Those of you that read and/or left feedback on my maternity fashion feature from last week will know that we have been considering the evolution of Rock My Family.
After plenty of research, discussion, reflection and a thorough review of company resource we have decided that, at least for the immediate future, we will be moving to a new home over on the dedicated “Family” section of Rock My Style.
We know there is a significant cross over of readership across both platforms, the majority of feedback we received only further confirmed this is the case. With Lottie leaving for new adventures and my own maternity leave imminent, a restructure is the most viable option for the team and the brand.
When you run a company you have to analyse every element of that business and every revenue stream in detail on a frequent basis. Some will inevitably perform better than others. Sometimes this is simply a symptom of an ever changing online landscape, a more demanding end user base or the fact that what you are trying to achieve isn’t feasible based on the input vs output ratio.
Sometimes it’s because business owners rest on their laurels, become disillusioned or their ego and previous success clouds their judgement and the perception is all future endeavours will automatically be prosperous and worthwhile.
I would never ever want to fall victim to the latter. I know that you can’t take anything for granted, that hard work, dedication and the requirement for new innovative ideas and concepts is constant. That change isn’t negative, it’s fundamental to success and it should be embraced. I want to make ensure Rock My continues to inspire, engage, evolve and provides a safe supportive space for our loyal community.
Going forward you can still enjoy daily posts on Rock My Style, with the addition of dedicated family focussed features being published every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Our personal feeling is it really is about quality not quantity, and that in the current climate, our social media presence is equally as important as our editorial content. Over the coming months we will be making improvements to the overall user experience and functionality of our websites as well as creating and building exciting new ways for you to interact with each other and the brand.
Thank you so much for being a part of our crazy yet brilliant journey thus far, and we sincerely hope you will join us as we embrace change, move forward and continue to work our arses off. Often juggling childcare, often consuming too many biscuits, but always always giving it everything we’ve got and then some.
I have enjoyed Rock My Family SO much since it began. I look forward to the daily posts and always thought what a lovely and friendly team you have. I’m very happy that you will have a family section on Rock My Style though! I always read RMS aswell so will be good to get everything in one place. Best of luck to you all! From a Rock My Style-er x
Hi Katie! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment, really appreciate such a kind and thoughtful response as the first comment I’ve read this morning x
Thanks for creating such a wonderful community and for all the advice, honesty and humour on these pages. Must have been a tough decision and I really admire the team. I will look forward to following family posts on RMS and continuing to mention your blog to every new Mum friend 😘
Thanks so much Lynne! We’re working really hard to make sure our family content on RMS is better than ever x
“Hear hear” to Katie and Lynne’s comments. You have created a wonderful Rock My community and I feel your decision for quality over quantity is very brave and wise. I will miss my daily RMF visit! Looking forward to afternoon posts on RMS to fit with bubba’s afternoon naps!
In case I don’t say it again closer to the time…..Charlotte I wish you and your family all the best for a safe arrival of the newest member when the time comes!! Lots of love too xxx
Thanks so much Sarah, I hope you will continue to enjoy the posts at afternoon nap time! the baby is due in a few weeks so not long now! x
I’ll miss those days where both posts really hit the spot, but appreciate that that must be difficult to achieve across a broad readership so what you are proposing sounds very wise. Good luck to you and the team for the future ventures, both personal and professional!
Thanks Katie, we hope you will continue to enjoy (slightly less but hopefully with a wider appeal!) content on RMS x
Thanks for such a useful blog – I’ve used it loads in my journey into motherhood! I think you’re making the right decision and it’s great that there will be a family section on RMS!
Good luck with baby number 2 Charlotte – look forward to hearing your news xx
Thanks so much Carly, I’m glad RMF has been so useful to you in your motherhood journey, it’s really lovely to receive that feedback x
Hi Charlotte, just checking that all the current/old articles will still be available online? They are very useful to refer back to! Good luck to you and the team!
Hi Camilla – yes absolutely, RMF will remain as is for now. We also have some archive content on RMS in the Family section too x
Great, thank you!
