As we enter September, email newsletter content ideas are plentiful for food bloggers and food content creators. The hard part will be narrowing down your content for the next few months!
For most food bloggers and food content creators, September is the kick off to the busiest season of the year!
There’s no shortage of things to write about over the coming months. This is the time of year where food plays a crucial roll and everyone has a lot to do!
How can you start to make things easier for your most engaged audience members?
MAKE AN EMAIL CONTENT PLAN
There are so many ideas for email content over the next 4-5 months that it can be almost overwhelming. My best suggestion is to take a few moments to sit down and craft out a content plan to get you through early January. It will help alleviate some of the stress! If you need help, check out this post on planning out your email content (Step 4 is particularly helpful for this time of year.)
If you’ve been neglecting your newsletter subscribers, now is the time to show them some love. You want them to be interested and full of anticipation for how you’re going to help them get through the next four months as they head back to school or work, look forward to Thanksgiving and Halloween and start to plan their holiday season.
FOCUS ON YOUR EMAIL AUDIENCE
Remember that this list of ideas is meant to help kickstart your brainstorming. Choose topics that are obviously a good fit for your audience. But don’t shy away from other, less obvious, topics. Instead, look to see if there’s a way you can adapt them to fit your audience
For example: lunchbox ideas. These don’t just have to apply to school lunches. Adults head back to work after vacation. Budgets are still a little stressed this year to maybe more adults are brown bagging it or meal prepping to avoid waste. They need lunches too. Maybe they work from home and get too absorbed in their work to be bothered with lunch so meal prepping is ideal for them.
Your audience might be looking for budget friendly hacks or maybe they’re vegan, or don’t eat dairy or they follow a keto diet. Take the lunchbox idea and adapt it to fit your content and audience.
SEASONAL HOLIDAYS
Here are some holidays and significant content themes for September; Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) runs from Sept 15-17, it’s officially PSL season and, of course, the kids are back in school! Looking to the future, Rosh Hashanah runs from October 2-4 and Canadian Thanksgiving is October 14th
Back to School is always huge in September and remember that Labour Day is early this year (2024) so all kids will be back in class by September 3rd. Read more on Back to School ideas below
Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown on Friday, October 2 and runs till sundown on Sunday, October 4th – there are multiple foods associated with this holiday and you will want to start sharing content in late September
pumpkin everything is going to be everywhere for the next 3-4 months – pace yourselves! 𤣠(and make sure to recycle your old pumpkin content in your emails!)
Canadians, start trickling out your Thanksgiving content in late September – people plan menus well in advance when they are hosting and entertaining.
Americans, don’t neglect your Canadian readers – Canadian Thanksgiving is second only to Christmas in terms of food prep and consumption (this is also where segmenting your email list by country can be super helpful!)
If you have digital products around preparing for Canadian Thanksgiving (ebooks, shopping lists, menu planners etc,) now is the time to be actively promoting them to your list every week in September. REMEMBER: you can also promote them again for US Thanksgiving!
If you have digital products for Halloween (ebooks, project plans, party planning etc), start promoting to your list weekly in mid-late September.
Apples! September is apple season: cakes, pies, galettes and tarts – but don’t forget savoury apple ideas as well!
BACK TO SCHOOL
Back to school is such a big topic it deserves it’s own section!
lunchbox ideas:
snacks
mains
treats
hot and cold foods (and how to store them)
food safety
sustainable packaging
bento boxes
cookies, muffins, bars
alternatives to pre-packaged food
allergen-free or friendly
make ahead/meal prepped
budget friendly
lunches for adults
breakfasts:
grab-n-go
quick and easy
overnight prep
weeknight dinners:
one pot or sheet pan
under 30 minutes
under 20 minutes
meal prep
freezer friendly
pantry planning, kid approved, Instant Pot, Air Fryer, slow cooker
snacks:
after school munchies
high energy fuel for sports or after school activities
snacks for studying, focus and concentration
easy snacks
diy snack packs or refrigerator snack drawers
energy and granola bars and balls
classic lunchbox and cookie jar cookies
food tips for surviving in a dorm or shared accommodation
COMFORT FOOD
September (and even early October) weather can be a mixed bag but odds are good that there will still be a lot of hot days ahead. Pay attention to weather across the continent and not just where you live before you get too carried away with comfort food.
Having said that, the days are shorter and the nights will be starting to cool off so start to sneak in some lighter comfort foods. Soups, lighter pasta and potato dishes are all good options for September.
