How to Set Up and Run Your Own Food and Drink Blog: A Guide

Starting a food and drink blog can be an exciting and fulfilling journey. Whether you're passionate about exploring new recipes, reviewing the latest restaurant openings, or sharing your love for fine wines and craft beers, a blog is the perfect platform to connect with like-minded food enthusiasts. 

At That’s Food and Drink, we've built a space where we celebrate the best of culinary delights, and we want to help you do the same! Why? Because there's always room for more high quality food and drink blogs.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the essential steps to set up and run a successful food and drink blog, just like we’ve done at That’s Food and Drink. Whether you're a novice blogger or have dabbled in content creation before, these tips will help you find your voice in the foodie community.

Step 1: Choose a Niche

Food blogging is a vast world, and finding your unique angle is key to standing out. At That’s Food and Drink, we cover a range of topics from restaurant reviews to product recommendations and recipes. However, you might want to narrow your focus. Here are a few niche ideas to consider:

Restaurant Reviews: Share your experiences at local restaurants, cafes, and food stalls.

Recipes: Focus on creating unique recipes, or specialise in certain types of cuisine (e.g., vegan, gluten-free, desserts).

Food Travel: Explore culinary experiences from different parts of the world.

Drinks: Craft beer, fine wine, cocktails, or non-alcoholic beverages.

Product Reviews: Highlight new or interesting food and drink products.

Once you’ve chosen your niche, stick to it. Consistency will help you build an audience that knows what to expect from your blog.

Step 2: Set Up Your Blog

There are plenty of platforms available for setting up a blog. If you’re looking for a quick and easy start, Blogger (like we use at That’s Food and Drink) is an excellent option. It’s user-friendly and free. And will, once you are an established blogger, allow you to host adverts on their system for free.

 Alternatively, you can opt for platforms like WordPress or Wix, which offer more customisation options if you're ready to invest in a more professional look.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Choose a name: Your blog’s name should reflect your niche and be easy to remember. Make sure to check for domain availability if you want to have a custom URL.

Set up hosting and domain: If you’re serious about your blog, purchasing a custom domain will give it a professional edge (e.g., www.yourblogname.com).

Pick a theme: Choose a clean and visually appealing design. Food and drink blogs are highly visual, so ensure that your images take centre stage.

Install plugins (if applicable): On platforms like WordPress, plugins can enhance your site’s functionality. Look for ones that improve SEO, help optimise images, or create social media sharing buttons.

Step 3: Create High-Quality Content

Content is king, especially in the food blogging world. Quality writing and visuals are the keys to building an audience. Here’s how to get started:

Writing blog posts: Write in a conversational tone, share personal stories, and offer detailed reviews or step-by-step guides. Your personality is what will make readers connect with your content. Be sure to proofread thoroughly to maintain professionalism.

Take stunning photos: Food is all about visual appeal. You don’t need a fancy camera to start, but good lighting and attention to detail are crucial. Try natural lighting and experiment with composition. Over time, you can invest in a better camera and props to enhance your photos.

Create a posting schedule: Consistency is key in blogging. Whether it’s once a week or twice a month, stick to a regular schedule so your readers know when to expect new content.

Step 4: Promote Your Blog

After creating quality content, promoting your blog is essential to growing your readership. Here are some effective strategies:

Social media: Share your posts on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. Food and drink are particularly popular on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest because of their visual nature. Use relevant hashtags and engage with the community to increase your reach.

Collaborate with others: Reach out to other bloggers for guest posts or collaborations. Working with other creators in your niche can introduce you to new audiences.

SEO: Search engine optimisation helps people find your blog through Google and other search engines. Use keywords naturally in your posts, add meta descriptions, and use alt text on your images to improve your chances of ranking.

Networking: Attend food events, restaurant openings, or trade shows. Meeting people in the industry can lead to exciting opportunities, like invitations to review new products or restaurants.

Step 5: Monetise Your Blog (Optional)

Once your blog gains some traction, you might want to think about monetising your content. There are several ways to turn your passion into income:

Affiliate marketing: Partner with food and drink brands to earn a commission on products you recommend.

Sponsored posts: Work with brands that align with your blog's values to create sponsored content.

Ad revenue: Platforms like Google AdSense allow you to display ads on your blog and earn income based on clicks or impressions.

