The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

How SEO works on Pinterest, how often you should be pinning, and the optimum size for pins with Yuka Ohishi. ----- Welcome to episode 149 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Yuka Ohishi about optimizing your posts for Pinterest. How to Get Your Content to Stand Out on Pinterest Pinterest can be one of the biggest sources of traffic for food bloggers, so it's important to optimize your posts, descriptions, and photos for Pinterest success. That's why Yuka is here today. She has worked at Pinterest for a few years, and she knows the ins and outs of the platform. She'll answer some of our members' most common Pinterest questions like how big your pins should be, how hashtags work, how to optimize Pinterest descriptions, and so much more. If you're looking for ways to improve your Pinterest efforts, this episode is for you! In this episode, Yuka shares: How she started working with Pinterest How often you should be pinning Why the new profile will help you customize your presence on Pinterest Whether or not you should use rich pins How SEO works on Pinterest How to optimize your Pinterest descriptions How hashtags on Pinterest work The ideal size for long pins How to get more traffic from Pinterest Resources: Validate your rich pins Pinterest's Business Site Pinterest Creators Blog If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Sara from Vegan Chickpea! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to craft your ideal day, why you should beta test your idea, and how to launch a course with Steph Jones. ----- Welcome to episode 148 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Steph Jones from Steph Yoga about realizing there needed to be a change in her career and how she made that change happen. Pivoting to Find Success Sometimes we think we know exactly what we want to be doing in life, only to learn that it's not as fulfilling as we had hoped. That's the exact situation that Steph found herself in when she realized that there needed to be a change. She decided to become a yoga instructor and wanted to take her passions to an online platform. Fast forward through a lot of work, testing her idea, and building her site, she now has a thriving yoga membership workout site that helps its members transform their health and bodies through yoga. You'll learn all about how she found her passions and built her business in this interview. In this episode, Steph shares: What she did before she built her own business How she realized that she needed a change How she became a yoga instructor Why she decided to build a food blog How to craft your ideal day How she beta tested her idea How she launched a waiting list Why a drip campaign was helpful How she knew she was ready to launch Why an open / closed enrollment format works for her Resources: Audible You Are a Badass Essentalism The 4-Hour Workweek Teachable Steph Yoga ActiveCampaign Final Cut Pro X MemberPress 062: How To Launch a Membership Site with Mike Morrison from The Membership Guys Follow Steph on Instagram and on Facebook If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Alexa from Girl in Healing! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

What GDPR is, why it's important, and how to implement GDPR-compliant changes on your site with Danielle Liss. ----- Welcome to episode 147 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Danielle Liss from Hashtag Legal and Businessese about understanding GDPR. GDPR for Influencers Have you heard of GDPR? It's a regulation in the EU about data protection, and it affects everyone with readers in the EU. These four letters are causing a lot of confusion and raising questions in our niche, so Danielle is here today to help us all understand its impact. It's important to understand the rules and regulations of GDPR so that we can protect ourselves as bloggers and business owners, but it's also important so that we can protect the privacy of our readers. You'll learn how to audit your site for compliance, the difference between different types of data, and how you might be collecting data on your site visitors without knowing it. In this episode, Danielle shares: What GDPR is and why it's important for influencers How you might be collecting data on your visitors The difference between personal and sensitive data is Why you should audit your site Why disclosing the information you collect might help your relationship with your readers How you can stay up-to-date on GDPR updates Resources: Google Security Checkup 099: Sponsored Content and Getting Paid What Your Work is Worth with Danielle Liss Hashtag Legal GDPR checklist on Businessese GDPR plugin If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Caroline! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to view your blog as a business from day 1, better serve your email subscribers, and hire help with Kate Kordsmeier. ----- Welcome to episode 146 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Kate Kordsmeier from Root & Revel about how she generated a full-time income from her blog in just two years. $75,000 in Year 2 One of the most common questions we get on Food Blogger Pro is when bloggers should start monetizing. What do you think? 6 months? A year? 1,000 followers on Instagram? 10,000 page views per month? Kate believes you should start monetizing as soon as possible (as in day one), and in this interview, you'll learn all about the ways she has monetized and grown her blog over the past two years. In this episode, Kate shares: How she knew she needed a change from freelancing Why finding the Pinch of Yum Income Reports were helpful How she was intentional with her learning How she started viewing her blog as a business over a hobby Her approach to affiliate income and sponsored content What her weekly affiliate email is like How she uses tags to segment her email list How she found people to help her with her blog Resources: Root & Revel 046: How Kate Kordsmeier Doubled Her Income with Freelancing Pinch of Yum Income Reports Kate's 2017 Income Report: "How I Made $75,000 Blogging in Year 2" Mediavine ButcherBox ConvertKit Simple Pin Media Mediawyse Kate's business coaching Follow Kate on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Kitty from My Katie Blue! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to live with intention, say no, and seek silance with Shauna Niequist. ----- Welcome to episode 145 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Shauna Niequist about inspiration, knowing when to disconnect, and living with intention. Present Over Perfect Shauna understands how important it is to live a life full of meaningful choices and intentional seasons, but she didn't always live this way. It took her coming to a breaking point to really evaluate her choices and understand what's really important. As bloggers and entrepreneurs, we tend to feel the need to constantly be connected to social media, responding to comments, and answering emails. But while those things are important, it's also important to recognize when you should disconnect, say no, and seek silence for a bit. You'll learn how to live "Present Over Perfect" in this episode! In this episode, Shauna shares: What her interview with Oprah was like When she knew there needed to be a change in her life What inspired her to write Present Over Perfect How she applied the principles in Present Over Perfect to the promotion of her book What it means to have intentional seasons How she disconnected herself from metrics Why it's important to understand when to say "no" Why it's important to seek silence Resources: Shauna's Super Soul Sunday episode Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes Shauna's website Follow Shauna on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Jodie from Growing Book by Book! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to implement a "yes and..." mindset, the importance of trying new things, and traveling to eat with Phil Rosenthal. ----- Welcome to episode 144 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Phil Rosenthal about building his career and his new Netflix-original show, "Somebody Feed Phil." Netflix, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Somebody Feel Phil This is a bit of an unconventional interview for the Food Blogger Pro Podcast, but if you're a food fan, we think you're really going to enjoy it. You may have heard of Phil Rosenthal. He's the creator and executive producer of "Everybody Loves Raymond," an actor, an author, and most recently, the star of the Netflix-original food and travel documentary, "Somebody Feed Phil." Phil is a die-hard food lover, and he shares that love as he travels across the globe and makes connections with locals. Building his career wasn't always easy, but his "yes and…" attitude, fearless personality, and "never give up" outlook are all principles that you can apply to running your own blog and business. In this episode, Phil shares: Why Skype is an important part of his show Why having a niche is important How to not be afraid of trying new things What an egg cream is (let us know if you'd try it in the comments!) How to implement a "yes and…" mindset Resources: The War of Art Somebody Feed Phil I'll Have What Phil's Having Exporting Raymond Follow Phil on Twitter and Facebook 129: Forging Your Own Path with David Lebovitz If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Katie from BlackFern Kitchen! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to build authority, why they choose to guest post, and why connection is so important with Jessica Beacom and Stacie Hassing. ----- Welcome to episode 143 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Jessica and Stacie from The Real Food Dietitians about growing their blog to have over 2 million page views per month. 