Let’s be honest — blogging takes a lot of time and energy. There’s recipe development and testing, blog posts to write, social media posts to create, food to photograph, taxes to do, videos to film and edit, and tech to manage, just to name a few of the many hats food bloggers wear.

It can sometimes feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done, but it can feel so rewarding to put the work in and watch your blog grow over time.

If you’re in the phase of juggling your blog with a full-time job, these tips might help you learn how to manage it all just a bit more effectively.

1. Use tools to make your life easier.

When it comes to blogging, there is a lot of information to keep track of. You have to plan out your content calendar, organize your expenses, create beautiful pins for Pinterest, and more. I’m getting a headache just thinking about it all!

Here are a few tools that can help keep you organized and working towards your goals:

Tailwind

Tailwind is a great tool with many useful features (including Ghostwriter AI and Smart.bio) but for the purposes of this post, we love using this tool to schedule posts on Pinterest and Instagram in advance. When you’re juggling a full-time job and your food blog, it can feel like you have to be on all the time. Scheduling your posts ahead of time allows you to stay consistent with your posts (a huge key to success early on) without constantly being on your phone or computer.

Hot tip: If you don’t have the budget to pay for Tailwind yet, you can schedule Facebook and Instagram posts in advance (for free) using Meta Business Suite!

Asana

Asana is a project management tool that works really well for bloggers. It helps you manage blog posts, social media scheduling, and other administrative tasks.

It’s easy to schedule out your content calendar on Asana, and you can shift blog posts around as needed if life gets in the way.

We also really love InfluenceKit and CoSchedule. They all have different features, so be sure to shop around and evaluate which one will work best for your workflow.

Grammarly

I don’t know about you, but I don’t personally have anyone else proofreading my blog posts. And writing posts at 11pm on a Thursday night inevitably leads to many spelling mistakes… anyone else with me?

But that’s where Grammarly comes in.

You can install the Grammarly browser extension for free, and it will automatically check the grammar and spelling of all your blog posts. Yes, please!

Canva

One of the most important tasks when blogging is sharing your content on social media, and Canva helps you create amazing graphics to do just that—no graphic design experience required.

We actually make the graphics for our blog posts here on Food Blogger Pro in Canva! It’s a really versatile platform, and they have tons of templates you can choose from if you’re just getting started.

One of our favorite time-saving features within Canva is the “Duplicate page” option that allows you to… duplicate an existing page! This makes it super quick and easy to create pins, blog post images, etc. once you’ve created a template that you like. No need to reinvent the wheel every time you create content! We’re all about working smarter, not harder.

2. Batch related tasks together.

There are so many tasks involved when it comes to blogging.

You have to brainstorm content ideas, do keyword research, shoot photos, respond to comments… the list goes on and on.

But that’s where content batching comes in! Instead of jumping around from task to task, focus on working on only one area at a time.

Spend a few hours filming three YouTube videos or writing four blog posts for the month. Test several recipes all in one go. Draft and schedule email newsletters to send out every Friday. And during that time, really focus on the task at hand. Don’t let yourself peek at your email inbox or post on Instagram Stories, and I guarantee your productivity (and stress level!) will improve.

If you’re really serious about getting organized, try blocking off your time with Google Calendar! Set up recurring events so you know that every Friday, you’ve got a few hours set aside for filming or that Mondays are your day to test out new recipes. I don’t know about you, but it really puts my mind at ease to know I have my work lined up for me ahead of time.

Here’s an overview of what a few nights a week could look like when task batching:

Of course, getting organized is great, but the one thing we absolutely want to avoid is burnout. That’s why we have to be very mindful about how we approach our working habits. That’s where The Pomodoro Technique comes in. You might be thinking to yourself, “Pomo-what?’ but don’t worry — the technique is super easy to implement and could greatly benefit your mental well-being in the long run.

Simply put, The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves breaking work into 25-minute focus periods, separated by 5-minute breaks. So once you’ve got your task lined up for yourself, set a 25-minute timer and when it goes off, STOP WORKING. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Stop what you’re doing and take that 5-minute break! Then, rinse and repeat.

Ultimately, your main goal should be streamlining your process when working on your blog. By doing so, you will end up creating even more content in the long run!

3. Connect with other bloggers.

Working at home on your blog week after week can start to feel isolating. At the same time, many of us don’t have any people in our personal lives who understand our blogging struggles.

Luckily, many other bloggers are experiencing the same thing, and it can be so powerful to connect with others in your niche (especially others who are still aspiring to become full-time bloggers).

