How To Write the Best Damn Food Blog on the Internet
Let’s get something straight from the get-go.
I’m not a foodie. I’m not even a cook. My specialty is scrambled eggs. Plain ones, with no distinct features, other than “extra love,” which is my special ingredient. At least, that’s what I like to tell my kids. And they buy it, for now.
I have NO IDEA, for example, how to make this:
Occasionally, under extreme pressure from outside forces, I might be compelled to make Thai Beef or Tuscany Glazed Turduken in Hollandaise. But I’m not good at it.
Let’s get something else straight from the get-go.
I’m not a graphic artist. On more than one occasion (here and here, at least,) this blog’s banner has been called into question, with good reason. My personal taste is, let’s just say it, tacky. But I’m working on it.
Beyond all of that, I have little or no feel for the food blog marketplace. Angie tells me a few things here and there; I know that Orangette rocks, and that you can find yummy-looking food pictures at TasteSpotting. So, obviously, photography is an important part of food blogging. And I stink at that, too. Oh, and I do know that a good number of food blogs do little more than restate Alton Brown’s latest theory. Aside from that, I haven’t a clue.
To recap, I can’t cook, don’t know the food blog marketplace, and I rely on others for help in my own blog design. So, why am I writing about food blogs?
What could I possibly have to say that would be of any use to a food blogger?
Here’s the thing: I never said I could make your cooking blog famous or pretty, help you pick out recipes or take great pictures. What I said was that I can teach you how to write the best damn food blog on the Internet. And I can. And I’m going to.
I’ve said it here before, many times: I’m a good writer. I’m far from the best writer on the Internet. I like to think of myself at the high end of average. Regardless, I’m a good enough writer to have provided for my family for five years writing full-time on the Internet. I know what works and what doesn’t. I know what good writing is and what it isn’t.
There are plenty of folks out there, from Dosh Dosh to ProBlogger to Remarkablogger to Entrepreneur’s Journey to a thousand others that can tell you how to market your blog, how to drive traffic to your blog, and how to monetize your blog. Those folks are good at what they do, and you should definitely take the time learn from them. Learn as much as you can from them, because I can’t teach it to you. I don’t have anything original to add when it comes to blog marketing. Sorry.
But I do have plenty of original things to say about writing on the Internet. To repeat: I know what kind of writing works on the Internet. I know what kind of writing can make your readers think, “I’ve GOT to remember to come back here! Where in the world is her damned RSS button??!?”
So, starting on Monday and going for the next week or so, I’ll be using food blogging as an example of how you can improve your Internet writing, putting it (and, assuming you can market it, your blog) ahead of your competition. If you’re not a food blogger either, feel free, as you read the series, to replace “food” with whatever your niche is. Maybe you want to write the best damn model railroad blog on the Internet. Well, this series is for you, too. It’s even for the folks whose niche is blog marketing, social networking, real estate, or James T. Fracking Kirk.
Most of my regular readers, you writing bloggers, might even find something useful in the process, too. I certainly invite and expect you to contribute your thoughts to the process as we go along.
Here are the other posts in this series, as they become available:
- The Number One Reason People Read Food Blogs
- Three Types of Food Blog Posts You Must Master
- The Essential Element of Food Blogging
- The Last Word on Food Blogging - And A $25 Contest
Follow along with me, won’t you?
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14 Responses to “How To Write the Best Damn Food Blog on the Internet”
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This is a great idea! Especially since for me the tendency is to dabble in various niches, I think it’ll be fun to explore the types of elements that make for an enticing read in any niche.
One thing that consistently surprises me is how much easier it is to write about a specific, focused topic than it is to try and keep writing about just anything. Of course, then you end up feeling like you need to maintain steady publishing schedules in each niche, but… what the hey, life is nothing if you’re not obsessed
David Godot’s last blog post..8 Things You Didn’t Know About Hypnosis (That Could Change Your Life Forever)
[…] How To Write the Best Damn Food Blog on the Internet […]
Picking food was an inspired choice. As Yvonne Russell recently pointed out food writers have a particular knack for creating a sensory experience with words. Reading food writers can add value to any type of writing as we learn to be vivid, descriptive storytellers. I look forward to the series!
Karen Swim’s last blog post..Fame is Fickle
Alright, you got my attention. I always want to improve my writing. I’m excited.
I’ll be back!
Chris’s last blog post..A Father’s Advice To His Son on the Arts of Dating
ok, I’ll be waiting for the next installment. Don’t make me too hungry. I don’t want to gain wheight learning how to write now.
Wendi Kelly’s last blog post..Before the Play is Done
Good idea, Bob! I too am looking forward to the food blog series, and picking up some tips from a different perspective.
I’m looking forward to reading this series, too, but I have to warn you, I have no business blogging about food.
You know those people who say they can’t even boil water? I set a smoke alarm off once trying to do just that. I got busy writing an article, and the water evaporated, and the pan melted and…well, you get the idea.
I’m just saying that if you can teach *me* to write about food, you’ve really accomplished something!
Neat! I’ve just opted into doing a food diary (eeek) with recipes, calorie counts and lots of photos. I’ll be following your series and seeing how it applies.
Sylvia’s last blog post..An Afternoon in the Park
What a great blog! Great post, too. I’m stumbling it to get the word out.
Mrs. Mecomber’s last blog post..Photo Hunters: Twisted
Now this looks like a promising series! I’ll be back for more!!
This could prove double beneficial for me, because I AM a foodie! LOL
Shannan P’s last blog post..Freelance Frustration
Looking forward to this week.
Tam’s last blog post..The Saturday Sink - 003
@ All -
The flu is preventing me from keeping up with your comments, but I do want to stop in and say “thank you” to everyone who’s commented.
I’m thoroughly excited about this series. I think you’re all going to really enjoy the ride!
[…] How To Write the Best Damn Food Blog on the Internet […]
[…] How To Write the Best Damn Food Blog on the Internet […]