2 Million Page Views in 2 Years Jessica and Stacie's story is impressive; not only do they operate their business from two different states, they've grown their audience to over two million page views per month in just two years! They're here today to share the story of how they started their business together and why they ended up shifting their focus. They also will chat about why connection has been such an important part of growing their business and how they're using Facebook to cultivate that connection. You'll love hearing about how they've learned to thrive as the bloggers behind The Real Food Dietitians. In this episode, Jessica and Stacie share: What they did before they started their blog The most critical pieces of their journey How they connected at a conference How they started to work together How they've built authority on their site Why guest blogging works as part of their strategy How they made connections with other bloggers The most profitable aspects of their business How they work together in different cities Why they run a private Facebook group Resources: The Real Food Dietitians B-School Follow Jessica and Stacie on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Madison from Sunny Thymes! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to choose a hosting plan, why SSL is important, and how to optimize your images with Andrew Wilder. ----- Welcome to episode 142 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Andrew Wilder about the top five tech mistakes he sees on food blogs. How to Fix 5 Common Blogging Tech Mistakes The first time our Site Speed Expert, Andrew, was on the podcast, he chatted all about best practices for securing your website. Now he's back to talk about five of the most common tech mistakes he sees on blogs. Between choosing the right hosting to optimizing images, there are a lot of tech decisions to make about your blog. Andrew's advice will make you a lot more confident to make those decisions. Enjoy! In this episode, Andrew shares: What he does at Blog Tutor Why good hosting is important for food blogger The difference between popular types of hosting plans How you can tell if you have good hosting How big your images should be and why you should be optimizing What a fully enhanced recipe rich card is What an SSL certificate is Resources: Google Recipe Structured Data Guidelines Blog Tutor 020: How to Secure Your Food Blog with Andrew Wilder from Blog Tutor 137: One Million App Downloads in One Year with Trey George Byte Check Cloudways Foodie Pro Short Pixel Imagify 136: Optimizing for Search Results on Google and Pinterest with Raquel Smith 133: Optimizing Your Food Blog's SEO with Casey Markee Google's Structured Data Testing Tool Google Search Console Is it time to switch your site to all-SSL? Blog Tutor Plans Connect with Andrew at [email protected] If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Jodie from Growing Book by Book! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to understand your customers, view your blog as a business, and adapt to where you are with Alexis Joseph. ----- Welcome to episode 141 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Alexis Joseph about building two thriving full-time businesses. Hustling to Build Two Full-Time Businesses Alexis is the definition of a #girlboss. She's the co-founder of a thriving restaurant, the author of a successful blog, and a registered dietitian. How does she find time for it all? Good question. She's here today to share all about it. You'll learn about what she does in a typical day and how she balances it all. In this episode, Alexis shares: How she got interested in nutrition When and why she started her blog The things that made a difference in her blog How she started viewing her blog as a business Where her blog name came from How she decided to open a restaurant How she keeps up with her customers How she balances a full-time blog and restaurant What her typical day looks like Resources: Hummusapien Alchemy Juice Cafe Omnivore's Dilemma Oh She Glows TRISM Follow Alexis on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook Follow Alchemy on Instagram If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Regan Jones from Blog Brûlée, Healthy Aperture, This Unmillennial Life, and The Recipe Redux! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to tier your pricing structure, why you should save your side business income, and how to incentivize word of mouth with Nathan Barry. ----- Welcome to episode 140 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Nathan Barry from ConvertKit about how he started his career and pivoted to focus on selling software. From $300k in Product Sales to $9m in Software Sales Nathan started out as a designer and app developer, and he launched his first product to an email list of 800 people. Thus started his successful product sales career, writing three books, two courses, and building an email list. But then in October 2014, Nathan decided to pivot. He decided to focus on his email software, ConvertKit, which was making only $1,000/month in revenue at the time. Now ConvertKit has over 18,000 users, including Pat Flynn, Leo Babuta, and Chris Gillebeau. In this episode, Nathan shares: What he did before starting ConvertKit His suggestions about what you should do with your side business income Why he suggests to tier your pricing for a product How to price a product Why he wanted to make an email marketing platform How he decided to focus on software How to incentivize word of mouth Resources: A Brief Guide to World Domination 279 Days to Overnight Success 097: How to Create a Full-Time Income from Blogging Using The Egg Carton Method with Bjork Ostrom ConvertKit ConvertKit on Baremetrics Follow Nathan on his website, nathanbarry.com If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Tonia from Why Not Mom! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

Sharing videos on social media, filming tricky foods, and working with brands with the Pinch of Yum Team. ----- Welcome to episode 139 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, we're sharing the Q&A from our recent Recipe Video Bootcamp. Answering MORE Questions about Recipe Videos Have you tried making recipe videos yet? They're incredibly popular right now, and they're a great way to grow your audience and social media following. We recently held a Recipe Video Bootcamp where we taught attendees how to shoot and edit their own food videos like a pro. Our last session of the day was a Q&A with Lindsay Ostrom and Alana Woolley from Pinch of Yum, and we've decided to share it as a podcast episode today! You'll learn all about how the Pinch of Yum team handles producing and sharing high-quality video content every week. In this episode, Lindsay and Alana share: The best practices for sharing videos on social media How to work with tricky foods How to work with brands The gear they use How they handle shoots as a team How they come up with inspiration How to make your videos stand out How long your videos should be The settings they use to record videos Resources: 136: Optimizing for Search Results on Google and Pinterest with Raquel Smith 7 Essential Tools You Need to Shoot Your Own Recipe Videos Erickson Surfaces 093: How Finding a Niche Transformed a Business with Meggan Hill from Culinary Hill If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Kelly from A Side of Sweet! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

Understanding your stats, owning your niche, and optimizing your content with Ashley Ward. ----- Welcome to episode 138 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Ashley Ward from SEMrush about optimizing the content on your website. How to Get the Most Out of Your Content Content is the core of your blog, but how do you know you're getting the most out of the recipes and posts you publish? That's why Ashley is here. She explains that there's a lot you can do with your content after you set it live. Between evaluating your stats and forming strategies, optimizing your content can happen in different forms. If you've wanted to learn how to own your niche or use your competitors when creating content, this episode is for you! In this episode, Ashley shares: How she got started as a corporate speaker What SEMrush is What PPC is How to be strategic with your stats How to use your competitors when creating content How you can own your niche How long you should wait before looking at metrics Resources: Register for the Recipe Video Bootcamp today! SEMrush Google Optimize Follow Ashley on Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Holly from A Baker's House! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to build a self-promoting app, how to find a developer, and what to look for in an agency. ----- Welcome to episode 137 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Trey George about building, developing, and managing apps. One Million App Downloads in One Year Building an app can be an exciting addition to your online business, and Trey is a pro at managing apps at A Color Story. Trey has had a hand in building four apps for the A Beautiful Mess brand (the A Beautiful Mess app, Party Party, A Color Story, and A Design Kit), and he has quickly learned what works, what doesn't, and what's important to consider when building an app. If you've ever thought about building an app for your blog, this episode is for you! In this episode, Trey shares: How he got started managing the A Beautiful Mess app How to charge more for your work How the A Beautiful Mess app was self-promoting Why hashtags were important for growth What to look for in an agency How to find an app developer His experience with in-app purchases Resources: SEO Site Checkup Alt Test How to Write Great Pinterest Image Descriptions How to Craft Alt Text for Images 121: How to Overcome Your Failures and Find Success with Emma Chapman A Beautiful Mess App A Color Story If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Anushree from Simmer to Slimmer! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to run ads on a recipe print page, optimize images for search results, and set Pinterest descriptions with Raquel Smith. ----- Welcome to episode 136 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Raquel Smith about how optimize search results on Google and Pinterest. Optimizing for Search Results on Google and Pinterest Structured data, optimization, and rich snippets are common things for bloggers to think about, but just because they're common doesn't mean they're easy to understand. If SEO talk is enough to make your head spin, you're not alone, so Raquel is here to make recipe SEO much more approachable and understandable. She has managed the development of WP Tasty's two WordPress plugins, Tasty Recipes and Tasty Pins, and you'll learn how these plugins can have a major impact on your recipes. In this episode, Raquel shares: How she get started with Food Blogger Pro The difference between WP Tasty and Tasty Recipes What a recipe plugin is and why it's important What Googlebot is How to run ads on a recipe print page What rich snippets are and how they're different from rich cards How to optimize images for search results What Gutenberg is If you need to optimize for everything The problem that Tasty Pins is solving Why a blogger might hide an image from a post Resources: WP Tasty Pass the Plants Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less 133: Optimizing Your Food Blog's SEO with Casey Markee How to find out the last time Google crawled and indexed a website 011: Making the Leap to Full-Time Blogging with Beth Moncel from Budget Bytes Gutenberg 089: How to Build a Plane with Alexa, Jasmine & Raquel from Food Blogger Pro Tasty Recipes Tasty Pins Questions? Reach out to Raquel at [email protected] If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Lauren from Zestful Kitchen! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

How to launch a membership site, name a blog, and hire a team with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 135 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week, we're playing an episode from the Dishing with Delishes podcast. In this episode, Bjork chats with Elaine about starting Pinch of Yum and Food Blogger Pro, building a team, and developing plugins. You will also learn how Lindsay and Bjork met. Spoiler alert: they're high school sweethearts! Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Kate from Gift of Hospitality! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review. In this episode, Bjork discusses: What he and Lindsay did before food blogging How they met - How they decided on the Pinch of Yum name When they decided to hire a team The difference between contracted workers and employees How they launched Food Blogger Pro What's included in a Food Blogger Pro membership Why they decided to publish their income reports How WP Tasty started Resources: Get the resources for this episode here: https://www.dishingwithdelishes.com/014-bjork-ostrom-food-blogger-pro/

Comparison, how to juggle a blog and a full-time job, and cookbook deals with Sally McKenney. ----- Welcome to episode 134 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This episode is a special FBP Rewind episode where we're rewinding to one of our first and most popular episodes with Sally McKenney from Sally's Baking Addiction. Creating Success If you haven't been over to Sally's Baking Addiction yet, you are certainly missing out. Sally creates baked goods to swoon over - from cheesecake to brownies to pies, and everything you can imagine with funfetti. She's also a whiz when it comes to blog success. Sally took her blog from zero to hero (read: full time job) in just two years. She is now the author of three cookbooks, Sally's Baking Addiction, Sally's Candy Addiction, and Sally's Cookie Addiction. If you dream of taking your hobby blog to full-time status, this episode is not to be missed! In this episode, Sally shares: Why comparing your baby blog to the big guns is not a good strategy What she attributes to her rapid success (hint: it's not luck!) How she juggled her full-time job and growing her food blog How she got a cookbook deal - and kept up her blog while writing it Where her traffic comes from And the advice she would give herself back when she started her blog Resources: Sally's Baking Addiction Sally's Baking Addiction Sally's Candy Addiction Sally's Cookie Addiction Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Theodore Leaf from theodoreleaf.com! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Voice searches, nofollow links, featured snippet mismatches, and on-page optimization with Casey Markee. ----- Welcome to episode 133 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Casey Markee about the changing landscape for online searches, recipe cards, and more. Optimizing Your Blog's SEO We're so excited to welcome FBP SEO Expert, Casey Markee, back to the podcast today! At his company Media Wyse, Casey handles site audits for algorithm and rank issues, spammy structured markup actions, and unnatural link issues for food blogs, and he is one of our go-to resources for all things recipe SEO. SEO can be confusing, but this episode will help you understand nofollow links, optimization (both on-page and off-page), the mobile-first index, and more. So grab a pencil and paper, and let's jump in! In this episode, Casey shares: How he got into food and recipe SEO Why SEO is important What on-page optimization means and why it's different from off-page optimization When you should use nofollow links What the mobile-first index is When long-form and short-form content is best What recipe cards and the mobile carousel is What JSON-LD is Resources: Alfred Wox Best practices for bloggers reviewing free products they receive from companies Introduction to Structured Data Casey's featured image presentation Evaluation of Speech for the Google Assistant Insights from Google's Voice Search Quality Rater Guidelines Cook with Google Assistant Check out Casey's website, Facebook page, or contact him about an audit If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Thanks to our Reviewer of the Week, Gaby from Veggie World Recipes! If you'd like to be featured, leave a review for us on iTunes and include your name and blog name in the review.

Why your story is important to your brand, how to figure out your brand position, and how to find information about your audience with Laurie Buckle. ----- Welcome to episode 132 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Laurie Buckle from CookIt Media about the importance of the story behind your brand. Perfecting Your Story and Your Brand Laurie has an acute understanding of the power of story. Your brand's story is the reason why your brand exists, and it helps facilitate a connection with your readers that creates loyalty throughout your blogging career. Over at CookIt Media, Laurie helps bloggers solidify their stories and brands. She believes that story is the best communication tool that you can use, and she's here to speak about how you can discover and perfect your own brand's story. In this episode, Laurie shares: Why stories are so important How she got started with CookIt Media What your brand position is How to find information about your audience How to determine your target audience Resources: Tasty Pins 118: How Discovering Your Brand Can Help You Grow with Gaby Dalkin Meredith 093: How Finding a Niche Transformed a Business with Meggan Hill from Culinary Hill CookIt Media Work with CookIt Media Enter the CookIt Consulting Intro Giveaway! Leave a comment on this episode's blog post or leave a review of our podcast on iTunes, screenshot your review, and send it to [email protected]. The deadline is January 31, 2018. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Clarifying your why, finding gratitude in all things, and knowing it's possible with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 131 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks about setting goals for the new year. Three Ways to Set Smarter Goals in the New Year Have you ever set a goal for the new year and not followed through? We've all been there. Bjork is here to help you with three mental frameworks that will help you make smarter goals and keep you motivated in the new year. Between understanding why you're setting a specific goal to why it's important to practice gratitude, this episode will help you strategically and intentionally create goals to help you and your business grow. In this episode, Bjork shares: What SMART goals are Why it's important to understand why you're setting a specific goal Why gratitude is so important Resources: Hygge If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Creating an avatar, securing brand sponsorships, and why you should follow-up with brands after a campaign with Jenny Melrose. ----- Welcome to episode 130 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Jenny Melrose about making the transition to being an entrepreneur, connecting with brands online, and using a website that helps you price your sponsored content. Creating a Full-Time Income from Sponsored Content Sponsored content is a popular way for bloggers to monetize their businesses. You partner with a brand, create posts