Lately I've been thinking that I no longer want Mane and Chic to be a blog. I feel like I want to do fewer, but more in depth features. I post to the blog about 3 times per day 7 days per week — that's 21 posts per week or 90-93 posts per month. Sometimes I feel pressured and under the gun. It's really all self-imposed. I want Mane and Chic to be more like an online magazine. I think it would be a lot easier for you to navigate without the fluff of a blog. I'm not a fan of clutter and I don't want to pollute the blogosphere with more of the same so the plan is to do more in-depth, more visually polished original features combining all of the things you love the most about Mane and Chic. What would that mean? It means Mane and Chic would be updated a lot less frequently, but the features would be more in-depth and more focused. I would still focus on natural hair and wardrobe building while adding elements of home decor, beauty and inspirational topics on personal growth. Am I asking for permission? Maybe. If you're an avid reader, I feel this is your blog as much as it is mine. Your input is super important and I listen to (almost) everything you suggest. That being said, my new idea for Mane and Chic would require a lot more feedback from you. I may experiment with this throughout September to see how you receive it. I have set a goal for a transition to begin in January of 2011.
In the meantime, I'd love to hear your feedback. Please leave comments and respond to the poll.
I totally understand what you're going through. I'm going to give you the advice that I try to follow myself (not always successfully though). Blogs can start as hobbies that turn into careers, and also feel like our children. Just remember, if you post 3 times a day, once a day or once a week, your readers will still be there. Unless you're worrying extra hard about page views, unique hits, seo, etc. and you need lots of daily content, do what makes YOU happy.
ReplyDeleteI like coming to the blog daily and getting new information. Perhaps you could update only once a day Monday - Friday and no updates on Saturday and Sunday. This would probably take off some of the self-imposed pressure :)
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what the magazine would be like. So I say try it out and followers can comment as we go. I don't want to vote yes or no bc I don't have a clear idea of what it will be like. Either way, I think we will love anything u do bc u always kept our attention thus far.
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for quite sometime now. I understand your reasoning for wanting to have more meaningful posts, however you must think of the essence of Mane&Chic. The draw is that it is super personal, in contrast with a magazine which can be but not quite. I think you should first start with your mission of having more meaningful posts, not updating as frequently, and take it from there. You already did something of the sort by adding in elements of fashion and expanding the blog in that sense. The addition of curl spotters, featured curls etc. as well. In the end do what makes you happy, but you already know that.
ReplyDeleteQuality over Quantity.
it sounds nice but lets b honest i come her for HAIR not clothes home decor or self esteem. i feel the hair topic is already gets lost with every thing else on here i come look for new hair trends n see some dress or shoe that i could care less about but hey its your website.
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog, and I wish it would stay as it is -- but, yeah, three times a day is way too much for most people.
ReplyDeleteIf it was up to me, I'd have a combination of both a magazine and your personal blog. I really enjoy the hair tips that you give, and even though none of us (your loyal readers) knows what you look like, all the advice you give seems to come from a loving, generous person (with a really great sense of humor).
If you do convert it into a magazine, I'd still love to read your blog posts -- but waiting an entire month is a bit much LOL. Agh! I know you'll probably feature guest contributers, etc;... but I really enjoy your blog.... that's all I wanted to say. If the blog went away, I know that I wouldn't be the only one who'd miss it.
Take care!
Your idea for an online magazine seems great! You have a wealth of knowledge about natural hair care as well as wardrobe building, but I would love to see you expand to home decor and design and deeper into fashion. Depending on how you lay the magazine out it could be updated weekly and I think we would still be satisfied.
ReplyDeleteGreat job keep up the good work.
I really enjoy being able to come on here and see something new almost every day. That be said, I however, spend the majority of my time studying up the older posts on natural hair.
ReplyDeleteI am an admitted stan, but I'm so much in favor of the longer, more in-depth feature-magazine style. I think it really gives more credibility to your expertise as a fashionista and natural hair expert.
ReplyDeleteI used to drop quick, little posts on my blog a few times a day or at least every day, and my readership suffered because the content would get lost. I find that blog readers rarely go below the fold of the web page, and don't like to or have time to go through and look for new content. By focusing on one, quality post a day or per week, it gives me time to absorb the content and appreciate it.
Well, that's my 10 cents worth...
While I truly enjoy your daily blog, I think an on-line magazine is a magnificent idea! It seems the obvious direction in which to take your talent and ideas. Growth is about moving forward and challenging oneself. Perhaps it will even lead to a print magazine. I say 'Go for it!'. You'll have a follower in me either way.
ReplyDeleteWe would never know how we'd like it, unless you try it first.I would like it either way, Love the info, it would just be delivered in a different way.
ReplyDeletea combo of both sounds good to me...that way the site is more broad and it can appeal to both kinds of readers.
ReplyDeleteI love Mane and Chic. I appreciate and respect the fact that you desire our input, however, I feel that a blog is your baby. It's a part of you. A reflection of who you are. If it is your desire to do frequent, in-depth posts then I will certainly still be here to read them.
ReplyDeleteChange, growth & evolution is inevitable. Its something I embrace and expect from all things. I'd be disappointed otherwise. I think your desire and decision is wonderful! Besides, I'm pretty busy so the amount of posting you do will not affect my reading/visiting of your blog.
Wish you the best!!
I think a combination of both, as in brief weekly summaries to keep the readership engaged and a monthly in-depth magazine, would work best.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy all the features of Mane and Chic. You can do no wrong in my eyes.
