Reflections #AtoZChallenge 2024

https://forms.gle/MYTdeHK9Dk22RMwM7

Reflections is an additional bloghop connected to the challenge. It is a chance to tell the team and the world your thoughts on the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge 2024.
Sign up between May 2 and May 9 with a direct link to your reflection post!

Some points to consider for your reflection post:  😎

• Did you win?
• Did you post an alphabet of letter-inspired posts?
• Did you HOP to other A to Z participants?
• Do you believe your blog saw an increase in traffic and comments during April 2024?
• Did you check the MasterList to be sure your entry was correct?
• Do you feel the A to Z Team (Arlee Bird, J Lenni Dorner, Zalka Csenge Virág, John Holton, Jayden R Vincente, and Ronel) supported you, your blog, and this challenge enough in 2024?
• What changes do you hope the team might consider for next year?
• Will you do the challenge again next year?
• Did you use the http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2024-graphics.html Graphics page?
• Is the HTML useful to you?
• Are there any other images or graphics the team could offer to help you?
• Any suggestions for the team?
• Any thanks?
• Any requests for the 2025 team's theme? (The posts you'll see on this site in April.)
• Any post ideas or requests for our monthly posts on the blog from June to February?
• (Guest posting requests? Poke team captain J! https://jlennidorner.blogspot.com/)
• Have you followed the social media of the A to Z Challenge?
• What was your favorite comment left by another A to Z participant on your blog during the challenge? 🏆
• Did any other A to Z participant make you and your blog feel especially valued this year?
• Do you have a favorite blog that you found during the challenge this year?
• Do you feel you had a positive impact on the Blogging Community during the hop?
• Did you invite or encourage any other bloggers to join the challenge?
• Have you learned anything because of the #AtoZChallenge?
• Did you use a theme in 2024? Any thoughts on themes?
• Was taking part in the challenge a positive experience for you and your blog?
• Consider the significance of the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge, our values (community and inclusion), and your feelings about the experience. How may this influence your future blogging, learning, or actions?
• Any other thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the #AtoZChallenge 2024?
• Will you consider doing the challenge again next year?

Visit others in the reflection hop!
https://tinyurl.com/ymwxjvyv

See how your fellow A to Z Bloggers felt about the challenge this year.

If you've earned it, display your winner's badge!  


(HTML on the graphics page)

Roadtrip Sign up from May 4-25
Be sure to join the RoadTrip, a commitment to visit blogs in the hop (especially ones you may have missed) and highlight the favorite post you created in April.  More info on May 4!

MASTER LIST https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Grow and strengthen the community.

Please follow us!

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@a.to.z.challenge  Instagram     @atozchallenge  Facebook
@AprilA2Z "Twitter" X.     Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge

Did You Win! Tell Us About It! Reflections #AtoZChallenge 2023

 

      If you managed to make it to the end of the alphabet in the 2023 April Blogging from A to Z  Challenge then you've earned bragging rights.  Go ahead and grab a winner's badge to slap on your own blog page to show everybody that you did it.  Thanks to our graphics star for providing us a handsome trophy to brighten our blog pages.   

     And Congratulations to all of our A to Z Winners!

      Now grab a badge and move on down the page to the next little hop.

Winner Badge

<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" Target="_blank"><img alt="#AtoZChallenge 2023 Winner" border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-dhUsKtMAO42f2P_d1F371hNsBKxzS8kYMXyZiJ0yvjDXp5h7Umof2XWgj1Nje-jaFz_BGX8xHVqJbA_khWM-IzsUMMD4bSZB_7yq6Fk_KE52ny44KnRipu28D9dktB4rn6Waf1KlnFYEbMUSYkDPBvPCpeg-3mPNPfkAn0aBwu4gEzaXJ9qXFtJ/s1600/winner.jpg"/ width="220"></a>

Reflections

         Ever since the very first A to Z Challenge in 2010 there has been a tradition of sharing a "Reflections" post to tell of our own experiences and what we gained from them.  It's a good time to remind readers of what you posted in April and to find out what great posts you might have missed and will want to go back to check on.   After all, A to Z ain't over until you think it's over and for some of us it's an all the time way of thinking.  

