We’ve once again solicited questions from you guys on Facebook for our blogiversary extravaganza (of the personal, not decorating, variety). And just like we did in 2009 and 2010, we had fun answering a bunch of ’em. We crammed as many responses as we could into 20 minutes, so unfortunately not every one of the 80+ questions got answered, but we figured 20 minutes was already pushing the bounds of an acceptable YouTube video length. Haha. Here are a few things that we cover:
- Our favorite and least favorite qualities in each other
- What our neighbors think about the blog
- If the former owners of our house read the blog
- Our weirdest fan interaction
- Who Clara looks more like
- How we deal with negative criticism
- What we wanted to be when we grew up
- What will happen to our blog name when we’re not young anymore
- If we ever fight or spend time apart
- And most importantly: John’s thoughts on the new Twilight movie
And of course there are a bunch of other questions, a Burger cameo, and John cycles through soda shirts just to keep things spicy. Oh but if you’re at work you can still watch it on mute and try to guess what I’m gesturing wildly about (or wait until tonight and watch it with some popcorn and take a swig of soda every time John changes shirts). Our only video-recording rule is that we’re not allowed to re-answer anything so it’s completely unscripted and sort of an all-one-take kind of thing (that we later edit down just to shorten things/take out the “ummmms” so we can squeeze more answers in). We don’t even read the questions until we’re rolling, so we don’t overthink or overplan – but sometimes we over-share. Haha. Who’s surprised.
And just because we’re chatterboxes, this year we tossed in three bonus business-related answers:
Q: How did you get sponsors? Do you solicit advertising? What’s the secret? First we wrote about 200 posts and had been blogging for a while without even thinking about sponsors, just because it was something we loved to do. We actually had no idea there were even people or companies who sponsored blogs, we just thought of it as a fun creative outlet/diary. Then it slowly dawned on us that because we were gaining more traffic and posting every day, maybe some local folks or small online businesses would like to get a button on our sidebar in exchange for a tiny fee. So we tossed up a “wanna advertise with us?” button just to see what would happen. We thought it would be awesome to make a few extra dollars to put towards projects, but definitely didn’t have high hopes. Much to our surprise and amazement, a few small companies and Etsy vendors emailed us to say that they were happy to give it a try. So we just shared our stats and offered people a flat fee for the month and a slightly discounted fee for the quarter.
To this day we actually still use the same system. There are definitely more intricate ways of charging sponsors (like per click, per view, etc) and even more complex ways of calculating rates. But we decided to keep it simple and start with a flat rate that we felt was fair (based on what we saw other sites charging with comparable traffic) and just let the sponsors tell us if it was too high (and if they did, we’d adjust). If it was too low, well, we love a deal – so we figured why not offer one ourselves (after all, we were satisfied with that rate since we were the ones who came up with it). That system seems to be working for everyone, so much so that we haven’t raised our rates in almost two years (despite a great increase in traffic since then).
When it comes to managing sponsorships, we use Google Ad Manager to organize everything. It not only serves the ads to our site, but also helps us keep track of expirations so John can send renewal emails / invoices. So it’s a bit of paperwork on our end, but completely worth the effort since our sponsors are a big part of what makes this blog possible. There’s definitely not a get rich quick aspect to blogging (at least not in our experience), but we’ve seen that by focusing on content first and readers second, the sponsors will gradually fall into place.
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Q: Do you have to post a certain amount of times each month for sponsors? Nope, as we mentioned above, they pay a flat fee per month so no traffic or amount of posts are expected or promised. We’ve just posted 1-2 times a day about the same range of stuff for the past few years, so it’s a pace that works for us. Some juicy stuff + some light stuff + some personal stuff = a comfortable mix. Posting in some sort of regular rhythm provides structure and helps keep our creative juices flowing. If we stopped blogging every time we were in a rut or ran into a snafu we worry we might never start again. Gotta keep that momentum up! <– picture me in a bodysuit and legwarmers saying this in a sing-song-y voice a la workout videos from the eighties
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Q: Aren’t you scared to have so little job security when your whole family’s income relies on this blog? We’re not gonna lie, it can freak us out if we think about it too much. But we’ve squirreled away the recommended amount of “safety net savings” to fall back on if this ol’ blog suddenly grinds to a halt (which we built up before John came on full time as some sort of “insurance” to quell the nerves). We also have side gigs (like our column for BabyCenter and Do It Yourself magazine along with the book that we’re writing), so that helps us feel semi-diversified.