Another note: Tweet shorter posts that are only pics or links instead of creating a whole post for them. That may take the edge off too.
i say adopt the Clutch format. mag style but there is still an option for dropping comments. I've been browsing for over a year now and love how you cover the range from hair to fashion to home decor.
ReplyDeleteotherwise, just have a trial of the mag spread and see what the response is like. you cover wonderful content and have a strong fanbase so i think the support will be there regardless.
good luck with whatever you choose. i'll be right there browsing anyway.
Kai, I did not realize you were updating 3 times daily, 7 days a week. That is a bit much. I realize you are a hard worker, however you need to take care of you. With that being said, I voted for a combination of both. I love Mane and Chic. As said before, I could not wait a whole month for updates!!! Need my M and C fix!!! :) We have learned so much for you, however we do not want you to suffer from 'burn out'. Seek guidance from above and do what is best for you. Either way your avid readers will still be here to support you. You know we love ya!!! :)
ReplyDeleteGo for what works for you. I think it's nice to get everyone's opinion but at the end of the day you have to do what works for you. The mag would be great. I think people would set reminders to make sure that they are reading it when it becomes available. It will all work out, plus there is so much information on here already to keep us all busy until your next post. Go for it!!!
ReplyDeleteI've been following your blog for awhile now....and in my opinion it only gets better. I think a magazine style would be a great idea as long as you dont take the blog down...I constantly go back to refer to topics that i forgot abt in your post....but either way I trust you will be great in either decision....I am very loyal and really can't start liking other hair blogs because I found this one first and its not cluttered....lol..like others...
ReplyDeleteI like your current content and I like your new ideas. You really are posting way too much if you are overextending yourself. That's not healthy. Everyone deserves the opportunity for growth and development. As a few others stated, this is your labor of love so do what your heart tells you. I like your style so I will read it regardless.
ReplyDeleteI have a goal number of posts for 2010, but I will probably slow down in 2011 and adapt a more magazine style blog.
ReplyDeleteHonestly I come here mainly for the purpose of hair. I think you have a great insight and understanding of natural hair and give good advice. It's hard to find a good blogspot for black women so I appreciate your site a lot.
ReplyDeleteI don't really care too much about adding home decor or personal wealth to your blog because then we lose the some of the hair elements that I come to your site for. I visit your site about 3 -4 times a day for updates and when I see something unrelated to hair I don't really read it.
The fashion is cool but not my fav.
Please please keep it a hair blog :)
And take the weekends off! Post Mon - Fri.
ReplyDeleteOk, so you all are all across the board here. There really was no clear majority in the poll. Oh well, guess I will have to experiment and ask for feedback as I move through the process.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE MANE & Chic and as I read some of the comments from other readers I'm shocked by their input. MANE AND CHIC is HAIR AND FASHION! It's right there in the title and I think that is exactly what helps this blog stand out from the rest. There are so many other blogs that just focus on hair If you're a long time reader you definitely know that Kia offers a WEALTH of information and if you just click on any one of her older posts there's so much information available. But honestly there's only so much you can go into about hair once you have your routine down pat that's all there is to it. I love to see the growth checks but really I ENJOY the fashion and wardrobe series equally (or more than) the hair posts.
ReplyDeleteI love the Mag idea! Love it! I'm a frequent reader of Clutch and the indepth posts make a huge difference. But either way I will still continue to be a loyal reader whatever you decide to do!
Do what makes you feel happy and satisfied. This might change your current readership or not but the best blog evolve with the main editor and you will stay fresh and focused if it doesn'tfeel like an obligation.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, I love your blog!! The product reviews, the featured curls, and the fashion are great and it has opened my eyes to the beauty of US!! Secondly, Are you crazy?! Three times a day?! I had no idea! I visit your blog about every couple of days and it's always nice to see new content, but.. three times a day?! are you crazy?! All jokes aside, I do like the blog format, but... three times a day?! Chile, you must be crazy...(channeling my trini grandma)
ReplyDeleteI agree an online magazine sounds like a really dope idea, posting every day has to be alotta pressure cuz u have to find things that will actually interest people and keep them coming. Sometimes however its hard to keep up with everything thats going on. #Team Mane & Chic Mag!!
ReplyDeleteo yea i also like the idea of doing a blog and a magazine jus so peoople can leave feedback and feel a more personal connection to the magazine
ReplyDeleteI like the blog format the way it is but I really don't see any need for you to update 21 times a week, LOL! I like to read all of your posts, but I actually don't even have time to read that many updates. So in a sense I don't appreciate the blog the way I should! I would be happy if the format stayed the same and you updated maybe 7 to 10 times a week.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that Pat, but it's really a goal I set for 2010: to post 1000 posts this year. I will probably slow down once I reach my goal. A couple of thousand people actually do read all the posts every day so I'm not worried that I'm doing it in vain. Plus, I love what I do and Mane and Chic is my full-time job. I do some freelance stuff, but this is my main thing. If I wasn't doing this, I'd be out somewhere spending money.
ReplyDeleteFollow your gut and the rest will follow. I like your blog the way it is. Perhaps you could cut back on some posts to remove some of the pressure. A mag style would also be great. Build it and they will come.
ReplyDeletei like being able to see what's new onthe dashboard. if you get a new site, i'd have to remember the link, since a lot of times i'm not on my own computer with bookmarks.
ReplyDeletebut if you absolutely have to, please keep me in the know on the wardrobe building! i need all the help i can get! i'd actually like to see more of that!