Friday 27 December 2013

Blog Giveaway Winners and Blog Review

I did my blog giveaway to celebrate my one year of 
Coulda Shoulda Woulda.
I might consider doing these giveaways in the future as 
I lost 3 followers since the giveaway!

It's funny because one truly doesn't know what people will respond to and it's not a predictable science.

My blog stats are hard to decipher in terms of most popular post and the like because the blog has grown from literally 0 views a day 
so comparables are harder to sort through.

Okay...so I had one or two - but that was me!

But my most popular post in many aspects is my post on Emmanuelle Alt.
It is consistently in the top 5 most popular posts every week.
It has been the most shared and linked to blogpost.
This also gets hits from search engine for Emmanuelle Alt.
This is the post that made me realize that your latest post isn't the only one that gets read! 


The other post that gets picked up from random google searches
 is my post on Fashion design or copycats discussing whether there is original fashion design or it is all recycled ideas.

I can't recall which post gained the most readers but the post besides this giveaway post which lost the most readers was 
my post about social stereotypes I had come across in Hyde Park.
I didn't think it was particuarly offensive but people took the time to unfollow after that one! At the time, I seriously reconsidered continuing with the blog but I have developed a thick skin.

The post with the most comments was 
the post about Kate Middleton's roots not being maintained.  
I think because it touched on so many different aspects on being a woman.  But while it seems that polarizing opinions is 
what gets the punters talking... 
In actual fact the top two posts with the most commentators sharing their opinions was my post on what words the English language doesn't have and my post about books you get judged for reading.
I will admit I was quite happy with that statistic!

But in the future I am thinking of turning off the comments on certain posts from time to time for various reasons 
so I hope you won't mind?

I have ten winners already but am going to announce 
the next three winners.
I had people leftover from the last draw and some more people who joined so I had in total 41 entries.

1 Colleen at Forcailini
2 Laoch of Chicago
3 Hostess of the Humble Bungalow
4 Patricia
5 A Well Styled Life
6 Tiffany Rose
7 Kim at Northern Cal Style
8 Adrienne from A Rich Life on a Budget
9 Fabiola
10 miss B
11 Sophie P
12 Linda
13 Matilde
14 Team Gloria
15 Silkannthreades
16 Melo
17 Housewife in Heels
18 Carol in Cairns
19 Heather at Style Mind Chic
20 Bakehouse
21 Gloria Binoche
22 Kelly at My Soulful Home
23 Beautifulosophy
24 Tabitha
25 Faux Fuschia
26 Cilla
27 Tonkath
28 Ruth at Clothing Fixations
29 Wendy from WMM
30 Jobeth Smith
31 Curator
32 Fifi
33 Merry Wife
34 Ordinette
35 Linda at My Design View
36 Fashionisha
37 Robyn

38 Lah
39 Clair W.
40 Angela from Lattes and Juice
41 Jill at Everything Just So




The three winners were Tiffany Rose from A Trail of Sequins, the Hostess of the Humble Bungalow, and reader TonKath!
Congratulations and please email me your addresses on
couldashouldawoulda9@gmail.com

Thank you!

60 comments:

  1. Do you really care if you lost 3 followers? Bit sad.......bribing your followers to stay via giveaways
    Proves that people who blog really are insecure and narcissistic

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    1. And people making snarky anonymous blog comments are happy people brimming with love and self esteem.

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    2. Hi Anon - yes I do. Not because I am narcisstic - if you had a look at me I think you could confirm that! Just because I hope I didn't offend someone in any which way as things can get misinterpreted or wrongly analyzed is all. I have a thing about accidently offending or hurting someone because of my big mouth and I tend to self censor a lot!!
      But you have proved a point about things being wrongly received because the giveaway wasn't meant to bribe people. I am just thankful and touched that people come and join me here is all and what else am I going to do with 13 leather chachkes??

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    3. Haha, truth hurts eh?

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    4. Anon - I don't mind a good verbal sparring ( ex lawyer and debate team girl here ) but if you hit a dud ball like that - what am I supposed to do with it?

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    5. Anon is an ass, pure and simple.

