Have you ever thought about turning your love for food into something more than just cooking in your kitchen?
A food blog allows you to share recipes, food reviews, kitchen tips, and cultural food experiences with people all over the world.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a professional chef before you can start a successful food blog in Nigeria.
In this guide, you will learn step-by-step how to start a food blog in Nigeria, from choosing your niche to monetizing your blog.
Step 1: Understand What a Food Blog Is and Why It Works
A food blog is an online platform where you share content related to food. This can include:
- Recipes (e.g. Nigerian Jollof, Egusi soup, puff-puff)
- Restaurant reviews
- Cooking tips or ingredient shopping guides
- Healthy meal plans
- Cultural and traditional dishes
- Fusion cooking (African + Western styles)
Why it works in Nigeria:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Large population | Over 200M people — big local audience |
| Strong food culture | Every region has unique recipes |
| Interest from abroad | Nigerians in the diaspora + foreigners love African dishes |
Step 2: Choose Your Niche
Food blogging is broad. Choosing a niche helps you stand out and rank faster on Google.
Popular food blog niches in Nigeria:
| Niche | Example content |
|---|---|
| Traditional Nigerian dishes | How to cook Ofada sauce |
| Healthy Nigerian recipes | Fitness meal prep with local ingredients |
| Budget food blog | Cheap healthy meals under ₦2000 |
| Restaurant review blog | Best Suya spots in Lagos |
| Fusion & Afro-international | Nigerian meals with a twist for global audience |
Tip: Choose a niche you enjoy. Consistency is easier when you love the topic.
Step 3: Pick a Good Domain Name and Hosting
- Domain name = your blog address.
Example: NaijaFoodie.com, AfricanKitchenHub.com - Hosting = service that makes your blog available on the internet
Recommended registrars for Nigerians:
| Registrar | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Truehost | Local pricing, Paystack available |
| Hostinger | Low cost, good for beginners |
| Namecheap | International, easy to use |
When choosing your domain name:
- Make it short and easy to remember
- Avoid complicated symbols
- Use keywords related to food (e.g. food, kitchen, taste, cuisine)
Step 4: Install WordPress and Choose a Theme
WordPress is the most popular blog platform in the world. It is FREE and beginner-friendly.
Steps:
- Login to your hosting account
- Look for “1-click WordPress install”
- Set up your admin username and password
- Log in to yourblogname.com/wp-admin
Choose a food blog theme A theme controls the design of your blog. Some free WordPress themes for food blogs include:
- Foodica Lite
- Ashe
- Kale
Choose one that is:
- Mobile friendly
- Clean and fast loading
- Easy to customize
Step 5: Plan Your Content
Content is what will attract your readers. Create a simple content plan with different categories. For example:
| Content Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Recipes | How to cook Banga soup |
| Food Reviews | Review of Yellow Chilli Restaurant |
| Guides | Where to buy fresh crayfish in Lagos |
| Healthy Meals | Low calorie Nigerian breakfast ideas |
Use Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or Answer the Public to find keywords people search for (e.g., “how to cook Ogbono soup step by step”). Use those keywords in your titles and headings.
Step 6: Write and Publish Your First Posts
Each blog post should:
- Open with a short introduction (2–3 sentences)
- Have clear headings (H2, H3)
- Use simple language
- Provide step-by-step instructions
- End with a small conclusion or call to action
Example of a blog title: “How to Cook Nigerian Fried Rice (2024 Step-by-Step Recipe)”
SEO Tip: Include keywords like “Nigerian food,” “recipe,” or “best” in your title.
Step 7: Promote Your Blog
Don’t just publish and wait. Promote your posts using:
| Platform | How to use |
|---|---|
| Share food photos + link to blog | |
| TikTok | Short cooking videos |
| Facebook groups | Nigerian food lover communities |
| Pin recipe images for global audience | |
| WhatsApp Status | Share new post with contacts |
If you’re a chef/caterer, you can share links along with short promotional offers (“Order full pan of Jollof – link to recipe in bio”).
Step 8: Grow Your Audience
To grow your traffic:
- Post consistently (at least 1–2 times per week)
- Reply to comments (build trust)
- Collaborate with other food bloggers (guest posts, interviews)
- Join forums (e.g. Nairaland Food Section or Reddit r/NigerianFood)
Step 9: Monetize Your Food Blog
There are several ways to make money from a food blog in Nigeria:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Google AdSense | Display ads on your blog and earn per click |
| Affiliate marketing | Promote kitchen equipment and earn commission |
| Sponsored posts | Brands pay to be featured |
| Sell your own products | E.g. eBook with 30 Nigerian recipes |
| Cooking services | Use blog to get catering clients |
Pro-tip: Make sure your blog follows Google AdSense guidelines before applying:
- No copied content
- At least 15 well-written posts
- Easy navigation and contact page
- Privacy/Disclaimer pages are available
Step 10: Follow EEAT Principles (Google’s Quality Standard)
- Expertise – Share original recipes, real cooking tips, and personal experiences. If you’re a chef or caterer, mention it clearly on your “About” page.
- Experience – Use real photos of food you cooked. Add your practical advice.
- Authoritativeness – Link to reliable sources (e.g. NAFDAC nutritional info, WHO guidelines).
- Trustworthiness – Add contact information, policies, and a clear “About” page so people know who is behind the blog.
