How To Start And Monetize Your Food Blog
Have you been thinking about starting a food blog? Starting a food blog can be challenging for beginners, especially for beginners.
If you’re new to blogging and would like to start a food blog, then this guide shows you how to get started. Not only will this guide show you how to start your blog, but also share tips on making money from your food blog.
There are few things you need to start your food blog.
Pick your food niche
If you want to create a successful and prosperous food blog, you first need to pick a niche. The niche you pick will depend on the type of food that you have passion for. For example; baking, vegan food, gluten-free cooking, healthy meal recipes or cooking on a budget.
There are some food blogs that includes variety of recipes like gluten-free, vegan, superfoods, and it gives the audience an option to select which recipe category they are interested in.
A good example of such food blog is Pinch of Yum.
There are options for audience to select which recipes they want to see:
Once you have selected your niche, and have few recipes ready to share, decide on the name of your blog. Select a name that would be easier for your audience to remember. Now you’re ready to get your blog started.
Blogging Platform, Domain Name and Web Hosting
#1: A Blogging Platform. Many bloggers start off with wrong blogging platforms, which makes the whole blogging process complicated for them. To start off right, the best platform for your blog is WordPress. WordPress comes with many features, making it easier for you to get started.
#2: A Domain Name. This is your blog’s name. (For example, twopinkcanaries.com). It is the address where internet users can access your website. A domain name can be any combination of letters and numbers. You can get this for FREE and we will show you how.
#3: A Web Hosting. To post your website or web page onto the internet you need web hosting services. A web host or web hosting service provider is a company that provides the services needed to have your website or webpage viewed on the internet. We highly recommend Bluehost, who offers a free domain name.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the above. We will now show you how to get your blog online.
Step 1: Go to Bluehost.com and click on the green “Get Started” button.
Step 2: On the next screen select your plan. Since you’re just getting started, I recommend selecting the basic plan.
Step 3: Select the plan, and it will take you to a page where you can enter your domain name. If you enter a domain name that’s already taken, it will let you know, and provide suggestions for other domain names that are close to what you entered.
Like in this case, I entered twopinkcanaries.com and since it’s already taken, it gave me other suggestions.
Step 4: After entering your domain name, you will be taken to next page, to enter your account information, select other features and provide payment details.
For the package extras, it’s entirely up to you whether you want to purchase these or not. Generally, I recommend not purchasing them right way. You can always add those later, if needed.
After submitting your account and payment information, you will receive an email with details on how to login to your web hosting control panel. This is where you install WordPress.
Step 5: Install WordPress. In your hosting dashboard or cPanel, select the WordPress icon. On the next screen, click on Get Started button. Select your domain name that you entered for your blog and click Next.
Sorry, I don’t have any screenshots for the following steps.
Step5: Enter your Site Name or Title, your username and a password. Check all the boxes and click Install.
This will start installing WordPress. At this point you will be presented with WordPress themes for your blog. You don’t have to select a theme at this moment, meaning you can come back and select the theme.
Once WordPress is finished installing you will see Installation Complete with a green checkmark. Click on the link where it says, “view credential here”. It will take you to the screen with your WordPress username and password.
Congratulations! Your WordPress is ready! You can visit your WordPress admin area by using the URL: http://yourblogname.com/wp-admin. Remember “yourblogname” is a placeholder for your blog or domain name.
Choosing A Theme and Plugin for Your Food Blog
There are many free and paid WordPress themes you can install on your website. Choose a theme that is suitable for your blog. In this case, choose a theme that matches the look and feel of a food blog. Here’s a Tasteful theme by Restored316. WordPress also offers many themes.
There are certain plugins that you can also install for your food blog. I recommend doing some research about the plugins to see what it does before installing.
If you want a good plugin for your food blog, check out recipe plugin tasty. This plugin not only gives an appealing style to your recipes but also makes it possible for readers to find your recipes on search engines. It’s easy to format and style. Plus, you can have ads inserted right into the recipe or show them on the print page. And most importantly, which most of the readers are looking for, nutrition info. It includes fields for all the macronutrients, from calories to fiber to saturated fat.
It comes with 15-Day Money Back Guarantee, so definitely worth a try.
Now let’s jump to fun stuff.
How to Monetize Your Food Blog
If you’re serious about monetizing your food blog, add your best recipes. This is how you will be able to attract audience.
Here are few ways you can monetize your food blog:
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a very popular way to make money from your blog. It is where you promote somebody else’s product and if it sells, you get commission. First you need to register with affiliate networks like Shareasale, Rakuten Marketing, Clickbank, Affiliate Window, or Amazon Associates.
Then you need to find food related affiliate programs.
Once you have chosen or signed up for affiliate programs, include the products to share on your blog. Include products like cooking products, recipe books, and other food or cooking related items. Each time a visitor purchases these items, you will receive a commission. Here’s an article that shares more information on affiliate marketing.
Sell eBooks
Many food bloggers are making money by selling their eBooks. It is a good source of revenue plus it is a great way to start a relationship with your audience. Include your best recipes in your eBook. Include attractive photos or images to make it more enticing. Hire a freelancer if needed to design an attractive cover for your eBook.
If you need some training on how to self-publish eBooks on Amazon then here’s a course by Adrian Ingram who is making over $12,000 per month in book royalties!
Freelancing Writing
Depending on the quality of the content that you share on your food blog, you might find it easier to land some freelancing projects. Blog is a great way to expose your talent and brand.
Create a profile on freelancing platforms like Fiverr or Hirewriters and include your blog as your portfolio. There are many other bloggers or businesses looking for great content for their website. You can make good money writing quality content for other websites.
Cooking Courses
Do you like teaching and are you good at presenting? If so, try offering cooking courses. You can create a course and sell online through your website. Platforms like Teachable, has made it so much easier now to start your own online course.
If you’re still curious about how online food related courses work, visit Food Blogger Pro. They offer so many courses which will give you an idea of what type of courses you can design and sell for your audience.
Display Ads
You can monetize your food blog by displaying advertising on your website. Display ads that are related to your blog niche. You can also try Google AdSense. Google AdSense will display ads on your blog and you earn money when your users click on those ads.
Promote Your Food Blog
Now to get more audience, you need to promote your food blog. The best way to do this by using social media channels like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram. Pin your photos on Pinterest, share your posts on your Facebook page, and add your stories to Instagram.
The more you share, the more visibility your blog gets.
The Shaw Academy offers classes like Learn Blogging and Content Marketing, from which you can learn some cool techniques for promoting your blog.
Training
If you’re serious about starting or growing and monetizing your food blog, I highly recommend getting trained by experts who are already successful food bloggers and are making good money with their blog. Food Blogger Pro is built by Lindsay and Bjork Ostrom who started a food blog called Pinch of Yum. They are now using Food Blogger Pro to teach people everything they’ve learned about food blogging. They teach how to start, grow, and monetize your food blog. They are the experts who have been doing this for more than 8 years.
Their course shows you how to use best tools for starting, growing and monetizing your food blog. It also covers other essential items needed for successful blogging like, SEO, branding, optimizing images.
Final thoughts on starting and monetizing a food blog
Just like any other blog, a food blog also needs dedication and hard work. If you have good recipes or content to share with your audience and you’re doing the right things to promote your blog and your products, financial rewards will make it well worth the effort.
DISCLOSURE: Many of the links in the article above, and throughout this site, are affiliate links. While there’s no additional cost to you, any purchases made via those links may earn me a commission.
