{"id":4042669,"date":"2019-10-04T12:02:57","date_gmt":"2019-10-04T06:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/?p=4042669"},"modified":"2023-09-22T01:49:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T20:19:24","slug":"how-to-start-a-food-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/how-to-start-a-food-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start A Food Blog and Make Money (in 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>Do you want to make your dent in the culinary world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Becoming a food blogger could be your shot.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t worry \u2014 it\u2019s a lot more achievable than you think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, I want to make a bet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>By the end of this post, you can have your own food blog live in less than 24 hours.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But first, let me have a word about food blogging and why you should do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"toc\" class=\"mb-toc\">\n<h2>The Ultimate Guide To Food Blogging<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#introduction\">1. What is Food Blogging and Why Should You Start a Food Blog?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#buildsite\">2. Getting Your Blog Up and Running<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#pickingdomain\">2.1 Picking the Right Domain for Your Food Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#choosinghosting\">2.2 Choosing the Right Hosting Service  <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#installingwordpress\">2.3 Installing WordPress<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#wordpressthemes\">3. Best WordPress Themes for Food Blogs<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#foodiepro\">3.1 Foodie Pro Theme<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#brunchpro\">3.2 Brunch Pro Theme<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#foodblogplugins\">4. Best WordPress Plugins for Food Blogs<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#wprecipemaker\">4.1 WP Recipe Maker<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#recipecardblocks\">4.2 Recipe Card Blocks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#yasr\">4.3 Yasr &#8211; Yet Another Stars Rating<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#smush\">4.4 Smush Image Optimization<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#anycontactform\">4.5 Any Contact Form Plugin<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#contentstrategy\">5. Prepping Up Your Blog Content Strategy <\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#keywordresearch\">5.1 Doing Keyword Research for Your Food Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#competitorcontent\">5.2 Borrowing Content Inspiration From Competitors<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#preparingcontent\">5.3 Preparing Your Recipe Page Content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#marketing\">6. Marketing Your Food Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#socialmedia\">6.1 Setting Up Your Social Media Accounts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#seo\">6.2 How to Make a Food Blog Rise in SERPs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#emailmarketing\">6.3 Using Email Marketing to Spread Your Blog Content <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#tracking\">6.4 Tracking Your Marketing Results<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#monetization\">7. Monetizing Your Food Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#ebooks\">7.1 Creating and Selling eBooks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#affiliatemarketing\">7.2 Affiliate Marketing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#youtube\">7.3 Building a YouTube Channel<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#onlinecourses\">7.4 Selling Online Courses<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#offeringsubscriptions\">7.5 Offering Subscriptions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#paidads\">7.6 Displaying Paid Ads on Your Food Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sponsored\">7.7 Publishing Sponsored Content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#faqs\">8. Food Blogging FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conclusion\">9. Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul> \n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"introduction\">What is Food Blogging and Why Should You Start a Food Blog?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Different people start food blogging for different reasons.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/best-food-blogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"914\">food bloggers<\/a> do it simply because they\u2019re passionate about food. These are hobbyist bloggers who don\u2019t really care about monetization or traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you want to turn food blogging into a career, then I need to tell you something:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Prepare for the most challenging phase of your life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"ss-ctt-wrapper ss-ctt-style-2\" data-ss-post-id=\"4042669\" data-nonce=\"88c42e4445\">\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Food+blogging+is+more+than+just+sharing+recipes+and+cooking+tips+online.+It%E2%80%99s+an+endeavor+that+requires+time%2C+patience%2C+money%2C+and+your+utmost+commitment.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-tweet\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Food blogging is more than just sharing recipes and cooking tips online. It\u2019s an endeavor that requires time, patience, money, and your utmost commitment.<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Food+blogging+is+more+than+just+sharing+recipes+and+cooking+tips+online.+It%E2%80%99s+an+endeavor+that+requires+time%2C+patience%2C+money%2C+and+your+utmost+commitment.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-link\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>Click to Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"ss-svg-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M28.75 9.5c0 0.25 0 0.563 0 0.813 0 8.688-6.625 18.688-18.688 18.688-3.688 0-7.188-1.063-10.063-2.938 0.5 0.063 1.063 0.063 1.563 0.063 3.063 0 5.938-1 8.188-2.813-2.875 0-5.313-1.938-6.188-4.563 0.438 0.125 0.813 0.125 1.25 0.125 0.625 0 1.188-0.063 1.75-0.188-3-0.625-5.25-3.313-5.25-6.438 0-0.063 0-0.063 0-0.125 0.875 0.5 1.875 0.813 2.938 0.813-1.75-1.125-2.938-3.188-2.938-5.438 0-1.188 0.375-2.313 0.938-3.313 3.188 4 8.063 6.625 13.5 6.875-0.125-0.5-0.188-1-0.188-1.5 0-3.625 2.938-6.563 6.563-6.563 1.938 0 3.625 0.813 4.813 2.063 1.5-0.313 2.938-0.813 4.188-1.563-0.5 1.5-1.563 2.813-2.875 3.625 1.313-0.188 2.563-0.5 3.75-1.063-0.875 1.313-2 2.5-3.25 3.438z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- END .ss-ctt-wrapper -->\n\n\t\t\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Should You Start a Food Blog?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plenty of reasons, actually:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Grow your network \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>One of the main <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/benefits-of-blogging\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"915\">advantages of blogging<\/a> is the opportunity to build and grow your professional network. As a food blogger, you can connect with the food-loving community, chefs, and other authoritative figures in the industry.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Improve your cooking skills \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>A self-respecting blogger lends an ear to readers and other influencers who can chip in advice. Listen to their feedback \u2014 it\u2019ll help you grow as a blogger, cook, and food enthusiast over time.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Build a foundation for future endeavors \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Food blogging can springboard your other culinary plans, like writing a book or selling your own products. In addition to personal branding, it can also give you the connections you need for these life-changing opportunities.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Put your creative fuels to use \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;You never know when a sudden surge of inspiration and motivation will come. But if you <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/how-to-start-a-blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"916\">run a blog<\/a>, rest assured that your creative sprees will bear fruit.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you may not see the results you want within weeks or even months of hard work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>But don\u2019t be discouraged.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you truly love food, then every second of it should be a rewarding experience for you. But that doesn\u2019t mean it won\u2019t be tough, either.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get down to business.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"buildsite\">Getting Your Blog Up and Running<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you worry about learning how to write a food blog post, there\u2019s one obstacle you should overcome.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the distant past, aspiring bloggers needed the help of professional web developers to build a site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Today, anyone with an internet connection and some pocket money can single-handedly accomplish such a task.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make this happen, here are the steps you need to take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pickingdomain\">Step 1: Picking The Right Domain Name for Your Food Blog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before your food blog can take off, it needs a catchy domain name that can get people\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>That\u2019s why the first step in food blogging is brainstorming domain names.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A word of advice: don\u2019t rush this step.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your domain name isn\u2019t something you can easily change. While possible, there are implications of switching to a new domain, especially as far as branding and SEO are concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, the domain name you pick from the get-go is the domain you\u2019ll stick to in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With that out of the way, here\u2019s a great place to start for a domain name that\u2019s worth keeping:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Setting a few ground rules<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Some marketing experts may say that there\u2019s no magic formula for the perfect domain name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>There are, however, a few guidelines that can help you fashion the right one for your food blog.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>First and foremost, your blog\u2019s domain name must be short and simple.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trust me \u2014 you\u2019re not impressing anybody with long domain names like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>TheBrilliantSousChefBlog.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OneWineConnoisseur.com<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SmellsLikeSomethingsCooking.com<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>As much as possible, your domain name must be easy to spell and easy to remember. Ditch the hifalutin, pretentious words and come up with something short and sweet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The second ground rule is to use a \u201c.com\u201d domain name whenever they\u2019re available.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to do a little experiment? Search for anything on Google right now<em>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I bet that most \u2014 if not all \u2014 of the top pages have the \u201c.com\u201d TLD or Top-Level Domain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Com-TLD.png\" alt=\"Google SERP Common TLD\" class=\"wp-image-4042671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Com-TLD.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Com-TLD-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Com-TLD-768x419.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s no coincidence.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A \u201c.com\u201d domain is simply more recognizable and brandable. They also appear more authoritative to most internet users \u2014 your target audience.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thirdly, make sure your domain name matches the brand name you want to adopt.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How confused will users be if they come to a website named \u201cMike\u2019s Kitchen,\u201d but the domain name is \u201cTheBestFoodieBlog.com\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a couple more guidelines you should know about when picking a blog domain name.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/blog-name\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"917\"><strong>I explained all of them in this short guide<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Starting with a keyword<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In case you didn\u2019t know, the value of keywords in a website\u2019s domain name is long deprecated.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That doesn\u2019t mean keywords aren\u2019t helpful in coming up with memorable domain names.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Using any note-taking tool, be it&nbsp;<em>Notepad&nbsp;<\/em>or&nbsp;<em>Evernote<\/em>, list down the first five food-related keywords you can think of.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t think about rules for now \u2014 anything that comes to mind when you think of the word \u201cfood\u201d deserves consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are some keywords that popped into my head:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"948\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Brainstorming-Keywords.png\" alt=\"Keywords List \" class=\"wp-image-4042672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Brainstorming-Keywords.png 948w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Brainstorming-Keywords-300x84.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Brainstorming-Keywords-768x215.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 948px) 100vw, 948px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If I were you, I\u2019d start experimenting with these keywords by combining them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the sake of this guide, pretend for a second that \u201c<strong>Breading the Crunch<\/strong>\u201d sounds intriguing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is to verify if it\u2019s still available with a tool like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/domainr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"918\"><strong>Domainr<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"992\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr.png\" alt=\"Domainr Homepage\" class=\"wp-image-4042673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr.png 992w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-768x338.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 992px) 100vw, 992px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To use Domainr, click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Search All Domains\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>to go to the search page. Alternatively, just enter the domain name you want to use into the \u201csearch all domains\u201d field right above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Domainr, we can confirm that the domain name is still available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"517\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-Available-Domain.png\" alt=\"Domainr Availability Check \" class=\"wp-image-4042674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-Available-Domain.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-Available-Domain-300x155.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-Available-Domain-768x397.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Domainr also checks the availability of the domain name under different TLDs. Use them only if you\u2019re absolutely sure about a brand or blog name, but its \u201c.com\u201d version is unavailable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the domain name you like is labeled as \u201c<strong>Taken<\/strong>,\u201d there\u2019s a chance that it\u2019s still up for grabs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Look at the domain name \u201cWineConnoisseur.com,\u201d for example.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"376\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-WineConnoisseur-.png\" alt=\"Domainr Unavailable Domain Name\" class=\"wp-image-4042676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-WineConnoisseur-.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-WineConnoisseur--300x113.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domainr-WineConnoisseur--768x289.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At first look, it might be understood that someone else is using that domain for their own blog or site. But if you click the&nbsp;<strong>\u2018View Site\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>button on the right, you\u2019ll see that the domain is only parked.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"504\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GoDaddy-Parked-Domain.png\" alt=\"GoDaddy Parked Domain Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GoDaddy-Parked-Domain.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GoDaddy-Parked-Domain-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/GoDaddy-Parked-Domain-768x387.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Just bear in mind that parked domains can be substantially more expensive than new ones. It\u2019s also possible that the current owner of the domain won\u2019t be willing to sell it yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Adding more keywords<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t settle for the first decent domain name on your table.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I can\u2019t stress this enough, but it\u2019s ideal that your first domain name is also your last.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In any case, you should come up with a handful of domain name variations first and then pick your favorite.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At this point, feel free to add new terms to your food-related keywords list. This time, however, think of terms that are more specific to the personal brand you want to establish.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Below are the factors you need to consider for this:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cuisine \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>What particular cuisine do you want to explore in your blog?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cooking Technique \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Baking, roasting, frying, or what have you \u2014 which cooking technique are you most proficient at?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;A simple way to set your blog apart is to mention your location.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food Descriptors \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;As a cook, what adjective do people often describe your food with? It can be smoky, spicy, salty, sweet, and so on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Favorite Ingredient \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;You can also come up with a domain name using your favorite ingredient.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Taking these factors into account, this could be your refreshed keywords list for domain brainstorming:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"958\" height=\"414\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Refreshed-List.png\" alt=\"Domain Name Brainstorming List\" class=\"wp-image-4042678\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Refreshed-List.png 958w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Refreshed-List-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Domain-Name-Refreshed-List-768x332.