(This is the second post in the How to Write the Best Damn Food Blog series. If you’ve not read that introductory post, please do so before reading the following.)
photo credit: offshorewifeslife
What is it about food blogs that makes people want to visit?
Is it the recipes? I suppose it could be. Although, I think if I were interested in looking up a recipe I’d probably head to Recipezaar or another database-style website. After all, the recipes there are peer-reviewed, so I’ve got a good idea of what to expect. I might instead grab my second-favorite cookbook
Is it the pictures? Lord knows I like looking at food nearly as much as I like eating it. But there are plenty of places to go to look at food. TasteSpotting is just one that comes to mind. Heck, Flickr is full of food pics. But here again: great food photography is, in most cases, a monologue. And why would I sift through all of those blogs when I can look at all the pics right on TasteSpotting? Yes, good food blogs have good food pictures, but again, that isn’t what makes people want to visit, or want to come back.
So, what is it? What will keep readers at a food blog?
It’s the writing.
Take, for example, Elise over at Simply Recipes. Simply Recipes is one of the higher-rated food blogs on Technorati. Her Blue Cheese Burgers Recipe. Go on, go look at it. I’ll be here when you get back.
Did you notice how simply but powerfully the post was written? This post uses some wonderful writing techniques: she tells a story about where the recipe came from, she talks about serving them to her parents, and she even offers a little extra tip about how you should use hamburger that isn’t so lean. Not only that, Elise also takes the time to respond to many of her comments, again using personal anecdotes and offering helpful advice about where to find the buns she used in the recipe.
Elise writes in such a way that, even though you’ve never met her, you feel like these burgers are going to be the tastiest you’ve ever had. She gives you reasons to trust her judgment, and she does so in a way that makes you feel like she’s sitting at your kitchen table.
Want another example? Check out the Pioneer Woman Cooks. Yes, her pictures are awesome. But again, there are plenty of food pics out there. Her recipes are good, too. But that’s not the appeal of the blog. It’s the way she talks about Marlboro Man (her husband) and “My Pesky-Brother-in-Law, Tim” that makes it so interesting. It’s the Marlboro Man and Tim that will keep you coming back to read the blog, even if you don’t like Goat Cheese with Fresh Dill and Paprika (bleech).
So, how do you get there? How do you get to where Elise and Pioneer Woman are at?
You write well. You identify and develop your own writing voice, making sure that it’s consistent with your vision for your food blog. You learn the rules of the language. You avoid the big mistakes. You start with all of the basic elements of good writing. You commit yourself to quality in your writing. You start to self-identify as a writer first, and a food writer second. You become as meticulous about your writing quality as you do about the quality of your food pics because, in the end, it is the writing that is going to create loyalty among your readers. Good writing matters.
Is there more to it? Absolutely. In fact, there’s quite a bit more. Good writing is only the beginning. As this series of posts continues, we’ll look at some of the other elements involved. But, if you’re going to write the best damn food blog on the Internet, you have to start right here, with good writing.
9 comments ↓
Thank you for the great info, examples of successful food blogs, and for just plain making my mind perk back up on the subject of food blogs.
Don’s last blog post..Welcome to “Authentic Thai Food Recipes”
Thank you for reminding me to focus on the writing.
Judy’s last blog post..Consider the Rutabaga
@ Don & Judy – Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad to have some food bloggers reading. Maybe you folks can help me out in the areas I’m not as familiar with through this process.
Anyone else who comments here can tell you I’m open to both criticism and suggestions!
Hi Bob,
You might be covering this in the next posts in this series.
I think there are two major components to informative blogs (rather than newsy) blogs, the first is writing but the second is a sense of relationship with the blogger. This has to do with the style of writing, as you point out, and the comments too I think.
Looking forward to the rest of the series.
You are right, I go back to certain blogs because of the voice and tone of the writer and not so much the topic. This is what I constantly try to work on my blog, maintaing a consistent voice and tone.
Chris’s last blog post..How Does A Father Say I Love You?
@ Evan – The blog is absolutely a back-and-forth transaction. You can’t separate the sense of relationship from the writing. In fact, you are right: your comment foreshadows the next (post in this series. Writing style and voice, sometimes even more than comments, creates that transaction. In some niches, like food blogging, comments tend to be less important than in other niches (like writing). Good, bad or indifferent, I’m not sure, but when that’s the case, you’ve got to make the connection with the reader in your writing rather than hoping to do it in the comments.
@ Chris – you’re doing fine in that regard, by the way. Keep honing it. It takes time, to be sure.
Useful stuff. Thanks very much. Bookmarked!
I agree… If you aren’t a good writer, you’ll only be able to go so far with your other talents – Good recipes, good photos, etc. Good writing is pretty much a necessity for a successful blog.
Runlikeh3lls last blog post..Worlds Fastest Sprint
Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Please keep it up!
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