How to Start a Food Blog

You’ve been looking at food bloggers for months. You aspire to be like them, wanting to create a viral food blog you can monetize. However, there is nobody to guide you on how to start a food blog.

You came to the right place! In this article, you will learn about the essential steps you need to take to make your first food blog.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Where to Start?

There are some things you need to do to begin your blogging journey.

First of all, you need to pick your niche. The more concentrated your content is, the faster and better you will reach your target audience. Doesn’t matter if it is baking, vegan cooking or coming up with new recipes – pick a theme and stick to it. Trying to cover a broad number of topics will do more harm than good.

The second step is getting web hosting and a domain name.

When picking hosting services, make sure to choose a reliable hosting provider. After all, they will be storing all your website’s data on their server. What is more, should you ever face any problems – your hosting provider must be there to help.

Usually, you’ll be able to purchase a domain name from a trusted hosting provider. Make sure the name represents your brand, as it is one of the most crucial elements that help people find you.

The third step is finding the appropriate CMS (content management system). Although there are many platforms available, I recommend WordPress the most. It is a time-tested option, with loads of customization options, themes, and plugins for you to use.

How to Start a Food Blog

Now that you have everything you need, we are only left with setting up the blog. Here is how to set up a food blog in just a couple of simple steps:

1. Set Up Your Hosting Account

When you pick your hosting account, don’t forget the factors necessary for your food blog. Make sure the plan you pick satisfies those factors.

There are different types of hosting, the most popular being Shared, Cloud, and VPS hosting.

Shared hosting is when multiple users use a single server. Sharing the server means a cheaper cost, but it will also result in limited resources. Moreover, this option gives more security risks.

VPS hosting still uses a single server. However, each user is assigned a specific amount of resources. You will have a more stable website because it won’t be affected by other’s usage.

Cloud hosting is quite different. It uses multiple physical servers to spread around many data centers. Across them, your virtual server runs safe, secure and strong.

Cloud hosting is not as cheap as shared hosting. However, it’s definitely worth the money, especially if your blog has lots of visitors.

When you start out, the best option is to choose shared hosting. At first, you won’t need much resources, and the price won’t make you broke.

Let’s say you decided to purchase Hostinger’s Premium Shared Hosting. If you purchase it for 48 months, you’ll get a lifetime SSL certificate for free and get a free domain name.

All you have to do is buy the selected plan, create an account, and come up with the domain name. That’s all. Simple, right?

2. Pick Out a Domain Name

Before you register your domain, you should pick the right domain name for your food blog. A straightforward domain name ‒ such as glutenfood.com ‒ is not enough.

A right domain name stands out from the rest. Make sure that your domain name is brandable, as it gives more options for monetization later on in the future.

The domain name should be short and memorable so the audience can remember it easily.

3. Install WordPress

There are ways you can install WordPress manually, but most people don’t do that now. However, if you’re interested in doing it – check out this guide.

With Hostinger, you can make use of their one-click WordPress installer. From the hPannel navigate to Website -> Auto Installer and choose WordPress. From there, you only have to enter a few credentials. That’s it, you can now log in to your WordPress dashboard and start building your blog.

4. Pick Out a Theme

There are many themes available in WordPress. You can pick any theme that is suitable for your blog.

Installing it is not that hard too. Here is how to install a WordPress theme:

1. Look for “Appearance” section in your WordPress’s dashboard.
2. Choose “Themes”
3. Press “Add New” in your Themes page.
4. Search for the desired theme.
5. Click on the theme to see the preview.
6. Press the green button “Install” at the top.
7. After the installation, finish the process by clicking “Activate”.

Keep in mind, that most themes have wide customization options, so you’ll be able to tweak and tune it to your liking.

5. Pick Out Plugins

Plugins are powerful tools to boost your food blog. Here are the steps to install them:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard
2. Click “Plugins” located at your dashboard’s left sidebar.
3. Type the desired plugin in the search section.
4. Click “Install Now” button.
5. After the plugin has finished installing, press the green button “Activate”.

Below are some plugins I highly recommend for a food blog:

• Yoast SEO ‒ without SEO, your food blog will have a hard time ranking on search engines.
• Akismet Anti-Spam ‒ help to filter spam comments.
• NextGEN Gallery ‒ you can upload your food pictures in bulk.

6. Start Writing Content

Now it’s time for you to fill your food blog with content. To gain dedicated readers, you will need to write regularly.

You also need to know your audience. Make sure your content is tailored to the target audience. You will also get to know your readers as you gain and interact with them.

Moreover, you need to stay up-to-date with the latest food trends in your niche.

Another important aspect is your hook or opening. You need to create hooks as captivating as possible. They are the deciding factors whether the readers will stay or leave your post.

7. Market Your Blog

Marketing your blog is an important aspect that should never be skipped. Your marketing strategy will make or break your traffic.

You can promote your blog through social media. What is more, guest posts on other websites is also another great way to market your blog.

You also need to be aware of your SEO strategy. Make sure your blog is aligned with the proper SEO guidelines.

That’s all Folks!

Creating a food blog is not as hard as it seems. However, you need to remember to pick your niche and domain name carefully. The same goes for your web hosting provider.

Make sure the provider has all the features your food blog needs.

You also need to consider your CMS for easier customization of your food blog. In this case, I recommend WordPress.

Here’s a quick recap on how to start a food blog:

1. Set up your hosting account
2. Pick out a domain name
3. Install WordPress
4. Pick out a theme
5. Pick out plugins
6. Start writing content
7. Market your blog

If you have the will and actually do it, you will have a food blog in less than a day.

What are you waiting for? Start creating your food blog!