I wish I had some magic secrets or shortcuts to share, but the truth is that food blogging is hard work. I receive questions about the subject fairly often, so I sat down to compile my best tips for food bloggers and ended up with an even twenty. You’ll be more likely to develop a successful food blog if you follow these guidelines.
1. Be authentic.
Post about what you love and produce the best content you possibly can.
2. Don’t give up.
Blog growth is slow at first and gains momentum as time goes on, assuming that you stick with it and do your best.
3. Post original content.
If visitors like what you do, they will keep coming back for more.
4. Show your personality!
Enthusiasm is infectious, so don’t be afraid to show it. One of the coolest things about blogging is that you can connect with people who share your undying love for, say, avocado on toast.
5. Make friends and help each other.
In other words, network! Connect and cultivate friendships with other bloggers who share your interests. Leave thoughtful comments on their blogs, chat with them on social media and promote their content.
6. Make yourself accessible.
Be present and responsive on social media as best you can.
7. Keep your site design clean and easy to navigate.
Clutter detracts from your content.
8. Make it easy for visitors to follow your blog.
Place links to RSS/email subscription and social media prominently on each page.
9. Make it easy to comment on your blog.
No CAPTCHAs or required logins, please. Find a way to let your commenters know that they are appreciated, whether that’s by emailing them privately, responding to their comment publicly or by commenting on their blogs.
10. Make it easy to share your content.
Provide social media sharing buttons at the end of each post. Say thank you when others promote your work.
11. Post fantastic recipes only.
You don’t want visitors to invest their time and ingredients into a recipe and end up disappointed, right? Better to let the blog go quiet for a few days than to post a recipe you can’t stand behind.
12. Cite your sources.
Always. Not cool: reposting recipes verbatim, posting other bloggers’ photos without permission. Cool: original recipes, sharing links to your inspiration, linking to further resources on the subject at hand.
13. Don’t sell out.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t try to make money off your blog, but don’t align yourself with a brand or project that isn’t a good fit. You are the company you keep. Focus on producing your best content and building your audience and the opportunities will come.
14. Post on a regular basis.
Whether that’s every day, once a week or once every other week, don’t let your blog look abandoned.
15. Get your own domain name.
If you want your blog to be taken seriously, just do it. You can buy a domain name for less than twenty dollars a year through GoDaddy (affiliate link).
16. Build a self-hosted WordPress blog.
That is, if you want full control over your design and content and plenty of room to grow. If you don’t know how to do these things, pay someone good to do it for you or shower your geeky friend with homemade cookies until he agrees. Find a step-by-step guide (and food blog design and web hosting tips) here.
17. Learn about search engine optimization.
SEO isn’t black magic; it’s about making your quality content findable. It’s important to understand and implement the basics. Here is Google’s SEO starter guide [PDF].
18. Submit your posts to recipe submission sites.
When you’re getting started, submission sites may be a good source of new visitors. In the past, I’ve submitted my posts to Foodgawker, Tastespotting, Tasteologie and Finding Vegan (when applicable). Keep a text file that contains the submission information so it’s easy to copy and paste it onto each site. If your photo is rejected the first time around, edit it or choose a different photo and resubmit. Don’t forget to pin your new recipes to Pinterest, too!
19. Learn how to take appetizing photos.
People are much more likely to want to eat, make, share and pin your recipes when they are presented alongside appealing photos. Find my food photography tips and equipment recommendations here.
20. Do what your mama told you.
This should go without saying, but be nice, be constructive, be respectful, be appreciative, be humble. Work hard.
More resources for food bloggers on Cookie and Kate
Questions? Feel free to leave them in the comments section below.
Kimberley
Hey, thanks for sharing such an amazing tips here I really like all the tips it help me on my online cake delivery blogging
harvey dent
no preoblem
Carolina Faulkner
Hi Kate! I love your recipes- my all time favorite is your kale pesto pizza! Yum!
I am a personal chef, and I would like to start testing recipes too. Do you have any suggestions on how to find recipe testing projects? Thanks so much!
Carolina
Kate
Hi Carolina! I tend to start with something I have tried, and idea or my take on another recipe. It has evolved over the years. I would suggest finding something you find fun, then go from there.
kathys vegan kitchen
Thanks for the recipe i loved it.