Here are a few simple ways to connect with other bloggers:

• Comment on their latest Instagram and blog posts
• Attend a blogging conference (even virtually!)
• Join a blogging-specific Facebook group
• Find a local blogger meetup group
• Collaborate and troubleshoot with other bloggers who are working towards similar goals (like we do every day in the Food Blogger Pro Forum)

4. Don’t compare yourself to full-time bloggers.

But, while you’re connecting with fellow bloggers, it’s really important to make sure you’re not comparing yourself to bloggers who do this for a living.

Full-time bloggers are able to devote 40+ hours a week to their blogs (even more if they have a team working for them), and that really adds up over time! Many of these bloggers have also been doing this for a long time. Don’t compare apples to oranges.

While you can get inspired by these full-time bloggers and learn a lot from them, don’t let yourself feel jealous of their posting frequency or website design.

Give yourself grace and be content with where you are at in your journey. If your goal is to ultimately work full-time on your blog one day, take it one step at a time and actively work towards that goal without comparing yourself to others.

5. Don’t spread yourself too thin.

As a content creator, it can be a slippery slope to posting every new recipe on 75 different platforms. You might feel obligated to post your recipes not only on your blog, but also on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, Bluesky, YouTube, email — you get the idea.

But, especially if you’re balancing a full-time job with your food blog, you must avoid the temptation to spread yourself too thin. If you post on every platform, you will be an expert on none. If you’re forcing yourself to churn out content to share on every single social media channel, it’s just not possible to produce the highest quality content or to nail down a platform-specific strategy.

So, what should you do? Pick one (maybe two) channels. How to choose? Where do you enjoy spending your time? What comes naturally to you? Do you love to film videos? Consider YouTube or TikTok. Prefer writing? Maybe email is more your speed.

Whatever it is, pick a platform and then get really good at it. You absolutely do not need to post on every platform to see success, so don’t put pressure on yourself to do so!

Want to hear more about food blogging with a full-time job? Here are some of our favorite podcast episodes on the subject:

• Balancing a Full-time Job and Your Food Blog with Vincent DelGiudice
• Blogging with a Full-Time Job – How Focusing on SEO Led to $2,000 Monthly Earnings with Cree Carraway
• Blogging with a Full-Time Job – Optimizing Your Time with David Crowley
• 5 Tips for Growing Your Blog with a Full-Time Job with Shweta Garg
• How Eric King Took easygayoven Full-Time by Diversifying His Income Streams

We’d love to hear your thoughts and tips! Do you run a blog while working a full-time job? What are some strategies that you use to balance both?

The post 5 Tips for Growing a Blog While Working Full-Time appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

One of the hardest parts of food blogging? Dealing with the technical side of things! Think page speed, updates, accessibility, and more – that’s why, in this course, we’re talking all about the Feast Plugin.

The Feast Plugin is designed specifically with recipe sites in mind to help food bloggers optimize their sites for performance, user experience, and SEO. Chances are, if you’ve been on other food blogger’s sites, you’ve stumbled upon one that uses Feast!

With over 6,000+ active installations, it’s become a pretty popular plugin in the food community. That’s why, in this course, we’re breaking down exactly what it does, who it’s for, and how to set it up.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• All about Feast Design Co.
• The Feast Plugin vs. Feast themes
• The pros and cons of Feast
• How to set up the Feast Plugin
• And more!

It’s a great course that teaches you everything you need to know about the Feast Plugin and themes to help you decide whether to invest in it!

Check out the full course for Feast here.

As a reminder, Food Blogger Pro courses and tools are available for all Food Blogger Pro members. If you used to be a member, you can rejoin by following these instructions. If you’re not a member, you can join and get instant access to this course, as well as all of our other courses for food bloggers, today!

The post New Course: Feast Design Co. appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful… but the food is so delightful!

It’s almost wintertime here in the Northern hemisphere, and that means it’s time to snuggle up by the fire with a warm, comforting meal. Or a steaming mug of hot chocolate and a cookie or two. Honestly, both scenarios sound pretty wonderful to me!

In this post we’re highlighting the seasonal trending recipe ideas that perform well on Google year after year — we’re not talking TikTok trends or new foodie gadgets, but rather the content that users reliably search for this time of year (and that will consistently drive traffic back to your site) in the winter months.

Let’s get right into it, shall we?

Cookies

Friends, we are entering the season of holiday desserts, and to me, cookies are the epitome of holiday baking. Gingerbread cookies, peanut butter blossoms, thumbprint cookies… I love ’em all!

So it should come as no surprise that cookie searches skyrocket in December, right?

Consider sharing a roundup of your ten favorite cookie recipes on your blog, or perhaps host a cookie-baking challenge with your readers for the entire month of December (à la Pinch of Yum’s Holiday Bucket List). How fun would that be?

