How to Monetize a Food Blog and Serve Up a Profit

Starting a food blog is just the beginning. Once you've got the hang of the basics like setting up your site and posting delicious content, it's time to dive into the exciting world of monetizing your food blog.

Trust me, figuring out how to make money from your food blog is as thrilling as your first successful recipe post!

Whether you're new to the food blogging scene or you're a well-established foodie influencer, there are plenty of ways to transform your passion into a profitable venture. Let's explore these methods one by one.

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

Hey there! If you're diving into food blogging, promoting affiliate products can be pretty lucrative. Here’s a list of some popular ones that fit well within this niche:

• Kitchen gadgets and appliances: Think blenders, mixers, or fancy espresso machines. These are great because everyone loves a gadget that makes cooking fun and easy.
• Meal delivery kits: These are super popular right now. You can promote different brands that cater to various dietary needs and preferences.
• Gourmet ingredients: Rare spices, exotic sauces, or high-quality oils can elevate any dish. Food enthusiasts are always on the hunt for new flavors to try!
• Cookbooks and eBooks: Whether it's a digital download or a physical book, cookbooks are always a hit, especially those from well-known chefs or niche cooking styles.
• Online cooking classes: This is a great way to help your audience improve their cooking skills. Plus, with everyone cooking more at home these days, it's perfect timing.

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

One major advantage of affiliate marketing for food bloggers is the potential for passive income. By linking to kitchen tools, specialty foods, or cookbooks, you can earn commissions from purchases your readers make, without additional effort after setting up the links. This can be especially lucrative during high-traffic periods like holidays or special food events.

However, there's a downside. Over-relying on affiliate marketing can sometimes compromise the authenticity of your blog. If every post pushes products, your readers might start to question the genuineness of your recommendations. It's crucial to balance monetized content with non-monetized posts to maintain trust and credibility.

Another pro is the ease of integration. Many affiliate programs are user-friendly, offering food bloggers a variety of products to choose from that naturally fit their content. This can enhance your posts by providing direct links to necessary ingredients or equipment, making it easier for followers to replicate your recipes.

On the flip side, the income from affiliate marketing can be unpredictable. Factors like changes in affiliate program policies, variations in blog traffic, or shifts in consumer buying patterns can all impact earnings. This makes it challenging to rely solely on affiliate marketing as a steady income source.

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 offer several advantages for food bloggers, primarily in revenue generation. By placing ads from networks like Google AdSense or Media.net on their blog, food bloggers can earn passive income based on page views and clicks. This can be especially lucrative if the blog attracts a large, consistent audience. Additionally, display ads can be tailored to the blog's content, potentially enhancing the user experience by featuring relevant products or services.

However, there are drawbacks to consider. Display ads can detract from the aesthetic appeal of a food blog, cluttering up clean, visually-driven layouts that are crucial for showcasing recipes and food photography. Overloading a page with ads can also slow down site loading times, which might frustrate visitors and increase bounce rates. Moreover, some readers may find ads intrusive, which can impact the overall user experience negatively.

Another consideration is the control over the content of ads. While ad networks typically offer some level of customization, food bloggers might still find inappropriate or unrelated ads popping up on their site. This can potentially harm the blog's brand and alienate the audience if the ads displayed clash with the blog’s values or niche focus.

Finally, relying on display ads requires traffic. New or smaller blogs might not see significant earnings from ads until they build a substantial audience. Thus, it's crucial for food bloggers to balance content quality and marketing strategies to grow their readership effectively while managing display ads as a monetization tool.

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.

Here are some great digital products you can sell on your food blog:

• eCookbooks: Compile your top recipes into themed digital cookbooks.
• Meal Plans: Create weekly or monthly meal plans with shopping lists and prep instructions.
• Online Cooking Classes: Offer video tutorials or live classes on cooking techniques or specific dishes.
• Printables: Design helpful kitchen printables like conversion charts or ingredient checklists.
• Custom Diet Plans: Tailor-made diet plans catering to specific dietary needs like vegan or keto.

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, like eBooks or exclusive recipes, offers significant advantages for food bloggers. First off, there's the potential for passive income. Once a digital product is created and uploaded, it can be sold multiple times without additional costs. This model provides a steady income stream without the need for ongoing effort, unlike physical products which require inventory management and shipping.

