Aug 15, 2012 / Posts We Loved

What Makes a Post Freshly Press-able? A Recipe For Attention

Every day, 19 WordPressers are featured on the Freshly Pressed section of WordPress.com. And every day, many more wonder, “What do I have to do to get Freshly Pressed?”

Well, it’s time to reveal what the folks who push the launch button are thinking. Each week, a member of our editorial team will do a close-up on one post and why we thought it was Press-worthy. We hope we can provide insight into the process and give you tips and tools to make your blog the best it can be.
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Yesterday on Freshly Pressed we ran this recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios and Lemon, from Jen and her blog Lattes and Leggings. We love to read food blogs and we browse dozens each week. Here is why this one made the cut:

The recipe was unique and interesting.

The brussels sprout is one of those vegetables that is mostly hated and only loved by a dedicated few. It has some of the same traits as cabbage: swampy green, easily made mushy, and a tendency toward a sulfurous taste. But Jen made it look and sound delicious, instilling a brightness and freshness when paired with the other ingredients.

Generally when it comes to recipes, we look for something that stands out, using foods we don’t often see or in ways that are not typical. It can be about foods that are healthy and make eating right easy, or on the other hand, dishes that are so decadent and rich that our eyes get hungry just looking at them. Of course, it takes more than the food to catch our eye, as the next item shows.

It got personal.

Jen gave us more than a look at a recipe. She gave a look into her life. She talked about the Met, finding restaurants, and anecdotes about Italy. She just shares herself:

We stumbled upon Cotta Osteria in the Upper West Side. I’ve walked past it a million times, but never thought to try it. As soon as I walked in the door I knew this was going to become my new favorite wine bar.

She tells a tale, which leads to her love of brussels sprouts, which segues into the actual veggie recipe. It is wonderfully done and an enticing read. I plan to actually try making this myself later this week. With extra lemon.

The images were large and colorful.

Images help to break up text and make an article easier to read. With posts about food and eating it can be especially crucial: The visual of a prepared dish is important to enticing the reader, to make them imagine both the flavors and the experience of devouring it. And for a recipe, images illustrating each step help the readability of the post.

Jen also used large photos so a reader can easily see the details and not have to stop and squint to make things out. The ability to click through the images to even larger versions is also a wonderful feature. Of course, the design that Jen’s blog uses allows images of such large size.

Overall, the post was easy to read and so you just enjoy the content itself–the lines and photos of the food.

So what did you think of this pick? Of this recipe?

For more on our Freshly Pressed content, check out last week’s Freshly Press-able post, the roundup of July’s top 10 posts, or read So You Want to Be Freshly Pressed?

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  1. In other words, if you write about food, take pictures of food and write a story about yourself interacting with said food, you win. That said, I’ve enjoyed a few of the food blogs, amongst others, that have appeared in Freshly Pressed. Regardless of what I think, an achievement is an achievement and those who get there ought to be commended.

    Nevertheless, some of the actual rhetorical content of what has constituted FP is nothing short of execrable. And, last I checked, it was WordPress, not Insta-Shop-Press. If the best of what WP has to offer has little or nothing to do with actual literary talent or skill, then there are many of us who are left to throw up our hands in resignation. I hope I do not merely speak for myself as a frustrated writer.

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    1. Well, more like “if you write about food, take pictures of food and write a story about yourself interacting with said food, you may be among the winners.” (Insofar as you’ve “won” anything.) We work hard to make sure lots of different voices get featured, and plenty of gorgeous writing makes it.

      If it helps, we’re refining the topics that appear under each Freshly Pressed pick to make it easier for you to decide what you feel like reading about. I’d love to know if that enhances your experience.

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    2. brent is correct michelle W. you guys are way too sentimental and a pattern is clear in freshly pressed. neither of us are saying this to be insulting. We are just saying that you have to realize it and be aware that it does go on. Food should not take precedence over politics and more complex and thought-provoking subjects.

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  5. So how likely is it that a blog/post about society will be chosen?
    I’m very interested in knowing how Long Reads can compare with.. shorter reads.. 😉

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  7. Obviously, a blog featured as being fresh pressed needs to be interesting and well-written. It seems to me, though, that there are well-written blogs of a more “meaty” type that could be featured on a more equal basis with the more “fluffy” ones. Just an observation that has crossed my mind several times when perusing the fresh pressed blogs.

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    1. And it’s a great observation! We launched this weekly feature so we can highlight the best posts from a variety of blogs — we’ve only just started, so stay tuned.

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  10. Its good that you actually read the post. I look forward to one of my post being featured on Freshly Pressed.

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  11. Definitely deserved Freshly Pressed because I made this recipe tonight and it rocked! I know that isn’t entirely the point. But it did make me hungry for brussel sprouts…which isn’t normal for me. And mine turned out as gorgeous as the photo. Very engaging post.

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  13. I just made this recipe tonight and it was AWESOME!!! I liked that it was easy and affordable as well as delicious! Blogging has enabled me to eat so much better food lately! Thanks Freshly Pressed.

