Design Mom 2018 Reader Survey Results

The survey! 3472 of you took it. And I’m so grateful for the helpful feedback. I can’t even tell you. I thought it would be fun today to go over a few of the highlights — there were definitely some surprises. At least for me. : )

Come take a look.

Here’s a little about YOU, the readers:

This is one that didn’t surprise me. I feel like I have a pretty accurate sense of reader ages, and this helped to confirm it. Another non-surprise? Almost all of you identify as female.

But seeing this quantified, reminded me of how I feel sometimes when I see comments from men on the blog. They can make me a little edgy because I know the men commenting aren’t regular readers, and they don’t understand that the comment section on Design Mom is not your average internet stop; that they need to bring their best manners, and that it’s a place to share, not to lecture. 

And speaking of the comment section…

I love the honest responses to this question. Some of you are admittedly in it for the drama. Hah! (I don’t think of Design Mom as a very drama-centered site, but perhaps I should invite more tension? Kidding.)

The question you liked most, was probably this one:

At least, I got the most comments about it. You have been reading for a long time! Which is so lovely. Did you know this July will mark the 12 year anniversary of Design Mom? I’d love to do something really special to celebrate.

The results of this question really made me smile:

Holy cow. No wonder I always learn so much from you. Did you know as a group you are super educated? Unusually so? Based on the comments and emails I receive, I can tell you I’m honestly not surprised by these numbers at all. 

The next question feels like the most colorful response, pie-chart-wise, and I’m interested to hear if you have any thoughts about it:

For me, it’s a good reminder that I really do have readers with a WIDE range of budgets. I was already somewhat aware of that — which is why one week, I might have an interiors post featuring Room & Board, and the next week, I might have one featuring IKEA. But seeing this chart really made it clear. I do try to be mindful of every budget when I’m creating features and product guides, though I realize I can’t be everything to everyone.

One more bit of info about you:

Something I thought was interesting here is that a significant number of you are not parents. And I’m not sure why that made me grin when I saw it, but it did. I guess I like the idea that the content I’m creating might have wide appeal. It feels like a compliment.

Now let’s talk about what you as readers are interested in.

First up, you far and away like connecting with Design Mom here on the blog. The second favorite spot is Instagram — with posts being favored over stories. And you have some interest in Facebook posts and the Newsletter. But based on this chart, the blog and Instagram is where I should be focusing most of my attention. Would you agree?

In case you’re curious, I mentioned the survey on the blog, on a Facebook post, on an Instagram post, and on an InstaStory. But nowhere else. Perhaps if I’d sent out a newsletter about it, I would have had different results.

As far as topics you’d like me to cover, here are the ones that received the most votes in the number 5 column (which was basically, YES, more of this, please):

I’ve been sharing home tours for many, many years now. And most of you are still very into them. Good to know. Sometimes I think it’s time to reinvent them, but perhaps I shouldn’t mess with a good thing.

You’re also interested in Home Organization:

Organization is an ongoing project at our house, and I’m glad to know it’s an ongoing project at your house too. I’ll be thinking of ways I can create more content around this topic.

You’re also interested in remodeling projects and before-and-after projects:

I love these too! It’s a great direction for me to grow some content.

But you’re not only interested in design-related-topics. You also gave lots of high marks for travel reports, mental health discussions, and social movement discussions:

The topic that got the most interest? Serious parenting discussions:

And you’re also interested in a book or class on parenting as well. In particular, how to promote positive family interactions (or in other words, how to have a happy home):

       

As you probably already know, I really love parenting discussions and was so glad to confirm you love them too. I’ll definitely keep these high marks in mind as I develop my editorial calendar this year.

The second most interesting topic to you? With just 22 fewer #5 votes than Serious Parenting Topics? Updates from me:

 

And while I’m completely flattered by the response (thank you!), it also brings up some dilemmas from a content creation point of view. How much can I share without sharing too much? Where do I draw the line? And how do I give personal family updates while making sure I’m not invading my children’s privacy? It’s a question that has come up for me many times over the last (almost) dozen years, and mostly, I think I’ve found a good sweet spot. But sometimes, a topic will come up, and I find myself shying away from it, or wanting to really restrict what I share. Maybe it’s just part of the nature of blogging.