However, the digital marketplace is crowded, and standing out can be challenging. Food bloggers must invest time and resources into marketing their products effectively. This might involve learning new skills like SEO or social media advertising, which can be daunting for those who prefer to focus solely on creating content.

Another big plus is the global reach of digital products. A food blogger in New York can easily sell a recipe book to someone in Tokyo. There are no geographical limitations, which significantly broadens the potential customer base. Yet, this advantage also brings about increased competition from other content creators worldwide, making it crucial to maintain a unique selling proposition.

Lastly, customer expectations can be a double-edged sword. Buyers expect immediate access to digital products, which is great for instant gratification but can lead to issues if there are technical difficulties or if the product doesn't meet their expectations. Handling customer service digitally can also be challenging without face-to-face interaction.

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 provide an excellent avenue for food bloggers to engage directly with their audience while generating revenue. By collecting email addresses from your blog visitors, you can develop a dedicated mailing list. This list becomes a valuable asset as it allows you to send personalized content, updates, and promotions directly to your followers.

Monetizing your food blog through an email newsletter can be done by incorporating sponsored content where companies pay you to promote their products within your emails. Additionally, you can create exclusive paid subscription levels offering more in-depth content, such as unique recipes, video tutorials, or early access to your posts. This strategy not only enhances your blog’s value but also ensures a steady income stream.

Another effective method is to use affiliate marketing within your newsletters. You can include links to cooking gadgets, ingredients, or food products. When subscribers click through and make purchases, you earn a commission. This approach works particularly well for food blogs because your recommendations are directly tied to the interests of your audience.

Lastly, consider using your email newsletters to promote your own products, such as cookbooks, branded kitchen tools, or cooking classes. This not only boosts your blog's revenue but also enhances your brand's visibility and credibility within the food community.

Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Food Bloggers

• Pros:
  • Direct Access to Audience: Build a personal connection with your readers, updating them directly about new content or offers.
  • Increased Revenue Opportunities: Utilize affiliate links, sponsored content, and exclusive paid content to diversify income streams.
  • Targeted Promotions: Segment your list to offer tailored content and promotions based on user preferences and behavior.
  • Boosts Engagement: Regular newsletters keep your audience engaged, encouraging repeat visits to your blog.
• Cons:
  • Time-Consuming: Creating compelling and regular content for newsletters can be time-intensive.
  • Risk of Unsubscription: Overpromotion or irrelevant content may lead to higher unsubscribes.
  • Requires Strategic Planning: Effective email marketing necessitates careful planning and segmentation to achieve desired outcomes.
  • Compliance Issues: Need to adhere to email marketing laws and regulations, like GDPR, which can be complex.

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

One major pro of selling consulting services as a food blogger is the potential for diversifying income. Instead of relying solely on ad revenue or affiliate marketing, consulting can provide a steady stream of income through personalized service offerings, like menu planning or branding advice for food industry clients. This not only stabilizes your financial inflow but also enhances your professional credibility in the food blogging community.

However, transitioning into consulting requires a significant investment of time and effort. You'll need to develop a deep understanding of your niche, stay updated on industry trends, and possibly even gain certifications. This can be daunting if you're already managing a busy blogging schedule and personal commitments. Plus, building a client base from scratch demands strong networking skills and possibly a marketing budget.

Another advantage is the opportunity for personal and professional growth. Engaging directly with clients provides real-world feedback on your knowledge and services, allowing you to refine your skills and offerings. Consulting can also lead to other opportunities like speaking engagements, workshops, and book deals, further establishing you as an expert in your field.

On the downside, consulting can be unpredictable. Client demands can fluctuate seasonally or with market trends, leading to periods of high stress during project deadlines or financial instability during slow months. Balancing client work with blogging can also lead to burnout if not managed properly.

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

So, you've learned all the steps to make money from your food blog. Here's a final nugget of advice: mix it up with various monetization strategies!

By combining affiliate marketing, ads, and selling your own stuff, you safeguard your blog's earnings. Even if one source dips, the others can keep you stable.

Stick with this varied approach, put in the effort, and plan wisely. You're setting yourself up for the success you deserve with your blog.

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.