Want to start a food blog in 2024? Here's what you need to know upfront:
Top 10 Profitable Food Blog Niches:
- Healthy Cooking (plant-based, whole foods)
- World Cuisine
- Special Diets (keto, gluten-free)
- Cooking Methods (sous vide, air fryer)
- Money-Saving Meals
- Fast & Simple Cooking
- Seasonal Cooking
- Party & Holiday Food
- Family Meals
- Special Ingredients Focus
Quick Stats:
- Average food blogger earnings: $29.94/hour
- Top earners make: $60.34/hour
- Success case: The Bettered Blondie earns $7,000/month from gluten-free recipes
| Income Source | Typical Revenue Share |
|---|---|
| Ads | 40% |
| Sponsored Posts | 30% |
| Affiliate Links | 20% |
| Products | 10% |
What You Need:
- A specific niche (not just "recipes")
- Basic tools (camera, WordPress site)
- Regular posting schedule
- Quality photos
- SEO-friendly recipe format
The key? Pick a niche you love that others want to read about. This guide shows you exactly how to choose and start your food blog in 2024.
Related video from YouTube
How to Pick Your Topic
Picking the right topic for your food blog can make or break your success. Here's how to choose a winner:
What Makes a Good Topic
A solid food blog topic should:
- Be your passion
- Interest readers
- Offer lots of content ideas
- Match your expertise
Jason Logsdon from Amazing Food Made Easy puts it simply:
"Having a niche is so important to your future success."
Why Focused Topics Win
Narrow topics help you:
- Stand out
- Attract your ideal audience
- Become the go-to expert
- Create content easily
Instead of "Italian Food", try:
- Budget Italian for families
- Modern twists on Italian classics
- Quick Italian for busy pros
Do Your Homework
Before you commit:
1. Check keyword search volumes
Look for terms with decent search interest.
2. Scope out the competition
Find content gaps you can fill.
3. Look for growth potential
Spot trends or underserved areas.
| Research | What to Find |
|---|---|
| Search Volumes | Popular keywords |
| Competitor Blogs | Content gaps |
| Growth Potential | Trending topics |
Pick a topic you love that others want to read about. It's that simple.
Steps to Choose Your Topic
Picking the right food blog topic can make or break your success. Here's how to nail it:
What You Know and Love
Start with your strengths:
- What foods do you love cooking?
- What cooking methods are you great at?
- Which dietary needs do you understand best?
Jot down your ideas. Then pick your top 5.
Finding Your Readers
Make sure people want what you're offering:
1. Use Google Trends to check search interest
2. Look at popular food hashtags on social media
3. Browse online forums for common questions
Looking at Other Blogs
Study the pros in your niche:
- What topics do they cover?
- How often do they post?
- Which content types perform well?
Find gaps you can fill with your unique spin.
Planning for the Future
Make sure your topic has legs:
- Is it more than just a passing trend?
- Can you create content for the long haul?
- Are there ways to expand later?
"Write about food topics that interest your readers. But what do they actually want to read?" - Margaret Bourne, Blog Coach and Content Creator
Think about monetization:
- Affiliate links for cooking tools
- Selling your own recipes or meal plans
- Sponsored posts from food brands
| Topic Idea | Audience Interest | Competition | Growth Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vegan Italian | High | Medium | Good |
| Quick Family Meals | Very High | High | Excellent |
| Gluten-Free Baking | Medium | Low | Very Good |
Choose a topic you're passionate about that others want to read. This sweet spot will keep you motivated and help grow your audience.
10 Food Blog Topics for 2024
Let's dive into some hot food blog topics for 2024. These niches are ripe for growth and reader engagement:
Healthy Cooking
People want tasty food that's good for them. Think plant-based recipes that don't skimp on flavor.
World Cooking
Take readers on a global food tour, right from their kitchen.
Special Diets
Gluten-free? Keto? There's an audience hungry for targeted recipes.
Cooking Methods
Some blogs focus on specific techniques. Sous vide, anyone?
"Having a niche is so important to your future success." - Jason Logsdon, Amazing Food Made Easy
Money-Saving Meals
Tight budgets? Offer wallet-friendly recipes and meal planning tips.
Fast and Simple Cooking
Quick, easy recipes using basic ingredients. Perfect for busy folks.
Seasonal Cooking
Cook with what's in season. It's sustainable and budget-friendly.
Party and Holiday Food
Help readers plan menus for celebrations year-round.
Family Meals
Kid-friendly recipes and big-batch cooking ideas for busy parents.
Cooking with Special Ingredients
Focus on specific ingredients like tofu or farm-fresh produce.
Pro tip: Mix functional and belief-based topics. "Budget-friendly vegan meals" or "quick gluten-free dinners" could be your sweet spot.
| Niche Idea | Audience Appeal | Competition | Growth Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sous Vide Cooking | Medium | Low | High |
| Vegan Italian Cuisine | High | Medium | Medium |
| Budget Family Meals | Very High | High | High |
| Gluten-Free Baking | Medium | Low | Medium |
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Testing Your Topic
After picking your food blog niche, you need to test it. Here's how:
Audience Size Check
Use Google Trends or keyword tools to estimate interest in your niche. For example, search volume for sous vide cooking has grown steadily, showing rising interest.