We also both left advertising on very good terms with former employers/clients, so that’s another road we could explore if we ever needed to (and John still takes on the occasional advertising consulting job on the side, just to keep his toe in the water). In the end I always say that five years ago we had no idea we’d be here doing this, so trying to figure out what we’ll be doing in five more years is probably an exercise in futility. We just do our best to keep chugging along and try not to let the neurotic thoughts creep in!
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So there it is, twenty minutes of video evidence confirming that we’re dorks and three bonus bidness questions. What surprised you guys most? Was it the fact that I make up sayings that aren’t really sayings and then collapse into a ball of giggles? Or that John is so into Twilight movies? Will anyone else help me make “I took that baby to the market and carried it home” a real saying? Come on, it’s kind of catchy…
Update – Some of the most frequent requests that we get are for info about professionally blogging (how we made our site, how we grew our following, how we make money, etc) so we shared all of the details about how we started a blog, grew our traffic, and turned it into a full time job.
Kelly says
I love you guys even more now!
Leila P says
Love the video! You guys are the greatest! I do have one question though – does no coffee mean no caffeine at all or just no coffee? And if so, how do you guys stay awake for the crazy hours you work!?
YoungHouseLove says
Sometimes I have caffeinated tea and John has soda, so we just don’t like the taste of coffee. Maybe because both of our moms are obsessed with it so we grew up smelling it?
xo,
s
Melody says
Just my opinion, but I always see Sherry in Clara’s smile! Clara is so cute, by the way!
Ami says
Yes you really are that popular and yes I’d love to be your new BFF if we ever lived close enuf together. ;) Just sayin. :)
Also its kinda nice to know I’m not the only person on the planet who doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee…
Elisa @ What the Vita says
Hola – another deafie here pipin’ in and asking for a transcript or captions or something! I always feel like I’m missing out big when you post y’all videos :)
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry! We never knew youtube had captioning things so we’ll have to look into that for our next video!
xo,
s
Elisa @ What the Vita says
http://www.google.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=100077
Hope this helps!
Or a simple transcript would do, like what Babycenter does with their videos, like here: http://www.babycenter.com/2_how-to-swaddle-a-baby_10347122.bc (click on “show transcript for video)
Don’t mean to give you more work, it’s just that I know that a lot of us deafies are reading you, probably more than you think ;-)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the info! We’d looove to add a transcript for things, although it might have to be a slightly abbreviated version (typing out twenty minutes of chatter might be fifty pages long!!). We’ll definitely keep it in mind when we do our next video!
xo,
s
Allison says
Just watched the video and when you mentioned John throws things when frustrated, I thought, “I wonder if that’s what REALLY happened to that cool retro light fixture he tried to install in the hallway?” ha ha =)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, oh man. That should be another on the bad list. When he’s not throwing things he’s dropping them. But he usually means well!
xo,
s
bobbi says
You guys are totally the cutest EVER. makes me want to read your blog all the more :)
Laura says
John, I want to be your bff! I even do the same making-up-phrases-and-hyphenating-them thing. :) Seriously. All the time.
Beckie says
Hahahaha, loved the video. and BTW Sherry, you sounded so convincing in your quip “I took that baby to the market and carried it home” I thought it was a real saying!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I fully commit to my fake sayings.
xo,
s
Lauryn says
Okay, so this has nothing to do with the video, but with the lamps behind you! I believe I read that you got them at home goods. Are they mercury glass? Im asking because I was in there the other day and they had two mercury glass lamps in that shape, and I asked about them because they were being held in that little bay to the right when you walk in. They told me they were on hold for someone, which Home Goods does not do! Haha, so we waited and called back a day later to see if the person actually came in to get them. They had. And then…I see them on your blog! Was that you? Or just a coincident? I finally found some I could afford at World Market, so I am no longer bitter about the mystery shopper… :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, too funny! Not me though! I just walked in a loaded them into the car (strapped in with seat belts on either side of Clara in the back – haha).