So glad to hear we will still be able to access the archives, I often search back through things depending on what stage my toddler is at and with number 2 due any day now have used a lot of the baby posts recently.
Congratulations on making such a brave decision Charlotte and team. I am a reader of both so will look forward to the combined approach.
Thank you for all your continued hard work xxx
Same here! I search the pages regularly for tips! There has been so many great pieces of advice to help me through my pregnancy. I’ll miss the blog but a daily subscriber to RMS anyway! X
I have both blogs saved in my favourites and housing them under one roof seems like a logical move. I love the RM brand and working in a marketing/branding job myself it’s really refreshing to see that you guys embrace change – I also love that you let the readers know the reasons behind the decisions. All the very best for blogs and baby and I’ll be sure to keep reading. Katie xxx PS sneaky confession…I also have RMW saved in my favourites (4 years post wedding) for bridal fashion daydreams xxx
Haha yes I was reading RMW just last night and it’s my 5th wedding anniversary next month!
Ha ha this has made my day!
Katie I’m loving your confession! I too (ahem, almost 9 years since I got married 😳) still have bridal fashion/floral daydreams…I keep telling my husband we should renew our vows at the 10 year mark! x
Wow, it must have been a tough call and, like so many others, I read both RMS and RMF every day, and now I am pregnant second time round I have checked your archives for certain posts to refresh myself. In fact, when I got diagnosed with gestational diabetes I had a look on here to see if anyone had shared their experience to get some advice etc. (After looking at the NHS obvs!)
All credit to you all for striving to keep things fresh and I really do love RMS so a merge of the two will be good. Good luck with baby number 2!!
Thanks Jennifer! it is tough to initially consider what is essentially a significant change to our business model, there is a lot of weighing up of the pros and cons. RMF has twice as many readers as the leading parenting magazine so we would rather make changes whilst it’s a success rather than flail about hoping that the existing offering will suffice. Definitely aiming for all the fresh 🙂 x
Hi Charlotte, I have been an avid reader of all of the Rock My sites for many years now but have never actually commented before. Without knowing it you have guided me through many milestones, my wedding, moving house and most recently Rock My Family has provided much needed support, and advice throughout my pregnancy and arrival of my baby daughter. I just wanted to say a big big thank you – there aren’t many things out there filled with as much positivity, realism and of course style. Good luck for the next chapter! Looking forward to continuing the journey with you all! Zoe x
Ah what a lovely comment Zoe *waves* I’m so glad you have found the sites so useful and it’s great to hear that you recognise the positivity – a friendly, inspiring and supportive space is what we always strive for. Looking forward to you joining us for the next chapter x
I’m gutted, but it’s a sensible decision! Hopefully see all you RMF-ers over on RMS 🙂
Wow THAT is a change. It must have been really hard to make that choice as I believe each RM platform is like one of your babies. I really enjoyed reading articles on both RMS and RMF on a regular basis and sneakily looking at some beautiful weddings now and then (5 years married this summer). However completely selfishly: When my son was younger (now 2) I didn’t manage reading daily and always had to catch up 🙂 and since I’m due two weeks or so after you, Charlotte, it’ll make things easier for me! All in all though I really really love RMF with its content, its tips and its community, so I am very relieved that it will get continued on a regular basis!
Sending you all some love from Germany and all the best for future endeavours!
Thanks Anja! massively appreciate the love all the way from Germany ☺️ And lots of love and luck in return for the wonderful arrival of your second baby xx
Ahhh from a selfish perspective I’m so gutted as I love visiting RMF every day and I’ve enjoyed it so much since it began, but totally understand how difficult it must be to come up with posts daily and with Lottie leaving and maternity looming for you Charlotte I get your decision! So glad there will still be 2 posts a week on RMS though (which I also love!) – you’ve created something special here 💕 x ps again selfishly, will be still be able to look up old posts?!
