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Recipe site

by pbennett
12 replies
Hi all,

I'm brand new to this forum and very new to IM.

I started an online site having to do with a niche that had good numbers. The only thing I didn't realize is that when you're writing about food it seems that you have to have regular posts plus build a recipe database. I'm finding this pretty difficult only because it takes a LOT of time. However, I would like this site to become an authority site in its niche.

Anyway, my question is: How do those of you who have recipe sites handle populating the site? Do you worry about posting lots of recipes in addition to the regular posts or do you just let the recipe section build up as the site builds up. I've been trying to build up the overall site (including recipes) so that I can get affiliate marketing.

Any comments on the best way to handle a food/recipe site?

Thanks!
#recipe #site
  • Profile picture of the author Mike Shain
    "Recipes" is not a niche its a market. Examples of niches would be

    sugar free recipes
    low calorie recipes
    cookie recipes
    cake recipes
    pie recipes
    kosher recipes
    pet food recipes
    diabetic recipes
    ice cream recipes
    etc

    If you are wanting to create an "authority site" you can have a general domain name and break it down into categories as mentioned above. You would need several recipes for each niche.

    I would hunt around for some good recipe PLR articles/ebooks. PLR material is prewritten on given topics. You can edit the articles and make them your own (check licenses for complete rules). This would save a lot of writing for you. You can start here.

    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author pbennett
      my niche isn't recipes. Just the topic requires recipes because it's about food. I can't post the url yet because i haven't been on the forum long enough.

      I was just wondering how populated the site needs to be to be eligible for affiliate marketing and how others handle recipe sites.
      Signature

      Newbie blogger:

      http://www.gluten-free-chocolate.com
      http://tubepans.com

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  • Profile picture of the author new2ebiz
    If your site is a blog you can 'schedule' different times for the posts to show so it appears you add something every day. That way you can sit at the computer at one time and make it appear you can add 5-7 posts a week.

    As to how much you have to have at the beginning, what does your competition do? What would you want coming to a site like yours?

    It takes times to build a 'database' and a loyal following so have at least 5-7 recipes and a few articles on 'how-to' topics at first, and keep adding on a regular basis.

    Good luck
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    Work Smarter http://www.new2outsourcing.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Superior
    Banned
    I have a recipe section on my one website. what i do is, try to post one receipe daily and some times more than one. My website has other sections as well so i have to post there also. But if you have only recipes on you website than you have to post more than 1 recipe daily. If you write recipe in you own words than it will be really batter than copying from internet.
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  • Profile picture of the author Angela V. Edwards
    Originally Posted by pbennett View Post

    Hi all,

    I'm brand new to this forum and very new to IM.

    I started an online site having to do with a niche that had good numbers. The only thing I didn't realize is that when you're writing about food it seems that you have to have regular posts plus build a recipe database. I'm finding this pretty difficult only because it takes a LOT of time. However, I would like this site to become an authority site in its niche.

    Anyway, my question is: How do those of you who have recipe sites handle populating the site? Do you worry about posting lots of recipes in addition to the regular posts or do you just let the recipe section build up as the site builds up. I've been trying to build up the overall site (including recipes) so that I can get affiliate marketing.

    Any comments on the best way to handle a food/recipe site?

    Thanks!
    I have been continuously ServSafe certified since 1993. I have a "Food Safety" ebook on my Angela page that you can put on your site if you want. Just download it and make it available. No optin or anything (you will need to opt in to get the book, but that's just because I haven't fixed how that ebook is available yet); you can give it away freely as long as it's not changed. That is; if it will work for your site.
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    • Profile picture of the author pbennett
      Cool.

      Thanks everybody!

      It looks like I'm doing ok so far....

      I have 12 posts and 21 recipes. I've been up since June 28. I'm really going to have to watch it....arrrgh....writing about food all day can make you hungrier than normal!
      Signature

      Newbie blogger:

      http://www.gluten-free-chocolate.com
      http://tubepans.com

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  • Profile picture of the author rlrlphs
    If you are really doing it hard then you must hire professional writers for your website.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tracey_Meagher
    Originally Posted by pbennett View Post

    Hi all,
    I started an online site having to do with a niche that had good numbers. The only thing I didn't realize is that when you're writing about food it seems that you have to have regular posts plus build a recipe database. I'm finding this pretty difficult only because it takes a LOT of time. However, I would like this site to become an authority site in its niche.
    If you are spending all of your time writing recipes/posts and finding it difficult I would definitely suggest outsourcing the content. This will leave you more time to working on promotion. If you want to build an authority site you will need to spend a lot of time getting your site's name out there through promotion - forum posts, blog comments, guest posts or whatever other means you decide to use for marketing.
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    • Profile picture of the author pbennett
      it's hard for me to outsource the writing because I'm a professional writer. Actually a professional technical writer, but i've been writing for years and years. I am finding it difficult to write in a blog style. I'm pretty much not doing that. I'm concentrating on branding.

      I think the promotion will definitely be the hardest part. However, I've come across something that nobody in my niche is doing, so I'm hoping that will pull me up to an authority site. I just have to do a youtube and get it out there!

      I understand what you're saying about outsourcing, though. I don't know how people do it when you have more than one blog. Last week I spent over 40 hours writing, researching, and testing a few recipes. I can't test them all because i would gain 100 lbs....
      Signature

      Newbie blogger:

      http://www.gluten-free-chocolate.com
      http://tubepans.com

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      • Profile picture of the author DeePower
        I have a food site easygourmetgrilling and a food blog deesdeliciousdinners. neither of them are recipes sites although they do talk about food preparation. I also have a partyideaskids site that includes food ideas and menus for kids' parties. Perhaps we could help each other, and of course other warriors are welcome to participate as well, by guest blogging, exchanging tips and links etc.

        One way I have found that seems to increase traffic is to build a network of sites that link back to my main sites using long tailed keywords. I usually build 6 to 8 squidoo lenses, blogs, wetpaint, xanga, etc. modules under a pen name.

        Dee
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        Are You a Writer? Then you need this FREE guide Convert Your Words to Ca$H Make Money Writing Online
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        • Profile picture of the author pbennett
          You can also buy a recipe script on the net. Then you can actually get other people to submit recipes and rate them etc. so that the content is built for you. The good thing about this type of script is it comes with quite a few recipes preloaded.
          THANKS! I'll look at that and see if it will work. I definitely want people to post recipes. I have a link for that, but no formatting yet.

          Dee, how is the food preparation format working for you? My niche is in the gluten free market, so I don't think we'll be able to link up. I have to make sure everything that is posted, including links, is absolutely gluten free. A few of my adsense ads are not totally gluten free, but I'm hoping my readers will know better!
          Signature

          Newbie blogger:

          http://www.gluten-free-chocolate.com
          http://tubepans.com

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  • Profile picture of the author SaSeoPete
    You can also buy a recipe script on the net. Then you can actually get other people to submit recipes and rate them etc. so that the content is built for you. The good thing about this type of script is it comes with quite a few recipes preloaded.

    Recipe Script

    I am not an affiliate nor do I know the seller. I think it's about $97 or something. Pretty cool way to get other people to build your website for you.

    Pete
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