Easy Peas Recipes

Easypeas.recipes started in July of 2024 as a hobby; secondary to my personal life and tertiary to my full-time job. I was curious to see how the blog developed (and how it developed me.) I wondered if I would have the energy to keep it up and be able to sustain it in a meaningful way for my audience. I believed that having a blog would keep me motivated to cook new things and also be able to share my experiences in the kitchen with others.
From the beginning, I planned to add a vlog on YouTube that demonstrated how to cook the recipes here in the blog. The two sites would work in tandem and help my audience get a complete picture of what easypeas.recipes is all about.

At least, that was the plan 🙂 It was not as intuitive a process as I thought. What in the world was I thinking?

1. I started a blog with no experience.
   
   I had never blogged before, had no idea what an SEO was, or had used Facebook (surprisingly). I was never a social-media-head.
   
   I needed to do a lot of research about building a website and about an SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I was overwhelmed and, on a budget, so I decided to use a basic, user-friendly website service that I could afford. I did some basic keyword/SEO building through Google. I researched other websites and made lists of qualities and functions that I thought I could use for my own. I took my time to build the website and tried not to rush to a date to “go live.”
   
   I found that it is easy to get wrapped up in paid services, upgrades, and add-ons when starting a blog. I decided to only pay for the services I truly needed and chose a yearly subscription fee because it was much less expensive in the long run.
   
   The easypeas.recipes blog started on July 7th, 2024; but it took a couple of months for me to construct it to the point that it was organized and navigable. I continued to learn, make mistakes and make small improvements for a year. To tell the truth, I’m still learning.
   
2. I wanted a blog site that was easy to set up and use and seamlessly connected to social media.
   
   There are many web host options. Research them fully before committing to one.
   Like I mentioned before, I had no blogging experience, let alone vlogging experience. Looking at other people’s websites that had advertising, jump links, picture-in-picture video and other bells and whistles, I was tempted to follow suit right off the bat. But, I knew that the development of my blog, and eventually my vlog, would take time. I didn’t want to rush that process because I would just be copying others’ formats and that would jeopardize the uniqueness of my final product.
   
   And, as I mentioned, I was on a budget. There was no need to pay for more bling and more “presence.” I suggest starting your blog simply because an audience is built over time. For example, some host sites have free hosting for a minimum of features. More features equal more money in fees, so know your budget limit and stick to it.
   
   Look at all of the style and format features available on the host site as well. Do they offer the appearance you want for your website? Are there available features that capture the essence of your content and how it appeals to your audience?
   
3. The subject material of my blog (cooking) needed to be easily convertible to vlog material.
   
   There are many subjects which lend themselves to a good vlog – cooking, travel, gardening, art, home decor and automotive repair to name a few. The visual aspect is the most important to determine before choosing a vlog subject. Not every blog translates into an engaging vlog.
   
   Book readings and reviews, coffee conversations and personal opinions can and do make good videos, but not necessarily good vlogs. What makes a vlog (or blog, for that matter) what it is, is the -log part of the word. A Blog (web-log) or vlog (video-log) is like a continuous journal that focuses on a subject or category. They “log” activities and life experiences that are then shared with an audience. In theory, any subject that is shared about on a regular basis can become a blog or vlog.
   
   Physical activities obviously make for a more immersive viewing experience. If the vlog is entertaining, instructional, or endearing, there is a better chance of maintaining an audience’s attention. This is not to say that conversations, lectures, and reviews can’t make interesting vlogs, but they may need additional visual details or a unique presentation to make them come alive for the audience.
   
4. I researched how to best set up YouTube, Instagram and Facebook accounts to use for my blog/vlog.
   
   Social media makes it easy to set up accounts. First, I simply needed to read through the instructions on how to create the account I wanted. I set privacy and safety features and only made public the information I wanted to.
   It’s important to take these initial steps so you don’t need to go back later and adjust your settings. However, as your needs change, you can certainly still make changes.
   
   There are many blogs, websites and videos that instruct how to use social media, including YouTube, responsibly and efficiently. There is so much information that it can be daunting. I kept a written list of sources and my research so that I could access it as needed. The advantage of writing this information down was that I could cross-reference it with what I found in later research.
   
   The bottom line is: Be patient and do all the research before jumping to start a social media account. It will save headache later.
   
5. I verified that my recording equipment and video software was sufficient for creating online videos.
   
   Surprisingly, I didn’t need to purchase much in order to create a decent video. I used a Samsung camera and InShot software on my phone. I wasn’t very hopeful at first. What I found is that phone and software developers make it their job to know the modern population. My phone and software had the ability to adjust settings easily. I did go online and research how to do this for my specific needs, but it truly was not complicated. After creating test videos and playing them back, I was satisfied. There is always the possibility that I will use “more professional” equipment in the future, but for now, I am fine with what I am using.
   
   I like the informal, no-frills look of the easypeas.recipes vlog. I plan the video ahead of filming, but I don’t edit out much if any footage. I want my audience to know that I’m not perfect and cooking is not perfect. I want them to feel “at home.” Your vlog may beg for a different kind of ambience. Depending on the content and purpose of your vlog, specific lighting, cameras, software and equipment may be needed to help express what you want your audience to experience.
   
6. I researched how to best set up YouTube, Instagram and Facebook for videos.
   
   This was honestly tricky for me. There are specific video formats and specs that different media prefers or suggests so that your videos become good vlogs. When I recorded my first vlog, the playback looked fine on my device but was grainy and pixelated when I uploaded and viewed it online. I had missed a few important video settings and had to delete the video, adjust and readjust the video, and repost it a few times before it was right.
   *If I had done thorough research* I would have saved myself hours of worthless work. So, read through your preferred media’s requirements for recording and uploading your videos before uploading.
   
7. Be ready to interact with your audience and keep track of traffic.
   
   Your blog/vlog host will most likely have a place that keeps track of traffic, likes, comments and trends. Read these regularly so that you can make adjustments to grow your site. Don’t obsess over numbers, though. Professional vloggers agree that it normally takes over a year or more to amass over a thousand followers, and that is with constant work and uploads. Keeping track of your blog’s/vlog’s activity is like watching the scale when you’re trying to lose weight. There will be ups and downs in activity and lots of plateaus. It’s important to keep a long-term goal in mind and keep a regularly scheduled presence with posts and uploads. Your hard work will pay off.
   
   When viewers like, subscribe or comment on your site, thank them. They took time to read or watch your content, and something inspired them to respond. Show your appreciation, and they will likely return to see what else you’ve uploaded. If there are many responses, and you have trouble keeping up, write back as soon as you are able. Even a simple “Thank you very much – please keep coming back!” says a lot.

Easypeas.recipes started as a humble blog on July 7th, 2024, and its first YouTube video was uploaded on July 7th, 2025. Turning a blog into a vlog definitely takes work, time and patience. It’s important to research well, give yourself options, and weigh which factors work best for you at the time. You don’t need to become a super-blogger or -vlogger overnight. Quality content, steadiness and consistency will make success imminent.