         We're hoping that each A to Z participant will tell us how this past April went for them.  Let us know what was good as well as any recommendations to make the Challenge better in the years to come. We would especially like to know if the posts with the lists were useful to you. Is there anything you'd change? Anything you'd advocate keeping? How can our team keep you coming back for more and get you to invite friends to this blogging community? Please, give us your thoughts as part of your A to Z Reflections Post.  You can use the badge below to adorn that post.

       >>> Drop the direct link to your Reflections Post here and hop to the responses here. <<<

        Thank you to all!

<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" Target="_blank"><img alt="#AtoZChallenge 2023 Reflections" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnrYJ5JQffisEB40bOj7ij2FYk6l4Mf00v44ISaCiSKdrfkGyV3coU5-rONCoYBoa3OX_QDXF-S7gnP0qOYCDfA-sUkaHA58VxkCIGpmskJC3Ff2UA9Pdejv6-R1zd9sbTay0NgkfHXuTqtAWacVmP2W8_bp1DIv8o1SewftqwbZSZpiRpOX1mIZ3/s1600/Reflect.jpg" height="250" width= "250"></a>

The Road-Trip kicks off next week. And there will be a post on this blog every month for the rest of the year. 

March 10, 2024, will be our next Theme Reveal.

Follow us on social media all year, because we have fun posts planned.


bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
@a.to.z.challenge @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge
Please follow us on social media.

#AtoZChallenge 2022 Reflections and Winner Badges

<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Reflections 2022 #atozchallenge" border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglvp-aAddyX3nvJI6OdvqKpWiz0ITjX2IyLOyesrxMt857VrATVnJZmsmT5FYll7l-AEbI7Gs9NjAXpERPJJBecBFr9hRBmUn-mXxqxGl6QXe8I_-p4p2CksC3pOiiF0mwehcihwo8Qx26vh65cq09hjbgWU31LNirDp5tRrlqvEwCzWCcGZw1_Z9lkg=s320" width="320"></a>



<img alt="#AtoZChallenge 2022 WINNER badge" border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQT-exinfk6KajvsBZjjkRiwqsJk2N7cFuPqT3X9DlavFAIzQNXEUuTNartuLLPWzcYVmzofuWGBy5JiOfYi31GLfuT7IML61Vs___aJeS728jZT_1fm1vl485pv44Leai7tBvWR8S0HUbJ3_eJoatkca4RpRbYVvX4Zyl8NFdfopyBN3-1JNqCrnD/s1600/A2Z-winner-2022_na.jpg"/>

And GIF! For the animated crowd.



<img alt="gif #AtoZChallenge 2022 WINNER badge animated" border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rh_Zu_RwyghNVZJxrd9TsBSdC2LDtOnbkrCtxtQ9v8ZZcw2zBaXqodnHUWvbfd77GLBp0mGDcHCOkFe_jqpxYbpj67sSfkUsADDgd8ZPvFZuoS39_L2VW2fMlv6UT6zVzx8AUvmrZb3Ie-0F7aSaZK821v0454qrhs9mrSscgydc0Y-QeMCEyV4X/s1600/A2Z-winner-badge_2022.gif"/>

Time to reflect on the 2022 A to Z Challenge and visit and comment on each other's reflection posts. 

Here are some ideas to help you write it:

• Give consideration to how the A to Z Challenge impacted your blog.
• View your stats to see how the last 30 days changed your blog view numbers.
• Make an observation about how many comments you got on your April posts.
• Contemplate what you learned from making posts during the Challenge.
• What gave you the idea for your Challenge Theme, if you used one?
• Did any blogs you visited in the Challenge make a lasting impression on you?
• Perhaps meditate on how to express your thoughts about the Challenge this year.
• Give an opinion on any of the three #AZchat events from this year.
• What impact did the Challenge have on your social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)?
• Rumination about the A to Z Challenge can help the team improve!
• This year included a deliberation to find another graphic person after the loss of Jeremy. Muse about the imagination and talent of Anjela.
• What is your impression of the A to Z Team?
• After much cogitation, let your pensiveness reflect in your post.
• Did any dreams or goals you set come to fruition during this April Challenge?
• Please tell everyone if you picked up any sweet merchandise this year.

