Food Blogging Lesson 1 What is a food blog?

History behind food blogs: how did it all begin? Food Blogging

The evolution of food blogs began in the 90’s when the online discussion forum Chowhound was launched, giving foodies an opportunity to chat about the food scene in New York City. Food Blogging

Shortly after Chowhound other forums and blogs started popping up like eGullet, The Julia/ Julia Project and 101 Cookbooks. Once WordPress was available in 2003, the food blogs grew even more popular for culinary pros and amateur cooks to show off their love for cooking and eating. Today, there are countless amount of food blogs online from anyone looking to break into the food writing scene to those merely interested in posting their food pics somewhere for all to see. Food Blogging

What makes food blogs different than other types of blogs out there? Food Writing

Food Blogs Vs. Non Food Blogs Food Blogging Foods Blogs Non Food Blogs

Food Blogs Vs. Non Food Blogs While some blogs are heavy into writing (news-based, celebrity- based or rants), food blogs aren’t. At least, they don’t have to be. Usually they are short and sweet unless there is a recipe in there taking up most of the content. A major component for food blogs is the photography. To have a food blog that people want to go to, there has to be excellent imagery. Fashion blogs are also big into photography to showcase an outfit someone is wearing, but they don’t always have to be as top notch. With food pictures, it’s important to capture the dish with the best lighting and the right angle. You want to display a dish as though it’s right in front of the reader so they grow hungry just looking at it. Food Blogging

Types of different food blogs There are a variety of food blogs out there today, ranging from recipe-drive to photo-driven. Here are a few of the most popular food blogs online now. Food Blogging

-Recipe-driven food blogs: these blogs (including Pinch of Yum) usually contain step-by-step instructions (sometimes photos accompanying each step) on how to successfully prepare the dish that is highlighted. -Photo-driven food blogs: expect to see bold, beautiful photos of food on these types of blogs (I am a food blog) and very little writing which can include the name of the dish, ingredients and how it tastes. Topic-drive food blogs: these blogs focus on a particular topic such as gluten-free recipes (Secrets of a Foodie), pastries or craft beer and will only write about that given subject. News-driven blogs: Eater and Huffington Post are great examples of news-driven food blogs because they provide valuable information on the food and dining scene with stories, reports and research to back it up. Food Blogging

It’s important to find the right niche for your food blog to give you creditability. Being known for something in particular - like the best food pics online - helps drive more people to your blog and gives you the recognition. What’s your niche? Topic? Voice? Visual Appeal? Food Blogging The importance of finding a niche for your food blog

Finding your niche -Think about the things that really excite you about food and make that your niche. Make a list of the things you are passionate about (i.e. food photos, dining news, celebrity chefs, vegetarian recipes) to help brainstorm. -Determine your strengths and work with them to the fullest. If you are an awesome photographer stick to shooting those delicious shots everyone is going to be salivating over. But if you are an excellent writer, choose a niche that can showcase that, such as writing a news blog related to the culinary world. -Think about the blogs you visit the most and decide what makes them your go-to for XYZ. Are you going there for the killer gluten- free recipes or latest celebrity chef news? Food Blogging

Getting started Now that you know what a food blog is and what type of niches are out there, it’s time to learn how to start your own. Food Blogging

Choosing a blogging platform There are several blogging platforms you can choose to get your food blog up and running, but here are some of the most common: -WordPress.com: it’s relatively easy to use and there’s no start up costs but “wordpress.com” will be your domain name and it’s limited in features and functionality. -WordPress.org: not to be confused with the above platform, this one offers free software with a small hosting fee per month. It also has customization options to make it more your own (and SEO friendly). You may need more technical knowledge for this type of platform since you will be edit your html and install plugins. Food Blogging

-Tumblr: it’s free and gives you access to your html for customization but there is limited plugin options. -Blogger: this platform is also free and easy to use especially for the newbies and there are plenty of customization options since you have access to your own html code (unlike with WordPress.com). However, your domain name will end with.blogspot. -TypePad: with this platform you will pay less than $10 per month to enjoy having your own blog that is easy to use and looks very professional. Food Blogging

Picking a name and URL - Determine if any other blog has the same name you want -Make sure it’s keyword friendly so your audience will be able to find it when they do an online search -Keep it interesting. Come up with a cute name like The Thirsty Wench so that your audience remembers you. -Your name should be related to the content on your blog such as Death to Sour Mix or Indian Simmer. Food Blogging

What makes a food blog successful? -Writing knowledge -Technical knowledge -Visual knowledge -Consistency Food Blogging

Brush up on your skills by reading books related to blogging, take classes and reach out to fellow bloggers you admire. Once you have the skill set, remember consistency is key. Commit yourself to a schedule so you’re putting up new content on a regular basis. Give your audience a reason to keep coming back! Food Blogging

Lesson 1 Assignment Due: 2/27/2015 Food Blogging

-Find 4-5 different food blogs that you admire due to their tone, content, visual style, etc. Read their About pages or mission statements. For each site, list 3-5 ways your blog will be different, and 3-5 ways your blog will be the same. (Be sure these are blogs you really enjoy spending time with: You’ll be referring back to them throughout the class.) -Draft your own mission statement. This should be about 150 words, and clearly and concisely convey answers to these questions: What story are you trying to tell? Why are you a good person to tell this story? How are you telling this story in a unique or interesting way? How frequently and in what manner can the reader expect to hear from you? -Come up with 4-5 potential titles for your blog and post them to the discussion board. Even if you’re very committed to one, or if you’ve already started a blog, co me up with some variations. -If you don’t already have a food blog: Sign up for your blog on Wordpress, Tumblr, or Blogger. Begin to populate the blog with your mission statement, title, etc. Food Blogging