I love the beginning of a new year. So, here’s to new beginnings, fluffing off all the excess crap that has happened in the last year, and starting over fresh. I love that new blogger smell!
I’m one of those people that likes to make resolutions personally and blog-wise. I think it’s important to set goals and try to achieve them. Something I’m always interested in doing, is making the blog more enjoyable. I blog because I like to, but it’s still nice to get some feedback from the people that visit.
You might remember I did a survey earlier this month and I do want to share the results of that survey with you. Address some of the issues and ultimately make some goals for 2010.
The first question I asked was:
What do you like about The Story Siren?
The majority of you were satisfied with the blog over all. Lots of readers appreciated the honest, short and to the point reviews. Contest were often mentioned as a good thing, as well as In My Mailbox and Books to Pine For.
Here are a few quotes from this section of the survey:
“I like the reviews are short, sweet, and to the point most of the time. I can always go to The Story Siren.com and find new updates on the things I am looking for. New Author books, new releases, and anything upcoming in the Young Adult litereary world.”
“I love the variety of books that you review, the contest, and the information that you share about blogging and the blogging world, whether it’s directed at new or more experienced bloggers. I like that you get good conversations going in the comments of your posts and are not afraid to address tough issues (I’m thinking of the great ARC debate here.)”
The second question I addresses was:
What don’t you like about The Story Siren?
Most of you mentioned that you’d like more detailed reviews. I try to keep my reviews from being spoiler-y so I tend to leave details out, but if that’s what you’d like to hear about, I’ll definitely try to work on that for the new year!
I really enjoyed the comments in this section, it was really insightful and I really appreciate the constructive criticism.
There where some comments that mentioned the same basic theme. Because of that I’d thought I would bring those to light and address those issues.
“Sometimes I feel like Kristi accepts far too many books for review when she knows she can’t possibly read them all. She should consider that the authors give her the ARC to review, even if she doesn’t promise reviews, she should still review most of them.”
My response: I do get a lot of books. I know, I do. I’m not denying that. But here’s the deal…. I don’t request books. I mean I have… I may if I really want a book, but I can honestly say I cannot remember the last time I sent an email requesting a book.
Authors email me and publishers email me, and yes I do accept books that I would be interested in reviewing, but I don’t guarantee a review. Most of the books I get for In My Mailbox are books that I don’t even know are coming. Books I haven’t request, nor accepted for review. This is the case with, I’d say more than half of the books I receive.
In addition to my blog, I also have a full time job and a husband. I do try to review most of them. I think I do anyway. But I’m always hoping to read more, so I’ll work on that.
“Not so welcoming to new bloggers ie. the post about arcs being received by newbies.”
My response: Ouch… I try to go out of my way to be welcoming to new bloggers, well I thought I did anyhow.
The ARC post wasn’t a jab at new bloggers, the arc post was meant to be an informative post for all bloggers. In addition to the information, I did want to stress that new bloggers shouldn’t be worried about getting advance readers copies. I don’t recommend starting a blog for the sole purpose of receiving advance readers copies. I didn’t mean to be unwelcoming, but I can see how it may have come across that way. I apologize.
“That you earn money from your reviews.”
My response: I don’t earn money from my reviews… I wish I did though! LOL! I definitely wouldn’t be going to work everyday if that was the case!
“It’s hard to find back dated posts, I have to click ‘older posts’ all the time which gets a bit tedious. There’s no labels list so I can choose to read a certain post.”
My response: If you are looking for something in particular, I would suggest going to the search bar in the upper left sidebar. That search bar only searches within my posts so you can find what you are looking for. The reason I don’t have labels is because I have about 200 of them and I don’t like looking at that huge list on my sidebar!
“That’s tough. I’d have to say that what bothers me is most of the contests are for US only. I understand why, postage and shipping costs so much and the majority of readers are US, but maybe every once in a while allow Canadians to enter too?”
