The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Welcome to episode 28 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! We are starting the new year off strong with a podcast all about optimizing your blog so that you can show up higher in search results. Last week on the podcast, Bjork interviewed Ali Maffucci from Inspiralized. They talked about how she built a really strong brand in a really specific niche, and how it worked out really well for her. She now even sells her own physical product! To go back and listen to that episode, click here. How to Boost Your Blog’s SEO SEO can sound like a really scary acronym - what does it even mean, and how can I make it work for me?! But fear not, because even though it can be pretty complex to master, it can also be pretty easy to get started with. Casey Markee from Media Wyse specializes in boosting SEO for food blogs. He kind of fell into this niche by accident, and by now has worked with 50+ bloggers to help them rank higher in search. In this interview, he and Bjork talk about some of the really quick and easy things you can do to improve your blog’s SEO, as well as some of the higher-level stuff that can give you an extra SEO boost. In this super informative interview, Casey shares: What SEO is and why it is so important for your food blog What the biggest component of ranking online is How backlinks affect your search rankings How you can go about link-building in an ethical, Google-approved way The one thing you should make sure you have set up for your blog in 2016 What structured data is and how it can indirectly help your organic traffic How Google uses authorship to gauge EAT - expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness Why you should be updating your popular posts yearly How site speed will affect your rankings now and in the future A few small, easy things you can do to boost your blog’s SEO Resources: Media Wyse Moz Search Ranking Factors Searchmetrics Ranking Factors Casey’s Slideshare Channel Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool Google Search Rater Quality Guidelines Redirection WordPress Plugin AMP Wordpress Plugin Tiny JPG EWWW Image Optimizer WordPress Plugin Yoast SEO for WordPress Course on Food blogger Pro EasyRecipe Course on Food blogger Pro 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!

Committing to a Niche and Building a Brand Welcome to episode 27 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This is the last episode of 2015 - crazy! This week on the podcast, Bjork is talking with Ali Maffucci from Inspiralized! When most bloggers start out, committing to a specific niche can seem scary - we don't want to turn anyone away from our new blog! However, finding a small niche that you are really passionate about can help propel your blog into success. Ali Maffucci has certainly found a small niche with Inspiralized. She posts recipes that all use a spiralizer, and she loves it! She's been featured in many magazines, has her own product to sell, and has really captured the love and attention of fellow spiralizers. In this inspiring interview, Ali shares: Why she decided to start a blog all about spiralizing How she got the Inspiralized name out there with "self PR" How she approached her brand even when it was just getting started Her advice for creating and selling a physical product How she stays organized and gets the most important things done Resources: Inspiralized 025: How to Connect with Influencers with John Corcoran from Smart Business Revolution Evernote 004: How Understanding Your Visitors Can Help You Create an Income with Dr. David Darmanin from Hotjar Hotjar course on FBP Canon 5D Mark III Adobe Creative Cloud Premiere Pro Inspiralized on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

