If you want to start a recipe blog and earn enough money to turn it into a full-time job, here are the resources we recommend.
Please bear in mind that several of the services we suggest may not be the most suitable choice if you’re considering starting a recipe blog as a hobby. While many are paid, they are essential investments and expenses for those who are serious about this work.
Some of the links to these tools are affiliate links. However, we would never recommend something that we have not used and believe is useful and beneficial to you. By using these links, you help us continue creating free resources to help you. Thank you!
Niche and Name
When starting out, the first thing to do is select a niche. Take your time deciding on this. You have many options to choose from, such as sweet or savory, dietary-specific (vegan, sugar-free, etc.), cooking method (air fryer, slow cooker), time constraints (<30 minutes), and more.
Tip
This work has become highly competitive, so it is no longer easy to stand out with a general recipe blog. The more you can specialize in a specific niche, the better. But let it be something you're passionate about.
After picking your niche, you'll need to create a name for your blog if you haven't already. Choose a name that is easy to remember and suits your target audience. It's a personal choice, but pick something that resonates with you and your readers.
Don't Forget
After choosing a name for your blog, make sure to register it on all social networks.
Essential Tools
These are the tools and services that we use on our blog and that we consider essential when starting out.
Free
Content Management System
WordPress.org. Do not confuse it with WordPress.com, which is different, and we do not recommend it.
SEO Plugin
We use and recommend Yoast SEO. We use the free version, but they have a paid premium version with more features that we hope to try soon.
Anti Spam Plugin
We have been using Akismet in its free version since day one, and it works great! It filters out spam comments, and we highly recommend it.
Image Compressor
One of the best and the one we use is Shortpixel. It compresses photos you upload to WordPress. You can use the free version and then buy credits as needed.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is essential to analyze traffic to your blog and more.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console is another must-have for viewing and fixing errors on your blog, tracking Google traffic, and more.
Email Marketing
It is very important to connect with your audience in a controlled environment. We started using MailChimp and now use ConvertKit (better, in our opinion), both free for up to 1000 subscribers.
Paid
Domain Registrar
Once you've selected a blog name, you need to purchase the domain (around $20/year). We use GoDaddy, but there are other good options as well.
Hosting
A good web hosting is crucial for website speed, reliability, and security. We use and recommend BigScoots managed WordPress hosting (starting at $31.46/month).
WordPress Theme
Another crucial aspect as it impacts speed, SEO, accessibility, and more. We use and highly recommend the Feast Plugin (starting at $97/year).
Recipe Card Plugin
Essential for getting your recipes discovered on Google. We use and strongly recommend WP Recipe Maker. We started with the free version but quickly upgraded to the Pro version to include nutritional information, measurement conversions, and more.
Caching Plugin
We use and recommend WP Rocket. It will help you speed up and optimize your website.
Extra Tools
These extra resources, in addition to the essential tools, can greatly help you as a food blogger.
Free
Broken Link Checker
Broken Link Checker is a plugin that tells you if you have broken links on your blog and helps you fix them quickly.
Internal Links Manager
Link Whisper is a plugin that helps you manage internal links. We use the free version.
Posts Updates
Revision Manager TMC is a plugin that allows you to clone an already published post to update it.
Design
Canva is a great tool for adding text to your photos and creating designs. We use it for the blog and Pinterest.
Project Manager
Asana is a tool that helps you manage projects and organize work.
Paid
Photography Editor
The Adobe Photography Plan 20GB is what we use to edit photos ($9.99/month).
Keyword Research
KeySearch is a powerful tool for analyzing keywords. We use the Starter plan. Get 20% off with the code KSDISC.
Cloud Backups
Backblaze is a service for creating cloud backups of your computer and external drives attached to it.
Typing Assistant
Grammarly is a tool that checks spelling, grammar, punctuation, and more. We initially used the free version but switched to the Premium version for the additional features.
I hope this guide has been helpful to you. As a final piece of advice, I recommend doing a thorough research and informing yourself before making any purchase or choosing a product. This will help you select the best option for your specific needs.
Have any questions?
You can email me at marco[at]elmundoeats[dot]com and I will be happy to respond.