My response: This was a frequent comment! I understand that it can be discouraging when you can’t enter a contest, but I really can not afford to make every contest an international one. It can cost over 10 to send one book! I can send four or five books within the US at that price. A lot of the contests I host are also for publishers or authors that send the books out directly. The majority of publishers will not send outside of the US, so I have no control over that.
Would international readers be interested if I made an option for you to pay for shipping?
On another note… there will be announcement tomorrow for those participating in the 2010 Debut Author Challenge, and you international participants are included!
Here is some more information gathered from the survey:
Most of you visit a few times a week or daily.
Your favorite feature is Reviews! Followed by In My Mailbox with Books to Pine For close behind. The least favorite feature is Fresh Face Friday.
Top three favorite genres were Paranormal, Fantasy and Love & Romance. Biographies, Memoirs and Manga scored low.
As far as contest go, the majority of you agreed that the amount was just right!
I’m always unsure of what people think about personal content, but it seems that most of you enjoy it! Something I thought was funny was a comment from someone that they wanted to see what my husband looked like… maybe I can work a picture of us into a blog post. I guess it never crossed my mind that you guys would be interested in that aspect of my life!
And you’d like to see more personal content.
I asked you to rank my reviews, and I have to say I’m surprised by the results. Happy with them of course, but still surprised. I wasn’t expecting that good of a score. But from the looks of it, I’m not doing too bad a job.
I also wondered about comments, if you left them or not. It looks like the majority of you do. I also asked, if you said no, why didn’t you comment. Most of you said there was a time issue, which I completely understand! Some said they were just lazy…. I understand that one too! Some of you said you just don’t have something to add, or slow internet times.
I do want you to know that even though I don’t respond to every comment. I do read every single one! Most of the time, if you have a blogger account, I reply to the comment through email, since I have every comment delivered to my inbox I have the option to do that if an email address is provided. Most of the time when I respond to comments I do it that way.
I really appreciate you all taking the time out of your busy schedules to participate in this survey. You’ve given me a lot of things to work on for the new year!
Here’s what I’m hoping to implement in the next year… or MY BLOGGER GOALS FOR 2010!
- write more detailed reviews. work on my reviews period!
- read more books!
- more discussion posts…. i need some topics!
- more personal posts
- try to comment more!
- answer my emails in a timely manner
- write my reviews sooner rather than later
- just try to be a better blogger in general
- avoid drama
- eat healthier
- start working out again
- spend more time with J & X
- save more
- be a better friend
- start taking better care of myself
- appreciate the things I have
Related posts:
I like the avoid drama one fo me too! That's good for everyone!
I like the avoid drama one fo me too! That's good for everyone!
Avoiding drama is always a good goal.
Love the blog! Keep it up in 2010!
Avoiding drama is always a good goal.
Love the blog! Keep it up in 2010!
Interesting stats!!! I love visiting your site daily, and glad to know that many others do to.
Interesting stats!!! I love visiting your site daily, and glad to know that many others do to.
I don't agree with the comment about you being unwelcoming to new bloggers. I'm fairly new to blogging and I find your posts on blogging tips/hints to be very helpful. Anyways, I love your blog so keep doing what your doing!
I don't agree with the comment about you being unwelcoming to new bloggers. I'm fairly new to blogging and I find your posts on blogging tips/hints to be very helpful. Anyways, I love your blog so keep doing what your doing!
Ooh, awesome resolutions!
It was interesting to see some of the comments. I also don't agree that you're unwelcoming to new bloggers. You really are–and I love all your blogging advice posts
Ooh, awesome resolutions!
It was interesting to see some of the comments. I also don't agree that you're unwelcoming to new bloggers. You really are–and I love all your blogging advice posts
Interesting Results Kristi! Thanks for sharing them with us! Happy New Year!
Interesting Results Kristi! Thanks for sharing them with us! Happy New Year!
Thanks for posting the results, I did the survey and was interested in what other people thought too! Glad to see such good results!
Good luck with your goals/resolutions in 2010!
Happy new year to you too!!!
Thanks for posting the results, I did the survey and was interested in what other people thought too! Glad to see such good results!
