“I’ve discovered that in order to
make big changes in the world, we have to begin at home.”
Ann M. Martin
I feel like I’ve been waiting a long time to publish this guest post by my best-friend and fellow mental health Blogger (on www.gumonmyshoe.com), Martin Baker. This is mostly because over recent years, he’s actually mentioned a couple of times the idea of making changes to his blog, particularly, in terms of the layout, design, and content of the pages etc but obviously hasn’t acted upon those considerations… Until now! Just two days ago – on January 24th – Martin finally revealed the huge revamp he’d been working on for what feels like a lifetime! And I’m so incredibly proud of him for taking this huge step and risk, for putting so much time, energy, and thought into blogging. I’ve always said that whilst I don’t have a whole of ‘friends’ I do feel a special connection between Martin and I because he’s my only best-friend with a blog and with blogging and content creation in general, being such a huge and important part of my life, it really matters to have someone who appreciates and understands all that it can entail. So, wishing Martin the most massive of luck for the response he receives from his blog’s readers and an equally massive well done for the dedication, determination, and commitment it took to do the revamp! Now, over to Martin…
I’m grateful to Aimee for the chance to talk about the recent revamp of Gum on My Shoe, the blog I run with my American best friend Fran Houston. For those who don’t know us, Gum on My Shoe explores mental health and supportive friendships. It’s based on our experiences as transatlantic best friends. There’ve been a few tweaks to the website since we started it in 2013, but this is its first major reimagining. Fran and I are both excited and it means the world that Aimee offered this opportunity to spread the word. Thank you! With that said, let’s move on to the questions.
1. When did you to realise it was time to revamp Gum on My Shoe rather than simply continue as it was?
I’d wanted to update it for a year or so but hadn’t taken things very far. I don’t know what was different this time other than it being the start of a new year. As most people don’t say unless they’re bloggers: new year, new website!
2. How much did your own mental health journey influence the decision to make changes to the blog’s structure, tone, or direction?
I wouldn’t say the decision related directly to my mental health, but it is relevant to the inner journey I’ve been on for the past few years. I’ve shared a good deal of that journey on the blog so the two are definitely intertwined. I’d say my confidence in making these changes goes hand-in-hand with my increasingly confident self-identity as a writer and blogger.
3. Where did you start with the revamp: content, design, purpose, or somewhere else?
The main focus and purpose of our blog haven’t changed. That is, to share stories and lived experience related to mental health and supportive friendships. On the other hand, the static content on the site (for example the information about us, the resources page, contact details etc.) was in sore need of a review. The same was true of the site’s overall design. This had scarcely changed since we launched Gum on My Shoe over twelve years ago and was feeling stale.
4. Looking back, what aspects of the old version of the blog no longer felt aligned with who you are now, either personally or creatively?
There were a few things that didn’t work so well. The theme had separate layouts for desktop and mobile views, but some content was difficult to access on mobile devices. This included the side menu which held the blog archive, key word map, and a few other details. The pale blue colour scheme also felt dated.
5. Did you experience any resistance, self-doubt, or anxiety during the revamp process — and if so, how did you manage that?
Once I’d taken the decision to update the website and actually made a start, I was fully committed and thoroughly enjoyed the process. There were plenty of technical difficulties to figure out, design decisions to make, and lots to learn along the way, but I loved almost every minute of it. (I didn’t enjoy accidentally messing up the domain settings for the website as a whole while trying to address a relatively minor side issue — but I got there in the end!) I was anxious about whether my vision for the new site would align with Fran’s. I do the day-to-day work in running our blog but it’s very much a joint venture. I’m happy to say she loved it! We went through it together in detail. Fran made several suggestions, most of which I agreed with and was able to implement. It was a great example of “teamwork makes the dream work.” That’s a lesson we learned when we wrote our first book together (High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder). I was only slightly less nervous when I handed the new site over to our little team of testers. Inviting people to cast a critical eye over something you’re so invested in isn’t for the faint at heart! I needn’t have worried. Aimee, Robyn, and Sophie, you were brilliant, thank you!
