The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Balancing business strategy with your passion, storytelling on social media, and listening to your audience with Kimberly Espinel, author of How To Make Your Food Famous. ----- Welcome to episode 493 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kimberly Espinel, food photographer and author of How To Make Your Food Famous. Creating Viral Food Content on Social Media We are excited to welcome Kimberly back to the podcast to discuss her new book, How To Make Your Food Famous, and her strategies for building a successful career as a food creator, especially in today's ever-evolving social media landscape. Kimberly discusses how she made the leap from her job as a social worker specializing in adoption to working for herself as a freelance food photographer, starting with brand partnerships and scaling her business along the way. She emphasizes the importance of listening to your audience — paying attention to what resonates with them and shaping your offerings around their needs — and shares her formula for creating viral food content. Episode takeaways: How to balance business strategy while staying true to your passion —Kimberly reflects on how she navigates changes in Instagram's algorithm and features, focusing on what makes her happiest—whether that's photography or video — while still seeing growth on her account. Kimberly's secret formula for creating viral food content — She explains why her strategies are more timeless than they may seem, stressing the power of consistency in content creation. Kimberly also shares the commonalities she has observed among creators who were able to grow their accounts on social media. The common traits among successful creators on social media — Authenticity, vulnerability, personality, and storytelling are all essential for those looking to grow their platforms in the next decade. If you can master one platform, nail your messaging, and build a community, the skills you build will carry you through to the next phase of your business. Resources: The Little Plantation 314: Creative Food Photography – How Kimberly Espinel Teaches and Inspires Food Photographers How To Make Your Food Famous: A Masterclass in Sharing Your Food Online Korean Vegan Eat Capture Share Podcast Follow Kimberly on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Yoast. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The staying power of SEO, experimenting with different SEO tactics, and how to create content that resonates with your audience. ----- Welcome to episode 492 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Stephan Spencer. The Art of SEO with Stephan Spencer In this episode, Stephan Spencer, author of The Art of SEO, breaks down why SEO is still as important as ever, even with AI changing the search landscape. While AI may shift how we search, SEO remains the backbone of the internet. Stephan encourages listeners to stay focused on their SEO goals, keep investing in strategies that work, and adapt to the evolving world of search. You'll also hear Stephan talk about the power of experimentation. Don't be afraid to tweak things like title tags and test different tactics—whether it's a boost or a drop, tracking results is key and tools like Google Search Console, SEMRush, and Ahrefs can help you monitor performance and refine your strategy. Lastly, you'll learn about the importance of creating content that resonates with your audience—Google rewards authentic, helpful content, so the more personal and valuable your content is, the better it'll perform in search. Three episode takeaways: SEO Still Reigns Supreme: Despite the rise of AI, SEO isn't going anywhere. AI may change how we search, but SEO has been the backbone of the internet for decades. Keep investing in it, stay focused on your goals, and create your own reality in the world of search. Experiment and Track Results: Don't be afraid to experiment with SEO tactics (like changing title tags). You may see a boost—or a drop—but you can always course-correct. Stephan also talks about how you can use tools like Google Search Console, Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMRush to track your results and optimize your strategy. Create Content That Connects: Focus on crafting comprehensive content that meets your audience's needs and expectations. Personal stories and experiences matter, too! Google's E-E-A-T metric rewards real, human experiences, so the more authentic and valuable your content, the better it'll perform. Resources: Stephan's website Stephan's podcast: Marketing Speak Episode 465 of the Marketing Speak podcast: Monetize Your Content with Bjork Ostrom Get Yourself Optimized (Stephan's new site!) The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization by Stephan Spencer The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Stephen Pressfield Claude Ahrefs SEM Rush Moz SEO Testing SearchPilot HeyGen Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable All Day I Dream About Food The Coffee Chronicler: Ultimate Guide to Aeropress Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Mastering recipe development in a competitive market and adapting to AI as a food creator with Raeanne Sarazen, author of The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis, and Food Styling. ----- Welcome to episode 491 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Raeanne Sarazen. Writing Standout Recipes and Navigating AI as a Food Creator Raeanne Sarzen wrote the book on recipes… literally. In 2023, Raeanne published The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis, and Food Styling. How did she get to be the expert in recipe writing? Raeanne is a Registered Dietitian and a classically trained chef who has worked in hospitals as a clinical dietitian, restaurant kitchens, in food publishing as a writer, editor, and test kitchen professional), and as a culinary nutrition consultant. So yes, she knows a thing or two about developing, writing, testing, and perfecting recipes! In this interview, Bjork and Raeanna discuss the recipe development process, how food publishing has changed over the years, what it takes to write a great recipe, and how food creators can stand out online, especially in a world with AI. Three episode takeaways: What makes a really good recipe?: Raeanne argues that the quality of the recipe differentiates really successful food creators from the rest of the pack. In this interview, she walks listeners through the recipe development process, shares her tips for writing a user-friendly recipe, and discusses the importance of recipe testing. How to adapt to AI as a food creator: Raeanne shares her thoughts on artificially generated recipes – in short, they're not tested, devoid of personality, and written without personality or critical thinking. Bjork and Raeanne also discuss how you can use AI when developing recipes and writing content. How to differentiate yourself as a recipe developer: Let's face it — food blogging is a competitive space. But Raeanne believes that if you create accurate, concise, easy-to-follow recipes that solve the problems of your readers and infuse your content with your distinct voice, you can still build a successful career as a food creator. Resources: Raeannesarazen.com The Complete Recipe Writing Guide A Couple Cooks Budget Bytes Follow Raeanne on LinkedIn and Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Cultivating and nurturing relationships, the power of reciprocity, and the role relationships play in growing your business. ----- Welcome to episode 490 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mo Bunnell from Bunnell Idea Group about his new book, Give to Grow. Give to Grow with Mo Bunnell In this week's episode, we're excited to share Mo's incredible journey from the world of actuaries to the vibrant realm of entrepreneurship. Mo dives deep into how he transitioned from crunching numbers to building a thriving business, discovering that the real magic lies in forging genuine connections. He emphasizes that generosity and relationship-building are key ingredients for success, and you'll definitely want to hear his insights! Mo also explores the power of reciprocity in fostering meaningful relationships. He shares practical tips on making clear, trustworthy offers that can open doors to high-value connections, even if you're starting from scratch. Whether you have a long list of contacts or are just beginning, Mo's advice on tracking opportunities and nurturing relationships will inspire you to take proactive steps toward collaboration and growth. Don't miss this chance to learn how to elevate your networking game! Three episode takeaways: From Actuary to Entrepreneur: Mo shares his journey from crunching numbers as an actuary to diving headfirst into entrepreneurship. Along the way, he discovered the magic of relationship-building, emphasizing how generosity and genuine connections can lead to success. The Power of Reciprocity: You'll learn how Mo taps into the science of reciprocity to foster meaningful relationships. He stresses the importance of making clear, trustworthy offers to brands and prioritizing high-value connections that can drive your business forward. Cultivating Relationships: Discover Mo's practical tips for nurturing connections and generating leads—even if you start with no contacts! He encourages listeners to keep track of opportunities and relationships, showing that proactive engagement can exponentially grow trust and collaboration over time. Resources: Bunnell Idea Group Give to Grow (Mo's newest book!) James Clear's paper clip strategy Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Mastering product development and sales, prioritizing problem-solving for your audience, and overcoming perfectionism with Jillian Leslie from MiloTree. ----- Welcome to episode 489 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jillian Leslie from The Blogger Genius Podcast and MiloTree. Evolving Your Brand: When and How to Sell Products as a Food Creator In this week's podcast episode, Jillian Leslie explains everything you need to know about selling a product as a food creator. Bjork and Jillian discuss the strategy behind developing a product and the importance of leaning into problem-solving for your audience. Jillian also walks listeners through how to get started selling products, how to scale products and generate recurring revenue, and how to overcome perfectionism within your business. Three episode takeaways: Prioritize problem-solving for your audience — As recipe developers, we're always looking to solve problems for our readers. Whether you're developing quick and easy recipes for busy families