Before we welcome 2019, it’s time to reflect on the year that was. And what a ride it’s been.
While 2017 was the year of connection (getting out there), meeting with online friends and colleagues, face to face at conferences and meet ups — 2018 was definitely the year of putting in the work and continuing to pay my dues.
I know growth doesn’t come easy. And I also realize there are better ways I could be spending my time. It’s not just about working hard, but I’ve got to be more strategic if I really want for Gentleman Within (GW) to flourish.
That being said, let’s jump right in with the “Best of…” wrap-up.
GENTLEMAN WITHIN: YEAR IN REVIEW 2018
Some numbers that I’m pretty excited about:
- 61 Blog Posts & 2 Guest Posts
- 72 YouTube Videos
- 38,598+ likes on 260 Instagram Photos
- 3k subscribers on YouTube
- 2 years blogging
Overall, I’m satisfied with the output on my top 3 platforms. I posted 4 less blog posts, but 30 more YouTube videos, and I shared well over 100 less Instagram photos/videos than last year.
Blog content was fairly steady, a little over a post a week. At least one post a week is my aim. I more than doubled my output on YouTube which I’m super excited about. YouTube was definitely a focus for me in 2018 and will be even more so in 2019. It was a pretty big drop off for Instagram. I was more focused on Instagram in 2017, but it’s funny, my IG growth is faster now that I dedicate less time to it. Moving into 2018, I’m going to back away from Instagram even more so that I can focus on growing other areas of the GW brand.
Hitting 3k subscribers on YouTube was big. Sure it’s not a lofty number, but I’m damn proud of each and every subscriber because I know how hard I worked for each and every one of them. I believe that when you scratch and claw for something, you have a greater appreciation for it.
I also guest posted for two of my favorite style blogs (that greatly influenced the direction of GW), The Modest Man and Primer Magazine.
And finally, my blog turned 2.
3 FAVORITE ARTICLES:
- Suited for Good x Gentleman Within Presents: A Tailored Experience
- Smart Casual Winter Style Featuring Peter Manning NYC
- My 30 Day 100x Fitness Challenge Results
Partnering with the Suited for Good campaign was one of the highlights of this year. I’m proud that I was able to work with them to highlight their amazing program. I’m so thankful the Utah Woolen Mills team for the opportunity to partner up.
Next, the smart casual winter lookbook is special to me because I partnered with one of my favorite menswear brands, Peter Manning NYC. They were a pleasure to work with and I hope to continue working together into the new year.
Then in the summer I decided to do a 30 day fitness challenge of 100 pushups, 100 pull ups, 100 sit ups and 100 squats every day for 30 days straight. It was challenging, but also very rewarding. It shows how just 30 days can make a big difference if you commit to something.
3 MOST POPULAR ARTICLES:
- 5 Men’s Style Trends for 2018 Worth Experimenting With
- 8 Sneaker Trends for 2019 (You Need To Know)
- Essential Men’s Styles: The Iconic Navy Blue Blazer
I’m surprised that my two most popular articles are trend related, considering I’m not the biggest advocate of following trends. Although my stance has softened up a bit over the past year. The third most popular post on the staple navy blazer is an oldie (but a goodie), making the list for two consecutive years.
3 FAVORITE VIDEOS:
1. Desert Style With Chevy | From LA to Pioneertown VLOG 1 | Los Angeles Men’s Fashion OOTD
Going on this unforgettable PR trip made me realize the power of my blog and that the journey really is just beginning.
2. Best No Show Socks For Men | The Ultimate Guide | 15 Brands Tested & Review
No joke, a video about no-show socks is my second longest YouTube video to date (over 15 minutes), but not only that, it’s also my longest blog post coming in at well over 5,000 words. This is how dedicated I am to helping men dress better and feel their best. More content like this to come in 2019.
3. 13 Smart Casual Outfits For Men | How To Dress Stylish Year-Round
This was the accompanying video to the guest post that I wrote for my buddy Brock of The Modest Man. It was a different format and the most outfits I’ve ever styled in a video and so I was pretty excited about this one. It recently hit over 10k views!
3 MOST POPULAR VIDEOS:
What a surprise, my top three videos according to most views this year are all reviews. It makes sense though because these are all brands that have fairly high search volume on YouTube.