promoting their products, and then you're paid based on a rate you negotiate. If it seems like a lot of work, it is. But on top of that work, how do you make sure that you're producing content that's of value to the brands you're working with? That's where Jenny's expertise comes in. She has cracked the code on creating awesome sponsored content that is both on-brand and useful to the companies you're working with. Her tips on creating an avatar, staying true to your voice, and pitching the right people can all help you earn an income from sponsored content work. In this episode, Jenny shares: Why she started The Melrose Family How she created an avatar Why it's important to pay attention to your reader demographics How to find the right contact for the brands you want to work with When to pitch a brand How she secures brand sponsorships The difference between PR agencies and working with a brand directly Why you should follow-up with brands after a campaign What tool she uses to keep track of her campaigns What tool you can use as a guideline for your sponsored content rates Resources: The Melrose Family Google Docs Social Bluebook Jenny Melrose Influencer Entrepreneur with Jenny Melrose If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to blog while writing a cookbook, the importance of user experience, and how to approach your brand and business with David Lebovitz. ----- Welcome to episode 129 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with David Lebovitz about how to develop the ability to stick with it, a lesson that helped him build his brand, and his a-typical approach to blogging analytics. Forging Your Own Path 1999 was a big year for David; he left his job as a pastry chef to write his first cookbook, Room for Dessert and started a recipe blog. Little did he know that he was becoming one of the pioneers of the food blogging industry! From there, David moved to Paris, wrote a few more cookbooks, and learned how to do what he loves while providing value to his readers. You'll learn about his philosophy on email etiquette, his favorite social media platform, and why his blog is so important to his cookbook-writing process. In this episode, David shares: Why recipe development is an ongoing process How to pronounce "L'appart" and why he chose it as a book title What it was like to be one of the first food bloggers How he approaches his brand and business The important word he learned when he moved to Paris Why he doesn't look at his Google Analytics What his favorite social media platform is Why it's important to think about user experience Resources: L'Appart: The Delights and Disasters of Making My Paris Home 101 Cookbooks Simply Recipes The Amateur Gourmet Movable Type 016: How Elise Bauer Built Simply Recipes and Recovered from a 70% Drop in Traffic David's blog If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Important Google tools, switching to https, and how to perform effective keyword research with Katy Widrick. ----- Welcome to episode 128 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Katy Widrick from Make Media Over about marketing strategies, search engine optimization, and Google tools that can help you refine your blog. Maximizing Your Blog's Potential Katy got her start in television news, but she realized that her love was actually behind-the-scenes. Content creation, writing an email newsletter, consulting, and helping others start their blogs - that's where Katy thrives. She started her business, Make Media Over, a managed services and consulting business, to help start-ups and developed brands with online and influencer marketing. She helps her clients understand and use marketing funnels, SEO tools, and social media platforms to grow their following and increase engagement. Learn some of her tips and tricks in this interview! In this episode, Katy shares: Why switching to https is important What "mixed content" means How she started her business Why you should be using Google Search Console How you can help nudge people to click through to your post How to use Pinterest for SEO Resources: Katy Widrick Make Media Over Designing Your Life Google Search Console Google Analytics Google Keyword Planner Moz Ahrefs Mailchimp ConvertKit ActiveCampaign Infusionsoft Mad Mimi Make Media Over services If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

What publishers look for when they're signing an author and how you get paid as an author with Maria Ribas. ----- Welcome to episode 127 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Maria Ribas from Cooks & Books about what you could be doing today to set you up for a future book deal. How to Land a Book Deal Maria is a literary agent, which means that she represents the interest of authors in the book publishing process. She has a lot of experience working with cookbook authors, and she started a blog, Cooks & Books, to teach others what she's learned. This episode is perfect for the bloggers who are interested in publishing a cookbook. Maria and Bjork cover the whole book publishing process in detail, from understanding who your true fans are to figuring out how to pitch to a publisher. In this episode, Maria shares: What a literary agent does How to analyze your book idea What to consider when pitching your idea How long a typical cookbook publishing process will last The difference between an advance and royalties Resources: Cooks & Books Peas & Thank You If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Be sure to review us on iTunes!

How to grow a sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business with Sean McCabe. ----- Welcome to episode 126 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Sean McCabe about how to grow a sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business. Fueling Your Passion with Your Day Job Turning your passion into your day job. That's the dream, right? Not so fast. Sometimes it's better to have a day job outside of your passions, and Sean is here to tell you why. In addition to this lesson, Sean also explains why investing in your audience is one of the most important decisions you can make when building your business. Learn how to grow your sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business in this interview. In this episode, Sean shares: How to build an audience-driven business How to balance a passion and full-time job How he found his focus and then expanded into other areas Why it's important to document the process How he defines success How to make sure you're heard The common characteristics of your community members Why you should curate what you share Resources: Sean's About page Follow Sean on Instagram Overlap The Overlap Book Documentary 086: How to Make a Successful Career Change with Jon Acuff If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

The common characteristics of chefs, how to diversify your online income, and what it takes to make it as an entrepreneurial chef. ----- Welcome to episode 125 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Shawn Wenner and Chris Hill from Entrepreneurial Chef about the common characteristics of chefs, how to diversify your online income, and what it takes to make it as an entrepreneurial chef. Monetizing as an Entrepreneurial Chef Being an entrepreneur isn't always easy. In fact, it's often really really tough. Especially when food is involved. That's why Shawn and Chris started Entrepreneurial Chef: to provide tools and resources for food entrepreneurs so that they can grow successful brands and businesses. They've built a brand around their own skills to help others in the food space monetize, serve customers, and pursue their dreams. In this episode, Shawn and Chris share: How they got their start in food How they met and started working together The common traits of chefs How powerful trust is in a partnership Creative ways to monetize How to become a restaurateur Resources: Entrepreneurial Chef Making the Cut Podcast Process Street Making the Cut Dear Chefs 120: How to Shape Your Own Career Destiny with Dorie Clark 097: How to Create a Full-Time Income from Blogging Using The Egg Carton Method with Bjork Ostrom Tim Ma Entrepreneurial Chef Issue 11 If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How they left their full-time jobs, how they got their start blogging, and why a desire to learn is so important. ----- Welcome to episode 124.5 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Katy Keck from Palate Passion Purpose and Ben Myhre from Ramshackle Pantry. How Two Food Blogger Pro Members are Pursuing Their Passions and Following Their Dreams We're so excited about this bonus episode! Today we're featuring two of our members: Katy Keck and Ben Myhre. They're living the food blogging dream: blogging full-time, connecting with readers, and creating content every week. Hear them talk about leaving their full-time jobs, growing their blogs, and more, covering the ups and downs of blog and business ownership. Plus, they share how they've used the fundamentals learned on Food Blogger Pro on their own blogs. In this episode, Katy and Ben share: How Katy got her start in food How Katy has grown her brand What Katy's favorite parts of Food Blogger Pro are How Ben got his start blogging and cooking Why a passion to learn has been so important to Ben's growth How Ben decided it was the right time to leave his full-time job What Ben's biggest learning curve was Resources: [Join Food Blogger Pro](https://www.foodbloggerpro.com/signup/] today! Palate Passion Purpose Ramshackle Pantry on Instagram Pinch of Yum Workshops Pinch of Yum Traffic and Income Reports Gary Vaynerchuk Tasty Recipes The pet post on FBP Kate Winslet the St. Bernard! If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Why