Announcement: New Design + Giveaway

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on October 9, 2013 | 64 Comments


Hello loverlies! As you can see, ASR is sporting a shiny new design! I quite liked the teal design, but I have some MAJOR changes happening this month for my 2 year blogiversary and I want to ease into them slowly so I don’t confuse my readers. There is a point to the squiggly line, I promise ;)

To celebrate (and help spread the word), I’ve decided to host a giveaway! 

For my regular readers, please take a moment to fill out my Reader Feedback Survey. I really want to know your thoughts, and your input will be a big help when I’m ready to implement the changes!

The main thing I want to know is: Does anybody follow by GFC, Networked Blogs, or Linky to actually read my posts? If you do, speak up! I’m thinking about getting rid of them for good.

 

giveawayASR 

The Rules

1. As this is out of my own pocket, you must be following this blog to enter. (Twitter does NOT count, as I don’t tweet posts very often!)
2. Contest open to wherever the Book Depository ships for free. See the list of countries they ship to here.
3. Please read the Rafflecopter directions carefully. Faked entries will be deleted.
4. After the giveaway is over, I will notify the winner by email and they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.
5. FOR THE SURVEY: Please only fill out the feedback survey if you have been to ASR before. I need true opinions, not just people filling it out for an extra giveaway entry. Unfortunately, you cannot stay anonymous this way. I will need a name if you want extra entries for it.

Up for grabs

2 winners will get to choose the book of their choice from The Book Depository.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessi (Geo)

Posted in: Giveaways | Tags:

Subscribe to Novel Heartbeat to get more posts like this!

64 responses to “Announcement: New Design + Giveaway

  1. I love the new design, Jessi! I have such a soft spot for the dark grey/black/red color scheme. I’m also extremely excited to see what you have planned in terms of changes. On the ‘not confusing your readers’ point…do I smell a name change in the near future? ;)

    • Thanks Amanda! Hehe, that predictable, eh? ;D
      I’m trying to keep it on the DL for now lmao, but I’m getting so excited it’s hard not to say anything! But there will be an official announcement in 2 weeks :)

  2. I love the new design! And I can’t wait to see these other changes!

    As for your question, I do follow by GFC/NB/Linky, but not to read posts. I use Feedly for that. I got rid of my widgets for those earlier this year, because I rarely ever got hits from them. I think most people just use them for giveaway entries, since they can follow without actually having to follow…

    • Thanks Angie! Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. I know for me personally, I don’t ever actually USE Linky or NB, and since I switched to WordPress I stopped using GFC (I actually did use that to check posts when I was still on Blogger). Thanks for being honest about it! I really do want to know if I’ll be losing any traffic by removing them, and it’s so hard for me to let go of the 1400 GFC followers whether they’re truly following or not >.< Is there a way to track hits for those?

      • I’m using StatCounter, and it tells where traffic is coming from. Occasionally I’ll get something from “blogger.com/home” or whatever, since that’s where the GFC reader is. That at least tells me that someone out there is actually using GFC to read my posts. Same for the other two. So if someone is already subscribed and actually using those sites to follow you, you won’t lose traffic. The people that are just following to be following, aren’t visiting anyway, so no traffic lost. The new readers who are actually interested in reading your posts will find a way, even if those options aren’t available.

      • I filled out your survey already, but didn’t have much to contribute other than the way I follow (which you wanted to know anyways). The GFC thing is interesting … I definitely don’t follow any blogs via any of those methods! I subscribed to the few that I wanted to keep tabs on with Bloglovin. Honestly, I never used GFC to actually read blogs — I think I clicked “follow” on WAY too many blogs in my early blog days, just in hopes of getting a follow back. But you’re right, it’s just a numbers thing. I know that I have a small, but loyal, following of friends who do read my posts, and I’m happy with that. Sometimes looking at the 180 GFC followers makes me proud, but sometimes it’s equally frustrating — two years of this and only 180 people clicked follow? But then I also know that I haven’t devoted nearly the amount of time to my blog that I could have if I wanted it to become a big, well-known blog. I really have just done it for myself, and made a few good friends along the way (and YOU ARE ONE OF THEM) and that’s really what matters.

