Tips on how to Begin a Meals Weblog in 10 Easy Steps

For most individuals, we suggest utilizing WordPress with Hostinger to start out a weblog as a result of it’s straightforward to arrange and comes with plenty of user-friendly options and instruments. You will get began with Hostinger and WordPress for as little as $1.99 a month

If you happen to love cooking, pictures, and instructing, then beginning a meals weblog has most likely crossed your thoughts. You get to construct a neighborhood and an viewers whereas doing what you’re keen on and, hopefully, make some cash. 

However beginning a weblog can really feel overwhelming except you’ve gotten a transparent information and the suitable instruments. On this submit, we break down every part you have to know, from establishing the tech to the market analysis you have to do. Preserve studying to study precisely how you can arrange your personal meals weblog in 10 straightforward steps.  

How to Start a Food Blog in 10 Simple Steps

The 5 Finest Running a blog Platforms For Beginning a Meals Weblog

Whenever you arrange your weblog, you’ll want to make use of a running a blog platform with internet hosting and a website title. We’ve spent hours researching the most effective platforms for beginning a meals weblog and put collectively an in depth evaluate of our prime picks. 

You’ll be able to learn the full critiques right here to decide on the most effective running a blog platform for you and your targets. 

Begin a Meals Weblog in 10 Simple Steps

Organising a weblog can appear difficult, nevertheless it’s straightforward in the event you take it step-by-step and use instruments that can assist you. Listed here are the steps we’ll be breaking down in our tutorial: 

  1. Get Signed Up With WordPress on Hostinger
  2. Choose a Niche
  3. Choose a Blog Name
  4. Set Up Your Site and Activate Your SSL
  5. Set Up Your Social Media
  6. Customize Your Blog
  7. Add Copy To Your Blog
  8. Add Plugins
  9. Add Legal Pages
  10. Create Your First Five Posts

For this tutorial, we’re utilizing Hostinger with WordPress as our running a blog platform as a result of it’s reasonably priced and simple to make use of for newer bloggers and has a simple setup with WordPress. Plus, Hostinger runs gross sales all year long, and proper now, you will get began with a plan for as little as $1.99/ month

Step 1: Get Signed Up With WordPress on Hostinger 

The very first thing you’ll must do earlier than you begin your meals weblog is to arrange website hosting and get your website up and working. 

If you happen to head over to Hostinger’s house web page, you’ll give you the option to join an account by clicking on Internet hosting within the menu bar after which WordPress Internet hosting

Then, select your internet hosting plan. Hostinger usually does reductions and gross sales on their plans all year long, so test to see if you will get entry to a deal. 

We suggest selecting the WordPress Starter Pack since you’ll get entry to a free area for the primary yr, and it has every part you have to run a weblog. 

Hostinger WordPress hosting plan options with a red arrow pointing to the WordPress Starter plan for $2.99 per month
Hostinger presents customers a variety of reasonably priced internet hosting plans to allow them to select how huge they need to develop their weblog.

Then, add your option to the cart, and select what number of months you need to subscribe for. You get an even bigger low cost the longer your plan, nevertheless it’s superb to start out with only one yr, as you don’t know in case your weblog goes to be a hit. 

Then, add your fee data and buy your plan. 

Hostinger WordPress Starter plan pricing with a red arrow pointing to the 12 month option for $2.99 per month
Hostinger provides customers enormous reductions on 1, 2, or 3 years plans.

Now, you’re able to get began with WordPress and arrange your weblog. You’ll be able to log in to your Hostinger account and your dashboard, the place you’ll see your plan and the choice to Set Up

We’ll cowl that in only a second. First, there are a couple of different steps you have to full.

Step 2: Select a Area of interest 

Earlier than you arrange your weblog, you have to spend a while planning. 

This contains understanding what your area of interest is and who your target market is. Though a meals weblog is already a distinct segment, it’s nonetheless a broad class. If you need your weblog to succeed, you have to slim it down additional to draw an viewers. 

For instance, you would possibly need to give attention to vegan meals or baking. The clearer you will get in your area of interest and sub-niche, the better it is going to be to construct a recognizable model and join with an viewers. 