SEASONAL PRODUCE:
There’s a little bit of everything available in September!
apples
pears
plums
blackberries
figs
grapes
cranberries
pomegranates (late Sept)
most other summer fruits are still available but are at the very tail end of their season
carrots
corn
summer squash, cucumbers, zucchini
green beans
tomatoes
eggplant
peppers
winter squash, pumpkins, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, celery and sweet potatoes (the Thanksgiving foods!) all start to appear in mid to late September depending on geography
OTHER SEPTEMBER FOOD CONTENT IDEAS
holiday budget planning – this year, more then ever, people will be budget focused this upcoming holiday season. September is a great time to start talking and writing about how to plan for the holidays on a budget – including pantry planning, entertaining, cookie and bar swaps etc.
Now’s the time to get started. Plan out your September newsletter calendar and batch write your emails. Schedule them and you’re good to go!
WANT MORE TIPS?
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A detailed list of August food observances makes it easy for food content creators to brainstorm blog and email content ideas.
If youâre a food content creator and you’re looking for ideas for August content for your email newsletters or social media channels check out all of these August food holidays. There’s lots of ideas here and you can use them to brainstorm recipe ideas or come up with fun food videos for your YouTube channel. They also give you a great opportunity to share content from your archives.
There is quite literally a day for almost any type of food so you should be able to find suitable topics for your food blog’s niche!
Many of these observances are based on dates in the United States but are often celebrated in the food community at large. Iâve tried to note where a month, week or day is tied to a specific country other than the USA. And where a day is observed globally, that has been noted as well.
Some food observance dates do shift from year to year but these dates should be current for 2024
Want more email tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Each month I write an exclusive newsletter full of tips, tricks and ideas for food content creators and their email lists!
For food bloggers and food content creators, August email newsletters can be a little challenging. Not because of a lack of content but because we’re bridgingtwo very different seasons.
August is an awkward month for food content emails. We’re in the heart of summer vacation and the hottest weather of the year but at the same time, back-to-school is right around the corner. In many parts of the US and eastern Canada, kids go back to school as early as mid August.
So… some people are looking for back to school content and others aren’t even opening their emails as they soak up their last few days of freedom.
Much of July’s content suggestions, particularly canning and preserving, outdoor entertaining and cool kitchen ideas are still relevant for August (get the full July list here).
Note that for 2024, Labour Day lands on September 2 which makes it very early. That means everyone will be starting to prep for Back to School during the last week of August.
Labour Day (the first Monday in September), other civic holiday long weekends
one last kick at the can for summer – this is a popular weekend for having friends over and entertaining outdoors. For many people this is their second New Year’s Eve as school and regular work routines resume after the weekend and summer unofficially comes to a close
SEASONAL FOOD & CONTENT:
It’s stone fruit season!
blackberries with raspberries and blueberries at the tail end of production
stone fruits: apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums
pears and grapes in some areas (September for others)
while many fruits are at the tail end of their summer production, most are still available in August with cranberries, apples and rhubarb being the exceptions.
almost all vegetables. Squash is just coming in, potatoes, tomatoes, green beans, corn and carrots are all flourishing. It’s actually easier to list the veggies that aren’t available yet! Asparagus has long since finished and pumpkins, red and yellow onions and Brussels sprouts are still a month away.
Depending on where you live, kids go back to school in late August or after Labour day weekend in September. University and college kids mostly go back after Labour day. Start dripping out content in late August but keep this list handy as you plan September as well. Here are a few to get you started:
lunch box ideas
allergy friendly (peanut-free in particular!)
eco-friendly packaging ideas
budget friendly (10 lunchbox ideas that cost less than $X)
hot lunch ideas (and how to keep them hot)
lunch box sweets and homemade treats
making lunch box veggies exciting
after school snacks
quick and easy
fuel for sports or activities
quell the pre-dinner munchies
grab-n-go breakfasts
easy breakfasts ready in 10 minutes or less
budget friendly cooking tips for college kids
dorm friendly meal ideas or dorm friendly foods
cooking basics for kids on their own for the first time
weeknight dinners
30-45 minutes or less
one pot meals
10 ingredients or less
meal prep and batch cooking
foods that fuel study sessions or help with mental focus
how to avoid the morning breakfast/lunchbox prep crunch
tips on getting your kitchen and pantry organized for meal prep and back to school.
As always, these are suggestions – adapt them to fit your niche and your audience.
WANT MORE TIPS?
Want more email tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Each month I write an exclusive newsletter full of tips, tricks and ideas for food content creators and their email lists!
A detailed list of July food observances makes it easy for food content creators to brainstorm blog and email content ideas.
If youâre looking for ideas for July content for your food blogâs email newsletters or social media channels, or youâre wanting to brainstorm recipe ideas or come up with fun food videos for your YouTube channel, check out all of these July food holidays. You’re sure to find something that gets your creative juices flowing – there’s suitable topics for every kind of food blogger and food content creator.
