Рецепт The Prodigal Food Blogger -- How the food blog world has changed for me
For the last few weeks, I have struggled with logging on to my food blog and Facebook Page. I just couldn't find the right words, and I'd second-guess if I should even write a post that doesn't have a recipe and photo. This morning, I'm on week #2 of my annual 4 week summer break from my job. I've decided to come clean about my personal feelings about being a Food Blogger...so here I go!
Here's the thing-- I started this food blog in 2008 because I love to cook and bake. I never sought fame
and fortune when I created "A Feast for the Eyes". I was inspired to start my own food blog by several food blogs that I was visiting on a regular basis. My original goal was to store the recipes I've made, and then I discovered that I really enjoyed learning how to photograph food. (Some of my earliest posts are in dire need of a makeover!)
Even though I was raised in the restaurant business, I wasn't exactly the best cook. My recipe creativity and skills needed some serious help. About 15 years ago, I began to crack open the culinary world when I honed in on Rachel Rays' 30 Minute Meals, on Food Network. That's when I began to realize that I didn't need to buy canned soups or processed foods in order to feed my growing son. From there, I discovered Ina Garten, Tyler Florence, Ann Burrell and many other Food Network Stars. By watching their videos, I started to improve my knife skills and was thrilled to discover that my cooking was improving! I also found inspiration from food blogs and I'd spend hours reading blog post and slowly gathering my personal faves. So, I picked up my inexpensive point-and-shoot camera and started posting. I found this to be so much fun!
Posting on my food blog become my obsession creative hobby and I slowly began to build a following. Slowly, but surely, I began to enjoy some perks of being a food blogger. I got "freebies" (food or kitchen tools) to test, went to food blog conventions and I became completely immersed in Food Blog World. Today, small food bloggers (like me) don't get those perks any longer and any additional income that my food blog once earned no longer exists. The reason for this is that food blogs are expected to have very high traffic in order to make money.. I find that when I land on some food blogs, I am assaulted with pop-up ads and videos and so much advertising-- and I don't care for that. I get it, though. It's a way of making a living. Food Blogging was changing and I wasn't so sure this is the direction I wanted to head.
Today, Food Blogging has become a very profitable business and it has become a full-time job. I know Food Bloggers who make six figures a year (I'm serious), and who reap the benefits of their popularity (and their talents) with free cruises, free kitchen remodels and the perks of free cookware and gadgets. Kudos to them-- but I know I'm just not in that range of success and popularity. I would have to switch my blog over to a different platform and a re-design would cost me thousands of dollars! I just couldn't justify that high of a financial investment since this is my creative outlet. Besides, I have a full-time job that I love, but it also leaves me pretty tired at the end of the day. Plus, the food blogger ante has really been upped, with social media. To keep one's food blog popular means having to be tethered to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snap Chat (I won't go there), mobile apps and to post on a regular basis. The latest fad I've noticed is that food bloggers are producing beautiful videos, with music.
Wait! This is way beyond my scope of talent and time! How can I compete with this... or do I really want to??!! Have I lost my real purpose of why I have a food blog? Why have I allowed these changes to make me feel insecure as a food blogger?
So, folks, that's why I stepped back and had to reassess how much time and effort I was willing to put into my food blog. Editing photos, writing a printable recipe card and a blog post takes more time that one might realize. I'm not making any money at this, so should I continue?
Then, I think of the food blog friends and faithful readers who have always been supportive and encouraging to me. I think of the emails I get, thanking me for sharing a particular recipe. Do I want to give that up?
No! Not yet. My son is now all grown up, and has moved out. That boy could eat enough for 2 or 3 people. We are now "empty nesters" and so I'm finding new priorities in my life-- and I need to scale back my servings! I need to spend less time on the internet, focusing on my wonderful husband. We have recently adopted a dog from our local animal rescue group, and that is getting me outside and walking a lot more.
We still have to eat, so I've been cooking "Blue Apron" meals on a regular basis. I find that meal kits have been a blessing for the two of us. I'm discovering new ingredients and spice mixes. I don't have to shop as much, and I can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes.
However, now that I have three more weeks of "Me Time", my cooking and baking mojo is stirring again. I'm catching up on reading some of my newer cookbooks and magazines.
I'm not leaving. I'm going to spend the next few weeks updating my food blog and editing some dormant food posts. Thank you for reading this. I just had to put my feelings into words. As a food blogger, we put ourselves out into the internet where anyone can read our posts. Sometimes, I do get mean and nasty comments. I've learned to accept that there are people out there, who hide behind "anonymous" to criticize something I wrote or the way I made a recipe. Fortunately, those are few and far between.
I'm going to log on to my Facebook Page, as soon as I hit "POST" to reconnect with my followers.
Thank you, for making this a creative hobby of mine that I always enjoyed. Cooking and Baking is something I enjoy because of the challenge of learning how to make it. I particular enjoy sharing what I make with my friends and loved ones.
Love,