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How to improve my blog

27 replies

BlackAffronted · 09/04/2012 12:04

My blog is woefully amatuer! I'd love some hints & tips on how to make it better from some of you top notch bloggers here, if thats ok?

my blog

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skylarkuk · 09/04/2012 16:11

Can't find where to make a comment on your individual posts, LOVE the rainbow cake (the poke makes it more special LOL) I wouldn't change much just make it easy to leave comments and move any buttons/badges to the left or right hand side.

BlackAffronted · 09/04/2012 17:11

Thank you :) Still havent worked out which little finger it was!

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LittleRedFarm · 09/04/2012 19:31

I think your recipes look lovely especially the tandoori chicken kebab mmmm
If you want my honest opinion about your blog I would say the best thing that you could do would be to have much much bigger photos and better staged ones i.e nice simple plain plate and lots of close ups of the food so that I can really see what you make. :)

trulymyrtle · 10/04/2012 19:44

I am hardly a top notch blogger....Blush
But, I agree bigger photos and think a white background might make them stand out a whole lot more. Have you come across this blog? I think she makes food look amazing.

BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 08:58

Thanks for the tips, will try better with my photography :)

Thanks for that link truly.

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BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 08:59

Ok, so I need some pretty tablecloths and a few fancy plates I think :)

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greenteantoast · 11/04/2012 12:17

Hi - agree the recipes all look great.

I remember reading on a very popular blog once that black text on a white background is the most user friendly for readers. Worth thinking about.

Personally, I also like to know a few details about the blogger (but then my blog is totally not incognito!). I see you've shared your children's ages, but you could also give them nicknames and share a little info about them. Plus people always love to read about family life - so if you're comfortable you could also share more about what you've been up to in relation to the recipe. Eg. who was the cake for? What was the party like? Was it difficult to make?

Good luck!

trulymyrtle · 11/04/2012 13:01

I think you're photos are actually fine - but make them bigger on the page. I agree, a few "personal" details would be great - you don't have to tell them much Smile

trulymyrtle · 11/04/2012 13:01

Ugh Your - not you're...

BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 14:19

Thanks. I am awlays wary of boring people with family waffle Wink but maybe i should add more of it in. Thanks again!

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BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 14:22

Do you think I need a better name? Any suggestions?

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trulymyrtle · 11/04/2012 16:57

Nope. Like the name Smile Maybe a distinctive font/logo?

BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 17:20

Yep, will work on that this evening, sharpen up my paintshop skills!

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BlackAffronted · 11/04/2012 18:07

Updated with a new font/header. Probably needs some tweeking but I am happy for now.

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LittleRedFarm · 11/04/2012 19:19

Wow! what a transformation!
If I may say I think that the strap line would be better in a fancy (but smaller font) than your header. Can you add it to the picture under Jen's place? Picky I know but I think it would look good.
nice work! :)

LittleRedFarm · 11/04/2012 19:22

btw those last two photos are really professional looking.

trulymyrtle · 11/04/2012 20:51

Looks wicked! Well done!

fastfoodfamilyjourney · 12/04/2012 10:18

I find that taking food photos yourself is incredibly hard - you either need a professional food stylist and camera man/woman, or someone with a fantastic camera. I wish I could make my photos look like they do in Olive magazine, for example! I follow Jamie Oliver on Twitter and he was raving about Instagram - have you heard of it? It's a free app which allows you to take photos and put filters and effects on the picture making it look more professional, and then share it more easily too. I'm just trying to get to grips with it. www.fastfoodfamilyjourney.wordpress.com

BlackAffronted · 12/04/2012 10:59

Those last two photos were taken with Instagram on my smartphone :) Previous photos were taken with my expensive fancy DSLR! Think I will stick with the phone haha!

Nice blog fffj :)

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fastfoodfamilyjourney · 12/04/2012 14:27

I can tell the last 2 photos were - they look great! I can only see filter options on the app - are there any other options to use apart from filters? I'm glad you liked my blog :)

BlackAffronted · 12/04/2012 14:35

Ive only had the app 3 days, still trying to understand it :)

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skylarkuk · 17/04/2012 12:21

oh it looks really different now!!!! fab!

valiumpoptarts · 17/04/2012 12:31

Strangely I was looking at your blog last night and thinking it was really good, wish you had an email sign up or twitter account so I could follow you? (I am a bit of a luddite so these are easiest for me!)

BlackAffronted · 17/04/2012 12:49

Good point, Ill add links for those :)

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valiumpoptarts · 18/04/2012 13:49

Cool, if you could look at mine in return and recommend anything that would be appreciated too! Crafts on Sea