Start A Blog
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Secrets Revealed: Are you interested in learning how to start a Food Blog? We started Natasha’s Kitchen in 2009 and I’m so glad we did! It has grown into a very fulfilling and seriously FUN full time career for my husband and I. We’ve gotten so much helpful advice from top food bloggers over the years and we are so happy to be able to do the same for you. We’ve found that the most successful people are also the most willing to help others. We created this page to share advice based on what we’ve done that worked and also mistakes we’ve made (and some were so time-consuming and stressful that we want to spare you the same troubles we had).
Your blog can be LIVE in less than 30 minutes; no technical skills required! Let’s dive right in to: How to Start a Food Blog 🙂
Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we earn a commission if you purchase something after clicking the link. As always, we only recommend products and services that we trust.
How To Start a Food Blog:
First of all, I wanted to share a really great resource with you that I think would be super helpful for many of you.
If you have a blog or are considering one (even if it’s not a food blog), you need to look into Food Blogger Pro. It’s a membership website for food bloggers that shows you how to set up and grow your food blog step-by-step. It has 250+ video tutorials to teach you everything from:
- Starting a blog (step-by-step video instructions!)
- Building traffic and growing your blog
- Improving your food photography, and editing photos
- Social media setup and growth
- Utilizing all the “essential tools” for your blog (Google analytics, managing giveaways)
- How to generate an income through your blog
- Writing and creating an e-book
Food Blogger Pro is a membership-based website so you have the option of a monthly membership or yearly membership. It will take your blog to the next level and that’s why I’m so excited to share it with you!
(Step 1) Naming YOUR Blog
If you are serious about your blog, take some time to brainstorm a domain name. Pick something that is catchy, relevant and easy to remember. Run your ideas by your closest friends or fam and get feedback. I think my sister Alla gave me the idea for NatashasKitchen.com! Head on over to GoDaddy and plug in your ideas. This part is fun and you can stake your claim on your unique domain name asap!
Once you’ve purchased your name, also purchase domain privacy (so your home address isn’t floating on the internet) and also open accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and anywhere else that you can secure your business name (i.e @natashaskitchen).
(Step 2): Webhost
1. The two biggest factors to consider when choosing a hosting company are reputation, customer service and performance. We recommend Rocket.net and signing up is easy, fast, and secure. Their hosting is delivered and optimized by Cloudflare Enterprise, making our website load quickly for all of our readers around the world. I am an affiliate with Rocket so let them know I sent you and you will get a 20% discount on your hosting plan.
(Step 3): Installing WordPress
After you’ve signed up with Rocket.net you will need to install WordPress (a blogging software). We have used WordPress from the birth of our blog and love it because of it’s simplicity; it’s very user-friendly and installation is a breeze. The team at Rocket.net can walk you through the process.
You’re there. You’re officially a blogger. Congrats!!
Choosing a Theme or Design for your Blog
Thesis Theme for WordPress
– We started out with Thesis and used it for about 2 years. Genesis is a very popular theme as well.
Free Themes for WordPress
– WordPress has tons of free themes available if you’re not ready to purchase a “premium” theme right. Please do some research and check the theme’s rating before downloading and install it onto your blog. Avoid themes with three stars or less.
If you’re serious about your blog and want it to the next level, invest in a custom web design. Cre8d redesigned our blog in 2015 and it was blog changing! We continue to work with them and I always recommend them; worth every penny. If you get a quote from them, let them know I sent you by using my referral code: NK.
Creating an Income With Your Blog
When you’re first starting out, if you decide to place ads on your site, they will help to cover costs. As your blog grows with time, dedication and hard work, it is possible to create a full time income from blogging. The primary ad network we work with is Adthrive.
Click Here for More: Blogging Resources
I hope you found this tutorial on how to start a food blog helpful and do let me know once you’ve published your first blog post. Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging. 🙂
Hi! I’m Natasha Kravchuk, a New York Times bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, food photographer, and writer. Here you’ll find delicious, reliable recipes made with simple ingredients, plus easy step-by-step photos and videos to help you cook confidently at home. 
Hi Natasha, I just started my food blog. I feel kinda lost with all that technical stuff. You are such an inspiration! Your blog was the first blog that I’ve ever visited. It gave me an idea on how to collect my family’s recipes, so my daughters ( I have 3 ) can refer to them one day. I’ve been taking pictures of the food that I cook before digital photography took place. Now I have to try to becoming better friends with my new camera. Thank you for this great post. Its been helpful.
I’m so glad it is helpful to you! 🙂 I wish someone would have shared the same things with me 😉
Thanks! I know I have a long way to go but I’ll get there 🙂 I got PowerShot G12.
How fun! Blogging is so fun and it’s been such a blessing to me. Meeting all kinds of great people and it’s been a real blessing to my family 🙂
Hi! Thank you for this post! I went to my brother, you know him 🙂 Vovchik Radion, for advise on camera but everything else I had to figure out on my own. This helps out tremendously 🙂 I beat my hubby to my Christmas present and just purchased the Lightroom Photoshop 🙂
Your site is awesome! Another great resource is pinchofyum (they share a ton of good blogger resources). What camera did you end up getting?
You’re such a sweetheart Natasha! 🙂
So kind of you to share your recipes & the steps to successful blogging 🙂
You are an awesome example of a Christian 🙂 May God’s name be glorified through you always! 🙂
Thank you so much Anna! God bless you for your sweet words 🙂 Are you starting a blog?
