The final Vida Vegan Con and the evolution of my online content and presence.

I returned home Monday night after a spectacular weekend in Austin, TX for the third – and sadly final – Vida Vegan Con. I’ve attended all three of the cons. I’m not going to do a whole recap post here but I did write about the overall impact of VVC on my life and career in my monthly newsletter. An excerpt:

community

Read on here

…and grab my Savory Grilled Grapes recipe while you’re there!

savory grilled grapes

Which leads me to something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.

You may or may not have noticed that what I share and write here has changed over the years.

I’ve never had a “big blog” with lots of commenters. But I have had a consistent blog – which has morphed more into a website – and many of you have been faithful readers (thank you!). Once Google Reader collapsed I noticed a real dip in readership (I get it, I’m guilty of reading fewer blogs, as a result, too). And as my vegan career has grown, the content I share here is still instructive but also highlights and promotes events, classes, services, and more.

Consequently, I began to expand where I focused online content to meet the ever-changing social media platforms – and to address shorter online attention spans.

These days you can find me

  • Here, on my website and blog (you can get each blog entry delivered to your inbox by clicking here).
  • On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, all of which have proven to be incredibly engaging, with more in-depth conversations and reflections between me and my followers.
  • Then Periscope entered my life (and I am digging it!). Again, it’s that instant connection and engagement that I enjoy. It’s a mobile app (iOS and Android) and I use it successfully on my iPhone but I love it on my iPad. Here are a few recent videos (short! promise!):

Vegan eats at the United Club at DIA

Home from Vida Vegan Con with Rabbit Food Grocery goodies

Unpacking a vintage cooking pressure package

  • I have two YouTube channels (ugh, I don’t know why I have two, but I blame Google!)

Finally, my written content is now focused on my newsletters. Why? Because people actually read my newsletters.

I write my “main” JL goes Vegan newsletter once a month; I share recipes, exclusive giveaways and/or tackle a single topic. You can subscribe here.

JL goes Vegan monthly newsletter

Dave and I write a weekly Real World Vegan Meal Plans newsletter. (You do not need to be a subscriber to our meal plans to receive the emails.) We strive to offer weekly tips and strategies to make eating vegan easy, accessible, and delicious. You can subscribe here.

Real World Vegan Meal Plans weekly newsletter

Does this all seem a bit much?

It is actually really working.

I love that on Facebook and Twitter I can share links to news, videos, photos and information that promotes a vegan lifestyle and shares the important impact of our dietary and lifestyle choices on animals, the environment, and our own health. On Instagram I can share food, food, food! On Periscope I can offer quick glimpses into my vegan lifestyle. On YouTube I can dive further to demonstrate how-to’s to help you on our journey. In my newsletters I can dig deep into a particular topic.

And here I can continue sharing musings, rants, recipes, events, and celebrate everything wonderful about being and living vegan.

Now trust me when I say I’m not asking you – nor expecting you – to follow me via all of these outlets! I’m simply letting you know where I am online to fit where you are online so, together, we can live happy, healthy, joyful vegan lives!