        Sorry — this started out short and became kinda long. Oops.

  3. Love the new design, Jessi!! :)
    It’s simple, clean and the colour scheme fits in well! I wonder if this has anything to do to fit with the changes you are allegedly planning? ;)
    Congrats!! :D

  4. I think I have an idea what the other change is going to be ;) but wow, it looks great Jessi! Your other design was pretty, but this one is even better. I love the clean look and the color scheme.

  5. I LOVE the new design!! :D It’s very different, but I love it.

    As for GFC/etc., I think the main important thing is that none of your current subscribers will suffer if you remove the widgets. People who legitly follow you via GFC will continue to get updates even if you remove the widget. The only thing it might stop is new followers.. BUT, I’m sure those followers would find an alternative. Like they might subscribe to you via email/Bloglovin/Feedly, even if it’s not their preferred method.

    And if they’re going to opt not to follow you just because you don’t have GFC/NB/Linky, then to hell with them! (hehe)

    • Thank you! :D

      True. I was going to go through and edit the feed in Blogger to go to the new site, just in case…but I’d rather that new followers picked an alternative. Because I don’t feel like the majority of people who are following via GFC are TRULY following. It’s just an easy way to get giveaway entries.
      And yeah! Hell with them!
      Thanks for that ;)

      <3

    • I also wanted to add that I don’t even think I know how to read posts via GFC. I read blog posts in my email subscriptions because that is the easiest for me. I don’t want to have to go to a separate place. Might be just me though. I know a lot of people use RSS and/or bloglovin feeds daily. I just haven’t gotten in the habit of that.

      • And thanks for letting me know about GFC! Pretty much everyone has told me that they use Bloglovin, Feedly, or email. I’m kind of starting to see everything else as a waste of space!

  6. Grace

    Hi! I follow via GFC/Bloglovin/email. It doesn’t really matter if you have the GFC widget or not because I usually read your posts via Bloglovin or email.

  7. i follow via gfc, email and blogloving… when i can check every day email and gfc are what i use teh most but now bloglovin is useful if i can’t come on internet during a few day, it’s more easy to see what we missed unfortunately the post doesn’t appear instantly like in gfc so it’s nothing if you don’t make one day giveawqy or first come first served things but if you do then gfc or email would be better to stay^^

    really good job with the new design i loved the teal one but this oen is simple and i think i will come to prefer it

    answered the survey ( i think i did when you fisrt asked but in vcase i did it again)

    • Thanks for the insight, Miki! I didn’t know that about Bloglovin, that’s a good tip to know. I generally keep mine open for at least a week, but I will keep that in mind if I ever decide to do a mini giveaway!

      Thank you :)

  8. Carl

    I find the new design kind of sparse, but I like that. It’s a lot different from the crowded, frilly blogs that I see so many of. Thanks for the survey, I wonder why more bloggers don’t ask these questions.

    • Yeah, I used to loooove the vector designs, but I’ve shied away from that. I like to keep things pretty simple, and I don’t want a lot of sidebar clutter :)
      Thanks for your input Carl!

      • Carl

        Oh, I totally forgot about the sidebars. Thank you for doing that. I get so tired of sites that take minutes to load because they have a ton of irrelevant stuff in the sidebars.

  9. erinf1

    I really like the new design! I have to admit I’m a lazy follower as I read most of these blogs in my email inbox. Sorry!

  10. Stephanie H.

    I follow by just about everything but NB, I think, but I never use GFC or Linky. I mostly check out new posts via facebook or email, but I also use twitter to chat! I like the new layout and I’m excited to see what it all means!

  11. Aw, thanks so much for your dedication!! Seriously, it means a lot. <3
    It’s nice to hear that someone actually cares about my Facebook page! Lately I’ve been pondering the point of that as well.

    I can’t wait to reveal it all! :D

  12. I was shock for a couple second. The colour is changed drastically. I love turquoise color on your blog before, but the red one is also cool and eyecatching!
    Anyway I don’t register to Networked Blogs or Linky, I usually read from email or bloglovin (the daily email is so useful). I don’t use GFC very often.