you should start gratitude journaling, the benefits of meditation, and how to cultivate awe with UJ Ramdas. ----- Welcome to episode 124 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with UJ Ramdas from Intelligent Change about why you should start gratitude journaling, the benefits of meditation, and how to cultivate awe. How to Level Up Your Life If you're interested in the self-improvement space, you've probably read about the power of having a morning routine. That's exactly why UJ helped start Intelligent Change and the Five Minute Journal. The Five Minute Journal is designed to help you make positive changes in just five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night. UJ believes that the Five Minute Journal is a simple way to focus on the good, become more mindful, and live with intention. Learn how you can apply the principles in your own life today. In this episode, UJ shares: Why he started Intelligent Change What gratitude journaling is How to use the Five Minute Journal What his morning routine looks like The benefits of meditation How to cultivate awe Why we sometimes don't reach our goals How to go through a process of self-discovery Resources: Join Food Blogger Pro today! Intelligent Change Five Minute Journal Productivity Planner Headspace Cal Newport Myers-Briggs Type Indicator 16Personalities DISC Personality Test StrengthsFinder Kolbe My Commitment If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Why you should consider your audience's needs above your wants, how to write a strong social media bio, and questions you can ask yourself about your brand with Phil Pallen. ----- Welcome to episode 123 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Phil Pallen about refining your brand, strengthening your social media presence, and considering your audience's needs. Why Every Blogger Needs to Own Their Brand While his title is Celebrity Brand Expert, Phil says that he's in the business of crafting first impressions. And that's exactly what your brand is: a reader's first impression of you and your business. Phil knows exactly how important a solid understanding of your brand is for your blog, and he has helped dozens of people and businesses refine their brand, create goals, and spruce up their social profiles. He'll give you ideas about how you can fine-tune your brand so that you're noticed and remembered. In this episode, Phil shares: What it's like behind-the-scenes of TV interviews How to write a solid social media bio Why others' needs are more important than what you want Why photography is key His tips for Bjork's personal brand Resources: Skype Zoom 118: How Discovering Your Brand Can Help You Grow with Gaby Dalkin Work with Phil: Phil Pallen Collective Learn more about Phil Pallen Academy Follow Phil on Twitter and Instagram If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

What "mobile-first" means, tips for making your website fly, and why you might choose to use a framework with Lauren Gray. ----- Welcome to episode 122 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Lauren Gray from Once Coupled about mobile-first considerations, site speed recommendations, and theme frameworks. Site Speed in a Mobile-First World Mobile-first, frameworks, photo size, https…you've probably heard these terms in the blogging space before. And the words alone are enough to make your head spin. Developer and Food Blogger Pro Expert Lauren Gray is a pro at helping you make these tech decisions for your blog. And while they might seem like small decisions, they really will have a big impact on your site's usability, search engine ranking, and workflow. This episode focuses on why you should start thinking about making these decisions for your business. In this episode, Lauren shares: How she started her company The difference between developers and designers Why she likes using a framework What "mobile-first" means and why it's different than "mobile friendliness" How site speed is measured How you should size your blog photos How to think about automating certain tasks Why it's important to start thinking about switching to https Resources: Meet the Food Blogger Pro Experts Once Coupled Genesis Framework 119: How an Accidental Entrepreneur went from $0 to $80,000 in Five Months with Brian Gardner Google's Mobile-Friendly Test WPtouch Padsquad Brunch Pro Theme GTmetrix Google PageSpeed Insights Hotjar 004: How Understanding Your Visitors Can Help You Create an Income with Dr. David Darmanin from Hotjar 020: How to Secure Your Food Blog with Andrew Wilder from Blog Tutor Pinch of Yum's source code Related Posts for WordPress If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Finding your path, starting new ventures, and solidifying your brand with Emma Chapman. ----- Welcome to episode 121 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Emma Chapman from A Beautiful Mess about starting new ventures, solidifying your brand, and finding your path. How to Overcome Your Failures and Find Success Blogging and business ownership wasn't always one of Emma's goals. In fact, right after college, she decided to move to Hollywood to start an acting career. When that career path didn't work out, she didn't give up; instead she changed her focus and worked to build a job she loves. Now as Founder & CEO of A Beautiful Mess, Emma focuses on building brands, creating apps, writing books, and producing content. Learn how she shaped her career after starting in a place of uncertainty. In this episode, Emma shares: How she decided to move to Hollywood How she learned about herself and grew after college How to change your focus What her role is at A Beautiful Mess How they decided to make their first hire How they decided to focus solely on their blog Why they're so personal on their blog How they developed different brands How they test new product ideas Why they run two different companies Resources: A Beautiful Mess Oui Fresh Weekday Weekend Cookbook A Beautiful Mess Courses A Color Story WooCommerce Pinch of Yum's Traffic and Income Reports Follow Emma, Elsie, and A Beautiful Mess on Instagram Get 30% off your first order at Oui Fresh using coupon code fbp30! Let us know who you want to hear on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast: [email protected] If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to reinvent yourself, become an authority figure, and invest in your business with Dorie Clark. ----- Welcome to episode 120 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Dorie Clark about her new book, Entrepreneurial You. How to Shape Your Own Career Destiny Becoming an entrepreneur and working on your side gig can be tough, but by understanding and applying a few different strategies, you can build the business you dream of. Dorie's new book Entrepreneurial You is a "blueprint for professional independence." In it, she talks about just how important it is to have a strong brand when you're building a business, how to become an expert and be trusted, and how that can help you sell your products and services. This podcast episode dives deep into the principles Dorie teaches in her book and shows you how you can take action on developing your business today. In this episode, Dorie shares: How to monetize because of something How her entrepreneurial story ties into her books How to reinvent yourself How to become an authority in a certain area The priorities of industry experts Why an email list is so important The tools she uses to grow her email list The best investment you can make in your business Resources: Entrepreneurial You Reinventing You Stand Out 119: How an Accidental Entrepreneur went from $0 to $80,000 in Five Months with Brian Gardner Dorie's courses 097: How to Create a Full-Time Income from Blogging Using The Egg Carton Method with Bjork Ostrom Real Men, Real Style Seth Godin I Will Teach You To Be Rich ConvertKit Constant Contact AWeber Leadpages Sumo 88 Question Self-Assessment Follow Dorie on her website If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to deal with competition, the benefits of using a framework, and how to practice minimalism with Brian Gardner. ----- Welcome to episode 119 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Brian Gardner from StudioPress about building his business, dealing with competition, and practicing minimalism. How an Accidental Entrepreneur went from $0 to $80,000 in Five Months Brian was the pioneer of premium WordPress themes, and it happened a bit by accident. He was balancing a full-time job and his WordPress theme business at the same time. But once he realized that it would be "financially irresponsible" to work both jobs, he decided to jump head-first into his WordPress business. From there Brian built StudioPress, which powers over 500,000 WordPress sites with its Genesis Framework. Learn how he dealt with competition, how he built his business, and why it's helpful to use a framework and child theme for your blog. In this episode, Brian shares: How he went from working at an architecture firm to becoming an online entrepreneur How he got started working with WordPress The mistakes he made when he built his business How he dealt with competition Why it's helpful to use a framework and child theme How he practices minimalism in his business Resources: StudioPress StudioPress FM The Business of Food Blogging: Is it Lucrative? Press75 iThemes Thesis Copyblogger Genesis StudioPress themes Yoast SEO 091: Optimizing Recipes for SEO with Joost De Valk from Yoast SEO Tasty Recipes No Sidebar Designing Your Life Follow Brian at StudioPress, No Sidebar, and Authentik If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to understand your brand, adapt for your different audiences, and