Sell products or services: Offer eBooks, recipe books, or even coaching sessions for aspiring bloggers or chefs.

Step 6: Stay Inspired and Keep Learning

Blogging, especially about food and drink, is constantly evolving. Stay on top of trends, try new recipes or restaurants, and never stop learning. Whether it’s improving your photography skills or diving into video content (like vlogging or tutorials), evolving your skills will keep your blog fresh and engaging.

At That’s Food and Drink, we’re always experimenting and expanding our content, and that keeps both us and our readers excited!

One of our latest experimental ideas has been to link our YouTube channel to our That's Food and Drink blog and our sister blog, That's Christmas. 

Final Thoughts

Starting a food and drink blog is a rewarding experience. It allows you to share your passion, connect with others, and maybe even turn a hobby into a career. Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight, but with dedication, creativity, and consistent effort, your blog can flourish.

So, grab your camera, whip up a new recipe, or review that charming restaurant down the street – your food blogging adventure awaits! Happy blogging!

Feel free to adapt this structure to reflect your personal style or area of interest, and best of luck on your blogging journey!

How you can help That's Food and Drink go to the next level

Hi, readers of That's Food and Drink! We hope you are all doing well?

You'll notice that we (my co-blogger, aka my wife!) have made some improvements to That's Food and Drink. And we have plans to take our blog to the next level.

We have started including more recipes that you can try for yourself at home, some of them are traditional meals that you will be familiar with, others are new recipes, others are new twists on old traditional recipes.

We absolutely love sharing our passion for good food and drink with you, our readers, but running the blog is not without cost. We have Adsense adverts but we would like to invite you to help us by making whatever donations you can afford. You'll find the Donate button on the top right hand side of the blog.

Also if you have a food or drink-related business that you would like to see featured on That's Food and Drink (Or our sister site That's Christmas) please send us an email to afj_uk@yahoo.com. 

Leveraging Food and Drink Influencers: A Cost-Effective Strategy for Artisan Producers

In the ever-evolving landscape of food and drink marketing, artisan producers often find themselves challenged by limited resources when it comes to promoting their brands. 

Traditional advertising avenues can be costly, leaving many small-scale producers searching for innovative and cost-effective strategies to get their products noticed. In this regard, the rise of food and drink influencers presents a golden opportunity.

Across the digital realm, influencers wield significant power in shaping consumer preferences and driving purchasing decisions. Their authenticity, relatability, and engaged audiences make them powerful allies for artisan producers looking to amplify their brand presence. But how can these producers effectively collaborate with influencers without breaking the bank? Let’s delve into some actionable strategies.

Firstly, it’s essential to identify the right influencers whose values align with those of your brand. Seek out influencers who share your passion for quality, sustainability, and artisanal craftsmanship. Look for individuals whose content resonates with your target demographic, ensuring that their audience matches your ideal customer profile.

Once you’ve identified potential influencers, don’t hesitate to reach out and initiate a collaboration. Many influencers are open to partnerships, especially with smaller brands that offer unique and interesting products. Offer them samples of your offerings, accompanied by a personalised message explaining why your brand would be a good fit for their audience.

When it comes to the collaboration itself, think beyond traditional sponsored posts. Instead, encourage influencers to create authentic and engaging content that showcases your products in a natural setting. Whether it’s a recipe featuring your artisanal cheese or a cocktail crafted with your small-batch gin, let influencers’ creativity shine through.

Additionally, leverage the power of user-generated content by encouraging influencers to host giveaways or contests featuring your products. This not only generates buzz around your brand but also incentivises their followers to engage with your products directly.

Furthermore, consider forming long-term partnerships with select influencers rather than one-off collaborations. Building ongoing relationships fosters trust and authenticity, allowing influencers to become genuine advocates for your brand over time.

Importantly, remember that collaboration doesn’t always require a financial investment. Many influencers are willing to exchange their services for products or experiences, making it a mutually beneficial arrangement for both parties.

In conclusion, the partnership between artisan food and drink producers and influencers presents a wealth of opportunities for brand promotion at minimal cost. By identifying the right influencers, fostering authentic collaborations, and thinking creatively, artisan producers can effectively leverage the influence of digital personalities to elevate their brand presence and reach new audiences. In today’s competitive market, embracing this cost-effective strategy can be the key to success for small-scale producers looking to make a big impact.