How Pinterest Analytics can Boost your Blog Welcome to episode 26 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week marks the 6th month anniversary of the FBP podcast - so exciting! We’ve learned so much in the last 6 months, and we’ve really loved sharing it with all of you. Thank you thank you for being our loyal subscriber! This week on the podcast, Bjork is talking with Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media about Pinterest! For most bloggers (myself included), Pinterest Analytics are really just used as a comparison tool - how the blog did this week versus last week. However, Kate from Simple Pin Media specializes in digging deep into Pinterest Analytics to really see what works - and then she coaches her clients on how to use that information to grow their blogs. In this insightful interview, Kate shares: What Pinterest is and how it is used How Pinterest out-performs other social media channels like Facebook and Twitter How to get your pins to show up higher in search What the difference is between a user account and a business account on Pinterest How you should be using Pinterest analytics How to use “content upgrades” to increase opt-ins on your site using information from Pinterest The first thing Kate and her team do for a new client’s Pinterest profile How to keep tabs on what’s trending on Pinterest How to find the boards that perform well for you Resources: Simple Pin Media Episode 19 - Susan Wenner Jackson YesWare TextExpander business.pinterest.com Pinterest course on FBP LeadPages GetResponse Active Campaign Mailchimp Aweber Mad Mimi Pinterest Email Settings (log in to Pinterest first) 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 Connect with Influencers Welcome to episode 25 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week, Bjork talks with John Cocoran from Smart Business Revolution about connecting with influencers. Growing your blog can be tough - aside from all the cooking, photographing, and writing, you also have to figure out how to get your name out there. John Cocoran argues that connecting with influencers and growing your relationships with them can be one of the best ways to get your name out there. So how do you do it? Listen in as John shares his personal experiences with networking, his best tips to meet influencers, and why you should rank peoples' importance from a business standpoint. In this grounding interview, John shares: What an influencer is and why they are important to your business How providing content for others helped him grow his business Why you should give more than you get to grow relationships How to identify the people you should be getting in contact with Why you should be using lists in Twitter to keep track of your How you can use interviews to get to know people How to connect with people at conferences Resources: Smart Business Revolution How to create a list in Twitter smartbusinessrevolution.com/quick-introductions Contactually foodbloggerpro.com/one 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 Balance in Blogging I am SO excited about this week's episode because it goes over some really important things that I think all bloggers need to hear. This week, Bjork talked with Ali Ebright from Gimme Some Oven about finding balance in the busy world of blogging. We all know what it feels like to feel totally overwhelmed about all the things we "need" to do - and excel at - as bloggers. First it's cooking, then web administration, and photography, then social media, Twitter parties, monetization, writing... and the list goes on! But in today's episode, Ali shares her best advice for bloggers - and it includes slowing down and taking some time for yourself. In this grounding interview, Ali shares: How she stumbled upon the idea for a blog & got started What motivated her to keep blogging when she didn't even know she could make money with a blog Her tips for white photography When she quit her job to be a blogger full-time, and how long she thinks she'll be doing it What she does to continue to grow her blog every day How she uses the Google Keyword Planner to get post ideas Why she surveys her readers every year Her best advice for new and experienced bloggers Listen to the Food Blogger Pro Podcast below or check it out on iTunes: [[podcast episode embedded here]] Resources: Gimme Some Oven Episode 016: How Elise Bauer Built Simply Recipes and Recovered from a 70% Drop in Traffic White Balance Eyedropper Tutorial Google Keyword Tool (note - this link will only work if you have an AdWords account set up) Gimme Some Oven on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram Ira Glass quote on creative work foodbloggerpro.com/one 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!

Building a Team for Your Online Business Welcome to the 23rd episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! These numbers are getting pretty big... in just 3 more episodes that means we'll have been making podcast episodes for half a year! So crazy. On to the episode! This week, Bjork had a conversation with Melissa Lanz, the CEO and founder of The Fresh 20, a meal planning service. They talk a little bit about what her business does, and a LOT about how her business does it. Melissa Lanz wasn't always an entrepreneur. In fact, she started out as a "miserable, but comfortable" corporate worker making well over $100k per year. So she started her own business - and it grew to the point that she simply couldn't do it all on her own. So, she hired some help. And in the years since, she's become a master at hiring, firing, running her online business, and helping others do the same. In this awesome interview, Melissa shares: What her husband said that helped her change her direction in life to pursue her own business How she afforded to quit her job and pursue her own business full time Where she found the time to start her new venture How she perfected her product using friends' feedback When she realized she needed to hire someone, and where she found help How systematizing the team's work allowed the Lanz family to take a 5 week vacation last year How giving team members authority made sure all bases were covered How to determine whether your hires should be employees or contract labor Resources: The Fresh 20 Zendesk Jing Screen Capture Tool BaseCamp Infusionsoft Melissa Lanz & Co [email protected] foodbloggerpro.com/one 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!

