Question about blogging

I'm trying to come up with a niche for my blog. I need some advice here because I certainly don't want to do something I shouldn't be doing...

Let's say I decide to create a website and promote baking...so I'll need some recipes. Do I need to promote recipes that only I came up with? If I found a pound cake recipe on another blog through Pinterest or something like that, could I use that? What about posting recipes that link to another site? I'm trying to make sure I don't use someone else's information and get myself in trouble here!

Yeh unique content matters, and about posting your blog links to another site it ok,..but other site MUST not some warez site or illegal site, that site must be related to your content only.

Regards.

Hey there sunshine, I see you are fairly new here, so allow
me to first say WELCOME (on behalf of myself anyways).

Back in my school years, Culinary Arts was my major, so,
this is yet another topic that is close to heart for me...
Glad to have another (possible) foodie here.

If you're seriously interested in starting a blog/site about
baking, then all means, go for it. You definitely want to
choose something you are interested in and/or passionate
about as that will allow you to really create a kick-ass
site.

If you're going to post recipes, a formula I would always
follow is to first post what the recipe is for and why you
like that particular recipe, and don't be afraid to be YOU
(be personable and like-able).

For example:

"So, hubby and I were in the mood for something ______
last night. Surfing the entire for some recipes, I came
across a recipe that I just had to try.

One of the ingredients was ___________ and I just
loooooooove _______________.

We tried the recipe out last night and it was AMAZING.

I've listed the recipe below, but I did make 1 change. It
called for 2 tsp. of XXX. I used 4. It really took a toll on
my taste buds. My taste buds were jumping for joy for 20
minutes straight after each bite.

The only problem is now, hubby said, I have to make it
for him at least once a week... Wishful thinking on his
part...

Feel free to take a look at the recipe below. If you're daring
enough to try it out yourself, please do me a favor and come
back and let me know how it came out. You can use the
comment form below... I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Until next time..."

AND, ALWAYS be certain to provide reference to the original
source by providing a link back to the exact URL you got the
recipe from...

Don't worry about the "recipe" itself not being "unique content".
Let's face it, how many times have you visited a site looking for
the perfect brownie recipe and you come across the same exact
recipe on 40+ different sites. The unique content will come in way
of how you present the recipe and the story you provide along
with it...

P.S. If you do decide to start a baking (or any food related blog)
please send me a private message. I created a cool recipe software
a while back and I'd be happy to give you a free copy to give out
to your visitors or even as an incentive to get them to subscribe
to your mailing list.

sunshine5637 said:

I'm trying to come up with a niche for my blog. I need some advice here because I certainly don't want to do something I shouldn't be doing...

Click to expand...

Hey Sunshine here's a blog post that will help you choose a good niche:

http://www.webmastersun.com/entries/8-How-To-Find-a-Niche-Market-for-Your-Online-Business

sunshine5637 said:

Let's say I decide to create a website and promote baking...so I'll need some recipes. Do I need to promote recipes that only I came up with? If I found a pound cake recipe on another blog through Pinterest or something like that, could I use that? What about posting recipes that link to another site? I'm trying to make sure I don't use someone else's information and get myself in trouble here!

Click to expand...

Just as long as you credit the person who you took the recipe from it shouldn't be a problem. You can do this by adding a link to their website within your blog post. Try to find more info about content curation strategies, that should help answer your question.

But I wouldn't recommend curating all your blog posts, mix other people's content with your own original content as well.

Hope that helps

sunshine5637 said:

I'm trying to come up with a niche for my blog.

Click to expand...

Hi Sunshine, Probably the best thing that you can do when deciding on what niche to use for your blog is to choose a niche that is very interesting to you and that you know something about. You don't want to get off on something you know nothing about, as that will usually not work out well. Choose something that you are passionate about and won't get bored writing about. Think about some things that you really like, know about and won't get bored later down the road.

sunshine5637 said:

Let's say I decide to create a website and promote baking...so I'll need some recipes. Do I need to promote recipes that only I came up with? If I found a pound cake recipe on another blog through Pinterest or something like that, could I use that? What about posting recipes that link to another site? I'm trying to make sure I don't use someone else's information and get myself in trouble here!

Click to expand...

You can definitely use someone else's recipes or other content pieces (it's the norm these days), just try to leave a credit to where/who you got the recipe from and if they have a website/blog/etc. then you can link to where you found the recipe.

You just want to have some of your own content (articles/recipes/stories/information/etc.) as well. It's best to have the majority of the content be your own and unique, then mix in some other pieces of content that you got from somewhere else. Give credit to where the content pieces (recipes/etc.) came from and you should be completely fine.

Good luck with your blog and if you have any other questions, just come and ask for help and our members will be glad to help.

sunshine5637 said:

Let's say I decide to create a website and promote baking...so I'll need some recipes. Do I need to promote recipes that only I came up with? If I found a pound cake recipe on another blog through Pinterest or something like that, could I use that? What about posting recipes that link to another site? I'm trying to make sure I don't use someone else's information and get myself in trouble here!

Click to expand...

As long as you cite the original source of the recipe, you should be fine with republishing that recipe. Don't copy the content off that other site's page word for word though. The ingredients list you can, but I would write the rest of the instructions for that recipe using your own wording. That will make it look more unique to the search engines which is more beneficial to you. If a website you find a recipe on specifically states that it can't be republished, then don't republish it. Another trick you can use is to make your version of the recipe just a little bit unique. Use 2/3 of a stick of butter instead of 1/2 a stick. Use 3/4 cup of milk instead of 1/2 cup. Use 3/4 teaspoon of black pepper instead of 1/2 a teaspoon.

And avoid using Trademarked names in your recipe names. For example, you can have your own recipe for Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole, but you can't have your own recipe for Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup Casserole.

I recommend you to google the course: How to start A Blog That Matters.