Eat Blog Talk

In episode 468, Emily Rhodes teaches us the value of a hyper-niche blog and how to make an income from it. Emily started Steam & Bake a little over 10 years ago. Emily is now a journalist and nutritionist, but at that time, she was a home economist and demonstrator for a global appliances manufacturer. Clients kept complaining about the lack of steam oven recipes and resources after they'd bought these fancy new ovens. After a couple of years in the job, Emily realized no one was coming to save these people! The manufacturers were not much help and no one else was writing recipes specifically for these appliances, so she figured she'd put a few posts up and see what happened. Fast forward a decade and Steam & Bake is the number one source of steam oven recipes on the internet, earning her an income from home while raising three boys. It absolutely blows her mind that a tiny little website in Australia has taken her to this point. Emily is grateful every day for what she gets to do. In this episode, you'll learn how to do keyword research for a narrow niche blog, how to diversify your income and how to deal with becoming the go-to person in your category. - Don't choose a niche you don't know anything about or have no interest in. - You have to be willing to go deep and wide into your topic. - What to do when you're the 'first one' or have no role models in your niche. - Your food blog role model does not have to be a blogger (for example who inspires you in the way they connect with their readers?) - Writing in a very small niche means you aren't competing with a million other blogs. - You don't have to follow the same rules about SEO, social platforms and posting. - Find keywords that cater for what your audience wants to know and tailor popular keywords to your niche. - Diversify your income by creating cookbooks, e-books and memberships in your niche. - If you become the go-to person in your niche, you can create more opportunities for monetization. Connect with Emily Rhodes Website | Instagram

In episode 467, Megan chats to Briana DeBolt and Chamere Orr about the importance of investing in our businesses instead of relying on free resources to make progress. Briana and Chamere of A Full Living are the husband and wife team behind the website! They have been blogging (a bit aimlessly at first) since 2016, and in the past 3 years, have really dug into strategizing to the next level by improving on their photography, SEO knowledge, and hiring contractors to help them manage the day to day of their growing business. Blogging has been their full-time job since mid-2020, and are always looking to improve. In this episode, you'll learn why investing in aspects like SEO expertise, mentorship, photography skills and outsourcing in general is important to accelerate your blog's growth. - Food bloggers tend to start blogging without understanding SEO and what their readers want. - "Diy-ing" your blog by using free resources might slow down your blog's growth. - Ask yourself, what do I want to improve first and invest in a course or get help from a mentor. - Invest in the right skills, for example learning food photography, to take your business to the next level. - If you outsource, you can free up your time to prioritize another task that will grow your blog. - Start with resources like a website audit, courses or webinars to learn about targeting keywords that you can rank for. - The longer you hold off, trying to find out information for free, the longer it will take to make money. - Never stop learning! You have to stay up to date on best practices all the time. - Never assume you know it all, there is always areas to improve and learn. Connect with Briana DeBolt & Chamere Orr Website | Instagram

In episode 466, Mary Ellen Valverde teaches us how to nourish our bodies and look after ourselves so that we can handle stress and avoid burnout. Mary Ellen Valverde MS, CNS, LDN is a Licensed Nutritionist & Holistic Nourishment Coach who guides women to feel clear and confident about what is uniquely nourishing to them. She works with busy women who are frustrated and confused about wellness and helps them reframe their beliefs around food and movement, their inner wisdom, and their full potential. By using a combination of scientific research, embodiment practices, and intuition, Mary Ellen helps equip her clients with the tools they need to deeply understand their own body's unique cues, needs, and desires so they can experience true self-care free from rules and restrictions. In this episode, you'll learn how to take care of yourself, including paying attention to your eating habits and stress levels, and how concepts like mindfulness and play can greatly benefit you while you're building a business. - If you're burnout, put everything aside and take time to work on yourself. - Don't underestimate the power of meditation. - No one's self-care can look exactly the same, but there are 5 similarities in how we can optimally nourish ourselves. - Focus on your nervous system first and make sure you get enough rest. - Aligned eating is less about what you eat but how you eat - are you taking time to sit down and have a meal? - How can you fit movement that you enjoy into your busy schedule? - Be conscious of what your body needs most and adjust your workouts and meals to your current needs. - Mindfulness is being fully present and aware of our surroundings. - Tune in to your senses when you're working in the kitchen. - Bring in creativity and play to feel happiness in your day and have fun. Connect with Mary Ellen Valverde Website | Instagram

In episode 465, Megan chats to Liz Capozzoli about how to easily incorporate filming recipes into our business strategy. Liz is the creator behind OwlbBaking ("I'll be baking") which is a recipe blog focused on classic homemade desserts and sweet treats. Liz has been blogging as a business since 2019 and she also did recipe development, photography and video for Mashed.com, Tastingtable.com, and has created videos for other food bloggers. Liz runs a cookie decorating online course and also has an Etsy store with baking/food related merch! In this episode, you'll learn how to overcome the overwhelm of creating video content for your blog, including what equipment you need, why you should write storyboards and other tips. - Video is a must for your blog and social media content. - You don't have to show yourself on camera - there are ways around it. - Research different kinds of video styles and formats. - DIY expensive equipment like c-stand/overhead camera mounts and lighting. - Plan and prepare your scenes by writing storyboards. - Envision how you want your video to look and create a checklist for yourself so you can keep track. - Don't rush through the process as it creates unnecessary stress. - Don't worry about making mistakes while the camera is recording. - Your video doesn't need to have fancy shots or transitions to be successful. - Keep people engaged by keeping things moving quickly. -Use one video for different platforms to save you time - for example film in 16:9 format with empty space so that you can crop it to vertical format for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. Connect with Liz Capozzoli Website | Instagram

In episode 464, Liz Thomson teaches us what to expect if we buy a second blog and how to get on to a premium ad network quickly. Liz Thomson is a full-time content creator who has been running the blog I Heart Vegetables since 2010. She loves chatting about influencer marketing, food photography, and why everyone needs an air fryer. In this episode, you'll learn if buying a second blog is right for you, what are the challenges and what does the process look like and to get on to an ad network quickly. - Buying another domain can be a seamless process. - Be prepared to update old content to make it SEO optimized. - Find very specific niche groups on Facebook to share recipes to. - Visual graphics like ingredient lists perform well in Facebook groups. - Use web stories to boost traffic to a new domain. - Don't reinvent the wheel, find a template that works and duplicate it. - For a quick boost, submit a recipe to Foodtalk - a site that will share your content. - Use Flipboard for a surprisingly quick and easy source of traffic. - Should you invest time in long-term social media strategies when you're trying to get into an ad network? - Be intentional about why you are starting a second site and what you intend to publish. Connect with Liz Thomson Website | Instagram

