Food Blogging Etiquette

This picture doesnt have anything to do with the post, I am just physically incapable of posting here without a picture.

Something that amazes me is the number of new food blogs.  Every single day 100's of people join the food blogging community and begin this fantastic journey of documenting the one thing that we all share... a love for food.

I thought maybe I could share a few tips for creating a successful, but more importantly, friendly food blog. 

Why is "friendly" more important then successful?  It is my opinion that you cannot attain great success unless you first choose to do it the right way.

1. Do not post someone else's recipe verbatim.  Do post the directions in your voice.

You can certainly post ingredients exactly, but the directions should always be in your own words.  How did you prepare the food?  That is how your directions should read.  Even if you followed another recipes directions precisely, you should still share your experience in your words.  

2. Do not use someone else's pictures without permission. Do take your own pictures.

In some instances you really just want to showcase someone else's work. (if you are using their pictures, try to limit it to one) This is a wonderful aspect of the food blogging community and one that is encouraged!  However, always always always provide proper links back to the original blog.  If you really want to use someone else's pictures, simply ask them for permission.  Most bloggers have a disclosure preference on their blog if you are unsure.  When in doubt, ask!

Even if you are not an expert photographer, people still want to see how you prepared the food.  It is your blog!

There is always opportunity to learn more about taking better picture of food. (Here is a quick tutorial)

3. Do not take credit for someone else's work.  Do provide proper links and accreditation.

 

If you chose to make someone else's recipe (which is not only common but expected) you make sure you are very clear with your readers about who provided your inspiration.  This involves clearly explaining where the recipe source originated.  If possible, try to include a link back to the creators website.  

If ever in doubt, just ask yourself the food bloggers Golden Rule, "How would I want to be credited if someone was using my recipe?"

I hope that these little tips can help you to not enjoy enjoy the food blogging experience, but help you to develop strong and long lasting relationships with other food bloggers!

 

Comments

[Jenny]

Argh. Again??

[Jenny]

Oh, that sounded bad. I didn't mean, "Argh. You're writing about this again??" I meant, "Argh, this has happened again??"

[Amy]

Helpful and informative!

I have to think many new to the blogging community just don't understand what they're doing when they copy writing and photos verbatim and/or don't credit back, so this is good stuff for those that just don't know any better.

The ones that do know better, shame on you.

[bridget {bake at 350}]

I think this is perfect...."If ever in doubt, just ask yourself the food bloggers Golden Rule, "How would I want to be credited if someone was using my recipe?" Perfectly said!

[shelly (cookies and cups)]

awesome post amanda!
Spot on!

[Paula]

A good post with some great tips Amanda. Food blogging etiquette, as in all blogging etiquette is basically just applying good common sense and fair play to all one's blog posts. Unfortunately, there will always be some who choose to sacrifice both when they hit their publish button.

[Angie @ Bigbearswife]

Wonderful Tips!!

[megan @ whatmegansmaking]

Great post! I think it's also good to keep in mind that most people aren't trying to steal your work and credit. (some are, but hopefully they are the exception). Most bloggers, especially new ones, don't realize what they're doing and how it comes across to the person who created the recipe/picture. I probably offended people when I first started and certainly never meant to! Great reminders, thanks Amanda! :)

[SnoWhite @ Finding Joy in My Kitchen]

Such a well-written post!! Thank you for sharing these insights -- that are great things to do to be a friendly blogger :) Always give credit!!!

[Kokudagbokin]

Great post and a useful reminder :) I am a new food blogger and always do my best to add links and other information when using someone else´s ideas or recipes. Thanks Amanda!

[Sherri B.]

I do appreciate you taking the time to cover these important tips and rules to blog by. I am just sticking my toes in the water with my food blog (actually not much more than that) and still not always sure of what I'm doing, so all words of wisdom are welcome. Thanks!

[Cookbook Queen]

Great post!!

It's so simple when put like this.

[Caroline @ chocolate and carrots]

Well said, Amanda! :-)

[Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction]

GREAT post, Amanda! There's been a lot of discussion regarding photos and ethics lately, and I think this is a great reminder for everyone!

[Amber]

Wonderful post, Amanda. My mentor once told me that her #1 rule in life is "First, we must always have manners." I try to live my life by that, because she's absolutely right. And I think that's pretty much the gist of your post too - First, we must always have blogging manners!

Love ya bunches x

[Aly ~ Cooking In Stilettos]

Love this post and adore the Food Blogger's Golden Rule!

[Lisa]

Etiquette goes out the window on food blogs...you shove all this deliciousness in our faces, and then we can't eat it then and there! Boo :)

xoxo!

[Barbara]

Great advice!

[Lorie]

Always a good reminder!! And thanks for all your great inspiration!