When you’ve determined in your area of interest, you have to take into consideration what sorts of individuals shall be involved in it. So, for instance, in case you are writing about luxurious eating places, you would possibly count on cooks and meals critics to be extra than households. 

The extra you understand about your viewers and your area of interest, the better it is going to be to model your weblog and market your self on social media. When you’re clear in your area of interest, transfer on to Step 3. 

Step 3: Select a Weblog Title 

After you have a distinct segment in thoughts, you may select your weblog title. This can even be your area title, and it’s how individuals will discover you on-line. 

You need to select a great title that displays your area of interest and model, however there are different issues to contemplate. 

Listed here are the primary belongings you need to take into consideration when selecting a weblog title: 

  • Select a reputation that’s related to meals and your area of interest 
  • Select a reputation that’s brief and simple to recollect 
  • Select a reputation that’s straightforward to spell and sort
  • Select a weblog title that has an accessible area
  • Select a .com area title as a result of it’s simpler to monetize 
  • Select a weblog title that’s accessible as a social media deal with on all platforms
  • Don’t select a reputation that’s much like some other blogs or enterprise names on-line or on social media 

Hostinger has a website title search that may let you know in case your area is accessible. 

Hostinger Domain Name Search landing page
Hostinger comes with a website search instrument so you may test whether or not your area is accessible proper out of your dashboard.

It may be tempting to make use of a website title much like one other weblog in the event you actually just like the title and it’s accessible. Nevertheless, we suggest towards this as a result of once you need to monetize your weblog, you will get into points with copyright in case your title is just too much like another person’s. 

It’s higher to keep away from this at the beginning and create your personal distinctive weblog title, so that you don’t have to vary it later and danger shedding the viewers you’ve constructed. 

When you’ve selected a website title and understand it’s accessible, go to Set Up in your Hostinger dashboard and declare your free area. Then, select Construct a New Web site and transfer on to the following step.  

Hostinger webpage for naming your website with a red arrow pointing to the option to claim a free domain
Hostinger provides customers a free area for his or her first yr.

Step 4: Set Up Your Web site and Activate Your SSL

Now that you simply’ve executed the groundwork to your weblog, you’re prepared to really arrange your website. 

In your Hostinger Setup, as soon as you choose Construct a New Web site, you’ll be requested to decide on a internet hosting platform. Select WordPress, then create a login and password to your WordPress account. 

You’ll then be requested to decide on a theme or a structure. You should utilize the search bar to search for weblog layouts. You’ll be able to edit your structure later and alter your theme, however beginning with a premade theme will make every part a lot simpler, particularly in case you are new to running a blog. 

Hostinger webpage to select a platform with red arrow pointing to WordPress option
Hostinger simply integrates with WordPress and helps make arrange straightforward.

When you select your theme, you’ll get to a web page that claims your website is prepared. Earlier than you go to your WordPress Dashboard, you’ll need to guarantee your SSL certificates is put in. Go to the choice that claims Management Panel and click on Handle Web site

Hostinger webpage with header that says "Your website is ready!" and red arrow pointing to option to manage your site via the control panel
Hostinger has plenty of choices for managing your website and customizing your settings.

If you have to arrange your SSL, you’ll see a yellow button that claims End Area Registration. Click on on it. You’ll then simply want so as to add all of your particulars like title, handle, cellphone quantity, and many others. When you’re completed, click on Set Up, after which Proceed to Management Panel

Hostinger advanced features webpage with red arrow pointing to SSL option
Hostinger plans embody SSL certificates for the primary yr.

Then, go to the Internet hosting part of the highest menu bar, and choose Handle subsequent to your web site. You’ll be taken to the Internet hosting Account web page, and you have to scroll by the completely different choices and icons till you attain the superior part, the place you’ll see the SSL icon. Click on on it. 

Then, click on Set Up, then Activate, then Set up. Your website is now arrange and able to be personalized. When you’ve completed this step, transfer on to the following one. 

Earlier than enhancing your weblog, you’ll need to arrange social media together with your weblog title. 

