Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, and I couldn't be more thrilled (or nervous, to be honest!). For those who know me from SunnySideSuppers.com, thank you for joining me on this new platform. And to new friends, welcome - I hope you find warmth, inspiration, and deliciousness here.
Why Substack? What Is It?
Substack is a platform that allows writers to send newsletters to their audience and also offer a mix of free & paid content. This setup offers something unique - a space where writing and community come together without intrusive advertising.
As Sunny Side Suppers continues to grow, I've been exploring ways to enrich our community and the content I share with you. The move to Substack will serve two main purposes:
Keep you updated with the latest free recipes on SunnySideSuppers.com.
Offer a space for unique supporting member content available only on Substack.
Free Membership: New Dinner Ideas Every Week
The weekly newsletter sends updates directly in your inbox with the latest recipes on SunnySideSuppers.com. These recipes are free for everyone.
If you haven’t already, please hit that subscribe button and select the free option to get an email when new recipes & videos are published:
Paid Membership: Exclusive Breakfast & Dessert Recipes
The second aspect of this Substack journey is the introduction of exclusive content for supporting members.
But why create a space separate from the blog?
How traditional food blogging works:
Many food blogs rely on advertising revenue to sustain their operations. Food blogging is my job and ad revenue supports my family. It also covers the time and energy spent on recipe development, photography, videography, and writing. Every single post you see represents 8-10 hours of work.
However, the ad-supported model means bloggers have to focus on creating content that ranks well on search engines to attract traffic. The more visitors there are, the more ad revenue we earn. This often means prioritizing recipes that are popular in search over those that no one knows about, but are wonderful to cook and eat.
I try to do a mix of both, but it’s a tricky balance. On the one hand I want to simply share great recipes. On the other hand, I need people to FIND my blog in order to get traffic. For that to happen, I have to consider what they are already searching for online. It’s basically the food blogger version of Star Trek’s Kobayashi Maru.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made things even more complicated. These days it is not uncommon for AI to copy entire recipes without credit, and it is increasingly common for bad actors to use AI to copy entire posts or images. I have seen so much food blogger content copied with AI and then monetized on other sites. This is a form of copyright theft that our current system just isn’t equipped to handle.
All of this means that running a traditional food blog is increasingly about feeding the machine. And that just sucks the joy out of creating. (I literally had a nightmare once about being stuck on a treadmill and endlessly running to feed tokens into a robot.)
A space for culinary freedom:
By adding exclusive recipes to Substack, I can share the recipes I love without needing to worry about search engines (and hopefully, less about AI). I’m talking about those easy, delicious recipes that friends and family request on repeat.
I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked “Why isn’t this on your blog?” and I’ve totally confused them with an answer about search engines and their algorithms.
In other words: Substack creates a unique opportunity to publish the recipes that might never "rank" but still deserve a place in our hearts and kitchens. ❤️
By supporting Sunny Side Suppers on Substack, you're not just getting access to exclusive recipes. You're joining a movement away from the constraints of search engine and AI driven content. Instead, you’re helping to build a community where food is celebrated for the joy it brings to our tables.
What Comes With a Paid Membership?
Paid membership will unlock exclusive access to breakfast and dessert recipes. I love making pancakes, cakes, cookies, muffins and pies. Even homemade ice cream, I adore it all! While SunnySideSuppers.com focuses on dinner ideas, Substack is the perfect platform to share beloved treats with you.
All of the recipes will have a printable version, as well as an online version. This way you can make them in whatever way is most convenient.
Thank You For Being the Most Important Ingredient
Regardless of your subscription level, I'm grateful you've chosen to join me on this culinary journey. Cooking is more than just preparing food; it's a way to express love, create memories, and bring people together. I'm honored to share this experience with you.
If you ever have questions, suggestions, or just want to share your own kitchen victories, please feel free to reach out.