In episode 463, Megan chats to Sonila Zarate about how food bloggers can make extra revenue through the Amazon Influencer Program. Sonila is a mom, wife, engineer and food blogger. Sonila was born in Albania and came to the US to study engineering. She met her husband (who was born in Bolivia) while studying at University of Miami. Her everyday cooking is influenced by both Albanian and Bolivian cuisines as well as the fusion of Miami's food scene. In this episode, you'll learn how to apply to be an Amazon Influencer, how it works and what you can potentially earn through the program. - Amazon is looking for influencers to post review videos of products. - How is the Amazon Influencer program different to the Amazon affiliate program? - Follow the rules on the Amazon page to get accepted - the exact criteria is not disclosed. - For the review videos, pick items that are easy to demonstrate. - Horizontal videos tend to bring in more commission. - Keep videos simple and short. Shoot them as you use the products and add a voice-over. - You don't have to focus only on your niche or food blogging in general - you can review any items. - What is the potential for income with this program? - What is an optimal workflow to run a food blog and also keep adding videos to the Amazon Influencer program? - It helps if you enjoy making videos and have some experience to do it quickly. Connect with Sonila Zarate Website | Instagram

In episode 462, Christine McMichael teaches us how to balance being a blogger with taking care of our families without getting stuck in burnout. Christine is the recipe creator and food blogger at Jar of Lemons. Jar of Lemons is a healthy recipe website focused on easy-to-find ingredients that are flavorful and creative. From comforting dinners that can be made in 30 minutes or less, to healthier takes on classic favorites, Jar Of Lemons is here to help with inspired recipes and a refreshing, relatable community. In this episode, you'll learn productivity and time management strategies geared towards being a full-time parent while running your own business. - When you experience burnout as a parent and blogger, shift your focus back to what you love doing. - Should you remove SEO and other blogging tools to revive your passion for blogging? - Plan your content out in advance and hire help to make it easier. - Outsource where you can because it can be a game changer long-term. - Find the parenting approach that works for you - everyone is different. - Are you making space to still spend quality time with your family? - Mom guilt is normal and don't feel like you need to do everything when it comes to your work or home. - Set realistic content creation goals. - Done is better than none - not everything will be perfect. - Avoid comparing yourself to other bloggers and stick to your boundaries. Connect with Christine McMichael Website | Instagram

In episode 461, Megan chats to Brandon Gaille about why food bloggers should regularly update old content and how to do it so that you increase your Google traffic. Brandon Gaille is an entrepreneur who founded multiple 7 figure businesses in his 20s before becoming disabled by a rare disorder for nearly a decade. He eventually regained his health and started a blog. He grew his blog to over 1 million visitors in just 18 months after his first blog post. Today, he gets 5 million monthly visitors from over 100,000 first-page Google rankings. Brandon has taught his SEO growth hacks to over 20,000 bloggers through his podcast (The Blogging Millionaire). This past year he launched RankIQ, an AI-powered SEO toolset tailored for bloggers and small businesses that have a blog. This year RankIQ was ranked #1 out of all 333 SEO tools by G2 for customer satisfaction and ease of use. In this episode, you'll learn about the best strategy for updating old content, including identifying posts that need updating, how often should you do it and how to balance it with new content. - If you update old posts you can increase your traffic and income from ad revenue. - It takes less time to update an old post than to create a new one. - Ideally post 8 new blog posts and update 8 old blog posts per month. - Posts which are losing traffic year over year need to be updated first. - What is the best way to update the content on a single recipe post? - How do you update a roundup-style post? - Only change the front end and tail end of your title during an update. - How long after writing a new post should you consider updating? - Keep track of your posts and when you need to update them using a planner. - RankIQ is more than just a keyword research tool, it includes a content optimization tool, content planner and more. Connect with Brandon Gaille Website | Facebook

In episode 460, Laura Rike teaches us the latest Pinterest strategies for food bloggers to help us grow and monetize our blogs. Laura Rike is a Pinterest Strategist who helps high-performing business owners implement content growth plans, outsource their visibility and steadily grow their monthly revenue through her signature growth to greatness framework with done for you services and course packages. She has helped clients and students bring in over 50k+ in monthly revenue. Her clients have become industry leaders with 6-figure businesses and are growing sustainably by ranking on the first page of Google and getting targeted email leads daily. Laura has been featured on Social Media Examiner, Tailwind, MeetEdgar, and Ecamm Network. If you need a place to start, she offers a Pinterest foundation jumpstart here so that you can start getting more visible online & grow sustainably by ranking on the first page of Google and getting targeted email leads daily. In this episode, you'll learn new strategies for Idea Pins, keyword research on Pinterest and how the new concept of 'Design Relevancy Score' affects food bloggers. - Learn Pinterest strategies to bring in more traffic. - Don't restart your account if you feel like you're not getting traction. - Idea pins are going away - add links to your best performing pins. - Focus static pins on new content and don't post too many pins too quickly. - Concentrate your boards on the pillar keywords of your blog. - Should you get rid of boards that aren't doing well? - Insert 5-7 keywords into your descriptions and avoid hashtags. - The ideal pin size might change depending on what's in your pin. - Design relevancy score and what that means for pin designs. - Develop a Pinterest strategy that you can stay consistent with. Connect with Laura Like Website | Instagram

In episode 459, Allison Ferraro teaches us the importance of not making excuses when it comes to reaching our goals, and other easy mindset hacks to grow our blogs while keeping a healthy work-life balance. Allison is the recipe developer and food photographer behind the baking blog, Always Eat Dessert. What began as a fun hobby back in 2014 while she pursued a career in advertising became a much-needed creative outlet when she left her job to be a stay at home mom and is now a full-fledged business sharing scratch baking recipes and baking tips. Allison lives in Philadelphia, PA with her husband, Alex, and their two children. In this episode, you'll learn how to cultivate the right mindset to build a successful blog while staying sane amidst various responsibilities, including goal-setting tips and focusing on a lucrative income stream before you diversify. - Stop making excuses. Don't wait for the perfect moment to make your dreams come true. - Prioritize your goals and focus on just one at a time. - Go ahead and put all your eggs in one basket - focus on one income stream at a time. - To make a real difference, avoid shiny object syndrome. - Know what to do and where to focus when your traffic goes down. - When you feel overwhelmed, go back to your WHY - Why do you want to be a food blogger? - Set lots of small goals that lead up to your larger goals, and then celebrate every time you achieve one of your goals. - What is your next area of focus? Connect with Allison Ferraro Website | Instagram

