Tips on Beginning a Food Blog
(blogging on the road)
Lately people have been asking me about tips for beginning a blog. My first reaction was, ‘That’s so sweet!’ And my second reaction was, ‘But I don’t have any wisdom for blogging yet! I just started!’
But then I thought…’Advice for beginning a blog…I guess I might have a little wisdom for starting a health/fitness website.’
So here are my best ideas for beginning a food or health website!
Get a Good Design
I’m a very visual person, so I’m naturally attracted to going to professional, fun blogs with great layouts. I guess it sounds shallow, but I think it’s important if you want your blog to be successful to have a clean, non-distracting layout.
It doesn’t mean you have to spend money either. WordPress and Blogspot have a lot of clean layout options!
Use Spellcheck
My Dad has always said if people misspell in an article, they lose some of their credibility. I think that can be true. But I also know that when I’m excited about what I’m writing about, I’ll type really fast and make little mistakes. I’ve had to fix many typos on my site…SO that’s why it’s important to use spell-checker BEFORE you post! People will respect what you’re saying more…when it’s spelled correctly.
Write your Content When You’re Inspired
This is something I’m still working on. Usually every night I’m writing blog posts in my head…when I’m supposed to be sleeping. But that’s when I’m the most creative! Somehow I need to switch around my writing schedule!
However, I notice a difference in how I write when I’m feeling creatively motivated. When you’re excited about what you’re writing, people can tell that you’re passionate about it! Write about what you love!
Use Pictures
The sites that I frequent the most use a lot of pictures/photos in their posts. Maybe it’s just my hyper-ness, but I can get bored by sites that have long articles without photos. I can be super fascinated by the same article, if they insert a related photo. I’m sort of like a 6 year old when it comes to my attention span. I think it’s really cool when the blogger uses their own photography.
Take Good Quality Pictures
I’m no expert at photography! I have SO SO much to learn in this field! Once again, speaking from experience, the blogs that I really haunt have good photos. Especially in the health site world…if you want to inspire people to eat healthy…a blurry, orange photo of some brown, mushy looking dish doesn’t particularly motivate. Good photos are inspiring!
Participate in the Community
Make your blog known. Maybe become a member of Food Buzz. Get a Twitter account. Share your posts with friends on Facebook. Make friends with other bloggers and comment on their posts. Submit your recipes/photos through sites like FoodGawker, PhotoGrazing, HealthFreakFood, Makes and Takes, Tasteologie and Tastespotting.
I have been so blessed by the foodie friends that I have met through blogging! They keep me inspired!
For those of you who’ve been asking for this post, hope it helps! I enjoyed writing it out for you!
Fellow bloggers, do you have any great tips to add?
Category: Blogging | Tags: beginning to blog, how to begin a food blog, how to begin a health or fitness site, how to begin blogging, how to food blog, tips on blogging 8 comments »
Great post! Excellent tips :)
Those are some great tips. Usually I get the spelling correct (okay, so maybe I’ve had a couple misspellings); I just sometimes accidentally leave out words or type the wrong ones in a rush. Gotta work on that. I was so much better when I was a newspaper editor. It was different when it was my job, but I still should be more careful.
I love this post! I still feel like I’m such a new blogger too, I really haven’t been doing it that long and when people ask me for help I’m just like, why are you asking me? Lol! I completely agree with all your points. Along with using spell check, it’s so important to just read over your posts a couple times. Spell check wont catch it if you use a completely wrong word but spell it right which is something that I do frequently(oops :( haha) Plus, I have a tendency to just write and write and write and then when I read over it, it doesn’t make any sense at all, so reading before publishing is a must. I couldn’t agree more with the quality photos part too. I have a ton to learn too, but it only makes sense that people will be attracted to pretty pictures so it’s really worth the effort to make things look nice even if your photography has a long way to go or you don’t have your ideal camera.
I have to remind myself sometimes to put more photos. I’m just so word-driven…a typical post for me can easily be over 1000 words long. Ack! I definitely think that re-reading for clarity and meaning and spelling and grammar is an absolute must. I click away from blogs if there are so many mistakes that I have a hard time understanding the message.
Great tips here! I’d also recommend knowing why you want to blog. It’s good to have that focus for those times when you just don’t feel like writing that next post.
Also, I’d say don’t lose motivation from perceived lack of interest. There are so many blogs. It takes awhile for your voice to be heard. That’s why joining the community and being active is so important -you meet lots of great bloggers, but they in turn get to meet and know you. Hang in there. You won’t always be the new kid!
And last but not least, do a little research on blog seo. There are many articles out there. Just get the basics, such as making your post url words and not numbers (colourfulpalate is a great example of good seo). Good seo will get you traffic from Google and help you pick up steam.
Good tips here!
Really good tips! I’m just starting in the food blog world myself so I don’t have many answers- in fact, I’m basically still trying to figure this whole thing out! Great post, keep up the good work….and good luck to you! =)
Love your blog!
Hey! I don’t have any tips, myself, but I agree with absolutely everything you wrote here.
I started blogging a year ago with the sole purpose of keeping myself in line, while also giving recipes to friends & Family. Now, I’m completely interested in being immersed in the health foodie community & food blogger world and wonder whether I’m doing anything/everything right? I’d love some pointers on my blog : http://allieschangingkitchen.blogspot.com I don’t have THE best photos, but I’m getting better :) Color scheme? Style? Anything missing? I’d so appreciate comments from anyone! Big hugs in advance!