Laurie
Hi Kate, I want to say thank you for your valuable and detailed guidance on starting a food blog. The detail provided helped tremendously, and I love your tips now that I got it going! You are an inspiration!!
Rickey Berrien
Hi Kate, Thank you for your tips but i’m not sure where to start at because i am new to this. One thing i do know that i like cooking food and having fun doing it. can you give me some more tips
Patina Oxendine
Thank you and so many thanks, I enjoy your 20 Tips. The tips will be very helpful for new and every bloggers. I will do most agree bogging is love for the audience. I am a future Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based in NC, recently I am writing a blog.
rinagfood
Hi Kate. Thank you for such a great post.
You made it very simple too under stand for Blogging
Awesome tips
rinag.com
Sandi
I have been following you and COOKIE for a long time. Your blog is inspirational. It seems to come so easily to you. You are a natural.
I am printing this post off and following the ideas to get myself back on track. I started 6 months ago and did all the wrong things so it is time for a re-launch.
Thanks for the great information.
Sandi
Md.Abul Kalam
This is helpful information
Afifa Hoda
What a nice article?
Jannatun Ferdous
Thanks for sharing this blog. It is very helpful blog.
Dirk Ebener
Thank you for sharing. I am one of the many people who are writing #blogs as part of my website, and looking to expand my reach. Every topic and advice like yours is highly appreciated. Thank you for sharing! I really appreciate your time. The blogs are about German food. I am combing general information about German food, historical and cultural information about the food, and recipes that allow readers to do some cooking.
Rachel
Thank you for the tips Kate! Your insights are so helpful, and very much appreciated.
Suranjana Patar
Hey Kate! Thanks for sharing these tips, after reaching your site I got motivated to be a food blogger as I was confused before like how to start and from where? But now am glad that I found your blog. Best Wishes!
Season
Thanks for sharing this information.
DigiBeans
I would like to take tips from you about the recipes too! Such an awesome blog you have maintained. Keep sharing more tips.
Barun Gayen
very good information for the food blogger thanks for the information
Ugo
Thank you so much for these ideas. I am starting a food blog and really needed these pointers
Thobeka Mfeka
This was so helpful I recently started my food blog and I have to say these pointers will go a long way in terms of growing my blog,thank you so much.
shamal chandra
Excellent tips to share this blog. I really don”t forget it. Every comment perfectly uses this blog. so thousand of thank you
Julia Turk
these are really great, immediately actionable tips. ty so much for sharing. i love your blog and hope mine is even half as beautiful as cookieandkate
Muhammad
Thanks for the tips
Gerytim
Amazing tips you have shared here.
Matthew Ely
Hi Kate!
Thanks for these tips! I am an avid cook for my family and I would like to try my hand at blogging. My question is in regards to #3 and #12, original content and citing sources. I have yet to “create” an original recipe. I find recipes online and cook’em up. If proper credit is cited, can a blogger solely rely on others recipes? And if so what is the best way to give credit?
Thanks!
Kate
Hi Matthew, It depends on where you curate the recipe. Rule of thumb, always site and link to where you got the original recipe and ask for permission before posting the recipe in full. If you change elements, then you can note that and have more freedom to post as you altered the recipe. If that makes sense?
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wow, it looks very yummy. I love it !!!
Marty
Great info! Thanks so much for sharing these tips. As an older woman who struggles with techie stuff it can be overwhelming, so this is very helpful.
saket suman
Thank you and so many thanks, it’s really a very knowledge full blog.
freddy joe
Hey Those are some really helpful tips. Thanks for the share.
Frisco Web Solutions
That’s really nice post. I appreciate your skills. Thanks for sharing.
Allison Greenwater
Really good insight. there’s not a lot of truly helpful information out there -a few blog posts like this one and just one really good book (I got it on Amazon for my Kindle: How to Write about Food by S.J. Sebellin-Ross). So it is a real treat when I read something that offers real help, like this, so thanks.
simmyjessure
i like to way of making food . i m very impress sharing this type blog
Thanks Keep going on future
Jasmine Angelus
Hey Kate,
Thanks for sharing tips, they are helpful and motivating. I have just started my own blog and it was difficult for the first time, but now after reading your tips, I feel, I have a long way to go.
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I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Thank you for your good work.
Ogreen
I really like reading through a post that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment!