With our two year blogiversary in full swing, we thought it would be fun to look back at some of the stats that make us smile, blush or just plain blow our minds. Here’s how it all breaks down…
1006- Our number of published posts to date (crazy considering we only had 380 on our first blogiversary)
68,025- The number of comments we’ve amassed from you, our lovely readers
19,206- The number of spam comments that our stupendous spam filter has intercepted (no we don’t want to see naked Lady GaGa pictures thankyouverymuch)
3,507- The number of comment questions that we’ve answered to date (we do our best to answer every single one)
78- Average number of reader emails that we receive each day (again, we also do our best to answer every single one)
14- The number of posts we like to have in the hopper at all times
2- The number of weekdays we have not posted on this past year. Once after this announcement (to be sure everyone had a chance to read about the big change, and once exactly seven days later when our server crashed for the entire day (it was a rough week)
44– Total number of weekly giveaways that we’ve held since starting them back in December
$6,233– The total monetary value of all of our fab freebies combined (thanks to this week’s gift card for pushing us over the $6k mark!)
49- Our average number of posts per month
15- The total number of videos that we’ve cobbled together since setting a goal of sharing one per week
229- The total number of projects that we link to on our How To page
15- The number of amazing homes that we’ve barged into and officially “House Crashed” (and there are more to come…)
108- Custom mood boards completed to date (check out a bevy of them right here)
26- Average number of minutes it takes for our custom mood boards to sell out after listing them on Monday mornings (crazy!)
17- Room makeovers that we’ve whipped up for other people (either virtually or in the flesh) and corralled in our Portfolio
32 (& growing)- Major home-related makeover projects that are still on our To-Do list (fear not, we’ll never run out of stuff to do around here!)
2.5- Number of people who live in our house (if we count Burger as a half)
2.5- Number of computers that live in our house (if we count John’s work laptop that comes home with him each night as a half)
40- Approximate number of times a text between me and John contains the word “clog” instead of “blog” (thank you auto-fill)
86,239- Most blog pageviews we’ve received in a single day (thank you amazing readers!)
1,621,079- Total number of blog hits we received last month (thanks again amazing readers!)
8,509,736- Total blog hits to date (did we mention that you’re amazing?)
12- The average amount of hours per day that I spend on the computer
18- The approximate amount of hours per week that John works on the blog beyond his 40+ hour a week job
5- Total number of steps from my desk to the couch, where we “decompress” after some serious blogging (with some trashy reality TV)
So there you have it. The how long, how many, and how often. Are we forgetting anything? Ask and we shall calculate…
Wow. All your success is definitely a result of the hard work (as evidenced by the 12 hrs a day that Sherry puts in and 18 extra hours for John) you guys put into this blog. Congratulations!
And I’m in AWE that your mood boards sell out so quickly!
Simply amazing statistics! Thanks for sharing. Your blog has gone from amazing to beyond incredible in the last year!
Unreal! Well the proof is in the numbers of just how successful you both are. I can’t wait for your summary of your readership. I am in the bottom percentile for my old age for sure!! Keep up the great work!
How awesome! I wonder how many items have sold out, or sales have spiked, due to you posting them in your moodboards? I think these stores should be paying you commission! :)
I found this blog this week and I’m already in love!
Thank you for taking time to inspire us!
you are so so so so so so so great. I discovered you three months ago because I was looking for ideas for a garden low key wedding and your blog popped over google. Since then, I’m a huge fan. I read you everyday,and i check like thounsand times if you have posted something new. You gave me ideas and a sense on balance whent talking about decoration. Plus, I discovered Make it lovely and Making this house thanks to you. You gave me the courage to buy suplies and tools and try DIY projects. Seriously guys, you’ve changed my life!!!!I thought i was the only one out there that was cheap and loves bargains, now i dont feel so lonely, haha.
PS. I spend like 12 hours at the computer too.
I love stats like this! How do you calculate all of these numbers?
Hey Briel K,
Good question! We have a lot of internal stat counters (like WordPress Stats and Google Analytics) along with filters like Akismet and commenting software that pretty much does all the tallying for us. The only things we had to figure out ourselves were things like total number of videos and posts per month, which were pretty easy to do (when John wasn’t shouting out 34! 19! 61! to mess me up). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
I’ve even added a power drill, an electric sander and a box of tools on my wedding list, because you show me how much i need them. My husband-to-be couldnt believe it!
I decompress from working with kids in foster care the same way–trashy reality TV! I wish I only had to walk 5 steps to do it though!
Wow! That is amazing!!!
Just think. What once started as an idea has become a way of life for you guys! I admire you so much!
Y’all are awesome!! I bet my blog views account for about a 4th of your totals! jk jk!
But I love love love your blog to pieces; it’s my daily fix!
Keep up the good work youngsters!
Its crazy how popular this blog is.
Here’s a stat…how many posts have featured Burger?
Hey Amanda L,
Haha, too funny! We’d guess around 5-10% of posts at least reference Burger in some way. And judging by people’s survey responses they want even more!
xo,
s
Congratulations! The numbers are incredible, and you deserve every bit of this success. Keep up the good work!
Congratulations!!
By the way.. your video stat reminded me..
What kind of video camera do you guys use? Do you find it easy to record, transfer, upload, edit, etc? Do share, please!!
Hey Kim,
Good question! It’s a Flip Mino like this one. Super easy to carry around and it plugs right into the computer without a cord to upload everything. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
wow! that’s pretty amazing!! keep up the good work guys!
Wow! I can’t believe so many people email you directly to ask questions. If I have something to say, even about something old, I leave a comment, knowing that you’ll get a little ping about it.
Wow! Congratulations on your success!
Do you have a post somewhere that tells about how you started blogging, how you found all your followers (or how they found you), etc., how you learned to make a blog. Any other tips?
It seems like blogging is so big in the US but not so much here in Canada. I’m still learning the ins and outs.
Thanks!
Hey K*OS,
Good question! We actually have a post in the hopper for tomorrow all about how we started blogging and how everything sort of snowballed into the craziness that it is today. Can’t wait to share that story!
xo,
s
Well that was very very interesting to read! Congratulations!!
Janell
Wow. Amazing stats! Good for you guys! You guys are just fantastic. Thanks for all the inspiration – it makes me anxious to have my own home (rather than renting an apt)!
I love reading statistics – another fun and interesting post, done only as YHL can do.
This is a little late, plus, I think it’s a hard one, but I did think of a belated question (you don’t have to answer this here). It would be interesting to hear your thoughts on how you find the balance in the blog between design dilemmas (you set three/week as your limit – why three, not four, etc) and posts and giveaways and such. Meaning, if you did more DDs, you’d directly make more $$, but then you’d have less time for posts. But more time on the posts translates to more readers, which indirectly increases your $$ (advertising, buying from your shop, etc). This is your business, and you guys both work so hard on it (trust me, it shows!), but I would think it would be hard to find that right balance. It would just be interesting to hear your thoughts/philosophy on the issue.
60 – the number of times I view your blog in a month. (I’m so addicted, I think I’ve got your blog post schedule down…around 8ish am, and 1pm)
700+ – the number of minutes/month I spend on your blog.
0 – the number of times I’ve been randomly chosen for the giveaways. lol.
6 – the number of questions I’ve probably asked you guys.
1- the number you guys are in my favorite links!
WOW! 14 posts in the hopper! THAT is a feat in and of itself as a fellow blogger!
I love this blog. You guys are such a cute couple and you have an amazing talent for design.
I know this isn’t about numbers, but I would LOVE to see you ‘house crash’ some blog readers (me, me, me) and help redesign an area of their home! What do ya think? Are you up for a challenge (and a trip to CA??). You can bring Burger, he would get along wonderfully with Little Man (our chihuhua).
12 hours per day? Dang, Sherry. That’s crazy. How much are you on the computer on Saturdays? That’s 60+ hour work week, girl.
Oops – I hope that didn’t sound too negative! :) You know I love your blog!!!
Hey Jacci,
Yeah I know I’m crazy. The weird thing is that I try to sit and take a break and read and I’m attracted back to the laptop like a magnet. I just can’t help feeling like I should be answering questions or approving comments or writing posts. It’s a sickness!
xo,
s
Wow! Way to go you guys!! You’ve worked really hard to get your blog where it is today, and you’ll have many awesome years (and projects!) to come!
I love your blog. You guys do such a good job with everything you do! I am a design blog addict and I can say yours is one of my all time favorites just because it inspires me to actually do some of the projects. Congratulations!
Hmm….the number of kids you’re thinking of having?! No pressure or anything! :)
Don’t forget the 3,824 of us who follow you on Google Reader!
As a huge math nerd, I adored this post. Thanks! And a huge congrats on your blogiversary. I’m still enjoying your blog every day even though we’re just about done with the major house decorating. I will keep coming back for more (and more and more) smaller DIY’s, like those glasses! Another awesome idea. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us, you two! You’re doing an amazing job.
