Whether you’re a practicing cook looking to document your learning experiences or an experienced chef with a wealth of recipes to share, a food blog can be a great way to channel your creative energies and earn a little extra money.
Cooking advice is some of the most commonly-searched-for material according to Google, which means there are a wealth of potential readers for your food blog. If you take the proper steps to design, build and share your food blog, you can develop a loyal readership and have the successful food blog of your dreams.
However, finding success in the popular world of food blogs can be difficult, so you’ll want to make sure you prepare your blog to be as successful as possible. Here are five tips for running a successful food blog.
Popular food blog “The Minimalist Baker” found its niche by offering “simple, delicious recipes that require 10 ingredients or less, one bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare,” as stated in the blog’s sidebar for any viewers who visit the site.
Another good niche blog, “Budget Bytes,” offers recipes designed around remaining cheap and delicious. All recipes include a total price for the meal, plus the price per serving, as well as the cost of ingredients. Readers can trust any recipe on the blog will meet their low-price needs.
Your theme will be what draws readers in. Make sure it’s specific enough that you don’t blend in with a sea of identical blogs, but not so niche that few people will ever search for such a specific topic.
This can be done by auto-scheduling several posts ahead of time on virtually every major blogging platform, rather than producing recipes on a regular basis. This way, you can walk away from your blog for a few days at a time and know that it will stick to a schedule your readers can expect.
Some blogs, like Simply Recipes, make multiple posts a day. Others like Damn Delicious post every one to three days. The more successful blogs generally post multiple times a week, as the modern reader doesn’t necessarily want to wait a week between updates.
Make sure to include all ingredients, and amounts for each ingredient. Avoid estimates like “a pinch,” as it will mean something different to each reader. Instructions should be specific. Avoid cooking jargon too advanced for the average person, as your readers are likely coming to you because they don’t know all that much about cooking themselves.
If possible, include step by step photos to show readers what your recipes look like at various steps, which can give visual cues on what to do if your writing isn’t clear.
Minimalist Baker includes cooking time, servings, ingredients with amounts, detailed instructions, nutritional information and photos of the ingredients she uses, as well as photos of her cooking process.
Along with including photos of your steps, you should include photos of the finished products that are flattering and appealing. If you’re using WordPress, or something similar, then a good food blog theme can make all the difference. But also keep in mind plating recommendations to make food look appealing on camera, preparing the best lighting for your photos and investing in a quality camera to take crisp, colorful photos.
Simply Recipes includes clear photos that do an excellent job of displaying food and also helps guide readers through the recipe’s instructions.
You want your blog to begin generating steady traffic to build your readership and possibly turn your website into an income stream. Be sure to look into advertising opportunities where possible, including websites for bloggers and cooking communities.
Your food blog can find its own comfortable space on the internet with a little effort and dedication. By following these tips, you can develop a loyal readership and monetize your blog in no time.
Cooking advice is some of the most commonly-searched-for material according to Google, which means there are a wealth of potential readers for your food blog. If you take the proper steps to design, build and share your food blog, you can develop a loyal readership and have the successful food blog of your dreams.
However, finding success in the popular world of food blogs can be difficult, so you’ll want to make sure you prepare your blog to be as successful as possible. Here are five tips for running a successful food blog.
-
Pick a niche and stick to it
Popular food blog “The Minimalist Baker” found its niche by offering “simple, delicious recipes that require 10 ingredients or less, one bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare,” as stated in the blog’s sidebar for any viewers who visit the site.
Another good niche blog, “Budget Bytes,” offers recipes designed around remaining cheap and delicious. All recipes include a total price for the meal, plus the price per serving, as well as the cost of ingredients. Readers can trust any recipe on the blog will meet their low-price needs.
Your theme will be what draws readers in. Make sure it’s specific enough that you don’t blend in with a sea of identical blogs, but not so niche that few people will ever search for such a specific topic.
-
Post recipes regularly and often
This can be done by auto-scheduling several posts ahead of time on virtually every major blogging platform, rather than producing recipes on a regular basis. This way, you can walk away from your blog for a few days at a time and know that it will stick to a schedule your readers can expect.
Some blogs, like Simply Recipes, make multiple posts a day. Others like Damn Delicious post every one to three days. The more successful blogs generally post multiple times a week, as the modern reader doesn’t necessarily want to wait a week between updates.
-
Include detailed recipes
Make sure to include all ingredients, and amounts for each ingredient. Avoid estimates like “a pinch,” as it will mean something different to each reader. Instructions should be specific. Avoid cooking jargon too advanced for the average person, as your readers are likely coming to you because they don’t know all that much about cooking themselves.
If possible, include step by step photos to show readers what your recipes look like at various steps, which can give visual cues on what to do if your writing isn’t clear.
Minimalist Baker includes cooking time, servings, ingredients with amounts, detailed instructions, nutritional information and photos of the ingredients she uses, as well as photos of her cooking process.
-
Let good photos advertise your recipes
Along with including photos of your steps, you should include photos of the finished products that are flattering and appealing. If you’re using WordPress, or something similar, then a good food blog theme can make all the difference. But also keep in mind plating recommendations to make food look appealing on camera, preparing the best lighting for your photos and investing in a quality camera to take crisp, colorful photos.
Simply Recipes includes clear photos that do an excellent job of displaying food and also helps guide readers through the recipe’s instructions.
-
Be sure to promote your blog
You want your blog to begin generating steady traffic to build your readership and possibly turn your website into an income stream. Be sure to look into advertising opportunities where possible, including websites for bloggers and cooking communities.
Your food blog can find its own comfortable space on the internet with a little effort and dedication. By following these tips, you can develop a loyal readership and monetize your blog in no time.