Looking Back: 2024 in Review

#sharepoint #microsoft

As we bid farewell to 2024 and eagerly anticipate the arrival of the new year, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the journey we've shared this past year. 2024 has been a year of significant growth for my blog, characterized by consistent publishing, a substantial increase in readership, and a deeper exploration of key topics within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

This recap serves as an opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements and set the stage for an exciting year of continued learning and exploration in 2025.

Goals Achieved

Looking back at 2024, I'm pleased with several key accomplishments.

Consistent Content Creation: I successfully maintained a consistent publishing schedule, writing one article per week, resulting in a total of 58 blog posts. Notably, I took a well-deserved break from posting during the month of August.
Significant Growth: I'm thrilled to report a substantial increase in both blog traffic and subscribers, exceeding my goal of 167% growth in traffic and 129% in subscribers. This translates to an impressive average of more than 74 visits per day and more than 513 visits per article, demonstrating strong reader engagement with the content.

Beyond the quantitative achievements, I experienced some truly unexpected and rewarding successes:

Connecting with the SharePoint Embedded Product Team: Interacting with the team behind SharePoint Embedded has been an invaluable experience.
Building a Strong Community: I've forged valuable connections with like-minded individuals on LinkedIn and Substack who share my passion for Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, Copilot, and related technologies. This community has been a fantastic source of support and inspiration, providing valuable feedback and encouraging continuous professional growth.
Maintaining Consistency Through Transition: Despite a change in my job position, I successfully maintained my writing frequency and continued to explore the same engaging topics, demonstrating my commitment to sharing knowledge and insights with my audience.

I'm incredibly proud of these accomplishments and the positive impact they've had on my blog and my professional development.

Best of 2024

This year's most popular articles addressed a clear need for practical guidance on using some of Microsoft 365's newest features: SharePoint Embedded and Copilot.

Most Viewed Articles: Demystifying SharePoint Embedded

Taking the top spots for views were articles that explain the basics of setting up a Microsoft 365 environment for SharePoint Embedded and provide a guide to understanding the available Microsoft Graph API endpoints. Given that SharePoint Embedded is a relatively new service, there's a strong interest in learning how to get started. These articles filled that gap by providing fundamental knowledge among the other content created on the topic.

Most Liked Articles: Making the Most of Copilot

There's a clear interest in practical applications for Copilot, and the article on using it with Whiteboard seems to address that by providing a valuable workflow for idea generation and collaboration. The other article on deciphering different Copilots helps navigate the potential confusion around the various Copilot features within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

A Personal Favorite: Exploring the Potential of Loop

One of the articles I enjoyed writing the most delved into the possibility of creating an intranet using Loop, exploring the pros and cons of such an approach. This analysis not only allowed me to push the boundaries of Loop's capabilities but also provided valuable insights into its limitations for other use cases.

Building an Intranet with Microsoft Loop

Topics Covered

Throughout 2024, I delved into a comprehensive range of topics related to Microsoft 365 and its ever-evolving features. Here's a breakdown of the key areas I explored:

#GettingToKnow: This category served as a springboard for introducing to new features and functionalities that emerged throughout the year. Articles tagged with #GettingToKnow covered topics like Copilot, SharePoint Agents, Copilot Pages, SharePoint Embedded, and Loop, providing a foundational understanding for those encountering these features for the first time. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/getting-to-know)
#Insights: This category offered in-depth analyses of specific features, capabilities, and services within Microsoft 365. I shared valuable lessons learned through exploration, providing with practical insights into using these tools effectively. Articles tagged with #Insights covered topics such as Copilot, Microsoft Ignite, SharePoint Embedded, Viva Goals, and SharePoint Online. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/insights)
#UseCases: This category focused on providing practical examples that demonstrated how to leverage the power of Microsoft 365 products in real-world scenarios. Articles tagged with #UseCases showcased how to use Copilot, SharePoint Embedded, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, and even ChatGPT, giving a clear understanding of how these tools can be applied to solve specific problems. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/use-cases)

In addition to these core categories, I also explored a wider range of topics through the following tags:

#community: Articles fostering connections and discussions within the Microsoft 365 community. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/community)
#copilot: Articles specifically focused on the Copilot feature within Microsoft 365. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/copilot)
#intranet: Articles exploring the use of Microsoft 365 tools for building and managing intranet solutions. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/intranet)
#loop: Articles delving into the potential and functionalities of Loop. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/loop)
#microsoft-lists: Articles exploring the capabilities and use cases for Microsoft Lists. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/microsoft-lists)
#microsoft-teams: Articles providing insights and tips for using Microsoft Teams effectively. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/microsoft-teams)
#sharepoint-embedded: Articles providing guidance on using and implementing SharePoint Embedded functionalities. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/sharepoint-embedded)
#sharepoint-online: Articles exploring the latest developments and best practices for SharePoint Online. (See more: https://intranetfromthetrenches.substack.com/t/sharepoint-online)

Goals for 2025

In 2025, I aim to:

Maintain consistent high-quality content: Continue publishing articles on SharePoint Embedded, SharePoint Online, Copilot, and other relevant Microsoft 365 topics, focusing on both technical aspects and end-user experiences.
Expand to video: Launch more videos on YouTube to provide visual explanations of key concepts and demonstrations.
Strengthen community engagement: Increase my presence in Notes and Chats to share insights, interact with you, and better understand your interests.

Thank You & Looking Forward

I want to express my sincere gratitude to each of you for your continued support throughout 2024. Your engagement with my articles, your insightful comments, and your encouragement have been invaluable. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read and learn with me.

I'm incredibly excited for what lies ahead in 2025. It promises to be a year of continued learning, exploration, and growth within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. I invite you to join me on this journey as we delve deeper into new technologies, uncover innovative solutions, and share our insights with the wider community.

Thank you again for your support. I look forward to connecting with you in the new year!