Dianne Jacob, Will Write For Food

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

Social Media

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

15 Must-Read Links for Food Writers and Bloggers

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15 Must-Read Links for Food Bloggers and Writers

Me and interviewer Irvin Lin of EattheLove blog at Omnivore Books on Food in San Francisco, for the new release of Will Write for Food. (Photo by Owen Rubin)

Looking for good reads online? Want to drive more traffic to your blog, keep up with social media trends, cookbook trends, and food writing trends? Yeah, me too.

But who has time to find quality stuff? Fortunately, I do, and wonderful people [Read more…] about 15 Must-Read Links for Food Writers and Bloggers

4 Ways to Use Instagram Strategically

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A guest post by Cheryl Sternman Rule

In our social media ocean, most of us swim, flail, float, glide, and sputter, sometimes all in a single day. We do our best not to drown as we navigate crowded platforms, with varying degrees of success, enthusiasm, and begrudging obligation.

We also play favorites.

I, for one, love Instagram. Instagram has grown my network in ways I both couldn’t have imagined and didn’t know I needed.

Yes, I use other platforms, too, but my heart belongs to [Read more…] about 4 Ways to Use Instagram Strategically

The Scariest Thing about Twitter is to Let Yourself be Seen, says Kat Kinsman

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Kat-Kinsman-Tasting-Table-Editor-in-ChiefKat Kinsman is one of those living-larger-than-life types I adore, dressing in Betty Page with red lipstick and tattoos, speaking often and passionately, and writing about whatever fascinates her, especially on Twitter.

Luckily for us, a lot of what interests her is food. Currently managing editor of CNN’s Eatocracy, she’s leaving soon to be editor-in-chief of Tasting Table. With  54,000+ followers on Twitter, she tweets at @kittenwithawhip.

I saw Kat in Memphis recently for the Association of Food Journalists conference. Here’s a spontaneous interview about why to tweet and how to be good at it:

Q. Do you have a love-hate relationship with Twitter?

A. Mostly love. It’s broken down the barriers with so many people. Now people in the [Read more…] about The Scariest Thing about Twitter is to Let Yourself be Seen, says Kat Kinsman