I’m not a web designer, but for one week, I played one on TV…er, something like that.
If you only come to visit when a new blog post is published, you might not have seen all the changes I’ve made – but you might have wondered where the hell I was (I tell myself you did because it makes me feel good, so just indulge me, m’kay?).
Hit that handy-dandy little home button at the top left corner, and you can get the full affect of the changes.
The layout is different.
The colors are different. Didn’t know I love purple? Now you do!
I’ve added elements to the website and re-organized it a bit. I even updated my about page.
Feel free to click around – and then let me know if something doesn’t work.
Going Quiet
In order to make this happen, I had to let the website go quiet for however long it took. (It took a solid week.) I couldn’t take the website down completely because I have SO many links floating around in the world. And thank gawd I didn’t! The day after I stopped blogging and started changing things around, this happened:
Women Across the Internet Defend Their Orgasms (on the COSMO site, y’all!!)
That same article was picked up by NewsMag – which I believe is a partner with Cosmo. Either way, I had thousands of people combing through my website for several days. Of course, right when I’m in the middle of a remodel, everyone wants to come for a visit, lol.
Several blogging friends have been very kind and supportive, saying that article is the start of something big for me and my site. Eh, I don’t know. I think I just used the exact right hashtag at the exact right time and got lucky. I hope the people who came to visit will come back but I’m not super-concerned with it all.
Going quiet had other repercussions that I knew were coming, but I didn’t realize would be so severe. I went through serious withdrawals. At first, it was kind of nice to take a few days off and concentrate on something else. But soon, I started missing the immediate feedback I get when people comment. Then, the envy kicked in. Social media was the worst place for me to be because I read articles and blog posts that my blog-deprived brain said, “I could have written that. Why didn’t I think of that? I wish I was a contributor for that site.”
It was sad, y’all.
The moping culminated in a night of crying on Daddy’s shoulder, lamenting that I might never be satisfied with my accomplishments, that I might never settle into anything, and that – worst of all – I might never achieve my goals.
Ahhhh, emotional outbursts. Gotta love ’em, right? Or just pray that your partner is strong enough to withstand them.
I was better the next day. Guess I needed a good cry.
What’s Different & What Does it Mean?
So, what’s different around here?
I went with a magazine layout, but I prefer simple, so instead of 30 stories on the homepage (as I’ve seen on other sites), I’m keeping it low key. Just a few. There are a lot more images which I hope will help draw people in when they come to visit.
You’ll also notice gray-space for advertisements. Yes, I’m adding ads to the website. Sex business, sex positive, fetish, adult industryΒ – all are welcome. You’ll see more sponsored posts, too. Not a lot, not every day, but some.
The reality is that the time I spend blogging, as much as I love it, takes a LOT of time – time I’m not earning money in other ways. I refuse to stop blogging, but I figured that if it could generate some income, the funds would help me continue to write erotica, talk about BDSM and D/s, and rant loud enough to get featured in a Cosmo web article (who knew?!?!).
I considered setting up Patreon or a donation button, but why ask my lovely readers for money when there are plenty of sex businesses in the world who want people to discover them? And I like helping you find more ways to get your kink on. So, there you go, I went with advertising, sponsored posts, and even something I call erotic sex toy reviews.
Another new page on the site is for authors, telling them how to request a Shameless Promotion – you know, those posts where I share a new erotic book with you. Still only going to do them on Thursdays, but I figured I could be more organized about it.
Another New Idea – Your Feedback Needed
As I was going through all of these changes and adding the new elements, I had another idea. One that needs your opinion.
I was considering a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly newsletter of blog posts you might have missed, sexy reads I’ve found around the ‘net, maybe featuring a really good Masturbation Monday post (not mine) from the previous week or so.
The question is – would that be of interest to anyone? Or is the email that you get with each published post enough?
If you don’t mind, take a couple of seconds and answer my handy-dandy poll and feel free to elaborate in the comment section:
[yop_poll id=”4″]If the newsletter idea is something people actually want, then we can figure out how often and all that.
Okay, so there you have it. I’m back, same old kinky Kayla, just with a new look. Let me know what you think!
Love the new look and especially the color. Purple makes me happy. π
I did vote above, but just wanted to add that the reason I like the idea of a newsletter is that sometimes in this crazy thing we call life there just isn’t enough time in the day to check in on every single blog that comes into my reader or email and I know I miss a lot because of that. Having it consolidated into one place will help someone like me know what I missed, what might be of interest, etc… Again, it looks really great. Hugs.
((HUGS)) Thank you!!
And that was exactly my thinking for having a newsletter in the first place. I follow so many now that all it takes is one weekend off from the internet to miss all the big developments. I know it happens for my readers, too.
it’s purple–what’s not to love about that?! But it is nice, really-sleek, and I like that. I don’t love blogs where there are 8, 10, whatever posts to choose from…I like being able to see the most current content. good luck on this endeavor!!
nilla
((HUGS)) Thank you!
When I was just writing a stream of consciousness, I didn’t care so much that every blog went in order down the line. But now, people have preferences, and I want them to be able to get to what they like easier. π
Since I always read you on my phone, it looks exactly the same. Ah well. I’ll have to break my reluctance to being on the computer when I’m not doing work or schoolwork and check out your new format.
Congrats on Cosmo! Truly a BFD!
That’s true. I forgot about that. I checked it on my phone and had to change it to desktop mode to see anything (but it’s not easy to read in that view, lol).
Thanks! Time will tell if it’s a BFD, but I’m glad my friends think so. π
Kayla I think you are doing an Amazing job. Moving a entire webpage/blog is no easy task. Just changing a name on a blog can take time and people can get confused while searching for you.
But you made it look easy. So to you I say: Whoot Whoot!! Keep that Kinky Fuckery coming.. I for along with all the other kinksters are loving your new page. Hugs!! π
Thank you!! ((HUGS))
I kept it simple, thankfully, for readers…not so simple for me, lol. I’m excited to see how people respond as I finally get back to the blogging routine I know and love. π
Simply Awesome!
Thank you!!
Glad you’re back. π
Thank you! Glad to be back!
Looks very professional. Nice job.
Thank you! It was a definite labor of love. π
I know all the time and effort you put into this and it looks wonderful. Love your new home!
π I couldn’t have done it without you.
The new site looks gorgeous! Congratulations on the re-design π
Rebel xox
Thank you!! I’m glad it’s done and I can get back to normal. π
Love the look, love your ideas, glad you’re back to blogging. Purple….yes!
Yay for purple! And thank you!