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  18. Yum, i love sprout too, my little one year old does too – How strange of him.
    About the freshly pressed part, it can be hard just to get noticed, I have found it particularly hard these first few months but suprisingly alot of people enjoy my blog and I am expanding to include some new things soon.
    Hopefully we will all see some new followers soon and eventually i might even be ‘freshly pressed’ who knows. 🙂 good luck to those who are also waiting, and thankyou so much for posting this.

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  19. I not only LOVE sprouts but also often make photographic Step-by-Step recipes so that people can LEARN to cook and gain the confidence to enjoy cooking.

    However I also blog about a LOT about our family travels, family life and kids, and sometimes crafts so my blog isn’t primarily *just* a food blog.

    Therefore my question is:
    Because as a Foodie, I blog about foods we find when we travel, or that I make at home…but since I have a multi-topic multi-functional blog …does this exclude me from whatever perameters WordPress gurus use to select Freshly Pressed candidates?

    Yes, I blog every day :Three years now, and have ALL origonal photos and try to provide as many quality posts as possible, so is it just that my blog doen’t follow a singular theme that’s holding it back?

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    1. Hi kiwidutch – as we mentioned in the first “What Makes a Post…” , “There are half a million of you and a handful of us, and we’re scouring the blogosphere day in and day out. If we don’t find you, it’s nothing personal – promise. Keep writing, and we’ll keep looking.”

      But don’t worry about your site having only a single topic – the Freshly Pressed posts are about the *post* itself, not the blog.

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      1. Sara,
        Many Thanks for taking the time to make a reply to my question, it’s very much appreciated 🙂

        One other question though ( yes…I’m truly Dutch, why get 2c worth when you can maybe get 5 ?) 🙂

        In a previous WP topic on getting Freshly Pressed, the staff writer said that imaginiatve, catchy Titles, were more interesting and eye catching for readers and WP selectors than plain titles (“went here, did this” etc).
        That’s why a post of mine titled “Black, Sparkling and VERY Hot!” is actually about a travel stop to a black volcanic sand beach….

        However, recently I saw a post somewhere that said that blog posts could be improved if Titles that were to the point, describing *exactly* what the topic was about i.e. “went here, did this” !

        Now I’m confused…

        … as a blogger who’s always looking to improve my posts, which do you recommend it should it be please?

        Should Jen have entitled her post “Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios and Lemon,” …
        … or something more eye catching like:

        ” Sprouting Muscles from Brussels with a Citrus Kick (in the Pistacho Nuts!) ”

        🙂

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  22. Well all I can add is that I saw, I made and I conquered. My 10 year old had three helpings and another for her packed lunch. I reckon that equates to about 15-20 sprouts. A rare event on both counts. Photo grabbed me, the simplicity of method and the quirky ingredients. Well done to Jen.

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  25. I despise brussels sprouts and this blog left me wanting to eat them 🙂 Now HOW do I use that psychology on my children…

    Please visit my blog, I would love any feedback. Even though I’ve been writing for nearly 20 years, I’m relatively new to blogging and will gladly take pointers from the wealth of amazing bloggers here. Thank you in advance!

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  26. Thanks for the tips. As a new blogger, I’m not sure what topics, pictures, personal anecdotes are “liked” by others, so this helps. I do like this blog post for all the reasons you gave — and just because it’s good! Sooo many good blogs, soooo little time!

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    1. “As a new blogger, I’m not sure what topics, pictures, personal anecdotes are “liked” by others, so this helps.” << Indeed, from these posts you get an idea of what people like. But I think it's important to note that you should blog about what interests *you* — your passions, curiosities — instead of blogging about what you think others will like. It's that more organic process that is enjoyable, from my experience. And your blogging voice will evolve naturally from this.

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  28. Dear Colleagues,
    I am a Hungarian blogger and have been ranked in the last months at Fresly Pressed selection. However, a few days ago I have disappeared from this. My statistictics has not changed and I have not altered any relevant function at Dashboard. What may the reason be for this? Can you help me? Thank you.

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  29. Fresh post is like a delicious dish
    when food is something interesting differences will eaters feel they really like

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  30. I must admit, I hate it when recipes make Freshly Pressed. Yes, there’s an art to great food photography, but everyone has a great story of Grandma’s recipe. Just my opinion @ #notafoodhater. 🙂

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    1. Hi Steven – I think there’s more to recipes then a Grandma story and food photography. Sometimes a great recipe can be art in itself. I feel like the kitchen is where I can be creative and express myself, and I don’t think that deserves any less attention than someone who puts pen to paper and creates a new piece of literature. Just a thought. 🙂

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      1. No disrespect intended, I promise. I do agree with your point about work in the kitchen as a form of art. No question about it. I’m just jealous. Tried every venue I know to get to freshly pressed and haven’t made it yet. Pardon my venting on your good work. You deserved it. Going to follow your blog now.

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      2. No worries! Just to clarify, I have not been freshly pressed either so I’m jealous of Ms. Brussel Sprouts as well. But I’m new in the blogosphere so I haven’t reached the point of frustration in that respect yet – give me a year and I’m sure I’ll be the one venting! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Thanks for following me!

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