If I think back to when I was at uni I spent the majority of my time eating noodles on toast and drinking Lambrini. Ebooks were not in existence. Facebook had only just launched, MSN was still a thing, wow do I feel old! & now here my mum is trending on Twitter…
Cooking at uni just had a glow up…
I am in awe. My mum put together an ebook of recipes for my little sisters to take to uni and it went viral on Twitter.
Now “ going viral” is one of those things that you can’t plan for. It’s one of those things that I was always asked by clients as an account manager and a marketing manager. Clicks and shares are great, but how do we go viral?
Ask my mum. This is her btw, isn’t she awesome?
In all seriousness, I don’t think there is a foolproof strategy to “going viral”. Sure you can keep abreast of trending topics and make your content A* but a lot of it is luck and good timing (plus of course, banging cheese sauces).
Seeing something quite literally blow up it did open my eyes to a few things and I thought I’d scribble them down, because, well, it’s me and I write e’rythang down.
Trending on Twitter lesson Number 1: Timing is key
Obviously this wasn’t a planned “launch” of an ebook but if it was, the timing couldn’t have been better. My sisters head to uni next month and so does everyone else their age. People have just received their A-Level results and lots are busy packing up their stuff ready to head into the big bad world of lectures, questionable romances and Wetherspoons breakfasts. This is a likely reason for the content to be picked up as well as it has – the timing is perfect, people can relate to it and it’s filled with useful info.
Lesson Number 2: JFD (Just fucking do it)
Sorry for the swearing mum. But obviously this was an accidental success but if mum had thought about launching an ebook for uni students, along with the idea, doubt would have crept in. For every reason why she should launch an ebook, there would be 10 niggly reasons not to. Which is only natural. But sometimes going with your gut pays off!
Trending on Twitter lesson Number 3: React quickly
“Trending topics” tend to have a short shelf life, so you have to act quick. Some of the best social media responses I’ve seen online is when a brand claps back in retaliation to a current issue or comment. The conversation between ASOS and Boohoo over who would be offering Love Island’s Ovie a clothing deal, had me in stitches. So naturally I got on the phone to mum to get her ebook onto Etsy while the conversation was still cooking…
Lesson Number 4: If your product fulfils a real need, people will buy it
Obviously this was something created for my sisters to have on their phones to help them navigate their food cupboards and not become salmonella casualties. The format is handy AF and I wish I’d had a palm sized food guide to hand during my studies. Whereas I had just got over the loss of Snake (RIP 3210) and had upgraded to a pink Motorola Razr with a colour screen. Oh the glamour.
Trending on Twitter lesson Number 5: Having a follow up
A cookbook one day, world domination the next? In all seriousness, the interest generated in this post shows there’s demand for that niche, or in this instance, this quiche.. So if something works well, keep doing it! How do we feel about a roast dinner series next?! You don’t even know what you’ve started here mum…
There is a slight irony of a tweet trending to do with recipes being associated to me though, with my penchant for fish finger sandwiches and habit of adding Heinz Baked Beans to everything. I can confirm culinary skills do not run in the family.
Do you want Mama’s recipes?
I’m super proud of my mum, creating a product and releasing it to market within a day? I am shooketh.
If you or a loved one are heading off to uni soon and want a couple of A* recipes to take with you click this link to purchase (£3.60 and all the money earned goes towards treating mama). In all seriousness, if this blogging lark doesn’t pan out (pun intended) I’ll happily be a mummager – here for all recipe based PR enquiries.
LY mum – and I have to agree with the girl on Twitter that said “you a bad b**ch for cooking scrambled eggs in a frying pan” is there really any other way to do it? Xo
I definitely could have done with that at uni! I was known to text my nan asking how to cook things when my mum didn’t answer… Your mum must be chuffed with how well this has gone down, hats off to her! Becca x
Author August 29, 2019 / 8:12 am
She’s just amazed bless her she just did it to help my sisters and ended up helping a load of other people at the same time. So pleased for her 😂😭 I’m such a lazy cook probably should start using her recipes more 🤪 xx
This is such a good idea! I’ll have to have a look at your ebook because I’m the laziest of cooks, the Mac n cheese looks amazing x
Kayleigh Zara 🌟 http://www.kayleighzaraa.com
Author August 30, 2019 / 6:29 pm
Omg my mum is THE best cook! She never believes us when we say it so this was literally the proof in the pudding 😂👌🏼 I’m a terrible cook so gutted I didn’t inherit the skills ha xx
Your mumma is top dollar!
Author September 4, 2019 / 4:11 pm
Isn’t she the best!! xx
My mum has some of the best recipes that I now veganise! That is amazing that your mum did that!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan
Author August 30, 2019 / 7:47 pm
That’s such a good idea babe there’s not enough good vegan cook books 👌🏼👌🏼
I wish you could write this year back because that’s when i needed good dorm friendly recipes for myself. it was hardest days but your mother is amazing <3
Author August 30, 2019 / 7:51 pm
Omg I wish she wrote it millions of years back when I was at uni to stop me binging on super noodles on toast (not a thing btw) 😂😂 xx
What a sweet thing for a mother to do! I often forget how easy it is to leave home and let all eating awareness fly out the window with premade and packaged good. It is truly like a big hearted mother to enable her daughters to keep eating well as they leave the nest.
Author August 31, 2019 / 9:29 am
I know right! She’s such a cutie – wish she’d done it a little earlier though to stop me binging on noodles on toast haha 😂 xx
🙈❤️💋
Author August 31, 2019 / 9:29 am
😇 love you xx