or vegan recipes for readers hoping to make a lifestyle change, problem-solving is at the center of what we do. Jillian makes the point that the same mentality should apply to developing products to sell and that the more you can market a product as a solution, the more success you'll have. The importance of testing and iteration — Research, testing, and iteration are essential to growing any business, including developing and selling products. Jillian also explains her theory that creators should start by producing B- work and then refine their product from that point. In this interview, she goes into detail about this theory and talks more about how to prevent perfectionism from holding you back. When to transition into paid content—Many content creators struggle with transitioning from providing free content to putting some content behind a paywall. Bjork and Jillian discuss more about overcoming this barrier and how to know when the time is right for you to create your first product (and how to scale your products). Resources: The Blogger Genius Podcast MiloTree 095: How Embracing the Mess Propelled a Career with Jillian Tohber Leslie from MiloTree Clariti Catch My Party TJ Therrien Rainbow Plant Life 452: YouTube, Meal Plans, and Business Growth with Nisha Vora The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles Rhodium Network Nixta Follow Jillian on Instagram Email Jillian Book a free call with Jillian Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Prioritizing your blog, freeing yourself from metrics, and building a digital cookbook with Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude. ----- Welcome to episode 488 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude. Differentiating Your Content in a Crowded Market with Brian Watson In this week's episode, Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude shares his inspiring journey from posting on Instagram to building a successful blog on WordPress. He'll reveal his secrets to standing out in a crowded digital landscape — including tips on simplifying your content creation process, focusing on versatile recipes, and the power of blogging and why it remains a vital tool for content creators. Plus, he'll debunk the myth of chasing numbers and encourage you to be gentle to yourself to prioritize your mental well-being. Whether you're a seasoned blogger or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you grow your audience and build a sustainable online business! Three episode takeaways: Brian's Content Creation Journey: You'll hear about how Brian got his start on Instagram and eventually made the leap to YouTube. He dives into the early days of his content creation and how he built a successful blog on WordPress after initially trying out Wix, emphasizing the flexibility WordPress offers for monetization. Discover the Power of Blogging: He highlights why blogging remains a crucial part of his success, serving as his main source of income, while platforms like Instagram serve as more of a bonus. He encourages content creators on TikTok and Instagram to consider starting their own blogs for a more stable and personalized space that they fully control. Making Your Content Stand Out: You'll hear Brian talk about how to differentiate your brand in a crowded space, including tips on simplifying photography setups and focusing on multifunctional recipes that can be used across various dishes. Plus, he offers valuable advice for new bloggers: don't get caught up in the numbers and embrace a mindset that prioritizes mental well-being and self-compassion! Resources: Thee Burger Dude Tiffy Cooks: How I Transitioned from 9–5 to FT Food Blogger Episode 392 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: How Pinch of Yum's 1.1 Million Follower Instagram Account Got Hacked (and Recovered!) Joe's Vegan Food Gram Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield Follow Brian on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating a brand to withstand algorithm changes, going beyond branding basics, and how your brand can influence your business strategy. ----- Welcome to episode 487 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Katie Trant from Foodie Brand Lab and Hey Nutrition Lady. Actionable Steps to Shape a Successful Brand There has been a lot of buzz around the importance of building a strong brand as a food creator. Amidst the volatility of search algorithms and the rise of AI, food bloggers are looking for a way to stand out and build a loyal following. Enter, Katie Trant! She has a Masters in Nutrition and started her own food site, Hey Nutrition Lady, back in 2010. She also works full-time at brand and business consultancies helping big companies define their brand. So you might say she was well-positioned to start Foodie Brand Lab to help food bloggers (like you!) refine their brand strategy. In this interview, Bjork and Katie discuss everything you need to know about brand: what it is, why it matters, how to define your brand, and how it can influence your business strategy. Katie also provides actionable steps to start building a stronger brand to help you stand out in the crowded space of food blogging. 