I find the amazing statistic to be the last month’s blog hits compared to the total. It is literally 20%, which is beyond amazing. I can’t wait to see the momentum it goes from here.
I love and respect the dedication! I’ve never been into blogs..ever, but I have to read this one every day. I don’t read any other blog. I’m a magazine/book person and I became a fan the day I read some magazine yall were in. I don’t even have a house yet but soon with fingers crossed and I’ll be using this blog as motivation and hope as well as for ideas, inspiration, and relaxation! So thank you in the most genuine way!
Why haven’t you mentioned those awesome new shirts in your shop? I’m sure you’re about too, so maybe I should keep quiet.
I like ’em!
Shhhh Rebekah! That’s this afternoon’s post! Stay tuned…
xo,
s
Congratulations! I think i may be responsible for 7 of those 8 million page views:-)
I have been enjoying your blog since 2007 and its one of the few that i visit several times a day. Its exciting to see your growth and success. Its like when your favorite band starts moving from neighborhood clubs into a playing large national venues :-)
Your style of writing and helpful ideas that i can adopt for my home always inspire my inner decorator and brighten my day. Thank you for all the amazing work that you do!
simply amazing!
i asked you this already somewhere else ’round these parts — i thought, anyway — but i can’t seem to remember where. when you have a second (i feel bad asking after reading this!) could you let me know if you have any experience, or know anyone that has any, with painting terrazzo? i’m wondering if it’s even possible without horrific results?
thanks!
p.s. if you’re ever down in the south florida area, you’re both welcome to grab a mojito with my hubby and i and tour our renovations…
kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com
Hey Kelly,
Good question! We have zero experience with painting terrazzo although our inkling is that it can’t be done in a durable and long lasting way (just as painting any floor tile just doesn’t work since it can’t hold up over time). Our suggestion would be to ask the paint professionals at your local home improvement store because they might have some tricks up their sleeve. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
26 minutes for the mood boards to sell out??? Wow! No wonder you give the person getting the mood board a couple days to buy the stuff. Thank goodness I can’t afford anything at all in college because I would be very sad I wouldn’t be quick enough to buy all of the wonderful things you suggest!
Yay! I love Young House Love! So interesting to see all your stats. But we don’t need numbers to know ya’ll are awesome!! ;)
Yes! You guys are a tremendous success story in grass roots blogging, but how has it helped your pocketbooks? How bout some financials like blogging revenue and such? I know, I know, it’s a sensitive subject to some, but you are very open about most stuff, plus, I’m sure many of your readers are curious.
Hey Tom,
Good question! Let’s just say I took a major pay cut when I went from freelance advertising copywriter to blogger (so there are no big lucrative secrets to share) but I get to do what I love and be my own boss, so that’s what keeps me smiling. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Sherry and John,
Are you going to analyze all the recent “tell us about you” information from your readers and come up with a profile for the typical YHL fan? Seeing these numbers makes me appreciate all your hard work more than ever. 15 House Crashing posts – those are great fun! Can’t wait to see more.
Hey Denise,
Yup, we’ll do our best to sort of summarize our reader surveys (there are a bunch to go through!) so stay tuned for that on Friday…
xo,
s
It would be interesting to know the age of your average reader. Though that would be a little tricky to calculate, now wouldn’t it? ;) I’m 40! There – I started. he he he
Congrats on beginning your 3rd year. You guys do great stuff – wish I had more time to read. I have 30 of your posts in my reader right now just waiting for me to have some snuggle time with the laptime on the couch.
Wow! These stats are amazing! I just found your blog not too long ago and have gone through a ton of the archives, but still feel like I missed a lot of the fun by not reading all along. So, I’m very excited for the post tomorrow about your whole blogging journey!
Wow. I can’t believe you have done that many mood boards. i love making things like that and never thought it would be lucrative but I guess that’s kind of what interior design is all about: the mood boards. Haha. Well congrats on the 2 year anniversary. I tell people about your site all the time and got my coworkers addicted to it too, so now it’s a big topic of conversation at work. Keep up the awesome work!
How the heck do you find time to work on the house when you spend 12 HOURS a day on the computer??? I feel super lazy now :-)
But seriously, how?
Hey Rebecca,
Good question! We’re not really sure how we do it other than we don’t get much sleep. We use late nights and weekends to do most of our home projects so we have the time to write about them, organize giveaways, upload photos, answer reader questions, run our shop and do Design Dilemmas during those looooong days. Here’s hoping we figure out how to clone ourselves soon!
xo,
s