I can’t believe it’s been over a year since I first started Nice Job Breaking It, Hero and it has been such an amazing journey, full of so much growth! In my first Year End Wrap-Up post, I dubbed 2016 my New Bark year, because this time last year, I was just starting my blogging journey here on WordPress. I was new to all of this, back then I was racking in a cool 10-20 views a day… and let me tell you, it was discouraging sometimes. There were days when my site didn’t get any views at all! Ya’ll I wanted to give up so many times, especially when Grad School was kicking my ass, but I didn’t! I fought every step of the way, I wrote, I networked, I put in the time and the results blew me away!
I’ve never been one to post my blog stats, not because I’m embarrassed or anything… I don’t usually post them because I don’t measure my success as a blogger in the number of views I get or people that comment on my post, instead, I measure my success as a blogger in the connections I’ve made over this past year. Now, I’d be lying if I said stats didn’t matter, I just see them as more of a guide for what kinds of content I feature here on my blog. But, this year I saw a pretty big spike in my day to day viewership, so for the first time, ever, I will publish my blog stats from this year… just so you all can see my growth…
Stats By Year: 2015 vs 2016
Stats By Month: 2016
In the span of one year, I went from 10-20 views a week to anywhere between 700-1000+ views a day. If you had told me a year ago that I’d be getting that many views a day, I’d have laughed in your face… But, the numbers don’t lie and it is all thanks to each and every one of you, I could not have reached this point without all of your love and support.
I started this blog as a way to get my mind off of the stress of Grad School, and look at far we’ve come! Every view, every comment, every like, and every share, helped keep me going when I felt discouraged or thought about quitting… You all are the real heroes here at Nice Job Breaking It, Hero, whether you follow my little blog or not, each and every one of you all out there helped make all of this possible, and for that I can’t thank you enough!
Blog Plans for 2017
So, if last year was a year of beginnings, my New Bark Year, then 2017 is my Mt. Silver Year… For those of you not familiar with the Pokemon games, Mt. Silver is a location from the second generation games (Gold, Silver, Crystal) between Johto and Kanto full of high powered Pokemon. Mt. Silver is only accessible after players defeat all of the Gyms in both Johto and Kanto and they defeat the Elite Four and the Champion at the Indigo Plateau… It’s a place where trainers build on the lessons learned from their Pokemon journeys and prove themselves in one of the most epic showdowns… ever! So, this is my Mt. Silver Year, because I will be building on all that I have learned over this past year to tackle another year of blogging!
As you can see from the above image, I am going to do something I never thought I’d do… use a blogging schedule. Yes, I know, I hate schedules, but I’ve found that schedules make the world go ’round. As you can see, in addition to the two ongoing post series, I have been working on two new ones, however only one is ready to go, so I’m going to hold off on the “first” new series until February. On a positive note, I have the second series done and ready to go (at least for the month of January). The new series, “TG”(title not finalized yet) will go out every Thursday and that’s pretty much all I’ll say about that until the first post is released on January 5th.
There are some blank spaces in the above schedule, which I will fill with reviews and other content that I’ve been working on especially for the new year… more game reviews, ramblings, opinion pieces, top 10 lists, first impressions posts, and a few discussion posts too! As always, I am always open to suggestion, so if you want to see a particular post or topic here on Nice Job Breaking It, Hero, tell me about it!
For week to week schedules please be sure to check out my Last Week Today posts every Sunday, for a comprehensive look at the past week… From gaming news to blogger spotlights, Last Week Today posts will keep you up to date on what’s going on here and in the community!
January marks the first OWLS Blog Tour! This month we will be writing posts on the topic of Disruptors in anime.
“To disrupt” has a negative denotation, but rather than looking at the verb in a negative light, we are going to use the verb in a positive way. It’s like the word, “protest” which has positive and negative connotations depending on the perspective of the person.”
Disruptors: An individual or a group disturbing a system or social norms/conventions that they believe is destroying what is morally right.
Each OWLS member will be uploading their individual posts throughout the month of January, so be on the look out for announcements on the Official OWLS Twitter @OWLSbloggers, where I will keep you guys updated on each of the upcoming posts and other OWLS news!