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    6. Anyone who is going to sling mud while hiding as an 'Anon' is a coward. Don't listen to the naysayers!

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    7. My dear ... you handled this one beautifully!!
      xox

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  2. Dear Anon
    What cilosophy said with bells on!
    Louise

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  3. Never mind the nasty, I will continue to follow and read your posts whether you let me say something or not. ;)

    Yippee! What a delight to find my name a winner. I'll be emailing you ...

    Looks like there are a few posts I missed out on before I started following so I'll be catching up on your most controversial and looking forward to reading them. :)

    Thanks for your blog, Naomi, hugs and kisses from across the pond!

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    1. Congrats Tiffany! Thanks for popping by and your kind words :)

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    2. Just read your Altpost (patent pending) and for the record, I do not need a bribe to continue following you. ;)

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    3. Well consider it a Hermes handshake ;)

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  4. @cilosopy @ Louise thanks for the bells and whistles :)

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    1. And I'll add some loud cymbals!

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    2. Have only now read the piece on Alt. Very funny.
      Louise

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    3. Thanks Louise! But I must be careful because she is the new fashion deity in blogland so I am glad I survived without any death threats. Interestingly enough part of why I wrote it was if I write a non kiss butt comment on any fashion blogs re Altfit then for some reason it gets censored!!

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  5. Congratulations to the winners! Well done on all your blogging milestones N, as you know you're one of my favourite blogs, and I always find your posts thought provoking and entertaining. xx

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    1. Means a lot coming from you so thank you Heidi! I will posting the first batch hopefuly tomorrow if post office is open! xx

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  6. Naomi ~ statistics, followers and anonymous comments aside ~ I do hope you had a lovely Christmas. P.S. I do not allow anonymous comments on my blog ~ your other option is just not to publish them.

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  7. Stats - phew, I can work out what the most popular posts are but I wouldn't know how to correlate losses with posts - too fancy for me. Congrats on hanging in for a year and now I'm off to read the stereotypes one again.

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  8. @Carol - i will see - as long as they only rib me then I will allow them for the foreseeable future but it is always a sign your blog is getting somewhere is a few hecklers right? ;p

    @Tabitha I would have gone to google analytics but I don't know how to navigate it but I love seeing patterns Gladwell stylie...Yes I have hung on for a year so now it is all gravy for me :)

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    1. I did but couldn't work it out!

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  9. Congrats CSW! Ah - I am no good on stats - I have followers with BlogSpot and with bloglovin and honestly, cannot tell much about much! I just put it all out and see what sticks!

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    1. Never heard of blogspot? Must google now - yes you are right about that Wendy! See what sticks might be the new motto :)

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  10. I am on husband imposed internet restrictions over the holidays, but it didn't stop me from reading all the links. Hope you had a lovely Christmas Naomi. Love all your posts x

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    1. Meanwhile I have a self imposed one plus I have had a mid life mid reno crisis so I have turned into a weird version of boho minus the style. Looks like you had an excellent Xmas which is good to see and thanks so much HIH! xx

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  11. Congrats to the winners and a Merry Christmas to you Naomi!!!
    Lots of love!
    xoxo

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    1. Thanks Gloria and happy new year to you ma belle xx

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  12. My goodness I won!
    I find the stats are difficult to decipher and the real tech stuff is daunting....
    If it is any consolation I gained and then lost a few followers when I had giveaways.
    My email is bungalowhostess@gmail.com.
    I look forward to hearing from you!

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    1. Yes - congratulations!! It is odd thought isn't it? one can never understand how anything is received so I think it is best to go with one's gut more and more i realize! But I will email you very soon! :)

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  13. Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!
    Don't stress about stats. They can be very missleading, and people can be otherwise occupied at this time of year. You've certainly put a lot of effort into your year of blogging. Long may it continue Naomi!

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    1. I don't as I started with 0 so anything above that is a bonus in my opinion but I am interested to see what makes people read vs comment etc. It has been a lot of fun though so thank you and wish you a happy new year!