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 958px) 100vw, 958px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Using a combination generator<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I don\u2019t know about you, but a list of 10 keywords should be enough to generate over a hundred combinations.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need a little help, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/planetcalc.com\/3757\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"919\"><strong>this combination generator from PLANETCALC<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC.png\" alt=\"PLANETCALC Combination Generator\" class=\"wp-image-4042679\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-768x470.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Let me show you how it works.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For each variable, click on the \u201c<strong>pencil<\/strong>\u201d button to the right and replace the value with a keyword. You can add more variables by clicking the \u201c<strong>plus<\/strong>\u201d button on the top-right corner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combination-Generator-.png\" alt=\"How to Use PLANETCALC Combination Generator\" class=\"wp-image-4042680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combination-Generator-.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combination-Generator--300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combination-Generator--768x465.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Random combinations will be automatically generated at the bottom of the page. You can also adjust the number of words in a single combination by modifying the \u201c<strong>Combination size<\/strong>\u201d field.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"609\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combinations.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4042681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combinations.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combinations-300x183.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/PLANETCALC-Combinations-768x468.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s it \u2014 you should now be able to come up with tons of <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/food-blog-name-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"food blog name ideas (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" data-lasso-id=\"920\">food blog name ideas<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to setting up your domain, the hard part is actually over. I guarantee that you\u2019ll breeze through the rest of the setup process with the instructions I\u2019ll lay out for you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"choosinghosting\">Step 2: Choosing The Right Hosting Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After you decide on the domain name you want to use, you need to register it right away.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most web hosting service providers offer domain registration services as well. To streamline your domain management tasks, it\u2019s preferable to use a single platform for domain registration and hosting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/siteground\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"921\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Siteground\"><strong>SiteGround<\/strong><\/a>, for one, lets you register domains on your dashboard with hosting as an add-on.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"328\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround.png\" alt=\"SiteGround Hosting Homepage\" class=\"wp-image-4042682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-300x98.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-768x252.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After logging into your account, go to&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Add Services\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>and look for the \u201c<strong>Register a Domain<\/strong>\u201d section. It should be right above the fold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go on \u2014 enter your desired domain name and select the TLD you want to use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"651\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Register-a-Domain.png\" alt=\"SiteGround Domain Registration\" class=\"wp-image-4042683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Register-a-Domain.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Register-a-Domain-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Register-a-Domain-768x500.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Upon clicking&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Check Domain,\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>SiteGround will give you a confirmation if the domain is available for registration. If it is, you can choose the \u201c<strong>Register Domain with Hosting<\/strong>\u201d option to have your domain name ready in one go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SiteGround\u2019s pricing for the particular order should be detailed out under \u201c<strong>Purchase Information.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"613\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Domain-Registration-and-Hosting.png\" alt=\"SiteGround Pricing Estimate\" class=\"wp-image-4042684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Domain-Registration-and-Hosting.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Domain-Registration-and-Hosting-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Domain-Registration-and-Hosting-768x471.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Congratulations \u2014 you now know how to register and host your very own domain!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just be reminded that the domain registration and hosting steps vary depending on your web hosting company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"installingwordpress\">Step 3: Installing WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After hosting your domain name, it still isn\u2019t a full-fledged website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You still need to install a good content management system or use your domain with a third-party website builder.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only then will you be able to start putting together a proper, viewable website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, there\u2019s the off chance that you\u2019re an experienced web developer. In which case, you can afford the option to do things the \u201c<strong>old school<\/strong>\u201d way.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I\u2019m talking about writing all your website codes from scratch \u2014 perhaps with a tool like<\/em> <a href=\"http:\/\/brackets.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"922\"><strong><em>Brackets<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the best route for most new bloggers is to install an easy-to-use CMS like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"923\"><strong>WordPress<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To do this, you can manually download and upload WordPress to your hosting account or use a WordPress installation app.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is normally found in your hosting account\u2019s \u201ccPanel\u201d \u2014 short for control panel. In SiteGround\u2019s case, it\u2019s in the \u201c<strong>Autoinstallers<\/strong>\u201d section of the cPanel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-cPanel-AutoInstallers.png\" alt=\"SiteGround Auto-Installers Panel\" class=\"wp-image-4042686\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-cPanel-AutoInstallers.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-cPanel-AutoInstallers-300x155.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-cPanel-AutoInstallers-768x398.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like domain registration and hosting, the exact WordPress installation procedure also varies from web host to web host. One thing\u2019s for certain, though \u2014 everything you need to do will be clearly explained on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For SiteGround users, the installation process requires you to designate a domain as the installation URL. You may also enter a site name and description right off the bat, but you can change those later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup.png\" alt=\"SiteGround WordPress Installation Process\" class=\"wp-image-4042688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-768x526.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s important is that you choose the right domain name and configure your WordPress administrator credentials accordingly. The latter can be done at the bottom of the WordPress installation page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"632\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-Admin-Account.png\" alt=\"SiteGround WordPress Admin Setup\" class=\"wp-image-4042689\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-Admin-Account.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-Admin-Account-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-WordPress-Setup-Admin-Account-768x485.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few more optional features you can enable in your WordPress installation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you can make do without the rest, I do recommend enabling the \u201c<strong>Limit Login Attempts<\/strong>\u201d option. This adds a layer of security against brute force attacks to your site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wordpressthemes\">Best WordPress Themes for Food Blogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once WordPress is successfully installed, your hosting account should provide a shortcut to your \u201cadmin\u201d panel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On SiteGround, it\u2019s the&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Go to Admin Panel\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>button next to your domain. Just head over to your account page and navigate to the \u201c<strong>Installations<\/strong>\u201d tab.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Admin-Panel.png\" alt=\"SiteGround Go to Admin Panel\" class=\"wp-image-4042690\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Admin-Panel.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Admin-Panel-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SiteGround-Admin-Panel-768x526.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also head to your WordPress administrator panel by adding \u201c<strong>wp-admin<\/strong>\u201d to your domain address.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if you registered the domain \u201cBreadingtheCrunch.com,\u201d this is what you need to type in your browser:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Admin-Panel-Address.png\" alt=\"Accessing the WordPress Dashboard via the Browser\" class=\"wp-image-4042691\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Admin-Panel-Address.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Admin-Panel-Address-300x99.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Admin-Panel-Address-768x253.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If WordPress is installed correctly, you should arrive at the CMS login page, which should look like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Login-Page.png\" alt=\"WordPress Admin Login Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Login-Page.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Login-Page-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Login-Page-768x456.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember the admin credentials you created during the installation process? Use them as your login information and you should be on your WordPress dashboard in no time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s what a fresh installation of WordPress looks like:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"482\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Main-Dashboard.png\" alt=\"WordPress Dashboard \" class=\"wp-image-4042694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Main-Dashboard.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Main-Dashboard-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Main-Dashboard-768x370.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing WordPress Themes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Alright \u2014 you\u2019re ready to install your first WordPress theme.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To get started, expand the \u201c<strong>Appearance<\/strong>\u201d sub-menu and click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Themes.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>That\u2019s where you can install your very first theme for your food blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"458\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Appearance-Menu.png\" alt=\"WordPress Appearance Sub-Menu\" class=\"wp-image-4042695\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Appearance-Menu.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Appearance-Menu-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Appearance-Menu-768x352.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On your first visit to the themes section, you\u2019ll see a bunch of pre-installed themes that you can use immediately.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>But where\u2019s the fun in that?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I suggest clicking the&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Add New\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>button to start browsing WordPress\u2019s expansive library of themes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Add-New-theme.png\" alt=\"WordPress Add New Theme Button\" class=\"wp-image-4042696\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Add-New-theme.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Add-New-theme-300x159.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Add-New-theme-768x408.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The first page you\u2019ll see is the \u201c<strong>Featured<\/strong>\u201d themes tab. It includes a diverse selection of versatile themes for all sorts of sites \u2014 from online stores to news websites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Featured-Themes.png\" alt=\"WordPress Featured Themes Tab\" class=\"wp-image-4042697\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Featured-Themes.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Featured-Themes-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Featured-Themes-768x462.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In the screenshot above, the featured list only has 15 themes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Switch over to the \u201c<strong>Popular<\/strong>\u201d or \u201c<strong>Latest<\/strong>\u201d tab to view thousands more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Latest-Themes.png\" alt=\"WordPress Latest Themes Tab\" class=\"wp-image-4042698\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Latest-Themes.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Latest-Themes-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Latest-Themes-768x462.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Take your time and use the search bar to find themes that may suit your food blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I did my share and looked for awesome themes prior to writing this article. And based on my findings, these are the two best food blog themes that are definitely worth a look:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"foodiepro\">1. Foodie Pro Theme<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/foodiepro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" aria-label=\"Foodie Pro Theme (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"924\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Brunch Pro Theme\">Foodie Pro Theme<\/a> can transform your website from generic to stunning with little work.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a simple, minimalistic theme that makes sure your food blog content stands out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is a screenshot of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/code2cook.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"925\"><strong>Code2Cook<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 a site powered by the Foodie Pro Theme and owned by a friend.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"604\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Homepage\" class=\"wp-image-4042700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-300x181.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-768x464.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What I really like about the Foodie Pro Theme is the extremely clean look.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fewer on-screen clutter means easier customizations, which is why I recommend the Foodie Pro Theme for new bloggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the theme customization page, you can switch between different site layouts in seconds. Simply click on&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Theme Settings\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>and then&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Site Layout\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>to view your options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"922\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Layouts.png\" alt=\"WordPress Customize Theme Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Layouts.png 922w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Layouts-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Layouts-768x426.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 922px) 100vw, 922px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Not sure what layout to work with?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Give each of the layout presets a test run by selecting them from the drop-down menu. The preview panel should refresh so you know what a layout looks like live.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your food blog barely has any content yet, you may want to try the \u201c<strong>Full Width Content<\/strong>\u201d layout. This will remove the excess widget areas on the homepage, drawing your readers\u2019 attention to your first few posts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Full-Width-Content.png\" alt=\"WordPress Foodie Theme Pro Full Width Layout\" class=\"wp-image-4042702\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Full-Width-Content.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Full-Width-Content-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Foodie-Pro-Theme-Full-Width-Content-768x388.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sure, the theme looks great, but what about its features?&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More experienced WordPress users will be pleased to know that the homepage has several widget areas to play with. The Foodie Pro Theme is fully mobile-responsive, which means your site will look great on any device.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/foodiepro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"926\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Brunch Pro Theme\">See a live demo of Foodie Pro theme<\/a> or read this <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/foodie-pro-theme-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"927\">detailed review<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"brunchpro\">2. Brunch Pro Theme<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If high-quality food photography is a focal point of your blog, you need to check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/foodiepro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"928\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Brunch Pro Theme\">Brunch Pro Theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s on the same level as Foodie Pro Theme in terms of minimalism, performance, and ease of use. The main difference is, Brunch Pro will put your blog\u2019s visual content front and center.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"626\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Brunch-Pro-Blog-Theme.png\" alt=\"Brunch Pro Blog Theme Preview\" class=\"wp-image-4042703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Brunch-Pro-Blog-Theme.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Brunch-Pro-Blog-Theme-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Brunch-Pro-Blog-Theme-768x481.