Many of these observances are based on dates in the United States but are often celebrated in the food community at large. Iâve tried to note where a month, week or day is tied to a specific country other than the USA. And where a day is observed globally, that has been noted as well.
Some July food days do shift from year to year but these dates should be current for 2024
Want more email tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Each month I write an exclusive newsletter full of tips, tricks and ideas for food content creators and their email lists!
There are so many delicious options to write about in your July email newsletters! If you’re a food bloggers or food content creator, the hard part will be narrowing down those options. So let’s get writing!
July is another bumper month for content. Many of the ideas I shared in June cross over into July (and I’ll recap a few here but for the full list check out June Newsletter Ideas for Food Bloggers)
SEASONAL HOLIDAYS:
Canada Day (July 1) and Independence Day (US – July 4)
grilling recipes, potlucks, BBQs, picnics
red and white food (Canada Day) or red, white and blue food (July 4): make the most of seasonal strawberries, cherries and blueberries
Canada Day or July 4 menu ideas for a grilling night, potlucks, appetizers etc
stone fruits: cherries and apricots with peaches arriving in late July in some areas
melons
veggies: peas, green beans, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, salad greens, zucchini, radishes, swiss chard, corn, new potatoes
canning, preserving and freezing – don’t forget jams and jellies!
pie
summer cocktails, mocktails and other iced drinks
grilling recipes
seafood
frozen desserts (popsicles, ice cream, gelato)
no-bake desserts
potluck and picnic dishes
homemade BBQ sauces, spice rubs and marinades
air fryers and instant pots as ways to cook and keep the kitchen cool
dishes best served cold
KEEP THE KITCHEN COOL:
Nobody wants to turn on an oven in July or August – unless it’s an outdoor pizza oven! Think make ahead meals, dishes best served cold or household appliances that don’t generate much heat:
potato and pasta salads
cold proteins (cook in the morning and serve in the evening): cold chicken, ham
fresh fruit and veggies with light, bright dressings
no-bake desserts
Instant Pot, Air Fryer, slow cooker and BBQ or propane grill recipes
** Note that in many areas as wildfire season is in full swing, any kind of outdoor flame may be banned
CANNING AND PRESERVING:
Gardens, farmer’s markets and farm gate sales are now in full on production mode with entire flats of fresh fruit and produce available for sale. And that means it’s canning, preserving and freezing season!
basic equipment
different types of preserving
basic safety precautions and preserving techniques
jams and jellies (unique flavour ideas are big right now!)
salsas, pickles, pasta sauces
ROAD TRIPS & ENTERTAINING:
There are still opportunities to focus on outdoor cooking and entertaining. But don’t just focus on grilling! This time of year people are cooking on portable camp stoves, charcoal BBQs, over campfires, in RVs, on the beach or at their Air BnB. And they’re eating while moving!
Also think about pool parties, outdoor movie nights, picnics, impromptu neighbourhood get togethers, sports tournaments – anywhere people are gathering, they’ll want food and cold drinks.
BACK TO SCHOOL:
This one is a little wild for me as back to school here is always after Labour Day in September but, a lot of areas go back as early as August. I’ll have more ideas for this next month but have it on your radar and start planning your BTS content for all your platforms.
This is just a smattering of ideas – take them and run with them. Shape them to fit your niche and content. The hardest part about June and July is narrowing it down to a few topics.
Nowâs the time to get started. Plan out your June newsletter calendar and batch write your emails. Schedule them and youâre good to go!
Want More Tips?
Want more email tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Each month I write an exclusive newsletter full of tips, tricks and ideas for food content creators and their email lists!
A lot of the food bloggers and food content creators I work with ask me if they need a lead magnet to help grow their email list. So let’s talk about it – are lead magnets worth it, or not?
Let’s start with the basics. Before you decide if you want a lead magnet or not, let’s answer the most important question first…
WHAT IS A LEAD MAGNET?
If you’re not 100% sure what a lead magnet is, let’s start there with a quick introduction.A lead magnet is an incentive that you give away to readers or visitors to your website in exchange for having them sign up to your email list. Quid pro quo!
A lead magnet doesn’t have to be complex, in depth or fancy. An ideal magnet should be low effort for you to create and high value for the person signing up for your list.
Do not confuse what you consider to be high value with what your reader considers high value. This is a common mistake content creators make.
You’re the expert. When we’re the expert or when something comes easily or seems obvious to us, it’s easy for us to forget that’s not the case for others.
Sometimes, high value may be as simple as saving somebody time (anything that saves me time is extremely high value to me).