Other Blogs Check
Count similar blogs in your niche. This shows competition and market gaps. Jason Logsdon found only 3-5 sous vide blogs when he started, giving him room to grow.
Money-Making Options
Explore income streams:
| Income Stream | Example |
|---|---|
| Sponsored posts | Kitchen appliance brand partnerships |
| Affiliate marketing | Cooking tool promotions |
| Product sales | E-cookbook creation |
| Services | Online cooking classes |
In 2024, U.S. food bloggers earn $29.94/hour on average, with top earners making $60.34/hour (ZipRecruiter).
Room to Grow
Plan content expansion. A gluten-free recipe blog could add:
- Gluten-free baking tips
- Restaurant reviews
- Chef interviews
This keeps your audience engaged long-term.
"Having a niche is so important to your future success." - Jason Logsdon, Amazing Food Made Easy
Getting Started
You've picked your food blog niche. Now let's get your site up and running.
Planning Your Posts
Create a content calendar for your first month. Mix it up:
- 2 main dishes
- 1 dessert
- 1 cooking technique guide
- 1 ingredient spotlight
Post twice a week to keep readers coming back.
Tools You Need
1. Web host 2. Domain name 3. Blogging platform (WordPress is a solid choice) 4. Camera 5. Photo editing software
Shopify user? Try Recipe Kit for SEO-friendly, shoppable recipe cards.
Picking Your Website Platform
WordPress powers 43% of the web. It's easy to use and highly customizable.
Website Setup Basics
Here's how to set up your food blog:
1. Choose a web host (Bluehost starts at $2.95/month)
2. Register your domain name
3. Install WordPress
4. Pick a theme (try Foodica PRO or Cookely)
5. Install key plugins:
6. Set up Google Analytics and Search Console
"The most important thing is to remember is to be consistent with posting, because that is what builds a loyal community of followers and readers."
Consistency is key. Stick to your schedule and watch your blog grow.
Measuring Success
Let's talk about tracking your food blog's progress. Here are the key numbers you should watch:
Core Metrics
1. Traffic
How many people visit your site each month? Aim for:
- B2B: At least 3,960 sessions
- B2C: At least 9,400 sessions
2. Engagement
How long do readers stick around? Typical session durations:
- B2B: 77.61 seconds
- B2C: 92.33 seconds
3. Bounce Rate
This shows how many visitors leave after one page. Median rates:
- B2B: 63.54%
- B2C: 57.29%
4. Conversion Rate
The percentage of visitors who take action (like signing up or buying).
Pro tip: Use Google Analytics. It's free and tracks all this stuff.
Growth Tracking
Keep an eye on:
- Monthly traffic trends
- Income sources (if you're making money)
| Source | % of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Ads | 40% |
| Sponsors | 30% |
| Affiliate | 20% |
| Products | 10% |
- Subscriber growth (email and social media)
Reader Interest
These numbers show how much people like your content:
- Comments per post
- Social shares
- Email open rates (shoot for over 50%)
- Your most popular posts
Wrap-Up
Here's a quick rundown on launching your food blog in 2024:
Pick Your Topic
- What foods do you love and know well?
- Look for gaps in the market
- Can you come up with 20 post ideas in 15 minutes?
- Check out the competition
Get Your Blog Online
- Pick a catchy name and grab the domain ($15/year)
- Set up hosting (Bluehost starts at $2.95/month)
- Install WordPress and a theme
- Add About and Contact pages
- Must-have plugins:
- Akismet (spam filter)
- Tasty Recipes (SEO-friendly recipe format)
- Yoast SEO (overall SEO help)
What's Hot in Food Blogging
Food blogging's always changing. Focus on:
- Great Content: Write well, take awesome photos
- Post Regularly: Aim for weekly or every two weeks
- Build a Community: Talk to your readers
- Make Money: Try ads, sponsors, and affiliate links
| Income Source | % of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Ads | 40% |
| Sponsors | 30% |
| Affiliate | 20% |
| Products | 10% |
- Track Performance: Use Google Analytics and Search Console
FAQs
How do I choose a food blog niche?
To pick a food blog niche:
- Pick a topic you love and can write about for years
- Use Google Trends to check market demand
- Narrow down to a specific sub-niche (e.g., "budget-friendly Italian meals for families" instead of "Italian food")
- Test your idea with sample posts or guest articles
"To write blog posts week after week, month after month, you must be a little obsessed with whatever topic you choose for your blog." - Jason Logsdon, Amazing Food Made Easy
Is food blogging a good niche?
Food blogging can be profitable if you build a strong audience. Here's why:
- Huge market: Global food market revenue is set to hit $10.07 trillion in 2024
- Lots of sub-niches: From vegan cooking to gluten-free desserts
- Multiple income streams: Ads, sponsorships, cookbooks, and more
| Income Source | Potential Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|
| Ethnic cuisine blog | $5,000+ |
| Gluten-free recipes | $7,000+ |
| Green smoothies | $15,000+ |
"Food is one of the best blog niches out there. There is a lot of money to be made blogging about food, making it one of the best niches out there." - Dale, Blogging Her Way