Is it wrong for web users to dislike having to read a food blogger’s whole life story before getting the recipe that the writer promised? We don’t think so. Here’s why.
Link to the original article on CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/05/us/recipeasly-food-blog-recipes-trnd/index.html
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Quick and Delicious 15 minute recipe!
Enter blog,
Prep time: 3.5 hours
Bro, I'm hungry and trying to eat. 😂
I absolutely love food blogs, and I follow a few of them, and I do care about what they have to say about the recipes, the history of the food and the context of the recipe. I absolutely read those things at home frequently. But when I am at the supermarket checking that I have everything I need for making a cake, I couldn't care less about the events at a kid's birthday party when someone I never heard of before made this cake. I also don't care about the history of stuffed pork loin when I am double checking the timings and temperature settings when I am standing in front of the oven in my kitchen. Different types of content for different occasions, they don't belong in the same post.
This is the first time that I disagree with the Income School
The worst thing about these really long food blogs is not just the story about how when they were out at the shops and bumped into a friend that reminded them of something that reminded them of something then they remembered this food.
It's also all the other garbage: cookies pop-up, please sign up to their newsletter pop-up, auto play video recipe pop-up of a different recipe.
These things can be disastrously slow on a desktop especially if it isn't the latest or you do more than 1 thing at a time with your computer.
These food blogs need a complete overhaul.
You could also include 2 looks at the top, "Give me the recipe!" And, "4 Mistake You're Going to Make If a you don't read this.". It also, " Why Your Grandmother's Recipe Sucks but Mine Doesn't"
Great video as always Ricky! I have a news blog. I do what I want and I make it with a personal touch and my personality. I have also included a podcast on some with a summary. People really like it. It felt weird deviating from the norm; sounding like an encyclopedia, but people have commented and said they like it a lot.
Blogging Has become more about Providing people/world free information (monetize around your information), all information should be free. No article should be telling people that they should read the back story, who has the time for that? IF you have a lifestyle vlog/blog and people come for you as a person then fine but guaranteed 90-99%+ of those google searches don't (that's what social media followers are for). Unless someone searches for "History and origin of Hummus" then recipe only please.
Another factor is that we use the recipes more than once. I may enjoy seeing the bloggers life history, but probably not the eight to ten times that I'd use a good recipe.
Here's the thing. I JUST copped a serious attitude about having to dig thru content and ads to get to the recipe I was looking for. You can't really blame the blogger (except the ones with sooo many ads the page crawls!). If it's their passion, that's what they need to focus on, and the comment about 'bounce rates' is relevant. However, it is THEIR blog, and as you said, they are seeking an audience and fan base probably. So, it's on us. If we don't like it, we leave.
50 pop-ups, 2 auto play ads in the way, and a cookie disclosure blocking the window. And then you might see a paragraph.
This is the most thoughtful and relevant response I've seen to this topic. Well done.
As a food blogger, I put a "jump to recipe" button at the very top, super simple. If people want to read all the tips, and other information in the blog they can, or they can go straight to the printable recipe. I do give hints and tips, etc. I will say that "jump to recipe" button does kill my bounce rate lol, but I am fine with that.
The best recipe blogs have a story but they also have a "click here to go to recipe" between the introduction and the story.
Now you know why CNN articles are so long. They advocate fluff. This is the same reason why I don't read CNN articles. I refuse to read for 30 minutes what can be read in 3 minutes.
Washington post does this also. I found out that the essence is in the first three paragraphs and that's as far as I go. If they haven't made their case in three paragraph, I google the topic and find a source that does. At least the financial media gets the point that no one has eternal time to read articles.
Ricky, how dare you say that people have the right to seek what THEY want instead of what I want to give them. Other people shouldn't have their own dreams, their own priorities. I'll tell you what should be important in your life. And that's me and my priorities. And if you don't agree with me you're a cruel, worthless human being who will be crushed by the overwhelming power of the people who are just like me. (Yeah, I read that article too. It sounded like it was written by a spoiled child that never learned how to lose. Never learned how to learn from failure. And they think that the world owes them a Kardashian-sized living merely because they've exhaled CO2)
I’ve been doing this! But no more. I’ll be getting to the point more quickly as a result of your teaching. I wore 4 blogs in the last 48 hours! I’ve never done that! Thanks so much for your work .. it really makes a difference.
Just put the recipe first. It's so simple! It drives me mad to keep scrolling down every time. Especially when I'm half way through baking and I need to double check something quickly. Hands covered in flour . . . scroll, scroll, scroll!
