How to Monetize a Food Blog and Serve Up a Profit

Starting a food blog is an adventure! You’ll learn how to pick a domain, set up WordPress, and create tasty content. But once you’ve nailed the basics, it’s time to dive into monetizing your blog.

This part is going to be a blast! Whether you’re just starting out or you’re already a food guru, these tips will help you turn your passion into a profitable venture.

Let’s break down some awesome ways to make money with your food blog!

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for food bloggers because it hits the sweet spot between time investment and earning potential.

Affiliate marketing is a form of advertising where a publisher (the site owner) links to a product in their content and earns a commission from the advertiser (the affiliate program) if readers click on that link and make a purchase.

Also, since you can add links to your existing content, it’s the perfect method for beginners. You’ve already written content, so you’ve already done the hard part.

How to Start Affiliate Marketing for Food Bloggers

If you’re diving into the food blogging niche, it’s crucial to know the types of affiliate products that resonate with your audience. Here’s a rundown of some great options:

• Cookbooks: High-quality cookbooks can teach your audience new recipes and cooking techniques.
• Kitchen Gadgets: Essential tools can make meal prep easier and more enjoyable.
• Meal Delivery Services: These offer convenience and can help busy folks eat healthier.
• Specialty Ingredients: Unique spices or sauces can help your readers elevate their home cooking.
• Cooking Courses: Educational courses can provide valuable skills and tips to budding chefs.

Now, why recommend these products? Here’s why they’re a good fit:

• Diverse options: They cater to various cooking levels and interests, appealing to a wider audience.
• High engagement: Food enthusiasts love exploring new recipes and techniques, making your content more valuable.
• Recurring needs: People often need new ideas or tools, leading to repeat purchases over time.
• Seasonal opportunities: You can adjust your product focus for holidays or events, keeping content fresh.
• Bonus commission: Many food-related affiliate programs offer competitive commissions for referrals.

Once you’ve identified which products will solve problems for your readers, you need to sign up for their affiliate programs.

You should start by joining the Amazon Associates affiliate program.

Most physical products in the food niche will be available on Amazon, and the conversion rate on Amazon is insane.

Yes, Amazon’s commission rates are rough, and they only offer a 24-hour cookie duration, but the conversion rate makes up for it. Plus, you’re nearly guaranteed to get accepted into their program.

For products that aren’t available on Amazon, just Google “[Product] affiliate program,” and you’ll find their program’s signup page.

To save you some time, here are a few of the best affiliate networks for food bloggers:

1. Instacart

   

   Commission Rate: $2 - $10 Per Lead

   Cookie Duration: 30 days

   Same-day grocery delivery and pickup service bringing you fresh groceries and everyday essentials. With the Instacart shopper program, customers shop online with their favorite local grocery store.

2. Drizly

   

   Commission Rate: 3% - 15% Per Sale

   Cookie Duration: 10 Days

   Drizly works with local stores so you can shop their shelves using your smartphone or computer to order beer, wine, and liquor at the touch of a button.

3. Grubhub

   

   Commission Rate: 5% Per New Customer Sale

   Cookie Duration: 30 Days

   Grubhub helps you find and order food from wherever you are. Find restaurants in your area that can deliver or offer pickup.

Once you’ve been approved for the product’s affiliate program, the program will give you your affiliate link, and you can start inserting it into your content.

How To Monetize A Food Blog With Affiliate Marketing

To add your link to your content, go to your post editor, highlight the relevant text, and insert the link.

Here are a few best practices for adding affiliate links to your WordPress blog:

• Add links where it’s helpful. Adding too many links to your blog posts is just like adding too many ads; it’s annoying. Add links to product titles, images, CTA buttons, and the first time you mention a product. That’s plenty.
• Disclose your links. Every blog post with affiliate links should have a disclaimer at the beginning, and every CTA or product image should also.
• Use direct sales language. When you are writing your call to action, be direct. It’s not rude to say, “Check the price” or “Buy this product today.” Being too passive makes you look unconfident.

Or, take it a step further by creating product displays.

You Can Double Your Affiliate Sales With Lasso Displays

You can create displays manually using the post editor to add links to images and buttons.