Looking for something to make your cookie recipes stand out from the pack on Google? Consider sharing cookie recipes perfect for a cookie swap!

Peppermint

Something else people will undoubtedly be searching for this holiday season? Peppermint!

Peppermint is such a unique flavor because there are so many ways you can enjoy it this time of year. Peppermint mochas, peppermint brownies, peppermint bark… I’ll take one of each, please!

It’s time to start sharing all the peppermint recipes, my friends.

Champagne

You can’t think New Year’s Eve without some bubbly — why not share your own take on the beverage with a champagne recipe?

Google users are looking for champagne recipes, so what’s your favorite champagne cocktail?

Eggnog

Whether you love it or hate it, eggnog will most definitely be another popular search term as we head into December! Just look at these spikes:

Do you know the secret to making perfect eggnog at home? Or do you have a recipe for eggnog scones or eggnog cookies? Now is the time to share those recipes!

Recipes to Bring Good Luck

With the New Year celebration comes the tradition of eating certain dishes thought to bring good luck in the coming year — black-eyed peas, collard greens, lentils, grapes, and cornbread just to name a few.

Healthy Ingredients

While December is all about holiday recipes and comfort food, chances are your readers might start looking for some healthier options once January rolls around.

One fun way to encourage healthy eating might be to run a challenge or share a meal plan on your blog!

For instance, Pinch of Yum previously ran a series called Plant-Powered January where they shared two new fun and delicious veggie-forward recipes each week for the entire month of January. They also put together weekly meal plans and grocery lists for the recipes to help their readers get prepared and ready to cook each week.

This is also a great time of year to share immune-boosting recipes or content with your followers as cold and flu season really picks up!

Veganuary

Speaking of challenges… have you heard of Veganuary? It’s an annual challenge that encourages people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January.

Veganuary helps raise awareness about the benefits of eating plant-based and encourages individuals and businesses to try and incorporate more plant-based meals and cruelty-free products into their everyday lives.

With the popularity of Veganuary, you might see an uptick in traffic this time of year if you’re a vegan blogger. And if you like to share vegan recipes from time to time, January would be a great time to post a few on your blog or social media!

Super Bowl Food

As we move into February, there will be one thing on (almost) everyone’s mind: the Super Bowl. And more specifically, Super Bowl food!

While some people gather to watch the actual football game, others are strictly there for the food. Truly, is there anything better than munching on a huge spread of game-day snacks?

To help your readers prep for the big day, you could consider sharing a roundup of your all-time favorite Super Bowl party foods. Or you could create an Instagram Reel or TikTok video showcasing what your Super Bowl spread will look like, featuring some popular recipes from your blog.

Three cheers for football and food!

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Another important day for food in February? Valentine’s Day! It falls on February 14 each year, and readers will be looking for lots of great recipes to enjoy with their loved ones.

Looking for ideas of what content to create this Valentine’s Day? It might be fun to share a three-course dinner for two on your blog! You could share tips for prepping everything ahead of time and even pair it with a fun cocktail.

Or if you’re flying solo this Valentine’s Day, consider posting about some of your favorite ways to enjoy the holiday by yourself, with family, or with friends.

Chocolate

Of course, we can’t chat about Valentine’s Day without mentioning chocolate. Searches for chocolate recipes start creeping up in November for the holiday season and will get another bump with Valentine’s Day so it’s the perfect time to post some new chocolate recipes on your blog or social media.

And don’t feel like you’re limited to just chocolate recipes! Share some tips about the best ways to melt chocolate, or break down all the different types of chocolate in a blog post.

Let’s all give chocolate the love it deserves this February.

Don’t forget these holidays!

Be sure to mark these upcoming dates on your calendar, and consider sharing some fun recipes that your readers can celebrate with.

• Saint Nicholas Day (Nikolaus): December 6
• First Day of Winter (for those of us in the Northern hemisphere!): December 21
• Hanukkah: December 25 – January 2
• Christmas: December 25
• Boxing Day: December 26
• Kwanzaa: December 26 – January 1
• New Year’s Eve: December 31
• New Year’s Day: January 1
• Chinese New Year: January 29
• Super Bowl: February 9
• Valentine’s Day: February 14
• Mardi Gras: March 4

For our friends in the Southern hemisphere…

While the Food Blogger Pro team is based in the Northern hemisphere, we know that so many members of our community live all around the world.

All of our friends in the Southern hemisphere are about to enter summer, and, to be honest, we’re kind of jealous of all of the warmer temperatures they’re about to experience. And with warmer temps comes all different kinds of food trends!

If you (or your readers) are based in the Southern hemisphere, we recommend checking out this great chart — it breaks down what fruits and vegetables are currently in season in Australia, so it might help you think of some fun recipes to share with your audience.

