Food Blogging: Expert tips to start right and get noticed

All of us love food, though not everyone is a foodie! But, what if you're given a chance to convert your love for food into a dream career? All you have to do is just upload your thoughts on cooking and eating with the millions and zillions of food lovers across the world.

In the past couple of years, food blogging, from a niche hobby, has evolved into a bona fide industry in its truest sense and this drastic evolution has been one of the major cultural happenings around and across the globe.

For readers, food blogs are a source of fun where they like spending time and reading some lip-smacking reviews before ordering hors d’oeuvres at exotic restaurants. However, for its creators, it’s a religion.

"Every day a new food lover launches a blog and joins the growing throng of passionate and dedicated food enthusiasts. Food Blogging has become a phenomenon across the globe and the response is overwhelming" says Maneesh Srivastava, a Delhi based food blogger whose passion lies in exploring various food joints, reading and writing reviews and experimenting with food. Food Photography is another passion he adores.  

Sharing his experience of this upcoming domain - which slowly is turning into a career path for many - Maneesh shares some insights, inputs and tips on how to start right and get noticed.

Scope of food blogging

It is amazing to see the ever expanding world of food blogging. Food industry in India is more than 40,ooo Cr in India and it's increasing every year. Food Blogging has become a phenomenon across the globe and the response is overwhelming.

Pros and cons

Pros – It is a glamorous world with loads of good food, the delectable world of new and unique dishes. You get to taste everything. If you are passionate about food and have a gluttonous palette, you are surely going to love it. Another interesting journey is meeting chefs and understanding their thought process.

Cons – This is time consuming and needs efforts. You also need to know more about each cuisine before you understand the taste.

How to get started? How do you manage or what are the ways to get more

followers and gain popularity?

In the online space, there is space for every passionate blogger. One can start with penning their thoughts around their recipes, other’s recipes, food that they ate. It can start with anything. It is more like storytelling. Be honest, be versatile, be regular – Followers and popularity comes along.

What are the trends in food blogging in India?

This is ever evolving. If it is about videos - your presentation, perfect lights and uploading it on YouTube and your blog is fast gaining popularity. Props and background for food photography is the latest trend. Unless your presentation is unique, the story that you share will not blend well.

Can you earn? How much?

There are food bloggers who have turned their food blog into a career. A good food blog initially generates passive income. Through advertising, You Tube, food photography – All these can generate good income, provided one is able to attract followers and create traffic for the blog.       

What is the success mantra here? And how to be different from others?

There is room and space for everyone . Each of us have a unique style. Bringing that style into writing, makes one different from others. This includes working hard and keeping content of your blog very engaging, personal, free  flowing and of course something that everyone can relate to as well as comprehend well.

Suggestions

Do not start a food blog for money, do it because you genuinely love it. Creating an income from a blog isn’t something that happens easily or quickly. It takes a lot of time, hard work, and focus. I’ve been able to devote time and have learnt from my mistakes, and work towards improving it every time. The eagerness to learn more, know more about food, cuisines, keeps my blog alive. The passion continues if you love food.

Learn basics of photography and ensure that the pictures you post are interesting and delectable. Your story will definitely fall into place.

Talking more about his journey into this world of blogging, Maneesh shares, “ My experience so far has been very educative, informative and exciting. I have been fortunate enough to meet great chefs, be part of some very interesting events and every day has been a new day for me where I have learnt a lot, whether it's about cuisines, new technology or about new experiments.  It has been an exciting and satisfying journey so far”.