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like Foodie Pro, most of the design aspects of Brunch Pro can be effortlessly personalized to your tastes. There\u2019s just one thing you need to remember before you commit to this theme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>See to it that you can provide professional-quality, high-resolution images.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without them, you can\u2019t take full advantage of Brunch Pro\u2019s layouts and features.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/foodiepro\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"929\" data-lasso-name=\"Brunch Pro Theme\" target=\"_blank\">See a live demo of Brunch Pro Theme<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So\u2026should I go with Foodie Pro or Brunch Pro?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong \u2014 I\u2019m not saying you should only go for either Foodie Pro or Brunch Pro as your food blog\u2019s theme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is, after all, your own food blog. Major decisions such as your WordPress theme should be made solely by you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>There are thousands of other themes out there that can help you achieve the look you want.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All you need is an ounce of imagination and you can use any theme to spice up your food blog.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nonetheless, I\u2019m always happy to provide you with suggestions should you need some ideas. <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/best-wordpress-themes-for-food-blogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"930\">For more great-looking themes for food blogs, click here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"foodblogplugins\">Best WordPress Plugins For Food Blogs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A good WordPress theme is the foundation of any successful blog, but it\u2019s just a small piece of the puzzle.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>True, you can start writing and publishing posts the moment you install a theme. But if you want your audience to have an experience they\u2019ll remember, then you need to reach higher.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>WordPress plugins will allow you to integrate various kinds of features into your website.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can have a functional contact form, booking calendar, sliders, and so on \u2014 without writing a single line of code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a food blog, you don\u2019t really need to implement anything fancy. The following plugins should be enough to breathe life into your food blog:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wprecipemaker\">1. WP Recipe Maker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you intend to share recipes on your blog?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bulleted lists? Tables?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One word:&nbsp;<em>boring.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-recipe-maker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"931\"><strong>WP Recipe Maker<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;lets you present your recipes in an organized and aesthetically pleasing manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"955\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker.png\" alt=\"WP Recipe Maker\" class=\"wp-image-4042704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker.png 955w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-768x350.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With WP Recipe Maker, every detail of your recipe will be fused into a shareable visual.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I particularly like the default \u201c<strong>Compact<\/strong>\u201d template, which will let you show off recipes like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"906\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-Screenshot.png\" alt=\"WP Recipe Maker Compact Template\" class=\"wp-image-4042705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-Screenshot.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-Screenshot-300x272.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WP-Recipe-Maker-Screenshot-768x696.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"recipecardblocks\">2. Recipe Card Blocks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want a simpler and more straightforward alternative to WP Recipe Maker, I suggest you try&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/recipe-card-blocks-by-wpzoom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"932\"><strong>Recipe Card Blocks<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"445\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks.png\" alt=\"Recipe Card Blocks WordPress Plugin Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-768x342.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Recipe Card Blocks accomplishes what WP Recipe Maker does, but with different end results. The design of the recipe panels is, as expected, the key factor.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"834\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-Screenshot.png\" alt=\"Recipe Card Blocks Sample Screenshot\" class=\"wp-image-4042707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-Screenshot.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-Screenshot-300x250.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Recipe-Card-Blocks-Screenshot-768x641.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"yasr\">3. Yasr \u2013 Yet Another Stars Rating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019d rather keep things simple with a traditional blog post format, at least get yourself a star rating widget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/yet-another-stars-rating\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"933\"><strong>Yasr<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;is a WordPress plugin that will let readers rate your recipes with star ratings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Rating.png\" alt=\"Yasr Star Rating\" class=\"wp-image-4042708\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Rating.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Rating-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Rating-768x353.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Using it is simple \u2014 install the plugin, configure its appearance, and add it to posts using shortcodes or Gutenberg blocks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll look at this WordPress plugin a little closer in a while, so hang tight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"smush\">4. Smush Image Optimization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing you can count on in food blogging is the fact that you need truckloads of high-quality images.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This could cause a hit on your page\u2019s loading speed \u2014 negatively affecting user experience and your website\u2019s rankings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a plugin like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wp-smushit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"934\"><strong>Smush<\/strong><\/a>, you can put an end to your image optimization worries once and for all.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Image-Optimization.png\" alt=\"Smush Image Optimization Plugin Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Image-Optimization.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Image-Optimization-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Image-Optimization-768x356.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes Smush so useful is the \u201c<strong>Automatic compression<\/strong>\u201d feature. This allows the plugin to work its magic on every image you upload to your WordPress library.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"441\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Automatic-Compression.png\" alt=\"Smush Image Optimization Automatic Compression\" class=\"wp-image-4042711\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Automatic-Compression.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Automatic-Compression-300x132.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Smush-Automatic-Compression-768x339.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"anycontactform\">5. Any Contact Form Plugin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Lastly, every blogger worth their salt would be open to two-way communication.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"ss-ctt-wrapper ss-ctt-style-2\" data-ss-post-id=\"4042669\" data-nonce=\"88c42e4445\">\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Keep+in+mind+that+blogging+isn%E2%80%99t+just+about+writing+about+stuff+you+like.+It%E2%80%99s+also+about+the+community+you+can+build+and+the+people+you+can+unite+with+your+ideas.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-tweet\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Keep in mind that blogging isn\u2019t just about writing about stuff you like. It\u2019s also about the community you can build and the people you can unite with your ideas.<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Keep+in+mind+that+blogging+isn%E2%80%99t+just+about+writing+about+stuff+you+like.+It%E2%80%99s+also+about+the+community+you+can+build+and+the+people+you+can+unite+with+your+ideas.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-link\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>Click to Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"ss-svg-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M28.75 9.5c0 0.25 0 0.563 0 0.813 0 8.688-6.625 18.688-18.688 18.688-3.688 0-7.188-1.063-10.063-2.938 0.5 0.063 1.063 0.063 1.563 0.063 3.063 0 5.938-1 8.188-2.813-2.875 0-5.313-1.938-6.188-4.563 0.438 0.125 0.813 0.125 1.25 0.125 0.625 0 1.188-0.063 1.75-0.188-3-0.625-5.25-3.313-5.25-6.438 0-0.063 0-0.063 0-0.125 0.875 0.5 1.875 0.813 2.938 0.813-1.75-1.125-2.938-3.188-2.938-5.438 0-1.188 0.375-2.313 0.938-3.313 3.188 4 8.063 6.625 13.5 6.875-0.125-0.5-0.188-1-0.188-1.5 0-3.625 2.938-6.563 6.563-6.563 1.938 0 3.625 0.813 4.813 2.063 1.5-0.313 2.938-0.813 4.188-1.563-0.5 1.5-1.563 2.813-2.875 3.625 1.313-0.188 2.563-0.5 3.75-1.063-0.875 1.313-2 2.5-3.25 3.438z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- END .ss-ctt-wrapper -->\n\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>A contact form plugin is an essential piece for any food blog. This way, readers can voice out their opinions, give suggestions, and ask questions more directly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are several contact form plugins that are suitable for food bloggers. These three are among the most popular choices:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/contact-form-7\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"935\"><strong>Contact Form 7<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wpforms-lite\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"936\"><strong>WPForms<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/123contactform-for-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"937\">123FormBuilder<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t you worry about the integration procedures for these plugins. They all work right out of the box with versatile templates for any site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only thing you need to learn is how to add the forms to a WordPress page or post. This is usually done by pasting a shortcode, which you can find on the plugin\u2019s settings page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"324\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcodes.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Shortcodes\" class=\"wp-image-4042712\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcodes.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcodes-300x97.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcodes-768x249.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For a more complete list of WordPress plugins<\/strong>,<strong> I\u2019d recommend to food bloggers, <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/best-wordpress-plugins-for-food-blogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"938\">check out this post<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"contentstrategy\">Prepping Up Your Blog Content Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By now, you now have all the tools you need to create a beautiful, professional-looking food blog. But then again, people won\u2019t come to your site just to appreciate its design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What your readers really care about is your content \u2014 the juicy meat of any site.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, writing and publishing posts on your food blog is a bit more complex than it sounds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you type a single word, you have a long list of preparations to make. This will ensure that your content creation efforts will lead to a steady, profitable stream of web traffic.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Let\u2019s start with keyword research.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"keywordresearch\">Doing Keyword Research for Your Food Blog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/keyword-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"939\">Keyword research<\/a> is a blogger\u2019s steppingstone to online relevance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you own your blog, you do have the right to write about whatever you like. But in order to capture the attention of readers, you must tackle hot topics and dole out in-demand information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s where keyword research comes in.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\t\t<div class=\"ss-ctt-wrapper ss-ctt-style-2\" data-ss-post-id=\"4042669\" data-nonce=\"88c42e4445\">\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Put+simply%2C+keyword+research+is+like+tapping+into+the+voice+of+the+online+community.+It%E2%80%99s+all+about+unveiling+what+people+search+for+online+and+finding+%E2%80%9Cgaps%E2%80%9D+you+can+fill+with+your+content.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-tweet\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Put simply, keyword research is like tapping into the voice of the online community. It\u2019s all about unveiling what people search for online and finding \u201cgaps\u201d you can fill with your content.<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Put+simply%2C+keyword+research+is+like+tapping+into+the+voice+of+the+online+community.+It%E2%80%99s+all+about+unveiling+what+people+search+for+online+and+finding+%E2%80%9Cgaps%E2%80%9D+you+can+fill+with+your+content.&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fmasterblogging.com%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F4042669&#038;via=MasterBlogging_\" class=\"ss-ctt-link\" data-title=\"Click to Tweet\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t<span>Click to Tweet<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"ss-svg-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"img\" focusable=\"false\" width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M28.75 9.5c0 0.25 0 0.563 0 0.813 0 8.688-6.625 18.688-18.688 18.688-3.688 0-7.188-1.063-10.063-2.938 0.5 0.063 1.063 0.063 1.563 0.063 3.063 0 5.938-1 8.188-2.813-2.875 0-5.313-1.938-6.188-4.563 0.438 0.125 0.813 0.125 1.25 0.125 0.625 0 1.188-0.063 1.75-0.188-3-0.625-5.25-3.313-5.25-6.438 0-0.063 0-0.063 0-0.125 0.875 0.5 1.875 0.813 2.938 0.813-1.75-1.125-2.938-3.188-2.938-5.438 0-1.188 0.375-2.313 0.938-3.313 3.188 4 8.063 6.625 13.5 6.875-0.125-0.5-0.188-1-0.188-1.5 0-3.625 2.938-6.563 6.563-6.563 1.938 0 3.625 0.813 4.813 2.063 1.5-0.313 2.938-0.813 4.188-1.563-0.5 1.5-1.563 2.813-2.875 3.625 1.313-0.188 2.563-0.5 3.75-1.063-0.875 1.313-2 2.5-3.25 3.438z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t<\/div><!-- END .ss-ctt-wrapper -->\n\n\t\t\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re now in digital marketing territory, so pay close attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m about to teach you how to perform keyword research like a pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keyword research lesson #1: Get yourself a reliable keyword research tool<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s not rocket science: no keyword research tool, no keyword research.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I spent a long time using and reviewing <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/best-keyword-research-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"940\">keyword research tools<\/a> throughout my career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a comprehensive discussion about keyword research, I decided to use one of the top-tier platforms in all things marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/semrush-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"941\">SEMrush<\/a> is just about as good as it gets if you need a keyword research tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"438\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Homepage\" class=\"wp-image-4042713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush--300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush--768x336.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Its \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/semrush\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"942\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Semrush\">Keyword Magic Tool<\/a>\u201d brings together everything you need to find lucrative keyword opportunities for your food blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To use it, start with a seed keyword or any relevant term and click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Search.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool\" class=\"wp-image-4042714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-300x120.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-768x308.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need seed keywords, refer to the keywords list you made during the domain brainstorming part of this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After you plug in your seed keyword, the Keyword Magic Tool will generate a massive list of potential keyword ideas. Valuable metrics like the keywords\u2019 average monthly search volume, cost per click, and <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/keyword-difficulty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"943\">keyword difficulty<\/a> will be included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you have an amazing carrot cake recipe that you\u2019d like to showcase on your blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Naturally, you want to find keywords that can lure in people who are also into baking carrot cakes. With that in mind, you can start with a seed keyword like \u201c<strong>carrot cake recipe.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here are the keyword ideas that the Keyword Magic Tool sent back:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"587\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Carrot-Cake-Recipe.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Keyword Magic Tool Carrot Cake Recipe Keywords\" class=\"wp-image-4042715\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Carrot-Cake-Recipe.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Carrot-Cake-Recipe-300x176.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Carrot-Cake-Recipe-768x451.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lesson #2: Keyword research also leads to content ideas that can beef up your blog<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>An important thing to keep in mind is that keyword suggestions also often point to <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/blog-post-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"944\">new topic ideas<\/a> worth exploring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the results above, you may consider covering variations of your recipe \u2014 from carrot cupcakes to carrot cakes with pineapples. If not, how does \u201cvegan carrot cake recipe\u201d sound?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-Content-Ideas.png\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool Carrot Cake Recipe Content Ideas\" class=\"wp-image-4042716\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-Content-Ideas.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-Content-Ideas-300x202.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keyword-Magic-Tool-Content-Ideas-768x516.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>There are literally thousands of ideas right there to keep your content strategy fresh.