If thoughts of your next culinary masterpiece to feature in your custom recipe book occupy most of your waking and dreaming life, you may think food blogging could be an easy way to earn some cash.
Not so fast.
Unlike cooking, there is no magic recipe for a successful food blog – it takes a lot of patience, dedication, hard work, and equipment (a computer, camera, and a backdrop for food photography).
But we can give you some practical advice.
Here are three expert tips that every food blogger wished they knew before starting.
1. Get a Good Camera and Start Practicing
A vital aspect of food blogging most newbies underestimate is food photography.
While any pro chef will tell you that we “eat with our eyes,” this is even truer when you consider the fact that your readers can’t taste or smell your food through their computer screens. Because your readers can only see images of your food, you need to really make your pictures pop.
If you’re serious about food blogging, buy a backdrop for food photography and get your hands on the best camera you can afford. Then, practice, practice, practice.
Practice your plating, read about food styling, and play with your camera’s settings every time you eat. The sooner you learn to take great food photos, the better.
2. Spend Time Reading Other Food Blogs
We get it; you’re raring to get your food blog up and running – but slow down and take some time reading other food blogs so you have a better idea of what’s out there first.
Get yourself a notebook and make notes about everything you notice. For instance, what are the blogs about? What’s working for them? What isn’t?
Top food blog lists are a great place to start, but there are a lot of amateur food blogs out there that are worth reading too. Interact with them.
Leave comments, make their recipes, ask them questions, support them, and connect with their social media sites. Most people will be encouraging about your new endeavor… and you’ll also build a network of other food bloggers to collaborate with or get promoted by in the future.
3. Choose a Niche
If you’re serious about becoming a full-time food blogger, the choices you make now will affect your decisions for a long time to come – so choose your niche wisely.
Although you may be enamored with the latest food fad now (think cloud cakes, pumpkin spice, savory ice cream, etc.), think about if it will still interest you in a few years – or if it will even still be in fashion.
Another thing to think about is if your theme will be appealing year-round. Slow-cooked, hearty meals like stews will be popular in winter and fall, but will your readers also want to make them in the summer heat?
Then, there’s authenticity. That’s why the best piece of advice is to choose a niche that allows you to write about the food you’re passionate about. Choose something you can write about with authority – for example, if you’re a vegan, write about your journey and vegan food.
