Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

Useful Tips, Interviews, and Stories to Inspire Food Writers and Bloggers

Social Media

Culinary Maven Nathalie Dupree Writes About Sexual Assault

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Can food writers write about more than food on social media? Nathalie Dupree wrote about sexual abuse. Yep, it’s a real shocker. Nathalie Dupree, a beloved Grand Dame of the food world, has more to discuss than cooking.

The rest of us do too, because we have a life that goes beyond cooking. But most of us don’t have her guts.

To be clear, Nathalie posts about lots of things on Facebook to her 7000+ friends:

  • Politics
  • Funny signs
  • Questions, such as: “Do you know Jewish people who eat Chinese food on Christmas? Tell me more!”
  • Personal stories and rememberances
  • Funny statements, such as “I wish I had been born later so I could wear straggled uncombed hair like the models do” and “I’d think I got up on the wrong side of the bed, except my cute husband was there.”
  • Her video recipes from the Post and Courier
  • Cat stories and cat videos.

But last week, this is what she wrote [Read more…] about Culinary Maven Nathalie Dupree Writes About Sexual Assault

New FTC Rules For Endorsing Products Online

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You know the rules, right? If you live in the US and you are endorsing products online, you must disclose that you received payment or payment in kind.

This rule applies to using social media too. So if you want to write sponsored posts — where you promote a product or service — or get paid to promote products on social media, there are new rules. Let’s go through them.
Updated FTC Rules on Endorsing Products Online

According to the FTC in its most recent update on endorsing products online:

1. Do you have to disclose? Yes. These rules come from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US, which protects consumers and promotes competition.

If you don’t live in the US, these rules do not apply. But they are a best practice. Please consider adopting them anyway.

2. What does it mean to endorse? Let’s say you show a photo of a product, or discuss a product or service in a positive way. Those things are [Read more…] about New FTC Rules For Endorsing Products Online

Q&A: How I Am Baker Got 2 Million+ Facebook Fans

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Amanda Rettke is a food blogging success story. She has 2 million+ Facebook fans  and has been blogging for about 10 years at I Am Baker. On Facebook, she links to blog posts to drive her blog’s ad revenue, which is substantial.

To say that she is focused is an [Read more…] about Q&A: How I Am Baker Got 2 Million+ Facebook Fans

5 Ways to Grow Your Instagram Following

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A guest post by Lori DeFinis and Natalie Guarna

Among our most frequently asked questions is “How did you get so many followers?” Although we would like to say that we’ve found success simply by posting quality content, we have picked up some tips on our journey to Insta-fame.

We started our account, @music2mymouth, when we decided to turn our favorite, guilty-pleasure hobby — looking at and taking pictures of food — into an Instagram account. There we serenade [Read more…] about 5 Ways to Grow Your Instagram Following

Sharing Online Recipes Versus Cookbook Recipes

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Leah’s most popular photo on Instagram, with a short narrative recipe. She wouldn’t put this in a cookbook.

A guest post by Leah Schapira

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of a shredded beef pizza on Instagram. Here’s the caption:

Loving tonight’s shortcut dinner (yes, it’s as good as it looks!). Breadsmith’s Pizza Dough + pizza sauce (tomato paste, water, seasoning) + @jacksgourmet shredded beef on top. Place on a baking paper and bake directly on oven rack. Bake at 500F for 8-9 minutes. Drizzle with spicy mayo and Caesar dressing. #recipes #meatpizza #summercooking

It was probably  my most popular [Read more…] about Sharing Online Recipes Versus Cookbook Recipes

Nom Nom Paleo’s Social Media Success

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A voracious user of social media, Nom Nom Paleo’s founder Michelle Tam finds she blogs less as a result.

Since starting Nom Nom Paleo in 2010, Michelle Tam’s social media numbers have exploded. Now she spends more time on social media than the blog. “Most of my posting happens from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., but then when the kids are home, I’m not on my phone and I don’t do it at night,” she says.

As a result, her blog posts slowed. “Our goal is to blog once a week or once every two weeks,” Michelle explains. “I used to blog more frequently, but I learned from my readers that [Read more…] about Nom Nom Paleo’s Social Media Success

Love Italy? Enter My Book Giveaway: Eating Rome

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Author Elizabeth Minchilil has lived in Italy since age 12.

Ever since journalist Elizabeth Minchilli started a blog, Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome, in 2009, she’s been leading food tours, creating apps on where to eat in Italy, taking videos of chefs and cooks, and she rents out an apartment too. Minchilli has written six books, most recently Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City, a terrific part memoir, part guidebook and part cookbook.

I’m giving away a free copy of Eating Rome, Minchilli’s mouthwatering exploration of this ancient city. To enter this book giveaway, leave a comment below.

I interviewed Minchilli about her career, photography, and lifestyle:

Q. Your life in Rome seems so glamorous. You’re dining at fantastic restaurants, pressing olive oil and making pizza with masters. Is it really so stylish and all Sophia Loren?

A. Not Sophia Loren. I don’t think of it as glamour and style but [Read more…] about Love Italy? Enter My Book Giveaway: Eating Rome