Home » Misc » How to make money food blogging on instagram

How to make money food blogging on instagram


How Do Food Bloggers Make Money: 21 Ways In 2022!

If you are a foodie and would like to find out how food bloggers make money from their blogs, you have come to the right place. 

There are a variety of ways to monetize your blog, from advertising and sponsorship deals to selling cookbooks and other merchandise. 

If you are new to the world of blogging, it is completely understandable if you’re feeling overwhelmed. 

This is especially so if you are thinking of making a substantial income from your blog. 

Some of your concerns may be:

  • Do you need to have a certain number of followers? 
  • What kind of sponsorships are available?
  •  How do you get started? 

In this post, we’ll outline some of the most common methods food bloggers use to monetize their content. 

I hope this information helps you start generating some income from your blog!

How Do Food Bloggers Make Money:
  1. Brands Sponsorships
  2. Affiliate Links
  3. Merchandise 
  4. Digital Products
  5. Display Advertising Via Ad Network
  6. Online Culinary Instructor
  7. Creating Videos

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

Related Posts:

  • 285+ Food Blogging Names To Boost Your Traffic!
  • 65 Greatest Food Niches For A Profitable Food Blog In 2022!
  • 15 Best Affiliate Programs For Food Bloggers
  • SEO Keywords For Food Blogs That Will Skyrocket Your Traffic! [2023]

What Is Food Blogging?

Food blogging is a type of blog that focuses on food-related topics and it can be a fun and rewarding way to share your love of food with others. 

It can also be a great way to connect with other food lovers worldwide.

A food blogger typically writes about their food experiences, sharing recipes and tips with readers. Some food bloggers also take pictures of their food and post them on their blogs. 

Food blogging has become popular in recent years, as more people have started to share their love of food online through blogs and social media platforms.  

How Do Food Bloggers Make Money?

Food bloggers have become very popular in recent years, as they allow people to stay up to date on food trends and recipes. 

Food blogging can be a great way for people with a passion for food to turn their side hustle into a full-fledged career just like Pinch Of Yum, one of the highest-paid food bloggers. 

Whether you’re just starting out or have been blogging for years, there are many opportunities out there for those willing to put in the time.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how much food bloggers make, it is possible to earn a decent income from food blogging if it’s done correctly. 

Photo By Conscious Design Unsplash

1. Brands Sponsorships

Many food bloggers make money through brand sponsorships which typically involve partnering with food brands, restaurants, or food companies to promote their products or services.

Food bloggers typically work with brands on promoting the partnership via sponsored blog posts, social media mentions, or other marketing efforts and in return the brand or company pays the bloggers for the published contents.  

Generally, such brand sponsorships help both the food blogger and the brand gain exposure and drive new traffic and engagement as proven by Ree Drummond through her partnership with Kraft Heinz.

2. Affiliate Links

As food bloggers have become more popular over the past few years, many food bloggers have begun to make money through affiliate marketing.

These affiliate links, which are typically included in posts or on the food blogger’s website posting or sidebar, direct users to products that the food blogger has promoted or reviewed.

When food bloggers include a link to a brand or product on their website or social media platforms, they may receive a commission for any purchases made by visitors through that link. 

This can be an extremely lucrative income source for food bloggers, who are often able to leverage their significant online audiences in order to generate revenue from affiliate links and here are some of the best affiliate programs for food bloggers.

Photo by Alison McPhee Unsplash

3. Merchandise

Food blogging has become a popular side hustle in recent years and many food bloggers have found success in selling merchandise.

There are a few different ways to go about this, but one popular option is to create food-themed merchandise such as aprons, mugs, or t-shirts and sell them through your blog or on a platform like Etsy. 

The key to selling merchandise is to find a niche market and then produce products that appeal to that market.

For example, if you are a food blogger who specializes in vegan recipes, you might sell vegan cookbooks or food-related items that are suitable for vegans. 

If you can identify a niche market and produce products that appeal to that market, you can make money through merchandise sales and turn it into a lucrative income stream.

4. Digital Products

One common way that food bloggers monetize their food blogs is by developing and selling ebooks that teach readers how to cook specific types of food or comprehensive guides on food photography.

These ebooks can be downloaded digitally by users who have a special link, allowing food bloggers to earn income without needing to fulfill actual orders. 