In this bonus episode, Megan chats to Melissa Erdelac about why advanced food bloggers are falling through the cracks and how to access the info we actually need. In particular, they explain how their new initiative, The Flavor Media Summit, can help. It is a two day workshop-style event taking place May, 2nd and 3rd of 2024 in Denver. Their goal is to ensure that attendees actually walk away with a TON of value information. Given that food blogging has made quite the transformation over the past decade, going from narrative, creative, fun hobby sites to a massive income-driven industry, it's easy to become overwhelmed, and sometimes stagnant, as you progress along your journey. While content creation can be a solo-preuneuer endeavor, conferences have been the catalyst for countless collaborative connections. Plus, attending an in-person event causes a major trajectory shift in mindset. Inspiration from others' success unleashes our own personal brands' potential! However, once Megan and Melissa's businesses were established and generating growing revenues, they found these events still sparked personal connections, but didn't offer revelatory content for monetized food bloggers. That's why they decided to create an intimate conference for advanced food bloggers to give everyone an opportunity to nurture long-term connections and receive highly valuable content, including business tactics they can implement immediately. In this episode, you'll learn more about how the Flavour Media Summit can help you grow your business even further. - Mastermind groups and retreats provide bloggers with a good return on their investment. - The Flavor Media Summit combine the benefits of mastermind groups and retreats at an affordable price. - Stay on top of Google updates, AI and other changes in the blogging industry. - The FM Summit will be in a smaller setting than a large conference to allow attendees to network easily. - Speakers will deliver information in a transparent and practical way so that it is easy to implement straightaway. - Be willing to share information with fellow bloggers and learn from them. About Flavor Media Summit Website | Instagram

In episode 458, Megan chats to Laura Scherb about how Substack can be used as a replacement for a blog to monetize our recipes or as an additional tool to drive traffic. Laura is a food photographer, stylist, and writer based in Chicago, IL. Since 2017, she's been taking pictures of food. Laura has created imagery for food blogs, restaurants, CPG brands, and cookbooks. Laura's photography and styling have been featured on The FeedFeed, The TODAY Show, Esquire, The Spruce Eats, Eater, and FoodGawker. Aside from food photography, she's passionate about travel, reading, writing, her cats, natural wine, and her nieces and nephew. Laura also runs a newsletter over on Substack where she enjoys talking about all of those things. In this episode, you'll learn how to get started on Substack, how much money can you expect to make and who will benefit most from using the platform. - What is the difference between an email list and a Substack? - Share recipes, stories and opinions with your audience without worrying about SEO and a blog. - Substack can used as a replacement for a blog or additional tool to drive traffic. - How can Substack help you make money from your recipes? - How long should your Substack content be? - Substack can benefit food bloggers even if they still have a traditional SEO-based blog. - The importance of making constant pivots in your business to create a new revenue streams. - Use Substack to grow your audience. Connect with Laura Scherb Website | Instagram

In episode 457, Andrea Mut explains why she sold her bakery to become a food blogger and how to deal with being overwhelmed as we manage Google updates and other unexpected factors that affect our blog's traffic. Andrea's culinary journey began at age 14 when she worked in her grandparents' three restaurants. She later received formal Chef's training, and later specialized in Baking & Pastry Arts. Throughout her career, Andrea gained experience in various restaurants and bakeries, as well as teaching cooking and baking classes at both recreational and college level. Her most significant achievement was owning a successful bakery in Toronto, which she sold in 2018. In 2019, she launched her blog, My Pocket Kitchen. A few months later Andrea's blog shifted its focus when she embarked on a one-year weight loss journey. Today, Andrea shares her culinary expertise and commitment to a healthier lifestyle, offering easy-to-make, nutritious recipes with a touch of restaurant quality. In this episode, you'll learn about how to deal with blogging overwhelm and ways to keep yourself motivated and not give up, even when your blog traffic slows down. - Embrace the ups and downs of your blogging journey. - Don't skimp on your blog when you get started, invest in guidance. - What to get right from the start and what can wait? - No matter what you think, SEO and keyword research are important for blog traffic. - What to do when your traffic suddenly drops. - Tap into blogging services to help alleviate the feeling of overwhelm (e.g. audit with Casey Markee). - Start with manageable steps to improve your posts' ranking. - Mindset can make or break you in the food blogging industry. - Give yourself a break when needed. - Don't underestimate the power of organization. Connect with Andrea Mut Website | Instagram

In episode 456, Megan chats to Nick Minnick about how Chicory's seamless, contextual shopping experience can help new and veteran bloggers monetize their blogs. As the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Chicory, the leading contextual commerce advertising platform, Nick Minnick strategically builds, fosters, and oversees relationships with key recipe publishers, grocery retailers, and retail media networks. His purview spans 5,200+ recipe sites, including the Food Network, Delish, and Food52, as well as *70+ leading retailers, such as Kroger, Walmart, and Ahold Delhaize. Minnick is hyper-focused on developing partnerships that fuel synergies between Chicory's audiences and enhance the impact of Chicory's contextual commerce advertising solutions for retailers and CPG brands. Minnick brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the retail, CPG, shopper marketing and digital advertising sectors to his role at Chicory. Prior to joining Chicory, Nick advised retailers on their digital couponing and retail media platform development strategies while at Quotient. In addition to product development, marketing and sales roles, he led the retail in-store advertising sales and marketing teams at Valassis. In this episode, you'll learn how the contextual commerce advertising platform, Chicory, works, including why it improves food bloggers' site engagement and helps them make money through their blogs. - Monetize your blog using contextual commerce. - Contextual commerce advertising solutions use recipe category and ingredient data to target consumers with relevant, shoppable ads. - Benefits to shoppers include privacy and better browsing experience. - Bloggers benefit from ads that align with values and content of their blogs. - Increase site engagement by using ads relevant to your users. - Increased site engagement leads to more revenue. - Create a simple shopping experience for users. - Why does a positive shopping experience make a difference? - Gain access to consumer trends through Chicory - gain insights into your top-performing content. *Since we recorded this podcast, Chicory's retailer partnerships have grown from 60+ to 70+. Connect with Chicory Website | Instagram

In episode 455, Megan chats to Alessandra Macaluso about following our intuition and why she chose her niche of seasonal eating and the impact it has had on her blog and life. Alessandra Macaluso is the author of What a Good Eater!, Lucy the Bee and the Healing Honey, and The Real-Deal Bridal Bible. She's also a Qigong and Tai Chi instructor, and overall wellness advocate. Her work has been featured in several anthologies which can all be found on her Amazon author page, and she has contributed to The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, TODAY Parents, and many other online publications. Alessandra is a northerner-turned-southerner, enjoying the south with her children, Penelope and Ciro, and her husband, Greg. In this episode, you'll learn more about Alessandra's niche of seasonal eating and its positive effects on her blog and life as well as tips for finding your own direction, following your intuition and the importance of niching down into yourself. - Find a direction you'd like to take in food blogging (i.e. niche). - A direction can help you drill down when it comes to content creation. - Why is the idea of "Niching down into yourself" important? - Let other sides of yourself come out to bring a unique flair to your blog - YOU are the niche. - How can you incorporate healthy eating and caring for one's body into your blog? - Eating based on the seasons is one way to find natural inspiration for blogging. - Eating certain foods in season can lead to improved health and have a higher nutritional impact. - Seasonal recipes allows you to support local farmers. - It furthers the "eat local" movement and helps you build relationships in your area. - Relax on keyword searches and numbers; let your humanity shine through in your content. Connect with Alessandra Macaluso Website | Instagram

