Eat Blog Talk

In episode 602, Petranka Atanasova teaches us how to grow rapidly on Instagram, sharing the strategy that she used to gain over 100,000 followers in just four months. Petranka is an ex-professional chef turned food blogger and content creator! She shares easy vegan and vegetarian recipes for busy people who are beginners at plant-based cooking. In this episode, you'll learn Petranka's strategies for creating engaging reels and developing a successful content series that resonates with her audience. The episode also covers the mindset shift Petranka underwent to achieve this rapid growth and provides practical tips for food bloggers looking to expand their Instagram presence. Key points discussed: - Establish authority: Use a strong hook at the beginning of your videos to immediately establish your expertise and credibility with your audience. - Prioritize visual appeal: Start your videos with movement or an eye-catching visual to capture viewers' attention in the first few seconds. - Provide digestible value: Deliver information and tips in a simple, easy-to-understand way, avoiding overwhelming your audience with too many details. - Experiment with content: Try different video styles and formats to see what resonates best with your audience, then duplicate the successful ones. - Maintain consistency: Develop a posting schedule that works for you, even if it means reducing the frequency, to ensure you can sustain your content creation. - Leverage analytics: Use Instagram's analytics to determine the best times to post for your specific niche and target audience. - Build a supportive network: Surround yourself with a network of peers and mentors who can provide feedback and encouragement to help you grow. - Shift your mindset: Focus on providing value and engaging with your audience, rather than solely chasing views and follower counts. - Keep clips concise: Aim for short, fast-paced video clips to maintain viewer attention and keep your content dynamic. - Embrace the journey: Trust that the path will become clear as you take action, rather than trying to have everything figured out from the start. Connect with Petranka Atanasova Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about why entrepreneurs experience fear of success and 5 steps to overcome this type of fear. It's crazy to think that as business owners we can be afraid of our own success. There are a number of reasons why this happens. You may be questioning wether you're worthy of success, wether you'd be able to keep up with success or how people may perceive you. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons to hold off on a project that could lead to greater success. Other times, it's you making excuses. Here are 5 steps to work through your fear of success. Action Plan: 1 - Identify your excuses: Recognize the excuses you've been making for not achieving your goals, as these may be masking deeper fears of success. 2 - Examine your excuses: Critically analyze your excuses to determine if they are valid or simply cover-ups for underlying issues. 3 - Uncover the real issue: Dig deeper to identify the true reason behind your reluctance to pursue your goals, which may be rooted in a fear of success. 4 - Rewrite your narrative: Reframe your story by replacing negative, self-limiting beliefs with a positive, empowering perspective on the potential outcomes of your success. 5 - Take action: Once you've addressed your fears, take concrete steps to move forward and achieve your goals, as inaction will only perpetuate the cycle of fear. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Madison Wetherill's Web Design Services Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 600, Dan Porta - Megan's husband - interviews his wife about her food blogging journey, what it takes to succeed and why she started her podcast, Eat Blog Talk. Dan and Megan have been married 18 years and have two boys. Dan works in the travel industry and enjoys driving the family in their RV, going sky diving and being a hand model for his wife. He fully supports having a fabulous food blogger in the family and does so very well. In this episode, you'll learn about Megan's journey from starting her food blog, Pip and Ebby to creating the Eat Blog Talk podcast and community. Dan interviews his wife about the challenges and triumphs of food blogging and running a business in general, as well as valuable lessons for aspiring and established bloggers alike. Key points discussed: - Longevity is key in food blogging: You need to see food blogging as a long-term game, requiring patience and consistency, even when faced with industry changes. - Develop essential qualities for success: The top three qualities Megan recommends for aspiring food bloggers are patience, flexibility/resilience, and a willingness to learn and adapt. - Leverage your unique personality to build your brand: According to Dan, what makes Megan's blog and podcast stand out is her personality. - Prioritize time with family: Megan and her husband value the schedule freedom they've achieved, allowing them to prioritize quality time with their children. - Recognize and address burnout: Dealing with burnout in a timely manner (and ideally preventing it) is essential to maintain a sustainable business and personal life. - Embrace the power of community: Megan was able to build a supportive community, both through the Eat Blog Talk podcast and the various mastermind groups she has created. - Leverage your partner's support: Megan credits her husband's unwavering support as a key factor in her ability to pursue food blogging and launch the Eat Blog Talk podcast. If You Loved this Episode… You'll love Episode 400: Why Did I Start Eat Blog Talk, Exciting Blogging Developments & How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Megan Porta - where Megan gets interviewed by Taryn Solie, her community manager. Connect with Pip and Ebby Website | Instagram | Facebook

In episode 599, Tammy Overhoff teaches us how to create a stable income stream by selling digital products instead of relying exclusively on SEO and ad-revenue. Tammy Overhoff is a seasoned food blogger and digital product expert who began her journey in 2011 with the Organize Yourself Skinny blog. She empowers busy women to lead healthier lives through eBooks, digital guides, and courses. In 2023, Tammy expanded her business with Reset & Flourish, offering digital products and a meal prep membership site. Despite numerous Google algorithm updates, her focus on digital products has kept her blog successful. Tammy also launched Tasty Digital Eats to support food bloggers transform their recipes into digital products and build stable businesses. In this episode, you'll learn more about how Tammy overcame a devastating traffic loss due to a Google algorithm update and transformed her business by focusing on digital products. Discover strategies for creating, marketing, and selling digital products that resonate with your audience and provide a stable income stream. Key points discussed: - Diversify your income: Create digital products to reduce reliance on volatile traffic and ad revenue that's subject to Google updates. - Solve problems for your audience: Focus on creating products that address specific needs or help achieve goals - ask your audience, don't guess! - Repurpose your content: Transform existing blog posts and recipes into valuable digital products. - Nurture your email list: Build a strong community to effectively market and sell your digital products. - Start with small wins: Begin with simple products like meal plans or ebooks to gain confidence and momentum. - Learn from your audience: Use email statistics and social media feedback to identify popular topics for products. - Create a system: Develop a consistent process for creating, launching, and selling digital products. - Bundle your offerings: Combine related products to increase value and boost sales. Connect with Tammy Overhoff Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five practical steps to deal with entrepreneurial mistakes and how to move on. We all make mistakes. When we make a mistake in our business, especially when we let others down, we can feel devastated. But this is part of being human. And being a business owner. I'm no different. I've made plenty of entrepreneurial mistakes. So how I do I deal with these types of situations? Here are some strategies that I use to deal with mistakes: Action Plan: 1 - Accept and process mistakes: Take time to pause, feel the emotions, and let the reality of the mistake sink in before moving forward. 2 - Take action to clean up the mess: Identify the necessary steps to address the mistake and rectify the situation as best as possible. 3 - Learn the lesson: Reflect on the mistake to understand the underlying lesson and implement changes to prevent similar issues in the future. 4 - Practice self-forgiveness and grace: Extend compassion to yourself, as mistakes are inevitable, and avoid dwelling on them excessively. 5 -Set mistakes aside and move on: Recognize the broader context of life and the insignificance of small mistakes, allowing you to let go and focus on the future. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Ghostwriter – Terrence Roche ([email protected]) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 597, Megan chats to Melodee Fiske about how food bloggers can hire a trained food photographer to scale their business and why it's important to hire a specialised photographer. Melodee is the creator and owner of Pretty Focused. She's a wife, homeschool mom and a second grade teacher turned food photographer. Melodee started working as a food photographer for food bloggers in 2016. In 2017, she started to have friends ask her to teach them how to do it too, so she did, and that's when Pretty Focused was born. Since then, she's had over 1,000 students join Pretty Focused to learn how to photograph food for food bloggers. Melodee connects them with potential clients inside their marketplace when they graduate. Over the last 3 years, 69% of our grads reported making $50,000+ working as food photographers for bloggers. In this episode, you'll learn about the benefits of outsourcing food photography, the strategies Melodee teaches in her Pretty Focused course, and how to become a trained food photographer to generate extra income. Key points discussed: - Hiring out photography is not a weakness: It is a strength that allows you to focus on growth and vision for your business. - Communication is key when handing over your brand's photography: Effectively communicating your brand and vision ensures the photographer can represent your blog well. - Pretty Focused teaches photography skills tailored for food bloggers: The course covers a variety of photography skills specific to the needs of food bloggers. - Pretty Focused provides coaching and community support: In addition to photography training, the course includes coaching and a supportive community. - Graduates earn significant income: Many graduates have been able to make substantial income working as food photographers for bloggers. - The Buyers Club connects trained photographers with food bloggers: This community facilitates connections between food bloggers and qualified photographers. - Outsourcing photography enables business expansion: Some bloggers have been able to start additional sites due to the ability to outsource their photography. - Make decisions based on your unique business needs: Avoid basing decisions solely on what others think and focus on what is right for your specific business Connect with Melodee Fiske Website | Instagram

