8 Easy Steps to Start a Food Blog in India and Make Money

Are you looking to start your own food blog in India? If so, then keep reading to know how you can get started with just seven easy steps.

Moreover, building your own food blog will not only help you to connect with a bigger audience but will also allow you to control the content more.

You can completely flex your creative muscle by coming up with new and exciting recipes on a regular basis. Let’s take a look at how you can get started with your own food blog in India.

Food Industry Statistics in India

Before we get into the guide, here are some statistics to give you a perspective of what you are getting into.

Source: Statista.

Revenue in the Food market amounts to US$858.10bn in 2022. The market is expected to grow annually by 8.17% (CAGR 2022-2027).
The market’s largest segment is the segment Bread & Cereal Products with a market volume of US$154.30bn in 2022.
In the Food market, 1.0% of total revenue will be generated through online sales by 2022.
In the Food market, volume is expected to amount to 665,903.7mkg by 2027. The Food market is expected to show a volume growth of 5.4% in 2023.
The average volume per person in the Food market is expected to amount to 402.9kg in 2022.

Reasons to Start Food Blogging in India

Food blogging is definitely a fun, creative, and rewarding career. You can start your own food blog in India and make a name for yourself in the world of food blogging.

Though you can start your own food blog from anywhere around the world, India offers many advantages when it comes to starting up a food blog.

India is home to some of the most delicious cuisines in the world and has some of the most interesting people who love to share their recipes with others.

So if you are looking for a place where you can get started with your own food blog, then India is just perfect for that.

Here are some reasons why you should start your own food blog in India :

a). The Indian Food Blogging Scene Is Hot!

Food bloggers have been gaining popularity over time and today thousands of them are sharing their recipes with others on various platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.

So if you have an idea about cooking something special or if you want to share your cooking experience with others, then it will be great if you start your very own food blog in India.

b). You Can Start Your Own Food Blog Right Away

If you have decided to start your own food blog in India, then it is best if you start right away.

There are thousands of blogs already started in India and they are constantly growing. So if you want to get started with your food blog, then there is no better time than today.

c). You Can Easily Monetize Your Blog

You can easily monetize your blog by adding ads on it or even by selling some of its products. This is an easy way to earn money without having to spend too much money on advertising.

d). It’s Easy To Get Started

If you have a passion for cooking and want to share your cooking experience with others, then starting a food blog in India will definitely help you out here.

It is easy enough for anyone to start a food blog in this country and all you need is a good idea about cooking something special for your family or friends, and then getting started with WordPress will be the right choice for you!

7 Easy Steps to Start Your Own Food Blog in India

Step 1: Choose a Niche

The first step to starting your own food blog is to decide on a niche. You can choose any of the following as your niche:

Family meal planning
Family meals
Wines and champagne
Exotic cuisine
Home recipes
Cooking
Baking
Veganism
Coffee
Quick meals

Each one of these niches has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, if you are looking for a niche that has a large potential audience then you can go for vegan, baking, or home recipes.

However, if you are looking for something more specific then you should choose a sub-niche within a niche.

For example, from quick meals, you can go for quick meals for working moms.

Step 2: Buy a Domain Name for Your Food Blog

Make sure that you buy a domain name that is relevant to your niche.

For example, if you are looking for a niche that deals with Indian food then don’t go for the generic name “foodblogger” because it will not be helpful in attracting visitors.

Instead, buy a domain name such as “indianfoodbloggers” or “indianfoodies”.

If you are looking for a niche that deals with Indian sweets then don’t go for the generic name “sweets” because it will not be appealing to potential readers. Instead, buy a domain name such as “indiansweetstalkers”, “indiansweets”, or something similar.

How to pick the right domain name? Use the following guidelines:

Short & memorable
Descriptive for better understanding
No spelling errors or confusion
Avoid hyphens, numbers
No brand or trademark in the name

Now, since you are starting a food blog in India, you have to pick either a .co.in or .in domain.

