It’s one of the trickiest facts of human experience: you never truly know what someone else is thinking. On a personal level, this leads us to make assumptions like “They looked at me sideways; they must hate me” when the truth is often much simpler. They were lost in thought, distracted, or replaying something in their own mind.

We’re always in our own heads, and so is everyone else. We filter reality through internal stories, past experiences, fears, and desires. For food bloggers, that means we often misread what our readers actually want. We make mental leaps like “They must want fresh content every day,” “My posts have to be flawless,” or “Everyone will try every recipe” that don’t serve us or our audience.

Let’s unpack three big assumptions, reframe them, and look at how to better align your blogging choices with what really drives connection and growth.

1. “My readers want new content ALL THE TIME.”

The assumption

You think, “If I don’t publish something new tomorrow, readers will forget me or leave.” So you push to churn out new recipes, new posts, new ideas as fast as possible.

The reality

Most readers don’t actually know whether content is freshly created or repurposed. From their perspective, updated or reissued content can feel brand new.
Also, more content doesn’t always lead to more impact. Depth, clarity, and emotional resonance often matter more than frequency.

Reframe

Instead of chasing “new” all the time, focus on what’s new to the reader or meaningfully refreshed. You can absolutely revisit and reframe older recipes or posts if the value is still strong.

Action step

Look through your top 20 posts. Which ones could you update, enhance, or promote again in a fresh way? Imagine seeing them for the first time? What would catch your attention or feel more relevant?

Want help applying this repurposing method to your content plan?

Let’s talk.

2. “My content has to be perfect.”

The assumption

You believe, “If there’s a typo, a clumsy sentence, or a missing substitution, my readers will think less of me.” So you delay, polish, and overthink every post.

The reality

“Perfect” doesn’t exist in the mind of your reader. They care about usefulness, inspiration, and ease more than they care about your grammar. Unpublished content helps no one. It can’t inspire or attract readers until it’s out in the world.

Reframe

Done is better than perfect. A recipe that is usable and published is far more valuable than a flawless draft that never sees the light of day.

Action step

Take one recipe draft you’ve been holding back. Set a timer for 60 minutes. Use that time to polish the basics, then publish it. Let your audience engage, and make improvements later based on feedback.

3. “My readers make everything I post.”

The assumption

You think, “If someone clicks, they’ll make the dish. If they save it, they’ll cook it this week.”

The reality

Most readers are window-shopping. They browse, save, pin, and move on. They might have good intentions, but only a fraction of clicked recipes ever get made.

That’s okay. You don’t need every reader to cook every recipe. And while making your recipes is awesome, what you really want is for them to trust your voice, return often, and click, click click.

Reframe

Focus less on trying to get everyone to make every recipe and more on building connection over time. Readers return for the experience and inspiration, not just the cooking instructions.

Action step

Track which posts get clicked versus which get comments, photos, or feedback from actual cooking. Use Instagram stories, polls, or email questions like, “Which of my recipes have you made?” Learn what converts readers into doers and create more of that.

Why this mindset shift matters

• You take pressure off yourself by not having to guess what readers want every day
• You avoid perfection paralysis and start building momentum through action
• You shift from expecting immediate conversions to building lasting trust
• You allow readers to engage on their terms and in their time

As you imagine applying these shifts, which assumption have you clung to most? Which recipe, post, or series would feel easier to move forward on right now?

Final thoughts

You’ll never truly know what your readers are thinking and that’s a gift. It allows you to stop guessing and start creating from a place of clarity, purpose, and curiosity. Let go of assumptions. Ask more questions. Test your theories. Watch what your audience actually responds to and build from there.

If you want help uncovering the assumptions slowing down your blog growth, let’s map out your personalized recipe for success together.

Book your free discovery call now.

🔎 FAQ

Q: Isn’t new content always better for SEO and reader engagement?
A: Not necessarily. Updating and republishing older high-performing content can be just as powerful. What matters most is that the content is relevant and helpful to the reader.

Q: How do I maintain quality without being a perfectionist?
A: Set clear quality standards and publish once they’re met. Let go of the idea that every post needs to be flawless. Use real reader feedback to refine over time.

Q: How do I know if people are actually making my recipes?
A: Use direct feedback from Instagram tags, reader emails, blog comments, and polls. Ask them. You’ll quickly notice which recipes spark action.