I’ve started this post over and over again because I was unsure what to say. Actually, I know what I want to say, I’m just unsure how to phrase it. Instead of introducing it any other way, let’s do the classic Kayl’s Krazy Obsession way and dive right in with a classic “so”.
So today, January 31, 2016, Kayl’s Krazy Obsession has been around for 2 years. 2 freaking years. 730 days. It’s unbelievable. 2 years of working with authors and publishers. 2 years of reading books. 2 years of reviewing awesome books. When I say that it’s unbelievable, I mean it. My heart is pounding as I write this post because I never would have pictured this is where I would be in two years.
Before I start off this super long post, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone. Thanks to my readers for, you know, reading what I post. Thanks to publishers for sending me ARCs to review and working with me. Thanks to authors for writing your books. Just know that I love working with each and every one of you. Thanks to everyone who requests a review. Even though I can’t read them all, I enjoy getting your requests. Thanks to everyone that I have worked with within these past two years, whether you donated something or I reviewed your book. Without any of you, Kayl’s Krazy Obsession would not be a blog.
I greatly appreciate and love everyone that has taken a moment to click on my blog, no matter if you spent five seconds or five hours. It means a great deal that somehow you’ve managed to stumble upon my little piece of the Internet. I love you guys!
Kayl's Krazy Obsession's Stats
It’s amazing to see my stats grow every day. The meter at the top has been there since day one, and it’s been an incredible journey watching the numbers grow. I still remember when that number was still in double digits, and now it’s in the ten thousands! That’s just mind-blowing!Here’s a few stats to see how much I’ve grown over the years:
As of February 15, 2014, that meter read 161.
As of March 23, 2014, the number jumped to 344.
As of April 25, 2014, the number grew to 614.
As of August 16, 2014, I had reached my first thousand at 1200 total visitors.
It’s seems as if after that date, I forgot to keep track of the bar but now it’s over 17,169! I do have some other statistics to see growth though.
During the year of 2014, I had 659 unique views, 584 first time views, and 75 returning views via Statcounter.
During the year of 2015, those numbers jumped to 1,320 unique visitors, 1,145 first time views, and 175 returning views. And this is just for the year of 2015, not in addition to the numbers I received in 2014.
The overall total via Statcounter, taken on January 14, 2016, was 2,083 unique visitors, 1,816 first time visitors, and 267 returning visitors. Statcounter isn’t as accurate as I would like it to be, but those totals still make me flabbergasted. Absolutely crazy.
How many books have I read during 2 years of blogging? Reviewed?
This is a fun question. The total number of books reviewed taken on January 25, 2016, was 67 which was taken from my count in my master list. If you didn’t know, I added a special little feature keeping track of how many reviews are on Kayl’s Krazy Obsession.I’ve read 93 books during the past two years. That’s a lot. This year I plan on increasing that number by quite a bit. I read over fifty books last year, and I believe I set my goal for like 70 this year.
Highlights of the Past Year
I received my first physical ARC! It was The Furies by Natalie Haynes. Shoutout to St. Martin’s Griffin for sending me this copy.I started BasicBookBlogger which was basically all about accepting who I am and not being afraid to speak my mind. I put some pretty out there posts that I am quite proud of. They were fun to write and different from my typical review.
I made friends! This past year, I really started to reach out and comment on other blogs. I made friends with the Lunch Time Librarian, the girls at Chapter Break, and Mara Was Here! Those are just three of the blogs that I stopped at regularly. I just love these ladies and what they post about!
I really started getting requests through my Review Policy. Now, I get an email almost every day telling me someone has filled out the form to request me to read their book. It’s really cool that people actually want me to read and review their book. I give harsh reviews sometimes, so it’s surprising that people want that. It makes me feel good about what I’m doing.
People telling me that they are going to add a book that I mention to their TBR! This probably makes me the happiest. I put so many books out there, and I just thought people ignored my reviews. But when people tell me they want to read a book I reviewed makes me feel good. I’m helping authors and readers. It just puts a smile on my face knowing my review caused someone to make a decision to read something.
Accomplishing my goals! On October 6, 2015, I created a goals sheet. This was to take my blogging to the next level and it worked. During the month of October, my stats jumped a lot and have been rising ever since. I thank this to my goals sheet. It makes me push harder and harder every month to reach my next goal. It’s just an amazing feeling.
When I changed my blog design! I loved my old theme, but I’d had it for a while and felt the need for a change. I like the one now, but I think I’m going to change it again soon. As Kayl’s Krazy Obsession changes, the design changes to reflect it. And with the current design, I don’t see KKO going in that direction any more. So hey! At least you know a change is coming!
Did I Meet My Goals from My Last Blogoversary?
Since I made goals on my last Blogoversary post, let’s see how well I did with accomplishing them. To be honest, I don’t have high hopes.Goals: Get Internet and computer to Fix: Gaps of Not Posting
Ha! Failed my first one. I did not get a computer nor did I get Internet, but I did get some other items that helped. I got a new phone with unlimited data (woot woot) and I got a tablet. This helped a little with the gaps because I was able to keep up to date and write quick posts if need be. But I think I may have accomplished this somewhat because in the past year, I utilized my scheduling feature more.