This is a great way to generate passive income, as once the ebook is created, it can be sold over and over again with minimal effort.

Other than food blogs, these digital products can be sold over Etsy and here is a quick guide on how to sell digital downloads successfully on Etsy.

5. Display Advertising Via Ad Network (Mediavine, Adthrive)

Food blogging has become a popular side hustle in recent years and many food bloggers make money through display advertising via ad networks. 

Ad networks allow food bloggers to place ads on their blogs, and they pay the food blogger based on the number of views or clicks that the ad receives. 

Display advertising is a great way for food bloggers to generate income, and it can be a profitable way to monetize a food blog through these display advertising companies.

However, food bloggers should keep in mind that they will need to have a significant amount of traffic to their blog and this can be achieved by implementing SEO for food bloggers.

Photo By Max Delsid Unsplash

6. Online Culinary Instructor

One popular way that food bloggers make money is through online classes. 

These classes can be geared towards food enthusiasts of all levels, allowing food bloggers to reach a wide audience and generate income from multiple sources. 

In addition to the money they make directly from these classes, food bloggers also gain exposure and increase their recognition within their industry by teaching them. 

Many food bloggers turn to food blogging as a side hustle while they work full-time jobs in other fields. This allows them to gain experience as culinary instructors while making some extra income on the side. 

7. Creating Videos For YouTube, TikTok

Food blogging has become a popular side hustle in recent years, and food bloggers can make a significant income through video creation and posting them on YouTube or TikTok.  

By filming videos of themselves cooking or preparing food, food bloggers can reach a wide audience and generate income through advertising and sponsorships, like this food blogger India. 

Food videos are really popular among millennials and they watch these videos on Youtube for entertainment and to get inspiration on what to cook or eat.

Although creating food videos requires some initial investment of time and resources, it can be a highly lucrative endeavor for those with a passion for food and cooking.

Unique Ways That Food Bloggers Make Money

While we have explored some of the traditional ways that food bloggers make money, let’s think outside the box a little and take a look at some other ways that you can make money as a food blogger:

1. Provide freelance food styling services for photoshoots or cookbooks.

2. Offer to test out recipes for cookbooks or other food publications.

3. Team up with other food bloggers to pool your resources. This can include one person doing photography for all the bloggers in the team and another doing all the video editing.

4. Sell photographs that you take for your food blog or food styling ventures to stock photography websites such as Unsplash or Pixabay.

5. Offer unique home-cooked dining experiences to the public. You can sell exclusive tickets for your followers or subscribers to feast on your cooking!

6. Offer to make quick and healthy lunch boxes for independent pre-schools or nurseries.

7. Start a podcast to share your passion for food and interview other famous food bloggers! Your podcast can further attract ad revenue and sponsorships.

8. Set up a private meal prep business. You don’t have to cook in bulk! To make it more manageable, you can offer meal prep for the first 10 people who purchase your services.

9. Speak at food-related events. This is a double bonus as you can slowly build your reputation in the food blogging industry and then get paid for speaking once you have an established reputation. 

10. Cater for parties and functions and whenever you feel like you are ready, you can cater for events and weddings! 

11. If you are a food blogger who has specialized knowledge in nutrition, you can offer private coaching services to those who may need a little guidance on how to cook healthy meals at home and educate them on nutrition values as well.

12. Set up your own meal kit business. Now this may seem a little ambitious but you can set up your very own version of Hello Fresh on a smaller scale! Offer to buy and prep ingredients for specific meals and sell them online or at small business fairs to make it easier for people to cook a meal at home. 

13. Set up a Patreon account. This is essentially a crowdfunding platform that allows your followers or subscribers to pledge a certain amount to you every month. You can attract more pledges by providing your Patreon supporters with extra special cooking tips, newsletters, or unique recipes.

14. If you are a food blogger that creates your own special sauces, stock power, or other food products that can be kept for long periods of time, you can sell these products at farmers markets, food fairs, or small business fairs. 

Related Posts:

  • How To Start A Blog
  • Is It Too Late To Start A Blog In 2022? Quick Tips To Succeed
  • How To Get An Instagram Sponsorship (11 Unique Tips)
Photo By Charlotte Karlsen Unsplash

What Do You Need To Start A Food Blog?

