How to Start a Food Blog and Make Money Step-by-Step Guide

So you want to learn how to start a food blog and make money doing it? While youll have to put in some work between starting your blog and making money from your blog, the actual process of creating your food blog is pretty straightforward, even if youre not a techie person.In our  How to Start a Food Blog and Make Money guide, were to provide you with actionable tasks to help you create an effective and profitable food blog. These include how to†¦Get your basic website setupChoose the right WordPress food blogging theme or WordPress recipe pluginShowcase beautiful images and videos of your foodGrow your following on social media (social media is a great traffic-generator for food blogs)Monetize your food blog in a few different ways Step 1: Pick your food nicheFood blogging is a saturated industry, so if you want to create a prosperous food blog you will need to pick a niche to specialize in. The niche you opt for will probably depend on the type of food you have a passion fo r cooking. Here are some niche examples for you to consider†¦Vegetarian or vegan foodFood on a budgetAll things bakingHealthy meals for familiesGluten, carb or sugar-free dishesDIY Food recipesFood for petsPre-workout snacksOnce you have decided on your niche, and have some recipes ready to share, you are ready to create your food blog.Step 2: Purchase WordPress hosting and install WordPressThe free, open-source WordPress software is the easiest and most popular way to build a website food blog included. When it comes to how to start a food blog and make money  in the easiest way possible, the self-hosted WordPress software is your best bet.In order to run the WordPress software, though, youll need to purchase your own web hosting. For beginners, we recommend SiteGround because they:Give you a wizard that automatically installs WordPress for you.Let you purchase your domain name through the same interface.Tools to setup redirects and install free SSL certificateDedicated tea m provides personalized chat supportSG Optimizer to keep your website healthyOnce you sign up for hosting and install WordPress  (see this post if you need more help), youre ready to actually build your food blog.Step 3: Decide if you want a food blog theme or recipe pluginIf you are creating a website for a specific purpose, such as a food blog, then selecting a built-for-purpose theme may be the best option. However, there are also a number of effective WordPress recipe plugins that will enable you to display your recipes on your site in a suitable food blog format:Food blog theme   super easy to get started with, but can be a little more restrictive because all of the functionality is already built-in.Food plugins + generic theme   a bit more complicated to get set up because you have to put together different parts, but can offer a little more flexibility because its more of an open sandbox and you can pick any theme you like.Let’s take a look at these two optionsPr e-built food blogging themesThere is a wide assortment of built-for-purpose food blogging themes that come with an array of built-in ‘food blogging’ features and functionality. These can include†¦Recipe Builder display recipes and ingredients in easy to view layouts.Advanced Search Function enable visitors to search by recipes and ingredients.Reviews and Ratings visitors can review and rate recipes once they have tried them out.Gallery and Video Support upload beautiful visuals and instructive videos to engage with your audience.User registration and login functionality create a community around your blog by creating a members-only section.For example, the Veggie theme can help you quickly get started with your food blog. And you can also find a variety of food blog themes at ThemeForest.WordPress recipe plugins that can make any theme a food blog WP Ultimate Recipe Author(s): Bootstrapped VenturesCurrent Version: 3.12.7Last Updated: June 26, 2019wp-ultimat e-recipe.zip 90%Ratings 313,214Downloads WP 3.5+Requires If you do decide to opt for a generic blogging theme, then you can easily add recipe builder functionality using a WordPress plugin. For example,  WP Ultimate Recipe is a free WordPress plugin that will enable you to add multiple recipes to any post or page on your site.With WP Ultimate Recipe, you can display ingredients, add photos to any step of the recipe, and let visitors adjust the ingredient quantities for more or  fewer servings. Recipe metadata is also optimized, helping your recipes to rank in Google Recipe Search.A pro version of this plugin is also available which offers advanced features includingNutritional information for each recipeMeal planner with shopping listUsers-generated ratings and reviewsUser-submitted recipesBoth the free and premium plugins are great options if you are looking to quickly turn your site into a professional and stylish food blog.Step 4: Display beautiful images and videos of y our food Photo Gallery by 10Web Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery Author(s): Orbit Fox by ThemeIsle Author(s): ThemeisleCurrent Version: 2.8.10Last Updated: September 13, 2019themeisle-companion.zip 94%Ratings 4,283,244Downloads WP 4.7+Requires When discussing how to start a food blog and make money, the importance of social media cannot be underestimated. Pinterest and Instagram are the obvious social media platforms for food blogs to target, as their image-heavy approach is a perfect fit with beautiful foodie images. Here are a couple of ways to use social media to grow your following and reach a wider audience†¦Add social media share buttons  to encourage your visitors to share your recipes on their social media channels.Enable Pinterest Rich Pins to display your recipe details directly on your Pins and increase the number of repins you receive.Embed an interactive and attention-grabbing Instagram feed on your food blog to increase your Instagram following.For mor e info on how to use social media effectively, check out our article on Social Media Strategy.Step 6: Monetize your food blogOnce you have set up a successful food blog and grown your following, there are numerous ways to monetize your site. Let’s take a look at some of the best money-making schemes†¦Affiliate marketing join up with affiliate programs, then recommend cooking products, recipe books, and other cooking paraphernalia on your blog. Each time one of your visitors buys a product, youll receive a commission.Create your own cookbook this could be an eBook or in physical form. Sell it on your website or on a larger marketplace like Amazon.Accept sponsored posts or  advertising on your site charge for people to advertise on your website or post on your blog.There are, of course, numerous other ways to make money through a blog, but the recommendations above can be particularly beneficial for a food blog.Final thoughts on how to start a food blog and make money So now that you know how to start a food blog and make money, it’s time to get started. As you can see, creating a food blog is hard work and takes time. However, the financial rewards can make it well worth the effort.Have you got any top tips on how to start a food blog and make money? Please share your thoughts in the comments below How to start a #food blog and make money with #WordPress. #tutorial