Not a complete fail! I'll take it!
Goals: Better communication to Fix: Not Posting What I Signed Up For
I actually accomplished this! YAY! I've made more contacts with publishers and authors within this past year. Also, I was able to reply to my emails quicker given my unlimited data (woot woot once again). I think I deserve an A+ on this one, since I did write a post about the importance of communication.
Goals: Spend at least twenty minutes a week on each social media pages to Fix: Social MediaUm... no comment on this one.
Actually, I did get on social media more just not for twenty minutes a week. Maybe twenty minutes a month...
I passed one of my three goals and made dents in the others. I take that as an accomplishment because, hey, you can't get 'em all.
March Madness Round 1- I lost, but I really enjoyed rooting for Charlie. I hope Entangled does this again because it was a lot of fun.
Marked by Fortune Guest Post- This post actually got my site blocked at the library and I had to take out all of the cuss words. It did get a lot of hits, so maybe y'all like the cursing. Should I do it more often lol? It'll only get me blocked.
My Nexis Review- I loved this book a lot, and I guess other's do to. It was an amazing book, and I did not know that it was this high in my list. YAY! At least I have one review up there...
My first ever blog button! I cringe looking at it. I thought I was so clever with the little lightning bolt and such, but looking at it two years later I can't get over how horrible the design is. For one, my link is cut off. Plus, it's in such a boring font. The colors! Oh my! They are everywhere. I don't think I had a color theme.
I think that's enough. Let's move on to numero dos.
Again with the random colors. This ones designed with a lot better quality, but it's still quite awful. I kinda like it but it really makes no sense with my blog. I don't know what's with the stack of books.
Enough reminiscing! Let's get to my current blog button.
I do like this button a lot. It's not amazing, but I feel as if I've almost found the ONE. I like the glasses with the eyes because I feel as if that pertains to me, but it's not completely Kayl's Krazy Obsession, you know?
Who knows, maybe next year I'll have three more to reminisce on!
I passed one of my three goals and made dents in the others. I take that as an accomplishment because, hey, you can't get 'em all.
Most Popular Posts
Spooky Giveaway- TBH it's probably my most popular post of last year because I was giving away some awesome shit. I wanted half of the crap I put in the box, but I decided to give it all away. It was an awesome giveaway, and I can't wait to do it again.March Madness Round 1- I lost, but I really enjoyed rooting for Charlie. I hope Entangled does this again because it was a lot of fun.
Marked by Fortune Guest Post- This post actually got my site blocked at the library and I had to take out all of the cuss words. It did get a lot of hits, so maybe y'all like the cursing. Should I do it more often lol? It'll only get me blocked.
My Nexis Review- I loved this book a lot, and I guess other's do to. It was an amazing book, and I did not know that it was this high in my list. YAY! At least I have one review up there...
The Faces of Kayl's Krazy Obsession
So I was going to do this really cool thing where I showed screenshots of how Kayl's Krazy Obsession has changed via the different themes and such, but then I realized I didn't have any screenshots. Instead I took to Google and realized the next best thing- my blog buttons! I've had three blog buttons over the past two years, so let's see 'em all.
My first ever blog button! I cringe looking at it. I thought I was so clever with the little lightning bolt and such, but looking at it two years later I can't get over how horrible the design is. For one, my link is cut off. Plus, it's in such a boring font. The colors! Oh my! They are everywhere. I don't think I had a color theme.
I think that's enough. Let's move on to numero dos.
Again with the random colors. This ones designed with a lot better quality, but it's still quite awful. I kinda like it but it really makes no sense with my blog. I don't know what's with the stack of books.
Enough reminiscing! Let's get to my current blog button.
I do like this button a lot. It's not amazing, but I feel as if I've almost found the ONE. I like the glasses with the eyes because I feel as if that pertains to me, but it's not completely Kayl's Krazy Obsession, you know?
Who knows, maybe next year I'll have three more to reminisce on!
Blogoversary Post Schedule
Giveaway from Shay
You can join via the Rafflecopter below. Anyone is welcome because I decided to do an ebook giveaway. I will email the winner and they must reply with their preferred copy within 3 days of my email. I have to collect all of the ebooks and then email them to the winner.
January 31 - February 6
Blogoversary Giveaway
While some of my guest posters are hosting giveaways on their specific posts, I'm doing a blog-wide ebook giveaway from some of my favorite authors.You can join via the Rafflecopter below. Anyone is welcome because I decided to do an ebook giveaway. I will email the winner and they must reply with their preferred copy within 3 days of my email. I have to collect all of the ebooks and then email them to the winner.
January 31 - February 6
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It's been a fantastic two years, and I can't wait for many more. Thanks to all of my readers! Until next year (actually my next post)!
Uniquely,
Kayl xx
It's been a fantastic two years, and I can't wait for many more. Thanks to all of my readers! Until next year (actually my next post)!
Uniquely,
Kayl xx
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