5 Steps for Creating a Food Blog That Solves Problems

Despite all the advances of the 21st century, modern Americans still have a lot of problems to tackle every day. Women are trying to balance work and family. Men are establishing themselves as equal partners in the home, taking on more of the household chores and caregiving. Young people are trying to navigate the adult world, often without the traditional support of homemaker moms and sewing machine-savvy home ec teachers. And Americans of all ages are dealing with health issues relating to stress and poor diets.

While a food blogger can’t tackle all of the worries that their audiences face every day, it doesn’t hurt to try and offer solutions when you can. Take these steps to build a reputation as a trusted problem-solver.

#1 Know your audience

In order to solve the problems of your audience, you need to know who they are. Working moms are dealing with a different set of challenges than college students who are trying to figure out the whole “adulting” thing.

#2 Identify their biggest problems

Once you know who is reading your blog, it’s time to have some one-on-one time with them. If your audience is moms, talk to all the moms you know and ask them what’s giving them trouble in the food department. Is it their busy lifestyles? Picky eaters? A tendency to overindulge on fast food? Likewise, if you’re trying to reach out to more vegans, talk to vegan friends and find out what they’re struggling with.

#3 Remember the little challenges, too

Even if you belong to the group that you write for, don’t assume that you’re already addressing all of their problems. Maybe you’re a professional with a hectic lifestyle, and your blog focuses on quick meals. Keep in mind that a thirty minute recipe may take thirty minutes for you because you’ve had years of practice. If you assume the same level of expertise in your audience, you might miss the opportunity to teach your peers the tricks of the trade that actually make those quick meals possible.

#4 Consider multiple intelligences

Everyone learns differently. Some people work better with a video tutorial while others would rather read through an instructional blog post. When you’re addressing a specific problem, think about ways that you can make your solution clear for a variety of learning types. Include photos that illustrate steps, quick videos to demonstrate tricky techniques, and concise, easy-to-follow instructions.

#5 Get feedback

Take a scientific approach. Don’t assume that your efforts are effective – ask your readers. Find out what you’ve done really well in addressing problems and where you’ve still got room to grow.

What problems are you solving on your food blog?