Food blogging is a great way to share your passion for food with the world and before you start sharing your recipes and food photos, here are some of the quick tips and tricks that will help you to start a food blog successfully.  

First, you need to choose a niche for your food blog and if you have no clue about it, this article has some of the greatest food niches for a profitable food blog.  

Once you’ve decided on a focus, you need to come up with a catchy name and set up your blog. Here is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide on how to set up a blog on WordPress and get paid.

Once your blog is up and running, start creating SEO-optimized content and write posts about your favorite recipes, share food photos, and give readers an inside look at your food-related adventures. 

How Often Do You Need To Post?

As a food blogger, one of the most important questions you will likely face is how often to post on your food blog.

While some food bloggers may be tempted to post as frequently as possible, it is important to strike a balance between posting enough to keep readers engaged while also giving yourself ample time to create quality content.

One approach that many food bloggers use is posting on a consistent schedule, such as once or twice per week. 

This can help you to maintain consistency with your readers and establish a reliable source of income from digital products and affiliate links and regular postings help to build up traffic and search engine rank for your blog. 

If you’re still not sure about the frequency of your blog posts, check out this detailed guide on how often you should blog to make money. 

How Food Bloggers Make Money On Instagram?

Food bloggers make money on Instagram by featuring a brand’s products in their recipes and posting it on their Instagram account. Typically, brands will reach out to food bloggers directly or use an influencer marketing platform like Aspire to connect with food bloggers who have large followings on Instagram. 

Another way that food bloggers make money on Instagram through affiliate links published in their posts.

This method allows you to earn commissions when people click through your links and make purchases on other websites. 

Photo By Eaters Collective Unsplash

How Do Bloggers Come Up With Recipes?

Many food bloggers get inspired by looking at current food trends and this is a great way to come up with ideas for new and exciting recipes. Besides the food trend itself, food bloggers will conduct extensive keyword research and writing before publishing the articles on the blog.

Another popular method is to take inspiration from favorite restaurants or dishes. Replicating a dish at home can be a fun challenge, and it can also result in a delicious and creative new recipe.

Ultimately, the most important thing for a food blogger is to develop recipes that their readers will love. 

By keeping their audience in mind, food bloggers can ensure that their recipes are always hits.

Can You Use Other People’s Recipes On Your Blog?

Most food bloggers would agree that it is permissible to republish other people’s recipes as long as you credit them properly. This means either linking back to the original recipe and giving the author credit or providing their full name or username in your post along with the recipe. 

Some food bloggers also choose to summarize a recipe rather than post the actual recipe in its entirety. 

This helps to ensure that you comply with copyright restrictions while still being able to share delicious dishes with your readers. 

Whatever approach you take, it is essential that you always respect the work of fellow food bloggers and give them credit where credit is due!

Do Food Bloggers Get Free Food?

There is a common assumption that food bloggers get free food from restaurants and food companies in exchange for promoting their products on social media or their websites. 

While this may be true in some cases, there are many food bloggers who rely solely on their own content and cooking skills to create high-quality recipes that people enjoy. 

Many food bloggers also enjoy sharing recipes from other sources, whether they are found online or passed down through generations within their families.  

Additionally, food blogs often provide detailed step-by-step instructions and photos of each recipe, making it easy for readers to try them at home regardless of whether the blogger has ever received any free food products. 

How To Become A Good Blogger?

There are many different tips and techniques you can use to become a good blogger and the most important thing is to be passionate about food blogging. 

  • Provide Creative Food Ideas

You need to come up with fun, interesting food ideas, and experiment with them in the kitchen to create tasty recipes that your readers will enjoy. 

  • Update Your Content

Another essential step is to make sure your blog is updated constantly and properly maintained. This requires you to post regularly and update your older posts with new content as needed. 

  • Make Your Blog Easy To Navigate

Additionally, it’s important to keep the design of your blog clean and easy to navigate, so that readers can easily find what they are looking for without becoming overwhelmed or distracted by cluttering images or text.

Conclusion

Food blogging has become popular in recent years and if you’re passionate about food and love to cook, then starting a food blog could be the perfect way for you to make money from home. 

There are many ways to monetize your blog and we’ve covered some of the most popular methods in this article. 

So what are you waiting for? 

Start blogging about your favorite recipes today and see how quickly your bank balance starts to grow.

