We asked our Facebook readers to send us questions for our blogiversary video—this time focusing on the personal side rather than home decor. Just like we did for our earlier editions in 2009 and 2010, we had a blast answering as many questions as we could. We had over 80 questions to choose from and squeezed in as many as possible during a roughly 20-minute unscripted video session. That length felt right for a single-take style clip, and it allowed us to keep things spontaneous and honest. Below is a summary of some of the topics we covered in that session.
- Our favorite and least favorite traits in each other
- What our neighbors think about the blog
- Whether the previous owners of our house read the site
- Our strangest fan encounter
- Who Clara resembles more
- How we handle negative comments and criticism
- What we wanted to be when we were kids
- Whether the blog name will change when we’re not “young” anymore
- How often we argue or spend time apart
- John’s surprisingly strong opinions about the new Twilight movie
We also answered a bunch of other fun questions, there was an appearance from Burger, and John changed soda shirts multiple times for comic effect. If you’re watching at work, you can always play it muted and try to guess what I’m wildly gesturing about. We have one hard rule for our videos: no re-answering. That keeps everything unscripted and real. We don’t read the questions before filming, so the conversation stays fresh and unfiltered. After recording we do minimal editing to tighten the pace and remove filler words so we can fit more answers in without losing the genuine feel.
Below are three bonus answers we added about the business side of blogging, which many readers frequently ask about.
Q: How did you attract sponsors? Do you actively solicit advertising? What’s the secret? In the beginning we simply wrote regularly because we loved it. After publishing around 200 posts and building consistent traffic, it occurred to us that local businesses or online shops might want to advertise on our sidebar. We added a simple “wanna advertise with us?” button just to test the waters. What surprised us was that small companies and Etsy sellers responded and were interested in giving it a try.
We chose a straightforward pricing approach: a flat monthly fee, with a slight discount for quarterly commitments. We based that rate on what similar sites were charging and adjusted when necessary if a sponsor offered feedback. This simple model avoided the complexity of per-click or per-view billing, and it made expectations clear for both sides.
To manage the ads, we use a basic ad manager that serves banners and tracks expirations so John can handle renewals and invoices. There’s paperwork involved, but sponsors are an important part of sustaining the blog. Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick path in our experience; instead it’s built by prioritizing great content and readers first—sponsorships tend to follow naturally when you focus on that.
***********************
Q: Do sponsors require a certain number of posts per month? No. Our sponsors pay a flat monthly fee, so we don’t promise a specific post count or traffic level. We’ve maintained a cadence of one to two posts per day for several years, mixing heavier project posts with lighter daily updates and personal pieces. That variety keeps the site interesting for readers and keeps us motivated. Maintaining a consistent rhythm helps creativity and prevents long gaps that can be hard to restart.
***********************
Q: Aren’t you worried about relying on the blog for most of your income? It’s a valid concern, and the answer is yes—sometimes we worry. To reduce risk, we saved an emergency fund before John started working full time on the site. We also diversify with side projects like magazine columns, occasional consulting, and book work, which helps spread income sources. John still consults on advertising occasionally, and we’ve left past jobs on good terms, so returning to freelance or corporate work remains an option if needed.
Ultimately we try not to overthink the distant future. Five years ago we never expected to be doing this, so predicting the next five years feels futile. We work hard to keep moving forward, focus on quality content, and avoid letting nerves take over.
***********************
So that’s the video rundown: twenty minutes of candid answers and three business-related extras. What surprised readers most? Maybe my tendency to invent silly sayings and dissolve into giggles, John’s Twilight enthusiasm, or our odd little family expressions. We appreciate every question and love sharing the behind-the-scenes moments that make this blog feel like a conversation with friends. If you’re interested in more practical, step-by-step guidance on starting and growing a blog, we’ve written up detailed tips on how to start a blog, build traffic, and turn it into a sustainable job in a separate post for readers who want the nuts and bolts.
Update – Many readers ask for deeper information about blogging professionally—how we built the site, attracted an audience, and monetized our work. We’ve written a comprehensive guide covering how we started, grew our traffic, and transitioned this into full-time work for those who want to learn the specifics.