How To Format A Recipe Lens

For starters, realize that when people land on your recipe lens, they really aren't interested in buying anything. When they arrive, all your reader wants is a great tasting, easy-to-follow recipe and maybe a few photos. But, in order for you to earn lots of money from your recipe, you need to sell them something.

How do you do that? If they aren't shopping, how do you convince them that they need to buy something?

This is where the Amazon Spotlight module becomes your best friend.

Use the Amazon Spotlight module to show your reader that ONE product that will help them prepare, serve or eat your recipe, quicker ... easier ... or better! It works best if the item is something you actually own and use yourself. Or, at least, if the product is something you would love to have.

Write the Amazon Spotlight description in the form of a cooking tip, not a sales pitch. Give your personal reason for choosing that particular cooking product above any others. Don't list hundreds of the same type of product for your readers to choose from. They don't have the time to sort through: they probably want to be wowed by your single best recommendation.

Last but not least, try a Featured Lenses module at the bottom, or punctuated between your recipe tips, to point your readers to more of your recipe lenses. Once you've got someone drooling over your panini recipes, once they've read your first lens and trust you to deliver, chances are good they'll be hungry for more lenses from you.

-Robin (rms)

Have all the key components on your page, but it still doesn't look the way you had hoped? I felt the same way, so went in search of ways to try and make them stand out from all the others.

I have found that making use of borders and backgrounds, in addition to putting the recipes on an actual recipe card, gave me the look I was after.