The A to Z team would LOVE to know your thoughts on NEXT YEAR! 

What needs to change?

What should stay the same?

What theme do you think we'll use?

Comment here, hit up our social media, or put it in your reflection post. 

Remember to post and sign up before May 7 to be included!

Reflections Sign Up Form
https://forms.gle/bcQ3vjPsK7cBMWmT9

Reflections list 

Visit each other and comment, please!
Make a copy for yourself to keep track of which blogs you have visited. 
If you take a copy before May 7, be sure to check back so you get all the entries! 
https://tinyurl.com/AZRef22

CLOSES ON MAY 7!!! 

Twitter and Instagram chat:

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=%23AZchat+on+Twitter+and+Instagram&iso=20220503T01&p1=211&am=30

Don't forget! 🤔💡

The ROADTRIP sign-up is May 16. 

That's when you'll tell us what post you made this year that you hope more of us will see later.

Tell us your favorite post you made during the 2022 Challenge. Or the one you'd like to see get more comments. Or the post you feel will net the most permanent followers to your blog.

Start thinking about which you'll choose when that opens on MAY 16.    



bloglovin.com/blogs/blogging-from-a-to-z-april-challenge-3294742
@a.to.z.challenge @atozchallenge
@AprilA2Z Our hashtag is #AtoZChallenge
Please follow us on social media.

File, Make a Copy of the Master List for yourself! Click this:
https://tinyurl.com/AtoZ22
Be sure your copy has all 234 bloggers who were in the 2022 challenge. Hopping to other blogs to leave comments was half of the challenge!

Get your 2022 merchandise here: 
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/103818836

#atozchallenge Reflections 2021

    

Taking the after-survey can help gather your thoughts before writing your reflection post! https://forms.gle/qUZogGKvMDVHd5rN6 That's also where you'll find the WINNER badge.

What did you like most and least about the challenge this year?

How did you do? What did you learn? Did you get out more, less, or as much as you put in?

Any thoughts on the shirts? Care to thank any team members?

Did you "double down" this year?

SIGN UP with your REFLECTION link HERE: 
https://forms.gle/dkgBqbk2hDxWWEmj6

(Closes May 8!)

VISIT the REFLECTION posts of OTHERS: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rSKvaUj7QxIRdODfzXn2Cy6H4nGlX2nXGWZZcy5Mu-I/

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Did you do the scavenger hunt from A? On your reflection post, you can share with everyone how well you did and on what participating A to Z blogs you found the items on the list! Here's a reminder: 

• A is for — Apple 🍏 
  
• B is for — Bear 🧸
• C is for — Cobweb 🕸
• D is for — Dragon 🐲
• E is for — Evil 👿
• F is for — Flowers 💐
• G is for — Game 🎲
• H is for — Hat 👒
• I is for — Island 🏝
• J is for — Jewelry 💍
• K is for — Key 🔑
• L is for — Leaves 🍂
• M is for — Men 👬
• N is for — Nuts 🥜
• O is for — Orange 🍊
• P is for — Pen 🖊
• Q is for — Questions ❓
• R is for — Rainbow 🌈
• S is for — Scissors ✂
• T is for — Tiger 🐯
• U is for — Uniform 💂
• V is for — Velvet 🧶
• W is for — Whale 🐳
• X is for — X-ray 🦴
• Y is for — Yellow  💛
• Z is for — Zipper 🤐

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How many of you used a dictionary of some kind to find words for the challenge?

Did you stop to think about what it took to create a dictionary?

Sean Penn and Mel Gibson's 2019 film The Professor and the Madman explores that, while delving into the lives of two real people who were largely responsible for the creation of what would become the Oxford English Dictionary. 

The critics mostly dislike the film. I thought it was good. If you're a blogger who loves words, or if you've ever been curious as to how a dictionary was compiled, or you just want to see a movie with a workaholic and someone getting treatment for mental health issues (in the 1870s), here you go. The movie is actually based on a book that is considered a biography. 

📕 🎥

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Be sure your blog displays a participant badge so everyone knows they're in the right place!
Please consider getting a t-shirt.

Hindsight 2020: A to Z Challenge Reflections

We have done it! Another year of the A to Z Challenge flew by. Whew! It was an unusual year, for sure, but we are all extremely happy that you all made it happen!

Here are some numbers:

510 blogs were signed up for the Master List this year. Not our highest number ever, but still a pretty good number for a blogging challenge! We also had a lot of returning bloggers, which was great to see!

92 blogs signed up but didn't post. This always happens, but it is especially understandable this year, when everyone is a little out of sorts, and readjusting to a different routine.

Author/Writing was, once again, our most popular category. We had (at least) 120 authors with us this year!

702 is the number of comments you lovely people left on the main blog this year! That's about 23 comments a day. Thank you for visiting!

If you would like to help us learn more about the experience you had this year, don't forget to fill out the After Survey here!

If you would like to add your blog to the list of Reflections, fill out the Google Form here and view the list of participating blogs here.

On a more personal note: I think this year was the Year of Good Commenters. Maybe because of the lower number of blogs participating, or maybe because everyone is trying to be kinder in these trying times, but the comments I have received and seen were all friendly, and contained substance and encouragement, rather than things like "hi." 

What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Had a different experience? Can't wait to read all of your Reflections posts! Sign up here!

Thank you all for participating, for visiting, for posting, for commenting, and for making this year's 2020 Mission a success! Happy Blogging! See you on the Road Trip!

#AtoZChallenge Reflections 2019

We're celebrating our Tenth Anniversary here at the April Blogging from A to Z Challenge.

#AtoZchallenge. The blog hop that made an online community by asking bloggers to spend the month of April using the English alphabet as inspiration for their posts. We're glad you stopped by today.

The Reflection post is a tradition here at the A to Z Challenge. It gives us a chance to look back at what worked, what didn't, what we've done, what was learned, and where we hope to go from here. Take your time and think. After you've posted, add your direct link to the list.

This year, in honor of our anniversary, here's a list of ten questions you might use for your post:

1. What did you love about the challenge this year?
2. What would you change about it?
3. What was the best moment for you during this year's challenge?
4. What is the best comment your blog got during the challenge, and who left the comment?
5. Will you do the challenge again?
6. Was it well organized and were the hosts helpful? (Did you fill out the after survey?)
7. How did you and your blog grow, change, or improve as a result of this challenge? Did you find new blogs out there to enjoy?
8. Were you on the Master List? (If you did the challenge last year, was it better this time without the daily lists?)
9. Any suggestions for our future?
10. Any notes to the co-host team? A word of thanks to Jeremy for all his hard work on the graphics? A picture with your A to Z shirt, if you ordered one?

This list is just a suggestion. Follow your heart and mind as you reflect on the challenge.

LINK TO REFLECTION SIGN UP:
https://forms.gle/qWu8NmVgitt9CBiK6

If you're participating by posting a REFLECTION post, do so there.

DIRECT link to your Reflection post, please. (Not to your blog or main website, but to the post!)
Closes May 17.

LINK TO REFLECTION LIST:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BakdXuadi9VJE1JM3mcnR9H8ooleTRoX9JGHlF-OYy4

To find, and hop to, all the blogs officially participating in REFLECTIONS, click the above link.