Sponsored Content from a Brand's Perspective Hello hello! We're back at it this week on the FBP Podcast and we're talking with Zach Tackett from DeLallo about sponsored content from the brand's perspective. It's the ultimate food blogger goal - to get paid to use a brand's product in a recipe you post on your website. What could be cooler?! The tough part can be actually finding the brands that you want to work with - and who want to work with you, too. Fortunately, Zach Tackett from DeLallo Foods met up with Bjork and Lindsay to talk about exactly what brands are looking for in bloggers, what the process looks like, and what to expect. In this really insightful interview, Zach shares: Where the DeLallo company got its roots What DeLallo advertising looked like back in the early days, and how they tackle it now What the DeLallo brand looks for in food bloggers for sponsored content Whether you have to work with an agency to get sponsored content What the actual process looks like for sponsored content Why DeLallo works with "brand ambassadors" instead of paying bloggers for one-off posts How to make your sponsored posts sound authentic How to get brands' attention Resources: DeLallo.com @DeLalloFoods on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk Poetry Magazine Poetry Foundation Poets.org Our Andromeda by Brenda Shaughnessy

How to Manage Your Schedule So You Can Live Free Welcome to another week of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This episode, Bjork and Lindsay talk with Amy Lynn Andrews about time management. If I were to guess, I would say that the most common question we get from our members is, "How do I manage my time when there are so many things to do?!?" And yes, it usually comes with two question marks and at least one exclamation point - this question is usually posed by those feeling overwhelmed and at a point of desperation. Finding the time to do all of the things you want to do can be really tough, especially when everybody and their mother is telling you about the next coolest thing you just HAVE to do to make your blog readership grow. Fortunately, Amy Lynn Andrews has been doing this blogging stuff for quite a while now, and she has some great tips to share with all of us who are struggling to prioritize and fit it all in. In this really helpful interview, Amy Lynn shares: Her "getting started" tips for blogging as a business How she sets a purpose, plan, place, and plot for her business and her life How she uses her quadrant method to prioritize activities How to clarify what your most important goal is and use that to set priorities How to be flexible with your time management Resources: amylynnandrews.com The Useletter 11 Things to Do Before Making Money Online

How to Secure your Food Blog Welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro podcast! In this episode, Bjork talks with Andrew Wilder from Blog Tutor about blog security. When you're starting and maintaining your food blog, there are so many things to do. From getting your website designed just right to making that batch of double chocolate cookies 5 times to make it perfect, a food blogger pretty much always has a full plate (har har). So when someone tells you that you should take some of your precious, precious time and use it to create strong passwords and back up your blog, I'll admit that I'm not the first person to jump up and down in excitement. However, these things are so, so important. It only takes one small event - which are often caused by factors out of your control - to bring your blog down. And if you don't have it all backed up, you could lose all of your hard work just like that. Andrew Wilder specializes in blog security, and today he's here to tell us what we need to do to make sure our blogs are safe from both intentional and unintentional harm. In this really important interview, Andrew shares: How he transitioned from being a studio lighting designer to a food blog security master The two most important things you can do for your blog's security How databases work and why you need to back them up What tools he recommends for your website backups Whether or not you should use your hosting company's backups Why you should use a password manager Why you should update your WordPress software and plugins What two-factor authentication is and why you should be using it How he helps webmasters keep their websites live and secure all the time Resources: Eating Rules Blog Tutor VaultPress UpDraft Plus BackUp Buddy CodeGaurd 1Password KeePass LastPass WordFence iThemes Security Login Security Solution Google Authenticator for iPhone and Android Duo Security Deals & Discounts page on FBP Remember, we are closing the doors on FBP memberships on November 19! Sign up now to get access! 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 Master Pinterest for your Food Blog Welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week, Bjork interviews Susan from Ahalogy, a Pinterest marketing Partner. As food bloggers, we've all heard it: Pinterest can, and should, be a major driving force for your blog. Get Pinterest figured out and you'll be set with all the traffic your little blogging heart desires. Unfortunately, mastering Pinterest isn't that easy. Deciding what size images to use, whether or not you should make a compilation of images, and if you should be adding text are all tough questions. Thankfully, Susan Wenner Jackson from Ahalogy, a Pinterest Marketing Partner, is here to help us out! In this insightful interview, Susan shares: How she would describe Pinterest from a user's perspective Why you should start with your existing personal account Why you should think of Pinterest as a search engine Whether or not you should be deleting old pins Why you should enable rich pins for your domain How you should be writing your pin descriptions If food bloggers should be using promoted pins How Ahalogy works with bloggers and brands Resources: foodbloggerpro.com/focus Ahalogy SusanWennerJackson.com @SusanWJackson Working Moms Against Guilt Trend Report for Ingredients

Welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week, Bjork interviews the cofounder of Simple Green Smoothies, Jadah Sellner, about building a successful online business without blogging. Wait a minute here. We're Food Blogger Pro. What is this "business without blogging" stuff all about? Well, our main goal here at FBP is to help people create a business at the intersection of food and the web. While blogging is a common, even well-defined, path to that, we also realize it's possible to build a business doing less blogging and more of everything else. Take, for example, Jadah Sellner and Jen Hansard, the cofounders of Simple Green Smoothies. They tried blogging at first, but found success when the started to focus on one specific idea and sharing that idea freely on Instagram. They now run a successful business (with a website and an occasionally-updated blog) and have a massive tribe of followers who love their microblogged content on social media. In this truly awesome interview, Jadah shares: How Simple Green Smoothies came to be The first failed business attempts that led to Simple Green Smoothies Why inner confidence is so important when you're building your business The resources that inspired Jadah when she had yet to find success Why you should tease your products before the launch How to find the products that will be successful Why you shouldn't take people out of their dance club (say whaat?!) How many people you should be talking to in your blog posts Why you need to be flexible as an entrepreneur

How to Connect with Brands and Find Sponsored Content We are back with another episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week, Bjork interviews the COO of Sway Group, Francesca Banducci, about sponsored content. In today's changing ad landscape (you know, with mobile ad blockers and such), finding alternate ways to monetize your food blog is becoming more and more important. Sponsored content is a really great way to do this. Francesca Banducci is the COO of Sway Group, a rapidly growing company that helps connect bloggers with the brands they want to talk about. In this really insightful interview, Francesca shares: What sponsored content is and why it is becoming so important The different types of ways bloggers can work with brands How even small blogs can be valuable to brands How to open up a conversation with a brand without even contacting them The mistakes bloggers should avoid when trying to find sponsored opportunities What beginner, intermediate, and advanced bloggers should focus on in regards to sponsored content If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Welcome back, friends! On this episode of the Food Blogger Pro Podcast, Bjork interviews the maker of one of the most popular food blogs in the world - Elise Bauer from Simply Recipes. There are people who have been blogging for a long time. And then there are people who have been blogging since before blogging was a thing. Elise is one of those people, and you could definitely say she was at the forefront of the food blogging tidal wave. Today, she runs one of the most popular food blogs in the world, and is here to tell us about the journey - which has definitely included its fair share of ups and downs. In this candid interview, Elise shares: How she started her blog and got her domain name The decisions she made when getting started to promote her success Why she buys good photography equipment What Panda updates are and how Google now looks at new content How search engine algorithm updates can affect your blog How she recovered from a major traffic dropoff How she uses Pin scheduling to keep bringing in traffic for popular recipes What keeps her motivated even after blogging for over 13 years