For example, IndianSweetStalkers.co.in.

Once you have the domain, go ahead and register it with a reputable domain registrar in India like Truehost.

All have to do is head over to truehost.co.in and search to see if the domain is available.

As you can see, the food blog domain name is available. Go ahead and add it to the cart and go to the next step on how to start food blogging in India.

Step 3: Get a Reliable Web Hosting Provider

Your food blog needs to be hosted. You can easily get a hosting company to host your blog. There are 3 types of web hosting that you can choose from:

a). Shared Hosting

This is the most common and popular web hosting service in India. It is provided by most of the Indian companies like Truehost, Bluehost, BigRock etc.

The advantage of this type of hosting is its affordability along with a few other basic features like PHP support and MySQL databases.

The disadvantage of shared hosting is that it has very low security and privacy standards and it is not recommended for any sensitive data, like bank details or personal information.

b). VPS Hosting

Virtual Private Server is a type of hosting that provides you with a dedicated server for the website.

Virtualization technology is applied on a server, and you can install all your applications and software on it.

It has more security features than shared hosting, but the disadvantage of VPS is that it is more expensive than shared hosting in India.

VPS hosting is only recommended for blogs with sizable traffic or those that would wish to use custom software.

c). Dedicated Hosting

A dedicated web hosting service provides you with access to an entire server that is dedicated to your website alone. This type of hosting allows you to install more than one application on the same server, which makes it more secure and reliable than shared web hosts.

A benefit of this type of web hosting service is that it is available at very secure compared to other types of hosting services.

Which One Should You Choose?

Well, if you are just starting out, go with shared hosting in India. It is cheap and gives you access to everything you need to start and grow your blog.

As your food blog in India starts receiving at least 20K visits per month, move to a VPS.

It is more expensive than shared hosting but gives you all the advantages that come with dedicated hosting.

How to Choose the Right Hosting Partner You Won’t Regret

When it comes to choosing a web hosting service provider in India, you should consider several things:

a). Prices

In order to choose the best web hosting service provider for your website, you should take into account the cost of the service and also the number of features that are provided by the web host.

You should try to find a web host that provides all these facilities at an affordable price. It is better not to go for a web host with expensive prices.

b). Customer Service

Another important factor that you need to consider is the response time of the customer support team.

A good host will provide 24/7 customer support services and will solve any issues related to your website within minutes.

c). Features

A good web host should provide its customers with sufficient resources like bandwidth, storage space, and different features like CPanel control panel, email accounts, MySQL databases, and so on.

It is better if you get more than one account that can be used on different websites in order to increase its value.

d). Uptime

Another important factor is the uptime of your website.

You must ensure that your site is always up without any problems or interruptions during peak hours like weekends and holidays; otherwise, it will affect your business adversely as visitors may not be able to reach your site during such times due to technical problems or downtime.

Considering all of these, Truehost India checks all the boxes for being the best web host in India. It has all the features of a good web host and is highly affordable as well.

Truehost India Review: Cheapest Domain and Hosting Provider?

Truehost India is one of the best web hosts in the market today. With its affordable prices and wide range of features, you can start your own website with this web host within a few minutes only.

It offers you a wide range of hosting options like shared hosting, VPS hosting and dedicated servers that will help you to create a professional website at an affordable price.

You can also avail their 24/7 customer support services and technical support services if you need it while starting your site or if any issues arise during its operation.

Step 4: Install WordPress Blogging Software

The next step in the process of creating a food blog in India is to install the blogging software. There are two types of software that you can use:

a). Self-Hosted WordPress Blogging Software

You can install WordPress on your own domain, and it will be your blog’s operating system, allowing you to create a blog on the server.

It is easier to manage and maintain, but it can be a daunting task especially if it is your first time starting a blog in India.

b). Hosted WordPress Blogging Software

This type of blogging platform is managed by the provider.

The downside is you will have to pay a monthly fee for the service, but you don’t have to invest in your own hardware.

