my year stats showed for 2015. Why not? Dream big, reach for the stars, #shiajustdoit.
Visuals
New Year, new look. You like? I really like the look, and it’s the first theme in a while that’s jumped out at me as very me. It’s like a magazine almost? Awesome. *insert other excited words*
Goal for 2016: Get rid of the ads. I don’t like that there are ads at all, so at some point I’d like to get rid of them. Also maybe be self hosted? Would be nice, not that I know what I’m doing but I’m sure I could learn!
Content & Scheduling
Oof, just in case you didn’t see it last year, here is my disclosure policy. 2015 saw me start to accept products for review, which was new but kind of exciting. The policy outlines how I handle such requests, and etc etc all the transparency stuff.
Looking back on 2015, I didn’t post as much as I wanted to on this blog. I blogged a lot more on Instagram partly because as more people started reading my blog, I kept trying to refine my words more and more (omg, why), which meant I ended up with 904385 posts in draft because they weren’t good enough. Deborah, please. 2016 is going to be more posts, all the time, always. Sorry not sorry if you liked this slower pace. How will I achieve that you ask? Why, with a schedule!
I blogged a lot when I didn’t have a job (such is life). When I did get a job, I felt having a blog schedule was restrictive. I’m an artist (lmao), I can’t create on a schedule dammnit I told myself. Yeah well, boo to that. If you don’t plan to do something, it won’t get done. Which is why I have almost fifty draft blog posts waiting for pictures to be edited or some other tweak just because I didn’t make the time! That will change! Let me present to you my 2016 schedule.
Monday: If I’m reading something interesting, or if I’ve just watched something awful, Monday is the time set aside to talk about it. I probably won’t wax lyrical because good or bad I usually would want you to experience it for yourself!
Wednesday: Fun thing of the Week! I’m trying to be more active and adventurous this year, so I’m going to try and do something fun each week and Wednesday is the day I tell you all about it! It could be something simple like going to a museum, or swimming, or something big like going on vacation! Whooo knooowwss~ *waves arms around*
Friday: Beauty Talk! Here will rest reviews, and the such of all the beauty things I am using, or excited about and et all etcetera.
Sunday: Weekly Tracker! Remember these bad boys? I used to do a weekly tracker, go over what I’d like to improve on each week, and what I actually did the last week. I know, I know, I said I’d keep to them and I didn’t, but damnit if you don’t pick yourself up after you fail then what is the point eh?
All in all, I enjoyed blogging in 2015, and I’m excited for what 2016 will bring.
2016, the year of doing more, begins!
adoredee 
Great post! I feel exactly the same way about monthly views (yep, every month in 2015 outpaced all of 2014) and drafts (I’ve got some that have been sitting there since the very beginning!)
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Congratulations on your success in 2015! It is a great feeling to see your views jump up, though blogging isn’t about numbers its a good feeling knowing that people are consistently engaging with your words!
I had some drafts from 2013, finally just had to clear them out because I can’t remember what I wanted to say!
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I totally feel you on the drafts thing – I’ve been spending this month trying to frantically clear out as many posts as possible before I get distracted by other things again. Anyways, I LOVE the new look and I’m excited for more content!
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Thank you! Best of luck to you too!
Drafts are my enemy now, I’m trying to not let them hang around longer than a week and not write the drafts in WordPress but in OneNote. Each week I write which post I’ll be working on in my lovely CosRx planner along what needs to be done (or picture taking, fact checking). Hopefully, this will help me manage my drafts better so there’s more content! #shaijustdoit
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I “adore” the new theme! (Alright, I’ll stop.) And I really like that your tagline is a motto, I think it’s pretty unique. 🙂
Seriously though, this all sounds so exciting! Looking forward to these themed-days posts, especially! You remind me that I have a BILLION drafts to work on myself… I might just join you. Let’s just DO IT. #shiagoals
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Hahaha, that’s really lily of you to say! Lol, that was so awful, sorry!
I like to put the moto there to remind myself! I’m glad you like it too! Omg, drafts are the worst. I never publish telling myself, “oooh, just a bit more work on this..” and then nothing goes out. We should just do it! #shiagoals You’ve motivated me even more! *fist bump*
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Totally excited for you in 2016!! And you know you make me laugh no end! ‘I’m an artist’ had me cracking up too! But yes I have totally learnt from last year ‘ If you don’t plan to do something it wont get done.’ Thanks for the reminder xx
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I’m so excited for you too! Haha, I’m glad I make you laugh too. Mostly I write and try to be funny for myself, which makes me happy when other people find my derp funny too!
Yes! Plan plan plan, drilled into my head by my parents. I’m slowly but surely dragging all their wisdom from the depths of my youthful defiance. Shh, don’t tell them though! xx
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Congrats on your stats!!! And yes I love the new look of the blog 🙂 as for the schedule- I also tried to create one, but I feel it just cuts my wings. I try to post regularly (every 2 weeks max!) but feeling “obliged” to post because of schedule kills my inspiration 😉 and Yes! Try being self hosted – I am, and honestly it s not that hard (well the first steps are hard, but it makes you super proud when you manage to tweek the smallest thing 😉
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Thank you! Ahh yes, the schedule. I’m hoping that it isn’t so restrictive as it ties in with my other goals (travel more), but helps me plan ahead to get the posts in my head on my blog! Maybe once I’ve cleared my draft idea backlog I’ll relax the schedule!
Your blog looks so beautiful, self hosting really lets you tweak the way you want, which really attracts me! Thank you for the motivation and encouragement!
Best of luck to you in 2016 too!
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Thanks for this post Dee! 💖
I slack with my blog a whole damn lot but I do think sort of a timetable/routine should give me a sense of direction. I think it’s good to start simple and do simple posts and then churn out a nice n sciency and long post only once it’s done and ready.
Let’s hope our blogs and lives can grow larger and become better!
#pray4deborah #pray4asphodel
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You’re welcome Asphodel ❤
Yeah, I'm actually really excited about the schedule because it adds some structure to it all. Best of luck to us this year! I'm really looking forward to your posts!
#pray4asphodel #pray4deborah
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Love the new look! Also #shiajustdoit <3!
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Thank you! #shiajustdoit2k16!
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