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This begs the question: how do you pick the right keyword opportunities for your blog?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since I already discussed this topic before, I don\u2019t want to delve too deeply into the nitty-gritty of keyword research. Instead, allow me to slide in a link to my post called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/keyword-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"945\">How to Do Keyword Research for beginners.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lesson #3: SERPs or Search Engine Results Pages are also an excellent source of keyword ideas&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Make no mistake that I wouldn\u2019t let anyone take on the challenges of keyword research without a platform like SEMrush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, sometimes you don\u2019t have to look far to find keyword opportunities that can provide your blog with traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No \u2014 I\u2019m not just talking about \u201c<strong>Autocomplete<\/strong>\u201d suggestions like the ones that Google provides.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Autocomplete-Suggestions.png\" alt=\"Google Autocomplete Suggestions\" class=\"wp-image-4042717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Autocomplete-Suggestions.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Autocomplete-Suggestions-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Autocomplete-Suggestions-768x460.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Autocomplete suggestions may be a goldmine of content ideas for budding bloggers. However, they lack crucial pieces of data that allow you to decide which keywords are worth pursuing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can fix this issue by installing a browser extension like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/wms-everywhere\/chbmoagfhnkggnhbjpoonnmhnpjdjdod\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"946\"><strong>WMS Everywhere<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is available for both&nbsp;<em>Mozilla Firefox&nbsp;<\/em>and&nbsp;<em>Google Chrome.&nbsp;<\/em>If you\u2019re still using default browsers like&nbsp;<em>Edge&nbsp;<\/em>or&nbsp;<em>Safari,&nbsp;<\/em>you may need to step out of your comfort zone.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>With WMS Everywhere installed, let\u2019s check what\u2019s new in Google\u2019s Autocomplete suggestions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Typing the search phrase used above, WMS Everywhere immediately gets to work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next to the Autocomplete suggestions, you can now see the average monthly search volume and CPC for each keyword.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"633\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Autocomplete-Suggestions.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4042718\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Autocomplete-Suggestions.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Autocomplete-Suggestions-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Autocomplete-Suggestions-768x486.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s not all.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you load up the entire SERP, WMS Everywhere will also show you bucketloads of related keyword ideas. Pertinent metrics for each new keyword idea are also included.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"483\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Related-Keywords.png\" alt=\"Keywords Everywhere SERP Panel\" class=\"wp-image-4042719\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Related-Keywords.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Related-Keywords-300x145.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Keywords-Everywhere-Related-Keywords-768x371.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Using WMS Everywhere as an alternative to robust keyword research platforms will significantly speed up your workflow.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine \u2014 you\u2019re searching for new recipe ideas to write about in your next post. WMS Everywhere makes it possible to look for those recipes and garner keyword ideas at the same time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding the best keyword ideas for food and cooking blogs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Excited to do your keyword research?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Slow down \u2014 here are a few guidelines you need to live by first:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Understand Keyword Difficulty \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>As a new player in the food blogging niche, targeting high competition keywords may spell trouble for your growth.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/keyword-difficulty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"947\"><strong>Read this post to learn more about keyword difficulty and how to find the sweet spot for your blog<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go for Long-Tail Keywords \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Unlike broad and unprofitable keywords, <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/long-tail-keywords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"948\">long-tail keywords<\/a> have three or more terms. They are tied to more specific topics and sought out by a narrower audience with clearer intent.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don\u2019t Starve Yourself \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>There\u2019s no point in optimizing for keywords that barely get any searches per month. As much as possible, hunt for keywords with an average search volume of over 100.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s face it, the food blogging industry isn\u2019t the most beginner-friendly.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re struggling to find viable keywords for the topics you want, maybe it\u2019s time to target a smaller niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/how-to-choose-blog-niche\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"949\"><strong>I wrote an entire post dedicated to those who still haven\u2019t nailed down their ideal niche here<\/strong><\/a>. As a bonus, I listed down a total of 104 niche ideas that aren\u2019t crowded with competitors yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of them are in the food landscape, like cheese making, homebrewing, making wine, diets, and Indian recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Profitable-Niches-Infographic-410x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4041237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Profitable-Niches-Infographic-410x1024.png 410w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Profitable-Niches-Infographic-120x300.png 120w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Profitable-Niches-Infographic-768x1920.png 768w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Profitable-Niches-Infographic.png 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you happen to find a smaller niche, do restart your keyword research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to jot down the keyword ideas you find on an accessible list, including their metrics. A spreadsheet application like&nbsp;<em>MS Excel&nbsp;<\/em>or&nbsp;<em>Google Sheets&nbsp;<\/em>should do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no right way to do this. Just see to it that your keywords list is readable and scannable, like this one:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MS-Excel-Keywords-List.png\" alt=\"My Keywords List on Excel\" class=\"wp-image-4042721\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MS-Excel-Keywords-List.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MS-Excel-Keywords-List-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MS-Excel-Keywords-List-768x319.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"competitorcontent\">Borrowing content inspiration from competitors&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Early on in creating a food blog, you should have no problem thinking of blog post topics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I bet you wanted to be a food blogger because you want to share some of your own recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, go ahead and do keyword research for the unique recipes you want to talk about. The next question you need to ask is, how do you put together an engaging blog post with keyword ideas?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s when the skill of competitor research will come in handy.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wait, what\u2019s competitor research?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Competitor research, in general, is the practice of observing the strategies of similar brands.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The goal is simple: figure out what works for your competitors and use them in your own strategy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you put hours into your first blog post, it would be wise to inspect how competitors do it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, I looked into the keyword \u201c<strong>simple carrot cake recipe<\/strong>\u201d earlier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This particular blog looks like it\u2019s doing pretty well.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Simple-Carrot-Cake-Recipe.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4042722\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Simple-Carrot-Cake-Recipe.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Simple-Carrot-Cake-Recipe-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Simple-Carrot-Cake-Recipe-768x332.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To learn what makes this website get high search engine rankings, we need to pay it a visit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should you look for on your competitor\u2019s page?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The page itself should give away a number of things in your competitor\u2019s content strategy.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the page starts with a star rating widget that measures how well the recipe is received by readers. That\u2019s something you can easily replicate with the right WordPress plugin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By the way, star ratings can also appear as eye-catching rich snippets in SERPs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of SEO, experienced bloggers should also spot the expertly inserted keyword in the post\u2019s introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Recipe-Page.png\" alt=\"InspiredTaste Recipe Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042724\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Recipe-Page.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Recipe-Page-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/InspiredTaste-Recipe-Page-768x388.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The page also features a recipe video that give readers a firsthand look at how the recipe is done.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A recipe video may not be something a food blogger can produce on their first day. But, at least, it\u2019s a milestone you can add to your to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Other than that, here\u2019s a list of aspects you should focus on when investigating your competitor\u2019s content strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Content Types \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Apart from written text, what other content types does your competitor throws in the mix? Are there videos, infographics, downloadable PDFs, interactive tables, and such?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Word Count \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>It\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/blog-post-length\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4559331\" data-lasso-id=\"950\">known fact<\/a> that longer articles tend to rank higher in SERPs than shorter content. Verify if it\u2019s the case with the keyword you\u2019re looking into.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Subtopics \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Lengthy blog posts usually cover a lot of ground. By spying on your competitor\u2019s content, you can learn about related subtopics that are worth mentioning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Meta Data \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Going back to the SERP, review how your competitor writes their meta descriptions. Also, identify the rich snippets they use to earn more organic click-throughs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyword Placement \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>When going over your competitor\u2019s content, notice how they weave keywords into their posts. Chances are, focus keywords can be found in the post\u2019s title, subheadings, image alt text tags, and main body.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking at your competitors\u2019 keywords<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, the content factors you can borrow from competitors are beneath the surface.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Their target keywords, for example, can only be unearthed with the help of keyword research tools.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For such a task, I only trust premium platforms like <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/semrush\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"951\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Semrush\">SEMrush<\/a>, which I\u2019ve covered multiple times in this blog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy \u2014 just enter your competitor\u2019s content URL and click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Search.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Domain-Search.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Competitor Content Research\" class=\"wp-image-4042725\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Domain-Search.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Domain-Search-300x78.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Domain-Search-768x200.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It shouldn\u2019t take long before SEMrush can pull up in-depth insights on your competitor\u2019s content. To collect keyword ideas, scroll down to the \u201c<strong>Top Organic Keywords<\/strong>\u201d box.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"723\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Keywords.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Top Competitor Keywords\" class=\"wp-image-4042726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Keywords.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Keywords-300x217.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Competitor-Keywords-768x555.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also start with the organic keywords of your competitor\u2019s whole domain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This should yield a new batch of in-demand content ideas that you can also blog about.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re having trouble finding their keywords list, just remember to look for the \u201c<strong>Organic Research<\/strong>\u201d page under \u201c<strong>Domain Analytics.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"642\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Organic-Research.png\" alt=\"SEMrush Organic Keywords Page\" class=\"wp-image-4042728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Organic-Research.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Organic-Research-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/SEMrush-Organic-Research-768x493.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Snagging keyword ideas from the organic research report is just the beginning. You still have ways to go before you can convert your competitor\u2019s organic keyword data into tangible plans of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"preparingcontent\">Preparing your recipe page content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t learn how to become a food blogger without knowing the art of creating recipe pages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sadly, being able to <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/write-quality-content\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"952\">write high-quality blog posts<\/a> won\u2019t be enough.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You see, recipe pages need to have something a little extra in order to stand out. How else do you plan to compete against posts with star ratings, videos, and other graphics?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Taking food photographs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you\u2019re new to food blogging, it\u2019s understandable if you want to start small and skimp on your expenses.&nbsp;<em>But whether you like it or not,<\/em>&nbsp;<em>you need to get your hands dirty in food photography.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you expect readers to take you seriously if you only use stock photos?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By taking your own food photographs, you have the right to add your social media handle as an overlay. This will protect your images from content freeloaders and help spread your brand to everyone who views them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"785\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Social-Media-Handle.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Social Media Handle\" class=\"wp-image-4042729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Social-Media-Handle.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Social-Media-Handle-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Social-Media-Handle-768x603.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is, you don\u2019t need to invest in an expensive, professional camera for publish-worthy food photography. With the right techniques, a smartphone camera should get you covered during your first few months as a food blogger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do note that I said \u201ca\u201d smartphone camera, not \u201cany.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? Because, even though most smartphones in this era have built-in cameras, not all of them can take quality food photos.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What you need is a smartphone camera that has depth-of-field features.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This will allow you to take photos with blurry backgrounds and sharp subjects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, you need to familiarize yourself with lighting, its role in photography, and how to work with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I may not be able to sit you through the fundamentals of smartphone photography.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thebiteshot.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"953\"><strong>Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot<\/strong><\/a>, however, will be happy to teach you what you need to know.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You can watch her 13-minute video tutorial below:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"How to Shoot Food on Your Phone Like a Pro\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rR1kzFz8NSo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What photos should I take?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>I believe the right question should be: \u201c<em>What photos shouldn\u2019t you take?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your utensils, ingredients, workspace, yourself \u2014 anything that your readers would like to see have a spot in your recipe posts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can even add a photo or two for each and every step. Just try to be to-the-point and focus on visual information that can benefit your readers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For your reference, Code2Cook diligently photographs every step of the recipe to help readers understand the instructions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Instruction-Photos.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Instructions\" class=\"wp-image-4042746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Instruction-Photos.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Instruction-Photos-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Instruction-Photos-768x562.