Now let’s chat: Which trending recipe ideas this winter are you most excited about? Did this post give you any new content ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Trending Recipe Ideas this Winter appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

One of the most common goals of food bloggers? To get accepted to an ad network! That’s why in this course we’re breaking down everything you need to do to get your blog ready for ads.

We cover a range of ad networks from Mediavine to Google AdSense to Monumetric and discuss the requirements of each. Plus, we cover what to do if your application was rejected – don’t worry, it happens!

We also break down exactly what ad networks are looking for from bloggers and how to achieve those standards – from having a privacy policy to making sure your content is high-quality.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• The requirements of major ad networks
• How to have a blog that’s ready for ads
• How to increase sessions and page views
• Tips for if you get rejected from an ad network
• And more!

It’s a great course that teaches you how to prepare your blog for ads, apply to the major ad networks, and improve your blog if it’s not quite ad ready.

Check out the full course for Getting Accepted to an Ad Network here.

As a reminder, Food Blogger Pro courses and tools are available for all Food Blogger Pro members. If you used to be a member, you can rejoin by following these instructions. If you’re not a member, you can join and get instant access to this course, as well as all of our other courses for food bloggers, today!

The post New Course: Getting Accepted to an Ad Network appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

But first, what is affiliate marketing? Affiliate marketing is when a third-party (you!) promotes a company’s products, services, or even courses, and earns a commission every time someone uses your link to complete a purchase.

Amazon’s affiliate program, Amazon Associates, provides an especially easy way to monetize your content by recommending products you already use and love. Because Amazon is such a widespread shopping platform, most of your readers will likely be able to easily shop these links. 

Notice we say “products you already use and love” here? This is a critical component of successful affiliate marketers. By directly linking products you genuinely use and recommend, you’re building trust with your audience and providing them with tools to make your recipe.

Below we’re diving into five creative ways to incorporate Amazon affiliate links into your content to increase revenue.

1. Link Kitchen Tools in Recipe Blog Posts

One of the easiest ways to include Amazon affiliate links is by linking your favorite kitchen tools directly in your recipe blog posts or when you share content on social media. You can share the exact tools and gadgets you use to make specific recipes with your readers.

For example, if you’re writing a recipe post for a soup recipe, you can link to a pot you love to use or an immersion blender you swear by.

Be sure to be specific about why you recommend these items, whether it’s their durability, ease of use, or other features.

2. Create a “Shop My Favorites” Page

Lots of food content creators dedicate a page on their blog specifically to product recommendations. This “Shop My Favorites” page can serve as a go-to area where your audience can find all of your favorite cooking essentials in one place. 

Make sure to embed Amazon affiliate links for each item and write a brief description explaining why you love it or how you use it in your recipes.

This makes it easy for your blog visitors to see all of your favorite product recommendations, plus you can organize your affiliate links by category (i.e. baking essentials, pantry staples, etc.). 

3. Make “Essentials” Lists for Different Types of Recipes / Diets

Having “essentials” lists on your food blog is a great idea for food bloggers who cater to audiences with specific recipe or diet preferences . By creating curated Amazon shopping lists, you can give your audience exactly what they need for each category, such as:

• A “Vegan Baking Essentials” list with ingredients like coconut oil, vegan chocolate chips, and almond flour.
• A “BBQ Master’s Toolkit” featuring essential grilling equipment, from skewers to a thermometer, and ingredients like specific BBQ sauces or spices.

You can create these lists as a blog post or a page on your blog. Or, you can even send out an edition of your newsletter that goes over these essentials and links back to your Amazon storefront.

4. Share Amazon Product Roundups on Social Media

Social media platforms are perfect for sharing “roundup” posts that showcase multiple products at once. These can be structured as themed lists, such as “10 Must-Have Baking Tools” or “Best Pantry Staples for Quick Meals,” with each item linked to your Amazon affiliate account.

Tips for Social Media Roundups:

• Instagram/Facebook: Create a Reel that features your favorite products/staples and why you recommend them. You can then direct followers to the link in your bio or a blog post that contains the affiliate links.
• Pinterest: Create graphics with product images and link them back to a blog post or a dedicated shopping page.
• Stories: Use Instagram stories to showcase individual products with direct links or send followers to the link in your bio.This is a great way to share more “casual” recommendations with your followers and show your recommended products in action in your kitchen!

Social media roundups can be a super engaging and immediate way for your audience to discover new products.

5. Create Gift Guides for Food Lovers, Home Cooks, and More

Gift guides are a fantastic way to use Amazon affiliate links, especially during the holiday season or for special occasions like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. 

By creating a gift guide with Amazon affiliate links, you can help your audience find the perfect gift while earning affiliate income!