In episode 454, Brooke Burks teaches us tangible strategies to manage a full-time job while growing a successful blog. Brooke Burks is the owner and head dishwasher at TheButteredHome.com. She started her blog in 2018 at the urging of a friend. In the last 5 years, she has juggled this HUGE learning curve all while working full time, being a mother to two girls and now a grandmother to a new grandson. She is an expert in consistency and planning for steady growth all while managing another career. In this episode, you'll learn the most important strategies for growing a blog while managing a full-time job, including how to stay consistent, plan content effectively and schedule time off. - When you just start blogging, Google looks for consistency. - Commit to a posting schedule that fits in with your full-time job. - Content planning can help you publish consistently. - A plan only works if you stick to it. - Take time off to avoid burn out. - Be ALL IN. If you decide to commit to this, be patient and ask for help to find the best schedule for you. - What is the best planning strategy for someone who blogs and have a full-time job? - Have an honest conversation with yourself about what you can commit to. - Be realistic in your goal of monetization. - Don't compare yourself to others who monetize their blogs quickly. Connect with Brooke Burks Website | Instagram

In episode 453, Megan chats to Danielle Wolter about how to recognize and deal with burnout by learning how to manage your time and priorities. Danielle has been a food blogger for almost 7 years at Went Here 8 This. She spent the first 2.5 years struggling not knowing anything about blogging. Then Danielle dove into learning about keyword research and grew her blog to about 175K visitors/month (currently) while starting and growing 2 other businesses and working full-time. The blog focuses on creating internationally inspired recipes as well as a strong focus on sous vide cooking as a niche. In this episode, Danielle shares how she manages her priorities and time, including the importance of quality business coaching and hiring out, so that she can take care of herself and avoid burnout. - Stop scrambling to try and do everything yourself to "save" money. - Working non-stop with no freedom can lead to burnout. - Learn to prioritize what is working and cut out unnecessary tasks. - Hire out some areas so you can better focus on what you love. - Niche down to see more additional growth. - Time block and batch tasks to improve your productivity. - What other streams of income can you invest time in? - Self care can make you a better business owner. - The benefits of keeping a journal, meditating and gratitude lists. - If you do feel burnout, talk to someone about it. Connect with Danielle Wolter Website | Instagram

In episode 452, Megan Johnson teaches us about the importance of mindset in the growth and success of our blogs and businesses. Megan took a big leap in 2021 and quit her job to become a full-time food blogger. Megan was super optimistic and excited, but then, in her first year, she failed... hard. Megan realized she had the wrong strategy. On top of that, when she didn't see success, she took that very personally. Megan has made it a priority in 2023 to fix her mindset and start pushing the limits for success with her food blog. In this episode, you'll learn why business success is not only dependent on your SEO strategy, how you drive traffic to your website or your email marketing campaigns, but also on your outlook on life and business mindset. - Make a list of everything you want to change and how you can make it happen. - Books and podcasts can teach you how to think positively. - When things don't go according to plan, give yourself grace. - Be grateful for what you have. - Acknowledge your accomplishments frequently. - Set goals, not deadlines. - Look at how far you've come, not where you're not. - Look after yourself through exercise and healthy eating - it can have a big impact on your work life. - What can you do to have a better outlook on your blogging journey? Connect with Megan Johnson Website | Instagram

In episode 451, Megan chats to Wan Na Chun about how we can develop more nutrient dense recipes, giving our readers healthier options without specific diet talk. Wan Na Chun is a registered dietitian and personal trainer. Her blog, One Pot Wellness, is focused on prioritizing self-care through nutrition, physical health, and mental health for the busy working professional. In this episode, you'll learn more about adding nutrient dense ingredients to your recipes as well as other important aspects to consider when developing healthier meals for your blog. - Why is it important to create more nutrient forward recipes? - What to consider when using words such as 'healthy' and 'unhealthy'. - Make recipes more nutrient-dense by using easy swaps, for example coconut sugar or dried fruits for a natural sweetener or oat flour instead of refined flour. - Add cultural recipes (e.g. Mediterranean, Indian, Japanese) that focus on nutrient density such as fiber, olive oil, omega 3s. - Should you claim cultural recipes are 'authentic' and how can you rephrase it? - Add valuable nutrient information in your blog posts by cross-referencing scientific articles. - Fact-check with a qualified health professional, such as a registered dietitian, if you make any qualified claims (e.g. low-carb, vegan, gluten-free). - Do it scared - if you're comfortable in what you're doing, you're not growing. Connect with Wan Na Chun Website | Instagram

In episode 450, Rebecca Eisenberg teaches us practical and unique ways to repurpose our content on social media and on our blogs, including what to do if our content goes viral. Rebecca is a journalist turned food blogger who built a career at media and tech companies like Buzzfeed, Upworthy, Medium, and Headspace, before launching The Practical Kitchen in 2019. In 2020 she got her pastry certification at Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, graduating as valedictorian of her class. The Practical Kitchen is a food blog geared toward ambitious beginner cooks and bakers, providing lots of in-depth tutorials and tips to give readers the confidence to try new things in the kitchen. The Practical Kitchen is known for unfussy, straightforward recipes, and is particularly well known for the viral mini focaccia recipe as well as other mini bread recipes that use just one cup of flour. In this episode, you'll learn exactly what Rebecca does to repurpose her content, including how she films her recipes in order to use it multiple times on social media, making it more likely to go viral. Megan and Rebecca cover the following information: - How can you get a good ROI for time spent on social media? - If you repurpose content you make less work for yourself. - Repurposing content gives more people the chance to discover you. - Unique ways to make your content reach more people and go viral. - It is beneficial to cut different versions of the same recipe. - Use and reuse existing content - don't be precious with edits! - Work smarter not harder by using the same process shots for blog posts. - How can you rework segments of videos so that they can serve multiple blog posts? - What should you do if your posts go viral? Connect with Rebecca Eisenberg Website | Instagram

In episode 449, Megan chats to Kayla Burton about the hurdles she had to overcome in order to become a full-time blogger, quitting her corporate 9-5 job, and ways in which we can make our own blogging journeys easier. Kayla founded the baking blog, Broken Oven Baking Company, in May 2020 after a few months of sharing baked treats on Instagram. She didn't know much about blogging when she started, but she got eager to dive in and learn as much and as fast as she could. At the end of April 2021, Kayla left a corporate job to pursue blogging full-time. A year later, Kayla was excited to be accepted into Mediavine. Today, you'll find Kayla coaching other food bloggers to help them achieve their business goals. In this episode, Kayla shares the details of how she transitioned seamlessly from her 9-5 job into a full-time blogging career, including learning how to shift her mindset to overcome fear, what she did before she quit her 9-5, how she dealt with her finances and picking the right website theme and host from the start. - Save up money before you decide to quit your 9-5 job. - Find one person to believe in you, even if it's yourself. - Create systems and proof that you know you can make it work before taking the leap. - The entrepreneurial route is not easy but with the right mindset you can make it a success. - Ask yourself, what is the worst case scenario and would you be able to deal with that? - Create a business entity and bank account, separate to your personal one. - Choose the right host and theme for your blog from the start. - Hire help to soften the workload and build long-lasting work relationships. - Use free food blogging resources to set you off in the right direction. Connect with Kayla Burton Website | Instagram

In episode 448, Michelle Morey teaches us how to avoid getting discouraged while blogging, especially when we experience challenges like slow traffic or seeing other bloggers succeed faster. Born and raised as a Mainer, Michelle is a stay-at-home mom who started blogging right before the pandemic. She's been working with food since graduating high school in 2004 and has successfully turned her love of food into a passionate business. Today, Michelle and her husband whom she met at the bakers they both worked at share a love of all baked goods and a love to entertain and explore beautiful Maine outdoors. In this episode, you'll learn how to avoid becoming discouraged when you experience obstacles in your blogging journey, covering topics from finding an inspirational keyword research tool to the importance of time off and not comparing yourself to others. - Find a keyword research tool that takes the load off when it comes to SEO. - Rank IQ is great for planning content - use their keyword library when you just can't be creative. - Invest in an SEO course that could help you take a more logical and analytical approach to keyword research and writing posts that would rank. - Connect with fellow food bloggers for a monthly chat provides encouragement and helps to refresh your ideas. - Take breaks when you have to. - Stop comparing yourself to others - remember "Comparison is the thief of joy". - Other bloggers probably went through what you are going through right now. Connect with Michelle Morey Website | Instagram

In episode 447, Dalia Escobar teaches us the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) method to find low-competition keywords that will increase our traffic by helping posts rank quickly. After bidding farewell to an engineering career, Dalia wholeheartedly embraced her blogging dreams and embarked on a new path. Cooking has always been a lifelong passion, which motivated her to open several restaurants, despite not achieving the financial success she had hoped for. However, this setback served as a catalyst for her transition into the world of blogging. Initially, Dalia began with a personal finance blog, dedicating three years to learning and refining her skills until finally, she felt confident enough to pursue her true passion and establish a food blog. In this episode, you'll learn how you can increase your traffic using the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) method and how to use it in combination with other keyword research tools. - How does the Keyword Golden Ratio (KGR) work? - Why does it increase traffic to your blog? - The research process that involves KGR, RankIQ, Google autocomplete, and Google directives. - What is a good ratio to look for when using the KGR? - Should you still target higher competition keywords? - Can more experienced bloggers use the Keyword Golden Ratio strategy? Connect with Dalia Escobar Website

In episode 446, Megan chats to Karin Collins about dealing with a chronic condition while building a food blog and how we can do the same by overcoming our own challenges. Karin started her blog with a severe disability. Even though she has MS, she turned her blog into a success so she knows anyone can do it. Karin is a blogger as well as a social media manager for bloggers with over 2 million followers. She is proud to also run a video business as well that shoots food videos. Karin added the title blog coach to her list of skills and offerings. She does it all from a wheelchair. In this episode, she shares how she was able to overcome her health challenges while growing a successful blog and still being able to spend time with her family and lead a balanced life. - Can you keep up with the food blogging industry while dealing with severe life challenges? - Should you be truthful to your audience about serious health issues? - How do you deal with negative comments? - Make the workload more manageable by outsourcing tasks. - How do you hire the right people for your team? - Separate food blogging from the rest of your life to keep balance. - Should you push through a bad day when you run your own business? Connect with Karin Collins Website | Instagram

In episode 445, Megan talks about how you can experience a transformation in your business in 2024 by joining the Eat Blog Talk mastermind experience. Inside the episode you will learn about: The definition of a successful mastermind group. How the EBT mastermind differs from other groups. Information about investment and discounts, including a value analysis. How to determine if you are a good fit for the group. Information about how to get started. Audio testimonials from previous and current members of the Eat Blog Talk mastermind groups. Head to the EBT mastermind page for more information and to read in-depth case studies and to apply to be in the group in 2024!

In episode 444, Jessie-Sierra Ross teaches us how to book TV food segments and why this will help us grow our audience and expand our brand. Jessie-Sierra Ross is a former professional ballerina turned food blogger and home entertaining specialist. A self-taught cook and food stylist from Boston, Jessie is the personality behind her blog, Straight to the Hips, Baby. Known for her step-by-step recipes, easy elegance, and light and bright photography style. Working alongside her photographer husband, Jessie creates food and drink recipes for her blog, and features in magazines, as well as on TV, via cooking segments on NBC, PBS, and BloomTV Network. Jessie-Sierra is currently working on her latest creative project, a floral-inspired cookbook with Schiffer Publishing. In this episode, you'll learn everything about appearing on TV to share your recipes as a food blogger, including how to find a producer and how to best prepare for your appearance on live TV. - Why is getting on TV important for food bloggers? - TV provides exposure to more diverse audiences. - Which stations should you aim to feature on? - What should you ask the producer before stepping into the studio? - What makes a great TV recipe? - Tips to prepare for your appearance. - How to chat on camera. - How to leverage your appearances for more work. Connect with Jessie-Sierra Ross Website | Instagram

In episode 443, Megan chats to Michelle Hauck about copywriting for food bloggers, including how to become a copywriter and hiring tips if you're looking to outsource your copywriting. Michelle is a copywriter for food bloggers so they can focus on their favorite part - creating, testing, and sharing their recipes. Michelle loves what she does because it helps overwhelmed foodies find joy in their business again. Many bloggers aren't aware that they can have someone write SEO packed and engaging blogs for them. That's where Michelle comes in. In this episode, you'll learn how to start a career in copywriting and if you're a food blogger looking to outsource, you'll find out how the process works. - Should I become a copywriter? - What is the difference between copywriting and content writing? - What steps should you take to become a copywriter? - Is SEO important for copywriting? - What do copywriters charge? - If you're looking to outsource, what should you look for in a copywriter? - Effective copywriting includes knowing your ideal client and CTA. - What is the process of working with a copywriter? Connect with Michelle Hauck Website | Instagram

In episode 442, Megan chats to Geo Banks-Weston about using social media, specifically Instagram, to springboard the development of a blog and/or podcast. Geo Banks-Weston is a food and culture blogger, influencer, and recipe developer based in Philadelphia. In 2014, he launched his blog, Geo's Table, where he shares recipes rooted in the African diaspora, as well as highlights black-owned businesses, and explores food's connection to Black culture. In 2019, he started his podcast, Table 86 to showcase underrepresented creators transforming the food and beverage industry. His work has been featured in Food52, The Washington Post, The Spruce Eats, and Philadelphia Magazine and he currently serves on the boards of PA Eats and Eat the Culture, combating food insecurity and supporting Black culinary entrepreneurs, respectively. In this episode, you'll learn how you can transfer the skills you gain by building a social media profile to grow your blog/podcast. - Instagram (and other social media platforms) can inspire other creative outlets. - What are the main transferable skills from social media that can help you with blogging / podcasting? - Where should you focus your energy/effort first? - Does it matter how many followers you have? - Pay attention to the types of content you're constantly engaging with and liking. - Embrace continuous learning to see more rapid growth. - What are the core 3-5 values of your brand? Connect with Geo Banks-Weston Website | Instagram