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to go the extra mile, use image editing tools to create custom blog graphics for your recipes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe it or not, the internet has dozens of cloud-based tools that could help you create something like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/This-is-an-infographic...-...with-donut-icons.png\" alt=\"Custom Infographic\" class=\"wp-image-4042747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/This-is-an-infographic...-...with-donut-icons.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/This-is-an-infographic...-...with-donut-icons-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/This-is-an-infographic...-...with-donut-icons-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Would you believe me if I told you that it only took five minutes for me to make that?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, it would take at least double that time if I wanted the graphic to be more original. The point is, you don\u2019t need to be a professional graphic designer to create something eye-catching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All you need is a pinch of inspiration and the right tool in hand.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photo editing tools for food bloggers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Your would-be readers can probably forgive you if the quality of your images isn\u2019t exactly top-notch. This is especially true if you\u2019ve only started blogging for a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nevertheless, your food blog deserves images that make people\u2019s mouths water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you have zero experience with photo editing software, consider spending some time to learn any of the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/canva\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"954\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Canva\"><strong>Canva<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>This online image editing tool supplies the basic tools you need to create vibrant food photos. Apart from filters and color adjustment features, it can also help you whip up social media graphics with ease.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.adobe.com\/in\/products\/photoshop.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"955\"><strong>Photoshop<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>You can\u2019t say \u201cphoto editing\u201d without thinking about the most popular software in the industry. It may be on the expensive side and has a somewhat steep learning curve, but it\u2019s definitely worth the investment.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gimp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"956\"><strong>GIMP<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Next up, GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open-source Photoshop alternative. I advise you to try this first before you purchase a premium photo editing app.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Things to remember when uploading photos to your recipe pages&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose you already have your food photos \u2014 waiting to be inserted in your post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you simply upload them to your WordPress site and call it a day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Nope.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If I need to upload images to a post, the first thing I\u2019d do is give them a better filename.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t even think about uploading them to your blog with names like \u201c20190304_553532.jpg.\u201d Instead, give them descriptive or keyword-optimized names like \u201csimple-carrot-cake.jpg\u201d or \u201chow-to-slice-onions.png.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s a sneak peek at how Code2Cook names their food photos:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"410\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Filename.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Image Filename\" class=\"wp-image-4042748\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Filename.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Filename-300x123.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Filename-768x315.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you upload your images, you should also use an image compression tool like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/kraken.io\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"957\"><strong>Kraken.io<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>to make them load faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kraken.io is a user-friendly tool that offers lossless image compression. This means you can reduce the file size of your images without any noticeable changes in clarity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"526\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kraken-Image-Compression.png\" alt=\"Kraken Lossless Optimization Mode\" class=\"wp-image-4042749\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kraken-Image-Compression.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kraken-Image-Compression-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Kraken-Image-Compression-768x404.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I could go on and on about optimizing images for blog posts, but that\u2019s a topic for another article.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/image-optimization-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"958\"><strong>Luckily for you, that article is already published right here<\/strong><\/a><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Setting up the rating system for your blog<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously, I briefly discussed the features of Yasr and how it can boost reader engagement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This time around, let me walk you through the actual steps of integrating it into your blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After installing and activating Yasr, click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Settings\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>under the \u201c<strong>Yet Another Stars Rating<\/strong>\u201d sub-menu. This will take to the \u201c<strong>General Settings<\/strong>\u201d area of the plugin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yet-Another-Stars-Rating-Settings.png\" alt=\"Yasr Settings Menu\" class=\"wp-image-4042750\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yet-Another-Stars-Rating-Settings.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yet-Another-Stars-Rating-Settings-300x111.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yet-Another-Stars-Rating-Settings-768x284.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s where you can configure how your star ratings widget should function and look.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the top of the settings page, be sure to set the \u201c<strong>Auto Insert Options<\/strong>\u201d toggle to&nbsp;<strong>\u2018No.\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;Otherwise, Yasr will display star ratings on every single post \u2014 regardless if it\u2019s a recipe article or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-General-Settings-Auto-Insert.png\" alt=\"Yasr Auto Insert Feature\" class=\"wp-image-4042751\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-General-Settings-Auto-Insert.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-General-Settings-Auto-Insert-300x174.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-General-Settings-Auto-Insert-768x445.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Below the Auto Insert options, you can edit the labels that appear on the star ratings widget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only required change you need to make is to change the word \u201c<strong>post<\/strong>\u201d into \u201c<strong>recipe<\/strong>.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"596\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Custom-Text.png\" alt=\"Yasr Insert Custom Text\" class=\"wp-image-4042752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Custom-Text.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Custom-Text-300x179.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Custom-Text-768x458.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few more things you need to adjust to personalize the Yasr plugin on your website. You can change who can leave their votes, set the display setting of ratings on your archive page, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever you do, see that you select&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Recipe\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>in the \u201c<strong>Rich snippet options<\/strong>\u201d section. This will tell search engines that your star ratings widget is used on recipe pages and nothing else.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"461\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Rich-Snippet-Options.png\" alt=\"Yasr Rich Snippet Options\" class=\"wp-image-4042753\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Rich-Snippet-Options.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Rich-Snippet-Options-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Rich-Snippet-Options-768x354.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adding star ratings to recipe pages<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Nice \u2014 you\u2019re just about ready to add a star rating system to a recipe page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Auto Insert switched off, you need to manually paste a shortcode to your recipe pages. If your version of WordPress has the Gutenberg editor, then you simply need to add a Yasr block.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, implementing a star rating system is a great way to get your audience\u2019s feedback on your recipes. Use the&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Yasr: Visitor Votes\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>option when adding the star rating widget to get your readers involved.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the shortcode, use \u201c[yasr_visitor_votes].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Gutenberg-Block.png\" alt=\"How to Use Yasr\" class=\"wp-image-4042754\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Gutenberg-Block.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Gutenberg-Block-300x194.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Gutenberg-Block-768x496.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You can then set the size of the stars as you see fit. Just select the size you want to use from the drop-down menu.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Stars-Size.png\" alt=\"Yasr Star Ratings Size\" class=\"wp-image-4042755\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Stars-Size.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Stars-Size-300x115.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Stars-Size-768x295.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what your star rating widget should look like on your recipe page:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Ratings.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4042756\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Ratings.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Ratings-300x96.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Yasr-Star-Ratings-768x246.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Creating Food Videos<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There comes a time when bloggers \u2014 not just food bloggers \u2014 need to make a decision.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Will you add another generic blog to the pile, or create a brand that will get recognized in your industry?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you choose the latter, you have no choice but to replicate what the top brands do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In food blogging, that\u2019s producing your own recipe videos.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I won\u2019t pressure you to get up and shop for video recording equipment this very day. Only you will decide when you\u2019re ready for this frontier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When you are, here are some pre-production tips that\u2019ll help you ace your first recipe video:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Start with Your Best Recipe \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>To effectively incorporate video content into your long-term strategy, you should give your 100% to every video you produce. And since you need to make a solid first impression, make your first video something you\u2019ll be proud of.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Videos Should Stand on Their Own \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;You can maximize the value you get out of videos by sharing them on other platforms, like YouTube and Facebook. To make this work, a video must be able to deliver complete instructions without relying on a complimentary article.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Break Down the Steps \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Before you start recording, you must have a clear idea of the steps you want to demonstrate. Don\u2019t skip anything and try to include cooking tips based on your personal experiences in each step.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Show Multiple Angles \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;You can use the same, top-down camera angle when filming instructions for your recipe. But once the dish is done, show it off from multiple angles and let viewers appreciate your creation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re dead set on mastering video production, you can learn a lot from courses like <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/food-blogger-pro-review\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"959\">Food Blogger Pro<\/a><\/strong>. They have an entire section for food video production you can sink your teeth into.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FoodBloggerPro-Video-Category.png\" alt=\"Food Blogger Pro Video Course\" class=\"wp-image-4042757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FoodBloggerPro-Video-Category.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FoodBloggerPro-Video-Category-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/FoodBloggerPro-Video-Category-768x480.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Outsourcing Your Content Production Needs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t have the bandwidth to learn photography and video editing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>There\u2019s always the option to outsource someone who can do the heavy lifting for you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Freelance marketplaces like&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"960\">Upwork<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>have a massive lineup of eager freelancers who can help you with any task. A single keyword like \u201c<strong>photographer<\/strong>\u201d should do the trick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Upwork-Photographer-Freelancers.png\" alt=\"Upwork Photography Freelancers\" class=\"wp-image-4042758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Upwork-Photographer-Freelancers.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Upwork-Photographer-Freelancers-300x182.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Upwork-Photographer-Freelancers-768x465.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Another advantage of hiring freelancers is the competitive nature of these marketplaces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It doesn\u2019t matter if you need a photographer, video editor, or web developer. You should be able to find qualified professionals at a rate you\u2019re comfortable with.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from that, remember the following tips when hiring freelancers to help with your food blogging activities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Always Ask for Samples \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Now\u2019s not the time to take a risk with people who don\u2019t have proof of their proficiency. To ensure outsourcing success, always opt for freelancers with an established online portfolio or links to their previous works.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Set Realistic Expectations \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;When arranging your collaborative project, give your freelancer ample time to get the job done. It\u2019s perfectly acceptable to set intricate job details, but don\u2019t compel them to overdeliver \u2014 that\u2019s something they\u2019ll figure out themselves.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Convince them to Connect \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;If you want your requirements to be met, don\u2019t communicate solely through emails. Encourage your freelancer to communicate directly via instant messaging or&nbsp;<em>Skype<\/em>video calls.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Organize Your Workflow \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Now might be a good time for you to learn how to organize your workload with productivity tools.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/productivity-tips-for-bloggers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"961\"><strong>Visit my guide on blogger productivity for the tips and tools to do things more efficiently<\/strong><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Discuss Revision Allowances \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;A healthy, positive mindset shouldn\u2019t stop you from planning ahead in case things don\u2019t go your way. That said, discuss the number of times a freelancer can perform revisions for free.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Putting it all together<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Got your food photos, plugins, and videos ready?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Your next task is to put them all together.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like a tasty dish, creating a recipe page is an art form that requires planning and technique. Most importantly, you need to know what makes a blog post stellar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you\u2019ve never published a blog post before, learn the basics by reading my <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/write-quality-content\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"962\">guide on high-quality content creation<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The next thing you need to focus on would be the structure of a brilliant recipe page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s a quick rundown of the must-have elements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Featured Image \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>As the first thing readers see, you can\u2019t afford to use subpar featured images in your recipe pages. Don\u2019t hesitate to add text overlays and filters with tools like <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/canva\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"963\" data-lasso-name=\"Canva\" target=\"_blank\">Canva<\/a> \u2014 even the tool\u2019s free version should suffice.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hook \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;So, let\u2019s assume that your featured image was able to generate some clicks. A \u201chook\u201d is a short paragraph that highlights the recipe and gives readers a reason to stay.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ingredients and Utensils List \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;To improve the experience of your readers, always include a complete list of ingredients and utensils in your recipe pages. Put this in your introduction so readers can decide if they still want to read the entire post.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Call-To-Action \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>When marketers talk about the word CTA, they often position it as the \u201cfinal push\u201d needed to encourage reader action. But with creativity, you can use a CTA whenever you give actionable advice in your articles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To better understand the elements above, the best approach is to look at real-world examples.