3 episode takeaways: What is a brand? A brand is much more than a logo, color scheme, design, or font. It includes such things as brand personality, tone of voice, brand position, brand purpose, and brand values. Your niche is part of your brand, but your brand has the potential to be even more impactful in your success than a niche. A strong brand can withstand algorithm changes: It has never been more important to have a brand as a food blogger. Katie discusses how to shape the perception of your brand, and why brand matters so much in the current digital landscape. Actionable steps to go from search traffic to direct traffic: Katie walks listeners through several thought exercises (like whether you have a traditional or personal brand) and concrete steps that they can take to start building a better brand. Resources: Foodie Brand Lab Hey Nutrition Lady Pinch of Yum Magnolia Kate Spade 424: The Future of Content Creation (and Protection) in a World of AI with Paul Bannister from Raptive 467: Pinterest Strategy in 2024 Q&A with Kate Ahl Dave Ramsey 1000 True Fans Pinch of Yum Easy Sesame Noodles Smitten Kitchen Butter Noodles CultivateWP Inquiring Chef Follow Katie on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Tailor Brands. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Working with brands, communicating with clients, and staying organized with Chris Pieta from Creative Biz Launch. ----- Welcome to episode 486 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chris Pieta from Creative Biz Launch. Building Brand Relationships that Last with Chris Pieta In this week's episode, Chris highlights the value of narrowing your focus. By clearly defining what you offer and identifying your ideal client, you can transform your outreach efforts. When you zero in on how to help them achieve their goals, your messaging becomes much more impactful! Chris will also talk about the power of personal connections (consider hopping on a call instead of just firing off emails)—it's all about building relationships! Plus, he'll share how using a CRM can streamline your processes and keep your emails from landing in spam. With a solid onboarding system, you'll make the transition smooth for new clients. Be sure to tune in for these tips to supercharge your business! Three episode takeaways: Narrow Down Your Niche: Chris emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly what you're selling, your ideal client, and how you can help them achieve their dream outcome. This will help you tailor your outreach and messaging to resonate with the right people! Reach Out Strategically and Nurture Relationships: When it comes to working with brands, you'll want to lean on the power of clear communication and strategic outreach. Hop on a call with a client rather than exchanging emails—this personal touch can help you better understand your client's needs and pave the way for a successful collaboration. You'll also learn how you can use cold outreach to connect with potential clients and the different phases of a discovery call. Streamline Your Process with Systems: A CRM can be a game-changer for managing leads, tracking interactions, and automating tasks. Chris also emphasizes the importance of setting up proper email infrastructure to prevent your emails from going to spam and creating a clear onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition for new clients! Resources: Creative Biz Launch The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss Gary Vaynerchuk Folk CRM Notion GoHighLevel Close Dan Martell Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell Food Blogger Pro Course: Google WorkSpace Alex Hormozi's YouTube channel Follow and/or DM Chris on Instagram, YouTube, and for photo and video work, check out Pieta Productions Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Prioritizing passive income, overcoming burnout, and rediscovering joy as a food blogger with Elizabeth Emery from Vancouver with Love. ----- Welcome to episode 485 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Elizabeth Emery from Vancouver with Love. Achieving Quiet Success as a Six-Figure Food Creator Food blogging can be a dream job — hey, we wouldn't have started Food Blogger Pro if we didn't believe that! But it also requires a lot of hustle, perseverance, and uncertainty. Elizabeth Emery first started Vancouver with Love in 2015 as a side hustle and took her site full-time in 2018. By 2021, she was feeling completely burnt out. That year ended up being a pivotal moment in her career. To overcome her burnout, she met with a business coach and adjusted the parts of her business that she wasn't happy with. Once she made significant changes to her business and income streams, she rediscovered the joy of content creation, and her business started growing along with these changes. Elizabeth is now making a six-figure income from her business, and she shares all the details about her journey in this great interview! Three Episode takeaways: How to overcome burnout: Between working on her blog for 6+ years, the pandemic, and unreliable income, Elizabeth found herself completely burned out running her food blog. She was desperate for a change but knew that she could still love her job with a few tweaks. In this interview, she explains the process of working with a business coach to find more joy and flexibility in her career. Why 'quiet success' is underrated: Elizabeth has 30,000 followers on Instagram, no book deal (yet!), and isn't on TV. And you don't need any of