Do you mean to start your food blog, but haven’t got there yet? Or maybe you’ve begun one and you need a reason to continue?
Usually I write to people who are already blogging. Then I thought…wait! I bet there are lots of lurkers who are obsessed with food but aren’t quite ready to start a blog. If you are in this category, let’s get clear on your motivations.
And if you are already a food blogger, see if these reasons still apply to you. Perhaps the reasons you started your blog are different from why you still have one today — or even why you no longer have one! I’d love to hear about both.
Why start your food blog? Here are seven reasons:
- Express yourself and your passion for food. This is the number one reason I hear from people. You probably already take photos of food, talk with friends about meals, watch cooking shows on television, send and receive recipes, attend food festivals, and are basically food obsessed. There’s a need to chronicle some of it.
- Begin a regular writing practice. If you want to write more, a blog will meet that goal. You will develop better writing skills and find your voice by writing regularly.
- Write a cookbook one day. Many food bloggers get cookbook deals, and some are huge successes as authors. While Ina Garten usually makes the top of the US cookbook sales, food blogger Ree Drummond is not far behind. Today, blogging is the easiest route to a cookbook.
- Take photos of food. Since social media drives so much traffic to blogs, once you start your food blog, you can’t succeed without gorgeous photos. A food blog gives you an outlet for your photography.
- Understand yourself through your writing. Start your food blog with general content, as many do. Eventually you’ll find what you really want to write about. It could be family stories, healthy eating, or your obsession with Chinese take-out. Writing regularly helps you answer questions about yourself, what interests you, and what matters to you.
- Educate people about what you’ve learned. If you are a voracious learner, a food blog showcases your obsessions in an enthusiastic manner, with like-minded readers. You’ll form a community and tribe.
- Make money. Whoa. I put this last motivation in because there is so much focus lately on “monetization.” You can start your food blog with ads, but not much income will follow until you build up a big audience. The same is true of sponsored posts. Companies want to see followers and engagement before they hire you to post about their products. Money might come, but it might not be as much as you think. So if income is your goal, work hard on growing your social media by promoting the quality content that drives people to your blog.
If you already have a blog, what made you jump in? Have your reasons to blog changed over time? Have you closed a blog you started and if so, why? And if you haven’t begun one yet, what’s holding you back?
As always excellent points Dianne. In spite of not being a food blogger exclusively, some of your reasons hit the mark when it came to starting my blog. I definitely wanted to practice writing more. Photography has really allowed me to express myself in new ways. I also learned a lot about myself and what I wanted to do through my writing. Sharing my experiences with other people has motivated me to keep going. And finally writing a book would definitely be the icing on the cake.
Oh good, Maria. Thanks for saying so. I love the photos in your last few posts about Yadz. It’s a place few Americans see. I assume you’d want your book to have lots of gorgeous photos in it.
Thank you Dianne! I just came from another trip and it is amazing how much there is to explore, places that indeed few people get to see. It has been really special. And yes any book would have to include my pictures. They always complement my writing.
This is so important for people to consider! I think it is important to eliminate reason #3 and #7 from your initial goals so your writing has a chance to be authentic. Starting your blog with the other reasons as your goals, at least short-term, will help you develop your true voice and allow you to discover where you want your writing to take you.
This is a good point, to let the blog unfurl in an authentic way. Many people email me that they want to START their writing with a cookbook, however, and that’s not going to work at all. So for those people, starting with a blog is a better first step.
I’m getting ready to launch my blog: Clean Eating for the Non-hippie, and think I will bring a unique perspective to the mix in that I’m a former cheese + specialty food shop owner who is now housebound with ME/CFS and unable to eat any of the foods I previously built an entire career around. I’m not trying to be a writer, and will likely stick to talking about each recipe, why I love it, and why it works. My biggest challenge, is in wanting to be viewed as a serious recipe developer with quality well-considered recipes at a time when quantity seems to have the edge over quality…
Congrats on the unveiling of your blog! It’s a big step. Yes, most food bloggers are not serious recipe developers, but it is a admirable goal. You have a unique story, which is also an advantage. Best of luck, Rachel.
Thank you, Dianne – your blog is an appreciated resource!!