HTML code for the reflections badge (for those who wish to use it)
<a href="http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/" Target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD6U5DCjNhlF6ReezBvYYfOIHWEYph9bcyYeaA0c5e53s0h32fXpfkvgsv4tz0TiCw7jmGR6D9dYSAI9b48jCSo7-VxkXDpuWSQud1M7oAASLXq6bi3lVyjzHJxLwSo7UeE9_ovH7L1I/s320/reflection.jpg" alt="#AtoZChallenge 2019 Tenth Anniversary Reflections badge" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="930" width="500"/></a>



The team needs your feedback!

https://forms.gle/k4UpJgaTpca5venR7

That's the link to the after survey.


It's much shorter than last year's survery. Please take a minute to fill it out. There's a chance to win a guest post. Thank you!

SURVIVOR BADGE IS ON PAGE 2 OF THE SURVEY!

May 20 is the sign up for the Road Trip! Mark your calendar.

Grab your A to Z gear, and other cool goodies from our graphics guy, here: NeatoShop.com/artist/Jeremy-Hawkins

Reflections #AtoZChallenge

 

Congratulations!

Whether you completed all 26 posts or whether you only completed 1, that's still a step in the right direction. We now invite you to take some time and reflect on how things went this time. What went well? What could have gone better? (Tip: If you haven't filled out our survey yet, you should! It often sparks ideas on what you might want to include in your reflection post.)

We ask that everyone includes the link to their Reflections post on the list so that we know how many people finished the Challenge!

Form to add your link:

https://goo.gl/forms/zYL3XbeSoZlPG8jA2

List of Reflections Posts:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gi-JUhMz1cuaIbuWV7A3ez80o56oiQvuqGunhoSi5c8/edit?usp=sharing

Master List:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nd9634nZWf1FmHFZ6ofKxBiIwGPWqkct9T9H5ugDQBA/edit?usp=sharing

Now before you think we're done for the year, hold onto your hats! The Road Trip is coming in about two weeks, so start thinking about which post is your favorite to share. I know I personally saw lots of blogs where people were barely holding on, and I know that I didn't go look at as many blogs as I wanted to. So take some time in May and June, and beyond to visit blogs you didn't have a chance to visit before. And don't forget to let people know how you found them!

Happy blogging!
Jayden R. Vincente
Erotic Fiction Writer
A to Z Challenge Co-host

Results of the A to Z Challenge 2017 Reflection Survey #AtoZChallenge

An amazing 231 of you filled out the survey. Your feedback matters to the team. Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions. Here are the results:

39% of the respondents filled out the survey on May 1, 2017.


... 7% filled it out on May 20, the last day the survey was open.

91% of the respondents earned an #AtoZChallenge 2017 SURVIVOR badge for completing the challenge.

I pre-scheduled some of my posts before April and wrote others as the month went on. That was the most popular answer by slightly more than half.
I wrote my posts on the day they posted. 27% of the respondents checked this box, making it the second most popular.
I wrote and pre-scheduled all of my posts before April. 19% of the respondents got proactive in anticipation of the challenge!
Two people had an epic fail, and two people commented on challenge blogs but did not create blog posts for A to Z.

Of the wonderful survey takers:

45 were first timers to the challenge.
71 were doing the challenge for the second time.
113 have three or more survivor badges!
2 have been at this since 2010.




I left comments on several blogs of other participants every day. (Over 100 comments in April.) 41%

I made some effort. (51 to 100 comments left for others in April.) 21%

I tried or planned to, but I was not a very active comment maker. (26 to 50 comments left for others in April.) 19%

Only 7 people said No, I did not leave comments for any of the A to Z participants on their blogs.


Yes! I had over 100 comments on my blog in April, and I believe the A to Z challenge is to thank for that. 71 respondents made my heart swell when I read that answer.

Yes. I received 51 to 100 comments on my blog in April, and I suspect it's thanks to the A to Z challenge. 64 of you also had a lot of love.

Yes. I had 26 to 50 comments on my A to Z posts. 54 of the respondents got at least one or two comments a day.
Unfortunatly:
Somewhat. I had one comment on some posts, but no comments on others. Under 26 comments in April. That was the answer for 37 people.