However, it can be time-consuming to create these displays and keep them updated if you’re doing it all by hand.

Luckily, monetizing your blog with affiliate links is simplified when you’re using a tool like Lasso.

Lasso makes it super easy to add links and product displays to your posts. You can add product displays to posts right from the post editor; no coding is required. It’s as simple as clicking your mouse three times.

You can also automatically import product info from retailers like Amazon. Just paste the link into the Lasso dashboard, and Lasso will populate the display with the product title, image, and price.

With all of this, remember to follow the guidelines in the affiliate program’s terms and conditions. Amazon, in particular, is pretty stringent.

But everything Lasso does is compliant with Amazon Associates’ TOS, so you never have to worry about being booted from the program.

That’s just scratching the surface of what Lasso can do to help you monetize your food blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your food site, sign up for Lasso today.

Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Food Bloggers

Affiliate marketing can be a great way for food bloggers to monetize their content. One major pro is the potential for passive income. Once you create content and include affiliate links, you can earn commissions over time as readers click and make purchases. This setup lets you benefit from your hard work long after the initial post goes live.

However, there are cons to consider. Not all affiliate programs are created equal. Some may have low commission rates, or the products might not resonate with your audience. If readers feel you're promoting items just for profit, it can hurt your credibility.

Tracking your affiliate success can be tricky, too. You’ll need to monitor clicks and conversions regularly. This can take time and may distract you from creating fresh, engaging food content. Balancing affiliate marketing with your primary passion for cooking and blogging is essential.

Lastly, transparency is crucial. You'll need to disclose your affiliate relationships clearly. This can add an extra layer of effort, but it’s necessary for maintaining trust with your audience. Authenticity really matters in the food blogging community.

2. Display Ads

The second best way to monetize your food blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.

How to Monetize a Food Blog With Display Ads

Monetizing a food blog with display ads couldn’t be easier.

First, choose an ad network to join. Networks have traffic requirements, so here are the best ad networks to join based on your site’s page views:

• 100,000+ Visitors per month - Raptive
• 50,000+ Sessions per month - Mediavine
• < 50,000+ Visitors per month - Ezoic

Once you’re accepted to an ad network, follow their instructions to integrate their ads into your site. They will have documentation for every type of content management service (WordPress, Joomla, Ghost, etc.).

If your chosen ad network has a dedicated accounts manager, they will guide you through getting their ads on your site.

And… that’s it. Let the ads run and wait for your deposits to hit your account.

Display Ad Pros And Cons For Food Bloggers

Display ads can be a double-edged sword for food bloggers. On one hand, they provide a steady stream of passive income. If your blog attracts a good amount of traffic, ad networks like Google AdSense can be quite lucrative. Plus, once they’re set up, they require minimal maintenance.

However, there's a downside. Display ads can clutter your blog layout, often detracting from your content. Readers visiting your site for delicious recipes might find themselves distracted by ads. This could lead to a higher bounce rate and lower engagement with your actual content.

Moreover, ad placement can be tricky. You want them to be visible but not intrusive. Finding that sweet spot takes time and experimentation. Additionally, some audiences might be put off by ads, affecting their overall experience on your blog.

In short, while display ads offer potential revenue, it's important to weigh the trade-offs. Striking a balance between monetization and user experience is crucial for maintaining a loyal readership in the food blogging niche.

3. Digital Products

Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the food niche.

A digital product is anything you can sell on your food blog that the customer will receive via download.

Digital Products to Sell on a Food Blog:

• E-cookbooks: Curate a collection of themed recipes or dietary restrictions. Make them easy to download and visually appealing.
• Meal planners: Offer customizable meal planning templates. Include grocery lists for added value.
• Online cooking classes: Host live or pre-recorded classes. Focus on specific cuisines or techniques to attract niche audiences.
• Recipe cards: Design printable recipe cards with your most popular recipes. These are perfect for subscribers looking for easy access.
• Nutrition guides: Create comprehensive nutrition or wellness guides that tie into your recipes. This adds depth and value.

A lot of people search for simple checklists and guides related to different topics. They’d happily pay you for them.

