Five Things I’ve Learned Writing This Blog

It’s been only nine months since I launched this baby, but it feels like a maternity! 👀

The right theme gives you enjoyment

I was correct to invest in a theme from 17th Avenue that aesthetically appealed to me. I enjoy the site more because of it. They also have comprehensive tutorials I constantly refer back to.

image optimisation means something

I learned about image optimisation plugins (update: I have used EWWW but have encountered some hiccups) later than I should have, and only because my backup plugin (Jetpack) told me I was running out of storage. I’m working my way back through my image library, rather than choosing bulk optimisation, because I want to double-check my posts and photos as I go. It looks like optimisation sometimes affects the theme settings, so easier to start optimising from the get-go. Long. Slow. Necessary. Sigh.

Also, seeing the optimised images made me realise I’ve been far too conservative worrying about quality when exporting photos from Photoshop, though I still don’t fully understand the parameters. However, I now have two tools – Photoshop and the plugin – to help make my site faster (#learningcurve).

PHOTOSHOP IS A WONDERFUL HUMAN SKILL

The writing, in the writing this blog part, is relatively easy. But we consume much with our eyes, so Photoshop skills are a necessity. I take my own photos of my food and Photoshop them myself. This is not to tell a lie, but to show the food in the best possible light, without having the professional lighting and tricks the professionals do. Even taking objects out of the background, or blurring the background, makes a difference. I’m getting better at both the photography and the photo-shopping. I have a document that summarises in my own words the things I learn online. Great photos are especially important, as I also use free stock photos and videos to enhance the site, and I want my photos to look at least half-way professional.

Also, I’ve learned that not just the writing, but the photos on some food blogs are AI-generated. That’s why they look so perfect. It is a point of pride to me that nothing on my site is AI-generated.

Analytics TELL YOU WHAT’S WRONG, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HOW TO FIX IT

I check my Jetback statistics and Google Analytics. But at this stage the analysis is more a point of interest, than a point of direction, solely to see what people read, and the traffic source. Google also tells me all the backend problems I have with my site – problems which affect my algorithmic attractiveness. Links which lead to solutions are often undecipherable tech-speak. Sigh.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS HARD WORK

I’ve tried various social media as a means of promotion:

• Instagram’s great if you can do 30-second pretty-looking how-to-reels, or set up a channel, because that’s how the young are consuming recipes. Unfortunately, not me, right now.
• Pinterest. I’m there. I know it’s supposed to work, but I’m not sure how.
• Facebook. I’m not prepared to pay for ads with money I don’t have. Otherwise there’s pretty much zero organic growth. Should not have set up a business page ssssshhh.
• Bluesky is a slow burn (Twitter produced nada), but has potential. Analytics show me I get readers from there (thank you!🦋). Bluesky also has moderation, which is lovely. At Twitter, the only followers I was getting were s*x bots (like, really?!?). Unfortunately, my theme doesn’t have a Bluesky icon, so my link is hidden under the Twitter icon. Not sure how to fix this.
• YouTube. Look, maybe, one day. But honestly, unless it’s Great British Bake Off, or part of something like Nicki Positano’s vlogs, my personal YouTube viewing doesn’t steer toward long cooking segments, so I can’t see myself doing that. Shorts, maybe, tops, in the same vein as Instagram reels … unless the universe sends me an opportunity to travel and vlog? <manifests>
• WordPress Reader. I’ve added this, because I get found there. Thank you guys! ❤️🥂

That said …

• I’ve needed to adjust my mindset with social media. Rather than, “I’m selling” (although I am ‘selling’ my blog), the mindset I choose is, “I’m giving”. That way it’s far more satisfying for me, my posts are varied, and I choose not to always have a call to action. It also leads to genuine engagement, which is the precursor for growth. I think 😂.

Then said a rich man, Speak to us of Giving.
And he answered:
You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.

-KahLil Gibran, from the Prophet, poem in the public domain Full poem here

And, if you’re interested, here’s a link to my post nine months ago explaining why I began this journey.