I’m not going to get into a comprehensive list of lead magnet ideas here – I’ll save that for the next post But if you’re considering creating a lead magnet or two, think about what you can quickly and easily provide that makes life easier for your readers?
DO I NEED A LEAD MAGNET FOR MY FOOD BLOG?
No, you do not need a lead magnet.
I get asked this all the time and no, you really don’t. You can still build a good, healthy list without a lead magnet.
But… (I always have a “but”, right? đ¤Ł), you will have to work harder to get subscribers and it will be a slower process.
Signing up for a newsletter is generally not the reason people land on your site and it’s not going to be top of mind. With or without a lead magnet, you’ll need to make it top of mind for them. And with no incentive, you’ll need to work harder to do that.
Make sure people have lots of visual queues to sign up on your website with popups, inline forms on individual blogs posts, text links and sidebar boxes.
You’ll need to ask people to signup via your social media channels – and make it easy for them to do so. Create an easy landing page URL where the only thing people can do is sign up for your list. (This is mine – and for what it’s worth, I don’t currently have a lead magnet!)
The upside of this? People who do sign up for your list will be there because they really want to hear from you –Â and that, my friends, is the basis for a healthy list!
THE #1 REASON PEOPLE TELL ME THEY DON’T HAVE A LEAD MAGNET
The biggest reason I hear for not having a lead magnet (and I hear it again and again) is that “people just sign up to get the freebie and then they unsubscribe”.
This doesn’t cut the mustard with me.
If you don’t want to have a lead magnet, don’t have one. That’s totally fine.
But if you have a lead magnet and you wind up with a net increase in subscribers every month, the lead magnet is doing its job. Why would you ditch it?
If you have a net decrease in subscribers then sure, get rid of it. And then you probably need to dive deeper into why you’re losing more subscribers than you’re gaining every month. Because, it’s probably not the lead magnet!
PEOPLE WHO UNSUBSCRIBE AFTER GETTING THE LEAD MAGNET
Yes, some people are going to sign up for your list, grab the freebie and run. That’s life. Just like they land on your website from google, get the recipe they wanted and wave buh-bye. How many of us drop into Walmart to buy the loss leader in that week’s circular and then get the heck out of there? Â
We all do stuff like this from time to time when it comes to the businesses we interact with.
If your lead magnet is low effort for you, then it’s really not a big deal if somebody unsubscribes after they get your lead magnet.
Let them go.
They were never going to engage with your emails anyway and they wind up costing you money instead of making you money.
But, the people who do this are almost always the minority. It just feels like they’re the majority because they’re actively letting you know that you’re not for them and that always sucks. (think about how we obsess over the one negative or ignorant comment on a recipe but disregard the dozens of positive comments??)
THE OTHER REASONS PEOPLE UNSUBSCRIBE SHORTLY AFTER GETTING YOUR FREEBIE
It’s more likely that people unsubscribe from your email list after getting your lead magnet for one of these reasons:
they read it and realized your tone or style is not for them
the lead magnet didn’t deliver what it promised
they were inundated with multiple emails from you in a very short period of time
your send frequency is too high for their tolerance
your list onboarding is clunky
The first? Well that stinks but, we can’t be for everyone. We shouldn’t even try. Having a unique voice and a strong point of view will help you stand out and build a strong following. But it will also turn some people off. And that’s ok!
It wouldn’t hurt, though, to have a few friends or food content creator peers review your lead magnet and your initial emails to see if maybe the tone is coming across awkwardly or your humour or words are falling flat.
The other reasons? Those are all things that are fixable! But it’ll mean you need to sit down and have an honest talk with yourself about what you’re doing.
âď¸ Are you delivering what you promised in the lead magnet? âď¸ How many emails did they get from you in the first week? 1? 3? 7? TEN??? âď¸ Were you up front about how often they can expect to hear from you in the welcome email you sent them? âď¸ Did they have to jump through hoops for the lead magnet to drop in their inbox? (and yes, you should be using double opt-in)
THE LAST WORD ON LEAD MAGNETS FOR FOOD CONTENT CREATORS
No, you don’t need one.
But having one will help you grow your list faster – especially if it’s something your ideal subscriber values.
If you have a lead magnet and you’re getting a net increase in subscribers every month, it’s doing it’s job. I would keep it
Don’t worry about unsubscribes so much as long as you’re growing, your open rate is steady and people are engaging with your email content.
I’ll be back soon to talk about the kinds of lead magnets you can offer that will be easy for you to make and highly valued by your audience!
Want More Tips?
Want more email tips? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter! Each month I write an exclusive newsletter full of tips, tricks and ideas for food content creators and their email lists!