The other question that comes up when I see this chart: Is there room for other voices on Design Mom (like the lovely women who share their thoughts in home tours), without diluting my own voice too much? I have a deep desire to use my platform to give voice to other women, and to amplify their stories. I’ve experimented in this regard in lots of ways over the years, and I admit, I’ve never quite figured out how to do it best. But I haven’t given up! And there are always new ideas to try. Maybe this year is the year! : )

Here’s one last chart. What surprised me the most? You DON’T want video. You gave a neutral response on Olive Us Videos, and a big no thanks on ALL other videos. Hah! 

Good to know. And don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt my feelings a bit. Video is really time consuming to create, and perhaps I can ignore it altogether? That’s not a bad thing. But it is such interesting feedback, because I’ve read dozens of articles pushing content creators like myself to add more and more video to their lineups, and apparently, it’s advice I should not be taking. (Or perhaps I simply haven’t figured out what sort of video you want.)

That said, I hope you’ll forgive me if I still do Facebook Live broadcasts sometimes. I really enjoy them. : )

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That’s just a small snapshot of the survey results. There’s a whole bunch more data I’m still pouring over and learning from. Right about now, I’m wishing I knew a consultant that could help look at the data and formulate some plans. (And if you happen to know a data whisperer, definitely send them my way.)

Two more thoughts before I wrap up. On one of the questions I asked for suggestions for other types of content you’re interested in, and a Design Mom Book Club was the overwhelming pick. I am definitely be into that. I’ve never participated in an online version of a book club, so I would need to do some research first to find out what works best. If you have any info, I’m all ears.

And on the last question, which was a fill in the blank (I read Design Mom because…), I just want to say thank you for your responses. I wasn’t expecting such meaningful notes. I thought the responses would be along the lines of “for the home tours” or “to get organized” or “for the discussions,” and there were some responses like that (which is great!). But there were also a whole lot of heart felt, touching notes. Oh my word, I’m starting to tear up just remembering them.

It was unexpected, and really kind. And I just want to thank you for taking the time to send the notes, and to take the survey. I’m so deeply appreciative.

Okay. I think that’s it for the survey report. I’d love your take. Any surprises for you in this data? Anything you feel like I’m missing or maybe looking at the wrong way? I’m very open to your thoughts.

112 thoughts on “Design Mom 2018 Reader Survey Results”

  1. I didn’t get to do the survey (crazy busy week) but wanted to say that I’m a longtime reader who started reading when you were in NY! Love everything you do. Thanks for providing so much inspiration and thought-provoking discussions. You are incredible and add so much to our corner of the world.

  2. Johanna Buchert Smith

    I’ve loved reading your blog since early Colorado, and bc you’re 10 years ahead of me with kids, feel like I’ve had a mentor in raising them and in what’s coming up with parenting. A book I’d love to see you do (I love your yellow one, I give it away as gifts and feel good about being able to directly show some thank you for your voice in my life all these past years)—or maybe a column would do it—is about yours and Ben Blair’s deliberateness with fostering relationships between siblings, not just as a whole family. And also your own siblings! I love hearing insights about how you figure out being close, connected, and creative together. I’ve found with my own 3 and among my own 6 sibs, that siblings have maybe as strong a voice in our lives as our parents.
    Maybe activities? Principles? Or situations to be aware of and finding out how readers handle them? I have lots of ideas for this book. ;)

    FYI, the only other blog I’ve read as long and as consistently as yours was soulemama, but as her children got older she found her boundary for writing about them and their family choices was…what? Tighter? More narrow? More private, however you say it. Though I can relate personally, it’s a bummer from a reader’s voyeristic vantage, and I’ve not kept up with it the past few years. Thanks for sharing so long and so candidly with us.

  3. Hello, I just wanted to say that while I am one of the people who really likes the personal content such as random thoughts, I absolutely 100% support your choice to be careful about what you do and don’t disclose.

  4. Thanks so much for sharing the results! Loved reading the stats!

    Would you ever consider a paid membership to DesignMom? I would PAY -for reals – to read a well-loved blog without closing ads all the time. Closing ads is becoming my trigger point on so many sites, most of them design related.

    Totally First World problem I realize – wondering if anyone else feels the same?

    Thanks for listening!

  5. I am curious as to the breakdown of faith of your readers. How many are LDS, Jewish, Muslim, agnostic, etc. Have you ever asked the question?

    And, for what it’s worth, the OliveUs videos were the only videos I watched. I like the control of scrolling through an article so videos seem restrictive in the way.

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