10 Social Media Tips for Food Bloggers–From a Social Media Manager

So you’re a food blogger. I’m sure you know how to cook or bake like your life depends on it, but who knew that to be successful you’d have to become a social media guru too?? Since starting my social media management agency, I’ve learned a lot about how food bloggers specifically can grow their presence online. Social media can be a gold mine! But it’s not a get-rich-quick-scheme, and there’s no “magic formula” (sorry to disappoint you if you hoped that this blog would tell you that was the case). 

To get your recipes out there into the world and find ever more interested bakers, I’ve written out the top ten tips that I’ve gathered to help a food blogger succeed on social media. So if you're hungry for success in the world of food blogging, you've come to the right kitchen (I couldn’t help myself to the food puns…)!

#1: Direct People Back to Your Website

Picture your website as the main course, and your social media platforms as the appetizers. They’re the precursor that’s tempting your viewers to keep eating. Always include a link back to your website. You can do that in your bio or posts to ensure your followers can see more of your content. Blogs are the place that you’re most likely to make revenue from, so by regularly leading them there, you get the most out of your social media platforms. Plus, once they’re on your blog, they’re more likely to stay past the initial post that got them interested and find more value from you. This helps convert them long-term.

#2: Add Trending Sounds

Trending sounds can always spice up your food videos! Whether it's the sizzle of a hot pan, the satisfying crunch of a crispy treat, or the newest popular song, incorporating popular sounds can make your content more appetizing to your audience. This not only creates more interest, but will also help new audiences to be exposed to your content. It’s just another place you can widen your audience for free and find more potential followers.

#3: Adapt Trends to Your Niche

Along with #2, take those trends that you find and apply them to your specific niche. You can mix and match things that have already been done to create something new that’s uniquely yours! Whether you're a vegan chef, a dessert gal, or a BBQ master, find ways to adapt popular trends to fit your culinary niche. The more clever, funny, or aesthetically pleasing, the better.

#4: Post Regularly

This is going to sound pretty straightforward, and maybe not exciting, but the basics are the basics because they work. Consistency is key to social media success. Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and hungry for more; it reminds them that you’re there and relevant so you are top of mind for them when they start thinking about what to make for dinner. Whether it's daily recipes, weekly kitchen adventures, or monthly cooking challenges, find a posting schedule that works for you and stick to it. Over time, it pays off.

#5: Be Active on Stories

Stories are useful in different ways than posts–they're quick, they're bite-sized, and they leave your audience wanting more. This is another great way to stay top of mind for your followers. Use this feature to give them additional valuable content like behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, cooking tips, and interactive polls. This will be crucial to keep your followers engaged and loyal.

#6: Research Hashtags

Hashtags are an important factor to making your posts more viewable! Take the time to research relevant hashtags in the food blogging community and sprinkle them throughout your posts. Not only will this boost your visibility, but it'll also attract fellow foodies to your digital dinner table. Find the goldilocks amount–you don’t want to be excessive about it, but you also don’t want to use too little and miss out on new audiences finding you. 

There isn’t an exact number for success here, but somewhere around 5-8 tends to be a sweet spot. Experiment for your account specifically to find out what works best for you.

#7: Engage with Your Audience

At the end of the day, the goal of social media is all about building connections, so don't be a stranger—get chatting! Respond to comments, slide into DMs, and start conversations with your followers. It may seem weird at first, but the more you engage back, the more loyal your followers will be to you. And loyal followers don’t unfollow you. It’s a lot harder to get a new follower than to retain one you already have! You’ll also tend to see higher engagement when you engage back more. 

#8: Use Multiple Platforms

Your social media strategy should have a little bit of everything. Experiment with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and even Twitter to reach different audiences and showcase your culinary skills from every angle. You have a new opportunity for fresh eyes on every platform, so take advantage!

When you’re making content, it’s a no-duh that you want to get the most out of each recipe and reel you make. So you might as well post the same thing to every platform you can, to get the widest reach possible on each single piece of content. It takes so much less time to repost the same recipe on every platform than to come up with a new recipe for each individual post you share.

#9: Establish Your Tone and Voice

Every chef has their own signature style, and your social media should be no different. Whether you're cheeky and charming or sophisticated and informative, find your voice and let it shine through in your posts. Authenticity is always rewarded. People can often tell if what they’re being fed on social media is fake, and on the other hand people love feeling like they’re genuinely friends with the influencers they follow. You’re much more likely to grow if people can get to know and love your signature style that’s unique from other food bloggers they may follow.

#10: Voiceovers Are Key 

Want to take your food videos to the next level? Don't forget the power of voiceovers! Whether you're narrating a recipe, sharing a heartfelt cooking story, or simply adding some personality to your content, adding your voice can make your videos even more mouthwatering and engaging. Just like I mentioned in #9, people want to feel like they’re interacting with a real person, and voiceovers help them feel like a friend is explaining their recipe to them. That’s something they’re much more likely to like and comment on!

And there you have it, ten of my best tips to help you become the ultimate social media masterchef. As you work to implement these tips, just remember–consistency over perfection. There is always some element of trial and error with growing an audience! As you fine-tune your voice, your content, and your posting plans, you’ll be able to see it pay off over time. 

And last but not least, good luck! May your feeds be forever filled with viral recipes and hungry followers.