In episode 441, Rob Finkelstein teaches us about supplier diversity and its importance in the recipe development/food photography marketplace. Rob is a lawyer, practicing for over 20 years in NYC. In 2017, Rob decided to pursue his passion of baking and went to culinary school for pastry arts. After graduating, not wanting to leave the law, Rob started blogging and found Cinnamon Schtick, which was also his entry into food photography. He worked with a number of brands and came to represent lots of food photographers in connection with their contracts and business set ups. Rob also spent more than 10 years as a volunteer with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) where he was Chair of Supplier Diversity for New York and also a Co-Chair of the National Legal Industry Council, facilitating opportunities for LGBT owned businesses with majority owned companies. In this episode, you'll learn what is meant by supplier diversity and why it may be beneficial to your blog and business. - Does supplier diversity apply to you? - Big companies are looking to fill their diverse supplier quota. - How can you get certified as a diverse supplier? - Understand the importance of making brands aware of supplier diversity. - Once you get certified, what should you do? - How does supplier diversity benefit you as a food blogger? Connect with Rob Finkelstein Website | Instagram

In episode 440, Megan chats to Tara Smithson about why going viral is often bad for your business and 6 tips that will help you stay motivated as you set healthy, long-term goals. Tara enjoys creating quick and easy recipes for busy people, who love the flavor, but lack time. Tara's intention is to make cooking less intimidating by sharing easy recipes that will begin to help people get inspired to cook delicious food. In this episode, you'll find out why setting long-term goals instead of focusing on immediate income and short-term success hacks, like going viral, is important for a fulfilling food blogging career. - Focus on a few activities instead of being all over the place. - Take pleasure in watching your growth over time. - Should you expect to make money from blogging at the start? - Are you passionate enough about food content creation? - Find your own path to success and enjoy the process. - Learn how to deal with people who struggle to understand what you do. - Should you get involved in the food community? Connect with Tara Smithson Website | Instagram

In episode 439, Tammy Spencer teaches us about being open to learn about all different aspects that go into successful food blogging. Tammy started Scotch & Scones in 2017 as a way to keep track of her whisky-tasting notes and share her experiences of having fun baking. In 2019, she devoted herself full-time to developing her site for commercial success, learning about the business of growing a blog from the ground up. Since then, she's applied her culinary school training by sharing recipes and tips for desserts, bread, and other goodies that home cooks will feel confident creating. In this episode, Tammy shares common blogging mistakes she made when she started and what she would've done differently. - Choose your blog theme wisely. - Play with recipes and think outside the box. - Take food photographs that attract readers. - SEO is essential and why you should get your site audited. - Why it's worth getting help with the tech side of your blog. - Accept that you'll always be learning. Connect with Tammy Spencer Website | Instagram

In episode 438, Megan chats to Breanna about how to land paid brand deals as a small creator. Breanna started on Instagram in January 2023 and then followed with a food blog in February 2023. She always had a passion for writing and cooking but never thought that she would be able to do something like this. Breanna loves sharing easy meals that are family-friendly and perfect for those with busy schedules. She has been doing this full-time as of last month and wants to share how she was able to land a brand deal with less than 2k followers on Instagram. In this episode, you'll learn Breanna's strategy for landing attractive brand deals that align with your expertise and values. - You don't need 10k followers to land brand deals. - What are the essentials of a successful pitch? - What is the difference between email and DM pitches? - Make sure you are an expert in your proposed service(s). - How many brands should you pitch per day? - Stand firm on your rates. - Does the proposed deal align with your brand values? Connect with Breanna Website | Instagram

In episode 437, Megan chats to Jessica Scully about dealing with the uphill battles in blogging, especially when you see a dramatic, instant drop in traffic. Jessica began her journey into food blogging after her family had a house fire and had to move out for 11 months. Blogging became a hobby to distract her mind that then grew into a business. A former gym owner, personal trainer, and homeschool mom to her 5-year-old, Jessica has been running the food blog since 2015 and has seen her fair share of ups and downs. In this episode, you'll learn about potential reasons why your website traffic suddenly drops and what steps you can take to get your traffic back. - What to do when your blog traffic plummets. - How not to get discouraged. - How to diversify your site traffic. - Consider getting help from the outside. - How to re-motivate yourself when you feel defeated. - Where to focus your efforts for the most impact. Connect with Jessica Scully Website | Instagram

In episode 436, Megan chats to Candice Ward about how to convert 75% of cold pitches to closed opportunities using a tried and tested sales process. Candice is the Founder of Eat More Cake Dessert Blog, Food Photographer, Educator and Sales Expert. Candice spent over a decade in corporate sales and translated that experience to help other food content creators monetize and scale their business. She has coached hundreds of food content creators inside her business course, The Confident Pitch Program. She is passionate about helping other food bloggers reach their full potential. In this episode, you'll learn how to find the right brands at the right time and how to pitch confidently to close most of your sales opportunities. - What is the sales process and how will it help our businesses? - Streamline your workflow and take away the guesswork when it comes to pitching. - What is prospecting and how can you find the right brands? - Research brands that you are interested in to assess their budget and needs. - Spark a brand's interest and tactfully suggest improvements. - To make a sale you have to approach a brand at the right time. - What should you do when brands ghost you? Connect with Candice Ward Website | Instagram

In episode 435, Carmen Spillette teaches us the latest strategies to grow our blogs and gain success in the food blogging industry, especially if we're just starting out. Carmen is a food blogger and stay-at-home mom from Canada. Carmen started her food blog in the spring of 2022. It has always been her dream to share her recipes and once she started she has never looked back. Last year, Carmen gained 106,000 followers on Instagram in 5 months and she's excited to have recently qualified for Mediavine. In this episode, you'll learn the latest strategies to grow your blog if you're a new blogger. - What does it mean to treat your blog like a business? - Why should you treat your website like you built a store? - Is videography really important for food blogging these days? - The importance of posting EVERY DAY. - Use project-management software and AI to your advantage. - Expect to put in long hours at the start to make your business work. - Learn time-management strategies like batching, from successful people. Connect with Carmen Spillette Website | Instagram

In episode 434, Megan chats to Amy Reid about imposter syndrome, what causes it, how it affects our businesses and how to overcome it. Amy started her blog, Baking with Granny in 2015, as a way to document her mother's (her kids Granny) recipes. Within a couple of years, Amy gave up full-time employment to make money blogging. She then became a single mum and the pressure was on to make it work. 8 years later and Baking with Granny has excelled past any expectations she could have ever had for it. In this episode, Amy shares her journey of dealing with imposter syndrome while trying to make a success out of her blog, including why we may feel like we don't deserve success and tips to overcome imposter syndrome and embrace our full potential. - What is imposter syndrome? - Why do we feel like we don't deserve success? - It may feel like our achievements mean nothing. - How do we overcome feeling like a fraud? - Community is essential in overcoming imposter syndrome. - Recognize the work that goes into blogging. - Fake it until you make it. - Explore deeper than just your work - what other reasons contribute to imposter syndrome? Connect with Amy Reid Website | Instagram

