5 Quick and Effective Strategies for Speedy Food Blog Post Writing
Is it taking you hours to write one food blog post? Do you want to start publishing more blog posts that rank on Google? Then you need these 5 strategies to help you write your food blog posts faster!
If you want to learn how to write a good food blog post, check out my post, How to Write a Food Blog Post That Keeps Readers Hungry for More.
From recipe testing to marketing to writing blog posts, the work of a food blogger is never done. This ever-changing, saturated market requires you to constantly be publishing new content! So, it’s clear that spending hours writing one food blog post can be a waste of valuable time.
But what if writing isn’t your thing? And where are you even supposed to start when it comes to the writing process?
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn five quick and effective strategies that will help you write your food blog posts faster. Mastering each one will not only help you grow your business and food blog, but will also get you back to doing what you love most – cooking, experimenting, and connecting with your audience.
Before you get started…
There are three things you should have handy before you begin writing any blog post:
The primary keyword you likely researched ahead of testing the recipe.
Any notes you took while testing the recipe.
Notes about your personal experience with the recipe, as well as any anecdotes you want to share.
These three items will guide your research process, give you ideas of what to write about, and prevent you from going off on tangents.
How to write food blog posts fast
1. Research
This is always the first step in the writing process! Research not only gives you talking points and helps your post perform better, but it also shows Google that you know what you’re talking about and that the reader can trust you.
A food blogger should always be performing (1) keyword research, (2) competitor research, and (3) basic research on the topic they’re blogging about:
To start the keyword research, type your primary keyword into your keyword research tool of choice, such as Keysearch, Ubersuggest, Semrush, Rank IQ, etc. Use the results to put a list of high-volume, low-competition secondary keywords together. You’ll integrate these into the blog copy.
Next, look at what the top-ranking competitors are writing about. Take note of the questions they’re answering, ingredients or substitutions they include, and any other hot topics.
Take your post over the top (and better than the competition) by including information you feel can help your audience (ie: recipe tips, process photos, FAQs, etc.) and by backing up claims with reputable sources.
Pro-tip: ALWAYS back up the claims you make (health benefits, origins of a dish, etc.) with trustworthy third-party sources. This will improve your credibility, which can help your content perform better and rank higher in Google searches.
2. Re-use the same format
The best way to slow down your writing process is by re-inventing the wheel every time you write a post. Instead, streamline your process by using the same blog format over and over again. Repeat the headlines, keep the tone, voice, and style of the writing similar, and stick to a consistent word count.
A dedicated format also helps with your food photography. Having a good idea of the headlines you’ll include and topics you’ll cover allows you to go into the photo shoot with a plan and a shot list.
3. Start with jot notes
You do not need to start writing paragraphs immediately after formatting your blog post in WordPress or a Google Doc! Instead, start with jot notes or bullet points under each of the headlines and questions. This is a less overwhelming place to start the actual writing process.
Under every headline, write a few bullet points of topics you want/need to cover in this section. This way, when you’re ready to go full force with your paragraphs, the hard part is already done! All of your helpful notes are there for inspiration and direction.
Do you love your recipe but you aren’t sure how to describe it? Spark your inspiration using my list of 110 Adjectives to Describe Food.
4. Editing and proofreading made quick
Editing is like fine-tuning a recipe – it takes it from good to great. After the post is written, check for spelling and grammar errors, and read it out loud to ensure everything flows.
When I write food blog posts for clients, I like to edit them both as I go and after they’re finished. A tool that helps me do this is Grammarly. It highlights mistakes and cuts down on the editing and proofreading time after the post is done.
Pro-tip: Take the editing time as an opportunity to give the post a little more pizazz. Add a “yum!” here and there for emphasis, make sure to include internal links to your existing recipes, and infuse your personality in any way you see fit.
5. Publish recipes you’re obsessed with
This last tip almost goes without saying - when you write about something you’ve spent a lot of time on and deeply care about, the words are sure to effortlessly flow out and onto the page. Bonus: that thought and care will be picked up by the reader, which helps them connect with you on a more personal level.
Recipes or topics that aren’t as exciting but can help you rank on Google are better off being outsourced to a food blog ghostwriter.
Growing your speed over time
Becoming a faster writer takes practice and patience but these 5 tips will help you make progress! Celebrate your milestones – every moment you shave off your writing time is a victory.
These strategies will undoubtedly set you on the path to becoming a faster, more efficient food blogger. And if you're hungry for even more time-saving tips and tools, be sure to check out The Ultimate Time Saving Kit for Food Bloggers. Happy writing!