Tips for Creating Gift Guides:

• Choose a Theme: Create guides with specific themes like “Gift Ideas for Vegans,” “Holiday Gift Ideas for Bakers,” or “Essential Tools for the Chef in Your Life” These themes allow you to organize items based on interests and make it easier for readers to find something that fits what they’re looking for!
• Highlight Diverse Finds: Showcase a wide range of items that are a mix of price points, from budget-friendly finds to high-end gifts, as well as unique gifts to trending ideas, this will help your list appeal to a wide range of individuals.
• Include Descriptions and Personal Recommendations: Make sure to write short descriptions explaining why each product is a great gift. If it’s an item you have, or have bought as a gift, make sure to mention why you love it and recommend it.

Gift guides provide value to your audience by taking the guesswork out of gift shopping, while also giving you a chance to earn affiliate revenue. Plus, they can be evergreen or updated each year, depending on your preferred content strategy.

Ready to get started? To apply for the Amazon Associates Program, just visit the Amazon Associates website and click “Join now” to create an account. Make sure to fill out the required details about your website or social media platforms and wait for Amazon’s approval (which usually takes a few days!).

As always, make sure to be genuine in your recommendations to foster trust with your audience. By integrating affiliate links thoughtfully—through recipe posts, shopping pages, curated lists, and social media roundups—you’ll be able to boost your earnings while also offering value to your followers. 

And, don’t forget to include a disclosure policy in each blog post where you include affiliate links. If you’re not sure exactly what to write, you can start with something along the lines of:

“This post may contain affiliate links. This means we will receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate links will be noted in the content. For more information on this type of content, please see our disclosure policy.”

If you’re looking to learn more about affiliate income, Food Blogger Pro members have a whole course on affiliate marketing here!

The post 5 Ways to Use Amazon Affiliate Links for Food Content Creators appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

We updated one of our courses this week, and we can’t wait to tell you about it!

Our WordPress Deep Dive course is now officially updated for 2024. And we cover everything there is to know about WordPress.

As a food content creator, knowing how to use WordPress is incredibly important; it’s where you’ll upload images, publish posts, and interact with your community through comments. Whether you’re creating a blog for the first time or just looking for a refresher, this course will teach you everything you need to know about how to use WordPress!

In this course, you’ll learn:

• The difference between posts and pages
• How to write a post using blocks
• How you can use the post and page sidebar
• How to restore your revisions
• How to create a privacy policy
• And so much more!

This is such a great course update (every single lesson has been updated!) and we hope it helps you become more comfortable with WordPress.

Check out the full course for the WordPress Deep Dive here!

As a reminder, Food Blogger Pro courses and tools are available for all Food Blogger Pro members. If you used to be a member, you can rejoin by following these instructions. If you’re not a member, you can join and get instant access to this course, as well as all of our other courses for food bloggers, today!

The post Updated Course: WordPress Deep Dive appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

As Google starts to treat the user-generated content from Reddit as a publisher in its own right, it is not uncommon to see Reddit posts in the top three spots on a SERP (search engine result page). Given the increased visibility of platforms like Reddit in Google search results, it makes sense to pivot some of your traffic-driving efforts to this platform.

Let’s start with the basics. What is Reddit? And who uses it? Reddit is a social media site/news aggregator/user forum hybrid that defies a super simple definition. In 2024, there are over half a billion Reddit users — and this number continues to grow. Most Reddit users are male (2 out of 3), and almost half of Reddit users live in the United States.

So if you’re looking to find a new traffic source for your food blog, are tired of the SEO grind, or just interested in an experiment, Reddit is a good place to start. So after you’ve secured your username on Reddit… what’s next?

Find Relevant Recipe Communities

There are over 100,000 active Reddit communities, or subreddits, on Reddit. Where should you be posting? A quick search on Google or Reddit for “Reddit recipes” will return numerous subreddits that might be a good fit for you. To give you a taste of some recipe-related communities, check out:

• r/recipes
• r/easyrecipes
• r/Cooking
• r/InstantPot
• r/EatCheapAndHealthy
• r/cookingforbeginners
• r/bakingrecipes

Try searching for keywords related to your niche to find smaller communities to post in. If you post lots of easy vegan recipes, you might try the r/veganmealprep community (with 59,000 members) as opposed to the r/veganrecipes community (with 525,000 members). The same principles of keyword research apply here — you want to find a Reddit “sweet spot” community (i.e. one with enough interest, but not too much competition) to allow you to breakthrough.

When you start exploring subreddits, you’ll notice important information about each community on the top right of the page — the number of members, how many members are online now, and rules (more on those, later).