Welcome back, friends! This week, Bjork interviews Diane Jacob, the author behind the book and blog Will Write for Food. If ever there was a mentor you wished you had when it came to writing, Dianne Jacob is that person. And the awesome thing is that she has made it her job to help people like you and me write about food better. From helping new bloggers find their voice to assisting seasoned ones with a cookbook proposal, Dianne has done it all. We were so excited to talk to Dianne about writing for this episode, and we definitely weren't disappointed. In this awesome episode, Dianne tells: The difference between self-publishing and working with a publisher What it means to get an advance & royalties What it takes to write a great book proposal When a recipe can be considered your own Why your voice is so important How to get over "writer's block" and get the writing done How to manage your internal critic Resources: Will Write for Food Will Write for Food book Facebook Twitter Contact Dianne If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Hello hello! Another week, another episode. #stoked! This week, Bjork interviews husband and wife team Jamie and Saukok Tieampo from New York's SeeFood Media. Jamie and Saukok didn't always work in the food industry, but they've made quite the splash since they've arrived. SeeFood Media has become the go-to food video production studio in New York and beyond - they've filmed personalities from Bobby Flay to Kelly Senyei. Through their work in the food video industry, Jamie and Saukok have really boiled it down to what makes a great cooking video - and they're here to share their secrets with you! In this awesome episode, Jamie & Saukok reveal: How they found their way into the visual food industry Why they didn't open a restaurant instead Why video is taking over the internet The big secret to making great videos All their knowledge about lighting videos (these work for photos, too!) The equipment they would recommend to those new to video Resources: See Food Media Phantom Camera C300 camera Zoom recorders If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Hi friends! We are back with another week of the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork is talking with city girl turned country blogger Molly Yeh from My Name is Yeh. So what do you do when you live on a farm in North Dakota and your husband spends all day out in the fields? You make cakes. And macaroni. And everything else delicious on the planet. Such is the life of blogger Molly Yeh. While her husband works the fields of North Dakota, Molly brings us beautiful, delicious recipes from her kitchen, as well as stories from life on the farm. Her unique angle makes for quite the intriguing blog experience, and has helper he become the blogging powerhouse she is today. In this awesome episode, Molly shares: What it's like to be a food blogger living in the middle of nowhere What it means to be the most extreme version of yourself How journaling led her to start a blog How she balances posting food and lifestyle posts on the same blog Her tips for photography and photo editing How she deals with trolls (it has to do with butts!) How interacting with the blog community has helped her find success Resources: My Name is Yeh VSCO Amelia's notebooks Adobe Lightroom Molly's Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Solopreneur Food Blogging Hello, and welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork is talking with veteran blogger, cookbook author, and YouTuber Kelly Senyei from Just a Taste. When I think of Kelly Senyei, I wonder how in the world one person has done everything she's accomplished. From her degrees in Journalism and culinary school, to working at Food Network, to writing the book on food blogging (literally), Kelly seems to have done it all. Amazingly, she's done all of this on her own, including the monetization, social media, and content management. In this inspiring episode, Kelly reveals: Why she thinks consistency is so important The steps she went through to make sure she could be an authority in her market How she applied her various degrees to food blogging Why she went to culinary school and how it has helped her career How she found jobs in the food industry and how those experiences helped her build a successful blog Her favorite restaurants in CA and NY What the most difficult things were for her when deciding to pursue Just a Taste full-time Where her revenue comes from Why she takes the time and effort to make cooking videos The advice she would have given herself when she was just starting out Resources: Just a Taste Food Blogging for Dummies Playground, Santa Ana, CA Tamarind, New York General Assembly Accounting for Dummies Mailchimp Facebook Pinterest Instagram foodbloggerpro.com/episode12 foodbloggerpro.com/kelly

Making the Leap to Full-Time Blogging Another week, another episode! We hope you've been enjoying the FBP podcast so far. We've sure had fun making it! Today's episode features Beth Moncel from the awesome food blog Budget Bytes. So many of us hope and dream that one day we could make blogging our full-time job. Well, Beth was once one of us, but now she's actually living the dream! However, this didn't just magically happen. Instead, Beth did a slow transition from corporate to self-employed, and it made the switch a little less stressful. In this inspiring episode, Beth reveals: What it was like transitioning from her day job to working for herself How she got started on her blog Why she switched from Blogger to Wordpress and how it affected her blog How she managed her time while working full time and running her blog simultaneously How social media has contributed to her success Her top 5 tools she couldn't live without The one thing she wishes she did sooner How she is planning on getting into video Resources: Budget Bytes Blogger platform Wordpress.org Yoast SEO plugin Adobe Creative Cloud Google Analytics PicMonkey Budget Bytes Twitter Budget Bytes Pinterest Budget Bytes Facebook Budget Bytes Instagram foodbloggerpro.com/beth