We’re going to miss being here everyday too Sarah but we love to embrace change and we’re feeling so positive about our new little home over on RMF 🙂 These pages will stay as they are for the time being so you’ll have access to all the the content and there will be some archived content over on RMS too 🙂 x
HI Sarah, yes everything will remain here as is for the foreseeable future, we will also have an archive of some of our most popular posts in the family section of RMS. Thanks so much for your lovely comment x
That must have been a hard decision to make – and personally I’ll really miss my daily RMF fix! But I think it will also help diversify RMS a little again, I love interior posts but it will be nice to add something different to the mix. Which also reminds me, I loved Becky’s recent yoga post! Whilst I don’t exercise enough at all, I miss the health/fitness/well-being posts – they’re always so inspiring and help me get off my tired, sleep-deprived butt!
And I’m still living in hope for you to realise Rock My Pet 😝
Haha Maike! Rock My Pet would be the best! Thanks for your comments on my post this week. We’ll definitely make sure we try and bring some more health and fitness type posts 🙂 xx
Yes Becky I loved it too! I miss the odd exercise / health type post on RMS, it was a nice change (even though I LOVE the interiors posts) Please keep updating on the digestive detox, I’m a biscuit addict too and you’ve inspired me to cut them out! x
It’s a brave decision, but I’m sure it will be a good one. I love RMF and RMS, they are the only blogs I read on a daily basis, so I’m very pleased to hear there will be family posts on RMS. I’m absolutely sure your wonderful community of lovely readers will happily adapt to the change, and that the posts will be fabulous as always. RMF started just before the arrival of my first and was so well timed, and I too am about to have my second and have been dipping back into the old posts. You have a wonderful brand and I’m certain you are making tough decisions for all the right reasons. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy, and I look forward to all the RMS updates. xx
Thanks so much Annie, I’m sure the community will adapt too, especially as we develop new functionality and improve the overall experience. The archive will remain here for the foreseeable future so please do dip away! x
So nice to read everyones lovely comments. Looking forward to what the future will bring x
I love all the RM blogs and with my first baby due in a few weeks have found RMF so very helpful and my husband and I constantly look to the archive for useful things! Such a wonderful and helpful community, as is RMS which I read daily so am delighted RMF will be continuing over there. I imagine it’s been a long decision making process for you guys and as someone else has commented, really appreciate you taking the time to explain. That’s what gives the RM empire such personality – you guys. Best of luck with the restructuring, it’ll be brilliant. x
Lots of luck and love for your impending arrival Sophie! I’m so glad both you and your husband have found the blog so useful and we look forward to you (both!) joining us over on RMS x
Great decision! I was slIghtly worried after the comments/chat on your maternity fashion post that RMF would fizzle out, but your decision to combine with RMS just goes to show you are a serious business and are making sensible and considered decisions about the evolvement of your brand. Well done to you and the team! Ps I am a daily reader of all 3 blogs (5 years post wedding) and tend not to comment so much anymore due to generally only getting my daily fill via my phone when at work (dam you small screen) but I agree with others when I say the positive and friendly community and comments from others has been invaluable to me, so thank you x
It’s so heartwarming to see lots of RMS & RMF readers still coming to RMW too, thanks for your comment Maddy 🙂
Another big RMS and RMF fan here! I found RMF was great when trying for a baby, deciding what to buy for the new baby (practical things and pretty things!) and love reading even more now I have my little one. I will miss the daily posts, but think it’s a great idea to go for quality over quantity and will look forward to perusing some juicy new posts in the family section over on RMS! Xx
Becky so glad you enjoy the content and have found it so useful! we will look forward to seeing you over on RMS x
I am also someone who has never commented before but I have read the blog daily since it started. My eldest was born just the same time as Mabel and #3 is due in a few months. I have found the blog and comments invaluable over the last few years so just wanted to say many thanks to all involved and I look forward to the new posts on RMS!
Hi Karen *waves* and congratulations on number 3!!! I’m so glad you will be joining us over on RMS and thanks so much for your ongoing support x
Whilst I’ll miss these pages I love RMS and read both it and RMF pretty much daily do very glad it’ll still be here in some form! And yes quality over quantity always (even cake sometimes!!!).