Even in the event you don’t assume you’ll use each account (you would possibly choose Instagram over Twitter, for instance) it is best to nonetheless arrange a free enterprise account on every. 

Instagram profile settings with red arrow pointing to Professional Account tab and another red arrow pointing to Blogger selection next to Category
Skilled Instagram customers get entry to analytics options and have extra methods to develop their model and viewers.

That is to keep away from anybody else taking that title and assist create consistency throughout your branding for when you have to market or monetize your weblog. 

Most social media give the choice to arrange free enterprise accounts, which make you look extra skilled and let you measure stats about your weblog and enterprise. You’ll additionally be capable of add your weblog on to your profile when you’ve received it up and working. 

When you’ve received you’ve created social media accounts to your weblog, you may return to your Hostinger Dashboard and transfer on to Step 6. 

Step 6: Customise Your Weblog 

Now that you simply’ve gotten all of the technical setup out of the way in which, you’re able the place you can begin enhancing your weblog. 

If you happen to use a template to set it up, you may go and take a look at your website by typing in your URL. This will provide you with an concept of what you do or don’t like in regards to the template to date, and what you need to change. 

Subsequent, go to your WordPress dashboard by including /wp-admin to the tip of your URL. From right here, you’ll be capable of edit your weblog, select a brand new theme, and add plugins. 

If you happen to go to Look, you’ll have the choice to decide on a brand new theme. You don’t have to do that, however in the event you don’t like every of the themes Hostinger suggests, you may select a theme right here. 

You do even have the choice to buy a premade theme both by WordPress or by a 3rd get together after which add it. That is provided that you don’t need to customise your personal theme or construct it out, however you need your weblog to look very nice. 

You will discover plenty of reasonably priced themes you can obtain and add on websites like Etsy. Whenever you buy the theme, they’ll offer you detailed directions on how you can add your theme to your WordPress website. 

Example of a WordPress food blog theme in the Etsy store
Etsy has tons of beautiful WordPress themes to obtain, with detailed directions on how you can add them to a WordPress Weblog.

Whether or not you select a WordPress theme, a builder like Elementor, or a paid theme, you have to replace the colours, the font, and the textual content to suit your personal model and your weblog. It’s also possible to add your personal pictures or free inventory pictures from websites like Unsplash to make your website distinctive. 

When you’ve up to date the looks of your weblog and also you’re proud of it, transfer on to Step 7.

Step 7: Add Copy To Your Weblog 

When you’ve arrange your weblog’s look, you have to go forward and replace the copy to your weblog. 

This simply means updating the content material (excluding the weblog posts, which we’ll cowl later). 

Your template may not even include copy examples, so deciding what to jot down would possibly require a little analysis. You’ll want so as to add copy to your homepage introducing individuals to your weblog, and also you’ll additionally want so as to add content material to your About Web page and your Contact Web page. 

To determine what copy you need to add, go and try a few of your favourite blogs for inspiration. What sort of data do they embody on the homepage? What do they let you know about themselves on their about web page? What sort of copy have they got on the buttons or the menus?

Example of a bio from the Veggiekins blog
Remy on the Veggiekins weblog has an ideal instance of a bio on her about web page,

In fact, copy and pasting is a large no-no. You will get in huge authorized hassle for this, however you CAN use different blogs to encourage what sort of issues you may write. Don’t be scared to let your persona shine in your copy as a result of individuals wish to get to know an writer’s voice after they go to a weblog.

When you’ve added copy to your whole pages and spell-checked it utilizing a free instrument like Grammarly, you may transfer on to Step 8. 

Step 8: Add Plugins 

Subsequent, you have to add some plugins to your weblog. 

Plugins are principally little instruments that you simply add to your website that make it easier to with smaller capabilities like having an e-mail subscriber type, stopping spam feedback, or rushing up your website. Chances are high, once you first arrange WordPress, some plugins are already included.

To see your lively plugins, go to your WordPress dashboard and choose plugins. You’ll then see a listing of the plugins you have already got and a button on the prime of the web page that claims Add New. 

WordPress Add Plugins page with red arrows pointing to Upload Plugins option and keyword search
WordPress has plenty of free plugins to select from and add straight from the plugins retailer.