In episode 433, Megan chats to Alexis Leonhardt about different ways to use RankIQ to grow your blog. Alexis is founder of the blog, Fancy Apron, which shares upscale recipes that everyone can make. She cooks lots of Traeger recipes, weeknight dinners, and shares tips for shopping at Costco. She started the blog 3 years ago and has had a slow start, but 2023 is bringing big growth. In this episode, Alexis explains how she uses RankIQ for keyword research to help her write blog posts that rank quickly. - Make keyword research faster. - What to do for new posts and how to optimize old content. - Why it's important to find your niche. - Write blog posts faster. - How to incorporate round-ups and non-recipe posts into your blog. - RankIQ is a guide for finding non-recipe posts. - Use as a guide for scheduling content and batch working. Connect with Alexis Leonhardt Website | Instagram

In episode 432, Adam Sobel teaches us how to monetize and market online cooking classes as well as the technical details of running such classes. Adam Sobel is the chef and owner of The Cinnamon Snail, an award-winning vegan food truck, restaurant, and catering company serving New York and New Jersey. Adam has cooked at the James Beard House, represented the USA at the World Street Food Congress in the Philippines, and teaches cooking at the Institute for Culinary Education, De Gustibus Cooking School, and independently online. Adam has appeared on the food network, Cooking Channel, PBS, and several networks, and is the author of the popular cookbook Street Vegan. He has had a lot of success with The Cinnamon Snail, which has rose to become one of the country's most sought-after food trucks. In 2014 The Cinnamon Snail was the #1 highest-rated place of any kind to eat in NYC and the #4 highest place of any kind to eat in the entire USA on yelp.com. In this episode, you'll learn 3 ways in which you can monetize your online cooking classes, how to set them up, make them look professional and market them effectively. - How to sell live class sales using Eventbrite. - Which platform should I use for my cooking classes? - Manage a class subscription and class recording sale. - How to make classes look professional and edited, even if it's just you. - Equipment breakdown: OBS, switchers, audio, lighting and camera management. - How to market cooking classes through a blog, email marketing and retargeting on social media. Connect with Adam Sobel Website | Instagram

In episode 431, Megan chats to Shanika Graham-White about how to incorporate videography into our businesses and why it is essential in today's video-focused social media world. Content creator and recipe developer, Shanika, is part kitchen 'ninja' and connoisseur of interior decorating (hence her passion for beautifully staged food photos and videos). She is a self-taught cook and baker, who has partnered with top brands like Ripple Foods, So Delicious Dairy-Free, Vitamix and California Olive Ranch, to be the source for comfort food and sweets, with a healthy twist. She desires to help others turn the 'little' that they have into something magical - great food. On her blog, Orchids + Sweet Tea, you will find traditional dishes using organic ingredients as well as dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan versions of your old and new favorites. In this episode, Shanika talks through her videography workflow, equipment and tips for creating captivating videos. - How to best transition to videography in a video focused social media world. - Translate food styling/photography into the space of videography. - The new age of food blogging and the need for social media AND SEO. - The best equipment to get started in food videography (for the novice and expert). - How to manage content creation, using techniques like batching. - Avoid trends and "burnout" in the new video age. Connect with Shanika Graham-White Website | Instagram

In episode 430, Jaimee Campanella teaches us how to take back control of our time to meet our goals and lead balanced lives. Jaimee Campanella is a time strategist and productivity consultant who mentors and guides parents, professionals, and entrepreneurs to take control of their time. She is the creator and principal facilitator of the Time Power program which gives people the essential tools and strategies to avoid overwhelm and tame chaos to regain control of their time for good. In this episode, you'll learn more about how our mindset about time is crucial to make sure we set the right priorities, focus on what we love and block time off. - How do you overcome limiting beliefs around time? - Free yourself of the time scarcity mindset by changing the way you speak about it. - How can you feel in control of your time? - Why do bloggers struggle with time management? - What are common time management mistakes and how can we solve them? Connect with Jaimee Campanella Website | Instagram

In episode 429, Megan chats to Samantha Erb about how she grew her Instagram account to more than 82K followers mainly using reels. Samantha is the busy woman behind Everyday Family Cooking for the last 4 years. She began the blog in the summer of 2019 and worked her way through COVID growing the blog while being mom to two small kids at home. Since then, Sam has grown the site tremendously along with her Instagram account to 82.5K mainly using reels. In this episode, Sam shares her Instagram growth strategy in detail, including how she edits her videos, if and how she chooses trending sounds and how she uses captions to her advantage. - What do you gain from building a community on Instagram? - What kind of videos do well? - Repurpose your existing videos to create a bank of reels. - How to pick sounds that will give you more views. - How to select hashtags (including volume). - What determines if a reel will do well once it's posted. - What videos/recipes will work best (niched, curiosity, ooey gooey, over the top etc). Connect with Samantha Erb Website | Instagram

In episode 428, Ty Kilgore teaches us the 5 biggest mistakes food bloggers make in their SEO journey. Ty Kilgore has been geeking out on SEO and Digital Marketing for over 14 years. He loves getting results and has successfully increased rankings for over 150 major sites in over 40 industries. He founded Everything Digital Marketing in order to share his passion and to clearly instruct, guide, and help influencers overcome the frustrations related to SEO and Digital Marketing. In this episode, you'll explore SEO tips for food bloggers, especially how to avoid the biggest SEO mistakes food bloggers make and how to optimize your page for the right keywords. - Bloggers tend to copy and model the wrong examples for their blog. - Why is domain authority crucial for your SEO strategy? - Write for your end user in mind. - What is your unique point of view? - How do you avoid optimizing your page in the wrong way (putting the wrong keyword everywhere)? - How to leverage internal and external links. - What is the number 1 tip for SEO success? Connect with Ty Kilgore Website | Instagram

In episode 427, Megan chats to Joanne Stekler about lessons she learned as an academic and how she has applied those to grow her blog. Joanne is a lifelong baker, but it wasn't until 2020 when she was stuck at home with her elementary school child, that she started baking and cooking with a purpose. You'll find recipes on the Ugly Duckling Bakery blog that she makes for her family, ranging from 30-minute weeknight meals to more complicated weekend cooking, baking projects made from scratch, and classic cocktail variations. Joanne hopes to share some of the science and history, tips and tricks to understand how and why recipes work, and enough foundation so that readers can start to create their own recipes. In this episode, Joanne explains how she balances life as a doctor with food blogging, the lessons she learned from academic medicine and why they are relevant to food bloggers. - Your path is your path - avoid comparing yourself to others - Accept that nothing is ever going to be perfect. - Persistence pays off, but you can't just rely on hard work. - Why is self-promotion critical to success? - Be open to learn, even from someone who has less experience than you. - How do you deal with having too much to do? - Understand the importance of saying 'no'. Connect with Joanne Stekler Website | Instagram

