How Addison LaBonte Built a $17K/Month Gluten-Free Food Blog

Introduction

In 2016, Division I soccer star Addison LaBonte’s athletic future was cut short by compartment syndrome. After surgery and pain persisted, a simple switch to a gluten-free diet cleared her symptoms. Two years later, she had run marathons pain-free and turned her new passion for gluten-free cooking into a business. This case study walks through how Addison built OrganicallyAddison.com from zero coding skills to four blogs earning over $17,000 per month.

From Instagram Hobby to Blog Launch

Addison started posting daily photos of her gluten-free meals on Instagram and quickly hit thousands of engaged followers. Sensing demand, she hired a web designer for $5,000 and spent three months creating a fast, user-friendly site focused on clear layouts and high-quality visuals. OrganicallyAddison.com launched with no technical background, but with a community already eager for more recipes.

Consistency and Engagement

Posting multiple new recipes weekly, Addison set clear expectations with her audience. She replied to every comment, asked for feedback, and built brand loyalty. That consistent rhythm kept readers returning and sharing her content across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Dialing in SEO

Random recipe topics became targeted posts after Addison invested time in keyword research. Each recipe page was optimized with on-page best practices. Traffic from search engines surged, bringing fresh visitors beyond her social media followers.

Monetization and Ad Optimization

Once traffic scaled, Addison added display ads and affiliate links. She implemented ads.txt, tested placements, and kept load times fast. Her main site now pulls in over $12,000 in ad revenue each month without compromising the user experience.

Scaling via Acquisitions

Rather than grow new niches from scratch, Addison acquired three existing food blogs. By migrating them to her hosting, rebranding, and optimizing content, she instantly added revenue streams. Today, her four-site portfolio makes north of $17,000 per month.

Key Lessons

Addison’s journey highlights the power of taking action, focusing on audience needs, and using data to guide content strategy. Smart reinvestment, hiring experts when needed, and strategic acquisitions accelerated her growth.

Looking Ahead

With plans to buy more niche sites, grow social followings into the millions, and hire a remote team, Addison is positioned for continued expansion. Her story shows how a diet change and a hobby account can become a thriving online business.