Working with Brands on YouTube Welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro podcast! Today's episode features Beth Le Manach from the YouTube cooking channel Entertaining with Beth. We had our first YouTube-centric interview a few weeks ago with Chris and Hilah of Hilah Cooking. While that interview covered more of the actual video topics, today's talk with Beth Le Manach gets into the other stuff - how to work with brands, what multi-channel networks are, and finding your "value" on YouTube. This episode is sucha a great listen for those interested in YouTube, but might be a little bogged down in the details. Beth helps clear the murky water that is YouTube and gives some great advice for those looking to jump in. In this info-packed episode, Beth reveals: How to choose a multi-channel network How multi-channel networks are turning into multi-platform networks What metrics are important to pay attention to on YouTube How long your videos should be Where to find your "value" Why YouTube is such a personal platform How she deals with negative comments What it takes to shoot her videos Her advice for those who want to jump into video Resources: Entertaining with Beth In Beth's Garden Kin Community Channel The Oatmeal comic on content creation Final Cut Pro X Byron Talbott YouTube Channel Rachel Talbott YouTube Channel Hot for Food YouTube Channel Domestic Geek YouTube Channel VidCon

For today's episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, Bjork interviews Jaden and Scott Hair from the inspiring food blog Steamy Kitchen. Food blogging starts out as a hobby for most, but after all the learning, hard work, and pride in what they've built, many people decide they want to turn their hobby into their business. But, that road can seem like a rough ride if you don't know what to expect. Fortunately, Jaden and Scott Hair, the makers of Steamy Kitchen, Food Blog Forum, and Kitchen Table Mastery, are here to tell us a little bit more about it. In this fun episode, Jaden & Scott reveal: The two traits they see in all successful bloggers The secret to doing the difficult things Their biggest secret to creating an income from a food blog (it has to do with Robots) How to find out what people need Why they think building an email list is the most important thing you can do Why diversification was the key to Steamy Kitchen's success Who is on their imaginary board of directors - and why they're there How to determine your "worth" Listen to the Food Blogger Pro Podcast below or check it out on iTunes: Resources: Steamy Kitchen Kitchen Table Mastery Food Blog Forum Fit Radio App Focus at Will App Mad Mimi Infusion Soft If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

Simplifying Ad Optimization with Andy Marzka from AdThrive For today's episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, Bjork talks with Andy Marzka, founder and CEO of ad optimization service AdThrive. Ad optimization is one of those things that totally clicks for some people and totally doesn't click for others. And even for the people it "clicks" for, it can be a confusing, befuddling, and frustrating process to get it all figured out. Fortunately, Andy Marzka agreed to help us understand it all a little better. Andy is the founder and CEO of AdThrive, an ad optimization service that helps you make the most money possible with your ads. In this eye-opening episode, Andy reveals: What DFP is and why AdThrive uses it How passbacks work and why they are important The number of ads you should have and how to place them How the ad industry is changing - and what it means for you Why ad impressions don't always add up to equal the number of pageviews What cookies are and how they work When you should start using ads as a new blogger When you should think about getting an ad manager His advice for making money in blogging The importance of mobile and what it means for your ads Resources: AdThrive.com Doubleclick for Publishers (DFP) Google Adsense

For this episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, Bjork and Lindsay team up to talk with Ashley and Gabe Rodriguez from the blog Not Without Salt. On the last episode of the FBP podcast, Bjork interviewed Hilah Johnson and Chris Sharpe from the YouTube cooking channel Hilah Cooking. We got a real-life look into what it takes to run a successful cooking channel and the work it took to get there. If you didn't get a chance to listen to that episode (or if you want to hear it again!), click here. The Art of Photography with Ashley and Gabe from Not Without Salt Not Without Salt was the winner of the 2013 Saveur Best Cooking Blog award. That's a big deal. But this award wasn't just handed over to Ashley and Gabe - no, it was won after years and years of dedication and hard work. Photography and art are two really important things to both Ashley and Gabe - Ashley went to school to be a high school art teacher, and Gabe shoots weddings for a living. However, it's at the intersection of photography and art where the blog Not Without Salt really shines. {image2} In this 64-minute episode, Ashley and Gabe reveal: How they work together as a team to get work done and still enjoy their lives How Not Without Salt got started Where Ashley finds motivation to keep it up after all these years Why Gabe started taking the photos - and how Ashley took over and learned the trade Their individual pieces of advice for how to get better at photography Why experiencing The Resistance means you're doing something right The tools they use during and after shooting The advice they would give themselves back when they got started Resources: Not Without Salt 2013 Saveur Cooking Blog of the Year foodbloggerpro.com/episode7 Date Night In Cookie Mix The War of Art Bird By Bird by Ann LaMott Canon 5D Mark II Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens VSCO Filters Lens Extension tubes foodbloggerpro.com/notwithoutsalt If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

