If you’ve been blogging for any period of time, you’ve probably realized by now that your to-do list is always growing.
Even right now you may be thinking that you need to…
- Figure out how Pinterest works
- Learn about shooting recipe videos
- Find a theme for your blog
- Create a logo
- Start sharing content on Instagram and Facebook
- Learn about food photography
- Understand SEO and email marketing
- Establish your brand
… and feel like you should have had ALL of that done rightthisverysecond.
And that’s all on top of creating valuable, helpful, awesome blog content! 🤪
But I have some good news about your to-do list –– you have permission to choose what you do. This is your blog, after all. Just because someone has a podcast, works with brands, and posts 47 times a day on Instagram doesn’t mean that you have to, too.

So how do you choose what’s most important when it’s all up to you?! When you’re first starting out as a blogger, content creator, photographer, and recipe developer, how do you decide where to spend your time to set yourself up for long-term success?
If you’re looking for ideas, we definitely have some. We’ve worked with thousands of food bloggers on Food Blogger Pro, and we’ve found that these three factors are consistently found amongst high-quality food content creators:
1. Create Great Content ✅
Have you ever found a recipe online, made that recipe, and felt… less than thrilled with the results? And did you ever go back to that site? Probably not.
This kind of experience is why we put such an emphasis on quality content. We want your site to bring in new readers AND keep them coming back.
That said, it may seem like you need to be publishing content constantly in order to grow and establish your blog. It’s incredibly easy to fall into this trap because you love your blog! You want it to succeed!
But it will only succeed if you’re posting content that your readers love and that starts with knowing who your content is for. When you define your niche—whether it’s comfort food, quick weeknight dinners, or gluten-free baking—you’re giving readers a clear reason to come back.
And Google likes content that your readers love, too. High quality of content is one of their ranking factors.
The TL;DR is this: don’t give into the temptation of creating a ton of low-quality content just to get something (anything!) out into the world.
Take your time, test your recipes, and write helpful, entertaining, and informative posts that your readers will enjoy.
2. Maintain Consistency to Build Trust
One of the biggest pitfalls food bloggers face is inconsistency. Showing up for your readers and giving them content to consume on a regular basis will form a certain level of trust between you and them.
If you’re there for them consistently, they’ll start to count on you and expect that content from you. It’s a great way to build an audience of loyal readers who are excited to see what comes next.
And just like Google rewards high-quality content, social media algorithms reward consistent posting! So developing content and sharing it on a predictable, regular schedule will boost your brand in more ways than one.
So what will you do to maintain consistency with your blog?
- Create a Posting Schedule: Whether it’s twice a week or once a month, set a schedule you can stick to and let your audience know what to expect.
- Batch Content Creation: Plan and prep multiple recipes at once to avoid last-minute scrambling and ensure a steady content flow. Not sure where to start? Listen to our podcast episode on content batching to learn more.
- Refine & Reuse Older Content: Update your best-performing posts with new images, videos, or improved SEO to keep them relevant and maintain steady traffic.
Remember consistency builds trust and trust turns casual visitors into loyal followers who look forward to your next post!
3. Diversify Your Platforms to Future-Proof Your Brand
Relying on just one platform for traffic or income can be risky. Algorithm changes can happen overnight and platforms come and go so expanding your presence ensures stability.
- Leverage Social Media: Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube Shorts are great for getting your content in front of new eyes.
- Grow an Email List: Unlike social media, an email list is an asset you own. Use it to share exclusive content, recipe roundups, and updates to keep your audience engaged. If you haven’t started an email list yet or aren’t sure how to use yours, make sure to read our blog post all about using your list to help grow your blog!
- Monetize Beyond Ads: Explore affiliate marketing, digital products (cookbooks, meal plans), brand partnerships, a membership, or subscription-based content (like a paid Substack or Patreon) to diversify revenue streams.
Blogging success isn’t just about creating content—it’s about building a business. By spreading your reach across multiple platforms, you safeguard your brand and increase long-term growth opportunities.
———–
By focusing on creating high-quality content, staying consistent, and diversifying your platforms, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success in an ever-changing digital landscape!
⬇️ Let’s chat in the comments:
- If you’ve been a blogger for a while, what quality or strategy has had the biggest impact on your long-term success?
- If you’re a newer blogger, which of the three qualities we talked about today resonated with you the most?
Plan out your content publishing for the month instead of planning each week.
Yes, yes, yes! Love this so much, Ali.
Getting ahead and planning out your content calendar for the month can be such a game-changer. 🙌🏻
Im currently learning Pinterest which is helping everything grow.
We’re happy to hear you’re having success with Pinterest!
Starting to get ads on my blog (although obvious to many) was something I was late to the party with, and only did after first monetizing through social media brand partnerships and freelance recipe development.
Although I know we’re taught not to rely on it, it’s been my far my most lucrative, ‘passive’ revenue stream and has supported me when I’ve had to take breaks from blogging.
Totally feel this! There’s so many things to juggle with blogging that it’s easy for things like ads to get pushed down the list. I love that you shared this, it’s such a good reminder that blog ads can be a super steady and supportive income stream, especially during slower seasons or burnout moments.