Eat Blog Talk

In this episode we discuss food blogging and mental health, specifically depression, and ways to keep a grip on your job while enduring tough times. Determine what your triggers are so you can address them before they overtake you. Make time for yourself for 20-30 min a day - exercise, read, any self-love, etc. Let organization become your norm and say goodbye to "living by the seat of your pants." Let technology work FOR you and still have easy access to all your work. Learn to use and live by a flexible calendar - built-in with to-do's and required down time to deal with mental health. Learn to batch work each week making and photographing anywhere from 2-4 new recipes. This allows for you to be productive even when a bout of depression hits. Make connecting with others a priority so you're not alone - through groups, conferences, and using social media to highlight real life struggles so you don't feel so alone. Ask for help and don't try to do it all!

Working with, Approaching, Pitching and Negotiating with Brands with Alyssa Brantley-- Working with, approaching, pitching and negotiating with brands you know and want to align with. Learn how to know which brands are a good fit for you. Learn how to find their contact info and know that you are talking to the right person. Remember - don't take it personally. There's a lot of people that want the brand companies attention. You must know your value and be realistic. Stay on top of your deliverables and contract terms if you want to develop long-term partnerships. Do the work for the brand (or agency). Make their job easier and you will be more appealing. Don't work for free.

How to Rebrand Your Food Blog with Cassie Heilbron from Cook It Real Good-- Learn how to know when rebranding is a good idea and when it's not. Know how to open up your niche and give yourself room to grow and explore. Channel your energy to accomplish a lot for yourself and readers on your blog - your blog title reflects who you are so you should like it. Utilize available tools and other professionals to help you grow personally and professionally. Work with other technical experts in the fields to accomplish necessary technical work. Know it's possible to rebrand. You can turn the train around with some hard work and results will come!

Building Community Within the Food Blogging Industry for Optimal Success with Abbey Rodriguez from A Butter Half-- Learn how to build community within the food blogging industry for optimal success (and the importance of self-care and wellness). Learn to use what is called the 5 Pillars of Health framework. Learn how Connection is one of those 5 pillars, and how it is imperative that you network and collaborate for your emotional well-being, as well as for your business. Learn the stages of moving from independence to interdependence, which is an endlessly fascinating topic, and falls in line with success in this field. Learn to self-care and know how wellness play a role in success.

Raising a Blog and a Family with Melissa Erdelac from Mama Gourmand -- Be comfortable with your own growth rate - you set the standard for yourself and it's different for everyone. Create a set "work week" for yourself with blocks of time in the day where it is possible to work and other blocks for personal time. Then stick to that schedule. Establish a routine and work that needs to be accomplished on specific timelines. Educate your family that this is your job and then own it. Actions are better than words and you need to remain consistent. Make continuing education a priority in your field - webinars/podcasts are great for home based learning Include family in the business - they are your built in support Acknowledge you need help and be open to hiring a VAs for facebook scheduling, Pinterest, sharing with groups, promoting a post, web designer to add graphics or make edits to blog It's important to invest in yourself - equipment that saves time helps. Sponsored work - seek Influencer websites rather than "going after" companies. Pay may not be as much as direct partnerships, but pay keeps consistently growing with each campaign. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack in will." - Vince Lombardi, Jr.

About Eat Blog Talk with Megan Porta from Pip and Ebby-- The debut Eat Blog Talk episode details WHY this podcast and what value food bloggers will gain from listening. We'll cover all the hot topics that will add value to your food blog and we will also dive deep in ourselves to repair issues that are keeping us from being the best food bloggers we can be. Eat Blog Talk: check out our website to get all of the latest information on upcoming guests, past guests and so much more!