Good luck with your goals/resolutions in 2010!
Happy new year to you too!!!
Stat girl! I love it.
And I'd say you accept just the right amount of review requests if half of what you receive arrives unexpectedly. You can't help those!
Many blessings to you in 2010!
Stat girl! I love it.
And I'd say you accept just the right amount of review requests if half of what you receive arrives unexpectedly. You can't help those!
Many blessings to you in 2010!
Ditto on not agreeing that you're unwelcoming to new bloggers. Your posts on blogging tips have been super helpful. Thanks for providing such great advice for newbie bloggers like me.
I love your blog for all the great YA news and reviews. Good luck on all your goals! Best wishes for a Happy New Year!
Ditto on not agreeing that you're unwelcoming to new bloggers. Your posts on blogging tips have been super helpful. Thanks for providing such great advice for newbie bloggers like me.
I love your blog for all the great YA news and reviews. Good luck on all your goals! Best wishes for a Happy New Year!
Great post, great resolutions… happy new year!
Great post, great resolutions… happy new year!
Thanks for sharing your results! It's not surprising that you got such great feedback. I also disagree with the comment about not being welcoming to new bloggers. When I first started out your tips posts were a huge help!
Thanks for being so awesome! Happy New Year!
Thanks for sharing your results! It's not surprising that you got such great feedback. I also disagree with the comment about not being welcoming to new bloggers. When I first started out your tips posts were a huge help!
Thanks for being so awesome! Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you too Kristi! I'll try to be less lazy and comment more on blogs…
Happy New Year to you too Kristi! I'll try to be less lazy and comment more on blogs…
Happy New Year!
Another option for the tags (if you don't want them all in your sidebar) would be a tags index entry, linked somewhere?
Anyway, thanks for sharing the results!
Happy New Year!
Another option for the tags (if you don't want them all in your sidebar) would be a tags index entry, linked somewhere?
Anyway, thanks for sharing the results!
Thanks for sharing all the info. I enjoy your blog very much and am one of the ones who has not commented up to now.
I hope you have a very lovely New Year! See you soon!
Thanks for sharing all the info. I enjoy your blog very much and am one of the ones who has not commented up to now.
I hope you have a very lovely New Year! See you soon!
I find it surprising that people enjoy personal content too. I did a post with pictures of me throughout the year and it got way more comments than any of my reviews. (Well except one but I won't go there.) It is surprising but I'm actually starting to believe that readers love personal content or at least a little bit now and then. Blogging is awesome. Great post and happy new year!
I find it surprising that people enjoy personal content too. I did a post with pictures of me throughout the year and it got way more comments than any of my reviews. (Well except one but I won't go there.) It is surprising but I'm actually starting to believe that readers love personal content or at least a little bit now and then. Blogging is awesome. Great post and happy new year!
This is some great information – I love stats and it's cool to see the results to your survey. Thanks for posting, as always.
As for discussion topics, as a debuting author (summer 2011) I'm interested to hear what you want from authors. What is your ideal relationship with an author? Do you have horror stories or particular success stories regarding interactions with authors online?
Cheers,
Tessa Gratton
http://www.tessagratton.com
This is some great information – I love stats and it's cool to see the results to your survey. Thanks for posting, as always.
As for discussion topics, as a debuting author (summer 2011) I'm interested to hear what you want from authors. What is your ideal relationship with an author? Do you have horror stories or particular success stories regarding interactions with authors online?
Cheers,
Tessa Gratton
http://www.tessagratton.com
Yes people do love personal content! Which is why I do vlogs and try to feature my cats.
Very interesting answers to some of these. I get random unrequested books in the mail from time to time, so I can only imagine how often this must happen to you! As long as you aren't making any promises I don't really see an issue here.
Oh I like Tess' question. I'm going to go stalk her now.
Yes people do love personal content! Which is why I do vlogs and try to feature my cats.
Very interesting answers to some of these. I get random unrequested books in the mail from time to time, so I can only imagine how often this must happen to you! As long as you aren't making any promises I don't really see an issue here.
