Starting a recipe blog is a thrilling adventure! There’s a lot to figure out, like registering your domain and setting up WordPress. But once you get the hang of it, the real fun begins: monetizing your blog!
Trust me, this part is seriously exciting. Whether you’re just starting or you've been sharing your delicious dishes for a while, there are plenty of ways to turn your passion into profit.
Let’s dive into some awesome monetization strategies. You’ll see just how easy it is to turn your hobby into a full-time gig!
Why You Can Trust Our Recipe Blog Monetization Guide
Lasso is installed on over 8,000 websites, including many recipe blogs.
Our team has built multiple 7-figure blogs in a wide range of niches.
We have hands-on experience working with founders to grow and monetize their recipe blogs.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is the best monetization method for recipe 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.
TIP: With all monetization methods, the rule of thumb is the easier it is to accomplish, the less money you can make, and vice versa.
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 Recipe Bloggers
In the world of recipe blogging, there are tons of affiliate products you can recommend. Here’s a breakdown of some popular options:
Cookware Sets: High-quality pots and pans can elevate any cooking experience. Look for brands that offer non-stick, durable, and versatile options.
Kitchen Gadgets: Unique tools like spiralizers, immersion blenders, and garlic presses make cooking easier and more fun.
Baking Supplies: Everything from measuring cups to specialty baking pans can help your readers perfect their baked goods.
Recipe Books: Whether it’s about healthy cooking or ethnic cuisines, a good cookbook can inspire your audience.
Subscription Services: Meal kits or gourmet ingredient boxes bring convenience and excitement to the kitchen.
- Quality Products: Promote items that offer high value and efficiency in cooking.
- Diverse Options: Cater to various needs such as health, dining styles, or quick meals.
- Consumer Trust: Partner with reputable brands that your audience will instantly recognize.
- Engagement Potential: Items that spark curiosity often lead to more clicks and conversions.
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 recipe 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 recipe bloggers:
-
Commission Rate: 5% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 30 Days
The Rachael Ray Store sells a beautiful assortment of cookware, cookbooks, dinnerware, bakeware, and more.
-
Commission Rate: 40% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 90 Days
KetoConnect is a globally recognized brand for its authenticity and quality content towards improving health and fitness through a keto diet.
-
Commission Rate: 10% Per Sale
Cookie Duration: 45 Days
Cuisineart sells various kitchen appliances and tools. Get a 10% commission rate and 45-day cookie duration with their affiliate program!
TIP: We maintain a database of the best affiliate programs. Click here to see the best cooking affiliate programs.
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 Recipe 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 recipe blog. If you’re ready to start making a serious affiliate income from your recipe site, sign up for Lasso today.
A WordPress plugin that lets you add, manage, and display your affiliate links from any program, including Amazon. Increase conversions. Find new affiliate link opportunities. Earn more revenue! Less than 5 minutes to set up.
Affiliate Marketing Pros and Cons for Recipe Bloggers
Affiliate marketing can be a goldmine for recipe bloggers, but it's not without its drawbacks. One major pro is the ability to monetize your blog without creating your own products. You can simply share links to kitchen gadgets or ingredients you love and earn a commission on any sales made through those links.
On the flip side, it demands a strong audience trust. If your readers feel like you’re pushing products just for a paycheck, they may lose faith in your recommendations. To combat this, it’s essential to select affiliates that resonate with your brand and clearly disclose any partnerships.
Another advantage is freedom. You can work with multiple brands and promote varied products. This diversity keeps your content fresh and engaging, while also maximizing potential income streams. However, collaborating with too many companies can confuse your audience, leading to scattered content that lacks focus.
Ultimately, affiliate marketing can elevate your blogging game, but it requires careful strategy. Balancing authenticity with monetization is key to keeping your readers happy and engaged.
2. Display Ads
The second best way to monetize your recipe blog is with display ads. Ads are the internet's favorite monetization method, but they have severe drawbacks.
How to Monetize a Recipe Blog With Display Ads
Monetizing a recipe 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
NOTE: WordPress is an open-source software found on WordPress.org. WordPress.com is a premium blogging platform, but you never need to pay to install WordPress on your website, even if it’s self-hosted.
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.
TIP: Optimize your display ads for user experience by using your chosen network’s software settings or talking to your account manager. Keep the ads in the sidebar and footer whenever possible.
You’ll make a lot of money in the long run if you put your readers ahead of quick profit.
Display Ad Pros And Cons For Recipe Bloggers
Display ads can be a double-edged sword for recipe bloggers. On one hand, they provide a steady stream of income. By placing ads on your site, you can monetize your traffic without a lot of extra work. Once set up, they run automatically, allowing you to focus on creating content.
However, there are downsides too. Ads can clutter your website and distract your readers. This might lead to a poor user experience and even bounce rates if visitors are annoyed by too many ads. Additionally, depending on the ad network, your earnings might be highly variable and not as lucrative as other monetization strategies.
Another point to consider is the potential impact on site speed. Display ads can slow down your pages, which may frustrate users and harm your site’s SEO. A slow-loading recipe site can deter visitors from returning, harming your long-term growth.
In essence, while display ads can provide passive income, they can also compromise user experience and site performance. It’s important to weigh these pros and cons carefully before diving in.
3. Digital Products
Selling your own digital products is a great way to increase your earnings per visitor in the recipe niche.
A digital product is anything you can sell on your recipe blog that the customer will receive via download.
Digital Products to Sell on Your Recipe Blog:
- Printable Recipe Cards: High-quality, beautifully designed cards for readers to print and save their favorite recipes.
- E-Cookbooks: Curated collections of themed recipes, like quick weeknight dinners or holiday treats, formatted for easy downloading.
- Meal Planning Templates: Printable or fillable PDFs that help readers plan their meals for the week with sections for shopping lists.