In episode 596, Megan Ellam teaches us how to write and market cookbooks to earn a significant portion of our income from self-publishing. Megan Ellam is an Australian-based author, photographer, and recipe developer, best known for Mad Creations and 365 Keto Club. Since 2017, Megan has shared her low-carb recipes and weight loss journey, leading to the self-publication of over 10 keto cookbooks and more than 60 eBooks, including two World Gourmand Cookbook Award winners! A passionate foodie, Megan runs Mad Creations alongside her partner in love and life, Dave Hunter. In this episode, you'll learn more about how to add extra value to your cookbook or ebook, pricing books correctly and successful marketing ideas to sell more books fast. Key points discussed: - Niche down and create a clear theme and vision for your book: Determine the topic, focus and feel of your book to ensure a cohesive final product. - Develop an index of recipe ideas before writing: Plan out the content of your book to make the writing process more efficient. - Assemble a team of diverse recipe testers: Include both skilled and novice cooks to get well-rounded feedback on your recipes. - Offer unique, original recipes that stand out: Develop creative, eye-catching dishes that your audience can't find elsewhere. - Add extra value through cook's notes, variations, and additional content: Enhance your books by providing helpful information beyond just the recipes. - Leverage your existing blog content by refreshing and repurposing it: Reshoot and repackage your popular recipes to create new book offerings. - Price your books and ebooks higher to reflect their value: Don't underestimate the time and effort you've invested; charge accordingly. - Utilize various marketing channels, including social media and email: Promote your books through a diverse range of platforms to reach your audience. - Consider collaborations and partnerships to expand your reach: Explore opportunities to work with brands or other creators to cross-promote your books. Connect with Megan Ellam Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to deal with negative emotions towards platforms like Google and social media networks. Have you ever had a negative experience with an online platform? For us bloggers, it can be Google or any of the social media networks. It's often a feeling of not being rewarded for our hard work on the platforms. I've said in the past things like: "I hate Facebook." Because I genuinely felt like Facebook had something against me as if it were human. Following along with the idea that these platforms are like humans, how can we repair our relationships with them? Here are 5 steps I take to turn feelings of lack and hatred into appreciation and abundance. Action Plan: 1 - Identify which relationship needs mending: Choose one platform that is causing you the most frustration. 2 - Make a list of how the platform has wronged you: Write out all the ways you feel the platform has let you down. 3 - Make a list of what you are grateful for regarding the platform: Reflect on the positive aspects and benefits the platform has provided. 4 - Give the relationship some love: Educate yourself on the platform, learn more about its features, and consistently pay attention to it. 5 - Lather, rinse, repeat: Go through these steps repeatedly until you feel the relationship is being repaired. Keep your gratitude list visible as a reminder. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Food Blog Writing at Maes Media (Chelsea Plummer) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 594, Megan chats to James Wythe about why he decided to shift his focus from content creation for social media to creating content for his blog, despite having a social following of over 1 million. After a sudden illness caused James to be housebound for 4 years, he taught himself to cook with a chair in the kitchen. James started his blog to share his journey of recovery and recipes in 2016. Since then James has built a social following of over 1M and published a cookbook. The blog currently has 300,000 monthly page views which James 5x in the last year. If you Loved this Episode… You'll love Episode 569: Turning to Instagram Because of the Helpful Content Update – How To Grow Your Instagram Account To Add More Revenue Streams with Mika Kinney and Sarah Bond (For a contrasting point of view!) In this episode, you'll learn more about social media burnout, finding your passion for content creation, how to step back from social media, especially if you have a large following, while considering the future of your career and longevity of your content. Key points discussed: - Stepping back from social media can help overcome burnout: You may realize that you are feeling burned out from the pressure and comparison of social media, so focusing more on your blog could be beneficial. - Owning your content is important: Owning your content on your website is important to consider, rather than relying solely on social media platforms that can restrict or remove access. - Balancing social media and blog content is challenging: You may find it difficult to create separate content for your website and social media that appeals to different audiences consistently. - Large social media followings don't guarantee success: Even with a large following, the social media landscape is becoming increasingly saturated and competitive for brand collaborations. - Republishing and updating old content can significantly boost traffic: Going back and improving your existing blog content can lead to a significant increase in traffic. - Creating a depth of content is key for long-term growth: Focus on creating more new content and update older posts to build a stronger foundation for your blog. - Passion and enjoyment should drive content creation: You may realize that you still love creating content and helping others, but not the pressure of social media. - Cycles and trends in the industry require adaptability: The industry may shift back towards longer-form content, away from the current saturation of short-form video recipes, so you need to be prepared to adapt. Connect with James Wythe Website | Instagram

In episode 593, Kimberlee Ho teaches us 3 easy ways to grow our blog part-time while working full-time, including, how to be selective with our focus and time. Kim is a home baker from NJ, who loves to share approachable baking recipes and tips with busy families like her own on her blog, kickassbaker.com. Kim works full-time during the day and bakes, recipe tests, and photographs at night and on the weekends in between acting as an Uber driver for her two teenage daughters. Her goal is to inspire home bakers to kick ass in the kitchen! In this episode, you'll learn more about identifying growth drivers for your blog, the importance of adapting to changing industry trends as well as intentional time management and the support of a community in achieving blogging goals. Key points discussed: - Focus on 1-2 key growth drivers: For example, you can focus on growing page views and sessions to attract and retain readers, rather than getting distracted by new platforms. - Test different work methods: Experiment with your work schedule and batching tasks to find the most efficient approach for you. - Use to-do lists: Keep multiple to-do lists to stay organized and reduce anxiety about forgetting important tasks. - Embrace flexibility: Maintain a flexible mindset, adapting your methods as your needs and circumstances change over time. - Leverage trusted networks: Ask for feedback and support from the blogging community to avoid shiny object syndrome. - Break down goals into steps: Break down larger goals into manageable, actionable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. - Advantages of working full-time: By having full-time job Kim can enjoy growing her blog without the pressure of relying on it as her sole income. Connect with Kimberlee Ho Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about why we feel envious of other bloggers in our space and how to turn envy into celebration and collaboration. Food blogging is competitive. There are thousands and thousands of food blogs online. For a long time I approached food blogging as a competitive career. I felt like I had to do better than everyone else, a feeling which led me to isolate myself. This held me back big time! And it's only when I started changing my approach to seek out and collaborate with other food bloggers, that my business really started taking off. So here are 5 ways in which you can do the same. Action Plan: 1 - Change your mindset from competition to collaboration: See other food bloggers as teammates, not competitors. 2 - Celebrate and support others with a generous spirit: Outwardly and inwardly express happiness for their successes. 3 - Celebrate your own accomplishments: Take time to write down your wins, no matter how small, to boost your confidence. 4 - Own your unique story and journey: Embrace the lessons and challenges that have shaped your business. 5 - Immerse yourself in the food blogging community: Reach out to those who inspire you and build relationships. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Coaching and Mentorship for Food Bloggers by Brittany Roche Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 591, Megan chats to Alexandra Shytsman about how to avoid 7 common food photography mistakes beginners make, including lighting, angle and styling mistakes. Alexandra Shytsman is a recipe developer, food photographer, and creator of The New Baguette, a plant-based recipe site. Her mission is to inspire people to cook healthier plant-centered meals at home. She is the author of Friendsgiving, co-author of The Complete Vegan Cookbook, and contributes to sites like Simply Recipes and EatingWell. She has also been teaching in-person food photography classes (in groups and one-on-one) since 2018. Originally from Ukraine, Alex moved to New York City at a young age and has lived there ever since. In this episode, you'll learn more about using natural light versus artificial light, the correct angle for shooting food, which garnishes to use and which ones to avoid and how to make boring food stand out. Key points discussed: - Lighting is crucial: Use natural light or photography-specific equipment, rather than overhead kitchen lights, to achieve flattering and accurate food photography. - Avoid tilted angles: Keep the camera horizon straight to create a more natural and comfortable viewing experience for the audience. - Provide context: Zooming out to show the entire plate or scene, rather than just a close-up, helps provide context and balance to the image. - Choose props carefully: Neutral-colored, non-distracting props are recommended to avoid drawing attention away from the food. - Are your photos in focus? Learning to use the camera in manual mode and checking focus before finalizing the shot can help ensure crisp, in-focus images. - Garnishes can transform boring photos: Adding thoughtful garnishes, such as herbs, spices, or seeds, can enhance the visual appeal of the food. - Plan before you shoot: Creating a mood board and shot list beforehand can help streamline the photography process and ensure all necessary shots are captured. - Embrace negative space: Allowing for some empty space around the food can create a more balanced and visually appealing composition. Connect with Alexandra Shytsman Website | Instagram

Are you tired of feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your blogging journey? In this episode, I'm sharing some exciting news about the 2025 Eat Blog Talk Mastermind, including the new tiered packages designed for bloggers at every stage. I'll walk you through the program's logistics and highlight how the mastermind can fast-track your blog's growth, no matter your budget or experience level. But that's not all—stay tuned for powerful transformation stories from current mastermind members! You'll hear how they've overcome common blogging pain points, from stagnant traffic to unclear goals, and turned their blogs into thriving businesses with more traffic, revenue, and confidence. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: - New mastermind tiers for 2025 that cater to different budgets and experience levels. - How the mastermind can help you accelerate growth and avoid common blogging mistakes. - Real-life transformations from current members—how they grew their traffic, increased revenue, and found clarity in their blogging strategies. - Why community, expert guidance, and accountability are the key ingredients to lasting success. - How the program can help you gain confidence, clarity, and focus to tackle your biggest blogging challenges. Ready to take your blog to new heights in 2025? Tune in now to hear how you can be part of this life-changing experience or visit eatblogtalk.com/mastermind to apply.