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  14. If I understand my stats, I should be writing posts about elegant, aging women who practice compassion. Can't really make heads or tails of the google analytics but it's interesting to see. Have no idea if I've lost readers because you simply can't go by comments. There are so many silent lurkers out there that then surprise me by recommending a post in Google+. I did turn off anonymous comments which cut down on spam a lot!! Congrats to the winners. Amazing how well it works to bribe people!! Anon is quite simply a cranky creep. Have a great day!!

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    1. So true because not many people comment - even I don't always comment for various reasons but I read so many blogs out there. I don't understand what analytics gives other than precise cities but they don't match up either so I think it is not accurate either. I would turn off anonymous comments but I used to be anon as I didn't know how things work so I will just take the good with the bad for now. Wishing you a happy new year though Jennifer!!

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  15. I hope that you are basking in the glow of the holiday season!

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    1. Oh yes - I am just glowing ;P not. But if choc radiates then I must be - hope you had a good few days of chilling Laoch!

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  16. Oh poo! I didn't win again zut! Maybe next time ha, but I'm used to it, I never win anything, hopefully the lottery will be my main win lol! Congratulations to the winners.

    I had to read "I lost 3 followers since the giveaway!" about 3 times to make sure I had not misread it! I don't know about you, but I'd love to know the reason for this; I thrive on constructive feedback. There will always be posts on someone's blog that does not interest you as much or hits a nerve or is complete and utter rubbish, but that wouldn't really be enough to make me unfollow because following does not take up a nanosecond of effort/time, unless I'm doing it wrong; just don't read that post and wait for the next good post.

    I never really bother to analyse my stats or followers etc. on my blog, forpeetssake did a similar post on Wednesday, and I just don't really take note - sheer laziness, but interestingly I take note of followers on Twitter and Instagram.

    Anyway congratulations on your most successful posts and remember your blog is your baby and you do with it what you want to and what feels right!

    Enjoy your weekend xx

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    1. Argh - I know!! Sorry, darl - even with connections eh ;P

      I think sometimes people just read into things and come to a conclusion. I blog a bit about my life but not that much for various reasons. So people go by snippets. but I am starting to realize you might offend or convey the wrong message unintentionally anyway so might as do what you please really. But like you I like constructive feedback and having worked in marketing I find all that stuff so interesting. I do what you do and just wait for the next few posts to hit a cord. but even with a friend - not every conversation is scintillating is it? As I don't advertise or get sponsored I don't follow them but I love seeing where people come from and the engine searches that lead them here! They are hysterical - I had someone who searched - how to hide from someone and google led them to me!!! Interestingly enough I am on twitter and instagram out of protocol but I can't get into those two!! But thanks for being a stalwart Colleen and wish you a happy new year!! xx

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  17. Well first I'm a winner so I guess I'll stick around a bit. Second, never understood hurtful, mean, anonymous comments on blogs. No civility and obviously zero spine. Lastly, I once looked at my stats and was quite surprised how many hits I got from perverts googling "nice booby in see through sweater"...boy were they disappointed. Much love baby. Here's to another year.

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    1. Aww man - you must get soooo many hits!! I wonder if you got random hits with - pottery barn chair with no legs? I think it is a way of venting some stress so I suppose this blog acts as a cyberspace punchbag but as long as it is only aimed at me I will let it slide. Happy new year BB and I will be sending off the parcels very soon!

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    2. Geez, I really shouldn't have looked but ya made me do it. Three hits for "black girl wearing panties" and one for "boobs close up".WTF! Of course, now when some one google that it will link to this page. Ha.

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    3. Blue Boooooby! I reckon you should add "Big" in front for a nice hat trick!

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  18. I read every post and often think about the topic and things I will comment, but often don't get around to it bc I'm only on my mobile phone and typing intelligibly is hard on it. I enjoy every post!

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    1. While I do enjoy people's comments and opinions I completely understand if and when people don't comment so that is why I am thinking of sometimes not doing comments so people can read and go on with their day! But I hope you might dabble as your instagrams are fun! Thanks so much for coming by though Robyn :)

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    2. I want to share my two cents and join the Convo as they say, kudos for posting thought provoking ideas that make me want to chime in! Even if it is in my own head lol robyn

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    3. I sometimes have great conversations in my own head too and best thing is I always win all the arguments too!