I am so impressed and surprised that you shared all of your blog “secrets”! Most people would keep them and never share anything! In the past I had a hard time to get this or that recipe from our church cook because it was her “specialty” or a travel agent’s contact number or e-mail with nice vacations deals or cheaper ticket deals!!! God bless you! 🙂
I think most people are willing to share but there are a stubborn few that take their secrets to the grave with them rather than blessing others with a great recipe. Oh well. 😉 All of my best recipes are here and I’m constantly coming up with new ones. I can’t help but share them with you all! It’s a really good feeling! I hope you find some new “specialty” recipes of your own here. 😉
Hi Natasha! Great info! Thank you! The only question I have is what is that little sticker on all your pictures? The one with your website name? Is it more of a copyright thing? And how did you make one? Is it photoshop’d in all your pictures from the original? Thanks!
Claudia
The little sticker is a watermark for a copyright. My husband designed that in a Photoshop. We use Lightroom for all of our blog pictures, it has a option to add watermark to all the pictures that are being exported. You can find tutorials online for creating watermark. Hope this helps :).
Hi Natasha!
Your blog is so good and the info you provided here is also very helpful as I’m in process of creating my own blog. Thank you for the inspiration!
Best,
Tatiana
You are welcome Tatiana, don’t be shy to ask any questions :).
Great Blog!!.
I am starting in the Foodie blogging world and your resource page was extremely helpful.. =) =)
Thanks much,
Fondly -Valentina
I’m so glad you found it useful. Welcome to the blogging world!
Hi Natasha,
I have been thinking of creating a nutrition blog for quite some time. How do you get paid, though? I heard that you have to post advertisement links on your blog and then you get paid when people actually click on the advertisement.
It depends on which network you are with. You are referring to a pay per click like google adsense. I’m currently working with primarilly blogher, lijit and cox digital solutions. They pay per thousand impressions, so per view of the page, not per click. It usually equates to about the same amount whichever route you go, or you can have both.
I see! What a shame! 🙁 I am currently saving all of my recipes on my computer. I would like to have them all nicely formatted and then printed out.
Natasha, I need some of your help. I have about 500 recipes that I have collected over time (including yours). When I find a recipe that I like on your website, I print it out. I really really like the printing format you offer on your blog. How could I print all of my recipes using that kind of printing format? Did you buy it somewhere? Can you give me any advice, suggestions, tips. Thanks.
Hmmm…. it’s a pluggin called easy recipes (I upgraded to easy recipes plus) and it’s only available for wordpress blogs (as far as I know). Where are you currently storing your recipes?
Hi Natasha,
Thank you for such helpful info. I’ve started my blog just a few months ago so anything I can learn from the “veterans” is great. I also started with free WordPress but wondering if and when I should switch over. I understand it’s impossible to join BlogHer network while being with WordPress. You mentioned Google Adsense. Is that a widget that is available with WordPress or no ads at all until certain amount of traffic? I do submit to foodgawker and tastespotting and it does bring traffic but I find they are somewhat transient. They don’t stick around. Is that your experience? Sorry for too many questions! 🙂 Julia
Julia, about food gawker they do give you more traffic as you post more and more because people search for recipes on food gawker and they come to your site. Have you checked out our resources page on our blog? We share a lot of advice on that page. Definitely sign up with blogher as soon as you can; it’s an awesome network and we’re very happy to be part of it. Switch over as soon as you feel like you can at least cover your costs running an independent blog. Write in and let me know if you have any questions I’d love to help.
Natasha, I am struggling to find a retailer to purchase the actual wafers for making layered waffle wafer cookies – I live in MB and am accustomed to ordering items online, but am having no luck – can you help me with a resource for this. Love your recipes.
TY
I always bought waffles premade so never really looked in to the waffle maker. The closest thing i see is here on Amazon.
Hi Natasha!!i love love ur website!!i love that u show step by step,it is really helpfull!!! I watched ur videos on cooking and I loved them!! If it is possible could u make more of them? I’m sure people would love it too and appreciate as much as I will!!you are an amazing cook and so creative!!! God bless u and ur cute little family!!!:)
Aww thanks Tanya. It’s so tough because I work full time right now… I’m hoping to do more and more 🙂
Hi Natasha,
Can I post an add on your blog? I thought I saw that button on your site earlier but now I can’t find it. I sent you an email a few days ago but I’m not sure if you got it…
Hi Inna, I sent you an email about this today. 🙂
i think its very humble of you to put this info out there. Its gonna help me with my flower site. (the hosting stuff) thanks so much for all the yummy recipes!!
You are welcome Zhanna :).
Hi Natasha!!! My friend recommended your site, and I realy like it. but I have question, do you have recipes in russian language, I wanna recommended your site in Ukraine.
Thank you!!!
I don’t, sorry :(. Have you tried to use google translate?
Dear Natasha:
Friend of mine show me your site when I was struggling to make my own blog. Thank you so much for many great advices.My children always wanted for me to start my cook book to collect techniques and recipes just for our family,but I was always too busy to start big project such as writing and publishing book. My friend,instead suggested to start a blog,so I did, but it was exhausting to deal with tumblr and then go to world press + avoid charges all the way ;))
THanks for the pointing to the right direction,hope to share some day on recipes and many more.
Your welcome 🙂 i’m happy to help!
I am about to try your recipe for the potatoe pancakes. My potatoes are a little soft, can I still use them.? I took the buds off.
thanks, my mother used to make them.
jerry
As long as they aren’t moldy, slightly soft potatoes are ok 🙂
Thank you Natasha for this information. I just started my blog and feel like I’m talking to myself.:) Your recipes look amazing!
Thank you 🙂 blogging is awesome and it’s worth it to talk to yourself for awhile! 🙂