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 ways to be proactive, focus on progress and invite more good things into your business. We all want good things to flow into our business. Sometimes, it feels like we're making no progress or regressing. I've been there, multiple times. Even this year. For bloggers, this might mean losing followers, getting less pages views, trying to get into an ad network… the list goes on and on. By this same token, if you embrace a proactive, positive approach to your blog and focus on what's going well, you will most likely invite more good things into your business. Here are some practical ways to do this. Action Plan: 1 - Extend the invitation: Invite good things, opportunities, money, and positive energy into your business on a daily basis. 2 - Practice daily gratitude: Write down 5-10 things that are going well in your business each day and express gratitude for the progress (however small) you've made. 3 - Do daily decluttering: What tasks are cluttering your mind and business? Make a list and systematically work through and complete them. 4 - Engage in daily learning: Spend at least 15 minutes each day learning through podcasts, books, or discussions to stay eager and ready for good things. 5 - Invest in your business: Consider making strategic investments in coaching, masterminds, conferences, or courses to open the floodgates for positive growth. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Madison Wetherill's Web Design Services Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 588, Megan chats to Laura Arnold about why an SEO content calendar is important for diversifying your brand and how to set it up to improve your rank on Google. Laura Arnold is a New York City-based Emmy-Nominated Culinary Television Producer, Cookbook Consultant, and award-winning Content Creator with over a decade of experience. She currently is the Supervising Culinary Producer for Food Network's The Kitchen, and has worked previously at ABC's The Chew, DotDash Meredith, Good Housekeeping, Food52, kitchn.com, and with many more brands. In this episode, you'll learn more about how to balance new posts with content updates, which keywords to choose, the significance of storytelling and expert phrasing and whether social media is important or not. Key points discussed: - Consistency is key: Maintain consistent SEO efforts and content creation for long-term growth and success. - Manageable workloads: Create a content calendar that fits within your capabilities and resources for sustainable success. - Competitor analysis: Research and understand the top-performing content in a given niche to help you develop effective SEO strategies. - Keyword research and targeting: Identifying high-volume, low-competition keywords is a key step in creating content that resonates with the target audience. - Interlinking and content pillars: Strategically linking related content within posts and building out content pillars can improve site navigation and user experience. - Storytelling and expert phrasing: Balance personal narratives with authoritative language to help engage readers and establish the blogger as an expert in their field. - Performance tracking: Regularly monitoring and analyzing SEO metrics, such as impressions and keyword rankings, can inform content optimization and strategy adjustments. - Social media integration: Leveraging social media platforms to share and promote content can help diversify a brand's digital presence and reach a wider audience. Connect with Laura Arnold Website | Instagram

In episode 587, Brenda Cadman teaches us how to organize our uploads and templates in Canva to create designs quickly and without fuss. Brenda Cadman is a Canva Verified Expert from Prince Edward Island, Canada. After spending more than two decades supporting businesses with their website development needs, she now focuses on teaching small business owners how to use Canva more effectively and efficiently. Brenda has taught thousands of business owners through her courses, and in particular, she loves to help business owners tame their hot mess Canva accounts by creating an organizational system that ensures they can spend less time in Canva, and more time doing what they love. In this episode, you'll learn about creating custom folders for better categorization, template and time management and thereby streamlining the design process. Key points discussed: - Organize Canva uploads: Create custom folders to categorize and easily find your uploaded images, videos, and other media. - Leverage the brand kit: Use Canva's brand kit feature to store your logo, color palette, fonts, and other brand assets for consistent branding. - Streamline element organization: Use the "Add to Folder" option to create custom folders for frequently used icons, illustrations, and other design elements. - Manage templates effectively: Separate future-use templates from customized brand templates to maintain organization and efficiency. - Prioritize Canva organization: Dedicate time to organize your Canva account - this will help improve productivity and save time in the long run. - Use brand templates to speed up workflow: Creating and saving brand templates can ensure consistency and reduce errors when customizing frequently used designs. - Avoid wasting time in Canva: If you prioritize Canva organization, you will save time spent on the platform designing and looking for assets. Connect with Brenda Cadman Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 ways to manage feelings of overwhelm in entrepreneurship. If you are an entrepreneur long enough, you are bound to experience times when you have to evolve or you can't go on. Often, when you're in a state of complete overwhelm, it's a signal that something needs to change. I think most of us want to stay passionate about what we do but we don't want to get buried by to do lists and business projects. Here are 5 ways I manage overwhelm and keep a positive outlook. Action Plan: 1 - Time Tracking: Track everything you do for a minimum of 3 days, preferably 7 days. Comb through the data to identify where you're spending your time and make changes to reduce draining activities. 2 - Exercise and Self-Care: Commit to a daily habit of exercise, even if it's just 10 minutes and engage in self-care activities like meditation war spending time in nature, reading, or creative pursuits. 3 - Take a Break: Listen to your gut and take a break, whether it's a 30-minute break during the day or a longer, week-long or month-long break from your business. Giving yourself this time off can help reset and reduce overwhelm. 4 - Limit Tech and Social Media: Reduce the time you spend on your phone, computer, and social media platforms. The constant connectivity can contribute to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm. 5 - Laugh and Love: Surround yourself with situations and people that bring you joy, laughter, and love. Spend time with friends, family, or pets, and engage in activities that make you smile. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Food Photography by Ikram Ali Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 585, Megan chats to Carol Borchardt about the advantages of being a food blogger after you've retired and how to succeed regardless of your age. Carol Borchardt is a retired personal chef with 22 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! She is also a former newspaper food columnist and mom to rescue kitty, Olive. Carol is married (almost 29 years) with two stepchildren and four grandchildren. At From A Chef's Kitchen, which Carol started ten years ago, she shares easy, step-by-step, chef-tested restaurant-quality recipes that are easy to make at home. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 132 with Jen Lefforge – Starting A YouTube Channel Over 40. In this episode, you'll learn about what it is like being a full-time retired food blogger, why it is important to start sooner rather than later and how to overcome technical difficulties. Key points discussed: - Start a food blog at any age: Carol started her food blog between the ages of 40-50 - it's never too late to pursue a creative passion. - Overcome technical fears: Start with a good host and theme, and use resources or hire experts to handle the technical aspects of blogging. - Embrace social media strategically: Focus on the platforms that you feel comfortable with and enjoy. - Monetization can provide financial freedom: If your blog is monetised, your retirement income will be self-sustaining and provide flexibility. - Blogging can be a fulfilling retirement gig: You may find immense satisfaction in the creative outlet of food blogging, keeping you active and productive in retirement. - Build a legacy through recipes: Think of preserving family recipes and creating a lasting legacy through a food blog. - Do it on your own terms: Pursue your passion and don't feel pressured to conform to industry standards. - Find your true fans: Remember why you started the blog and connect with readers who appreciate your unique voice and content. Connect with Carol Borchardt Website | Instagram

In episode 584, Chris De La Rosa teaches us 6 unique monetization strategies so that we can earn a living without relying on income from ads. Chris De La Rosa, is the founder of CaribbeanPot.com, a platform dedicated to exploring the vibrant culinary culture of the Caribbean. Although his roots trace back to Trinidad and Tobago, Chris's goal is to showcase recipes from all the enchanting islands that contribute to the rich tapestry of Caribbean cuisine. Through his website, social media channels, and YouTube videos, Chris shares the authentic flavors, techniques, and stories that make Caribbean food so special. In this episode, you'll learn how to outsource finding brand deals, successful ways of selling digital products and how to leverage your culinary expertise by collaborating with restaurants and tech companies. Key points discussed: - Branded partnerships and sponsorships: It is essential to align brand deals with your niche and stay true to your audience. Hire out the process of contacting brands. - Digital products and online courses: Repurpose website content into digital cookbooks and courses to generate an additional revenue stream. - Seasonal content planning: Analyzing data, such as YouTube statistics, to help identify popular topics to create seasonal digital products. - Physical products and merchandise: Selling branded merchandise like t-shirts and aprons with your logo can generate additional income. - Menu consultation: Leveraging your expertise in a niche cuisine can lead to opportunities to consult with restaurants. - Culinary tours and experiences: Offering food-focused tours and experiences can be a unique way to monetize your brand. - Embrace the opportunities technology offer: Use your culinary expertise to collaborate with technology companies developing AI for recipes. - Ghost kitchens: Partner with shared kitchen spaces so that you can have a space for the production and distribution of your own food products. - Reduce food waste by offering made-to-order meals: By offering pre-ordered, made-to-order meals you can minimize waste and serve specific communities. Connect with Chris De La Rosa Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 strategies you can use to accelerate business growth, especially when your business feels stagnant. I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels like my entire business needs an overhaul, and other times, it just feels like a certain part of my business isn't growing. While our businesses can't be growing optimally all the time, there are strategies we can use to give our business a boost when it feels like we've hit a dead end or like we're running ourselves to the ground on the entrepreneurial hamster wheel of work, work, work. What's more these strategies may lead to an increase in revenue and other rewards. Action Plan: 1 - Prioritize relationships: Building and nurturing relationships with others can lead to exponential business growth that you may not be able to anticipate. 2 - Join or form a quality mastermind group: Being part of a high-quality mastermind group can provide unique perspectives, valuable connections, and accelerate the growth of your business. 3 - Hire a business and/or mindset coach: Investing in a good coach can help you identify and overcome personal and business obstacles, rewriting old stories and putting you on a trajectory for greater success. 4 - Be consistent: Committing to taking consistent action, even in small steps, towards your goals will help accelerate your business growth. 5 - Evaluate monthly what is and isn't working: Set aside time at the end of each month to reflect on your progress and use those insights to plan for the next month, ensuring you're focusing your efforts effectively. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Food Blog Writing at Maes Media (Chelsea Plummer) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 582, Megan chats to Katharine Rosenthal about creative ways to earn money while waiting to join an ad network. Katharine is a Dietitian and Food Blogger and she started her blog in early 2023. She focuses on healthy-ish recipes that are easy and approachable. As a Dietitian, Katharine fully believes that there is room for every food and she wants to spread that philosophy and idea to all of her readers. Katharine's favorite saying is "nourish to flourish" and to her that means to eat nutrient-rich foods most of the time but also grab those fries and drink the milkshake when you are craving it! In this episode, you'll learn about how to generate income through online and local partnerships, how to use your expertise to earn extra money and time management tips for balancing multiple income streams. Key points discussed: - Diversify income sources through online partnerships: While waiting to get into an ad network, you can generate revenue through online partnerships - you don't need many followers on social media to do this. - Leverage local connections: Reaching out to local magazines, businesses, and organizations can lead to valuable partnerships and exposure. - Provide value through expertise: Use your background to offer unique value, for example through recipe development, nutrition articles, and cooking classes. - Prioritize time management: Even with multiple income streams, you can plan for time off and still focus on self-care by being organized and planning ahead. - Know your value: Price your services to reflect the value you offer and reassess your pricing as your experience increases. - Embrace boldness: If you want to succeed you need to be bold and take advantage of opportunities, even when they may seem daunting. - Focus on long-term growth: Blogging is a long-term game, and she encourages persistence and patience in the face of challenges. - Create dual-purpose content: When creating content for partnerships, do it so that it can be used on your own blog. Guest Details Connect with Katharine Rosenthal Website | Instagram