6. How did you decide what to keep, what to let go of, and what to completely reimagine from the original blog?
Beforehand, I thought the main content would only need a little sprucing up, but I ended up giving everything a thorough deep clean. Each page was reviewed for content and organisation. Redundant information was removed or revised. All links were tested. A good example is the Portfolio page. This was previously “News and Appearances” but we weren’t using it for news, and the details of our work went far beyond personal appearances. The new title better matches the content. The site navigation also came in for a good deal of scrutiny. We didn’t implement everything that was suggested to us (sorry, Aimee!) but a lot of thought went into making the new site as user-friendly and easy to navigate as possible.
7. In what ways has the revamp changed how you relate to your readers and the mental health conversations you’re trying to foster?
I’m keen to encourage more guest contributions. I’ve expanded the guest guidelines to clarify what we’re looking for from potential guest bloggers. The revamp also aligns with the concept of nano-influencers, something I only recently became aware of. That term certainly applies to us and I’m keen to explore and exploit its opportunities in the future. There will be a post about nano-influencers towards the end of February where I’ll share a little more about this. The new site allows for an article to be pinned to the home page. I plan to use this feature to highlight important or upcoming information, campaigns etc.
8. Was there a point during the revamp where the process felt therapeutic, challenging, or even triggering — and what did that teach you about yourself?
I work in I. T. and use to design and build websites. I was confident I could handle the technical side of things, though there were certainly issues and challenges I hadn’t anticipated. I’ve learned new skills along the way. These included how to host downloadable content and how to hide or display elements depending on whether the visitor is using a desktop or mobile device. (The CSS @media tag, if anyone is interested.) I’ve also explored privacy-friendly web analytics to gain a greater understanding of our site’s performance. All of this is exciting and engaging for me. As Fran, Aimee, and other friends can attest, I’ve scarcely shut up about it since I began the revamp project!
9. How do you balance authenticity and vulnerability with your boundaries?
The revamp gave me the opportunity to assess how well or otherwise our blog supported our core message and values. The new site feels cleaner and puts a greater focus on our main blog content. The process also got me thinking about the subjects we share and how they’re presented. It’s important to me that I’m able to write honestly and openly, especially where the topic is personal to me. There’s a risk, however, of oversharing or becoming self-indulgent. The revamp allowed me to consider the balance of pieces we publish. Specifically, the balance between mental health topics and pieces that explore other aspects of our lives and interests.
10. What advice would you give to other mental health bloggers who feel stuck, burnt out, or unsure whether they need a revamp — or permission to evolve
My main advice would be don’t rush into a major revamp of your website or blog, because it takes a lot of time and energy. Take time to think about what you feel is wrong, unnecessary, or outdated about your current site and what change might mean for you and your audience. Look at the blogs and websites of others operating in the same area as you. What do they have in common with each other? What makes them unique or different? What do you like best about their sites? What do you find awkward or unnecessary? Are their sites easy to navigate? Do they work well on different platforms? How does your site compare? I’m not suggesting ripping off other people’s ideas and designs but seeing how others have set up their websites can inspire you to imagine changes to your own. Take a look at your site statistics. I don’t focus too much on the absolute number of visitors or pageviews, but even basic stats can help you think about your audience. Where do they live in the world? What times of day do they visit your website? What technology do they use? Which pages, posts, and topics get the most views? Finally, I’d say go with your gut! Your blog or website is your little bit of the online world. Let’s be honest, you’re probably going to see it more than anyone else. You want it to be somewhere you enjoy visiting.
Thank you once again, Aimee, for letting me talk about what’s been a major piece of work, totally reimagining the Gum on My Shoe blog. With all the amazing work you do at I’m NOT Disordered, I know you understand when I say it’s been a challenge, but totally worth it.
Martin Baker
www.gumonmyshoe.com