7 Tips for Starting a Food Blog
1. Stop waiting for conditions to be perfect. You don't need a fancy camera, a branded logo, the perfect name to begin. Just start producing content. Everything can be improved upon or changed later. Don't believe me? Look back at my earliest recipes photographed on my iPhone 4.
2. Photograph in natural light. The kitchen in my old apartment was TINY and DARK. So I just didn't shoot in there. Find a window with good light and a clean surface to put your dishes on. For the longest time I photographed recipes on top of my dresser in my bedroom. Do what works.
3. Editing is your friend. You don't have to know how to use Photoshop to start a website (although, if you do, you're already a step ahead of the game). The editing options in iPhoto or on cell phone apps are great for doing the basics. A little brightening and contrast makes a world of difference.
4. Fake marble countertops. Don't have a beautiful kitchen to shoot in? Buy a single large flooring tile from the home improvement store and use it as your background for photos. And unlike real marble counters, you can move this one over to the window with the best light. Win, win!
5. Use a website hosting platform that makes you look good. I started out with a very amateur looking blog. Then I decided to do a free trial with Squarespace. I was blown away by how much easier it was to use. The website templates are so sleek that suddenly my site went from looking like a school project to a professional brand designed by a graphic designer. My favorite templates for food blogs are Farro, Feed, and Skye. Do yourself a favor and take advantage of the free trial. If you love it (trust me, you will) use code "thenakedfig" for 10% off.
6. Take advantage of whichever social media platforms speak to you - and don't feel pressured to use the ones that don't. I LOVE Instagram. The image heavy medium really appeals to me, and I connect with other users in a genuine way. At the beginning, I felt like I was supposed to use Twitter, but it just never clicked with me, so I don't waste my time with it. Put your energy into the aspects of blogging that you enjoy and don't worry about doing everything you're "supposed" to do. Part of the beauty of blogging is that you are your own boss. So make your work fun!
7. Just keep doing it. People always ask me what my goal is for The Naked Fig and they are usually surprised by my answer. I don't have any end goal. I just keep adding to it and I love watching how it evolves. At times I've gotten discouraged and wondered if my work has any real value, but I just focus on creating content. Don't overthink how any one post performs. Blogging is about creating a body of work. Once you put your work out there, different opportunities will appear.
*This post was sponsored by Squarespace