In episode 581, Leslie Osborne teaches us how to create high-quality recipe videos using a phone, including what settings to use while recording and how to use artificial lighting correctly. Leslie started her food blog Bessie Bakes in 2015 after going to artisan bread and pastry school in Chicago, IL in 2012. She wanted to have a food-based business but after having her son, she realized that she needed to work from home but still share her recipes and passion for baking. After really struggling with food photography because she couldn't find affordable yet high-quality backdrops, Leslie started learning how to make her own. In 2019 she launched Bessie Bakes Backdrops and began selling her own line of lightweight, cleanable photography backdrops on her own website and Amazon. Along the way, Leslie has personally done all the photography and videography for her products and social media accounts and shares lots of tutorials and behind-the-scenes content on IG and Youtube! In this episode, you'll learn about video filming apps for your phone, using diffusers and bounce cards, making food look delicious and many other tips. Key points discussed: - Film in 4K 60fps: Filming recipe videos in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second can improve the quality and clarity of the footage. - Use a video filming app: Using a dedicated video filming app, rather than the default camera, allows for better control over camera settings like white balance and exposure. - Get close-up shots: Zooming in and positioning the camera close to the food can help make the recipe the star of the video. - Use food styling techniques: Make your food look extra delicious and textured by adding extra sauce, oil, seasoning, dressing etc. - Pay attention to lighting: Proper lighting, whether natural or artificial, is crucial for achieving vibrant colors and textures in recipe videos. - Use diffusers and bounce cards: Using diffusers and bounce cards can help soften and balance the lighting for a more natural look. - Tripods make filming easier: Different types of tripods, from tabletop to C-stands, offer varying levels of stability and flexibility for phone-based recipe videos. - Embrace failure and practice: Mastering videography skills takes time and a willingness to experiment and learn from mistakes. Guest Details Connect with Leslie Osborne Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 steps to improve your meditation practice so that you can experience rewards like better sleep and less anxiety. Meditation has changed my life. That is ever since I learned how to mediate correctly. Because, I imagine like many other people who have given up this mindfulness practice, I was approaching it all wrong. In fact, it was never a priority for me, just something I would try before work calls or meetings and then in a panicked state. This year I changed my approach and I'll never go back to life without meditation. This year I changed my approach and I'll never go back to life without meditation. It just makes me a better mom, wife and business owner. Here are the 5 steps I use for successful meditation. Action Plan: 1 - Play theta waves music before you get settled into your meditation. This will help put you in a relaxing theta brain wave state. 2 - Find a quiet place to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, where you won't be disturbed. Communicate with family members so they know not to bother you during this time. 3 - Establish an anchor, such as your breathing or a mantra, to gently bring your mind back when it starts to wander. Be patient and don't worry if your mind wonders. 4 - Just be - create space for your mind to rest and clear. Experiment with visualizations like an empty room to help quiet your thoughts. 5 - Continue mindfulness practices throughout the day, such as noticing and releasing any anxious habits like clenched fists or tight shoulders. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Meditation Track mentioned in Episode 580 Food Blogger Services – Mika Kinney Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 579, Megan chats to Sandie Markle about why we should shift our mindset about AI and instead leverage technology to create sustainable revenue growth beyond ads. With a passion for all things food, Sandie's journey in the tech world has equipped her with a unique perspective and a refined palate. As the former Senior Director of Content Engineering at SideChef, she led strategic initiatives to optimize grocery partnerships and recipe content, amassing over 18 years of expertise in efficient processes and robust strategies. Now, as the founder of Blueberri Consulting, she's dedicated to helping businesses elevate their content and tech infrastructure to help home cooks all over the world make memorable meals. In this episode, you'll learn about how to stay ahead of the curve with AI and other technology advancements as well as the importance of updating your LinkedIn page as you never know how it might benefit your business. Key points discussed: - Embracing AI and technology: Embrace AI and new technologies to stay ahead of trends and remain competitive in the food blogging industry. - Overcome resentment through education: Educate yourself on AI concepts and trends to help overcome the resentment towards AI-generated content. - Collaboration with tech companies: Explore non-traditional partnerships and collaborations with tech companies to integrate recipes and leverage your food blogging expertise. - Prompt engineering opportunities: You can leverage your domain expertise to help refine AI models and produce better quality, practical recipes. - Strengthen LinkedIn presence: Maintaining a strong LinkedIn profile can help food bloggers connect with B2B opportunities and stay informed about industry changes. - Bridge the gap between food and tech: There is a need to bridge the communication gap between food bloggers and tech companies to create better content experiences. - Embrace change and innovation: Technology is constantly evolving, and you need to be adaptable and willing to embrace new opportunities. - Importance of teamwork: The strength of the team is in the individual members, and food bloggers should focus on being strong individual contributors. Sign up for a free 30-minute Discovery Session HERE! Connect with Sandie Markle Website | Instagram

In episode 578, Kathy Berget teaches us what to do when our blog images have been used without our permission and how to get compensated for them. Kathy is the author, photographer, recipe developer, and writer at Beyond the Chicken Coop where she creates delicious home-cooked recipes utilizing what they grow and raise. Kathy is a former elementary school principal and has three grown kids; twin boys and one girl. Kathy and her husband live in the country on their own little farm. In this episode, you'll learn about copyright for images, ways in which you can respond and how to use image theft protection services like Pixsy to get compensated. Key points discussed: - Image theft is a common issue for food bloggers: Food blog images are often stolen or used without permission by various businesses, including restaurants, markets, and online retailers. - Copyright protection is automatic for blog images: Photographers automatically have copyright over their images, even without formal registration. - Services like Pixsy can help track and fight image theft: Pixsy is an online service that helps photographers find and fight unauthorized use of their images. - Responding to image theft requires a balanced approach: Do not obsess over every instance of image theft - selectively pursue cases that are worth the time and effort (especially if images are used for commercial purposes). - Watermarking images can increase their value if stolen: Removing or altering a watermark on an image can actually increase its value if used without permission. - Educating the public about image rights is an ongoing challenge: Many people may be unaware that using images found online without permission is considered theft. - Persistence and documentation are key when pursuing image theft cases: It's important to thoroughly document evidence and follow through with service providers like Pixsy. - Maintaining a positive attitude is important when dealing with image theft: Do no let image theft issues negatively impact your overall mindset and productivity. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 390 with Rob Finkelstein - Legal Issues Every Food Photographer Should Consider Connect with Kathy Berget Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to respond with confidence to 5 questions food bloggers get from friends and family that can upset us. People outside our industry may struggle to understand what we do as food bloggers. It is not as evident as being a doctor or a teacher and so we might get more questions that seem 'stupid' when we tell people what we do. Here are some common ones and how not to let these questions get to you, but instead learn how to respond with confidence and patience. Action Plan: 1 - "You're a what or what exactly do you do?" - Explain in simple terms what you do, so that a 13 year old can understand. 2 - "Do you make money? How do you make money? How much money do you make?" - If you're comfortable with the question, answer again in an easy way to understand or gently change the subject. 3 - "How is your business doing?" - Respond positively and avoid getting angry over any underlying meaning. 4 - "How is your little blog doing?" - Nobody has the vision you have for your business. Do not let questions like these upset you. The only thing that matters is that you are passionate about what you do. 5 - "What do you do all day? Can you watch my kids? You must have so much time on your hands?" - Set clear boundaries and explain that you have a full-time commitment to your blog during the day. That remains your priority. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Food Blog Writing by Jenny Farley Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 576, Megan chats to James Elliot about how to manage business obstacles, turning unexpected changes into opportunities for growth. James is a passionate and enthusiastic presenter who genuinely cares about people, and loves to speak, teach and deliver value. He's spoken at live events, as well as virtual ones, for people all over the world. He even has his own private training institution, where he trains people who want to make an impact on their organization, and do it in a fulfilling way. In this episode, you'll learn why business obstacles are ideal opportunities for business growth, specifically how to use self-reflection to pivot tasks that are no longer lighting you up to something you truly want to do. Key points discussed: - Navigating tough transitions: You can navigate difficult industry changes and transitions by embracing them as opportunities for growth and pivoting your business. - Don't be afraid to be you: Embracing one's authentic self and unique qualities can lead to greater success, trust, and connection with others, despite potential fears or criticism. - What are your limiting beliefs: Working with a great coach can help eliminate deep-seated limiting beliefs and unlock one's true potential through subconscious work. - Resilience and perseverance: Persistence and a refusal to give up, even in the face of challenges, are key to achieving long-term success as an entrepreneur. - Importance of self-reflection: Regularly taking time for quiet self-reflection can help uncover inner wisdom and guide the next steps for personal and professional growth. - Find a coach that resonates with you: Investing in a quality coach who resonates with you can accelerate personal and business transformation in ways that may take years to achieve alone. - Embracing change: View industry changes and challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than threats - can help you pivot and thrive. - Focusing on what you want: Maintaining a strong focus on your desired outcomes and goals, rather than dwelling on fears or doubts, can help drive progress. - Taking action: Consistent action, even in the face of limiting beliefs, is essential for turning dreams into reality and achieving success. Book a complimentary strategy and growth call with James Elliot HERE! Connect with James Elliot Website