In episode 426, Alexandria Drzazgowski teaches us how to keep track of our blog content and it repurpose easily using AirTable. Alexandria Drzazgowski is the food blogger behind The Foreign Fork, a project where she is cooking a meal from every country in the world. After backpacking to 15 countries in Europe and taking cooking classes in each one, Alexandria decided to take her project of cooking-around-the-world home with her. She started her blog in 2018, and to date has cooked over 400 recipes from over 85 countries. The Foreign Fork has been featured in Buzzfeed, The Detroit News, and Elite Daily and is the recipient of the Saveur Blog Award for Most Groundbreaking Voice. Most importantly, Alexandria is proud to have helped over 5 millions readers across the world Put Some Culture in their Kitchen. In this episode, you'll learn about repurposing content and efficient ways of organizing and keeping track of your blog content using AirTable. - Why should you repurpose content? - How to develop a system to repurpose content. - Why does AirTable make repurposing content easy? - Different ways to use AirTable to organize and repurpose blog content. - How to start getting your AirTable setup. - How long should you wait before you repurpose content on the same platform? - Tips for sharing content across social media platforms. Connect with Alexandria Drzazgowski Website | Instagram

In episode 425, Megan chats to Ally Kepley about how to maintain a healthy relationship with Instagram and our mobiles devices. Ally is a home baker who grew up baking with both of her grandmothers since she was little. Ally started creating her own recipes at age 11 or 12 and was on a roll through becoming a stay at home mom. She decided to create a recipe website a little over a year ago out of a desire to bake full time and have more freedom and time with her son. Ally's blog is catered towards those who want to make elevated recipes that are approachable to anyone. In this episode, Ally reveals how she improved her relationship with Instagram while growing her blog, including setting boundaries regarding how much time she spends on the app, when and how she posts and responds to comments. She also shares personal growth techniques to help keep you on track with your goals. - Why is Instagram like a "toxic boyfriend"? - It is hard to keep up with Instagram's algorithm changes in a sustainable way. - How to make a real plan to deal with the challenge of delayed gratification? - Personal growth tips to help set healthy boundaries. - Keep the big picture in mind while taking steps to reach your goals with your blog. - Why do we become addicted to our phones? - Use your time wisely and practice gratitude. Connect with Ally Kepley Website | Instagram

In episode 424, Matt Briel teaches us several ways to use a book as a growth tool for our business and how to go from idea to published author. Commonly described as equal parts loud music, Disney culture, tattoos, and book nerd, Matt Briel is an entrepreneur and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Lulu.com. After more than 15 years leading Sales and Marketing teams in the Media & Publishing spaces, he's developed a unique passion for helping creators become more successful by leveraging books as a catalyst for opportunities and sustainable revenue. In this episode, you'll learn more about the benefits of publishing a book or cookbook, including how it can help build your brand and provide you with more business opportunities. - Publishing a book is the best way to build credibility and increase visibility. - What are the advantages of being a published author? - A book is an alternative way of monetizing your content. - Create a physical touch point for your digital community. - Is self-publishing or traditional publishing better? - Having a published book helps you land speaking gigs. - What is Lulu and how can it benefit food bloggers who want to publish a book? Connect with Matt Briel Website | Instagram

In episode 423, Megan chats to Nicole Liloia about being burned out as an entrepreneur, how we can avoid it, including tips for building multiple income streams efficiently. New Jersey-based Nicole Liloia is a small business coach and strategist. Over the course of her 9 years in this business, she has helped over 500 service providers build their businesses and diversify their income streams through her signature Bigger Business Bootcamp and Grow Your Income Mastermind. Her Facebook group supports over 10,000 entrepreneurs by giving them real, unmatched support and resources to get to that next level in their business. In this episode, you'll find out what causes burn out, how to be more productive without exhaustion and why multiple income streams can help us avoid burnout. Nicole further shares tips for how to decide which income streams are right for you. - We thrive on being busy. - Even if you love your work, working all the time leads to burn out. - How can entrepreneurs alleviate burnout? - Why do entrepreneurs need multiple income streams? - How do you decide what income streams are suitable for you? - What does your audience struggle with that you can provide a solution for? - If you outsource tasks, you can get time back. - Are you scheduling your day effectively? - Spend time on what is going to bring in money in your business. Connect with Nicole Liloia Website | Instagram

In episode 422, Lauren Sawant teaches us how to think like an editor and incorporate editing techniques into our blog and cookbook writing. Lauren Sawant is a freelance editor specializing in cookbooks, recipes, and food writing. She has worked in and adjacent to the food and beverage industry for over 15 years, including three years as a pastry cook. She has been a freelance editor since 2021. In this episode, you'll learn more about different editing techniques, when you should hire an editor, in depth guidelines for editing content yourself and what writing mistakes to look out for. - What does a cookbook and recipe editor do? - Benefits of incorporating editing techniques into your brand. - Tips for editing social media and website copy. - Become familiar with common missteps in recipe writing. - How to "work like an editor". - What is a style sheet and what are the benefits of creating one? - What should you know about hiring an editor? - Red flags to look out for when you're looking for an editor to work with. Connect with Lauren Sawant Website | Instagram

In episode 421, Megan chats to Caitlin Ritchie about how to establish a blog's identity through strong branding and photography. Caitlin is a brand strategist/professional photographer turned blogger. While continuing to work as a branding and photography consultant, she is growing her blog The Rooted Farmhouse, a gardening, food and slow living blog. In this episode, you'll learn how to stay true to your voice and niche as you establish your brand identity. Caitlin also shares tips on how to strengthen your brand through using photography. - A strong brand is essential to help you grow a bigger audience. - What is branding? - Can you have a strong brand with a limited budget? - Why should you stay cohesive with your branding on social media? - Tools to help you stay on brand and consistent - How templates increase your productivity and help you stay on brand. - Create an identity in your photography. - What are presets and how can you use them to save time with your editing workflow? Connect with Caitlin Ritchie Website | Instagram

In episode 420, Megan chats to Marley Braunlich about how to stand out to brands and establish long-term partnerships with the brands you love. Marley has been food blogging for a little over 1 year. She started working full-time for an SEO agency one month later. During this time, she grew her Instagram audience to 13k followers and started working with brands to earn a side income while the blog matured and she continued to pour into the blog. Marley has learned how to successfully land brand deals and form long-term partnerships and shares her tips in this episode. You'll learn how to land your first brand partnership, what to include in your pitch email and ways in which you can set yourself apart so that brands want to continue working with you. - DM brands on Instagram, show genuine interest and knowledge of the brand. - Create your pitch email early on and revise as you gain experience. - Have a portfolio you feel proud of (doesn't have to be perfect right away). - Should you include examples of past client work or successful social posts/metrics in your pitch? - How can you add a human touch and stand out even more in your pitch? - Why does it help to ask a question or have a CTA in your email? - Stay consistent and keep trying, sooner or later you will land your first brand deal. - What are the best practices when you work with a brand? - What should you do if you don't hit target metrics with content for brands? Connect with Marley Braunlich Website | Instagram