  13. Happy 2 year blogiversary! I really do love the design. It’s easy on the eyes. Blogging for 2 years is really such a wonderful thing. I wish I could blog about books but I am not good with words at all. I just prefer reading them than saying them. But just know that their are people out there than enjoying reading what you have to say. Now as far as GFC and Networked Blogs and Linky, I really don’t use them. I do use GFC once in a blue moon. I enjoy getting the emails and bloglovin the most. I don’t understand Linky at all. I don’t like how it’s setup. Too difficult to use. Thank you so much for the giveaway. Here’s hoping for another 2 years of books and blogging. :) Congrats on everything!

  14. Fatma Shahin

    Loving the new design – it’s so pretty! congrats!
    Thanks for hosting the lovely giveaway – i love the book depo!<3

  15. Ashfa Anwer

    Love the colors on the new design! it’s great!
    I use Networked Blogs sometimes but never really use Linky or GFC.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    • Thank you so much for the input! Do you have an alternate way to follow (do you use Bloglovin)? If not, I can keep some sort of link to NB. So far you’re the only one who’s said they actually use it, I was beginning to wonder if it was pointless to have!

      • Ashfa Anwer

        I do use bloglovin but still haven’t got used to opening the daily feed they send me everyday…. High time I start using I think!

  16. Your new design is very easy on the eyes, and that’s really important to me.

    I have already gotten rid of GFC, Linky and Networked blogs a while ago, and didn’t notice any less visitors on my blog at all.

    I’m filling out your survey as well, because I come here quite often. I look forward to the other changes you are going to make, Jessi!

    • Thanks Lexxie! I really appreciate the input! The more I think about it, the more sure I am that I want to do away with those. I just see them as pointless anymore, so it’s time to let go!

      Thanks for filling out the survey :)

  17. I love your new header Jessi, especially that line thingy (forgot what it’s called) and the heart! The colors match perfectly too!
    And I should create a reader survey myself. It’s a really great idea. ;D

    • Thanks Kelly! Lol, it’s an EKG line, it has a point that will be revealed very soon ;)

      I’ve got some awesome feedback from it! It’s been very helpful, and given me insight on what my readers REALLY think of my blog.

  18. Thanks for the giveaway Jessi! I love the design, I really love the color scheme! I also have just recently gotten rid of Networked & Linky on my blog, I hadn’t had subs in over 2 months on that service and it just took up a lot of space so I removed it! I can’t wait to see what you have coming up :D

  19. I kinda saw this coming! And I love it! And I know you have a name change coming, (Hehe thanks Twitter) so I’m even more pumped to see what you work up!! It’s gonna get CRAY CRAY AWESOME in here!

    Aah all this talk of change is making me get excited for eventually moving to WP and beginning with a fresh start. :D In in my head it’s all awesome. We’ll see when I actually get to do it. Haha.

  20. Nikki Ooi

    I think the heartbeat design is so cute. And like I said in the survey, I like the cleanness of the design atm. Wouldn’t mind more colour in the future though.

  21. I follow not only your blog, but all of the blogs I follow via email, since for me it seems the easiest way to not be behind on reading the posts ;)

    Also, thanks for the giveaway and I luved the new design :)

  22. I am loving your new design it simple and nice… The biggest plus point over other blogs is that it loads quickly :)

    I follow blogs by both email and GFC but I use emails to read most of the posts :)

  23. Carolsue

    I like your design also. It’s simple–I don’t like to see too much “stuff” on blogs — some are overwhelming! Thanks for the giveaway!

  24. I actually do read blogs through networked blogs but only because they show up on my facebook feed without me having to actually “like” a page. But more often then not I read blogs via Bloglovin’ since it’s just so much more convenient.

    I love the new layout BTW! The red is very fun =D

  25. How is it that I am just now noticing you made this change? That’s what I get for mostly reading blogs on my phone!!! Oi. I am especially intrigued to see what “big changes” you have in store…

    (BTW: I mainly read blogs via email, Bloglovin and Twitter…)

    Great name change, girl!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.