What’s your reaction when someone says “tell me about yourself”? Is it easy for you to give a quick response or do you fumble around to come up with what you hope is an interesting reply?
If you’re like me, you probably have a tendency to overthink your response. In a job interview where you’re trying to make a good impression, you’ve likely prepped for such an inquiry and will offer up information relevant to the position you’re seeking. But in an instance where you’ve met someone new socially, you must consider how much detail of your personal life you want to offer up to a virtual stranger.
The person making the inquiry may not have any nefarious intent and may just be looking for a way to open a conversation. Even so, can you think of any way better to stump someone than to say “tell me about yourself”? It’s not too difficult to cover the basics like what you do for a living or to talk about children/grandchildren or to share about recent travels. The fact that I have this blog is typically part of my response but I still struggle with providing a smooth response when someone asks me more about it.
My guess is that most of us are more comfortable asking the questions. Not only have we been conditioned that doing so is the polite thing to do but it takes the pressure off of ourselves to be the interesting one in the exchange. Undoubtedly we’ve all run into that person who seems oblivious to the extent to which they’ve monopolized the conversation but that’s a matter for another time. Rather than saying “tell me about yourself”, you could instead ask more specific questions. You, of course, could then be ready with your own response if the other person asks the same question of you.
All of this has been a roundabout way of getting to my ask of you. There’s a blog post format idea I’d like to try and I hope that you’re game to help me with it. As a right-brained stats-nerd kind of person, I often add some researched information when I write a blog post with links to my information source(s). Not long ago, I’d thought to reach out to a few of my blogger friends and ask them a few questions related to a topic I was planning to write about. After a bit of pondering, that initial idea expanded into “what if I did a survey of my readers and then shared the results in a future post on a related topic?”.
Most surveys you run across are related to customer satisfaction or the types of desired improvements. I figure that if you’re following and reading this blog then you must be somewhat satisfied and it’s practically perfect in every way already so what improvements could I even think to make. Just kidding on that last part (kind of, sort of). With the exception of this first one, my surveys will be asking about your viewpoints or experiences on issues related to topics that I normally write about. Nothing outside the realm of polite conversation.
This first survey is mostly for practice as I get familiar with the ins/outs of putting one together and reporting on the results. The stats and metrics provided to me by Google Analytics and other plugins report on page views and clicks and such but I’d like to know more. So to break the ice, I thought of a few questions (or 10) that I’d like to ask my readers in order to learn more about who is reading my blog. Rest assured that your answers are provided anonymously and I won’t be selling or providing the results to any other party.
All questions must be answered and you can clear a selection by clicking on the choice. Click on “Finish” below the last question when you’re done to submit your answers. The programming will restrict responses by IP address which hopefully will eliminate any spamming. The survey will be available for several weeks. I will include reminders in upcoming posts as well as in my “link-up is now open” emails.
Let’s Wrap This Up
Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. My featured blogger from the last week’s link-up is not just one person but a group of bloggers who haven’t yet been so featured this year. While it’s not a hard-fast rule, it’s typically my preference to make my “featured” selection from the submitted links that include an image of the blogger. To me, this aligns better with my goal to support the blogger rather than simply promote the blog but perhaps I’m just splitting hairs on this. In any event, the following bloggers have shown their support of my blog and I’d like to return the favor.
Beth at Beth Willis Miller Blogspot
Heather at Bauchle Fashion
Helen at The Lazy Gastronome
Jean at Delightful Repast
Linda at Paper Seedlings
Nicole at Moms Home Run
Wendy at The Inspired Eater
Adventures in Weseland
In my Blogaversary: Along For The Ride post, I’d mentioned having a few new ideas for future posts. I figured there was no time like the present to get the ball rolling on this first one. But before I sign off, I want to explain the response choice of “I’m sent a text message” for the question “how do you get notified about a new blog post?”. That choice is primarily for The Husband if he responds because he’s the only one who is regularly notified that way by me about a new blog post. Occasionally, he will forward those texts to friends and family who also may not otherwise follow my blog to make them aware of a special post that he, The Husband, thinks is worthy of their notice. A few of them have taken notice of my reference to him as “The Husband” and have suggested that he remind me of his name.
Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, tweet, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
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Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program where I earned a few cents for each click.
Photo credit: MMPerez
23 Comments
Hi Rena!
Thank you so much in including me in the bloggers above. Very nice.
Just want to share: check out the online blog called SixtyandMe.com. They’re for everyone over 60. If you’ll write a free article for them — that would interest their readers — they’ll “pay” you by allowing you to link in the article twice back to your blog. They also “pay” by letting you write a signature that appears at the end of every article along with your blog address. If you’re chosen as a writer — and you will be — they’ll ask for a one year commitment of one article a month. Don’t let that cause stress. One month I wrote two and another month I wrote zero. They’re very chill.