Each subreddit also has its own rules and guidelines. Follow them! For example, you can see the rules for r/cookingforbeginners here:

Each subreddit will provide you with the “how to” of posting in that community. Some require photos with each recipe post, some require that the recipe is included in the post, etc. You’ll have to tailor your posting strategy for each subreddit accordingly.

Engage in Reddit Communities

Reddit has fairly specific guidelines around how to operate on the platform, especially around self-promotion. A good rule of thumb is that only 10% of your posts on Reddit should link to your website. Reddit prioritizes useful contributors over self-promotional users, and posting only links to your site (especially right out of the gate) is a surefire way to get banned from a subreddit. Becoming an active user on Reddit is an important part of establishing yourself as a useful contributor.

Start engaging with the content of other creators. Observe what type of content other users are posting. Notice what kinds of posts perform well. Just like E-E-A-T matters for search engines like Google, being an engaged, active user on Reddit will help build trust and authority within the subreddits that you hope to get traffic from (also known as karma on Reddit).

Posting Strategy on Reddit as a Food Creator

Unlike on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, the cadence of posting on Reddit is not as relevant (unless it’s a requirement of the subreddit that you post weekly on a Tuesday, for example). It can be useful to post mostly on weekday mornings (EST), as Reddit tends to see a surge in traffic around the lunch hour.

How can you start providing value to a subreddit as a food creator?

• Share cooking tips and tricks.
• Share your favorite products from different grocery stores.
• Share your go-to kitchen equipment and tools.
• Share easy recipes right in a thread (without linking back to your site).
• Answer questions posed by other users.

Some general recommendations for popular posts on Reddit:

• Include photos or videos.
• Solve a problem for other users.
• Post consistently.
• Respond to comments or questions promptly.

You don’t necessarily need to create new posts to gain traction on Reddit and appear in the SERPs. Publishing useful comments on relevant posts (especially ones that might already be ranking in Google’s top spots for keywords you’re trying to rank for) is another great way to get visibility.

Content on Reddit can be viewed as both viral and evergreen, especially in light of Reddit’s increased visibility on Google, so don’t despair if you’re not gaining immediate traction on the platform — be patient as you build trust within the community.

We’d love to know… are you currently posting on Reddit as a food creator? Is it a significant traffic driver for you?

The post Reddit as a Traffic Source for Food Creators appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

Without a doubt, one of the most popular styles of video is vertical short-form videos. They’ve taken over Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and even YouTube.

As a food content creator, vertical short-form videos are perfect for showing off delicious recipes, sharing food hacks, baking tips, and so much more! Plus, you can even share the same videos across platforms to reach new audiences.

Not to mention this format is great for boosting engagement, reaching new users, and showing authenticity across platforms. So if you’re ready to start creating vertical short-form videos, or level up you current video tactics, look no further – this course is for you.

In this course, you’ll learn:

• The benefits of vertical short-form videos
• How to create engaging, fast-paced videos
• How to edit short-form videos
• How to vary your video content
• And more!

It’s a great course that teaches you how to create, shoot, and edit high-quality vertical short-form videos with ease. Plus, all you need is a smartphone – that’s it!

Check out the full course for Vertical Short-Form Videos here.

As a reminder, Food Blogger Pro courses and tools are available for all Food Blogger Pro members. If you used to be a member, you can rejoin by following these instructions. If you’re not a member, you can join and get instant access to this course, as well as all of our other courses for food bloggers, today!

The post New Course: Vertical Short-Form Videos appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

From planning to posting, we’ve rounded up the best tools, platforms, and software to help you create professional-quality food videos in no time.

So whether you’re creating videos for social media, your blog, a client, or anything in-between, make sure to keep reading!

1. Planning and Scripting Software

The first step to creating great videos? The planning process! Whether you love to plan every detail or prefer to wing it, having a place to track your content calendar, production progress, and jot down ideas, is so important in order to stay organized.

• Notebook: A simple notebook is a super helpful (and budget-friendly) way to stay organized and keep track of your videos. Plus, it’s a great way to be able to jot down last-minute thoughts and/or ideas. 
• Trello or Asana:  If you prefer to do all your work on your laptop, a software platform like Trello or Asana is a great way to plan out your video content calendar, track progress, and take notes. 
• Shot Lister: For those who love to plan every detail out, shot lister helps you organize and plan your shots, angles, and scenes to make the filming process as smooth as possible.

P.S. We have a course all about Asana that you can watch here.

2. Camera

The only tool you absolutely need is, of course, a camera! A camera is essential for capturing food videos…and chances are you already have one handy.