Related Posts

  • SEO For Food Bloggers – 21 Best Tips To Grow Your Food Blog 2022
  • 41 Best Books On SEO To Grow Your Income In 2022
  • 27 Blogging Mistakes For Beginners To Avoid In 2022
  • 25 Reasons Why You Should Start A Blog (Personal Experience!)
  • How Much Does It Cost To Start A Blog In 2022

How to make money as an Instagram Food Blogger

I've been an Instagram food blogger for Rainbow Nourishments for about 7 years and my most asked question is: 'How exactly do you earn money as a blogger?' In this post, I'll tell you exactly what I do now and have done in the past, including 6 income streams.

This post is great for people who are at the beginning of their social media career and those still trying to find their feet!

Baked Vegan Cheesecake, one of my most popular recipes

My background

I had a very conventional (and fortunate) career. First, I graduated from uni with two degrees and Honours. Then I immediately got a well-paid and highly sought after federal government job which I worked in for 5 years... and eventually quit! I don't regret my experience - it taught me patience and gave me an professional edge that not all Instagrammers have.

Rainbow Nourishments has been my full time job and only source of income for 6 years. That's a long time for self-employment... and a loooong time in the online world where things change so quickly.

Let's be real: it's hard work and it takes time

First and foremost, if you want to be a 'successful' food blogger on Instagram, focus on and look forward the type of work you're doing (e. g. recipe development and photography). Don't focus on the little bonuses such as flexible hours, making money online and all the food.

If you want the good stuff, you'll need to put in the hard yards first and it can take a few years! That's what Bjork from The Food Blogger Pro Podcast said and I 100% agree.

"I want to be like THAT famous food blogger"

Having role models and goals is great!

However, many people boast how they make soooo much money from working online. Remember that:

  • One person's expectations of a 'great' income can vary a lot to another person.
  • Everyone has different living costs and lifestyles. For example, a person in an expensive city like Sydney or London may have higher costs than a person in the country.
  • They may be in debt
  • They may have a wealthy partner or parents
  • People often only tell you their HIGHLIGHTS!

How I earn money as a Instagram food blogger

I've had about 5-6 income streams under Rainbow Nourishments. While I wouldn't recommend stretching yourself like that in the long term, it taught me the strengths and weaknesses of sooooo many different income streams.

If you're interested in a particular income stream, click below:

Jump to:
  • My background
  • Let's be real: it's hard work and it takes time
  • "I want to be like THAT famous food blogger"
  • How I earn money as a Instagram food blogger
  • Sponsorships and ambassadorships
  • Recipe development and content creation
  • Cookbooks and Ebooks
  • Food blog advertisements
  • Services and events
  • Other ways to be paid as an Instagram food blogger
  • Things I've learnt

Vegan Strawberry Cupcakes

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anthea (@rainbownourishments) on

Raspberry, chocolate and coconut cake created for Drumstick Australia

How to make money on Instagram (especially food accounts)?

Since 2021, selected Instagram creators earn 'bonuses' on the platform to create content. Instagram creators also earn money through sponsorships and ambassadorships!

These days if a person has over 5,000 social media followers, they are considered a 'micro-influencer' and can earn money from collaborating with brands. Food Instagrammers may feature a brand's product in a recipe and can be paid to post it on their Instagram or Facebook.

It's basically peer marketing!

Sponsorships are shorter term paid partnerships (for example, 1-5 social media posts). Ambassadorships are longer term partnerships which can go on for years. Being a brand ambassador normally pays a little less than sponsorships but this is traded for longevity.

Fridge inspiration created for LG Australia

How MANY Instagram followers do you need to make money?

Personally, when I reached around 20,000 followers on Instagram (5 years ago), I started to earn money from sponsorships. The money was minimal but it was something!

In saying that, I've seen Instagram food bloggers earn money from sponsorships once they reach around 5,000 followers. This is uncommon because brands will prefer to exchange product/food for promotion (what we call 'contra').

However, even if you have a smaller number of followers, it IS possible to earn money in other ways. You can develop recipes or shoot photographs for brands or even run online courses!

When can I earn a full-time income from Instagram?

I know several UK and USA Instagrammers who have around 50,000 followers and earn a full-time income from only Instagram sponsorships.