In episode 575, Natasha teaches us how to effectively delegate tasks to our team and empower them to run our business when we're not there. Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia today running her international PR and visibility agency. As a PR agent, she's helped authors launch #1 bestselling books, booked national TV, and landed clients on the world's top podcasts and magazine covers. Leading up to this she lived on 3 different continents, volunteered in Central America, managed a high-performing marketing team in Asia, and taught public speaking to refugee teenagers. She is on a mission to see less clickbait and more empowering knowledge in the media. In this episode, you'll learn about what to look for when hiring employees, or outsourcing tasks, and how to prepare for extended periods off in your business (like maternity leave) by delegating tasks effectively. Key points discussed: - Delegating and streamlining are crucial for growth and freedom: Automating and delegating tasks allows entrepreneurs to focus on innovation and creating their best work. - Regular team check-ins and clear communication: Scheduling weekly one-on-ones and team meetings ensures a shared understanding of goals and responsibilities. - Maternity leave can be a catalyst for streamlining a business and building a strong team: Preparing for an extended leave forces you to document processes and distribute tasks effectively. - Tracking tasks can provide clarity on what to delegate and automate: Logging your daily activities helps identify opportunities for outsourcing and streamlining. - You can take a break from social media as long as other visibility strategies are in place: Maintaining a referral network and offline relationships can sustain a business during a social media hiatus. - Building a referral network and deliberate offline networking: Diversifying lead sources so that you are not dependent on source for all your clients. - Test for self-motivation and initiative in potential team members when hiring: Incorporating specific tasks and instructions into the application process helps identify proactive and detail-oriented candidates. - Automation and delegation allow entrepreneurs to focus on innovation: Streamlining administrative and operational tasks frees up time for strategic planning and creative pursuits. Connect with Natasha Zolotareva Website | Instagram DM Natasha's Instagram "20 tips" and get a free guide "20 Practical Tips to get on 20 podcasts in 90 days"

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 things to let go of in our business, especially looking at how these things are holding us back and what we can do instead. Internally, we hold on to so much unnecessary baggage, and this can impact us very negatively if we're not careful. As entrepreneurs, we can get even more bogged down, because with this territory comes a lot of daunting situations and therefore a lot of opportunity to just hold really tightly onto some things. So, here are the 5 things I've learned to let go of in my business. Action Plan: 1 - Caring what others think: Stop worrying about what people will think or say about you and your business, and instead focus on operating with integrity and serving your audience. 2 - Fear of failure: Embrace failure as a necessary part of the entrepreneurial journey, as it provides opportunities for learning and growth. 3 - Lack of confidence: Replace feelings of self-doubt with courage, and take bold actions in your business despite any lack of confidence. 4 - Perfectionism: Let go of the unrealistic pursuit of perfection and instead focus on taking imperfect action and continuously improving. 5 - Making excuses - Avoid making excuses for why you can't start or complete important projects, and instead prioritize and take action. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Caro Jensen – Food Videography Services Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 573, Megan chats to Emilie Pullar about how she monetized her food blog quickly by having a strong work ethic and writing blog posts for her reader instead of focusing just on SEO. The Burnt Butter Table is run by Emilie Pullar and is a pasta filled blog with recipes ranging from quick 10 minute pasta sauces to intricate filled pasta shapes made from scratch. Emilie's true passion for food shines through her recipes where she endeavors to explain and break down processes in an easy to understand way. In this episode, you'll learn about the value of believing in yourself and following your passion as well as the need for mindset shifts to maintain a sustainable entrepreneurial journey. Key points discussed: - Passion and hard work are key to building a successful food blog: Are you passionate about your niche because you're going to need it to motivate you to put in the work. - Detailed, user-focused content is more important than SEO: Create high-quality, detailed recipes that provide a great user experience and don't only optimize for search engines. - Overcoming burnout requires setting boundaries: Hard work might lead to burnout unless you set clear boundaries to maintain work-life balance. - Resilience and perseverance are essential for entrepreneurs: Those who are willing to put in the hard work and don't give up at the first hurdle are the ones who ultimately succeed. - Finding a mentor can accelerate your growth: Mentors provide valuable guidance and support that can make the difference between you giving up and pushing through. - Building a supportive community is crucial: Try to connect with others in the industry and find a community to share experiences and seek advice. - Setting clear goals and celebrating wins boosts motivation: Set written goals and celebrate small victories to maintain momentum and direction. - Incorporating personal voice and face builds connection: Use your own voice and share your face on social media to help readers connect with you on a deeper level. - Avoiding comparison and focusing on your unique journey is key: Don'y get caught up in comparing yourself to others, instead embracing your own unique path. Guest Details Connect with Emilie Pullar Website | Instagram

In episode 572, Dee Rotman teaches us how to create strong results for a new blog, getting high page views from the start by building an audience on social media first. Deeckla (Dee) Rotman founded Dee & Sweets in December 2022, sharing baking recipes and tips with time-sensitive home bakers on social media. Having created over a hundred dessert recipes, Dee launched her blog in April 2024 and is already seeing strong growth. Dee became an entrepreneur after having been a marketing leader in the corporate world for most of her career. In this episode, you'll learn why Dee prioritized growing a following on Instagram before launching her blog, what she plans on prioritizing next and how she handles competition. Key points discussed: - Start building an audience on social media before launching a blog: This helps drive traffic to the new blog and establish an engaged following. - Hire help strategically: Bringing on freelancers and part-time assistants can alleviate burnout and allow you to focus on growth. - Diversify traffic sources beyond just SEO: Explore different social platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok to reach new audiences and land brand deals. - Analyze successful creators to learn and improve: Studying what works for others can inspire ideas for your own content and strategy. - Be comfortable with being uncomfortable: Embrace the challenges of entrepreneurship and use them as opportunities for growth. - Refocus comparison energy into learning: Instead of feeling demotivated by others' success, use it as motivation to improve your own skills and approach. - Prioritize mindset and self-care: Maintaining a positive, resilient mindset is crucial for sustaining a successful blogging business. - Start small and scale gradually: Some creators grow slowly and steadily overtime - this can be just or more beneficial than a sudden, rapid growth. - Leverage existing connections and relationships: Tapping into your professional network can lead to valuable partnerships and collaborations. Connect with Dee Rotman Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 steps to prepare for Q4, so that you can get the most out of it without risking burnout. Q4 is a big deal in our industry. People love food. And people especially love food from approximately October 1st through the end of the year, every year. How can we make the most of this time of year as a food blogger? Here, I share 5 steps I take to prepare for Q4 so that I can stay on top of my food blog, watching the increase in traffic and revenue that comes with Q4, while still being able to enjoy the holidays. These steps will also help you prevent burn out as you manage the busiest time of year for us food bloggers. Action Plan: 1 - Change your perspective: Approach Q4 with gratitude and excitement rather than fear or worry. 2 - Delegate, automate, and eliminate: Identify tasks you can delegate, automate, or eliminate to free up time and energy for Q4. 3 - Make self-care and mindset a priority: Proactively schedule time for physical exercise, meditation, and other self-care activities. 4 - Stay in the game: Focus on the progress you've made in your business rather than what you haven't yet achieved. 5 - Put a plan in place: Establish your Q4 goals, create a content and task calendar, and block off time for rest and relaxation. Resources 90-minute planning session Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 570, Megan chats to Heather Farris about optimizing Pinterest to boost blog traffic, including how to use Pinterest Trends as part of your keyword strategy. Heather is an accountant and bookkeeper turned blogger and Pinterest marketer. Since 2016, she has helped hundreds of Pinterest creators grow their traffic and sales through both organic and paid ads. She regularly helps creators understand how to spend their time and money to grow their businesses on and off Pinterest. In this episode, you'll learn how to interpret Pinterest trends, why Pinterest is an important search tool like Google and what types of pins you should be making to get traction on the platform. Key points discussed: - Pinterest is a powerful search engine for food bloggers: Pinterest users often use the platform as their primary search engine, making it a valuable tool for food bloggers to reach their audience. - Treat Pinterest as a "parking lot" for content: Think of it as a long-term time investment as, if you're using the right keywords it will get indexed and pinners will discover your content and website. - Leverage Pinterest trends for content creation: Use the Pinterest Trends tool to identify popular and evergreen keywords and topics, which can inform content creation and optimization. - Create a separate workflow for Pinterest: Create a dedicated workflow for your Pinterest content, focusing on 15-30 URLs per month to stay consistent and efficient. - Prioritize saves over follows on Pinterest: Saves are more important than follows for Pinterest content visibility, as they indicate user interest and can lead to more content exposure. - Optimize pin descriptions and titles with keywords: Use relevant keywords in pin descriptions and titles to improve visibility and reach on the platform. - Repurpose content by creating video and animated pins: Save time by repurposing existing content into video and animated pins, which can perform well on Pinterest. - Maintain consistency and persistence on Pinterest: Keep creating and sharing content on Pinterest, even if you don't see immediate results, the platform can be a valuable long-term investment for your business. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 567 with Shaunda Necole - Pin Your Way to Online Traffic Success! How Pinterest can Transform Your Business Connect with Heather Farris Website | Instagram