For this episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, we're taking with Hilah Johnson and Chris Sharpe from the YouTube channel and food blog Hilah Cooking. On the last episode of the FBP podcast, Bjork talked with Jason Leake from 100 Days of Real Food. Jason gave us a really great look into what it takes to run a food blog behind the scenes. If you missed that episode, check it out here. Hilah Johnson & Chris Sharpe: Broke filmmakers turned YouTube cooking channel stars Hilah and Chris did not get started in video with their cooking channel. It all started, in fact, with a "post-apocalyptic horror comedy" film they did together - which ultimately took a dive and failed. But just a few years later, Chris and Hilah are a very successful and popular team in the Youtube video industry. They joined Bjork on the Food Blogger Pro podcast to talk all about their journey to YouTube success. In this 66-minute episode, Hilah and Chris reveal: How they got started in video Why you should read the comments on your videos and blog posts Which followers are your most important, and how to foster your relationship with them The equipment they used to take their video game up a notch How to get used to being "on camera" The nitty gritty of shooting a recipe video Their advice for those getting started with online video content This interview gives some great insight into what it takes to run a YouTube cooking channel, and is a great resource for those thinking of starting to incorporate videos into their food blogs. Resources: Hilah Cooking Night of the Comet film Jerry! web show Information on Google Panda YouTube Multi-Channel Networks ScreenFlow FinalCut Pro Adobe Premiere Canon T5i, Canon T3i, Canon C100 Evolution G3 Microphone The YouTube Black Book, by Chris Sharpe foodbloggerpro.com/hilah If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

For this episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, we're taking with Jason Leake from 100 Days of Real Food. Jason Leake: The business of food blogging For those outside the food blog world, blogging seems pretty simple - just make some food, take a few pictures, and put it up on the internet. For those of us inside the food blog world, the last sentence really just made you laugh. Well, Jason Leake is right there with you. Jason went from supportive-but-not-interested husband to full-time behind the scenes blog manager in less than 2 years. He takes care of almost everything that goes on at 100 Days of Real Food that doesn't involve cooking, photographing or writing posts. What that means is that Jason knows a LOT about what it takes to make a food blog run beyond the cooking & photographing part - and this is where most of us get stuck. This interview is definitely not one to miss. {image2} In this 64-minute episode, Jason reveals: How 100 Days of Real Food got started, and how Jason felt about being involved The techniques Lisa used to bring attention to her blog What it means for your blog to publish a hard-copy book How Jason handles doing "the books" The resources Jason uses for managing 100 Days of Real Food on a day-to-day basis This interview gives a real-life look into what it takes to run a food blog behind the scenes. Jason has a lot of information to share that can help bloggers like you and me up our blogging game. Resources: 100daysofrealfood.com problogschool.com Smart Passive Income Blog & Podcast Amazon Affiliate Program Xero Accounting Software Trello.com The E Myth Jing Videos Food Blog University Conference ShiftCon Conference foodbloggerpro.com/jason 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!