However, Australian companies tend to have a smaller budget so when I had about 50,000 followers, the money I earnt was okay but not enough for a full-time income. When I passed the 100,000 mark, it was easier to have a sustainable income.

Vegan Air Fryer Donuts, developed for Ninja Kitchen Australia

Instagram is my main platform and the majority of my income is from sponsorships and ambassadorships.

I work with brands that align with Rainbow Nourishments and provide high quality products/services. I only work with brands if I can confidentally recommend it to a friend. For example, I have worked with LG Australia, Bonne Maman, CSR Sugar and Almond Breeze and many more.

When I chat with brands about potential work, I often provide a media kit and rates card. These are like a resume in the world of public relations!

When I create sponsored content, I work extremely hard to make sure the brand is getting a lot of value from it and the post will reach a lot of people. I'd say I work even harder than my everyday recipes!

With sponsored content, I also make sure my recipe and photos are top quality and provide value to my audience. It's a win win situation for the brand, my audience and myself.

Vegan Self-Saucing Puddings, developed for Bonne Maman

How much does an Instagram food blogger/influencer earn from sponsorships?

The amount of money a food blogger on Instagram earns from sponsorships varies depending on:

  • The influencer's following and niche
  • Where the influencer is based
  • Quality of the influencer's content
  • How the influencer negotiates money
  • The size of the company and how much they want to invest in social media and their 'budget'

Some influencer apps have a general rate card of what influencers should charge for Instagram posts including Tribe (scroll down or Ctrl F for "How Much Do Influencers Cost?") and The Right Fit. However the above factors are also taken into consideration.

From experience, food companies generally have a smaller budget than companies selling fashion, beauty and other lifestyle products.

Due to that, Instagram food bloggers may earn less than other Instagrammers for sponsorships. However, it really depends on many factors!

Vegan Twix Recipe, developed for Nature's Charm

In my experience, North American food companies tend to pay much more than Australian and UK food companies. And within a country, an Australian beef company will often pay much more than a small independent vegan yoghurt company.

I'd strongly recommend building a genuine support network of Instagram food bloggers. Many of my peers and I openly talk about our rates for certain campaigns making sure we align with each other. The more we share, the better it is for our industry!

Main points: Instagram sponsorships and ambassadorships

The main advantage of sponsorships is Instagram food bloggers are paid well if they have a large following, amazing content and/or work very hard. When you calculate 'hourly rates', sponsorships pay well compared to other income streams.

The main disadvantage is the income is inconsistent and unreliable. Influencers don't know when their next sponsorship will be and we can't control the Instagram algorithm (and the reach of our posts). Learn to save your money for a rainy day!

Recipe development and content creation

Peanut Butter & Raspberry Chia Jam Crêpes I created for Animals Australia

Instagram food bloggers don't necessarily need a large following to earn money online. Companies often pay Instagrammers and/or food bloggers to create recipes or photos using their products for use on their socials, website or advertising. This work is usually done on a freelance or ongoing basis.

This work allows bloggers to work in an area outside their niche. For example, I specialise in vegan desserts but I may create savoury recipes and photographs for brands, such as this Thai Red Curry for Animals Australia. Unlike sponsored posts, you are not required to share these recipes and photographs on your social media.

I also create recipes and contribute content to magazines such as Vegan Food & Living in the UK and Nourish in Australia.

The main advantage of freelance work is the stability. You build a longer-term relationship with companies so there's less hustling and negotiation for everyone.

The main disadvantage is the lower rate of pay compared to sponsored posts.

Cookbooks and Ebooks

When I got my first copy of my cookbook!

If you have a strong and loyal audience, you can sell your recipes to your audience through a cookbook or ebook!

Some people may ask: why would I pay for a cookbook/ebook when I can get recipes for free online?! Well, authors need to prove that your cookbook/ebook needs to provide VALUE in a way that free online recipes don't.

For example, my print book and ebook contains:

  • recipes that have been tried and tested rigorously (like 30 times rather than 10 times haha)
  • commercial recipes from my cake business and I'm not willing to give away for free.

How much money does a first-time cookbook author earn?

The amount of money an Instagram food blogger makes from cookbooks depends on whether you go with a publisher, self-publish, the size of your audience, the book's concept and many other factors.

For print books, if you work with a publisher (like me), you'll earn an advance and might be paid for photography and your ingredients.