Pros and Cons of Selling Digital Products for Food Bloggers

Selling digital products can be a game-changer for food bloggers. The biggest pro is the potential for passive income. Once you create an ebook or an online course, you can sell it repeatedly without much extra effort. It’s like earning money in your sleep!

Another advantage is the low overhead cost. Unlike physical goods, digital products don’t require inventory or shipping costs. You can invest in some design tools and maybe a hosting service, and you’re good to go.

On the flip side, there are some cons to consider. The market is quite competitive. You’ll need to work on your marketing to stand out in a sea of similar offerings. Plus, creating high-quality content takes time and effort, which can be tricky if you’re balancing blogging with other commitments.

Lastly, digital products can have fluctuating demand. Trends change quickly, so a popular recipe or course today might not have the same appeal tomorrow. Keeping your products relevant requires ongoing work and updates.

How To Monetize a Food Blog By Selling Digital Products

The first thing to do is create your digital product.

Look at which content your audience interacts with the most, and brainstorm digital products to help serve their search intent.

That’s what I did when I created our Ultimate Blogging Guide:

Then, create the product using whatever tools are at your disposal. For example, use Microsoft Word to create an ebook PDF, or Google Sheets to create interactive spreadsheets and checklists.

Next, you have to figure out how to distribute your product. The easiest way to distribute PDFs is by uploading them to your WordPress media library. Then you can give customers the link, and they can download the PDF from there.

Lastly, you’ll have to set up payment processing and order fulfillment. A plugin like Woocommerce can automate most of this, but you’ll have to tie it to a processor like Stripe or PayPal.

Woocommerce can even connect to an email tool like ConvertKit, so as soon as your customer finishes their checkout, they’ll get an email with a link to their download.

Barring any issues, you won’t have to do anything but watch your bank account grow.

4. Email Newsletter

One effective way to monetize a food blog is by creating an email newsletter. This method allows you to build a loyal audience and engage with your readers on a more personal level. Let's explore how to monetize a food blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for food bloggers.

How to Monetize a Food Blog with an Email Newsletter

Email newsletters are a fantastic way for food bloggers to connect with their audience directly. They deliver curated content straight to inboxes, allowing you to share recipes, cooking tips, and your latest blog posts. This accessibility makes it easier for readers to engage with your content, and the potential for monetization is immense.

One effective way to monetize your food blog through an email newsletter is by integrating affiliate marketing. This means you can recommend products, like cooking gadgets or specialty ingredients, that you love and trust. By including affiliate links in your newsletters, you earn a commission for every sale made through these links. Make sure to keep your recommendations authentic, as your audience will appreciate transparency.

Another great strategy is to offer exclusive content through your newsletter. Consider providing subscribers with downloadable e-books or exclusive recipes. This invites food enthusiasts to sign up while also giving you the chance to charge a fee for access. People love having something special, so position this content as a value-added benefit for your readers.

Don’t forget about partnerships and collaborations. You can feature sponsored content from brands related to food and cooking. This could mean creating a special recipe featuring their product or offering a spotlight in your newsletter. Make sure it aligns with your brand to keep your audience engaged and trusting.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Food Bloggers

• Pros:
  • Direct Communication: You reach your readers’ inboxes, increasing engagement and retention.
  • High ROI: Email marketing often yields higher returns than other marketing channels.
  • Affordable: Many email marketing platforms are budget-friendly, especially for food bloggers just starting out.
  • Building Relationships: Email helps create a community around your blog, fostering loyalty.
• Cons:
  • Time-Consuming: Crafting engaging newsletters regularly can be time-intensive.
  • Subscriber Drop-off: It’s common for users to unsubscribe, so continuous value is key.
  • Content Creation: You’ll need to consistently come up with unique content to keep readers interested.
  • Spam Filters: Some emails may end up in spam, reducing your reach.

5. Consulting and Coaching Services

Consulting or coaching is exchanging your expertise and time for a fee. Your customers need an expert, and you’ve proven yourself to be that expert.

As you become an authority in the industry, people will reach out to you with questions about topics they consider you an expert in.

Now, you don’t have to charge for being helpful, but you should place a dollar value on your time.