Yes!!!! Ricky should be doing German food recipes. I think you'd be good at it.
But why many food bloggers are not first providing the recipe and then give the story of the dish? Way more logical!
Please don't include the distracting clock noise in your video.
A recipe blog that just lists the ingredients and how to make the food in a clear way should be gold for ads (specifically a sticky footer). Add the ability to check items off the shopping list right there on the page as I hunt around the kitchen for them and later in the shop.
I mean, if I am making something from a recipe then I will be looking at the list of ingredients while I am shopping and then probably having the how-to part open the entire time I am cooking.
Totally agree with you man. The other thing that drives me nuts is those sites that hit you with 3 – 10 ads all around or even over the content you came there for. As for recipe blogs – put the recipe at the top or to the side in a box for people to grab. They can still get your "fluff" if they want it.
I just cooked some bread and was so frustrated at having to scroll forever to find the thing I was looking for.
Seems like you guys getting better at creating videos. Less talking head and more interesting videos in-between… this with scrolling on the phone was great 👍
Yes! I totally agree. It makes me crazy when I find a recipe online, and the article that preceeds it goes on, and on, and on….
IF the VERY long preamble were actually tips and tricks, a touch of history maybe about your specific version of it, sure, that's ok, but the endless rambling causes me to leave the page to go to a recipe website instead.
Bloggers should consider placing the extra info AFTER the recipe is presented.
So I can actually get the d@^^ed recipe!
hey. i created a health blog 2 months ago and im getting only direct traffic. IS direct traffic good or is it just bot?
Do you remember when CNN used to be a news organization? Yeah, I don’t either.
this is where i get confused: income school recommends 1500 word response articles (answering a question), but what about when that question doesn't require such a long answer? How could you answer "best temperature to wash white tshirts", how "in depth" does the answer have to be? still go for 1500 words and talk about how hot water can ruin clothes, how often to wash clothes and t shirts etc ?
Makes total sense!
People complain about tips and such as well with recipes. They want the recipe card only. Which means poor SEO and no ad income. People have told me flat out they want my recipes for free and don’t want ads, they don’t care if I make money. They think it’s a hobby.
But wait, isn't it noteworthy the fact those articles are still winning?
THANK YOU!
Not the first time CNN was wrong and it certainly won't be the last..
How can I learn to be a quality post writer?
Value BOMB 😊👍🏻👍🏻
Let's address the elephant in the room though. All those food bloggers don't put out endless stories on their grannies for the sake of culture, but because of google algorythms that require them to write a 2,500-word article. And there is just so much they can teach us about how to make trifle. In my experience, the best lessons are short and sweet, bit like soundbites. Why google encourages fluff and dragging on in a "keep it short and simple" kind of world beats me.
Guys i'm a big fan of you from Algeria, yes maybe you didn't heard of it , however i'm a blogger and i like your advises … I really hope you help me with my health blog.
Thanks ricky, great content. I have to admit that I do skip the long story and all the way back to the recipe when I"m in a hurry..but I do bookmark and read them when I have time for coffee 🙂
You are right ! Relevance !
Part of this has to do with the mindset of the blogger. When you write posts, you're writing them for the reader… not for yourself. Always be thinking "What does the reader want?"
On our cocktail website, I put the recipe near the top after a couple opening paragraphs and video. Then the rest of the story below that.
Getting sick of cnn and the whole hidden agenda behind woke movement anyway. Government has hijacked well intended vehicles to creep on America. They do not want content writers to make money. They wanna keep you poor.
It's not related question but I want to ask that if the only thing I know about is finance and its too competitive niche so what should I do to beat other and tbh not looking for much but m not able to find how to start or how to find the best keyword for my first blog please help.
And I thought they include all that stuff I don't want to read just to keep me on their page so google registers my interest… despite the fact I'm really just looking for the recipe
My ex has a food blog. She used to pull good traffic. But she says it is becoming increasingly difficult to operate in that food niche. First of all, you have huge publications with hundreds of writers and unlimited domain authority pumping articles and recipes all day long every day year after year. Then, you have established bloggers with millions of followers and millions of visits every month and with lots of money to spend on their blogs. Finally, whole new generations have no interest in cooking or making food. They have very short attention span and want just few lines of instructions and that's it. It is not a such good niche anymore. Fitness and health are also super competitive.
CNN is wrong – oh i can't believe that – LOL