What Makes a Popular Article: Top 10 Reads of the Year

Woo hoo, what a year it’s been! Over the past 12 months, I began to get the hang of this travel-as-a-new-parent thing, and voyaged through New York, Florida, Martha’s Vineyard, Puerto Rico, Niagara Falls, and the White House. I also published my 600th article on this site! There was even a professional fashion makeover that happened.

Now, the fun question at the end of year always is: Which articles were most popular, and why? For those of you who enjoyed last year’s edition of this question, here are the results from 2014, paired with lovely photos from the past few months that didn’t fit in any previous articles, but I want an excuse to use. Enjoy!

#10 Most Popular: Is It Worth It to Travel During the Low Season? (2,428 reads) – I think this article from our Martha’s Vineyard trip became popular because it has really bright, cool photos (like the lead photo with the shell), and because the central question (is it worth it to travel in the “Off Season?”) is a much-searched one.

#9 Most Popular: Martha’s Vineyard’s Gingerbread Cottages Are So Cool! (2,546 reads) – People went crazy for this article because those houses are beyond belief. So pretty and surprising!

#8 Most Popular: The Best Ice Cream in Boston, and a Beautiful Baby (3,761 views) – Pairing scrumptiously creative ice cream flavors with cute baby photos? A sure win.

#7 Most Popular: How to Travel With a Baby: 11 Tips to Make it Easy! (3,869 views) – This article has been widely read because it’s highly useful. Do share it with any new parents contemplating their first trip with an infant!

#6 Most Popular: The Hidden Danger of a Famous Tourist Attraction (5,977 views) – I think what made people read this one was the mysterious title. Just what IS the danger, and where? Guess you’ll have to click to find out. Hehe.

#5 Most Popular: How to Decorate Your Home in Photo Collages of Travel (6,454 views) – I’m glad this took off, because it’s one of my top creative tips for making your home look pretty.

#4 Most Popular: The Famous, Beautiful Forts of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (7,961 views) – Not only do these photos pop, but Puerto Rico is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and these historic forts are a top attraction.

#3 Most Popular: My Favorite Exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (10,283 views) – These quilts are so colorful and gorgeous, people couldn’t help but share!

#2 Most Popular: My Face Is on a Billboard in Africa?! (12,574 views) – It was no surprise this article took off, because the story is so crazy that it was featured in newspapers around the country.

#1 Most Popular: Can You Believe the Size of This Hole in the Ground? (33,081 views) – I was really surprised at how well this article did. Is it because of the intriguing title? The dramatic photos? Anyway, it goes to show that you may never guess which articles will go viral.

To close, there’s one post I WISHED would take off, because the photos in it blow my mind: Elephants and Camels on the Road in India! A close second place that I really expected to go viral was my article on Dogs in Funny Costumes. Seriously, people — how can you not launch photos of a Banana Dog into Internet fame?

So, what are YOUR favorites from the year? What’s your own experience with which articles take off, and why? Do share.