If you happen to click on by to Add New, you may search completely different plugins, or add your personal. There’s no set rule on which plugins you want, nevertheless it’s a good suggestion to incorporate:

  • An anti-spam plugin, like Akismet Anti-Spam, to keep away from annoying feedback on all of your posts
  • A cache plugin, like WP Fastest Cache, to assist preserve your weblog pace optimized
  • A backup plugin, like Updraft, so that you simply by no means lose your weblog, even when it crashes 
  • Yoast SEO, which is able to make it easier to create optimized posts for search engines like google 
  • A cookie banner plugin, like Cookie Notice, so you may keep compliant with web legal guidelines 

The opposite plugins you add are as much as you, relying on what options you need to add to your weblog. If you need assist selecting plugins, now we have an intensive information to the most effective WordPress plugins right here

When you’ve added your plugins, you may transfer on to the following step. 

The following step for beginning your meals weblog is so as to add authorized pages. These are pages like your Privateness Coverage and Phrases and Situations which are required by legislation on any web site. 

These sound scary, however they’re actually simply to guard you and your readers from any hassle. A Privateness Coverage lets customers understand how their knowledge is dealt with, and which third-party plugins they use. That is required by legislation for a lot of nations and states, so be sure you have it and add the hyperlink to the web page someplace apparent, like your footer menu. 

Example of Quick Sprout's footer showing legal pages
The authorized pages are clearly proven within the footer menu of the Fast Sprout web site.

Many nations additionally require your phrases and circumstances, and these simply let your viewers know what guidelines you’ve gotten to your weblog, like how outdated somebody needs to be to entry it or whether or not your photos are free for public use. 

To get these pages, you may simply use a generator like Termly, or Terms Feed to get templates, the place you may then add your particulars. Nevertheless, as a disclaimer, these aren’t the identical as getting official pages drawn up by a lawyer. If you wish to ensure your authorized pages are appropriate, it is best to at all times seek the advice of a authorized skilled

When you’ve set your authorized pages up and linked them someplace clearly, like your footer menu, you may transfer on to the final step! 

Step 10: Create Your First 5 Posts 

The final step is to really begin creating content material! 

You’ll be able to launch your website with out content material, nevertheless it’s higher to attempt to get 5-10 items dwell on the weblog earlier than you begin advertising and marketing it or sharing it with family and friends. 

That is the enjoyable half since you get to sit down down and brainstorm concepts based mostly in your market analysis and area of interest about what content material you need to write about. A good suggestion is to start out with one matter and create a map of posts which are associated to it for the opposite items of content material. 

For instance, in the event you write one weblog submit a couple of tomato soup recipe, you possibly can write one other submit about 5 comforting winter recipes. These posts can then hyperlink to one another, which is able to make it simpler to your viewers to navigate your weblog and encourage them to remain on there longer. 

When you’ve deliberate 5 items of content material, there’s nothing left to do however sit down and write them. You must edit them a couple of occasions and get some high-quality pictures of meals to go along with them earlier than you add them onto your weblog. 

To add the posts, simply go to Put up in your WordPress dashboard, and Add New. Then, you may add your content material and pictures and publish the posts. After which – you’re executed! 

WordPress dashboard with red arrow pointing to add new post option
It’s straightforward to create and edit a brand new submit straight within the WordPress dashboard.

Congratulations! You’ve formally began your very personal meals weblog. And if you wish to know what subsequent steps it is best to take, you may learn our information of what to do when you publish a weblog submit right here

Last Ideas About Beginning a Meals Weblog 

Beginning a meals weblog doesn’t need to be laborious, and when you get the setup out of the way in which, all you need to fear about is cooking good meals and writing nice posts. The toughest a part of beginning a weblog is navigating the technical aspect of issues, so now you’ve gotten that out of the way in which, you may sit again and revel in turning into a bonafide blogger. 

And who is aware of? When you’ve put out a couple of posts and constructed a neighborhood, you would possibly even be capable of begin enthusiastic about monetizing your weblog, promoting ebooks, and rising your model right into a cooking empire.