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Code2Cook, for one, utilizes all of these content components, including standalone recipe videos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Recipe-Video.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Standalone Recipe Video\" class=\"wp-image-4042760\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Recipe-Video.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Recipe-Video-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Recipe-Video-768x508.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Later in this post, there\u2019ll be a longer list of the top food blog sites. Pay each of them a visit and list down parts of their content strategy you want to adopt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"marketing\">Marketing Your Food Blog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating recipe pages and other types of content for your food blog is a time-consuming challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may be able to finish writing a 2,000-word post in one day. However, you\u2019ll need another day for the tasks that follow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That includes proofreading your post, optimizing your visual content, and saving the draft on WordPress.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even then, you still don\u2019t have time to relax.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What comes after content development is actually the most tedious obstacle every blogger should face \u2014&nbsp;<strong>marketing your food blog.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time is of the essence, so I\u2019ll just cut to the chase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"socialmedia\">Setting up your social media accounts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a greenhorn blogger, you need to grab every opportunity to generate traffic to your site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Social media is a can\u2019t-miss channel since it can supply your new blog with visitors from day one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s talk about the social media networks you should focus on.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">YouTube<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/YouTube.png\" alt=\"How to Promote Your Food Blog on YouTube\" class=\"wp-image-4042812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/YouTube.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/YouTube-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/YouTube-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re a go-getter who\u2019ll take on video production for your food blog, building a YouTube channel is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>YouTube lets you utilize the influential power of video to build a presence and potentially reach masses of viewers. The best part is, you don\u2019t need to spend a single cent to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just log into the platform with your Google account and you should be able to upload videos right away.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Growing your YouTube channel<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Similar to blogging, the growth of your YouTube channel depends on the quality of content you produce.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also a few things you need to do to put your channel\u2019s growth on the fast track:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Give YouTube a hand using other marketing channels \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>After you upload your video on YouTube, make it a point to promote it via other marketing channels as well. This includes your website and other social media networks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Understand YouTube keyword optimization \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>To make your videos searchable on YouTube, you need to conduct video keyword research tailored to the platform. As for the optimization process, I recommend&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/how-to-rank-youtube-videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"964\">this YouTube SEO guide by Brian Dean<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Watch your top competitors \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;There\u2019s no one-size-fits-all approach to growing a YouTube channel, but your top competitors probably have some idea of what works. Check out their channel and watch their videos to crack the code yourself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pinterest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinterest.png\" alt=\"How to Promote Your Food Blog on Pinterest\" class=\"wp-image-4042813\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinterest.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinterest-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinterest-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinterest is another popular platform that food bloggers use to reach their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like with YouTube, you don\u2019t need to be a social media expert to set up a Pinterest profile. As a matter of fact, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if some of you already have one.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If not, these tips can help you build a follow-worthy Pinterest profile in minutes:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pick a more descriptive name \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>To improve the discoverability of your Pinterest profile, don\u2019t just use your plain brand name as your username. Add a few keywords that describe what users should expect, like \u201c<em>Code2Cook \u2013 Indian Vegetarian Recipes<\/em>.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write a fun \u201cabout\u201d message \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;While your Pinterest username should get your audience\u2019s attention, your \u201cabout\u201d message is in charge of getting them absorbed. Keep it concise and don\u2019t forget to throw in a keyword or two.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insert your contact information \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Not all food blogs do this, but you may also include your contact information in your profile description. This may encourage certain users to share their feedback even if they chose not to visit your site.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Get a business account \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>If you already have a personal Pinterest account, your first objective is to get a free business profile. You can follow the steps in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/help.pinterest.com\/en\/business\/article\/get-a-business-account\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"965\">this post<\/a>&nbsp;to make this happen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Add your website \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Pinterest lets you link your domain to your business profile, which will help funnel traffic to your blog. This requires you to add a tag to your website\u2019s HTML or upload a different one to its root directory.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sharing your recipes on Pinterest<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get more attention by sharing original graphics on Pinterest. If you don\u2019t have those yet, your food photos along with a link to your blog will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, try to learn&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/help.pinterest.com\/en\/business\/article\/recipe-pins\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-id=\"966\">how to add recipe pins<\/a>&nbsp;to your website as soon as possible. This will tell Pinterest to grab information \u2014 from star ratings to ingredients \u2014 and embed them in the pin.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do it right, and you\u2019ll be able to share informational pins like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"730\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Pinterest.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Recipe Post\" class=\"wp-image-4042761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Pinterest.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Pinterest-300x219.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Pinterest-768x561.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>So, that\u2019s it? Just share your recipes on Pinterest and hope for the best?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To maximize the value you get from Pinterest, you also need to schedule your posts and analyze your results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/go\/tailwind\/\" data-lasso-id=\"967\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-name=\"Tailwind\">Tailwind<\/a>&nbsp;is the perfect tool for food bloggers who want to establish an authoritative brand on Pinterest and Instagram.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its main uses include being able to schedule pins. This can exponentially increase the exposure of your blog if you know your target audience\u2019s Pinterest activity patterns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tailwind-Pinterest-Publisher.png\" alt=\"Tailwind Publisher Tool\" class=\"wp-image-4042762\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tailwind-Pinterest-Publisher.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tailwind-Pinterest-Publisher-300x223.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Tailwind-Pinterest-Publisher-768x570.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t know when Pinterest users go online?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/coschedule.com\/blog\/best-times-to-post-on-social-media\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-id=\"968\">CoSchedule<\/a>&nbsp;already did the math and mapped the ideal posting times on Pinterest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>8 PM to 11 PM (9 PM as the peak hour)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 AM to 4 AM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 PM to 4 PM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fridays and Saturdays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instagram<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Instagram.png\" alt=\"How to Promote Your Food Blog on Instagram\" class=\"wp-image-4042814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Instagram.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Instagram-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Instagram-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you think about it, Instagram can be seen as a toned-down version of either Pinterest or YouTube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like YouTube, you can share videos on Instagram to build traffic. The catch is, videos can only be up to a minute long for regular feed uploads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instagram is also a premier platform for sharing images, but you can\u2019t upload rich content like recipe pins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, you can\u2019t deny that spreading food images on Instagram can considerably boost your brand\u2019s presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It also won\u2019t take as much work to gain traction with your new food blog\u2019s Instagram account.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The guidelines for a healthy Instagram profile are really simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Know the purpose of your Instagram account \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Sharing food photos on your account to reel in traffic shouldn\u2019t be your only goal. Each post you share must contribute to a user-oriented goal, like improving your followers\u2019 cooking skills and teaching new recipes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Switch to a business account \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Similar to Pinterest, Instagram also lets users switch to a business account. This will grant access to features like post analytics and Instagram ads.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Create a brand hashtag \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Embracing the hashtag culture is a huge advantage to food bloggers visibility-wise. It\u2019ll help make your profile and posts more searchable to the users who appreciate what you have to offer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Insert a link to your website in your bio \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;On Instagram, the only section of your profile that accepts clickable links is your bio. Capitalize on this opportunity and insert a link to your homepage or pillar content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pick a color palette \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;If you look at popular Instagram accounts, you\u2019ll notice that most of them stick to a specific color palette. For food-related brands, this typically means using the same background color and lighting in all photos.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keeping your Instagram account on-brand<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The tips above may sound easy, but some steps may take immense brainstorming.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a brand hashtag and color palette, in particular, may leave you scratching your head for hours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>My only advice is to study your own blog and<em>&nbsp;<\/em>your competitors.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For branding purposes, using the same color palette for your website and Instagram account makes a lot of sense. As for your brand hashtag, your website must be laden with keywords and taglines that you can build on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t finished developing your site yet, you may start with a competitor\u2019s Instagram profile.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/healthy-twists.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-id=\"969\">Healthy Twists<\/a>, for example, uses the same, clean and rustic color palette between their Instagram account and official site. You may also observe&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pinchofyum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-id=\"970\">Pinch of Yum<\/a>&nbsp;using the tyrian purple and white combination in their blog and Instagram infographics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facebook&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Facebook.png\" alt=\"How to Promote Your Food Blog on Facebook\" class=\"wp-image-4042815\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Facebook.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Facebook-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Facebook-768x461.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If I\u2019m writing a guide that involves social media networks, there\u2019s no way I\u2019m leaving out Facebook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With over two billion active users and growing, Facebook has become the go-to social media platform of bloggers and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only is it an effective content distribution channel, Facebook also cultivates two-way communication between you and your readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Take it from me and be genuinely involved in engaging and managing your community.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s how you can win their trust and encourage them to share your posts to their own circles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"seo\">How to make a food blog rise in SERPs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Think establishing a brand through social media is a lot of work?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That\u2019s nothing compared to launching a full blown SEO campaign.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who never encountered the term SEO or&nbsp;<em>Search Engine Optimization&nbsp;<\/em>before, know this:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SEO is, by no means, a weekend project.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A successful SEO campaign requires you to do everything right \u2014 from website development to content marketing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In return, SEO will reward you with free, organic traffic and a brand that people will turn to for information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Spoiler alert: I won\u2019t go too in-depth when discussing some SEO strategies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SEO simply isn\u2019t a topic that you can squeeze into any post. You\u2019ll need to read other, full-length blog posts to understand how SEO\u2019s many moving parts work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>On the bright side, I will include links to the learning resources you need.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Starting with on-page optimization<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about postponing SEO while you prioritize other aspects of food blogging, you\u2019re too late.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You\u2019re actually done with the first step of SEO.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keyword research is an integral stage in SEO that can make the difference between success and failure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have a list of target keywords for your blog content, you can shift your focus to on-page optimization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Below is the list of on-page optimization strategies your food blog needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Proper Target Keyword Placement \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>To make your posts rank higher for your target keywords, you need to know when and where to use them. This includes content elements like the page title, URL slug, and subheadings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Performance Optimization \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>In addition to compressing images, you need to perform several more tweaks on your site to improve its loading speed. A performance optimization tool like&nbsp;<a rel=\"noopener\" class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/speed\/pagespeed\/insights\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-lasso-id=\"971\">PageSpeed Insights<\/a>&nbsp;will point you in the right direction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Internal Linking \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Creating an SEO-friendly internal link structure sounds complicated, but it\u2019s really simple once you fully grasp the concept. In a nutshell, <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/internal-linking\/\" class=\"rank-math-link\" data-lasso-id=\"972\">internal linking<\/a> is the practice of inserting links to related pieces of content within your own blog.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>External Linking&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014 It may seem counterproductive to insert links that take readers away from your website. But when done right, external links are effective relevancy signals to search engines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Looks like a lot to take in, right?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ll let you learn on-page SEO at your own pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Capping it off with off-page optimization<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If there\u2019s on-page optimization, you can bet your bottom dollar that there\u2019s also off-page optimization.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, on-page optimization strategies are things you can do within your domain to improve SEO rankings. Off-page optimization, on the other hand, pertains to strategies that take place outside your domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Social Media Presence \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Search engines like Google have adopted social media presence as a ranking signal. The more social media engagements your content generates, the higher it can rank in SERPs.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Influencer Marketing \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>Being able to connect with popular influencers in your niche is yet another benefit of social media marketing. By collaborating with them, you can leverage their social media reach to push your blog\u2019s exposure through the roof.