Ah crap, I almost forgot! I wanted to do some guest blogging posts with some other bloggers from the WordPress community! I’ve done two collaboration posts with Katrina Sade of GrimmGirl.com, and I had so much fun, that I’d like to do a few more! If you are interested please feel free to hit me up either here or on Twitter, @BeckNaja!
2016 was an uphill battle, there were many successes and just as many failures… From the upcoming otoge localizations from MangaGamer and Aksys to the rather colorful political goings on… This past year has definitely been full of surprises!
On a more personal note, earlier this year I finished grad school and now I’m out in the real world searching for a job in my field, which is no easy feat. But, I am confident that something will come through in the end, but for now I’m breakin’ it til I make it lol!
Again, I want to say thank you to everyone for your support and friendship this year, be you old friends or new, know that I am happy to have met so many wonderful people through blogging. Here’s to more late night chats about BL, otoges, and anime! Here’s to the Haikyuu Squad and the YOI Squad! Here’s to the Otome Armada and to more otome games in the West… and here’s to all of you super special awesome folks out there reading this ridiculously long post ( I promise I’m almost done)!
I am ready to give it my best shot in the new year, even if I sometimes make things worse, I’ll keep pushing ahead, ‘cus, that’s what heroes do…So here’s to breaking it in 2017, and every year to come…Sometimes you have to break it to make it…
Share with me some of your 2016 successes! What are your plans for the new year? Any resolutions? Let me know what you think in the comments section. If you like what you see, like this post or follow Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! As always THANK YOU FOR READING!!
2017 will bring more Haikyu <3 Which is something we all need in our lives… but I was thinking… Our sites will be pretty lonely if we don't do a top three post for YOI!!!!
I am praying for a new season lol
and…OMG, gurl yes! We are absolutely going to do a YOI top three post and a season 3 top three post too!
We will keep both series alive in our hearts and in the hearts of all those who believe!!
Yaaaaaassssssss!!!!!!!!! It’s one of the many ways we can make 2017 a better year lol. By giving the world more YOI and Haikyu while creating the gut wrenching task of trying to pick just three favorite moments from each. Seriously I have yet to narrow down my s3 picks and as for YOI…. Just kill me now lol I LOVE EVERYTHING.
*pumps fist* if anyone can do it, we can lol
We must be masochists, cus we keep deciding to do top 3 lists lol… my next one will be one sentence long: “The whole series is my favorite. “😂😄😂
Hahaha yes we must be strong for the fandom lol. I think for YOI mine will simply be, “Every time Yuri and Viktor look at each other.” Followed by, “Every time Yuri and Viktor touch.” and lastly, “Every time Yurio is grumpy.” XD
YOULL DO WONDERS IN 2017 my dear !! I’m excited to see what you have in store for us and me and you need to do a collab together I have the perfect idea in mind wahahaha
Aww Lita! *hugs* I have a couple of ideas that I’m still playing around with… hopefully I can find the time to get them done lol
OMG yes, yes one thousand times YES! I already sent you a message thru your contact page lol! Let’s do this!
I’m so happy o found and followed your blog this year! One of the bright spots in a vicious time period ❤️❤️❤️
That really means a lot to me! I am so glad I was able to meet you too! Chatting with you here on WP has been a joy from our chats about MLP to my fangirling about Sherlock and Ghibli films… I have enjoyed every minute of it all!
Here’s to making 2017 a little brighter!!😊
Fangirling is so much better when you have someone to fangirl with ♥ *lifts glass*
*clinks glass* Ya always have to fangirl in numbers lol
We could be an army 😀
I like that, a Fangirl Army! 😈
Great post!!! Your numbers are amazing!!! Keep up he good work. I’m so excited for the OWLS tours. That will be fun for 2017. Here’s to 2017 🍾🍾
Thank you! 😊 yup the OWLS tours are going to be fantastic!!
You are an amazing blogger and I am glad that I found your blog this year! I especially love your Fan Art Friday posts each week!
Here’s to another year!! Happy New Year!🎉🎊🎉
Thanks son much!!!