Oh I like Tess' question. I'm going to go stalk her now.
I'm glad you shared the results! I was very curious about them.
I'm not a New Year's person. For me I feel like September is the start of a new year, I guess because even though I left school a long time ago I still work in one. All January 1st means to me is that my birthday is CLOSER! haha
Happy New Year, Kristi!
I'm glad you shared the results! I was very curious about them.
I'm not a New Year's person. For me I feel like September is the start of a new year, I guess because even though I left school a long time ago I still work in one. All January 1st means to me is that my birthday is CLOSER! haha
Happy New Year, Kristi!
Thanks for sharing your results!
Fantastic Resolutions! Thanks for all you do!
One of my resolutions is to visit more blogs, and comment more. Sometimes days are too busy and I feel like I miss out…
Happy New Year!
Thanks for sharing your results!
Fantastic Resolutions! Thanks for all you do!
One of my resolutions is to visit more blogs, and comment more. Sometimes days are too busy and I feel like I miss out…
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
I think you're doing a great job with your blog, Kristi.
Of course we can all be better at everything that we do, but it seems that the majority of your followers are very happy with all of the time that you put into The Story Siren.
It can only go up from here. : D
Good luck and I hope you have a fantastic New Year!
I think you're doing a great job with your blog, Kristi.
Of course we can all be better at everything that we do, but it seems that the majority of your followers are very happy with all of the time that you put into The Story Siren.
It can only go up from here. : D
Good luck and I hope you have a fantastic New Year!
Lol, if only we could avoid drama that easily. I love your blog the way it is and don't think you need to change anything, but I'll still be looking forward to those changes in the new year! And, ah, if only commenting didn't take so much time… Happy new year!
Lol, if only we could avoid drama that easily. I love your blog the way it is and don't think you need to change anything, but I'll still be looking forward to those changes in the new year! And, ah, if only commenting didn't take so much time… Happy new year!
I found your posts on ARC's/hints for bloggers (and newbs like me!) very informative and not offensive at all!
I love your resolutions for this year, especially the avoiding drama one!
Great results on your survey! I, as a Canadian, would love to join in on the contests and don't mind paying shipping.
I hope you have a Happy New Year!
I found your posts on ARC's/hints for bloggers (and newbs like me!) very informative and not offensive at all!
I love your resolutions for this year, especially the avoiding drama one!
Great results on your survey! I, as a Canadian, would love to join in on the contests and don't mind paying shipping.
I hope you have a Happy New Year!
Just know that overall you're appreciated, Kristi!
Just know that overall you're appreciated, Kristi!
hi StorySiren!
i'm an international reader (UK) and i'd love to be able to enter your contests on the understanding that i'd cover the shipping costs if i won. i think a lot of other people would too – you get the best arcs!
happy new years!
xx
hi StorySiren!
i'm an international reader (UK) and i'd love to be able to enter your contests on the understanding that i'd cover the shipping costs if i won. i think a lot of other people would too – you get the best arcs!
happy new years!
xx
YOU ARE AWESOME KRISTI!
Keep it up! Happy New Year!
YOU ARE AWESOME KRISTI!
Keep it up! Happy New Year!
Nice combination of charts and graphs (well done) and responding honestly to people's thoughts. Comments from readers are sometimes hard to hear, I am sure! Just remember, you are reading and blogging for yourself first!
Nice combination of charts and graphs (well done) and responding honestly to people's thoughts. Comments from readers are sometimes hard to hear, I am sure! Just remember, you are reading and blogging for yourself first!
Hey!!
happy new year dear n.n
this is the 1st time that i visit your blog n.n it's really nice
I', here because i were investigating the story of "in my mailbox"
lol
now, i would like to be part of it
kisses n.n
Ely Cervantes
Hey!!
happy new year dear n.n
this is the 1st time that i visit your blog n.n it's really nice
I', here because i were investigating the story of "in my mailbox"
lol
now, i would like to be part of it
kisses n.n
Ely Cervantes
Nice work on the survey! I also get random unrequested books sometimes and find it hard to figure out what to do with them. It's nice to see a few people other than myself picked historical fiction as one of their favorite genres!