And this answer is heart-breaking:
No. No one left me any comments at all. I had someone test my comment box, I've checked spam, etc. Nothing. The answer of 3 people.

• Of those, two posted on Twitter and Facebook.
• All three said they did NOT visit or comment on other blogs.

On to what you've been dying to know!

2017 went without a linky list.

Honestly, I don't care. List or no list, I love this challenge. I'll just roll with whatever the co-hosts pick. 45%

I was happy about it before, and I'm still happy about it now! 20%
I was leery, but I've been won over. Commenting with my daily link RULES! Woot woot! 9%

I was happy about it before, but now I miss the old way. 17%
I was against it and, dag nabbit, I was right, because it was terrible. 15%

This is my first year, so I have no basis of comparison. 18%


It's a dead heat when it comes to social media!
I have the hashtag on all of my blog post titles, and I cross-posted to Twitter. 38%
I pasted my link on the A to Z Facebook group. 39%

15 people do NOT want to spend 5 minutes a day to promote their own blog.

65 people were perhaps reached by Arlee's post, as they checked off: I thought about my blog in terms of marketing.

91% had a theme!

32% ended posts with simple, open-ended questions.
48% of the respondents MASTERED HYPERLINKING.
(Only 10 people said they've given up on trying to learn it.)

I am proud of what I accomplished during the challenge.
81%!

41% said they shared the post of others!

69% followed blogs they found because of the A to Z Challenge!

Only 3% say they feel like they failed.

27% follow A to Z participants on Twitter.
13% like or friend fellow A to Z people on Facebook.
Goodreads only drew the attention of 3 survey respondents.
Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, G+, and other social media of participants were followed by 13% of respondents.

28% of the respondents
formed friendships because
of the A to Z challenge.

And 53% of you feel a
sense of community
created by the challenge!

69% learned something from a post in the A to Z Challenge.
66% achieved a goal they set for themselves.

83% reply to comments left on their blog.

9 people said they bought something that exists because of the challenge. (A to Z books, pics, crafts, etc.)
And, as a result of participating in the challenge, 13 people created something that is now for sale.
13 respondents tried a food, a drink, or a recipe I found during the challenge.
32 people added something to their Wishlist or TBR list.

Only 4% of the respondents reached out to Arlee, Alex, Jeremy, Heather, Zalka, John, or J (me) for help.

33% reported interaction with a co-host.

There were 33 people who said they want to be more involved next year.
(None of which used the comment box to leave contact information.)

33% also said they read the posts on this blog during the other 11 months of the year.
And 27 people have an idea for a blog post to be used on this blog over the next 10 months.
(The only idea left in the comment box was: I'd love to see a blog post about how to make your Letter-of-the-Day comment more interesting.)
(I'm not sure if this helps, but here's some commenting information.)

100 people said the co-hosts did an amazing job.

18% miss the Twitter chats.
Only 2% played #AtoZBingo.

16% discovered other blog hops, read-a-thons, flash fiction prompts, or ways to connect with fellow bloggers.
79 people checked I discovered a place I want to travel to or learned something new about a place.
A post improved my health or connected me to people of health similar to my own. That answer was marked by 6% of you.

40% of the respondents learned a new word!

185 people thought the new timezone was fine, or they really don't care.

Age 50 to 70 makes up 46%, age 30 to 49 is 44%.
No one who took the survey reported being under age 18.
Only 5 people said they are over 70 years old.

Age of the ten people who have given up on learning hyperlinking:
1 18-29 year old
2 30 to 49 year olds
6 aged 50 to 70
1 (of the five people) over 70

66% are PC users. 21% use Apple/ Mac. 4% are using another operating system.
Android is on the rise with 13% saying it was what they primarily used when visiting during the challenge. Ipads and Iphones were used by 10%.
29% used an equal mix of computers and mobile devices to visit other blogs during the challenge.

Wordpress is the most popular blogging platform, followed closely by Blogger.

53% made the A to Z Challenge a priority in their life.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to answer the survey, and thank you for reading these results.