I recommend using the self-hosted WordPress blogging software because it is easier to manage and maintain and is free for everyone.

Why is WordPress the Best?

WordPress is the best blogging software because of its features and functionality. The features that I listed above are not the only features that you will find in WordPress. I will list some more features below:

WordPress is easy to install and use.
WordPress makes it easy for you to manage your blog.
WordPress gives your blog a proper look and feel by allowing you to customize the theme of your blog’s layout.
You can connect other social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn if you have an account with them.

That said, go ahead and install wordpress right from your cPanel account.

All you have to do is:

Log into your cPanel account
Find Softaculous script installer and click on WordPress
Click on Install
Give your new blog a title and tagline
Choose a username and password (keep these safe because you will need them to log into your WordPress account)
Click Install.

Step 5: Choose a WordPress Theme

Now that you have a WordPress blog, it is time to choose a WordPress theme. You can use the default WordPress theme or you can use your own custom theme.

Here is how to easily install/change WordPress theme in India:

Log in to your WordPress blog website
Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New
Explore the themes & click on the “Install” button on the chosen ones
“Activate” the theme on your website
Go to Appearance > Customize to set up the theme

Before you choose a WordPress theme, consider the following:

What is your purpose for having a blog?
What do you want your blog to look like?
Do you want to customize your blog’s layout and appearance? If yes, then pick a compatible WordPress theme with customizations. Otherwise, stick with the default WordPress theme because it has so many customization options already pre-installed on it.
How much experience do you have in designing websites or creating websites from scratch? If none at all, then stick with the default WordPress themes and leave everything else up to the software’s design and layout options.

Themes are designed and built by professional web designers who know how to make websites look beautiful. Don’t let yourself be limited by what the software can offer because there are other ways that can help improve your blogging experience.

An easy way is by using free themes available for download on sites like ThemeForest, ThemeX, CreativeMarket, etc. You don’t have to buy anything just download what you need and customize them as needed before you upload them to your blog.

Another way is by using free WordPress themes and plugins that are available for download in the official WordPress themes directory.

Step 6: Install WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins are add-ons that enhance the functionality of WordPress. They can be free or paid, but most free plugins are just trial versions and you have to pay for the full version.

You can install WordPress plugins in different ways:

From within your WordPress dashboard by clicking on Plugins and then “Add New” button.
From within your WordPress dashboard by clicking on “Plugins” menu option on the left side of your screen, click on “Add New” and then “Upload Plugin”. Only use this option if you’ve downloaded a plugin into your computer

Here are some essential plugins you can start with:

Akismet: Helps you keep your blog safe from spammers. It scans all incoming comments and automatically deletes those that are spam, and it also checks the comments before they are posted to make sure they are not spam.
All in One SEO Pack: Combines multiple SEO plugins into one easy-to-install package.
Contact Form 7: A contact form plugin that provides a wide range of features and is very popular.
Yoast SEO: Helps you optimize your website for search engines and is the most popular WordPress SEO plugin. It’s free to use, but you can upgrade to a premium version for $30/year or $120/year if you want it for life. You can also buy the premium version on a monthly subscription basis if you want to avoid extra costs.
Recipe Box: A recipe management plugin that allows you to create, edit, and publish recipes on your website. The recipes can be organized into categories and can have comments.

Step 7: Set up Webmaster Tools and Analytics

You are almost done.

The next step on how to start a food blog in India is setting up a way to monitor the performance of your blog.

You will need a Gmail account for these tools:

Create an account on Google Analytics and add your website.
Submit your blog to Google through Google Search Console.

You can use Google Analytics to measure your website’s traffic and other metrics, and it’s free.

You can also use Google Search Console (formerly Webmaster Tools) to monitor how your site is being ranked in search engines. It also lets you submit a sitemap so that search engines know what pages on your site are important.

Step 8: Start Blogging

Now that your blog is up and running, the next step is to start publishing. You can start publishing by adding some posts to your blog.