I’m looking forward to the new content x and all the best with the number two!
As always you guys ate wonderful ane making a lovely corner of the internet over here x x
Oh and keep up the dirty enabling please 😀
Oh and yes almost 5years on I still sneak a look at RMW x
Oh yes the dirty enabling aspect is definitely staying Vicky!! We look forward to still having you over on RMS and tempting you to buy ALL THE THINGS 😘
What a beautiful bunch of hugely supportive comments. I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity and I think you gorgeous readers won’t be disappointed. Embracing change has to be one of life’s hardest lessons but in this case it is so heartwarming to see everyone cheering on such a wise move.
Grown up sensible me is all well done for making a tough decision and can’t wait to see the brand evolve. I definitely read both daily so I guess it makes sense to have all in one place.
Emotional eternal teenager me is gutted! Feel like after multiple warnings from the headmistress we’ve been kicked out of the RMF common room for bad behaviour 😉
Both versions wish you all the very best with baby 2 Charlotte xxxx
HI Lucy, I think the teenage you might just be hoping for some gossip or an ulterior motive (!) but nope, behaviour, bad, good or otherwise doesn’t come into it – we just need to evolve and do what’s best for the brand and the team so the grown up you is definitely the right version 😉
Thanks so much for your well wishes, I don’t feel in the least bit organised so I’m starting my maternity leave next week with the intention to get shopping/sorted xx
I meant the tendency of feedback here to get a bit rowdy at times. I have zero interest in gossiping or being malicious about the amazing team. Just to clear that up.
Have really loved Rock my Family and found it so useful. I keep thinking it would be great if you guys had a podcast!
Well you know Kate…..watch this space 😏 x
Eeeeek!! It would be amazing. Best of luck over the coming weeks Charlotte.
Ooh what a great idea!!
Actually devastated. I read both blogs every day but have particularly loved RMF. That said, reading between the lines it was clear changes were coming to this platform – though I never anticipated anything this drastic! I hope you’ll bring it back in the future, but obviously I’ll still be reading RMS daily (and especially looking forward to Mondays and Wednesdays!). x
Oh Tracy don’t be devastated! We’re not disappearing, just re-grouping and trying out some new ideas that we hope you will love 🙂 x
Ahhh sad times, but a sensible move for sure. I’ve read RMS and RMF both since the beginning (having come across RMW when getting married and followed the brand). Some days I read either in more detail than the other… some days I’m stuck into both. Scarily some weeks it’s like you’re watching my life as the content is so bang on to what I’m doing/ thinking about!! Anyway I don’t necessarily always have time to comment either…(didn’t get a chance to say bye on Lottie’s post but sad to see her go!) but I find all of you RM Ltd folk to be very inspirational, down to earth, relatable folk and the community is a lovely place to be a part of so thank you. With baby no.2 on the way in July I’m looking forward to dipping into some of the historical articles from RMF that weren’t relevant at the time but will get me back into the new baby zone now that I need them! 🙂
Ah thanks Lucette! and huge congratulations on number 2!
I do think commenting in general has changed a lot in recent years, and for whatever reason, it does seem more difficult on a phone. We’re hoping some new functionality will enable folks to join in the conversation more easily x
As usual you are amazing at evolving, so whilst I’m sad to loose a daily fix I’d rather read a handful of great articles a week than none! I check in with both blogs everyday so it will make it easier for me 😎 I can’t wait to see what you have planned. Also, a quick question, will you be developing the Little’s list more?
