Food Blogging – 5 Tips to Get you Started on a Tasty Path

April 23, 2012

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Topics: Blog, Food Blogging

Everyday thousands upon thousands of people turn to the internet for recipes.  People are searching for inspiration, recipes, ideas and menu planning.  Simply put, we ALL eat. Three  meals a day, everyday this is why food blogs have become widely popular.  Food bloggers are opening their kitchen to the world, giving us a glimpse into their daily meals while sharing pictures, tips and recipes.

Have you thought of beginning the journey into food blogging? Great! Join us; we welcome you into our world, the world of food.  Before you hit publish on your first post or share with us your first recipe, let me share a few tips that I have learned along the way.

5 Tips to Get you Started on the Tasty Path

Find you niche - Find your voice, your passion and share it with us.  Love Indian food?Llearning a new cuisine? What about your collection of cookbooks, restaurant reviews or even your journey during weight loss?  When you decide on your niche; do a bit of research. Visit similar food blogs and find ways to set your food blog apart from the rest.  Become an expert in your niche- offer tips, substitutions and options for your readers with your recipes.  New cooks have the desire to learn. Be their go-to- person for reliable recipes.

Community – Build a community with your readers and fellow food bloggers.  Get to know other food bloggers. Visit their blogs, leave a supportive comment and begin conversations. Most food bloggers are open to offer advice to new bloggers.

When a reader leaves a comment, reply and thank them for stopping by.  If you start a Facebook page or twitter account, engage with you fans on a daily basis.  A simple question like “What’s for dinner?” opens the door of communication.  Encourage readers to follow you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and RSS feed.  Make sure your follow buttons on your blog are visible.  Readers want to feel that you are available to them if a cooking question should arise.

Photography - Unless you’re a professional photographer, (which most of us are not) the best advice is to Practice, Practice, Practice.  Readers want to see pictures of your food-the finished product-but this does not have to be a cause for alarm. Trust me, you will get better, we ALL do.  A few tips: always use natural light when taking your pictures.  If natural light is not available, research lighting options and find an alternative that fits your budget.  Never use the flash when shooting your dishes (icky).  Consider using your Smart phone. Many food bloggers turn to apps like Instagram to give their pictures a pop of color, add texture or add effects.  Simply changing the plate, adding a utensil, napkin or garnish can improve your picture.

Be Yourself – Let your personality shine.  Introduce yourself on your About page. Give your readers a chance to get to know you. Does a recipe that you feature hold a special place in your heart? Share it.  Your readers crave connection; invite them to your table.  Did you make a recipe and it flopped? Keep it real. Even professionally trained Chefs have off days.

Have fun – Blogging should be fun, not a chore. Plan your post around your life. Don’t stop spending quality time with family or friends to blog. Allow these events to inspire you, run a feature on the restaurant or cocktails you enjoyed. Why not share your most recent food truck lunch or favorite coffee or even snap what’s in your grocery basket?  If blogging becomes too much; take a break.  Ask fellow food bloggers to guest post on your site as you unwind and refresh your taste buds.

Share: Are you a food blogger or aspire to be one? What´s your biggest tip or concern?

 

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Vianney

A Proud Tejana who feel lucky to have the best of both worlds, Vianney Rodriguez was happily raised in Texas by Mexican parents. She spends her days in the kitchen blending her two worlds. In her blog, Sweet Life, she celebrates life, heritage, cooking, her eternal love for Texas and La Familia. You can find Vianney dishing up her favorite plates at Sweet Life and as the Food Contributor to New Latina. Follow her on Twitter @sweetlifebake

17 Comments | Leave your own

Related posts:

  1. 9 Tips to Writing Good Blog Posts
  2. 4 Ways to Maximize Pageviews
  3. 10 Ways to Reduce Your Bounce Rate
  4. 4 Tips To Starting a Blog

  9. Bren @ Flanboyant Eats™

    I’m not as seasoned as I’d like to be, but all of these are true and valid. Having gone through rough spots in all of them, it’s really imperative to execute on all. Especially community building (which takes so much time) and photography!

    Reply

  11. Julia

    This are great tips!
    I’ve never understood food blogs that don’t have pictures… Glad you pointed that out!
    I came across this post from pinterest (just in case you’re wondering.)

    Reply

  13. Viviana Hurtado/The Wise Latina Club

    I’m not a food blogger, although I’ve dabbled in food with a segment, The High Heeled Kitchen. I think your tips are excellent, not just for food bloggers, but for anyone juggling several balls. I especially like what you said about the important to be authentic and find balance with our personal life as well as the value of being responsive to comments and on our social media pages.
    Viviana Hurtado/The Wise Latina Club recently posted..In Latina Magazine: Election 2012: Forever Young, or Not

    Reply

  14. Laura Orozco

    Good advice, Vianney, I’m a true believer that when it comes to cooking you have to enjoy what you do.
    We just have to put a little love in everything we do.

    Reply

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