xo,
s
Hollie says
You’re SO adorable. I want to put you both in my pocket and take you home! I first found your blog when I was seeking inspiration for decorating my new condo last fall, and I’ve been smitten with you guys ever since. Reading your posts is truly one of the highlights of my day. Here’s to many more blogiversaries!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says
I loved that video!!!! You guys are hilarious :D
Bethany says
That was so fun! Questions I didn’t even realize I had were answered! And I totally think you guys are famous :)
Christina says
You guys are seriously too cute! Sherry, your voice sounds like Mila Kunis.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny! I hear that all the time. And Natalie Portman which is weird because they were both in Black Swan together.
xo,
s
Carrie says
It’s great how genuine you both are. I think that is what makes people want to be your ‘BFF’. There have been many times that I’ve thought you all would be fun friends to have. I started reading your blog when you had Clara’s big nursery reveal and have been reading ever since.
Savina says
John, I totally had the “I’m a Pepper” shirt when I was a little kid. Love it.
Jennifer S says
What surprised me the most was how quickly 20 minutes went by watching you guys!! I want more (picture me “gently tossing” my mouse). How about 3-20 minute videos. Y’all are just so entertaining. Congratulations on four years!! and thanks for making me smile and laugh an think.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw you’re so sweet.
xo,
s
Eva Reynolds says
I’m a dork too. My family includes a dorky husband and 4 dork like children (who probably got it from their parents, eh-hem!). You guys are fun and I can totally relate to you, which makes reading your blog even better. I also love how ‘transparent’ you are when it comes to the blog. I can only imagine how much work the blog actually involves, but I’m so glad you do it because I love reading it…usually with a few chuckles. =]
Sarah says
I’ve said it before, but y’all are so charming, can’t help but love you both. Thank you for sharing!
Emily says
I once heard that young children, especially infants, look more like thier fathers as nature’s way of determining paternity. I have no idea if there is any truth to that, but it always seems true to me!
YoungHouseLove says
Totally true with Clara! Especially when she was an infant. Super strong similarities!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
I have been following your blog for the last two years. But this is my first time commenting!! I study communication design at Parsons in Manhattan and am totally inspired by your blog. Love to see how you guys tackle everything design, from house to blog to family. Keep up the great work.
Stephanie
fyreflie says
Is there any way you could put subtitles on your videos?? I know it would be a LOT more work… but I think it would really be worth it for those of us watching from work. Just a thought.
YoungHouseLove says
We have heard there are captioning capabilities on youtube so we’ll have to look into it! The only issue would be if it’s something we have to type out every sentence we say (twenty minutes of chatting could get really crazy and long) but we’ll definitely look into it!
xo,
s
Jen says
I always adore your videos! You sounds just like you write which is why I love you guys! And I am so glad I am not the only reader who has had a dream or two about you guys! I thought I was alone on creeper island for that! LOL!
xoxo,
Jen
Jenn A. says
That was the cutest video! I love the interaction between you two. It kind of reminds me of me and my husband’s quirky connection/way of relating.
Did you realize that John corrected you several times in the video? HA. That made me laugh since you had just mentioned it.
Thanks for sharing.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, old habits die hard!
xo,
s
Anna, Sydney says
CUTE! Quickest 20 minutes ever. Was thinking I’d only watch for a few minutes because I didn’t feel I should spend the full 20, and before I knew it, video was over! You guys are just too entertaining.
MWAH! (big kiss)
Natalie says
haha aww I love it! Thanks so much for sharing this with us. It’s nice to have a sweet Christian couple in the design world. And my hubs and I are usually the designated drivers, too. :) Keep up the great work!
From Scratch says
Loved the video Q and A. You guys are so fun and yes, people would like to be your BFFs. :). Here’s looking forward to year five!
Stephanie says
I loved watching this video! You two are super cute and so down to Earth. :) Please continue posting more videos :)
PS: Hanson is awesome and you should totally listen to them :-P
Katie says
I love when you guys do videos…more please!! Your response to the comment about the lamps from Home Goods totally made me think of this ad on TV….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bypqp7i5VL0
I seriously laugh out loud every time at the end…”so big!” Haha. Love it.