New subject: if I ever accidentally link up an article/photo that I’ve linked before, please just say. I keep track, but sometimes . . .
Have fun and thank you again for including me!
Wendy
Wow, thanks for the shout-out. That is so very nice. Way cool. Thanks for hosting this wonderful party and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Filled in the form! Thanks for hosting.
That floral skirt is so cute on you and I love the matching jacket with it, this outfit just coordinates so well! I hope you get some good results from the survey, it sounds like you could have some really interesting blog posts by asking for insights and opinions from others, and this method is great as people who aren’t bloggers or have issues commenting are still able to participate 🙂
Thank you for the link up! Hope you are having a nice week 🙂
What a great way to find new topics! I am really struggling with what to write in my posts, and I’ve only been at this for a year! It just seems so, I don’t know, shallow to just write about clothes. If I had really interesting clothes with a cool backstory, that would be a different beast altogether! So far, I’ve been lucky and come up with posts! I can’t wait to see what direction this takes! And, thanks for the link party! Come join me, Leslie, and Gail on the 10th!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
I was at a party a few years ago and someone asked me what I did. I replied of course that I am officially retired but I’ve started a website. The answer was ‘well I’m not interested in that’ – sort of knocked me off my perch! The question can come across as a challenge which puts me on edge. So many of us find it difficult to open a conversation, myself included for many years. But I have a much loved American sister-in-law who I choose to copy. She will easily open a conversation with a charming complement to the other person, it instantly brings a smile to the face and breaks the ice.
Great topic! I hate talking about myself (and I have a blog?!!) so quickly deflect. I felt the last few questions in the survey were heading into marketing territory so I left them blank, sorry, but I was pleased that was an option and was happy to respond to the rest.
Best of luck with all the analysis that comes with a survey.
Mary xxx.
Interesting read Rena! I always find it interesting that we define ourselves first (usually anyway) by our occupation. Depending on my mood I have a variety of answers when someone asks me to tell them about myself. I usually stumble all over my words when I’m talking about my blog, ha!
Thanks for the link up!
xo,
Kellyann
This is a beautiful outfit with my favorite kind of skirt. I was so glad to add a new maxi to my closet this year and this one you are wearing would be one I would pick. Love surveys as they really do give you some insights on your readers. I used to look at my analytics more than I do now.
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
It’s interesting to learn more about your readers. Thanks for hosting the link-up!
Caroll
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Great idea to run a survey!
I loved the survey it was fun answering your questions. By the way, thanks for the shout out I really appreciate it. I just love your site because you have a great sense of style that is all your own plus the content you post is excellent. I hope you are excited about the fall season. It seems like it is going by so fast to it will be Christmas before we know it. I am looking forward to more fun and inspiration in the process.
https://www.bauchlefashion.com/2022/08/first-taste-of-fall-cashmere-in-question.html
https://www.instagram.com/heathernoire89
I’m very impressed with your embedded form! Love your skirt, the blend of colors.
Beautiful skirt! You look amazing as always, my friend. I completed the survey and look forward to your results and the new direction you are heading with these surveys!
Shelbee
Interesting post, Rena! And a good question in how do you initiate conversation with someone you don’t know. I have met some people who are actually offended at the question, “what do you do for a living?” These are typically artists / musicians who haven’t yet found a way to make a living at their art, and are just working at something to pay the bills. I can see their point. So I try to bear this in mind.
Love your outfit! The skirt is divine, and I love the print mix.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
Hi Rena, I’m just discovering your blog and link-up, thanks so much. One of my passions is books, so I’m sharing a review of a delightful book, I illustrated the post with my own photos.
Rena, what I appreciated about your survey is that it allows you to not answer a particular question and proceed. I hate it when a survey won’t let you continue until you’ve answered a question. That ploy doesn’t work on me, I simply bail!
Interesting! Love your skirt.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Hello, again. I’m just popping by one more time to say: Thank you for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 28.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Rena, just came back to check out more fellow linkers and saw that when I commented I forgot to include a thank-you for making me one of your featured bloggers. Much appreciated. I so enjoy your blog.
I read that option about texting and was wondering what kind of platform notified people by text of a new post! THat would make a neat business! Haha!
Thanks for participating in Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 29.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
I love all these brilliant topics you come up with for the blog, Rena! I often get a bit stumped if someone asks me that question. Mainly because I left my ‘career’ in magazine and newspaper publishing years ago (I was made redundant), and I often feel people want to know how I make a living. The truth is, I don’t. I completely rely on my husband, which sometimes I feel rather embarrassed about. So, I tend to tell them I’m an author who has published over 12 novels, and now I create content for my blog and youtube, etc. They usually look rather impressed…I just wish I was making money from it, so I could feel impressed myself lol!
Fab post, Rena…and gorgeous outfit too!
Big hugs
Suzy xx