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  19. Just ignore any bitchy comments (said the sulky bitch herself!) and well done on entertaining us for a year!
    I think Sulky or kitten must mean something saucy in Russian because I'm still getting a lot of traffic from their porn sites. I'd love to see their faces when they arrive and see my whiskers peeping at them....not quite the kind of pussy they're expecting. Ha!

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    1. Love it!! you should guest post on each others and you might cause a google alert Sulkers!!
      Well you know I can be a bitch myself so...meow. Happy new year to you and yours by the way xx

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  20. I've never really figured out Blogger stats but I lose readers on occasion, mostly when I have not been posting regularly, which seems to be all the time now. In the past, I used to be able to post at least once or twice a week, but these days, I am lucky to even manage one post every 2 weeks. There's been a few occasions when I have thought about shutting it down. It's totally random what draws people's attention and I haven't bothered to figure out what works. You have a fantastic blog - congrats again on your 1 year blog anniversary. Don't listen to the naysayers!! :-)

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    1. I can understand people actually unfollowing after that stereotype post but the giveaway one was a little odd but apparently a mate said that perhaps the prize could be deemed a bit showy ( even though they weren't for sale!) But yes what I love is that one learns constantly and is so interesting Lousie! One must just carry on as they say :) But please don't shut it down because while there are loads of beauty blogs the only person who sorta gets into the chemical side of it is Caroline Hirons but she isn't as in depth as yours. Like we said to Tabs - do what you want when you want bc then you feel pressure and want to quit! Happy new year Louise x

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  21. Gosh and goodness! Do people follow and unfollow on the basis of giveaways???? You prompted me to look at my stats. All a bit bemusing really. Lots of people seem to follow and then ........don't unfollow but somehow vanish. What makes someone (other than me!) want to follow is a mystery to me, as is what makes me them want to comment, or not, or view or not. But I wouldn't miss your blog for the world. Except, of course, it still doesn't like to send me email notifications so I may miss it sometimes :(

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    1. I find stats very interesting in general - i love decoding stuff and used to help with the merchandising department once and it was all very Malcolm Gladwell-esque. Yes I am trying to find the thread of what i like as well but i have come to realize i like writers! PS I did change to feedblitz but emails still seem erratic...

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  22. I love your blog because you are so smart and witty. I used to obsess over stats but do zero SEO and rarely comment on other blogs etc to gain followers..I have a loyal little tribe!
    I think some blogs (ok I'm naming one, like damsel in Dior, god I hope her followers don't read yours and come after me), are so full of the same old self serving crap, but yours is controversial and challenging and I love it. Love it! X

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    1. Oh stop making me blush! But one can only label posts for SEO no? But I still dont know how to get emoticons on comments or instagram...Damsel in Dior is very innocuous and admittedly neither here not there and since when has fashion been so polite? But I know what you mean by commenting - in the beginning you don't know if anyone was there unless one comments but then you realize people can appreciate a blogpost but not always have to comment so from time to time I am turning comments off! But happy new year to you and your adorable family xx

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  23. congratulations to the winners and ignore the anons xx

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  24. Great post, Naomi. On the subject of giveaways, I had one once and the winner never sent me their email address to claim their prize. How embarrassing! So I haven't done a repeat. I wouldn't worry about losing followers, this happens to me fairly regularly and I can't tell if it's because I didn't follow them back (sometimes they are impossible to find) or I irritated them or what. I've decided to not worry about it. I read some of the posts you mentioned and they are terrific reads. Be true to yourself, you have a great voice and an edgy writing style, which I love. On the subject of Emmanuelle Alt, don't be hatin' because I have to say, I LOVE that in a sea of the people that descend on Fashion Week in ridiculously over-the-top ensembles, EA shows up in a pair of jeans, high heels, a white shirt (with the half-tuck), and her Cartier watch. Fashion Weeks are meant to be trade events, not a circus, and I think EA has remembered this quite well! Happy 2014. XO, Jill

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    1. I like EA too but there seems to be this odd mutated strain of fever which was meant to be a rebellious faction but they are now mainstream in itself. What is interesting is that when I have politely mentioned this as a comment on other blogs it get censored half the time! Thanks for coming by Jill! xx

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