Congratulations on all you’ve done and how much you’ve grown! I know you will keep it up into the next year! Hope you have a Happy New Year and a great start to 2017! 😀
Thanks Panda, your words always bring a smile to my face! I’m so glad that you commented on that Hotel Dusk post all those months ago! You and your fantastic blog are an inspiration! I wish you much success in the New Year!!😊
Aww thank you so much! I’m glad! 🙂 And on a year that old Cing developers made a new game! What a year!
IKR! It was fate! I still need to get that game, but there is no space on my 3DS’s SD card!
Ooh! It’s been a year since you have started your blog already? Congrats! And Happy New Year to you!
Yup I can’t believe it’s only been a year, feels like ages lol
Thank you so much for all of your support over this past year and I look forward to chatting with you more in 2017!!
Happy New Year!😊
I’m really glad you continued blogging since you were able to meet so many people, myself included (which may be more of a downside, to be honest).
I can’t wait to see more of your posts once 2017 rolls around! Having a schedule to adhere to should be tedious yet helpful!
A job in your field should come your way soon given that you work so hard. Hang in there!
(Heck, yeah, I’ll love to do a collab with you! If you don’t mind, that is).
Remy, I am so glad that I was able to meet you this year! I have enjoyed every convo we’ve had these last few months, they are some of the best parts of 2016!! I would never see that as a downside, you are more than just my kouhai… you are a great friend!
Now, I dunno how long I’ll stick to it lol but, I’ll try 😋
OMG yes, we are definitely going to work something out for that collab!
Our conversations were awesome for me, too, senpai! You’re a great friend, too!
That’s the spirit! c: you got this! Employers in your field are missing out, what the heck?
WOO the year is looking pretty good already!
That means a lot to me Remy!
LOL these employers really know how to boost a girl’s self esteem XD Hopefully I can get a permanent position soon!
Of course!! 😀
I’m glad to hear it!
Hahaha don’t they?
Ah, temp positions for now, then, huh? Hang in there ;__;
Yay! c:
yeah, pretty much. Aww thanks Remy! 😀
Very impressive blog growth! 🙂 The good thing about failures is that we learn from them and become more successful as a result.
Happy almost 2017!
I am humbled by all of the positives I have seen this year! I never expected my little blog to grow so much in such a short time.
Absolutely, and I’m still learning from each and every one of them lol
I wish you much success with your blogging as well and have a happy new year!😊
2017 is going to great than 2016! I am looking forward to your stuff. Personally, I think you a great blogger. You always give us interesting posts and you are a sweet-heart! <3
Matt you have been a ray of sunshine since the moment I met you! I can’t thank you enough for all of your support over this past year and I can’t wait to get to know you better in the new year!
Aw!!!
Thank you Naja. I believe you are the sweetest and lovable anime/gamer fan out there on the web. You showed me what a kind-hearted gamer was and I like how you share what you love. Yours and my tastes may be different in games, but that is what makes a friendship fun and exciting. 🙂 <3
Matt, i don’t have words for how happy this comment made me! Your friendship means a lot to me and it is because our tastes differ so much that I value your opinion all the more!
I could just give you a big bear hug, but a virtual bear hug will have to do lol 😀
I think your friendship with me is worth more than the games and anime I own. If it was possible, I would like to hang out with you for at least a day and experience fun with you. I bet you give the best hugs. Whether it’s a virtual or real hug, I will feel it in my heart <3. You're love is sweet as honey!
Congratulations on such an incredible year! I’m so excited for all your posts in 2017, and I’m so glad your continuing the Fangirl Fridays! Congratulations also on finishing grad school – and all the best with job hunting!
Thank you!! I’m still kind of in shock about all of the things that happened this year! I never thought it would grow this much.
Of course lol Don’t tell anyone, but those are my favorite posts!
My current contract is up in March, so I still have a little bit of time before I need to find a new job… sooner rather than later though lol
Happy new year. Wow, seven hundred plus views a day is very impressive growth. In December my views ranged from thirty a day to eighty.
Happy New Year!! I still don’t believe it myself lol
Dude, those are some pretty impressive stats!! Plus I love reading your reviews, especially the game and film related ones!! You are a fantastic blogger and I look forward to reading more of your stuff in the new year!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!