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Link Building \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Lastly, link building is the bread and butter of any off-page SEO campaign. One example of a link building strategy is guest posting, which involves research, outreach, and content creation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes off-page SEO tricky is the grueling amounts of research and preparations needed before you get measurable results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Link building through guest posting is particularly daunting. After you spend hours on keyword research and email outreach, you still need to create content that exceeds expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I can teach you the ins and outs of guest blogging in <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/guest-blogging\/\" data-lasso-id=\"973\">this post<\/a>. Just bookmark it for now \u2014 it\u2019ll be a long read!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, you don\u2019t have to pin your hopes on guest posting to build backlinks to your food blog. I have more <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/how-to-get-backlinks\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26769\" data-lasso-id=\"974\">link-building strategies<\/a> that will help you get the ball rolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"emailmarketing\">Using email marketing to spread your blog content&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s see \u2014 we\u2019ve already covered Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and SEO.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you can convert everything I wrote above into action, you now have the makings of a thriving food blog.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, there\u2019s still no reason to celebrate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are still plenty of opportunities you can take to accelerate your food blog\u2019s growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Email marketing could be the missing piece in your strategy that can take your blog to the next level.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting to know the email marketing tools you need<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>What a lot of bloggers don\u2019t realize is that email marketing actually has a low barrier to entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve established that integrating a contact form into your WordPress site is easy-peasy. You probably have a working contact form on your blog right now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The question is, how are you going to transfer the user information you can collect to an actual email marketing platform?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It all depends on the tools you end up using.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want baby steps, you can rely on free tools like Contact Form 7 and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/mailchimp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"975\"><strong>MailChimp<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>to boot. To make things easier, you can easily connect both tools with a WordPress plugin called&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/contact-form-7-mailchimp-extension\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"976\"><strong>Contact Form 7 Extension for MailChimp<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"464\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-for-MailChimp.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Extension for MailChimp\" class=\"wp-image-4042763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-for-MailChimp.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-for-MailChimp-300x139.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-for-MailChimp-768x356.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You know the drill \u2014 both Contact Form 7 and the extension plugin can be installed straight from the dashboard. For MailChimp, just sign up for a free account and you\u2019re good to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp.png\" alt=\"MailChimp\" class=\"wp-image-4042764\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-300x134.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-768x343.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>With all three tools at your disposal, you can design an email marketing workflow from start to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To wrap up, here are the things you need to do before you proceed to the next step:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Install the Contact Form 7 plugin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install the Contact Form 7 Extension for MailChimp plugin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a free MailChimp account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Got everything checked?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Then let\u2019s get a move on.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Configuring your WordPress plugins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t have an email marketing campaign if you don\u2019t have any email addresses to send to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A contact form will enable you to collect the email addresses of users who reach out to you on your website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just a warning: the GDPR may require you to present consent notifications to users whenever you collect their data. This applies to everyone, including bloggers and online businesses, who cater to EU-based users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/priorities\/justice-and-fundamental-rights\/data-protection\/2018-reform-eu-data-protection-rules_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"977\">For more information about the GDPR, visit the official GDPR page here<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Now \u2014 back to business.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Building your first contact form<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To access Contact Form 7 after installation, click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Contact\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>on the main menu. This will load the list of contact forms you\u2019ve made with the plugin.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you haven\u2019t created any yet, click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Add New\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>from the sub-menu or the button above.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Plugin-Page.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Add New Button\" class=\"wp-image-4042765\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Plugin-Page.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Plugin-Page-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Plugin-Page-768x328.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The contact form builder itself uses code, which may be intimidating to those who are totally new to WordPress.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the form builder is actually really easy to get into \u2014 thanks to the pre-made form template.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, the \u201clabel\u201d tags enclose all text shown in the contact form. For example, the first line of the template tells the plugin to display \u201cYour Name (required).\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"594\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Label-Tag.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Main Editor\" class=\"wp-image-4042766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Label-Tag.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Label-Tag-300x178.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Label-Tag-768x456.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201c[text your-name]\u201d code inside the label tag then tells the plugin to display an input field. Contact Form 7 calls these bits of code as \u201cform-tags,\u201d as explained on their<strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/contactform7.com\/tag-syntax\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"978\">official website<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the default template, all the necessary form-tags for a standard contact form are already filled in. This includes the \u201csubmit\u201d button denoted by the \u201c[submit \u201cSend\u201d]\u201d form-tag.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Form-Tag.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Default Template\" class=\"wp-image-4042768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Form-Tag.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Form-Tag-300x160.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Form-Tag-768x409.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Planning to create an original contact form from the ground up?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You don\u2019t need to memorize the form-tags you need to use.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Simply clicking on the buttons above the editor will paste the codes for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"356\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Buttons.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Menu Buttons\" class=\"wp-image-4042769\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Buttons.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Buttons-300x107.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Buttons-768x273.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019re happy with your form, give it a name in the \u201cEnter title here\u201d field and hit&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Save.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>The shortcode you need to use the form should appear below its name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"264\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcode.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Form Created\" class=\"wp-image-4042771\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcode.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcode-300x79.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Shortcode-768x203.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To test this, let\u2019s plug in this shortcode into a blank post.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your WordPress is updated to the latest version, the Gutenberg editor should detect that it\u2019s a shortcode upon pasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"368\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Gutenberg-Shortcode.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Gutenberg Shortcode\" class=\"wp-image-4042772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Gutenberg-Shortcode.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Gutenberg-Shortcode-300x110.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/WordPress-Gutenberg-Shortcode-768x283.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the reasons Contact Form 7 is favored by bloggers is that it automatically adopts the current theme\u2019s fonts. This means the forms will always blend well with any theme.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"888\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Preview-888x1024.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Preview\" class=\"wp-image-4042798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Preview-888x1024.png 888w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Preview-260x300.png 260w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Preview-768x886.png 768w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Preview.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 888px) 100vw, 888px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Using the Contact Form 7 integration for MailChimp<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Got the contact form working?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The next order of business is to configure the Contact Form 7 Extension for MailChimp plugin.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When installed, the plugin should add a&nbsp;<strong>\u2018MailChimp\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>tab to the Contact Form 7 plugin interface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"539\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-Tab.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 MailChimp Tab\" class=\"wp-image-4042774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-Tab.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-Tab-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-Tab-768x414.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Right away, you should see that the plugin needs a MailChimp API key to be functional.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can generate this on your MailChimp account by going to your \u201cAccount\u201d page and clicking&nbsp;<strong>\u2018API Keys\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>under&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Extras.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Keys.png\" alt=\"MailChimp API Keys\" class=\"wp-image-4042775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Keys.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Keys-300x147.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Keys-768x377.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Scrolling down to the \u201cYour API Keys\u201d section, click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Create a Key\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>and give MailChimp a few seconds.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"460\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Your-API-Keys.png\" alt=\"MailChimp API Keys List\" class=\"wp-image-4042776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Your-API-Keys.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Your-API-Keys-300x138.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Your-API-Keys-768x353.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A brand-new API key should be ready for use next to your account name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"276\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Key.png\" alt=\"MailChimp AMPI Key\" class=\"wp-image-4042793\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Key.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Key-300x83.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-API-Key-768x212.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Copy your API key and head back to the Contact Form 7 plugin interface in your WordPress dashboard. There, paste the key to the \u201cMailChimp API Key\u201d field and click&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Connect and fetch your mailing lists.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-API-Key.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 MailChimp API Key\" class=\"wp-image-4042794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-API-Key.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-API-Key-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-MailChimp-API-Key-768x166.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If the integration is successful, the \u201cError: API Key\u201d notification should change to \u201cAPI Key\u201d with a check mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also see your MailChimp mailing lists in the drop-down menu directly below the API key section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-API-Confirmation.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 MailChimp API Key\" class=\"wp-image-4042795\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-API-Confirmation.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-API-Confirmation-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Extension-API-Confirmation-768x367.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If everything checks out, you should now have a fully automated workflow that collects email addresses using your contact form.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s just one tweak left to do, which will help you manage your email list as it grows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the \u201cSubscriber Name\u201d sub-menu, select the&nbsp;<strong>\u2018[your-name] \u2013 type :text\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>option.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Subscriber-Name.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 MailChimp Your Name Form-Tag\" class=\"wp-image-4042796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Subscriber-Name.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Subscriber-Name-300x78.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Subscriber-Name-768x199.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This will send the text added by the user to the \u201cyour-name\u201d form-tag to MailChimp\u2019s subscriber information.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Take note that picking another option will cause MailChimp to pull the wrong data. Say, if you choose&nbsp;<strong>\u2018[your-message] \u2013 type :text<\/strong>,<strong>\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>MailChimp will assign the user\u2019s message as their name.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>You can only imagine the disaster if that happens.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Testing your workflow<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>After saving our plugin settings, why don\u2019t we test it real quick?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On our contact form, I took the liberty of filling in my details.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Test-1.png\" alt=\"Contact Form 7 Test\" class=\"wp-image-4042797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Test-1.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Test-1-300x143.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Contact-Form-7-Test-1-768x367.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The integration ran like clockwork when I sent my details using the contact form.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost instantaneously, MailChimp added me as the first-ever subscriber to my freshly minted test account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"258\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-New-Contact.png\" alt=\"MailChimp New Contact Test\" class=\"wp-image-4042799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-New-Contact.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-New-Contact-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-New-Contact-768x198.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that even seasoned email marketers test their workflows after creating them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your workflow also succeeded on the first try, then good for you. If not, double-check the API key and the form-tags you used in the integration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That means you\u2019re now capable of launching awesome email marketing campaigns.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What emails should you send your subscribers?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Just because someone gave your email address, doesn\u2019t mean you can send them whatever you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t play your cards right, your emails may end up in their spam or junk folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>That\u2019s why you need an email marketing strategy that prioritizes the value your subscribers get.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t just send email blast after email blast that regurgitates every piece of content you publish on your blog. What you need are value-packed emails that will leave your subscribers wanting more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are six ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Welcome Email \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>One could argue that the \u201cwelcome\u201d email is the most important message in an email marketing campaign. It lets subscribers know what to expect and gives you the opportunity to share links to your pillar content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weekly Newsletter \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;If you publish posts on your food blog regularly, a weekly newsletter will enable subscribers to catch on. Avoid inserting ads and product promotions in your newsletters as it may give the wrong impression to your audience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exclusive Content \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;To attract more subscribers, some bloggers use newsletters to distribute exclusive content not published on their website. This can be special recipes or drip-fed cooking videos \u2014 content that you can round up and sell later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Giveaways \u2014<\/strong>&nbsp;Promoting your blog with giveaways can result in a short-term spike in audience engagement.