develop a product line with Gaby Dalkin. ----- Welcome to episode 118 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Gaby Dalkin from What's Gaby Cooking about understanding your brand, developing a product line, and working with a team. How to Discovering Your Brand Can Help you Grow Gaby's blogging story isn't the typical blogging story. She started as a private chef for Jessica Simpson, built a team, and even worked with Williams Sonoma on a product line. Oh, and she also managed to build a hugely successful food blog, What's Gaby Cooking. But all of her success is rooted in a strong understanding of her personal and blog brand. She has an acute understanding of her audiences across all of her platforms, and that understanding influences how she interacts with those audiences. In this episode, Gaby shares: How she got interested in food How she got hired as a private chef for Jessica Simpson What it was like working with a brand consultant Her advice for doing live content How she keeps organized What it's like working with a team How she decides how personal to get on her blog and social channels How she launched a salsa line with Williams Sonoma Her advice for working with a brand manager Resources: What's Gaby Cooking TeuxDeux Gaby's salsa line with Williams Sonoma Follow Gaby on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Launching a meal planning site, learning how to adapt with a changing industry, and working with brands with Maria Lichty. ----- Welcome to episode 117 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Maria Lichty from Two Peas and Their Pod about how blogging has changed in the past 10 years. How to Sustain a Successful Blog for 10+ Years When Maria started blogging at Two Peas and Their Pod, the food blogging industry looked quite different. Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest weren't around, videos weren't as popular, and the industry as a whole was much smaller. But Maria has learned to adapt to this quick-changing world and to work to her strengths while growing her blog. She has hired a team to help her manage her social media and video work while she focuses on the work she loves like recipe testing, photography, and more. In this episode, Maria shares: How blogging has changed since she first started her blog How to work as a husband-wife team How she chooses the sponsored posts she does How she prioritizes her work What her typical day looks like How she likes to engage with her followers How she grew her Facebook following How she built a meal planning site Her advice for negotiations with brands Resources: Two Peas and Their Pod Kalyn's Kitchen Simple Pin Media 026: How Pinterest Analytics can Boost your Blog with Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media Sweet Peas Meals How Sweet It Is Check out Maria's home posts - don't miss her beautiful pantry! Follow Maria on Instagram or Facebook If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to start sponsored content, how to price your work, and how to reach out to brands with Danielle Liss and the Pinch of Yum team. ----- Welcome to episode 116 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, we're sharing the Q&A from the Sponsored Content Bootcamp. You'll hear Danielle Liss and the Pinch of Yum team talk about starting sponsored content, pricing your work, and reaching out to brands. Answering Questions about Sponsored Content Sponsored content is a great way to generate income for your blog and make connections with brands you really love. At the Sponsored Content Bootcamp on September 12, 2017, we showed attendees how to price their work, the tools you need to create sponsored content, and how the Pinch of Yum team handles their sponsored content work. We also held a Q&A at the end of the day where we answered questions from our attendees about sponsored content. We're sharing that Q&A with our podcast family today, and we couldn't be more excited. Danielle Liss from Hashtag Legal and Businessese and Lindsay and Jenna from Pinch of Yum answer some of your questions about creating awesome sponsored content. In this episode, Danielle, Lindsay, and Jenna share: How to approach brands Why you should be sharing campaign reports How to charge different rates for different work How to license your images How to deal with long-term relationships with brands How to track campaign results Resources: Get Your PRICE course CoSchedule Follow Danielle at Businessese and Hashtag Legal Follow Lindsay at Pinch of Yum or on Instagram If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Advice for future cookbook authors, how to decide when it's the right time to make your first hire, and choosing a focus for your blog with Kathryne Taylor. ----- Welcome to episode 115 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Kathryne Taylor from Cookie & Kate about how she decided her blog would have a food focus, when she chose to make her first hire, and her advice for future cookbook authors. How to Write a 5-Star Cookbook While Kathryne's blog Cookie & Kate didn't start out as a food blog, she transitioned to sharing healthy, whole food recipes. From there, Cookie & Kate became her full-time job, and she quickly learned the ins and outs of blogging, web development, and design. Just a few months ago, Kathryne released her first cookbook, Love Real Food, which has gained a ton of praise (including nearly 200 5-star reviews on Amazon). She learned a lot from the cookbook publishing process, and she has a few tips that will help aspiring cookbook authors turn their ideas to realities. In this episode, Kathryne shares: What she did before blogging Why she started her blog and transitioned to sharing recipes How she transitioned to working on her blog full-time How she learned how to handle the design and development side of blogging How she decided to hire help What her typical week looks like How she chose a publisher for her cookbook How she got paid for writing her cookbook What she learned from editing her cookbook Resources: Cookie & Kate The Faux Martha Show Me How To Do It Cupcakes & Cashmere Goop What to Eat The Omnivore's Dilemma Saveur Blog Awards Mr. Money Mustache Treehouse Lynda Codecademy Evernote Check out Kate's cookbook, the Love Real Food Cookbook Follow Kate on Instagram and Facebook If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to work with different personalities, divide responsibilities, and split your income with Polly Conner and Rachel Tiemeyer. ----- Welcome to episode 114 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Polly Conner and Rachel Tiemeyer from Thriving Home about working as a partnership on their blog. How to Run a Successful Blog as a Partnership A blog is typically started as a sole venture, but Polly and Rachel decided to start their blog, Thriving Home, as a team. While they both have different personalities, they use those differences to their advantage to divide tasks and grow their business. But even though they're running their blog as a team, anyone can take lessons away from the way they treat their blog as a business. You'll learn how they made their first $1, the most important thing that makes their partnership work, and the intentional way they invest back into their business, and more. In this episode, Polly and Rachel share: How Polly and Rachel met Why they decided to start a blog together How they work with their different personalities What they focused on when they first started blogging together How they compliment each other How they navigate difficulties in a partnership What their State of the Unions look like How they divide responsibilities How they handle constructive criticism How they decided to start working on their blog full-time How they divide their income and how they decide what to invest in Why they set up their business as an S-Corp What their typical days look like Resources: Thriving Home Dave Ramsey From Freezer to Table Cookbook - releasing September 12! Profit First ConvertKit Leadpages Shopify If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to use an Instagram strategy, get involved in blogging groups, and get advice from other bloggers with Ashley Walterhouse. ----- Welcome to episode 113 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Ashley Walterhouse about working with brands, building her following, and growing her Instagram account to over 90K followers in two years. How to Gain 90K Instagram Followers in 2 Years Yep, that says 90K. In two years! If you're anything like me, you randomly post to Instagram whenever you remember to in hopes of gaining followers and getting some click-throughs to your website. But Ashley's social media success is proof that it's helpful to have a strategy when growing your social media presence. Posting at the right times every day, engaging with comments, and sharing the right recipes all play into growing your Instagram account. Ashley has cracked the code on Instagram growth and engagement, and she's sharing how she managed to grow her two-year-old blog, Fit Mitten Kitchen, into a full-time job. In this episode, Ashley shares: Where her blog name comes from How she got advice about blogging How she keeps organized How many times she posts on Instagram per day How to she recycles recipes on social media Which big accounts she tags on her Instagram images How she landed her first sponsored post Why you should always have a contract when you work with a brand How she got involved in blogging groups What has helped her with photography Resources: Fit Mitten Kitchen Fit Foodie Finds The Healthy Maven The Feed Feed Businessese 099: Sponsored Content and Getting Paid What Your Work is Worth with Danielle Liss Nicole Culver Blissful Bites Podcast Follow