[Laura]

This is such a perfect post, because I just started my blog yesterday, littlegirlbigtaste.com! It's a blog covering my obsession of baking and fashion :) I just credited you for your red velvet strawberry shortcake that I made for Father's Day! Thank you for being an amazing and inspirtational blogger and I hope you get the chance to check out my blog :)

[susan]

GREAT ADVICE - AMANDA! You are not only a teacher to your 4 adorable tots, but you teach all of us each and every day! xx

[Shaina]

DO drool over Amanda's gorgeous cake. DO scroll back up to get a second look. Fantastic reminders for those that can't keep up with copyright propriety.

[trisha]

AMEN SISTER!

[Sue]

Well said, Amanda!

[Manju]

great post!! you are true, with the amount of new food blogs popping up all over, many can do with some good advice like this.

[Renee]

Great insightful tips!

[Allison @ Alli 'n Son]

I agree 100%! Even if this has been said before, it's always worth repeating, there are always new ears to hear it.

[TidyMom]

Great post and reminder Amanda!

[HeatherChristo]

Great Advice from a very "friendly" blogger :)

[Kathy - Panini Happy]

Agreed! When in doubt, go with the Golden Rule. :-)

[leanna]

i'm still somewhat new with food blogging and was irritated beyond belief when someone took my step by step pics and reused them without proper credit. it's a basic courtesy and i'm so happy to read a reminder here as well. i learn so much from this blog and others. thank you for sharing your baking successes with us and making us look forward to reading more :)

[Amy @ A Little Nosh]

I know I've committed some blogging/social media faux pas (of course, with only good intentions) but this is always a great reminder. A rule I now try to follow is that if I can't get permission from the blogger to repost their recipe, I just don't post it. I post my own pic of the finished product and then give a link that basically says to click over to their site to see the full recipe.

[Lucy Lean]

Miss Do As You Would be Done By - love this post and wish more people would be more honest about where they are getting their inspiration from.

[Jill]

As a former high school English teacher and food blogger, I'm all for responsible attribution. Thanks for a great piece.

[gloria]

absolutely agree, a recipes blogs is a lot of works and time!! nice post! gloria

[Brooke @ Food Woolf]

Hmmm. Maybe you should direct your new blogging friends to my other website, http://foodethics.wordpress.com/thecode/. That seems to help give people some good solid ideas. Thanks for a great post!

[Tree_village]

So important, it frustrates me to no end when I see someone taking someone else's hard work and not even giving a breath of credit/appreciation for the hard work that came before them. The creative community as a whole depends on friendliness and respect.

[Possible Baker]

Thank you for the post on food blogging manners! As a new baking blogger, I really appreciate these words (from an expert in the field!) and will take them to heart as I continue to bake. Love your blog!! And your baking!!

[sweetsugarbelle]

Simple good advice!!!

[Laura]

I hope the blogger I saw who posted your flower cake about a week ago sees this!! I was reading through my usual blogs in Google reader and there was your cake! I read through the post and expected to see a notation back to you and was a bit flustered when it wasn't there!! I should have emailed her, but was really uncomfortable and just clicked away. I won't do that again!!

Great words of advice to us all!! :)

[Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking]

Great post, Amanda! I think a lot of this is common sense, but people tend to forget or some just don't care, unfortunately. Everyone needs to be reminded now and then. Thank you.

[Nancy @SensitivePantry]

Spot on! When you follow the essential food blog etiquette you've laid out you'll have a site you can call your own with pride.

[Robyn]

You always have the perfect words.

[Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen]

Well thought and well said. I think your Golden Rule of Blogging is true, we should all look out for one another as well. If we see a fellow blogger's work being misused, I think that we should also inform that person so that they can take appropriate action if necessary. If we all work together we can create a respectful environment in which we can all be successful at what we do.

[Sandi]

Just curious....where do you think Pinterest fits in w/this? I know that when you pin something that it includes the web address of the site you pinned it from, but I could swear that I saw some cakes on there that were attributed to people other than where I had originally seen them. (Did that make sense?) Anyway, I just started pinning and I hope I'm doing it right because I never want to put something up there w/out giving full credit, but was just wondering about everyone else. Thanks.

[marla]

Great post Amanda. I agree with everything you say here. I am wondering what current events have triggered you to write this. I hope it helps the people that need it most ;)

[Nayma Mazloum]

In the end, it all resumes in "respect and common sense". Good post, Amanda!

[Elle]

I think I got an idea as to why you're reposting this. Although I completely agree with you that other bloggers should always give credit to others from which they got the ideas, recipes, etc, and understand your frustration when you're not given credit...this is a situation that is difficult to enforce. Perhaps instead of being frustrated, angered or whatever, we can look it as flattery that they liked your idea(s) so much that they want to use it and share it with others. Also maybe sometimes, we might think we came up with something original, but someone else with a similar mind could come up with it too, unaware that you had already publicly published it :)

[etta]

I made your rose cake ones,(http://maison-etta.blogspot.com/2011/05/sunny.html) I think I followed the etiquette right? :-) .. I really hope so!!! Cause you are the best you know!
Kisses
Etta

[deva]

wonderfully stated. i love showing off your rose frostings on my blog. hope you don't mind. i think i'm in the clear b/c it's a total advert for your genius!