As a food blogger, you extensive knowledge of the industry. If a reader reaches out to you asking for help, you should get paid for that effort.

How To Monetize A Food Blog With Consulting Services

Monetizing a food blog with consulting services is similar to selling sponsored posts.

Put a “Coaching” option in your nav bar that goes to a landing page outlining your consulting services and your hourly rate. This will help head off some of the people looking for free advice.

Then, wait for requests to come in, evaluate them, and propose your offer. If the customer accepts, send them an invoice using PayPal or another payment processor, and schedule the call.

Pros and Cons of Selling Consulting Services for Food Bloggers

When it comes to selling consulting services for food bloggers, there are definitely some perks. First off, it lets you showcase your expertise. You can help others grow their blogs, which can be a very fulfilling experience. Plus, with more food bloggers emerging, the demand for specialized consulting is high. This means you could potentially tap into a growing market and keep your income diversified.

However, there are also a few downsides to consider. For one, standing out in a crowded market can be tough. Many food bloggers might be offering similar services, making it hard to differentiate yourself. Additionally, selling consulting services takes time away from your own blogging. If you aren’t careful, it can easily become a full-time gig that detracts from your original passion.

Another pro is the opportunity to network with other professionals in the food blogging space. Building solid relationships can lead to future collaborations and new opportunities. On the flip side, pricing your services can be tricky. You want to be competitive but still charge what you believe you’re worth. It’s a balancing act that takes time to figure out.

Lastly, while consulting can be lucrative, it usually requires a solid marketing strategy. You need to invest time and effort into promoting your services. This might be daunting if you're already juggling a blog and other responsibilities. Ultimately, it's important to weigh these factors before diving into the consulting arena.

Food Blog Monetization FAQs

What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Food Blogging?

If you want to build a successful food blog, then affiliate marketing is the best way to monetize it. It’s the least intrusive way to make a lot of money from your site without much extra effort.

Can I Make A Full-Time Income From Food Blogging?

Absolutely! Some food blogs, like Delish and Epicurious get hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors. That’s enough for a full-time income for a small team of people.

How Do I Start a Food Blog?

Learning how to start a food blog is the first best way to use your expertise to start an online business.

You need to register a domain, install WordPress, and publish great content. It's a lot of work, but totally worth it!

How Do Food Bloggers Get Paid?

Most food bloggers make money through affiliate commissions and advertising fees. Both of these monetization methods pay out one or two months after the fees have been generated.

Some food bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.

Is Food Blogging Easy?

Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean food blogging isn’t fun.

As a food blogger, you’ll get to go places, try new things, and meet new people. And it will be part of your business! What could be cooler than that?

Is It Worth Starting A Food Blog?

It’s absolutely worth it to start a food blog. Not only can you make a living from it, but you can also build a community and control the conversation.

Once you’re an established authority, people in food-related industries will take you seriously.

Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Food Blog

Now that you've explored all the ways to monetize your food blog, here’s one last tip: diversify your income!

Combining different methods is key to keeping your blog secure. Whether it’s through affiliate marketing, display ads, or selling your own products, having multiple income streams means you won't be knocked down if one source takes a hit.

With a solid plan and a bit of hard work, you’ll be well on your way to making the money your blog truly deserves!

Why You Should Trust Our Food Blogging Content

You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about food blogging?"

Quite a lot, actually.

Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful food blog:

We've Built Wildly Successful Blogs

Lasso is built for affiliate marketers, by affiliate marketers. We're not gurus; we've walked the walk.

Our team members have built multiple blogs from the ground up, some of them earning over seven figures in revenue.

We put that experience into every guide we write, so you can trust we're giving you a process that works.

We Talk To Food Bloggers Every Day

Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of food blogs.

Our team supports those bloggers every day as they create awesome content and earn lots of money.

These communications give us a bird's-eye view of what's new in the food industry. We take that information and use it to keep these guides as up-to-date and accurate as possible.

We're Super Nerds

We've put a lot of company focus into learning everything we can about blogging, affiliate marketing, SEO, and anything to do with online entrepreneurship.

We attend conferences, collect high-level contacts, read tons of books, and distill all of that information into our content. We pass information onto you that was previously only available to industry insiders.