How to gain powerful traction when you feel like you’re stuck in your career

How to gain powerful traction when you feel like you’re stuck in your career Life’s tricky. If you haven’t figured that out yet, soon enough, tricky moments shall soon arrive. But what does tricky mean? The term is very subjective, therefore it can be perceived through different angles. Here’s what I find tricky: the moment when you absolutely don’t know what is going on with your life, and the primary reason being your professional life. It couldn’t get trickier than that because choosing and pursuing a career is a heavily important matter that each of us has to encounter. A lot of professionals start their jobs with full force. They’re eager, excited, and motivated.You might have felt the same when you’ve first started. But now†¦something has changed. You might feel somehow stuck with what you’re doing. A feeling of â€Å"not belonging† might be present in your mind, soaking the beauty of your life.That, my friend, happens to many people. We, humans, don’t really belong to one place only. We have a strong urge to experience diversity. If we’re put ourselves in one small box, it’s obvious that we’re going to feel stuck.Well, if the previous description fits your situation, you’ll definitely appreciate the advice that’s about to follow. Gaining traction during these moments of â€Å"despair† lies in your ability to execute different actions. Without further ado, let’s get straight to the practical tips.Spend Some Time with Yourself and ThinkDo you ever take the time to be with yourself and only with yourself? Spending moments alone can benefit you tremendously, as this useful time helps you put your thoughts in order. Life often pulls us in different directions. In fact, there are many individuals who lack control over their lives.These individuals believe they’re â€Å"busy†, yet they’re soaked into a negative cycle that never gives them time to think.Considering that you’re struggling with your career and something simply doesn’t feel right, set aside one hour each day to reflect and introspect. At first, let your mind travel to wherever it pleases. Then, cut off all the thoughts and internal speaking. Be without thoughts, be free.Ask Yourself Different QuestionsSurprisingly, asking yourself questions and then answering them using an objective perspective is going to pay off well. Whenever you feel like you’re stuck, ask the most relevant questions on the matter.What work actually is.Step back and think about what work actually means. Simply put, it is an agreement between two sides. You deliver value and get paid. Everyone does it one way or another.Why are you doing it?Why are you working? What is the main reason behind your involvement? Is it necessary? Or you’re just in a deep comfort zone?Is there a change that you’re afraid to make?Dave Watson, HR manager at CareersBooster, suggests:â€Å"You really need to figure something out: are you afraid or not? Fear as an emotion doesn’t come through conscious channels. The main triggers of your fear sit in your subconscious mind, waiting to take action.†But, when you ask yourself this question and trying to answer it objectively, you’ll find more answers than you probably imagine.Are you afraid of failing the transition between two jobs?Some professionals are afraid of not keeping up with the pace. They know that they’re ought to make a change, yet they’re afraid that they won’t be â€Å"good enough† at their next job. Well, do you have the same type of fear? If yes, let me clarify something: whatever you’re imagining now is merely an illusion of what the reality will actually look like if you’re making the change.Check For the SymptomsIf you’re not sure whether your feeling of being stuck is caused by your career’s impact, start looking for different symptoms or clues. First. Are you feeli ng dissatisfied while you’re at work only? Second. Are you going to work only for the sake of getting paid? Third. Is your professional growth stunned?These are three important factors that need to be considered as soon as possible. All of these signs appeal to your human’s basic needs. If you neglect your needs, you’re likely to feel†¦well†¦stuck.1. Is Change Required?Once you took the time to analyze what’s going on, you should be able to decide whether a career change is required or not. Feeling stuck doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to go. By taking some alone time, you might, in fact, find out that the problem is elsewhere. Or, you might figure out different ways to continue your career by making different changes.Therefore I’m asking you†¦is a change required?No – Build Momentum and Move ForwardIf you believe that your job is not the main issue of your negative feelings, then you need to consider building mo mentum and moving forward. Here’s how to do that:Think of your higher purposes goals and develop a plan that helps you achieve them. Ideally, choose a single goal and stick to it.Commit emotionally to everything you do.Focus on your professional growth.Strengthen the relationships with your colleagues.Take small, small steps.Be grateful for what you have in the present moment.Yes – Make a ChangeIn case you’ve decided that you’re no longer able to continue doing what you’re doing, a career shift is required. The first preparation is mental. Before taking real action, you must put everything â€Å"in place†.Eliminate your fears, raise your standards, and be courageous. There’s nothing to be afraid of†¦really. You’re going to experience new things, and that’s good! If people wouldn’t be so afraid of change, they wouldn’t spend most of their times thinking â€Å"what could have been if†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Takeaw aysTo tell you the truth, you’re really one step closer to making a huge progress with your life. It’s extremely important that you’ve already realized that something’s wrong. And, you cannot let this negative cycle go on forever. Follow our insights, put them in action, and don’t be afraid of improving your life for the better.About the author: Eva Wislow is a career coach and HR Executive from Pittsburgh. She is on a mission to help people find their true calling. Eva maintains a strong interest in bringing the digital revolution in human resources. Follow Eva on Twitter.