Today on the Food Blogger Pro podcast, we're turning up the heat (pun intended) as we talk about some tech-geek stuff with Dr. David Darmanin from HotJar. For this episode, Bjork interviews the founder and CEO of HotJar, a revolutionary startup whose goal is to provide highly important website visitor information to web administrators (people like you and me). And the best part? It's free. Dr. David Darmanin: How Understanding Your Visitors Can Help You Build Traffic and Create an Income If you haven't implemented HotJar on your site yet, you most likely just haven't heard of it yet. What Google Analytics can't do for you (or does with way too many details), HotJar makes as simple and beautiful as you can imagine. Dr. David Darmanin, the founder and CEO of HotJar, worked for years as a professional conversion expert and as a user experience (UX) designer for websites. When you put those two skills together, you get a tool that is so easy to use your grandmother could do it, and that is so good at converting your visitors into customers or subscribers that you'll wonder how you ever survived without it. In this 57-minute episode, David reveals: The power of HotJar and what it can do for your website How understanding your visitors can get you more traffic and create more income from your blog What heat maps are and what you can learn from them (you'll be amazed!) How funneling information can tell you where your visitors are dropping off before they convert What a feedback loop is and how you can use it to increase your conversion What a net promoter score is and what it means for your blog This interview has so much important information that you'll probably want to listen to it twice. The knowledge that Dr. David shares will definitely impact how you look at your website's analytics. Resources: HotJar.com Hot Jar Action Plan foodbloggerpro.com/david 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!

Welcome back to the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! For this episode, Bjork had the pleasure of talking with Sally McKenney, founder and creator of Sally's Baking Addiction. Sally McKenney on creating success, ignoring the competition, and writing cookbooks. 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 two cookbooks, Sally's Baking Addiction and the soon-to-come Sally's Candy Addiction. In this 41-minute episode, Sally reveals: 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 This interview was such a great peek into the behind-the-scenes work that went into - and still goes into - the Sally's Baking Addiction blog. We loved learning from Sally and know you're going to love what she had to say. Resources: Sally's Baking Addiction Sally's Baking Addiction Cookbook Sally's Candy Addiction Cookbook foodbloggerpro.com/sally If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected].

In the second episode of the Food Blogger Pro podcast, the tables are turned while Lindsay interviews Bjork about how Food Blogger Pro got started and his tips for success. Bjork Ostrom: Non-profit opportunity seeker turned invaluable food blog resource & entrepreneur If you thought you knew Bjork, you didn't know him this well. Lindsay asks the personal questions that only a wife can get away with - like what pills he takes in the morning and can he please parse those two paragraphs down into one sentence? This fun interview helps us get to know the main guy behind Food Blogger Pro (and this podcast!) just a little bit better. In this 58-minute episode, Bjrok reveals: What his day looked like 5 years ago, and how it contrasts with today How he uses books to propel him forward in his career and personal life How Food Blogger Pro got started - and what he would change if he were to do it again His one tip for multiplying success How to outsource work so you can do more of what you enjoy Resources: 5 Minute Journal Exponential Organizations, Salim Ismail Things App The Mixergy podcast The War of Art, Steven Pressfield Smart Passive Income Bjork's Twitter [email protected] If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email us at [email protected].

In the first podcast episode, Bjork interviews Lindsay about her food blog, Pinch of Yum, and digs deep into the motivation behind POY and how Lindsay built her blog. Lindsay Ostrom: Former 4th grade teacher turned successful food blogger, dog mom, and inspirational figure. We all know Lindsay. She's a big part of the reason we are all here right now. But how well do we really know her? How did Pinch of Yum get started? Was it's Bjork's idea in the first place? How in the world did she take her baby food blog that started on Tumbler to the beautiful & inspiring food resource that it is today? In this 58-minute episode, Lindsay tells Bjork: Just how Pinch of Yum came to be What her weekly schedule looks like The longest amount of time she went without posting Why she has been able to keep it up for over 5 years Why Technical skills aren't needed to start a food blog The reason she keeps her blog within the personal sphere And where you can get more info on the infamous and entirely adorable Sage (and what her nickname is) Resources: Pinch of Yum Pinch of Yum VIP Facebook Group Lindsay's Instagram Lindsay's Twitter If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email us at [email protected]. Be sure to review us on iTunes! [[link to iTunes review]]

We are so excited to give you the very first episodes of the Food Blogger Pro Podcast. Buckle your seatbelts, because we've got a lot of awesome information here for you to listen to. First, we've got an introductory episode for you, called Episode 000: Our Beliefs, Our Hopes, and Our Dreams. In this short blurb, Bjork talks just a bit about why he is here doing this podcast, what it means for him, and what you can expect from the FBP podcast.