If you would like to feature, for free, in That's Food and Drink please send an email to afj_uk@yahoo.com. 

Our first livestream on YouTube!

Hi, yes, this is our first livestream video for That's Food and Drink on our YouTube channel.

We'll be looking at doing video presentations of cookery demonstrations, product reviews and that sort of thing.

It's obviously very early days at the moment. We'll have to address factors such as audio quality, video quality and lighting, but this is the first time I have used our new Trust Tyro webcam which comes complete with it's own decent little tripod. Maybe do a review on that? That's certainly something I could think about. 

Please do take a look at the video.

As for the thumbnail? Just a random image of random people enjoying some random beers!

That's Food and Drink Video channel launches

The first video is up, as you can see. However, the sound quality will be addressed, as will the possibility of broadcasting livestream programming in the very near future. 

This is all new to me and very exciting, obviously!

 

Videos on That's Food and Drink

That's Food and Drink is looking at the possibility of introducing video content to our food and drink blog over the next several weeks/months.

Some of the videos will be produced here at That's Food and Drink, but we will not be averse to sharing videos produced by other people. 

In fact you will probably have noticed that we have used a few YouTuber videos which featured items that we happened to be especially interested in. 

We have included videos from Tasting History and also a QVC interview with B. Dylan Hollis author of the book "Baking Yesteryear" amongst other video content. 

Which reminds me, I will have to order my copy of "Baking Yesteryear" very soon, before they are all sold out! 

So, please watch out for more videos on That's Food and Drink, both home produced and otherwise!

If there are any types of videos that you would like to see on That's Food and Drink, please let us know.

Got food or drink related items you want promoted for no charge? We can help

For about 15 years That's Food and Drink have been reporting on and writing about the food and drink industry.

We love to help promote food and drink businesses from producers to retailers from eateries to importers. And we do not charge for this service. Although if you can provide us with samples of food or drink, we'll be please to accept these.

Please email us at afj_uk@yahoo.com. 

Will you detox or comfort eat this winter?

Shedding the pounds with the traditional January detox might prove harder than normal this year for some as new evidence reveals Britons have been comfort eating in record numbers in the face of a worsening economic climate.

Results from the UK's largest food website, www.bbcgoodfood.com the website from the  Good Food Magazine, reveal that cake has overtaken chicken as the most searched-for food term on the website in 2011. In addition, pizza has rocketed up the list of popular searches, from 10th in 2010 to 4th. That other Italian comfort food staple, pasta, has also entered the top ten list of most-searched recipes for the first time.

Other search trends reveal:

Consumers are seeking out more adventurous ingredients and combinations with Chicken and chorizo jambalaya the highest rated recipe of 2011.
Mackerel shot up 10 places from 21 to 10 as users search for different fish to try. Salmon and sea bass also made it into the top 10 searched-for list.
Couscous and courgette (the latter a favourite in 2010) have dropped out of the top ten.
Canapés have also fallen out of the top ten, suggesting we're entertaining less often or prefer more relaxed party food.

February's Good Food Magazine £3.60 is a healthy cooking special, on sale 6th January. It includes quick, feel-good family meals, easy ways to reach your 5-a-day target, energy-boosting snacks and a recipe for dairy-free pizza.

According to Gillian Carter, the editor of the bGood Food Magazine: 'It's not surprising that in tough times we reach for comforting food. One of the ways we keep calm and carry on is with cake and a cuppa - or our imported national favourites - pasta and pizza. However, with a New Year comes a fresh start, so many of us will want to shed a few pounds and this month's healthy issue is packed with inspiring, achievable recipes to help you do this.'


(EDITOR: Is this true of the readers of That's Food and Drink? What do YOU think?)

That's Food and Drink to be "more proactive" in 2012

The food and drink website, That's Food and Drink will be "more proactive during 2012."

This means That's Food and Drink will be providing its readers with more news and features about special foodie events that will be occurring throughout the year.

That's Food and Drink will be helping readers celebrate and enjoy sausage weeks, barbecue months, wine and beer festivals, events, tea and coffee weeks, harvest festivals, etc., etc., etc.

If YOU have a special event that you would like to see featured, then please send us an email to afj_uk@yahoo.com using the subject line: "Special Event"  and we will do the rest.