Nearly 500 restaurant reviews, and I’m thinking of the future of this blog.
Does it have a future? 🤔 Are people still interested (have they ever been) in reading my restaurant reviews of vegan and vegan friendly places? …
The reach through social media channels is plummeting. Only big influencer pages, paying to have a bigger reach get the feedback and interaction. 😞
I’ve always loved sharing my restaurant impressions, and I also love looking back at my archive. It’s quite a food journal! 🍕🍜🥗🌮🥦🥪
But writing the reviews and updating the lists of restaurants in Bruges and beyond, does take a lot of time. Time, which I could easily spend on other things.
It’s also quite depressing to often get little to no feedback on posts, so is it really worthwhile?
I’m sure this post will drop like a rock in the social media abyss, not even being shown in people’s feed, unless of course, I would pay for an add.
I refuse.
If you do see this post, what are you thoughts? 💚
I like the picture of the birthday candles. 🙂 I really enjoy reading your posts, they are really interesting.
Thank you so much, really appreciated <3
I would keep writing if it makes you happy. 🙂
dear Trudi,
i always look at your reviews and if they are anyway near us (in Holland) i put them in a special folder … to consult when we go visit A, B, C … (and Bruges, once in a while) and i always enjoy reading them! but indeed, i hardly ever take the time to send you feedback ; -(
so if you feel you’d better spend your time on other projects (i can image three or four of those) … i would be sorry not to get the BrugesVegan mails anymore, but i would understand! you deserve a larger and more responsive audience!
Bedankt Lieve Noor. <3
Yes, I have a couple of other projects to spend my time on, too many! Choices choices, always so hard for me 😉
I’ve saved many of your posts for future travel stops. Although we haven’t been traveling for a while now, we do plan to again. I love your posts and often envy the food you get to experience. We have vegan options here, but not nearly the variety you see. I’ve shared your blog with others, as well! I do understand the frustration about lack of feedback, though… it’s put me off my own blog at times also. I do hope you continue and I’ll try to get back to blogging regularly too.
Thanks Karen. If you ever travel to these parts, do let me know! I think many peeople don’t realise the amount of work that goes into providing all this information. I’m still not sure what to do, there’s a few reviews to go before I reach 500. It’s hard to ‘close’ this blog as well…
Sadly, we haven’t travelled since the pandemic began, but eventually we’d love to see Belgium, and we’ll let you know when we finally get on a plane again! Your information is greatly helpful and also something I always read and enjoy, but I’m sure keeping up such a blog is tiring. Still, it supports veganism and I’m grateful for you! Perhaps take a short break instead of closing down?
I love reading them, and I’ve saved many of them for future travel plans. I can understand if they are too time consuming to continue them, though! Maybe scale down, if that’s easier for you? And yeah, I get the frustration about social media algorythms! (It’s frustrating from a reader point of view too.) At the end of the day… do what works best for you, and thank you for all the reviews. I’m sure I’m not the only one who appreciate them.
Thank you Emma, really appreciate that . I still have some review to go before I’m at 500, so still in consideration 😉
I love reading them too! I often use your amazing archive when we go to a city we’ve never been before, and I’ve sent it to other people too.
You are the only person that can decide what to do, I know blogging (and keeping a website up to date) takes lots of time!
thanks, appreciate you taking the time to comment <3
Hee Trui,
Als de resto’s niet al te ver weg zijn, lees ik je reviews altijd en met veel plezier. Je hebt zo’n herkenbare en prettige stijl. En als we ergens heengaan, kijk ik altijd of er een resto is dat je hebt gereviewed. Maar ik kan me helemaal voorstellen dat het ook een keer genoeg is, temeer daar je andere, en meer kunstzinnige bezigheden hebt, zoals quilten. Die nieuwste waar je nu mee bezig bent, kan straks zo naar het museum! En muziek maken. Dat geeft allemaal direct plezier! Ergens eten is leuk en hopelijk vaak lekker. Maar er dan nog een review over schrijven kan wel eens een loden last worden. Had ik op het laatst ook vaak met interviews. Heel leuk gesprek, maar dan gaan zitten en een verhaal tikken … oooohhwww kreun, geen zin …
Nou ja, ik verheug me iig op ons weerzien.
Knuffel van Siebrand
Bedankt voor de complimenten Siebrand. Het is nog steeds wikken en wegen. Ik heb nog even voor ik aan de 500ste ben 😉
En die quilt, die moet eerst nog afgemaakt worden hé 😉
I always read your reviews Trudi, and have followed up on your recommendations when visiting Belgian cities.
Thank you so much. That means a lot to me 🙂
Please keep going! I probably won’t be visiting most of these places at any time in the near future, but I always read your reviews and hope that some day I will be able to visit some of these restaurants for myself.
Thank you so much. If you ever do come to these parts, let me know and I will gladly give you some tips 🙂
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500 reviews! WOW! My wife and I just started doing this in our area and have…uh…three.
But I’m already questioning how to get our posts out there, and as you mentioned, is it even worth it?
However, I suppose for me, in this moment, I find the physical act of writing more cathartic than the actual need for readership- though it’s always nice to be noticed.
Either way, 500 should be celebrated. Congratulations!