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that “so big” was perfectly delivered!
xo,
s
Romy says
I just loved the video!!!! You make my laugh so much and I love how S always “hits” J with her body after any funny question. I’ve been reading your blog for ages now, and I NEED to read it at least once a day!! I send the 4 of you a big kiss all the way from Argentina (yes, you are read here too!! )
Amanda black says
You guys are so cute! I am like John in that I don’t drink. Just turned 30 and I think sometimes people think I’m weird… Nice to know there is another one of us out there. I also own three different soda shirts… Weird! Keep it up, I heart you guys and your blog!
Carla says
This is so dumb but I laugh at myself when I see pictures of your house (unidentified as yours) in places other than your blog and I get excited like “oh that’s my friends’ house!” (Yes, you have permission to be creeped out that I’ve never met you and refer to you as my friends. Know that those conversations only take place in my head.) MOST RANDOM SIGHTING OF YOUR HOUSE: Last week I was at a digital conference in Cincinnati and the KEYNOTE SPEAKER was metaphorically illustrating a story by asking what you (audience “you”) would pay someone to help move a couch. On the screen appears a couch picture. FROM SHERRY AND JOHN’S OLD LIVING ROOM. ON A 30 FOOT SCREEN IN A GIANT CONFERENCE ROOM WITH LIKE 300 PEOPLE IN IT. I kept looking around like, do other people recognize the yellow rug and the “P” artwork by the front door? Apparently no one did, or maybe they kept it to themselves. LOL.
Just know you’re making appearances all over corporate America as well as in your “niched” decor venues. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahahahaha. That’s hilarious! I probably would have let out a giant gasp and not played it cool at all. Awkwaaaard.
xo,
s
Barb K says
All of Johns shirts are different kinds of pop! How come?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s just our little joke because it seems my three soda themed shirts (Target sells ’em and I like the fit) are the only ones that ever end up in photos, so I think people think it’s all I own. So I just thought I’d “own it” by giving them each a bit of time on camera. In short: just our general weirdness again.
-John
Rachel says
I live in NC but have just flown into Austin today for the Hanson show here tomorrow night! Then it’s on to Houston Friday night and New Orleans Saturday night (and then 2 shows closer to home in October). I love that John just threw Hanson out there–made my night!
Hannah says
I watched this and squealed with delight; my BF and I live in Charlottesville! We think it’s the bomb-diggity ;)
We’re currently talking about starting a blog, maybe food oriented, maybe travel … we’ve talked about doing a house blog, but we’re both SO obsessed with YHL it would probably just end up being a copycat :P
Anyway, know that you both inspire us, and if we ever find a home of our own, you’re totally invited for some house-crashing AND hiking :D
Love,
Another reader who DOES think you’re famous ;)
Emily says
Great video, guys! I am yet another fan guilty of having dreams about you. In the most recent dream I had, you had moved to a 3rd house that was partially a TV set so it was kind of a fake house, because you left every afternoon to go home/do projects. And I had become your full-time assistant and was to answer questions on the blog so that’s why I knew it was a fake house. It was weird…anyway, in real life I teach elementary band during the day and teach clarinet lessons in the evening in our house in Burke (where John grew up!). I look forward to reading your blog every night with a glass of wine. I feel like I know you guys and am SUCH a fan. Been following since the day I got thenest magazine with you on the front (was it April 09?). Looking forward to another great year!
YoungHouseLove says
Ha! What a funny dream. Thanks for being such a hard worker in it! :) And say Hello to Burke for me!
-John
Briony says
I just wanted to thank John for taking the time to answer my question on Babycenter. Glad you got a post out of it! In my humble opinion it’s the best thing you’ve written online. I appreciate you taking the time out to answer and as a result honour other fathers in the process. There’s nothing like the love you get from your Dad. I make a point to ask that same question to Dads (my cousins, friends,etc.) so they know that some people see just how important fatherhood is. Be sure to show that post to Clara when she’s older.
-Someone with an amazing Dad
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for asking it Briony! The fact that it caught me off guard is such a testament to how little’s it’s asked of me (and how little I ask other dads), so I’ve added it to my mental list of good conversation topics. Can’t thank you enough to making me stop and think about it. It put a big smile on my face.
