As I continue to celebrate my first year blogiversary this week, I thought I would share some first year lessons from some of the top food bloggers out there. I am so grateful to call everyone here a blogger friend. They definitely taught me a lot my first year, and for those who are just starting blogs of their own, they offer some incredible advice so without further adieu check out my lessons from top food bloggers below:
Averie, Averie Cooks
“Some of the most important things I learned the first year of food blogging are that a food blog is as much about photography, tech-knowledge, and writing skills as it is about being able to actually cook. Specifically, I learned that if I wanted to make it as a food blogger, I better figure out photography! Great recipes will never achieve their fullest potential if the photos don’t convey!”
Bill, Southern Boy Dishes
“I started Southern Boy Dishes about a year ago, and I would have to say the one lesson that I’ve learned and am still learning to this day is that the main goal of doing a food blog is to follow your passion for food and enjoy the process. We get so caught up in tracking how many hits our blogs get and how many photos get accepted on Foodgawker and Tastespotting that we sometimes forget why we started a blog in the first place. I have to remind myself of this lesson every day.”
Carol, A Cup of Mascarpone
“For me, planning months in advance before plunging in was number one for me – I started building up Pinterest, since that venue still provides the most traffic to my blog. I set up a FB fan page, and set up accounts with food sites, like Foodgawker. I played around on blog set-ups and colors, until I decided I wanted to go simple. Viewing lots of blogs to see what relates most to your personality is very helpful. I started making recipes and photographing to improve my skills. My second most important tip once I went live was network, network and network. Comment and get to know other bloggers. Becoming friends with other bloggers has become my most cherished avenue of blogging. Set up schedules for each task (commenting and pinning) to be able to keep up. Thirdly, never let it become work. If you do, you will burn out. If you work another job, and can only post once a week, or once every other week…do it that way.”
Georgia, The Comfort of Cooking
“As a blogger just starting out, pay attention to what keeps YOU coming back to your favorite blogs. Is it the simple, easy-to-navigate design? Is it the sharp, drool-worthy food photography? Is it the casual, captivating writing style of the blogger? Try to implement these things in your blog. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+) is a great tool to keep readers updated on new posts and interact, too. And of course, support your favorite bloggers with nice comments – You’ll get plenty in return.”
“Acknowledge and be proud of the value that you and your blog have. I think it’s easy to underestimate the skills and audience we build as we blog, especially because it’s so easy to compare to others who have been blogging longer. So take a moment to reflect back on what you have accomplished, what you have done well, and what you can improve in the future. Keep working hard, and find things that keep you inspired.”
Liren, Kitchen Confidante
“The first year of blogging is an exciting one, and full of lessons, but perhaps one of the most important things I learned is that food blogging really transforms your life. It becomes your passion, it becomes your hobby, it becomes your job, and it becomes a source of support. Because in the end, food blogs are about people – the ones you write about, the people who read your writing and share your recipes, and the friends you make along the way.”
Maria, Pink Patisserie
“Make friends with other bloggers. It seems a bit obvious but, we all are going through the same struggles and joys so not only is it lovely to connect with other bloggers, it’s important to encourage one another too! Leave thoughtful comments on blogs, share their work on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. The blogging community is full of outstanding, warm and super talented people. You and they will be richer for it!”
Matt, Matt Bites
“When I felt like no one was reading, or what I was doing didn’t have value and wanted to give up, I didn’t. I kept on, kept typing, kept shooting, and met some of the most creative and amazing people along the way. So I’d definitely say that my first year of blogging I learned perseverance and dedication!”
Nami, Just One Cookbook
“During the first year of blogging, I learned three most important things: the amazing food blogging community that I am in and the support I receive from the fellow bloggers; the importance of food photography (good drool-worthy shots worth a thousand words and without them it’s hard to convince readers the recipes work; and be true to yourself and always produce good quality content when writing a post.”
Sally, Sally’s Baking Addiction
Nichelle, Cupcakes Take the Cake
“I started blogging over eight years ago, so back then I thought of it as a hobby. Advice: Find inspiration in everything you experience and see how it can be included in your content. That is the one sure way to be original.”
Sanura, My Life Runs on Food
“I’m learning how to balance food blogging with my time being offline. Being offline inspires recipes and creates better stories.”
Valerie, Une Gamine Dans La Cuisine
“Even though I have been blogging for a few years, I’ve come to realize that my food blog is a work in progress and that I’ll (hopefully!) never stop being open to learning new things. The most important lesson I’ve gleaned, between a flour-dusted keyboard and an ever-sticky camera, is to just be myself. I know that’s cliché, but it’s spot on. For a long time I tried to replicate the bright, beautiful food photography from the bright, beautiful ‘big’ food blogs. It was maddening and exhausting, and it wasn’t ‘me.’ I’m more cosy, “nookish,” and akin to rainy days – quite the opposite of vibrant, colourful, and sunny. When I finally shook off the thought that I had to be like everyone else, my blog and I could breathe – it was as though we had been wearing a corset for an eternity. Now my photos and writing, as nonsensical and moody as they may be, are a tiny doorway into who I am – and that has made a huge difference, both in reader response and in my own semi-neurotic, always flustered head.”
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Girl – you’ve only been at this two years?? You’re doing GOOD! This is a great post though, definitely in that slump right now, but this is inspiration to pull me out of it! Thank YOU!