In episode 569, Mika Kinney and Sarah Bond teach us the nitty gritty of growing an Instagram account as a way to drive traffic to our blogs and add new revenue streams instead of relying on Google. Guest Bio: Mika: Mika is a food-obsessed gal who has learned everything she knows from Food Network and cooking shows. She learned how to combine sweet and spicy from Bobby Flay and how to make a sponge cake from the Great British Baking Show. As the co-founder of Joy to the Food, her mission is simple: To prove that eating more protein is not complicated and can actually be a lot of fun! Sarah: Sarah Bond is the food blogger behind the vegetarian website, Live Eat Learn. With degrees in nutrition and food science, she started her food blog in 2015 as a creative outlet that combined her favorite things - photography, food, and writing. She now works full-time on her blog from Denver, Colorado. Along the way, she started her niche sites Brew Buch (pronounced "booch") for all things kombucha brewing, and Bone Appetreat, a dog food blog! She is currently working on her first self-published cookbook, which will be released in July of 2024. In this episode, you'll learn about how to optimize your Instagram account, consistently create and analyze your content to increase your chances of going viral and increasing your followers quickly. Key points discussed: - Analyze viral content: Identifying what made a particular post go viral, whether it was the ingredient, method, or presentation, can help guide future content creation. - Repurpose content across platforms: Repurpose the same video content on multiple platforms, such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, to help save time and reach a wider audience. - Leverage tools like ManyChat: Using tools like ManyChat to send direct links and messages to followers can help drive traffic from Instagram to your blog. - Experiment with content styles: Try different types of content, such as recipe reels, lifestyle posts, and collages, to see what resonates best with your audience. - Engage with your community: Actively engage with other creators in your niche, by commenting on their posts and supporting their content - this can help you build relationships and increase visibility. - Optimize your Instagram profile: Ensuring your Instagram profile is set up to clearly communicate your brand and niche can help new followers understand why they should follow you. - Analyze Instagram analytics: Tracking engagement metrics and identifying patterns in your top-performing content can help guide future content creation and strategy. - Use natural lighting: Using natural lighting, even if it's not "perfect," can create a more relatable and authentic look. - Leverage your Instagram following for email list growth: Growing an engaged Instagram following can help drive newsletter signups and build a loyal audience. Connect with Mika Kinney Website | Instagram Connect with Sarah Bond Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five ways to find inspiration in your business and life when you feel depleted. As a creative individual and entrepreneur who has typically a stream of inspiring ideas running through my head, it feels really confusing when I feel uninspired. I always find it useful to pinpoint why I'm feeling uninspired first before I actively seek out inspiration. And yes, you can reignite your inspiration! You do not have to go about your day depleted. Here are 5 ways you can do it. Action Plan: 1 - Start a creative project: engage in a creative activity like art, crafting, writing, or design to stimulate your brain and boost inspiration. 2 - Research a vacation: research travel destinations, hotels, restaurants, and activities that you would like to experience, even if you don't have immediate plans to take the trip. 3 - Consume inspiring content: seek out podcasts, books, music, or other media that typically fills you with inspiration. 4 - Journal: write about the things that inspire you and reflect on why they are inspiring to you. 5 - Get outside and get quiet: spend time in nature, whether by sitting outside or going for a walk, to allow inspiration to flow. Resources Food Photography by Kristina Cadelina Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 567, Shaunda Necole teaches us how to think of Pinterest as a search engine and effective keyword strategies which will help our pins rank and drive traffic to our blogs. Shaunda Necole is the go-to recipe creator for modern soul food cuisine. She's the founder of The Soul Food Pot, the #1 Southern soul food site on Google, the author of seven culinary guides, and the host of The Soul Food Pod, Apple's first show dedicated to the history and culture around iconic African American dishes. She believes in making life easier and more soulful, one recipe at a time! In this episode, you'll learn how to word your keywords and stylize your pins for optimal impact, as well as how to use keywords in pin titles, descriptions, and board titles to help Pinterest understand the content's relevance. Key points discussed: - Pinterest is a visual search engine that delivers lifestyle photos: You should leverage Pinterest's visual nature to create appealing, relatable pins that showcase your recipes and content. - Keyword optimization is crucial for Pinterest success: Research and use relevant keywords in your pin titles, descriptions, and board names to ensure your content is found by users. - Creating multiple pins per URL is recommended: You should create several unique pins for each blog post or recipe to target different keywords and increase visibility. - Repinning evergreen content is important: Use scheduling tools to continuously repin your best-performing content to maintain relevance and attract new users. - Lifestyle and kitchen-focused imagery works well for food pins: Use appetizing, visually appealing photos that allow users to imagine themselves engaging with the content. - The Pinterest Pyramid strategy optimizes content: Aligning board titles, pin titles, descriptions, and graphic design with target keywords can improve a pin's visibility. - Dedicating time to Pinterest marketing is essential: Dedicate a few hours per week to create, schedule, and analyze your Pinterest content. Connect with Shaunda Necole Website | Instagram

In episode 566, Carrie Tyler teaches us how to establish a strong brand position and why this is essential to understand and meet our target audience's needs. Carrie Tyler is a brand positioning and brand marketing expert with over 20 years experience in Consumer Brand Management for large consumer goods companies. In 2018, Carrie launched her food blog, Talking Meals focusing on easy dinner recipes for busy families. In 2022, Carrie launched a second niche food blog and continues to run both blogs successfully today. Carrie has applied her brand positioning expertise to her own two food blogs and now helps other food bloggers to do the same. Through in-depth customer targeting and using a Food Blogger Brand House Model that she developed, Carrie helps food bloggers narrow in on their customers needs and how they uniquely solve those needs. In this episode, you'll learn the benefits of brand positioning, such as increased email list growth, return traffic, and product sales and practical ways to create a memorable brand for food bloggers. Key points discussed: - Brand positioning is crucial for food bloggers to stand out in a crowded market: Establishing a clear brand positioning can help food bloggers differentiate themselves, connect with their target audience, and grow their business. - Understanding the emotional needs of the target audience is key: Connecting with the audience on an emotional level, beyond just meeting their rational needs, is essential for building a loyal following. - Brand positioning can improve focus and motivation: Having a clear brand positioning can help food bloggers prioritize their tasks and stay motivated, even during challenging times. - Brand positioning can enhance website, email, and product/service offerings: Implementing brand positioning across various touch points can improve the user experience and help diversify income streams. - It's never too late to establish brand positioning: Food bloggers at any stage of their business can benefit from defining their brand positioning, even if they've been blogging for years. - Small changes can make a big impact: Implementing small, incremental changes to align with the brand positioning can have a significant positive impact on a food blogger's business. - The "brand house" model provides a visual framework: Carrie "brand house" model helps food bloggers understand the different elements of their brand and how they work together. Connect with Carrie Tyler Website | Facebook

