Phase 2: Steady growth ?
If you have a favorite food blog, think back to the moment you first discovered it. Was it through a mouth-watering image of a sprinkle-covered cupcake on Pinterest? Or were you searching for the perfect warming soup for the transition between winter and spring? What about that blog in particular kept you coming back for more? Was it the recipes? The photography? The easy-to-follow photos that outlined each step?
You’ll know your blog is growing when website traffic picks up, when people start actively searching for your blog, and when the content you share on Pinterest starts getting saved or surfaced in search results and suggested posts. You might have a significant Pinterest, TikTok, or Instagram following at this point.
A screenshot of a Google benin mobile database Trends report showing Half Baked Harvest's popularity over time
Interest over time for food blog Half Baked Harvest. Google Trends
Tieghan Gerard has catapulted to success, and is now a New York Times bestselling cookbook author of delectable reads like Half Baked Harvest Super Simple and Half Baked Harvest Every Day, with almost a million followers on Pinterest. This rise in readership comes with 10 years of hard work.
At this point, you likely have some traction and a solid collection of recipes, and you’re ready to take the next step. You’re making money from display ads, you have solid website traffic, and you’ve gained some steady readership. This is the moment where developing an ebook or even a physical cookbook could make sense for you.
The following suggestions require ecommerce functionality on your website. If you’re already on Shopify, this will be an easy transition. If not, now’s a great time to start a free trial.