I know I’ve been doing this for a loooong time, but I still love these beginning posts. They give perspective. I have to disagree w/ an above comment. I actually think #3 is a great goal and reason to start a food blog – in this day you can self-publish and if you want to write a cookbook, you do need to create a following. There are many people with a dream of writing a book, and this is such a great place to start. I also respect people who start a blog to help start or further a food-based business venture or who simply want to learn to cook! I remember in the early days there were more “101 cookbooks” type of bloggers. That was fun.
Thank you Alisa. I was concerned that bloggers would not find anything of value in this post!
I’m glad you agree about #3, but I did see her point, that it’s putting pressure on youself. Those who aspire to write cookbook do have to understand that creating a following is a big part of the goal to write a cookbook.
Re starting or furthering a food-based business venture — I didn’t think about that. I think you’d have to be careful not to make the posts all about products you’re selling though. And I didn’t consider that writing a recipe blog will make you a better cook. Good one.
Hello Dianne – as a new follower, I am so intrigued by your post topics. This one especially resonates when I am wondering about next steps with food photography blog. My passion is in food photography – “minimally styled ingredients” and I am seeking ways to distinguish myself among the masses. Thank you for the “writing” reminder and the inspiration to keep moving forward!
Thank you Joan, it’s lovely to meet a new follower. Re distinguishing yourself, that is a good topic. So much food photography looks the same, especially in cookbooks. Of course if you bring your own style not everyone will want it. I suppose you have already figured this out?
Yes indeed. That is the challenge I face with myself daily. Between changing my mind due to doubt one day and off the charts motivated the next both are making me crazy coming up with picture ideas. That is why I gravitated towards your post. Maybe it is writing about this struggle is the key to grow? I bet I am one of many trying to stand out in a over saturated market? Again many thanks for your reply and graciousness. You honestly have me thinking in a good forward movement way. I imagine I am not the only person in food photography with this conundrum!!!???!!!
… continued from above comment — I would be appreciate whatever feedback any of you are willing to offer. I am definitely a bit LATE to this (blogging) party – hahha!
Hi Dianne, I’m a new follower too so thanks for these great 7 things to think about regarding blogging. My food blog has sat dormant for a year….I lost focus I guess. Even though I have a definite food style and it’s clear to see on my IG account, (I’m classically trained and worked 20 years in the industry) I think I felt lost in who I was trying to target in order to build a following. That’s not on your list but do you feel ‘knowing your target audience’ is part of keeping a blog going? Where does defining your message fall into blogging? My blog felt like “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”. I’m ready to return to writing it but still feel a bit unsure as to how to develop it to create a following that will allow me to express my passion, photography and perhaps one day get to #3. Thanks for all the content of your great site.
Oh yes, knowing your audience is a big theme for me, Michele. Thanks for mentioning it. Here’s a post from 2011 about it:
http://diannej.com/2011/5-tips-on-defining-and-building-your-blogs-audience/
You need to build an audience for your posts through social media. You’ll find lots of info online about how to create a readership. I hope you wil resussitate your blog!
Hi Dianne,
I guess congratulation to us. We celebrate 6 years of friendship. Did you receive the notice from Facebook? It was 6 years ago that I found you and learned a lot from you. Although I did not continue my chocolate blog (long story) I am still dreaming to get back to it. So you never know, but you may have an old student returning to you for some refreshments.
Best, Jayne
Yay! I did not receive the notice from Facebook, so I’m glad you reminded me, Jayne. I do understand about not continuing a bog. It’s a lot of work. And you have moved on to new things.
Thanks Dianne for encouraging new beginner food blogger!! Surely after reading your thoughts many food-lovers have started writing blogs!!
Dianne, I am still dreamig about getting back to food blogging because there is no comparison with respect to enjoyment, satisfaction and growth potential. And also because I am writing a book about the bonding effect of food (which is actually borders on autobiography). Lastly, I was actually forced to abandon my chocolate site, because my host deleted the entire site. I was not getting their messages that they could not charge my visa and after two months they simply through everything to the garbage and I did not realize that I was not backing up the site.
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What a disaster, Jayne. I’m so sorry about your chocolate site. Maybe you’ll start another one when you’re done with your memoir.
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