Nice work on the survey! I also get random unrequested books sometimes and find it hard to figure out what to do with them. It's nice to see a few people other than myself picked historical fiction as one of their favorite genres!
Congrats for having an amazing year and to a new year with no drama.
Thank you for having one of the best blogs around. I continually look to yours for guidance.
Congrats for having an amazing year and to a new year with no drama.
Thank you for having one of the best blogs around. I continually look to yours for guidance.
You have an amazing blog. One of my all time favourites! Keep up the great work! I hope you know how much people appreciate what you do- even if you happen by the odd person who doesn't. Have a fantastic new year
You have an amazing blog. One of my all time favourites! Keep up the great work! I hope you know how much people appreciate what you do- even if you happen by the odd person who doesn't. Have a fantastic new year
That's quite the roundup, well done! I count on this blog to point me to everything YA books, so I really appreciate the work you put into it.
To add to the chorus, I can't say that I (as a relatively new book blogger) have ever found you unwelcoming. You showcase new blogs. And your tip posts (including the ARC one) are illuminating and sensible. You don't have to do those things, but the fact that you do screams "welcome, new bloggers!" to me.
Here's to a great new year, replete with great new books!
That's quite the roundup, well done! I count on this blog to point me to everything YA books, so I really appreciate the work you put into it.
To add to the chorus, I can't say that I (as a relatively new book blogger) have ever found you unwelcoming. You showcase new blogs. And your tip posts (including the ARC one) are illuminating and sensible. You don't have to do those things, but the fact that you do screams "welcome, new bloggers!" to me.
Here's to a great new year, replete with great new books!
Great Resolutions
As a new blogger I completely disagree, with this comment.
"Not so welcoming to new bloggers ie. the post about arcs being received by newbies."
I love all the informative post you offer to new bloggers. It has helped us immensely.
~Pixie
Great Resolutions
As a new blogger I completely disagree, with this comment.
"Not so welcoming to new bloggers ie. the post about arcs being received by newbies."
I love all the informative post you offer to new bloggers. It has helped us immensely.
~Pixie
Best of wishes in keeping your new year's resolutions! I always drop mine by March =/ I think having a blog will help me keep my blog resolutions since I can go back and see it all the time.
As a new blogger I found you and your site to be extremely helpful. I especially liked your posts about getting ARCs and why adults read YA, they were very informative. You have lots of great tips and I look forward to continuing to read your reviews, personal content and bloggin advice. Oh and entering your giveaways and challenges!
Best of wishes in keeping your new year's resolutions! I always drop mine by March =/ I think having a blog will help me keep my blog resolutions since I can go back and see it all the time.
As a new blogger I found you and your site to be extremely helpful. I especially liked your posts about getting ARCs and why adults read YA, they were very informative. You have lots of great tips and I look forward to continuing to read your reviews, personal content and bloggin advice. Oh and entering your giveaways and challenges!
Happy New Year Kristi!
Love your blog just the way it is, but still looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the future.
I've always found your posts extremely helpful and thought you went out of your way to be welcoming to new bloggers, so not sure where the negative comments came from. Keep up the great job, and good luck with all of your resolutions!
Happy New Year Kristi!
Love your blog just the way it is, but still looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the future.
I've always found your posts extremely helpful and thought you went out of your way to be welcoming to new bloggers, so not sure where the negative comments came from. Keep up the great job, and good luck with all of your resolutions!
I think your blog is welcoming to new readers, and have to disagree with that complaint. I stumbled across your blog and went, "OMG! How does she get all those awesome books to read?", and I really appreciated your insight.
I think your blog is welcoming to new readers, and have to disagree with that complaint. I stumbled across your blog and went, "OMG! How does she get all those awesome books to read?", and I really appreciated your insight.