1. Thursday Boots Review | 2 Years Wearing The President, Captain & Duke
I released this video in October and it quickly became my most viewed video on YouTube with over 28k views. Thursday Boots came on the scene in 2014 and is killing it with their affordable sub-$200 boots. It’s no wonder this video has been as popular as it is. I also put it out at the right time, at the peak of boot buying season.
2. Filippo Loreti Review | Silver Venice Moonphase | Luxury Watch Unboxing 2018
This one seems to get a lot of hate from watch guys, which I totally expect now, anytime I put out a video that’s not featuring Seiko, Hamilton or a watch with heritage. My Seiko and Hamilton videos get so much love.
This one seems to bring out some of the worst sides of YouTube, which I’m learning is par for the course. There are lots of good people out there and a few rotten ones, just like in life I suppose. It’s gotten so bad that I had to remove some of the comments because they were simply hate filled.
3. Tiege Hanley Review | Level 3 Skin Care System | Is It Worth It?
Tiege Hanley is Aaron Marino of Alpha M’s baby, along with Pete & Pedro and a few other brands. He’s killing it with his own products these days which makes sense. He’s got the largest audience of all the Men’s Style YouTubers out there.
As a business man, he’s making all the right moves. I respect Aaron’s openness with his audience and willingness embrace failure. Oh, and Tiege Hanley is currently what I use for my skin care routine.
A COUPLE OF FIRSTS
- GW’s first hair styling post
- GW’s first grooming post
- GW’s first PR trip courtesy of Chevrolet
- GW’s first sponsorship (that went to sh*t)
TOP 9 INSTAGRAM POSTS
HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
Moving to Sydney, Australia for 3 months, solo. It was a trip of a lifetime that opened my eyes to the possibilities with Gentleman Within. I had a lot of time to think. It was scary at times, I got lost, but I also found things. It was a trip I will always remember. I think everyone should travel solo at least once in their life.
From the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne to the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney, I found myself in awe of Australia’s two largest cities. I also learned how to surf in Byron Bay, one of the most iconic places in the world for surfing.
And I even traveled with 30 some strangers on a bus through the southern island of New Zealand where we rode gondolas to the sky, went quading through the mountainous ranges of the Franz Josef glacier, bar hopped, ate, drank, sang. I even bungee jumped for the first time.
Here are some trip highlights in pictures and video from both my personal and brand Instagram that can tell a better story.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
It was a journey of a lifetime full of memories I’ll never forget. You can check out my personal Instagram for a fuller documentation of the sabbatical. I also plan to release several vlogs in 2019, hopefully.
HOPES FOR 2019
These are more than hopes, they’re plans that I intend to put into motion. It’s a lot, but I’m always going to challenge myself to push beyond what I think I’m capable of. I must push things forward. It’s plan A all the way. No plan Bs and Cs anymore. And this is me holding myself accountable. It’s out there now, there’s no more hiding. I have to deliver or else I’ve failed.
- Continue putting out content on a consistent basis on all major platforms (Blog, YT, IG, Pinterest, Twitter, FB)
- More guest posts (the goal is 7-10)
- Establish more authority within the men’s style niche
- Continue growing and nurturing the GW email list
- Ebook (topic TBD), I have too many ideas right now
- Ecourse (topic TBD), I have a few ideas
- Gentleman Within product line?
- Invest in new equipment to level up production
- Invest in online tools to create a more productive workflow
- Hire my weaknesses so I can spend time doing the important things
- Continue traveling…within the US and outside of the country at least once
With 2018 ultimately in the rearview, I have a clearer picture of what I expect from myself and the Gentleman Within brand in 2019. I want to triple down on content and continue delivering value to you, the readers and my loyal viewers on YouTube.
I also want to dedicate more time on the things that brings me the most ROI. I know that I need to treat this like a business if I want to make a living doing this someday and so I’m really focusing on marketing my current content so that it reaches more people.
I don’t know why, but I have a really good feeling about 2019 both personally and professionally. Let’s hope that this feeling comes to fruition.
2018 WRAP UP
Thanks so much for following along my journey. I keep on saying it, but I feel like this is just the beginning. I have big expectations for Gentleman Within in the coming year and cannot wait to start the new year and to continue putting out more content on my big 4 (Pinterest is a new addition)—The Blog, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest. Make sure to follow me on whichever platform works best for you.
I cannot wait to see what 2019 has in store. Cheers to another unforgettable one!
Happy New Year!
-Khoi
Gentleman Within Founder & Creative Director
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