While respecting confidentiality, I've seen first-time authors get advances anywhere from $2,000 USD to $30,000 USD (usually in the middle of that scale). Your advance is basically a 'loan' that you 'earn back' through royalties.

Royalties are usually only 6-12% of the wholesale price of a book so cookbook authors may earn 80 cents to $2 per book.

There's a saying that people don't publish print books to make money... I 100% agree!!! However, publishing books may open up other opportunities for you!

How do you self-publish a cookbook?

To self-publish a cookbook, you'll need to invest your own money in the process as you'll need to pay for ingredients, design, printing, advertising and distribution. Plus, you'll need to pay for your own time!

The main advantage of self-publishing is that you'll be able to pocket more of the profits than going with a publisher.

The main disadvantage of self-publishing is you'll have to invest a lot of time into the unglamorous logistics such as negotiating with a printing house and speaking to different book shops to stock your book etc.

How do you make money from ebook cookbooks?

Ebooks cost next to nothing to make. Authors only need to cover their ingredients, time, design and website hosting fees.

I created my ebook over 5 years ago and still earn a passive income through it. The only downside is that there are SO many ebooks out there so there's more competition.

My cookbook, Incredible Plant Based Desserts (hardcover)

Food blog advertisements

Buttery Vegan Brioche my only breadwinner 😉

Display advertising (e.g. banners and videos such as the one below) on a food blog can hugely contribute to a food blogger's income.

If you're focused on social media or Instagram, I'd strongly recommend creating a blog as it can provide income in the long term. VERY simply, the more popular your blog is, the more money you'll make from ads!

From experience, you need at least 50,000 views per month to earn 'ok' money through advertisements. Revenue depends on:

  • what advertising company you are with
  • the niche of your food blog
  • how your food blog is set up
  • what country your readers are from (ad companies prefer if you have a big Northern American audience)
  • the time of the year

My experience with food blog advertisements

You can start to earn decent money from advertisements on your food blog when you reach 50,000 monthly sessions through Mediavine or 100,000 monthly pageviews through AdThrive.

The money I earn from ad revenue makes up a decent chunk of my overall income but isn't the largest portion. However, many bloggers rely on ad revenue to make a living!

Services and events

In addition to my online work as an Instagram food blogger, under Rainbow Nourishments I have also:

Run a cake and catering business selling food to the public. To have a successful cake business, I believe that you need a very strong business mindset, to be physically fit (no injuries), be okay with VERY repetitive work and enjoy customer service. Running a business selling handmade products is not often lucrative so you have to realllllyyy enjoy making cakes (or food of choice)

Hosted in-person workshops teaching people how to make/decorate cakes. I have hosted MANY in person workshops around Australia and internationally. To run quality workshops, you need to enjoy teaching, be ok with public speaking and be quite organised. A workshop may only be 2-3 hours but there are many hours of organising! The profit margins are much higher than running a cake business but workshops are like performances and can be exhausting.

Provided one-on-one consultations and mentoring. I used to provide advice to other food companies on business development, product development and vegan baking. I've also seen Instagrammers provide mentoring to others in their field about how to grow online etc. The money can vary a lot depending on your clients.

A raw vegan wedding cake I made for a customer as part of my cake business

Hosted pop-up events like dinners and high teas where I cooked for large groups of people. To run pop-up events, ideally you need hospitality experience of RUNNING a kitchen/restaurant and not just waitressing. I strongly believe you need to be calm during high stress situations and be physically fit as well!

As you can see, these income streams require a different set of skills (and level of stress) so I'm not going to chat about it in detail here. I closed down my cake business to focus on the online side of Rainbow Nourishments which you can read about in this post.

I often ran cake decorating workshops!

Other ways to be paid as an Instagram food blogger

There are several other ways to earn money as a food blogger including.

Affiliate marketing and commissions is great for people who love selling products and services. You can also integrate affiliate links into your Instagram posts, stories and blog!

Contributing food images to stock photography websites. I haven't done this myself but Mango Street's video is a great guide on this!

Online workshops and courses. I haven't done these myself but I know that profit margins can vary a lot!

Earning a decent income as an Instagram food blogger takes time, just like this vegan jam babka

Things I've learnt

I've had a rollercoaster of a journey with Rainbow Nourishments. It's given me 'life experience' (hahahaha) but things really do pay off over TIME! Through my job, I've really enjoyed connecting with so many of you! I hope this post has helped!