Ashley on Instagram & Facebook If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to get perfect lighting and a consistent style with Taylor Mathis. ----- Welcome to episode 112 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Taylor Mathis from Photographing FOOD about lighting, consistency, and his go-to equipment. Perfecting the Art of Food Photography Photography is one of the most important aspects of food blogging. We're always told that people eat with their eyes, and that couldn't be more true when trying to gain a following as a blogger. While Taylor started his photography career as a wedding photographer, his interests quickly settled on food photography. He has devoted his career to perfecting the art of food photography, and now he's sharing what he has learned with you. His composition, lighting, and gear tips will give new insights into your photography setup and planning. In this episode, Taylor shares: How he got interested in photography How he started his photography business Why it's important to understand light as a photographer Why he suggests shooting in RAW Why he prefers to shoot with flash The equipment he recommends for beginners Why macro lenses are great for food photography How he prepares for difficult shoots His essential gear Resources: Lynda.com Creative Live Lowel Ego Lights Ikan Lights 100mm Canon Macro lens 50mm Canon lens 17–40mm Canon Wide Angle lens Photographing Food eBooks Photographing Food Follow Taylor on Instagram If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Why engagement is more important than numbers, how to run a business that doesn't require growth, and how to find your rat people with Paul Jarvis. ----- Welcome to episode 111 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Paul Jarvis about building a company of one, the most important part of his online business, and finding your "rat people." How to Build a Company of One Paul has been working for himself for nearly 20 years, and his career has taken him in a few different directions. Starting out as a web designer, he began working for himself as a freelancer for clients like Danielle LaPorte, Marie Forleo, and Mercedes-Benz, and then he started selling his own software and courses. And he wrote a vegan cookbook along the way. While he built his business, he learned what it means to own, run, and grow a "company of one." Paul's experiences and advice will inspire you to think about your own business in exciting and unconventional ways. In this episode, Paul shares: Why he releases his podcast in seasons How he successfully "batch-creates" his content Why he measures engagement over signups Why a mailing list is powerful How he spent less than $100 on creating his vegan cookbook How he transitioned his business from client work to products How he uses artificial constraints for creativity Why he focuses on the people who are already paying attention What it means to run a profitable and sustainable business that doesn't require growth How to build a "company of one" Why you should find your "rat people" Resources: Sunday Dispatches Newsletter Sunday Dispatches Podcast pjrvs.com Eat Awesome Mailchimp The super-cute picture of Paul's rats Danielle LaPorte Marie Forleo Chimp Essentials Mr. Money Mustache Psychotactics Basecamp Derek Sivers Read Paul's articles If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to work in your zone, set a morning routine, and optimize your workspace with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 110 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks about 10 habits that can help your business grow long-term. 10 Simple Habits that Create BIG Growth for Your Business Forming habits can have an exponential affect on your business' growth, and Bjork has seen that first-hand as he built Food Blogger Pro. Bjork talks about 10 habits that have had a huge impact on his productivity and on Food Blogger Pro's growth. He recommends apps, systems, philosophies, and practices that you can implement today into your business to see growth long-term. In this episode, Bjork shares: What a "black book" is How to keep track of your to-dos How a morning routine can impact your business How to get to "Inbox Zero" An easier way to keep track of receipts How to save articles to read later How to optimize your workspace Why you should turn off all push notifications How do perform a time audit How to find ways to "work in your zone" Resources: Evernote Things Asana Trello Getting Things Done Clear Koalcat's Clear Five Minute Journal Headspace Mixmax Boomerang Shoeboxed Pocket Moment Rescue Time The War of Art If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to implement systems, shift your business' focus, and narrow your offerings with Greg Hickman. ----- Welcome to episode 109 of the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Greg Hickman about building systems, building courses, and building a profitable business. How Systems and Courses can Build a Profitable Business Shifting the focus in your business might be a scary step. But for Greg, shifting his business focus came via a challenge, and he learned that it was a necessary step for growing his business. He went from focusing on mobile marketing to automation and marketing funnels. Now he helps other businesses narrow down their offerings and use trends to build out their systems. He talks about finding the right product to sell, tools he recommends for marketers, and how you can give your audience value. In this episode, Greg shares: How he got started helping businesses with their funnels and automation How he knew how to make a shift in his business How a challenge led him to his new business model Why he helps his clients understand their problems Why narrowing down your offerings makes running your business easier How to not be a slave to your business How to use trends to build your systems and automations How to figure out a product to sell Why you should go as premium as you can The tools he recommends for marketers Resources: System.ly Zero to Scale Podcast The Mobile Mixed Podcast Infusionsoft WP Curve Amy Porterfield Funnels That Scale 056: Working in Your Area of Brilliance with Meghan Telpner 105: How Food Bloggers Use Courses to Build their Businesses with Randle Browning ActiveCampaign Leadpages ClickFunnels Unbounce Instapage No Leads Left Behind Facebook Group How to Use Marketing Automation to Scale Your Funnel from 6 to 7 Figures Webinar If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Common mindsets for entrepreneurs, how to find success through breakthroughs, and how to grow a podcast into a success with Natalie Eckdahl. ----- Welcome to episode 108 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Natalie Eckdahl about growing her podcast into a six-figure success. From Struggling Podcast to Six-Figure Success "If you build it, they will come." That's what Natalie thought of her audience when she first built her podcast back in 2014. While that wasn't exactly the case, Natalie started to understand her audience and quickly grew her struggling podcast, The Biz Chix Podcast, to a six-figure business. Along the way, Natalie has coached many different types of women entrepreneurs, and she has learned about their struggles, issues, and tools for success. The lessons she has learned helps her educate, encourage and promote entrepreneurial women looking to grow their businesses. In this episode, Natalie shares: Why she decided to start her podcast How she scaled that podcast into a seven figure business Why it's important to understand your audience Why she recommends joining a mastermind group The common mindset issues she sees in her clients How to be intentional with your time Resources: BizChix The BizChix Podcast 24 Exceptional Women-Hosted Podcasts for Entrepreneurs in 2017 The 5 Best Podcasts for Women Entrepreneurs Dave Ramsey Entrepreneur on Fire Amy Porterfield Michael Stelzner Pat Flynn Flipped Lifestyle On Air Coaching Work with Natalie The Five Second Rule Will Smith on Skydiving 80/20 Sales and Marketing: The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More BizChix Live 2017 If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Why "going viral" early might not be best with Sarah Wu. ----- Welcome to episode 107 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Sarah Wu about her viral blog and why "going viral" quickly might not be the best thing for everyone. How to Go Viral, Kill Your Blog, and Start Over Going viral. It's the dream for all bloggers, right? Not exactly. Sarah Wu experienced what it's like to have a viral blog early in her blogging career. She was featured on news outlets like Good Morning America, AOL, and Yahoo, saw her page views quickly grow, and started getting more comments. However, going viral wasn't what was best for Sarah and her blog about school lunches. In this episode, Sarah shares: Why she decided to document school lunches How her blog grew Why she decided to start as an anonymous blogger How she was featured on Good Morning America, AOL, and Yahoo Why you should focus on becoming an expert Why smaller goals are important for growing your blog Why going viral early might not be the best thing for your blog Why it's important to be yourself Resources: Fed Up with Lunch Andy Bellatti Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator Speech is Beautiful Follow Sarah on Instagram If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to refine your brand, share your story, and help others with Carol Cox. ----- Welcome to episode 106 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Carol Cox about refining your brand and sharing your story. Discovering Your Unique Brand How would you define your brand? It's an