- Cooking Classes: Video courses or live classes focused on specific skills, like baking, grilling, or making pasta from scratch.
- Subscription Service: Monthly subscription that offers exclusive recipes, tips, and access to a members-only community.
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 Recipe Bloggers
Selling digital products can be a game-changer for recipe bloggers. First off, it's super scalable. Once you create a digital product, like an e-cookbook or meal planner, you can sell it to countless customers without any extra effort. That means more income without adding extra work for every sale.
On the flip side, competition is fierce in the digital market. With so many bloggers jumping on the bandwagon, standing out can be tough. You'll need to invest time in marketing and building a strong presence to attract buyers. It can be discouraging if your product doesn't take off immediately.
Another pro is the low overhead cost. Creating digital products usually requires minimal investment compared to physical products. You don't have to worry about inventory or shipping costs. However, keep in mind that you’ll need to maintain your website and possibly pay for marketing or advertising.
How To Monetize a Recipe 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:
Get Your FREE 20-Page Guide To Making $1000/Day From Your Niche Blog
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.
TIP: You can still use Lasso to get more clicks to your digital products. Just create a Lasso display with the link pointing to your product’s sales page.
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 recipe 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 recipe blog with an email newsletter and the pros and cons of email marketing for recipe bloggers.
How to Monetize a Recipe Blog with an Email Newsletter
An email newsletter is a great way for recipe bloggers to connect with their audience. It allows you to share your latest recipes, cooking tips, and blog posts directly to your subscribers' inboxes. By doing this, you not only get to keep your readers engaged, but also create monetization opportunities…
To effectively monetize through an email newsletter, start by growing your subscriber list. Offer incentives like free e-cookbooks or exclusive recipes in exchange for email sign-ups. The more engaged your list is, the better your monetization opportunities. Once you have a good number of subscribers, you can start including promotions of cooking-related products like kitchen gadgets or book recommendations within your newsletters.
Another way to generate revenue via your newsletter is through affiliate marketing. Partner with food brands or kitchen tools companies that fit your blog's style. You can include affiliate links in your newsletters, recommending products that you genuinely love and that can help your subscribers cook. When they make a purchase through your links, you earn a commission without costing them anything extra.
You can also offer exclusive deals or discounts to your email subscribers. This doesn't just encourage sign-ups but incentivizes your existing subscribers to make purchases. Highlight new recipes that utilize those products or offer special discounts only available through the newsletter. Keeping your audience in the loop not only increases loyalty but also opens piques their interest in your recommendations.
Pros and Cons of Email Marketing for Recipe Bloggers
- Pros:
- Direct Engagement: You communicate directly with your audience, building a personal connection.
- Increased Traffic: Newsletter readers are more likely to visit your blog and try your recipes.
- Potential for High ROI: Email marketing can yield high returns, especially with affiliate links and promotions.
- Cons:
- Time-Consuming: Crafting quality content for your newsletter takes time and effort.
- List Management: Keeping your subscriber list clean and engaged requires ongoing attention.
- Competition: Your subscribers may receive multiple newsletters, making it harder to stand out.
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 recipe 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 Recipe Blog With Consulting Services
Monetizing a recipe 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.
TIP: Again, you can use Lasso to drive more clicks to your coaching pages. Just create a Display with a link to your sales page, and insert it into blog posts.
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 Recipe Bloggers
Selling consulting services as a recipe blogger can be a double-edged sword. On the plus side, it allows you to leverage your culinary expertise directly. This can create a steady stream of income, especially if your audience trusts your skills and knowledge. You can charge for personalized meal plans, cooking classes, or content creation advice, making it a lucrative side hustle.
On the flip side, managing a consulting service requires time and effort. It can be challenging to balance client demands with creating new content for your blog. Additionally, not all readers may be ready to pay for consulting services, which can limit your potential customer base. You might need to invest time in marketing your services, which takes focus away from blogging.
It's also essential to maintain your authority and credibility. If a client is unhappy or feels their expectations weren't met, it could damage your reputation. You'll need to ensure consistent quality in your consulting services to build a solid and positive brand image. This pressure can be daunting, especially if you're just starting out.
Supercharge your earnings with Lasso. Create no-code product Displays and Tables that convert, find and fix broken links, and gain valuable business insights with revenue analytics.
Learn MoreRecipe Blog Monetization FAQs
What Is The Best Way To Make Money From Recipe Blogging?
If you want to build a successful recipe 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 Recipe Blogging?
Absolutely! Some recipe 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 Recipe Blog?
Learning how to start a recipe 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 Recipe Bloggers Get Paid?
Most recipe 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 recipe bloggers also sell sponsored posts, consulting services, or their own products. In these cases, a payment processor like PayPal or Stripe is necessary.
Is Recipe Blogging Easy?
Nothing worth doing is truly easy, but that doesn’t mean recipe blogging isn’t fun.
As a recipe 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 Recipe Blog?
It’s absolutely worth it to start a recipe 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 recipe-related industries will take you seriously.
Final Thoughts on Monetizing a Recipe Blog
Now that you've learned various ways to monetize your recipe blog, here's a bonus tip for you:
Use multiple monetization methods!
Diversifying your income is key to securing your blog's future.
If you promote affiliate offers, use display ads, and sell your own products, you'll be better protected if one income stream drops.
With this smart approach, some effort, and good planning, you'll be on your way to earning the income your blog deserves!
Why You Should Trust Our Recipe Blogging Content
You may be thinking, "that's all great, but what does Lasso know about recipe blogging?"
Quite a lot, actually.
Here's why you can trust our process for building a successful recipe 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 Recipe Bloggers Every Day
Lasso's WordPress plugin is installed on over 8,000 websites, including a lot of recipe 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 recipe 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.