This post was originally written in November 2019 but is constantly updated to provide relevant and useful information.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will respond as soon as possible. Rainbow Nourishments receives a high number of questions through social media and email and is unable to respond to each individual query. Comments on this post are more likely to receive a response!

Food blogger Nastya Monday on how to make money on a hobby / Interview / Basket

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

Cooking and photographing food is more than fun. Nastya Ponedelnik, food blogger, author of nine cookbooks and NeffRussia brand ambassador, told RIAMO correspondent about the difficulties and prospects encountered in the path of culinary bloggers and how to turn a hobby into income.

White Rabbit Chef: Russian cuisine is reindeer heart pate and swan liver>>

@n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- Nastya, please tell us how old your blog is and how it all started?

It all started almost ten years ago. I have always loved to cook. But I never had enough time for that. I started blogging on maternity leave, almost ten years ago. First on the social network Facebook. I posted photos of the dishes I cooked for my friends. Gradually, friends of friends joined in. Then I created a blog in LiveJournal.

And when everyone began to actively use the Instagram network, I moved there. But it is not very convenient to maintain a culinary blog there - it is difficult for users to find recipes. Even if you use hashtags, they can get lost. Therefore, after some time, I made my own website mondaydelights.ru. It is called "Culinary magazine Nastya Monday."

Synchronized swimmer Alexandra Patskevich: about sports nutrition and love for pizza>>

- Is cooking for you a tribute to family traditions, an opportunity to create in the kitchen or a professional occupation?

I graduated from Moscow State Institute of International Relations with a degree in international economics. Worked in the banking industry. Dealt with corporate securities. As you can see, my professional life has not been related to cooking. She has always been my hobby. Exclusively. I didn't think about making any money. In general, this is a family hobby for us - both grandparents and mother cooked well.

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- In the cartoon "Ratatouille" the slogan is: "Everyone can cook." Maybe. But running a food blog is a little different. What qualities should a food blogger have?

Everyone can cook. Photograph food too. A food blogger must have a sense of style, taste for food and photography. Instagram is a tool for visuals. Without a beautiful picture, no one will notice you. But at the same time, it’s not enough just to artistically lay an avocado with wheat germ on a plate. We need a good recipe, proven, which many people will definitely succeed.

A food blogger must understand food, the basics of cooking. It is important to be able to strike a balance between the beautiful and the useful. After all, in fact, there are only a few “generalists” - who shoots cool and writes interestingly. And the process of cooking should not be presented boringly, with a chip that will attract attention, hook, make you read. Even a fictional story is better than just "good morning, here's my scrambled eggs."

Kremlin chef Anatoly Galkin: about the secretary general's porridge and the queen's dessert>>

- What were the difficulties at the beginning of the journey? Is it difficult to become recognizable? Have you experienced fear of video performances in front of subscribers?

I didn't feel any special difficulties. Instagram was just developing, then culinary bloggers could be counted on the fingers of one hand. There were no problems with speaking in front of the public either, I'm not shy. For me, cooking is my passion. It probably gave him confidence.

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- How did you master Instagram ? What life experience helped in this?

There was a time when I worked at Aeroflot and worked on a corporate magazine and newspaper. She wrote articles, interviewed pilots, flight attendants. So by the time I was doing food blogging, I had only experience in journalism. But I don't consider myself a professional.

Experiment: Go without coffee for a month>>

- How long did it take for the blog to start making money?

When I published my first book in 2013, advertisers took notice of me and began to be taken seriously. The first orders for advertising campaigns came from manufacturers of household appliances and food products. Before that, barter was sometimes offered. But he doesn't interest me. I do not want to overload readers and clog up the account with advertising, praising the products that they provided.

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- Tell us how you became an ambassador.

In 2018, I was a Nokia phone ambassador. Brand representatives just messaged me on Instagram. We fruitfully cooperated throughout the year, came up with various competitions. It was a creative union. Now I am the ambassador of NeffRussia premium home appliances. The guys came out to me too. They liked my recipes, I liked their products. I always advertise only what I use myself. I have this brand of appliances in my kitchen. Therefore, I am completely honest with readers.

