In 2011, I started a food blog. I have always loved baking and enjoyed sharing photos of my cupcakes and cookies on Facebook with friends. I loved reading food blogs and the idea of a blog to share family recipes – a little online space for cookies if that makes sense. I love writing, taking pictures, and baking. It was the perfect hobby to start a baking blog. How do I create one?
A website platform is essential.
These days, there are many website platforms to choose from. WordPress.com was the best option for me. This means my website’s URL was initially www.sallysbakingaddiction.wordpress.com.
What is self-hosting?
A hosted blog is different from a self-hosted one. A hosted solution is where your blog is housed and maintained by a company on its servers. This eliminates the need to manually back up and update your software. It’s also free. I didn’t know how much time I would devote to Sally’s Baking Addiction, so I decided to go with the hosted solution.
In just four months, I wanted more control and leverage. I also wanted more freedom and the ability for third-party advertising to be installed on my site. This would allow me to make money. One day, this will be my job. This was my goal.
I wanted a more professional URL and I wanted to own my domain – sallysbakingaddiction.com. I tried to install my own plug-ins. These are little design features that you can see on my website. Before switching to a self-hosted solution, I bought my domain from GoDaddy. I switched to self-hosted blogging through WordPress.org after 4 months of using wordpress.com for my blog.
Regarding blog hosting, there is no right or wrong option. It all depends on your goals. You can control your blog completely with unlimited customizations, a custom domain, and many plug-ins available. You should skip the hosted option and go straight to self-hosting.
Bluehost Solution
Bluehost was the first website I hosted myself. Bluehost offers the best prices and can register your domain for free. My site was hosted by Bluehost at $6.95 per month. Bluehost is happy to help you with any questions or concerns. They are highly recommended.
Bluehost was my first choice, so I moved to WP Engine. They are currently my host.
You will need a host server such as BlueHost or WP Engine to self-host your blog. Also, you will need to install a blogging program.
It isn’t easy to install and configure your blogging software. I saved myself the pain of figuring out how to.zip files and configure scripts (???. I hired help to save myself the headache of trying to figure out.zip files and configure scripts (?????????). WordPress.org offers a 5-minute installation guide, but I still needed clarification on step 1. I hired a web designer to help me with a smooth transition and avoid breaking my blog.
WordPress Plug-ins include:
WordPress users: Once your blog has been self-hosted, you can add little extras to your pages. These are plugs that can enhance the functionality of your blog. There are many options, and most of them are free.
- Akismet – Akismet guards my blog against spam comments. This plug-in is essential for your site’s growth. Otherwise, you will have to monitor thousands of spam comments and eventually go insane.
- Similar Posts Thumbnails– Each of my posts has tiny thumbnails that contain links to related posts or recipes. Similar posts are randomly chosen to be displayed at the bottom based on the category. This is another simple and easy way to promote your other posts.
Website Design
Over the years, my website has undergone many changes. Lindsay, Purr Design was my first web designer. She has made many design updates throughout the years. I highly recommend her talents and services. She created my logo!
In 2018, I launched a major website redesign with Southern Web. They also provide monthly tech support. There are many talented web designers and tech support teams. Make sure you do your research to find the right match.
Two things to consider
These are some things to consider before starting a food blogging site.
- Your dedication. Given my limited time and other commitments, I wasn’t sure if blogging would work for me. After a few months, I discovered how much I love blogging and how much I was willing to devote to it. I knew that I wanted to take my blog to the next level. Although I preferred to have my blog hosted by myself, I started it with a free blog on wordpress.com. This allowed me to test the waters before I decided to go full-time. My blog is now my full-time job as of April 2013.
- Budget. You must invest in your website to increase traffic and make a career in food blogging. You will need to pay for web design, a server, technical support, etc. There are also the costs of lenses, camera equipment, food props, groceries, etc. Although you can design and maintain your blog yourself, being a tech-phobic, I paid for technical assistance. You will get back the money you invested in your blog if you are truly dedicated to it. Through consistent hard work, I made a career from my blog.
Do not be intimidated.
Do not let the millions of bloggers out there intimidate or stop you from taking the plunge into blogging. My blog started as a way to share recipes with friends. It has become something I treasure. The first 100 site views were the day I got my website up and running. Then, it was 1,000. It still makes my heart smile when I receive an email, a photo, or a comment from someone saying they have made one of my recipes. It cannot be easy to stand out in a large community of food bloggers, but there is still room for you and your ideas.