-John
Ashley M says
Loved the video, you guys should do it more often! thanks for sharing!
Whitney C. says
LOVED the Hanson comment! :)
Angela K says
You guys are awesome! I’m so glad I stumbled across your blog, and I admit, I’m one of those readers who has dreamt about you guys, but like you said, probably only because I love to read your blog and check it on an (almost) daily basis! You guys inspire me and I can’t wait until my husband and I can buy our own home and tackle projects too! :)
Shannon says
Fairly new reader and commenter here. Love, love the video and thanks so much for sharing! Crazy enough, the best thing for me(and I SWEAR up and down I’m not a creeper!)was just being able to put a voice to the blog…I guess I’m just one of those that likes to hear what people actually sound like when they’re not behind the internet…;)
Allison says
I could read blogs *all* day, but I generally have no patience for watching videos–30 second clips, sure, but anything longer I usually skip. So of course I had a “whoa” reaction to the prospect of a 20 min video. Let me just say that was the fastest 20 minutes of my life and I am so sad it’s over. I need cooler friends…or maybe “weirder and dorkier” friends…either way…good stuff!
Sandra says
Since Sherry mentioned Halloween…
Has anyone told you two that you’d make awesome Viserys and Daenerys from HBO’s Game of Thrones? If you didn’t watch it, here’s some screenshots:
http://aveformosissimainferos.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/viserys-daenerys-game-of-thrones-19738136-1280-720.jpg
http://images4.fanpop.com/image/photos/20800000/Viserys-Targaryen-game-of-thrones-20832232-500-279.png
http://images.wikia.com/gameofthrones/images/f/f7/Daenerys-Targaryen-game-of-thrones-17904234-500-281.jpg
You just need some sweet wigs and ren fest gear and you’re so set!
YoungHouseLove says
IT FREAKS ME OUT HOW MUCH THAT GIRL LOOKS LIKE ME. There, I said it. Haha. Usually I don’t see it when people say I look like Rachel McAdams or Natalie Portman but I think that girl looks just like me. Especially her IMDB pics with the brown hair. On the show not as crazy-similar, but it’s still kind of spooky (except for the white hair and the fact that she’s naked all the time). Awkwaaaard. Haha. But John actually looks like that guy too! Weird!!!!!! Are they dating/married on the show or brother and sister?
xo,
s
Sandra says
They are brother and sister on the show, but that family of royalty has a history of marrying their brothers to sisters, so… a little of both.
Am I the first to mention this?
You could put Clara in a dragon costume and win first prize in any costume contest you enter!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I think that’s hilarious! As soon as the show came out tons of people told me I looked like her but you’re the first to show a pic of that dude who totally looks like John. Too funny!
xo,
s
Lea says
So funny you said everyone wants to be a marine biologist because that is exactly what I wanted to be until I took high school chemistry. But I still went to UC Santa Cruz despite nixing the biology focus.
Everyone DOES want to be a marine biologist!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, it’s so crazy. It’s the universal dream profession at age nine. Haha.
xo,
s
Libby @ SweetCasa says
Loved the video, you guys are so fun to watch. You never fail to make me laugh xx
Erin F says
Loved this video. I really enjoy reading your blog and getting ideas but think it’s extra cool that you guys seem like genuinely nice, good people. Thanks for sharing!
JessiBee says
You guys are just so full of charm.! I’ve been reading your blog since ’09 and I refer to you as “my blog peeps”. Whenever I see something that you have or talk about what kind of paint we need to buy I tell my husband that “this is what my blog peeps were talking about.” He thinks it’s weird. It probably is. Whatever. Happy Blogiversary!
Amanda says
I love ya’ll so much!!! I would NOT MIND watching an awesome reality show of you two on HGTV. Oh, and I cracked up at John’s tuning out of the Twilight movie. Sorry Sherry, I’m with Team John on that one. hee-hee Clara is so unbelievable lucky to have you guys as her parents! Ya’ll are so blessed to have found one another, created this amazing blog, not to mention a beautiful daughter, and were willing to share it with the whole world. Thank you!
ashlee says
this is awesome, sherry. i totally roared over john saying sherry’s peeing! lol. oh my gosh, did i ever laugh out loud.
Kristin says
Oh, you guys are just too cute!