interesting and important question to answer about your business. Carol, however, thinks it's even more important to gauge how your audience defines your brand. Once you understand that, you can then refine your brand and use your expertise to support your audience. Carol's advice will show you how you can help your readers by choosing the stories you share and the niche you pick. In this episode, Carol shares: What a brand actually is How to gauge the way your audience views your brand How to refine your brand Why you should excavate your story Why failures make good stories How to create a story bank Why you should process through your story before you write about it How to help someone along their "Hero's Journey" How you can find your niche How to make a "signature talk" Resources: 360°Reach Gorilla Suit and the London Marathon Hero's Journey Speaking Your Brand Calendly Grab your free PDF Follow Carol on Facebook and Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to pick a course topic, price your course, and feel confident to teach with Randle Browning. ----- Welcome to episode 105 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Randle Browning from Teachable about creating courses to generate income and leads. How Food Bloggers Use Courses to Build their Businesses What are you an expert at? Maybe it's cake decorating. Maybe it's vegan cooking. Or maybe it's cooking with the ever-so popular Instant Pot. Regardless, you can make a course about it. And creating that course is a great way to build your online presence and business. Randle Browning works for Teachable, a site that helps you build and sell your own online courses. She has so many tips that will help you pick the perfect course topic, create your course, and then successfully launch your course. In this episode, Randle shares: Why you should pre-sell a course How to segment your email list based on a course How to gauge interest in your course idea How to price your course How to pick a topic for your course What "expert" means and how to feel confident enough to teach a certain topic Why you don't need to be the "Ultimate Expert" Resources: The Waco Vegan Liberty Harbor RV Park Teachable 097: How to Create a Full-Time Income from Blogging Using The Egg Carton Method with Bjork Ostrom How to Create a Mini Course to Build Your Business Make Fabulous Cakes The Raw Academy The Creative Curator MailChimp ConvertKit Tim Ferris Tasty Food Photography Follow Randle on Instagram and Twitter Get 1 free month of the Pro Teachable Plan with promo code food (valid until August 15th) If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to track expenses, pay yourself, and set up bank account for your business with Cathy Derus. ----- Welcome to episode 104 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Cathy Derus about tax advice for bloggers. How Bloggers Should Handle Their Taxes and Accounting Photographing, cooking, connecting, writing…these are typically the aspects of blogging we all love. Cathy, on the other hand, loves spreadsheets, tracking expenses, and talking to other bloggers about taxes. Cathy started her businesses, Brightwater Financial and Brightwater Accounting, as a way to help small business owners like bloggers navigate the confusing tax side of their businesses. It's a topic that is incredibly important for all bloggers to understand, and Cathy's goal is to make the process a little easier. From setting up a bank account for your business to tracking expenses, this episode is a crash-course to understanding taxes and accounting. In this episode, Cathy shares: How her diverse knowledge helped her launch her own practice How her blog helped her explore her interests and experiences The difference between accounting and financials When you should start expensing blog purchases Why you should have a separate business bank account for your blog How to pay yourself from your business' money How to put aside money for the IRS What an EIN is and why you should get one What quarterly taxes are and why they're important for businesses Resources: 063: Personal Finance for Business Owners with Jeff Rose from Good Financial Cents Brightwater Financial Brightwater Accounting Tax Checklist for Food Bloggers The Lively Show by Jess Lively 099: Sponsored Content and Getting Paid What Your Work is Worth with Danielle Liss Quickbooks Online Shoebox Ed Profit First Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits Quickbooks Self-Employed Open for Business Follow Brightwater Financial on Facebook and Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Be sure to review us on iTunes!

How to find inspiration, deliver value, and grow your engagement with the Pinch of Yum Team. ----- Welcome to episode 103 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Lindsay and Alana from Pinch of Yum about creating awesome recipe videos. Answering Questions about Recipe Videos Spend five minutes on Facebook or Instagram, and I bet you'll see at least one or two recipe videos in your feed. Recipe videos are the thing for food bloggers right now, and we always get questions from bloggers about how they can make viral food videos that will help deliver value, boost engagement, and grow followings on social media. That's exactly what Alana, Bjork, and Lindsay talk about today. Today we're sharing the Q&A session from our recent One-Day Recipe Video Bootcamp event. Alana, Bjork, and Lindsay answer some of your questions about gear, lighting, writing engaging captions, and their personal success with recipe videos in this Q&A. In this episode, Alana, Bjork, and Lindsay share: How video has changed Pinch of Yum's social media presence How to easily keep track of your Instagram statistics What kind of lenses and monitors you can use for food videos What kind of lighting you should use for food videos Why Lindsay doesn't include links to her recipes on her food videos on Instagram What Alana's two most important food video purchases are How the POY team decides on the recipes they turn into videos How Bjork makes his famous "Fresh Baked Cookies" ;) Resources: Get the Bootcamp Bundle! Nutrifox Edit Academy Pinch of Yum Social Blade Canon 28mm f/1.8 lens Canon 70–200mm f/2.8 lens smallHD 701 Lite Monitor VIVO Ultra HD Monitor Imorden 7" Articulating Hotshoe Mount Arm The Scran Line Bon Appetit Food and Wine Feed Feed Foodsteez Mic Shock Mount Mic Pop Filter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Be sure to review us on iTunes!

How to write with focus, read with purpose, and build your community with Gabriela Pereira. ----- Welcome to episode 102 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Gabriela Pereira about becoming a better writer and building a community around your writing. How to Write with Focus, Read with Purpose, and Build Your Community Gabriela got her MFA in 2010, and after she graduated, she realized that a lot of people don't actually need a formal education process in order to write. If you give yourself permission to own your creativity and writing, and if you learn a few key skills along the way, you can be a writer. She started DIY MFA to teach others how they can do exactly that. By focusing on the work at hand, Gabriela has been able to practice, evaluate, and fine-tune her craft and teach others how to do the same. Gabriela's strategies about finding the right writing system, tracking productivity, staying inspired, and understanding strengths and weaknesses all play into finding one's voice and writing style. In this episode, Gabriela shares: What an MFA is Why she considers herself an instigator How she calculates and tracks her productivity How to find a writing system that works for you How she stays inspired How she writes personal posts Why it's important to get input from the right people Why you should know your strengths and weaknesses Resources: 099: Sponsored Content and Getting Paid What Your Work is Worth with Danielle Liss DIY MFA DIY MFA Book The Writer Igniter Setting the Mood for an Optimal Writing Session Gabriela's personal post James Altucher DIY MFA Radio podcast Starter Kit If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

How to trust your gut, why you need to build your own path, and why you should pursue the work (not the end) with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 101 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks about the lessons he learned after five years of publishing Income Reports on Pinch of Yum. What I Learned After Five Years of Income Reports The Pinch of Yum Income Reports chronicle the experiment Bjork and Lindsay started as a way to find out if it was possible to create an income from a food blog. Spoiler alert: It is. After five years of publishing these income reports and sharing the process of turning Pinch of Yum into a business, Bjork has learned quite a few lessons. From learning to trust his gut to building their own path to learning how to learn, the 20 lessons Bjork discusses will help anyone in pursuit of starting their own business and becoming their own boss. In this episode, Bjork shares: How and why he started writing the Pinch of Yum Income Reports Why you need to listen to your gut How you can learn more information about your industry Why you should dedicate time to reflection Why working with the right people is important Why you need to build your own path Resources: Register for the One-Day Recipe Video Bootcamp! Pinch of Yum on Facebook and Instagram Pinch of Yum Income Reports Youth Frontiers This Week in Startups podcast The James Altucher Show Mixergy podcast Marketing School podcast MacBreak Weekly podcast How I Built This podcast This American Life The War of Art If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].