&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/blogging-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"979\">It\u2019s one of the best blogging tips I mentioned for email marketing<\/a><\/strong>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Personal Messages \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>My favorite way to use a mailing list is to develop a much closer relationship with my readers. If you\u2019re a Master Blogging subscriber, you\u2019ll know that I encourage my readers to personally reach out to me.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Answers to Questions \u2014&nbsp;<\/strong>In time, there will be reader comments pouring into your food blog posts. If you find a frequently asked question, broadcast the answer to your subscriber list \u2014 they should thank you for it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tracking\">Tracking your marketing results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The marketing side of food blogging may not be fun, but it sure is rewarding.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Nothing is more satisfying than watching your website\u2019s traffic grow after weeks or months of marketing.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How will you know if your marketing tactics are working? That\u2019s what analytics tools like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/analytics.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"980\">Google Analytics<\/a>&nbsp;are for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This part can get pretty technical, so I\u2019ll just jump straight to the point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google Analytics is a free platform that helps website owners monitor their traffic data. It explores aspects like the website\u2019s average session duration, bounce rate, traffic acquisition channels, and conversions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Analytics.png\" alt=\"Google Analytics\" class=\"wp-image-4042800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Analytics.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Analytics-300x146.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Google-Analytics-768x373.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also worth noting that other third-party marketing platforms like MailChimp also generate their own set of analytics data. You just need to familiarize yourself with the tool you\u2019re using to know where to locate the right reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For MailChimp, the section you need can be accessed by clicking&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Reports\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong>on the top menu bar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Reports.png\" alt=\"MailChimp Reports Tab\" class=\"wp-image-4042801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Reports.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Reports-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/MailChimp-Reports-768x322.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hopefully, you were able to generate some traffic by the time you finish setting up your tracking tools. But you shouldn\u2019t feel bad if you don\u2019t \u2014 there\u2019s no such thing as overnight success in blogging, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"monetizing\">Monetizing your Food Blog<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With all the work we\u2019ve done so far, it\u2019s only fair to start thinking about the payoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviewing your food blog monetization options is, indeed, an exciting phase in your career.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, you shouldn\u2019t expect to rake in millions of dollars in your first months. However, you don\u2019t need millions of traffic either to start making money with a food blog.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Just take monetization one step at a time \u2014 starting with strategies that won\u2019t burn a hole in your pocket.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ebooks\">Creating and selling eBooks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You know what, I have a hunch:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because you wanted to learn how to be a food blogger, I wager you enjoy writing to a degree.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>That should be reason enough to write and sell your own recipe eBooks for a profit.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you have any idea how many people dream of making money doing what they love?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In this opportunity, you get to monetize something that involves both writing and cooking.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best of all, eBooks provide evergreen business value to your blog. No need to worry about stuff like printing and distribution \u2014 just sell them over and over again at zero cost.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"affiliatemarketing\">Affiliate marketing&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If this isn\u2019t your first time on Master Blogging, you\u2019ll know that I\u2019m a huge fan of affiliate marketing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In layman\u2019s terms, affiliate marketing is when you promote products manufactured and distributed by another company on your website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bloggers can then earn a commission for every sale made through their website, which is tracked via an \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/affiliate-links\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"981\">affiliate link<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m going to spare you all the jargon and share a link to my <a href=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/affiliate-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"982\">official guide to affiliate marketing<\/a>. That\u2019s where you\u2019ll learn the fundamentals, such as the relationship between the merchant and affiliate along with tips for success.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"youtube\">Building a YouTube Channel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Creating a food channel on YouTube can be just as huge a project as food blogging.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It involves nearly just as much work, which is why many bloggers dismiss the opportunity altogether. The ones that thrive under pressure and reach the top, however, do not let anything slip by.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides, if you plan to use video content, might as well upload them on YouTube first and embed them later. This, in turn, will allow you to earn passive income in the form of ad revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>In short, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain with this strategy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A good example would be Pinch of Yum\u2019s YouTube channel, which serves as an extension of their own website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than directly uploading videos to their site, they publish them on YouTube instead. They then embed the videos in their blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"664\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Paprika-Chicken-Pasta.png\" alt=\"Pinch of Yum Embedding YouTube Videos\" class=\"wp-image-4042802\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Paprika-Chicken-Pasta.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Paprika-Chicken-Pasta-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Paprika-Chicken-Pasta-768x510.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"onlinecourses\">Selling online courses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like with eBooks, selling online courses on your food blog can be done in two ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first one is to create your own cooking course using a platform like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skillshare.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"983\">Skillshare<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Secondly, you can be an affiliate of another brand that offers food-related courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/rouxbe.com\/individual-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"984\">Rouxbe<\/a><\/strong>, for instance, is a culinary course formulated for students, professionals, and home cooks. They also allow website owners to become affiliates and passively earn commissions for selling their course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rouxbe-Become-an-Affiliate-Link.png\" alt=\"Rouxbe Become an Affiliate \" class=\"wp-image-4042803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rouxbe-Become-an-Affiliate-Link.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rouxbe-Become-an-Affiliate-Link-300x105.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Rouxbe-Become-an-Affiliate-Link-768x269.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"offeringsubscriptions\">Offering subscriptions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not a lot of bloggers do this, but you can actually charge for the content on your website.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several WordPress plugins that let you put your content behind a paywall, like&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/paid-member-subscriptions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"985\">Paid Member Subscriptions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"465\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Paid-Member-Subscriptions.png\" alt=\"Paid Member Subscriptions WordPress Plugin\" class=\"wp-image-4042804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Paid-Member-Subscriptions.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Paid-Member-Subscriptions-300x140.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Paid-Member-Subscriptions-768x357.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To make premium subscriptions work, the only rule is to don\u2019t overdo it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Your website should still offer a good selection of free content to win your audience\u2019s trust and build your authority.&nbsp;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, be sure that your premium content offerings are marginally better than the free ones. Write them as if you\u2019re writing an eBook \u2014 each piece must bring something new to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"paidads\">Displaying paid ads on your food blog<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the online world, traffic can translate into money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wherever there are people, ad revenue can be made with the help of programs like&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/adsense\/start\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"986\">Google AdSense<\/a><\/strong>. That includes high-traffic blogs and even platforms like YouTube.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Google-ADs.png\" alt=\"Code2Cook Google Ads\" class=\"wp-image-4042805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Google-ADs.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Google-ADs-300x137.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Code2Cook-Google-ADs-768x351.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The pros? Not only will ads provide a steady stream of passive income, they\u2019re also easy to implement on your website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>On the flip side, your blog needs a tremendous amount of recurring traffic to generate significant profits with ads.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without proper optimization, ads can also noticeably diminish the performance of your website. As a result, some of your loyal readers may express their displeasure or refrain from visiting altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless, it\u2019s an effective monetization tactic that food bloggers need in their arsenal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sponsored\">Publishing sponsored content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As you build your reputation in the food blogging sphere, don\u2019t be surprised if businesses start approaching you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>There are brands out there that\u2019ll gladly pay bloggers to promote their products through content sponsorship.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pinch of Yum, for example, accepts content sponsorship offers from brands that manufacture food products. A usual format is a recipe post that highlights the brand\u2019s own product as a key ingredient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Sponsored-Content.png\" alt=\"Pinch of Yum Sponsored Content\" class=\"wp-image-4042807\" srcset=\"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Sponsored-Content.png 1000w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Sponsored-Content-300x177.png 300w, https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Pinch-of-Yum-Sponsored-Content-768x454.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In exchange for their payment, Pinch of Yum helps boost a brand\u2019s online exposure through three content distribution channels.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs\">Food Blogging FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does it cost to start a food blog?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to build your blog at a slow pace, you can launch your website with only around $60. That should pay for an entry-level, $3.95-a-month hosting plan plus domain registration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other expenses, like premium themes and freelancer fees, are optional for beginners \u2014 can pay for them later when you\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do food bloggers make money?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most food bloggers leverage a combination of ads, affiliate marketing, and premium content to monetize their efforts. None of these strategies require a hefty capital, which is why they\u2019re accessible to almost every food blogger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How much does a food blogger make?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This depends on a number of factors, including their website\u2019s traffic, monetization channels, and brand authority.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A certain food blogger, for example, once told&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/how-being-a-food-blogger-can-net-you-150k-a-year-117012993426.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"987\">Yahoo Food<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;that she can make $5,000 for one sponsored post. That rate enabled her to make over $150,000 in a year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To give you a better idea of food blogging\u2019s income potential, take a look at the income reports of other food bloggers:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/fitmomjourney.com\/how-i-made-98-368-78-by-blogging-in-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"988\">Fit Mom Journey<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>made $98,393.92 in 2018<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pipingpotcurry.com\/food-blog-income-report-one-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"989\">Piping Pot Curry<\/a><\/strong> made over $5,000 monthly in a year<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/saltedmint.com\/food-blog-traffic-and-income-report-june-2018\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"990\">Salted Mint<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong>made $1,145.90 in June 2018&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the most popular food blogs?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Need more ideas for your food blog content? Here\u2019s a list of five famous food bloggers on the planet today:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ella Woodward of Deliciously Ella \u2014&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/deliciouslyella\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"991\">@deliciouslyella<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kevin Curry of Fit Men Cook \u2014&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fitmencook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"992\">@fitmencook<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dana Shultz of Minimalist Baker \u2014&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/minimalistbaker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"993\">@minimalistbaker<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lindsay Ostrom of Pinch of Yum \u2014&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lindsaymostrom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"994\">@lindsaymostrom<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Natasha Kravchuk of Natasha\u2019s Kitchen \u2014&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/natashaskitchen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-lasso-id=\"995\">@natashaskitchen<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I admit \u2014 out of all my years blogging, this has to be one of the most challenging posts to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It\u2019s also one of the most comprehensive and detailed, so I hope you learn a lot from it.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To a lot of people, learning how to start a food blog and make money is just a distant dream. And, to be honest, failure and disappointments are likely to become a huge part of your blogging career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>But both are vital ingredients of the blogging journey.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of failure as an important mechanism that defines the potential blogging superstars from the subpar ones. It all boils down to how you\u2019ll consistently handle setbacks and sustain success from this day moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, if you have any suggestions, questions, or opinions, please leave a comment below. I\u2019m looking forward to hearing from you!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you want to make your dent in the culinary world? Becoming a food blogger could be your shot. Don\u2019t worry \u2014 it\u2019s a lot more achievable than you think. In fact, I want to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4042821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[700299],"tags":[700275],"class_list":["post-4042669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hidden-gems","tag-food-bloggers"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":700299,"label":"Hidden Gems"}],"post_tag":[{"value":700275,"label":"Food Bloggers"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/How-To-Start-A-Food-Blog-1024x536.png",1024,536,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Ankit Singla","author_link":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/about\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":700299,"name":"Hidden Gems","slug":"hidden-gems","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3500299,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":61,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":700299,"category_count":61,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Hidden Gems","category_nicename":"hidden-gems","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":700275,"name":"Food Bloggers","slug":"food-bloggers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3500275,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4042669"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4042669"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4042669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4560780,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4042669\/revisions\/4560780"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4042821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4042669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4042669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/masterblogging.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4042669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}