Hi Lisa! We will be completely reevaluating The Littles List and utilising some very advanced technology we have had commissioned for RMW so in a nutshell yes, it will be part of our overall project to have everything at super speed, better usability and more stylish than ever 🙂 x
I actually open up the two tabs simultaneously first thing every morning so for me it makes sense, although I’ll miss not having two blog posts per day lol – but then I am a greedy bugger! Rest assured like so many others I’ll read the content wherever it’s located and the two for me mix so well – Rocky my whole life! All the best for your new arrival Charlotte xo
Thanks Helen! We hope to rock your whole life 😂
We’re hoping to offer content/ideas in different ways to just editorial/blog posts, we’re just working through ideas at the moment and seeing what we can do first. Exciting times x
Like pretty much everyone who’s commented so far, I read both so it definitely makes a lot of sense and of course I prefer less articles to none! This is the first blog I subscribed to and the only one I comment on, which says a lot. I’m sure it will continue to be a huge success, you’ve been inspiring me for a long time (back from you and your wedding forum days). Wishing you all the best for your second baby, enjoy every moment (it goes even quicker second time round).xx
Thanks so much Agnes, I love it when I hear from someone back in the day – 2009 I started writing on that forum, you really have been a loyal and dedicated community member, I’m sending you virtual cake as I type!
I plan to completely reevaluate the way I work so that I can spend more time with both Mabel and the baby, it will require some forward planning but I’ll get there in the end xx
Seems such a long time ago now! I was rather obsessed with a certain US blog and always thought there should be a UK version, then RMW popped up 😊 You will figure it out I’m sure, I know it’s a cliche but they’re only this little once. Good luck!
Ha ha I used to read SMP too 🙂 And just didn’t understand why there wasn’t anything like it in the UK…so created one myself. And you are right – they are, I already feel I missed too much with Mabel due to juggling the business so I’m definitely not going to go down that path again x
Sad about the loss of the daily articles but totally understand why. Looking forward to the new Rock My chapter! Enjoy your maternity and your new arrival
Thanks so much for the well wishes Suzy, it does indeed feel like a new chapter and it’s so lovely that everyone is embracing it so positively x
I’ll miss this blog but l can see why you’ve made the decision you have. Can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store for us.
Thanks Sarah, we’ve got lots of things planned that I think you will love x
Ahh what a lovely bunch you all. Here’s to change and evolving.
Also I’m just finishing off a RMW post for tomorrow and it’s lovely to hear so many people still tune in for a daily dose of bridal frolics.
See you all over on RMS xxx
Echoing many of the comments above, I understand your decision and look forward to a mixture of topics over on RMS! I agree with others that it’s great you’re so honest with readers about decisions like this, such an open and positive community. Good luck with baby no.2! Xx
Thanks Amanda, I never know whether the business side of what we do will be that interesting/resonate but we do receive positive feedback when we share what’s going on behind the scenes so perhaps in the future we need to consider that side of things more x
I’ll really miss it even though I’m not even engaged yet never mind with a family! I read all three blogs daily, and comment fairly regularly. Wish you all the very best for combining them. One thing I’d love is tags so I can find related articles more easily
Hi Bunny, absolutely, we need all blogs to work more efficiently and we’re working behind the scenes to achieve just that. We want relevant information to be easily accessed at all times. Thanks so much for being such a big supporter of the brand x
My first reaction was noooo 😱 as RMF is often my first pick of the day, but having read all of your comments Charlotte, it’s too exciting to not look forward to the changes! I also find your drive as a businesswoman and your openness about combining that with family life inspirational. Lots of luck and best wishes! X
Ah thanks Alex, what a lovely thing to say, when you are waddling around at 36 weeks on zero sleep it’s comments like this that make it all worth while x
I’m really looking forward to reading *everything* over on RMS – I have read both RMS and RMF on my phone every single morning since they launched and have been turning to the archive on here so much since recently finding out I’m expecting our first little one later this year, so thank you for so much great content. I think you are making an incredibly smart and positive choice by embracing the need to change and adapt, and I’m sure that with so much positivity on here we will continue to support the fantastic community you’ve built across all three platforms (I was a RMW reader from your very early days, and took so much inspiration from RMW when planning my wedding). So, I for one am excited to see what’s next for RMLtd!
Charlotte, I wish you all the love and happiness for the safe arrival of your little girl. And if you’re ever looking for more pregnant/first time mum contributors for the family section, I’m keen! Xx
We only just found this =(