A post is a piece of content on your website that you want to share with readers. A post can be something as simple as a photo or an article, or it can be a video, an audio file, or even a PDF file.

Posting is the most important step in blogging because it allows readers to see your content.

What should I write about?

You can choose to write about any topic that you feel passionate about.

Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to be an expert food blogger to start a blog. You can write about anything you want to, be it personal experiences, local news, or even recipe articles.

How often should I blog?

It is important for bloggers to blog regularly as it helps them connect with their audience and also keeps them updated with the latest trends and new products.

Your blog post should be at least 500 words long and should contain a clear call to action so that readers know what they can do next.

For example, if you are writing an article on an upcoming event or festival, then make sure that you mention the dates of the event and encourage people to buy tickets or attend the event if they are interested in it.

How to Drive Traffic to a Food Blog in India?

Your food blog in India now has content.

Where are the readers?

There are so many ways through which you can drive traffic to your food blog in India. Here I am listing down some of the top ways through which you can drive traffic to your blog.

#1. Email Subscribers

Many food blogs in India use email subscribers to keep a check on their daily traffic and sales. So, it’s a good idea to make sure that your email subscribers are engaged with your content regularly.

If you want more traffic and sales, then let the readers know about your current offerings and upcoming events by regularly sending them emails. You can also send out a newsletter too that will keep the readers informed about what is happening on your blog and its future plans.

#2. Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, etc have now become very popular for every business in India for better marketing strategies, engagement with the audience and more business opportunities as well. It is also a great way to attract new customers as well as customers from other regions who would love to explore Indian cuisine in particular or Indian culture in general via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter etc..

You can get started with using social media platforms by creating a Facebook page for your business or blog or even making use of other social media platforms like Instagram etc depending on what works best for you in terms of engagement levels, a number of likes and followers etc..

#3. SEO

This is one of the most important ways for any business to get their content seen by their target audience. As the internet has become a very important part of our everyday life, SEO is the key to getting your content seen by potential customers who are searching for information about your product or service or anything else on the internet.

The main advantages of SEO are that it can help you get more targeted traffic to your blog, website or social media platform as well as increase your organic traffic which means more customers will find you through search engines and not just from referrals.

There are many ways to optimize a website for search engine ranking such as using keywords, creating good quality content, and so on. But there are some other things that can be done to enhance search engine rankings like improving site security, making sure that site backlinks have been created properly (if possible), and also making sure that the web pages on your site are structured in such a way that they can be easily indexed by search engines.

These types of things may not seem very significant but it will actually have a huge impact on how well your blog ranks in Google’s search results which means better visibility in people’s searches and greater opportunities for attracting new customers too.

How to Earn from Your Food Blog in India

There are many ways in which you can earn from your food blog in India.

a). Advertisements

First and foremost, you can earn from your food blog by advertising. As a blogger, you can directly reach out to companies and start advertising on your blog.

b). Affiliate Marketing

As a blogger, you can also earn from affiliate marketing. You can sign up with an affiliate marketing company that will help you to promote their products or services on your food blog in India.

c). Sponsored Posts

You can also earn from sponsored posts on your food blog in India. You will have to write a post on the product or service of your choice and make it look like it is written by you.

Make sure that the content is interesting and unique so that people will want to read about it.

Moreover, for every such post that is published on your blog, you will be paid for it in form of money or through some other reward system like discounts or vouchers.

d). Guest Blogging & Content Writing Jobs

If you really want to get started with a successful food blog in India then do not forget to go for guest blogging. You can get a lot of opportunities from guest blogging on various food blogs in India.

Moreover, you can also earn a lot of money from it. Moreover, you can also become a content writer for various businesses and earn from it as well.

e). Online Courses/Digital Products

If you want to earn from your food blog in India then you can also go for online courses and digital products.

You can create a course or a product on any topic related to food and sell it online. Moreover, you can also make videos on the same topic and sell them on your own website.

Also consider selling digital products on your blog such as ebooks, audiobooks, digital documents, etc.

What You Need To Do Next