How to become a healthy vegetarian>>

- There are so many things on your page - there are recipes for chopped meatballs, shrimp in spicy sauce, garlic donuts, bread, nachos, charlotte and more. Is it difficult to cook a lot in order to regularly update the blog with new recipes? Is someone helping you?

It's easy for me. I cook in the family myself, take pictures too. And I blog about what we eat. I don't cook specifically for Instagram. The exception is when you need to advertise a product. Then we coordinate the dish with the advertiser. Therefore, I have live food, real, without fern flowers and unicorn tears.

I am not obsessed with the blog, I write in a mode that is comfortable for me. If blogging was a job, like many bloggers, I would post recipes twice a day. But I think it's an overload for readers. And yes, it would burn out. It seems to me that food blogging is a topic where the reader needs to be given a few days. So that he read the recipe and think about whether he can, if he wants to cook it.

So no routine. I have other things to do besides blogging. I have a child of 11 years old, I have other hobbies - garden design, tennis, swimming.

Exotics in the beds near Moscow: how to grow gourds and grapes>>

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- Is your food blog your main source of income?

This question is rather relevant for bloggers who have over a million subscribers. For whom an Instagram profile is a tool for making money. Blogging is still a hobby for me. And if I manage to make money on it, then this does not cover the income from my main job.

How to read food labels correctly>>

- Is it possible to advance in the food blogging niche without investment in today's conditions?

Cooking, like any hobby, requires investment. The same camera is not cheap, but you still need to buy props, products. You need a platform other than Instagram. When I first started, it was much easier. There are now tens of thousands of food bloggers. Therefore, without investments, it seems to me that it is difficult to move forward. Even if you are super talented.

- Tell us how you became an author of books.

My first books were published by other publishing houses, now I am the author of the EKSMO publishing house. The first publishers came to me themselves. At the time, I was still posting recipes on my Facebook page. They wrote that they liked my recipes and photos. I published my first books as a food stylist.

Then a representative of EKSMO, or rather Bombora, wrote to me. This is the new name of Eksmo non-fiction, the market leader in useful and inspiring books. He offered to write a book, said that they were preparing a series of "Instaculinaria" with the participation of bloggers. My next book is coming out this winter. Back this year, Bombora, but in a different series, released my book about gingerbread houses. In September, a book called “There is meat!” Was published.

© website mondaydelights.ru

- What other projects are you planning? Have you thought about opening your own restaurant?

Restaurant - no. You need to be a restaurateur by vocation, with a name, so that the institution works and does not bring losses. Pay attention to how often signs change at restaurants and cafes in Moscow. Yesterday there was a "Chicken Kingdom", a week later - a sushi bar, a month later - a pizzeria.

I am constantly offered to give master classes. Until we coincide in time with those who offer. In general, I'm not a fan of this format. Everything that I want to tell and show people, I can on the Instagram platform, on the website, in my books.

I don't plan any global culinary events. And there will certainly be contests. In the near future we will hold a symbolic competition with the publishing house, we will raffle books. At one time, cooking contests and marathons were all the rage on Instagram. But this trend is already in the past.

What will happen to dairy prices from November 2019?>>

© @n_ponedelnik on Instagram

- Nastya, would you like to say a few words of parting words to novice food bloggers.

Don't be afraid to experiment. To find your niche and audience, you have to try everything. Post different recipes. For example, a meat eater might run a vegetarian blog. And vice versa. Think - how to surprise, interest your audience.

In my time, I sifted through a bunch of cookbooks. I have a huge library - more than two thousand copies, including foreign literature in the original. Fortunately I know English, French and Italian. I found recipes from different cuisines of the world - Israeli, Arabic, American, South American, Thai, Indian and Chinese. Followed the reaction of subscribers - what they like best. She published both complex dishes, and with rare ingredients, and the simplest ones. When you understand what "comes" to your readers, you will blog in your own style, post recipes specifically for them. You don’t have to bother, go beyond and stand on your head.

I think food blogging should be like a hobby. Those who come for money don't earn it. Cooking is an art. If great artists thought about what they would earn with their paintings, it seems to me that nothing good would have happened to them. For me, the moral satisfaction of blogging is important. This is my vent.

And most importantly - do everything from the heart. When it comes from the heart, sincerely, subscribers and readers always feel it.

How to make money from a food blog

March 11, 2015, 13:00