• Smartphone Camera: With a smartphone you already have a high-quality camera ready to go, whether you’re an iPhone, Samsung, or Google user, all are equipped with high-quality cameras that are perfect for beginners, those shooting for social media, or those who want a more compact setup.
• DSLR or Mirrorless Camera: For filming more professional videos, a DSLR or mirrorless camera is going to offer professional-quality video, interchangeable lenses, and the ability to really make your food pop! 

Not only do we have a lesson all about filming recipe videos with a DSLR, but we also have one specifically on how to film with a smartphone. You can learn more about both here!

3. Tripod

Having a stable shot will elevate your food videos by creating less distractions and allowing your food to be the main focus. Plus, certain tripods are specifically made to get top-down or close-up shots that are great for filming process videos. 

• Octobuddy: While not technically a tripod, an octobuddy sticks to the back of your phone case and allows you to secure your phone to windows and certain objects. 
• Overhead Mounts: Great for filming top-down food videos, tripods like the Arkon Overhead Phone Mount allow you to secure your smartphone from a top-down angle. 
• DSLR Tripod: A reliable, sturdy tripod is especially important when filming with a DSLR, as it provides stability and flexibility for various shooting angles.

4. Lighting

Good lighting can make or break a food video. Not to mention the lighting you use can add to your video style. While some prefer natural lighting, others prefer direct, or even moody lighting.

• Natural lighting: If you have access to natural light, it’s a great (free!) way to film and ensure your videos look great.
• Ring Light Kit: A ring light kit is great if you are on a budget and don’t have much light to film with, as it will help brighten up the space you’re in.  
• Studio Lights: If you want to invest in professional lighting for your set-up, a studio lighting kit will help you achieve various lighting set-ups. Watch our lesson on artificial lights to help you decide what LED lights and equipment to choose based on your preferences.

5. Microphone

While audio can be overlooked in recipe videos, the sounds of the cooking process can add LOTS to a food video. Whether it’s a chopping sound, a sizzle, or a crunch, it can enhance the viewer’s experience and make all the difference!

• Smartphone microphone: Not happy with the audio on your smartphone? Or, are you filming from a distance? These wireless mini lavalier microphones are great for picking up specific sounds and reducing background noise.
• DLSR Mic: A high-quality microphone, like the Rode VideoMic, attaches to your camera and allows you to capture clear, directional audio and minimize background noise.

6. Editing Software

Once you’ve done all the filming, the next step is to bring it all together through editing. Whether you prefer to edit on your phone or laptop, there’s a ton of different options for all budgets. Make sure to get creative with the editing process by including your own style to make your videos stand out.

• CapCut or InShot: If you’re editing on a smartphone, InShot and CapCut offer both free and paid versions and are intuitive and powerful – making the editing process a breeze. Plus, CapCut also has a free desktop app!
• Adobe Premiere Pro: Looking for a professional-grade video editing software? Premiere Pro offers advanced features like color grading, audio mixing, and multi-camera editing. It’s perfect for those who want complete control over the editing process.
• Final Cut Pro X: A Mac-exclusive software that is powerful and user-friendly. It offers a range of tools for color correction, transitions, and effects.

7. Social Media Scheduling Tools

Once your video is filmed and edited, the only step left is to publish it. If you’re posting your videos to social media, you can use a scheduling app to make sure you’re uploading at the same time, during peak hours, or just simply when you’re otherwise occupied.

• In-App Scheduler: Most social media platforms have built-in tools allowing you to schedule your posts for that specific app. Instagram, Pinterest, FaceBook, and YouTube all have free scheduling tools you can use.
• Canva / Tailwind / CoSchedule: If you’re looking to use a separate app / software to schedule, Canva, CoSchedule and Tailwind all offer various scheduling capabilities. Food Blogger Pro members have access to courses on CoSchedule, a lesson on scheduling in Canva, and a Quick Win on Tailwind!

As you can see, creating high-quality food videos is completely do-able whether you’re on a budget or willing to splurge. There’s tools and equipment out there for every level and as long as you keep practicing, your food videos will only continue to improve. 

Curious what Pinch of Yum uses to record their videos? You can see their full equipment list here!

We can’t wait to see what you create!

The post The Best Tools for Creating Food Videos  appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.

What’s that in the air? Why, it’s the sweet, crisp smell of fall!

The autumn season is quickly approaching here in the Northern hemisphere, and that means it’s almost time for all those cozy, comforting recipes we all know and love.

And if you’re starting to brainstorm some fall recipe ideas, we’re here to help you out! In this post, we’re sharing a roundup of trending recipe ideas this fall to help give you some ideas as you plan out your content calendar for the rest of the year.

Looking for more specific ideas for each month? You can check out our monthly food content trends posts here:

• Food Content Trends in September
• Food Content Trends in October
• Food Content Trends in November

Let’s jump right into it!