In this episode, we're going to talk about five ways to reduce blogging anxiety by setting boundaries online and finding a supportive blogging peer group. Even after 14 years of blogging, I still experience blogging anxiety. It's part of the job, isn't it? There's so much pressure inside and outside of the blogging industry. Every year there are new strategies to increase our traffic and grow our audience. Every year, we scramble to keep up with changes in our industry. While outside of the industry there's pressure to make our businesses successful, and sometimes loved ones with the best of intentions add the pressure of doing so. Above all, we probably want to prove to ourselves and others that we've got this. We can be successful entrepreneurs. And so the anxiety sets in... But there are ways in which we can minimize blogging anxiety! Action Plan: 1 - Hire someone to respond to your comments to shield you from negative feedback and criticism. 2 - Join a quality mastermind group to surround yourself with a supportive, understanding peer group that can provide the encouragement you need to manage the ups and downs of being a blogger. 3 - Minimize time spent in Facebook groups to avoid any unnecessary drama and toxicity. 4 - Be selective about who you allow into your business circle whether it's on social media or in other online spaces, as negative influences can increase your anxiety. 5 - Set a timer for your social media usage so that you don't get caught in the endless scroll which can fuel feelings of inadequacy and anxiety. Resources Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 564, Megan chats to Anjali Shah about a unique affiliate marketing strategy bloggers can use to earn additional revenue by negotiating directly with brands they truly believe in. Anjali Shah is a food writer, best-selling author, board certified health coach, nutritionist, mom of two, and an advocate for healthy, clean eating for individuals and families. Her work has garnered nationwide attention as she has been featured on Oprah.com, Women's Health, Cooking Light, Reader's Digest, CNN, Food Network, and more. Anjali grew up a "whole wheat" girl, but married a "white bread" kind of guy. Hoping to prove that nutritious food could in fact be delicious and desirable, she taught herself how to cook and successfully transformed her husband's eating habits from a diet of frozen pizzas and Taco Bell to her healthy, yet flavorful recipes made with simple, wholesome ingredients. After becoming a mom, Anjali expanded her work to include strategies and techniques to combat picky eating in kids of all ages. Anjali started The Picky Eater in 2011 to make healthy food accessible, tasty, easy to make at home, and picky-eater proof. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. In this episode, you'll learn what commission to expect from brands, how to pitch brands without coming across as salesy and how to approach SEO in sponsored posts. Key points discussed: - Affiliate marketing can be a significant revenue stream for food bloggers: It could make up as much as 70% of your income over time. - Reaching out to brands directly can be an effective affiliate marketing strategy: Contact brands on Instagram to pitch collaboration opportunities rather than using email templates to make it more personal. - Negotiating fair compensation is important: Ask for sufficient commission - around 20% - from affiliate programs, and be willing to negotiate for higher rates. - Authenticity is key when pitching to brands: Focus on products she already uses or believes in, making the pitch feel more like a conversation than a sales pitch. - Building long-term partnerships with brands can be beneficial: If you start now, you can establish potentially beneficial long-term affiliate partnerships. - Keyword research for affiliate marketing content should target high-intent keywords: Look for keywords that indicate a user's intent to purchase, rather than just general category searches. - The changing Google landscape may require adjusting affiliate marketing strategies: You might need to adapt your SEO-focused affiliate marketing approach due to recent changes in Google's search results. - Asking to be paid for your work is important: Bloggers should ask for fair compensation, rather than accepting product as payment. Connect with Anjali Shah Website | Instagram

In episode 563, June Dick teaches us how to make the process of self-publishing a cookbook easy and efficient and how to avoid the mistakes she made. June is the recipe developer and photographer for her food blog, Practically Homemade. Here you will find simple recipes for everyday families inspired by years of being a restaurant owner, high school culinary teacher and mom of 4. Now as an empty nester, June is still looking for shortcut ingredients and kitchen hacks to save time in the kitchen. Her life mission is to share them with you so that you can have time back in your life to enjoy the little things. In this episode, you'll learn about what June thinks went really well during her self-publishing process, what she would do differently and how to get help from your audience to put a cookbook together. Key points discussed: - Plan ahead for a cookbook project: Think about the end product and work backwards to plan the steps, rather than jumping right into creating recipes. - Establish a consistent recipe format: Create a template for recipes to ensure consistency throughout the book. - Involve your audience: Reach out to your audience for recipe testing. This can provide valuable feedback and help build excitement for the book. - Consider outsourcing tasks: Outsource tasks that you don't enjoy doing (e.g. layout, photography, editing), to free up your time for the parts you enjoy. - Expect the unexpected: Be flexible as there might be unexpected changes you need to make. - Prioritize your blog: Plan ahead and schedule out your blog content so you can focus on your cookbook project without going into burnout. - Choose a topic you're passionate about: Select a topic you truly enjoy, as you'll be working on it for an extended period. - Be patient with the process: Self-publishing a cookbook takes longer than expected, so be be patient and persistent. Connect with June Dick Website | Instagram If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 146 with Jason Logsdon - Self Publish Cookbooks To Launch Into A New Level Of Success

In this episode, we're going to talk about five steps for dealing with failure when you start something new. I love this topic because failure is a given for entrepreneurs, and starting new things is essential for our success. If we cannot handle failure properly and if we don't start new things, entrepreneurship will be unsuccessful. I've been an entrepreneur for 14 years, and I can say that most of the reason I've found success is because I've picked myself up again and again after many failures over the years. I'll share two of my biggest failures with you, so you never feel bad or stupid or worthless after failing. Failure is proof that you're trying, doing your best, and taking action. We don't learn anything when we succeed; we learn and grow when we fail. Action Plan: 1 - Face the fear of failing: Sit with your fears and understand that failure is a growth tool. 2 - Go down the outcome rabbit hole: Explore the worst-case and best-case scenarios of failure to put it in perspective. 3 - Evaluate past failures: Reflect on previous failures and identify the valuable lessons and skills you gained. 4 - Make a plan: Set a goal and create guideposts to stay accountable and overcome your fears. 5 - Take action: Don't let fear paralyze you - take the first small step to move forward. Resources Ghostwriter – Terrence Roche ([email protected]) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 561, Megan chats to Sophie Sadler about the strategy she implemented to rapidly grow her IG followers based on what she learned from Meta (Facebook) during multiple calls. Sophie has been baking and cooking from as early as she can remember. From helping as a child in her Oma's kitchen in Germany to starting her own cupcake catering business and working in a handful of restaurants and bakeries while attending college in the USA. 8 years ago she found her calling with her authentic German food blog dirndl kitchen. Sophie has launched two online courses this year on German baking and will publish her first German cookbook in 2025. In this episode, you'll learn about Sophie's 'reel' strategy including how to keep up with posting daily, overcoming creative blocks and focusing on serving your audience by being real and raw instead of wasting time perfecting content. Key points discussed: - Consistent daily posting on Instagram is key to rapid growth: You can rapidly increase your following if you post content daily that resonate with your audience. - Authenticity and imperfection resonate with followers: Followers connect more with "real" and raw content rather than overly polished posts. - Diversifying content beyond your niche can be beneficial: Viral reels don't necessarily need to be about recipes and you can post about various topics related to your niche. - Building an email list is crucial for long-term success: Grow your email list and redirect Instagram followers to a platform that you have more control over. - Overcome creative blocks through a content idea bank: Keep a running list of reel ideas to reference when your struggling for inspiration. - Focusing on a specific ideal follower can guide content creation: When planning Instagram posts, it can be helpful to think of your ideal audience and what they would enjoy and find helpful. - Experimenting and not overthinking content is important: Try different types of posts without worrying too much about performance. - Leverage Instagram growth to support other business goals: Instagram growth can help you land other business deals like brand sponsorship and book deals. Connect with Sophie Sadler Website | Instagram

In episode 560, Melissa Mitri teaches us how to improve our productivity and become more successful bloggers by paying attention to our diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. Melissa Mitri is a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Weight Loss Specialist, and Expert Health Writer with over 15 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. Melissa Mitri, MS, RD, is a weight loss expert, blogger, and freelance writer for health professionals and brands. Melissa blogs regularly at melissamitri.com where she shares helpful content, tips, and recipes for those looking to lose weight in a sustainable way. In this episode, you'll learn about specific foods, beverages and habits that can improve your cognitive function and mental focus, including how to incorporate physical activity and self-care practices seamlessly into your daily life. Key points discussed: - Build healthy habits consistently: Incorporating healthy habits like diet, exercise, and self-care into your daily routine is more effective than sporadic efforts. - Begin with small, sustainable changes: By making small changes at the start like 10-15 minutes of exercise or a 3-minute gratitude practice, you're more likely to build a sustainable habit. - Plan ahead: Meal planning and scheduling movement breaks can help you stay focused and productive throughout the day. - Hydration is important: Drinking water regularly can improve mental focus and energy levels. - Limit alcohol: Alcohol can negatively impact sleep quality and next-day productivity. - Experiment with different self-care practices: Find what works best for you, whether it's meditation, journaling, or talking to a friend. Remember self-care is investing in your well-being. - Prioritize sleep: Establishing a consistent sleep schedule and nighttime routine can boost energy and focus. - Movement breaks boost productivity: Short bursts of physical activity can re-energize the mind and body. - Certain foods can enhance focus: Blueberries, broccoli, fatty fish, and nuts are examples of brain-boosting foods. Connect with Melissa Mitri Website | Instagram

