If you're only going to take one thing seriously in your food blogging business this year, let it be your email list.
I’m not kidding. Email might even be more important than your photos. It’s certainly up there with posting consistently.
Why? Because email gives you a backstage pass to your reader’s inbox.
Read more: The #1 Thing That Grows a Food Blog (and It’s Not Photos)Jump to:
Think about how sacred your inbox is. You don’t just give your email out to anyone. And when you do, and a brand starts sending you updates every other day after you ordered once, it’s annoying, right?
So when someone wants to hear from you via email, it’s a big deal. It means trust. And it’s your job to take that trust seriously.
Start Emailing Your List Now (Yes, Even If It’s Just You, Your Mom, and a Stranger)
Don’t wait until you have “enough subscribers.”
Start now. Even if you only have three people on your list.
Why?
- They don’t know it’s a tiny list.
- You’ll build your confidence.
- You’ll get to make your mistakes while only three people are watching.
Honestly, wouldn’t you rather accidentally send a broken link or weird subject line to three people than 3,000?
Choose a Reputable Email Service
There are plenty of great beginner-friendly platforms out there:
- MailerLite – great free plan and fairly intuitive to use
- ConvertKit – also has a free plan up to 10,000 subscribers, and easy to use
I use ConvertKit, and I love it. (Bonus: I’m an affiliate, and no, you don’t pay more for using my link.)
But Here’s the Part That Drives Me Nuts…
I cannot tell you how many food bloggers I’ve met who have 10,000, 20,000—even 30,000 people on their email list…
And they’re not emailing anyone.
Or they sent two emails last year. Or they don’t know what to send.
Here’s the thing: if you’re putting an opt-in box on your site, you’re entering into a promise.
They signed up. They said, “Hey, I like what you’re doing.”
So don’t ghost them.
Why Email Matters So Much
1. Email brings traffic.
Send out an email linking to your latest post, and people click.
Traffic means ad revenue. And clicks from email tend to convert better (read longer, interact more) than visitors from social or even Google.
2. Email is great for affiliate income.
Again, people signed up for your emails because they like you and they're willing to get to know you.
If they're eating up what you're putting out, they want to know your recommendations for a kitchen tool or an ingredient.
Don’t spam your list with a dozen links.
Instead, try including one affiliate recommendation that fits the post you're sending out. Something like:
- “Here’s the cookie scoop I use for this recipe.”
- “I use this ThermoPro digital thermometer every week—can’t recommend it enough.”
That kind of honest, real-life recommendation converts. Bonus points for using your own photos of the product instead of the brand’s stock images.
3. Email deepens the relationship.
You’ll hear things from readers in email replies that they’d never leave in a public comment.
Email gives you space to be more personal, more relaxed, more real. That builds trust, and trust builds loyalty.
Real Talk: You’re Leaving Money (and Community) on the Table
If you’re not emailing your list regularly, you’re not just missing traffic.
You’re missing:
- Affiliate sales
- Potential Brand deals
- Long-term reader connection
So please—don’t let another week go by without emailing your people.
Even if it’s short.
Even if it’s scrappy.
Even if it’s just saying, “Hey, I made you a new recipe. Want it?”
Start now.
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