Apples

Get excited, everyone: we’ve almost reached apple season.

Searches for apple recipes start their two-month spike at the end of July, and that means your readers will be looking for any and every excuse to cook and bake with these juicy lil’ beauties!

Why not feature your family’s favorite apple pie recipe on your blog this fall? Could you whip up a delicious pork chop recipe featuring apples?

Or maybe you could think about sharing a roundup of twenty fun ways to use up leftover apples. I bet your readers would love it!

Comfort Food

Move over, summer salads — fall is most definitely the time of year for comfort food. Because as the weather gets colder, is there truly anything better than curling up to eat something warm and cozy?

Searches for comfort food recipes start to climb in the early fall season and peak right around the Christmas holiday season.

When it comes to comfort food, we’ve got the obvious candidates: mac and cheese, loaded chili, homemade soup, cheesy lasagna… the list goes on and on.

But if you wanted, you could also try giving these comfort foods a unique twist this season! Consider sharing your best tips to load these hearty dishes up with extra veggies, or chat about some ways to make these fan-favorite recipes dairy-free or gluten-free.

Crockpot Recipes

And speaking of comfort food, now’s the time to bust out the crockpot. Searches for crockpot recipes start peaking in October!

If you want to dive deep into this trend, it might be fun to do a crockpot week (or even a crockpot month) on your blog! You could get your readers excited by sharing a calendar of the upcoming recipes so they can cook along with you. How fun would that be?

And don’t feel like you have to just stick to your crockpot — chances are people are also looking for cozy Instant Pot and air fryer recipes in these colder months too. Yay for time-saving kitchen appliances!

Pumpkin

You can’t talk about trending recipe ideas this fall without pumpkin. It will probably come as no surprise that pumpkin searches soar in October. So let this be your sign to bust out all those pumpkin-centric recipes!

And when it comes to sharing pumpkin recipes, the sooner you can share ’em, the better. Dunkin’ and Starbucks both bring their pumpkin drinks back in August, so ready or not, pumpkin season is upon us, my friends.

Candy

And aside from pumpkins, the other thing that October is known for? Candy! Searches for “candy recipes” spike this time of year, just in time for Halloween.

Chances are many of your readers will have piles and piles of candy lying around after Halloween. Why not inspire them to use up all that candy in a recipe or two?

We’re talking cookies loaded with leftover Halloween candy, Twix cheesecake bars, white chocolate candy corn pretzel bark… Talk about a sugar overload! Bonus? This increase in search traffic for “candy” will continue through the Christmas holidays.

Stuffing or Dressing

Then, once we get a few weeks away from Thanksgiving, turkey (and Thanksgiving side dish) searches will unsurprisingly start trending this season. Looking at this graph, talk about a major spike in searches, right?

And why stop at just turkey and stuffing (or dressing, depending on where you live!)? If you’re up for it, you could consider sharing a full-on Thanksgiving meal plan on your blog this year. We’re talking hors d’oeuvres, side dishes, desserts, and more.

Pie

Last but not least, we can’t forget about my favorite food this time of year: pie.

I’m definitely not alone in my love for this delectable dessert — searches for pie go crazy during the autumn season. And the best part? There’s a lot of content you can make related to pie.

Share your go-to pumpkin pie recipe with your readers, spill the deets on how to create a perfectly flaky pie crust (no soggy bottoms allowed!), or give some tips on how to prepare pies ahead of time during the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Let’s give this wonderful dessert the love it deserves this season.

Don’t forget these holidays!

The fall season is a major time of year for food-centric holidays, and we mentioned a few of them throughout this post.

Be sure to mark these upcoming dates on your calendar for 2024, and consider sharing some fun recipes that your readers can celebrate with.

• Labor Day: September 2
• Last Day of Summer (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!): September 22
• Rosh Hashanah: October 2 – October 4
• Canadian Thanksgiving: October 14
• Halloween: October 31
• Diwali: November 1
• Día de los Muertos: November 1 – November 2
• Veterans Day: November 11
• American Thanksgiving: November 28
• Hanukkah: December 25 – January 2
• Christmas: December 25
• Kwanzaa: December 26 – January 1
• New Year’s Eve: December 31

For our friends in the Southern hemisphere…

We can’t forget about you! While we’re focused on cozy comfort foods as we head into fall, those in the Southern hemisphere will soon be embracing all the lovely food that spring has to offer.

For them, this time of year is all about fresh fruits, veggies, and produce. And if you’re wondering what fruits and vegetables are currently in season in the Southern hemisphere, this great chart will help you out!

Now let’s chat: What recipes are you planning to share this fall? Did this post give you any new ideas? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Trending Recipe Ideas this Fall appeared first on Food Blogger Pro.