What's Happening at Bowl Me Over
As 2016 came to a close, I started making a whole bunch of changes here at Bowl Me Over. Now granted, many... well most of these changes you won't even notice, but there is one you will!
I've been blogging now for a little over three years. I started out the blog out using Homestead as a platform. This continued for about a year until I realized I needed to be on WordPress. Then everything switched over to WordPress. There was lots of learning involved. Podcasts and Youtube became my friend!
After two years of doing this my way, it was time to start doing things the right way! In December I had an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Audit. This resulted in several needed corrections to the blog. Here's how I have categorized it.
- Great job, keep doing this the same way!
- Hmmm.... this would be better if done this way, here's what I suggest...
- And what the heck are you thinking???
(Ok in all fairness this was my interpretation of the process!)
Wow, what's happening now?!!
Seriously though the audit was amazing. The process was carefully explained by Casey the owner of Mediawyse.com and thoroughly laid out for future reference. Each action item has a solution. I've slowly been chipping away and making changes, corrections and implementing new procedures. If you are a blogger, I highly recommend Mediawyse! Casey is knowledgeable, thorough, responsive and easy to work with.
Here's the change I wanted to share and I know you'll appreciate! Jump to Recipe and Print Recipe buttons at the top of the blog. Each blog contains a story associated with the recipe. However, for those times when you just want the recipe, or are dashing to the store and want to print off the recipe now you can just click these buttons!
The new buttons are highlighted here - right next to the red arrows.
You'll find JUMP TO RECIPE and PRINT REICPE now on the top of every post! No need to scroll down to everything to find the recipe, yay! Just hover your mouse over the button and click, you'll jump down to the recipe or print screen. So this is what's happening - cool stuff huh?!!!
Other changes included things like hosting speed, blog layout, page speed, etc. Not your area of interest, so I won't bore you with all of the details, but I really wanted to point out the new buttons to you! The stories are part of my blog. The ads you see help pay for my blog. These button will help YOU enjoy the blog more!
I also want to give a shout-out to Andrew from blogtutor.com - he's the guy behind the scenes helping me with the techy stuff. Professional, delivers as promised and patient (I guess he has to be working with me!) I highly recommend him also!
Ok... enough about the technical stuff- today is Meatless Monday, so let me share some of my favorite recipes if you're trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup, one of my very favorites! And with the leftovers you can make Butternut Squash Pasta - so yummy and a great recipe that transforms leftovers! And if you'd like a sandwich to go with that soup then give my Greek Stuffed Crouton a Vegetarian Sandwich a try - love all that crunch!
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash, Butternut Squash Pasta and Greek Stuffed Crouton a Vegetarian Sandwich
Thank you for opening the blog, reading the stories, making and sharing my recipes! I am so grateful for each and everyone of you following me along on my blog journey - thank you for your support!
Please contact me any time you have ideas for improvements, questions about a recipe or feedback! And of course dropping in and commenting on the blog is always great - I love to hear from yoU! My email address is [email protected] My goal is that these changes makes your interaction with Bowl Me Over easier!
For more family adventures and fun, be sure to check out these blogs - Honoring Memorial Day, Family Night with the Oakland A's and Thanksgiving in Oregon.
debi at Life Currents
Thanks for the info. I need to do more SEO stuff. I'll be looking at the info you provided. I also really like that jump to recipe button. Maybe I should install one too. Congrats on blogging for 3 years too.
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Debi, if you are ready to do the SEO stuff both Casey and Andrew have been great to work with.
Jehan Hale
Awesome changes to the blog!
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Jehan!!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
SEO audits can be very useful.Print recipe buttons are a great idea
Bowl Me Over
I think so too Bintu & have gotten some great feedback.
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com
Oh man, blogging is a never-ending job, isn't it? Besides the fun and games of the food, there's so much to think about on the tech side of things. The blog is looking great, and more importantly, the soup is looking great too! 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Thanks Elizabeth!! It is a never-ending job, huh?!! Good thing we have all that good food to enjoy while we are pulling our hair out! 😀
jayne
I just had a SEO audit too! very worthwhile, lots of things i wasn't really thinking were associated with SEO. love the new buttons at beginning if post, very user friendly! was it easy to do??
Bowl Me Over
I completely agree Jayne! The buttons were coded by Andrew of http://www.blogtutor.com he's been great to work with!
Rae
I don't know if the glitch is on my end or yours, but as I was reading through your post the page kept being re-centered to the top or bottom of the page... It seemed like as the mediavine add was loading it was readjusting the rest of the page. 🙂
Bowl Me Over
Thanks for the heads up Rae, it's not something I've experienced here, but will ask a couple of colleagues to check. Appreciate you stopping by!
Carla
I totally empathize with you here lol ... I've been tweaking myself and it's a daunting task, isn't it? I love your recipe for Butternut Squash Soup and that Greek Veggie Sandwich is to die for. Veggie sandwiches are one of my favs. I can easily skip the meat and not miss it. The Kitchen is one of my favs on Food Network too! It's my Saturday go to lol
Bowl Me Over
It is a daunting task, ahhh! Not my forte, that's for sure!! Thanks Carla, I appreciate the words of encouragement. Enjoy that sandwich!! 😀
Liza
Debra, thank you so much for sharing your audit experience! I've been thinking about doing the audit for my blog, too (and was pointed out by a few people that I Need to have it done) 🙂 And Big Thanks for talking about the importance of these buttons that help improve our readers' experience!This is important!
Finally... that Butternut Squash soup... I AM SO making it!!! I love it! It looks amazing and I LOVE all the things from the slow-cooker (since it basically does most of the cooking for you!!)
Thank you!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Bowl Me Over
That soup is fabulous, one of my very favorites, please do try!! And the audit.... so much to learn, lots of changes but I'm plugging away!! 😀