We all know the feeling of waking up and dreading the day. When you feel negativity early in the morning it can ruin your productivity and sometimes human interactions. That's why I want to share a simple morning ritual I started using by saying 5 powerful words - gratitude, wisdom, abundance, inspiration, and love. After recently feeling low and depleted, I started intentionally changing the language I use immediately after I wake up. Focusing on concepts like gratitude, love and inspiration before even getting out of bed, has helped me reframe negative thoughts and rekindle my motivation for work. If nothing else it has helped me be in a better mood the rest of the day. Try this and let me know how it turns your day around! Action Plan: When you wake up… 1 - Say the word "Gratitude" and think about the first handful of things you are immensely grateful for. 2 - Say the word "Wisdom" and envision yourself making wise decisions throughout your day. 3 - Say the word "Abundance" and think of the abundant blessings in your life. 4 - Say the word "Inspiration" and reflect on what inspires you. 5 - Say the word "Love" and think about the things that make you feel love. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Coaching and Mentorship for Food Bloggers by Brittany Roche Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 558, Megan chats to Carrie Barnard about strategies to create a community on Facebook and how to generate genuine engagement from your followers by asking them what they want and giving it to them. Carrie is a mother to 8 amazing children. She has some biological children and has adopted through foster care. She is a huge advocate for helping others which is how Eating on a Dime was born. With over 3 Million Fans on Facebook and recipe videos with over 100 million views, Eating on a Dime has become a trusted source for easy recipes for the entire family. In this episode, you'll learn why being flexible in your approach is essential to succeed on Facebook, what type of content is currently doing well on the platform and how to make the most of it to help drive traffic to your blog. Key points discussed: - Build community, not just traffic: Focus on serving your followers and asking what they want rather than solely growing numbers. This builds loyalty. - Ask for content ideas: Regularly ask your Facebook followers what types of posts and recipes they want to see. Deliver this content to maximize engagement. - Experiment with formats: Try different types of posts like photos, videos, questions and collages rather than sticking to one format like curated photos. - Do live videos: Short, casual live videos help build authentic connections and a sense of community through welcoming viewers into your home. - Focus on your page: Put primary efforts into optimizing your business page over managing multiple groups and your page. - Repurpose content: Live videos, hands and pans videos, and other content can be adapted into short Facebook reels and videos for multiple platforms. - Be authentic: Showing your real, imperfect self through videos and posts builds trust and makes content more relatable and human compared to highly polished photos or videos. - Ask for engagement: Prompting comments and questions increases interaction. Auto-responders can help redirect followers to your website. - Adapt to changes: Willingness to change strategies and formats based on trends and feedback keeps content fresh and optimized over time. Connect with Carrie Barnard Website | Facebook

In episode 557, Emily Baksa teaches us how to build an engaged email list and why this is essential for our businesses, especially during volatile times. Emily is a food copywriter and content strategist who uses mealtime to make a positive impact on people and the planet. She writes crave-worthy, conversion-generating copy for food bloggers, CPG brands, chefs, farmers, and other culinary change makers to help grow their businesses. In this episode, you'll learn practical tips for creating enticing opt-ins, email series showcasing your expertise, providing valuable, personalized content and leveraging testimonials and reader favorites. Key points discussed: - Build email series: Create ongoing email conversations around seasonal topics or your areas of expertise to keep subscribers engaged. - Highlight reader favorites: Share the most popular recipes or content from your site each month to focus on what readers enjoy rather than self-promotion. - Optimize opt-ins: Craft enticing sign-up offers that showcase value to visitors through solutions to common problems or personalized experiences. - Leverage expertise: Lean into your unique knowledge or skills when developing opt-ins and content to form a strong connection with potential subscribers. - Consider quizzes: Interactive opt-in formats like quizzes provide a customized experience that can appeal to subscribers' interests. - Focus on readers: Reframe emails, content and offers from the subscriber's perspective by emphasizing value and benefits rather than self-promotion. - Build relationships: Develop trust and loyalty by communicating regularly with subscribers through a variety of personalized, non-promotional messages. - Own your business: Invest in email marketing to gain more control over monetization and revenue through direct paid offers to your engaged audience. - Think creatively: Don't limit yourself to traditional strategies; explore new marketing channels and formats to take your business in an empowering direction. - Engage subscribers: Keep content fresh through light refreshes while leveraging subscriber data to continuously provide relevant value and keep them involved. Connect with Emily Baksa Website | Instagram

Many of us struggle with anxiety, overthinking and stress. In this episode, I discuss 5 ways for cultivating more mindfulness and reducing stress by being in the present moment. Being happy doesn't need to be complicated. And we actually don't need a ton of money, beauty or possessions to feel happy. Happiness can actually be found in simply letting go of our anxiety, overthinking and distractions and really taking in our surroundings - appreciating life and people who support us. But, you'll need to be intentional about it. Here are 5 ways in which I live in the moment, letting go of distractions and overwhelming thoughts. Action Plan: 1 - Meditate - Sit quietly for 15 minutes a day to get the mind to stop thinking (make it less or more time depending on your situation). This can change your life if you do it consistently. 2 - Get caught up in the fun parts of life - Do enjoyable activities like skydiving, hiking with friends, amusement parks that fully engage you in the moment and prevent worrying. 3- Call out anxious habits - Through self-awareness, identify habits like shoulder tensing or repetitive thoughts caused by anxiety, and gently remind yourself to "change" the habit in the moment. 4 - Spend time in nature - Sitting outside and observing nature can help us feel the present more intensely. 5 - Mindfulness exercises - Simple practices like noticing 5 things you see, hear, feel can help center your mind on the present. Breathing exercises can help as well. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Brand Positioning Coach (Carrie Tyler) Promote your food blogging services

In episode 555, Megan chats to Katie Jasiewicz about the ins and outs of hiring interns to help us with our blogs, covering everything from job descriptions, the hiring process and quality of work delivered. Katie Jasiewicz (jazz uh wits) is a seasoned blogger with almost 15 years of experience. She's known for her popular websites; Katie's Cucina (a recipe blog) and Sew Woodsy (a craft/DIY blog). In 2014, she transitioned from a corporate marketing job, and turned her passion for food and crafting into a full-time career. She recently launched Easy Seafood Recipes, a niche seafood recipe website. Katie continues to share her expertise and insights from her journey spanning over a decade in the blogging world. In this episode, you'll learn how to hire an intern either for college credits (i.e. free) or a salary, what tasks to give them, how to train them and whether it's a viable way to outsource blogging tasks. Key points discussed: - Motivated interns can help lessen your workload: Use a diligent hiring process to find motivated interns that can be an asset to your business. - Start with one intern per semester: Taking on multiple interns initially can be overwhelming, it's best to start small and gain experience. - Research college timelines: Understanding semester schedules at target schools helps post internships at optimal times for recruitment and onboarding. - Students need own equipment for virtual internships: If you're offering a virtual internship, think through the requirements for students like access to internet and a computer. - Use a detailed contract: Outlining expectations, responsibilities, confidentiality and more through a contract establishes structure and accountability. - Assign tasks on project boards: Use organizational tools like Trello to help assign and track tasks to keep internships on schedule.Provide training and support: Take time to onboard interns through tutorials and regular check-ins. It will help them succeed in their roles. - Leverage an intern's strengths: Tailoring tasks to skills and interests fosters engagement and quality work from motivated interns. - Communicate schedules and allow for flexibility: Allow for life events on both sides to maintain understanding during a long-term collaborative relationship. Connect with Katie Jasiewicz Website | Instagram

In episode 554, Sonia Khosla teaches us several mindset hacks for a happier, more successful life, including how to make small changes over time to create momentum in your business and what to do when things don't go as planned. Sonia Khosla founded Love Incredible Recipes as a way to share her favorite vegetarian and refined sugar-free recipes. She has a passion for food and making recipes using fresh and healthier ingredients. Love Incredible Recipes aims to inspire people to make fresh vegetarian meals using wholesome ingredients as well as refined sugar-free desserts and snacks. In this episode, you'll learn why adopting a positive outlook and focusing on serving others can help keep you motivated when things go wrong, especially as you're starting out in blogging. Key points discussed: - Small, consistent changes can have a big impact over time: Small, consistent changes to habits and routines can lead to significant improvements in mindset and success when done regularly. - Shifting perspective helps maintain a positive mindset: Focus on gratitude, small wins, and how you are inspiring others to help shift perspective away from challenges and towards a more positive outlook. - Community support strengthens food bloggers: Food blogging community is a good example of how to give by helping one another and sharing valuable resources, which benefits all. - Self-defined success leads to happiness: Success can come from inner fulfillment - it's more important to be happy in the present moment rather than waiting to achieve milestones. - Serving and giving to others is fulfilling: Focus on how you can help and inspire people through blogging to keep yourself motivated like Tony Robbins says, "the secret to living is giving." - Gratitude cultivates abundance: Practice daily gratitude to help shift your mindset towards abundance. - Self-care prevents burnout: Prioritize activities that you enjoy like cooking without limitations, exercise, meditation and unplugging to recharge and maintain well-being. Connect with Sonia Khosla Website | Instagram

Do you ever wonder where your time goes? Do you ever feel completely drained but don't understand why? It's probably time to do an audit. I realised the importance of doing regular audits on my life and business a few years back. Like tracking time, energy drains and to do lists. It has made a huge difference. However, in order to make the most of your audit, you need to be prepared to make some life changes. Here are 5 audits that can change your life and practical strategies for how to implement changes to improve your health, income and relationships. Action Plan: 1 - Time audit: Complete at least a week-long time audit and note any discrepancies between perceived vs actual time spent working. 2 - Energy audit: Fill out "gives me energy" and "drains my energy" lists, then take steps to minimize your biggest drains. 3 - People audit: Evaluate your closest relationships by making a list of the 10 people you spend the most time with. Identify anyone on the list that seems to drain your energy. 4 - Calendar audit: Audit your calendar for the next 3 months and remove any items that feel unnecessary or don't align with your goals. Make room for important tasks. 5 - To do list audit: Sweep through your existing to-do list, removing any items that can be deleted, delegated, or postponed. Tackle remaining high-priority tasks. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram