It’s a new year, and we all know what that means: a bunch of people trying new things and chasing their dreams. For some people (like people who read Spoon), blogging about food might be one of those dreams. It’s a fun and exciting way to share your passion, but it can also be challenging. To help you out, here are five handy tips for aspiring food bloggers.
Use bright, appealing images.
Photo by Libby Perold
Blogging about food isn’t just about the writing. The social web has taken a visual turn, which means that taking the perfect picture to post on Pinterest or Instagram can make the difference between ten views and ten thousand views.
Aim for pictures with a crisp background that fits the subject. A decadent cupcake looks amazing on a white plate, whereas a bowl of rustic lamb stew would look right at home on a dark wooden table.
Limit your adjectives.
Photo by Lawrence Yu
Food is a very subjective experience, and it can be tempting to describe that juicy, brown, rich, thick burger you made with just a few too many words. Not only can too many adjectives be cumbersome, but it can also come across as trying to compensate for something that the food itself lacks. Post about good food and the results will speak for themselves.
Remember the 3 F’s: fast, frequent and fresh.
Photo by Cherie Mak and Rose Ferrao
Fast: Your content has to be relevant. A post about a cool new restaurant in your area written three months after the restaurant opened isn’t going to draw as much of an audience as it would have on the restaurant’s opening night.
Frequent: The more content you post, the more people you will reach. The only caveat: quality over quantity. Ideally, you will post high-quality content at least two to three times a week.
Fresh: If you write about the same thing all the time, your readers will get bored. Try to keep a varied mix of recipes, restaurant reviews, deep think pieces and light, shareable reads.
Stay passionate and motivated.
Photo by Madison Mounty
When you’re trying to balance writing your blog with the pressures of everyday life – school, work or relationships – it can be exhausting. If you’re feeling drained, go out for your favourite meal or cook something that you’ve wanted to try for a while. Never forget that you started blogging because of your love for food. At the end of the day, that love and passion is what will keep you going.
Join a network (like Spoon!).
Photo by Susanna Tuan
Blogging about food can be difficult, especially if you’re starting all on your own from the ground up. Joining a network like Spoon surrounds you with passionate, like-minded individuals who will love and support you in all of your foodie adventures.
If your school doesn’t have a chapter, take some initiative and start one.