Simple But Impactful SEO Strategies Any Food Blogger Can Do

Search engine optimization (SEO) can be difficult to keep up with – especially in 2024. Shifting Google algorithms seem to update more frequently than ever. 

No one understands this better than food bloggers. It’s been a rollercoaster and I see you. 

Ranking high on a search engine results page is essential for a recipe. There are so many options to pick from and home cooks often choose what’s right in front of their eyes. 

Here’s the thing. Despite lots of Google turmoil, the core of high-performing recipe content stays the same.

Some of the most impactful SEO strategies you can implement are the simplest. 

As long as you are showing up authentically and sharing valuable content, you’re already on the right path. 

If you’re not doing that, Google can see right through you.

Keyword research, SEO titles, and meta descriptions matter too, of course. But if you only focus on these technicalities you’re missing most of the impact. You may even be penalized for over-optimizing your posts. 

Sometimes we need to stop trying to master all the fancy stuff and just do the simple things well. 

When I write for food blogs, I always keep these 3 simple SEO strategies in mind. They’ve proven to make all the difference. 

Food Blog SEO #1: Teach, Don’t Tell

Recipes are educational tools. You are literally guiding a home cook through the kitchen and helping them craft a delicious meal. 

They’re also full of lots of steps and rules. Sear then simmer. Blend up a sauce. Deglaze the pan with wine. Etc. Etc. It can get very technical. 

Your recipe card already takes care of all these nitty-gritty details. There’s no need to re-iterate too much of the process in the blog post.

Instead, take the text to explain what the home cook should be doing and why. 

Don’t assume everyone knows what it means to deglaze a pan (or why it matters). Blending a sauce in the food processor may seem simple to you, but if the order or blender speed matters then teach people why. 

Imagine that you were standing in your kitchen, making the dish with your friend. There’s no recipe to follow – you’re just working alongside each other and talking things through, having a great time. 

Your readers are your friends. Talk to them like you would to your peers. Don’t make it complicated or fussy. Make it simple, easy to understand, and teach them a little something fun along the way. 

Life as a Strawberry does this well. Reading Jessie Johnson’s posts sounds like I’m hanging out in the kitchen with her on a Saturday afternoon. She’s thought through every essential element of her recipes to find the perfect approach and she’ll tell you why. But it’s no pressure. 

I worked with Jessie on writing recipes like her Rosemary Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes. We prioritized adding helpful context for readers like how to brown butter without burning it and obsessively-tested tips for the fluffiest mash.

This adds tremendous value to your blog. 

It doesn’t take much effort to TELL someone how to make a dish. TEACHING them, however, adds that little extra ounce of effort that makes all the difference. 

Food Blog SEO #2: Showcase Your Expertise (And Know Where It Stops)

If you’re a food blogger, then you must have some passion for food. 

Maybe you’re a former line cook who wanted a more flexible lifestyle. Or your grandmother taught you how to bake when you were 4 years old and you’ve spent your whole life covered in flour by her side. Perhaps you were raised in a culture that made you an expert in regional cuisine. 

Whatever it is, you have it. 

Leaning into what you know matters. Rather than trying to make recipes for everyone at once, choose to make the dishes that reflect your expertise. 

Make Google understand what you specialize in. The algorithm will come to know you as an expert. 

And don’t be shy about it! Give context to readers about why you specialize in something – whether it’s cupcakes, Korean BBQ, or vegan breakfast. Share where your inspiration and experience come from. 

A great place to mention your credentials is on the About Page on your website. But I also recommend taking the opportunity to do this in relevant posts. 

For example, Jess Larson of Plays Well With Butter was raised by a mother who grew up in Hawai’i. She spent her childhood visiting family there and has learned how to re-create some of her favorite native Hawaiian and local-style dishes when she’s back on the mainland. We reference this experience all the time in her family recipes like Shoyu Ahi Poke and Hawaiian Mac Salad. 

With that in mind, it’s also important to understand where your expertise stops. You should never pretend to know more than you do.

This is especially true with cultural dishes. Never claim to make something “authentic” unless you truly are an expert in a culture’s cuisine. 

High-ranking, culturally appropriated recipes are a huge bummer. That’s why I’m proud Jess ranks so high for her carefully crafted Spam Musubi. 

Food Blog SEO #3: Be Trustworthy

Truthworthiness is all about sharing accurate and useful information. The ultimate way to earn trust in the food blog world is to simply make good recipes. 

Toni Okamoto from Plant Based on a Budget delivers on her promise with every post. All of her recipes are simple, plant-based foods that you can make without having to splurge on specialty ingredients or equipment. They’re budget-friendly and delicious – making it easy for anyone to try a plant-based diet. 

Toni is exactly who she says she is. 

When you cut corners on flavor, people will notice. Design every recipe to be as delicious as possible, so visitors keep coming back to make it over and over. Or to see what other new recipes you’ve shared lately. 

This traffic to your website tells Google that you have a good reputation. 

Other elements like 4 or 5-star recipe reviews and relevant Q&A in your comments help Google understand that you are a trustworthy cook.

At this point, it’s clear you’re delivering the value you promised. Good food.

Trying to outsmart the Google algorithm is also an easy way to make your food blog untrustworthy. Stuffing keywords and creating unnatural links will not serve you – it will hurt you. 

Home cooks trust sources who are authentic. Act naturally, speak truthfully, and aim to always help others. It will take you far.

SEO can seem incredibly intimidating. But in my opinion – the more complicated the rules get, the simpler it becomes. 

It’s more important than ever to be as authentic to yourself as possible. 

With the addition of AI-generated content and search, there’s more poor-quality content online than ever before. 

The best way you can stand out is to be genuine. 

Act like a teacher, showcase your expertise, and build trustworthy recipes. 

This will carry you far, no matter what Google update comes tomorrow.