those things to build a career as a successful food creator! It isn't the right time for Elizabeth to pursue those goals, and she shares more about why those metrics of success aren't for everyone. How to prioritize passive income: Elizabeth has been very intentional in the growth of her business and in adjusting her sources of revenue to increase her passive income. In this episode, you'll learn how she makes a six-figure income from her business between ad revenue, sponsored content, and freelance recipe development. Resources: Vancouver with Love Pinch of Yum Meal Plans Full Focus Jen Carrington Your Simple & Spacious Business Letters From a Hopeful Creative Designing Your New Work Life Mediavine KeySearch Raptive Tastemaker Conference Zillow Yoast Alex Hormozi You Can Making Millions with 5000 Followers? Follow Elizabeth on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Tailor Brands and Yoast. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Balancing passion, building a sustainable business, and predicting the future of food blogging with Alex and Sonja Overhiser from A Couple Cooks. ----- Welcome to episode 484 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Alex and Sonja Overhiser from A Couple Cooks. The Importance of Building Community with A Couple Cooks Alex and Sonja first started blogging at A Couple Cooks over 14 years ago and have navigated countless changes in the food blogging landscape over the years. In this interview, they share the things that kept them going before they achieved success with their business and the importance of having an accountability partner in the early days. They also discuss more about key decisions they've made in their business: why they've chosen not to build a team, why they don't prioritize Instagram, and how they pivoted their cookbook strategy after initial rejections. Bjork, Alex, and Sonja have been friends for over a decade, and it's a pleasure to hear them catching up as people who have been around the block in this industry. Episode takeaways: Balancing passion and business: Alex and Sonja have learned a lot in the 14 years that they've been running A Couple Cooks, including the delicate balance between their passion for sharing recipes with their community and the reality that their site is also their livelihood. In this interview, they share more about how they run a successful business while still making space for creativity and joy. Developing a giftable cookbook: Alex and Sonja are publishing their second cookbook, A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together, this fall, but it wasn't a linear path to getting this cookbook published. After their first cookbook proposal was rejected by publishers, they went back to the drawing board and developed a new proposal for a "giftable cookbook" that was accepted by the first editor they approached! Having the ability to pivot: With the growth of AI and the uncertainty of Google algorithm updates, it is more important than ever to build an experience and community as a creator. Alex and Sonja discuss this shift, including why they're focusing more on email marketing, as well as their predictions for the content creation landscape over the next year. Resources: A Couple Cooks 178: Life, Podcasting, Blogging, and Cookbook Writing with Sonja and Alex Overhiser Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Ten Thousand Hours by Macklemore 365: How to Find Your Zone of Genius and Hire the Right People with Emily Perron Independence by Design A Couple Cooks | Pretty Simple Cooking: 100 Delicious Vegetarian Recipes to Make You Fall in Love with Real Food A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together The Art of Cookbook Publishing with Danielle Walker Vegetarian Ventures Chronicle Books Bard Press Raptive Dotdash meredith ConvertKit Pinch of Yum This Week in Startups Golden Hour Books for a signed copy of their new cookbook Follow A Couple Cooks on Instagram and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Legitimizing the creator economy and working with brands with Chandice Probst and Abbey Rodriguez from Tastemaker Conference ----- Welcome to episode 483 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chandice Probst and Abbey Rodriguez from Tastemaker Conference. How to Thrive in the Creator Economy and Build Successful Brand Partnerships Chandice and Abbey have been on the front lines of the food content creation revolution, watching the industry evolve from bloggers to influencers and creators. Now, they're dedicated to proving that being a food creator is a serious business, not just a hobby. Tune in as they discuss the power of community and how embracing an abundance mindset can open doors to new opportunities. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation that could transform the way you approach your creative business! Three episode takeaways: Legitimizing the Creator Economy: Chandice and Abbey argue that being a [food] creator is a real business, not just a hobby. They've seen the food blogging industry evolve over the years and are working hard to decentralize the food creator business model. Building Your Brand Takes Work: Getting brand partnerships isn't as easy as it might seem. It requires a strategic approach, including creating a sponsorship deck, reaching out to brands directly, and even leveraging AI to find potential partners! Collaboration Over Competition: The key to success in the creator economy is often collaboration. Abbey and Chandice emphasize the importance of building a supportive community and leaning into the abundance mentality over the scarcity mentality. Resources: Tastemaker Conference | FBP members get $100 off with code FBP100 through this link from October 15th - October 22nd. Tastemaker sponsorship referral program Tastemaker affiliate program Tastemaker Collaborative FYPM (rates brand partnership deals) Tastemaker brand pricing calculator Tastemaker brand education webinars Federal Trade Commission Announces Final Rule Banning Fake Reviews and Testimonials Follow Tastemaker on Instagram Email Chandice at [email protected] Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Tailor Brands. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Building community, providing exclusive value, and streamlining membership sites with Jen Matichuk from Memberful. ----- Welcome to episode 482 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jen Matichuk from Memberful—this is the third and final episode of our Memberful mini-series! How to Build a Thriving Membership Site In this week's episode of our podcast, we're diving deep into the power of community for your membership site! Join Jen as she shares her insights on how to foster genuine connections with your audience and ensure they feel valued and engaged. Discover how to deliver exclusive content that truly resonates—think behind-the-scenes access and in-depth tutorials that keep your members coming back for more. Plus, Jen highlights some of Memberful's essential tools that can streamline your site management and allow you to focus on building meaningful relationships with your audience. You won't want to miss this episode! Three episode takeaways: Build a Community Around Your Content: A strong community can be a powerful asset for your membership site. Encourage engagement, provide exclusive content, and create a space where your members can connect with each other. Offer Value Beyond Your Free Content: To justify the cost of a membership, provide exclusive content and benefits that your free audience can't access. This could include behind-the-scenes content, in-depth tutorials, or access to a private community. Use the Right Tools to Streamline Your Membership Site: Tools like Memberful can help you manage your membership site, from creating tiers to facilitating payments. By using the right tools, you can save time and focus on building your community. Resources: Memberful Rhett and Link Mythical Society The Perfect Loaf community Wistia JWPlayer Jacques Pépin Foundation The Bittman Project Workweek Lunch Little Spoon Farm (ad-free experience!) Molly Baz Connect with Jen via email email Follow Jen on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leveraging email lists, boosting revenue, and building relationships with Nathan Barry. ----- Welcome to episode 481 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Nathan Barry from ConvertKit, soon-to-be Kit. Maximizing the Impact of Your Email List Nathan Barry started ConvertKit back in 2013 and has grown his company into a multi-million dollar business with over 30,000 creators that use the platform. We are happy to welcome Nathan back to the podcast to chat about how he has grown his business, email marketing strategy, and the transition from ConvertKit to Kit. As algorithms change and search traffic becomes increasingly unpredictable, it's a great time to double down on your email list. Capturing your audience from both site traffic and your social accounts and building an ongoing relationship with that audience is a great way to diversify your income streams and protect the future of your business. This podcast episode dives into the importance of optimizing your emails for the reader, consistency, and driving revenue with your emails. Three episode takeaways: Strategies for Increasing Email List Sign-ups: When something goes viral on social media, how do you make sure you're capturing that audience? Nathan and Bjork discuss the importance of optimizing links in your social media profiles, lead magnets, and other tips for growing your email list. How Your Email List Can Increase Your Revenue: With the (slow) demise of third-party cookies, creators need to be more… creative with providing more relevant ads to their readers. If you're working with an ad network, your email list can be an incredibly valuable resource for serving targeted ads to your users (thereby maximizing your ad revenue). The Magic of Flywheels: Nathan explains how and why to apply the concept of flywheels, which emphasizes attracting, engaging, and delighting your community, to your business. He also makes a case for why you should focus on repeating what is working for your business (rather than chasing the next new thing). Resources: ConvertKit NathanBarry.com Follow Nathan on X Raptive The Elliott Homestead The Flexible Dieting Lifestyle Bonnie Christine Jenna Kutcher's Instagram post Mediavine Clariti Kit Kit Studios Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started at foodbloggerpro.com/work-with-us. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The power of recurring revenue and breaking down key metrics for running a membership site with Bjork Ostrom ----- Welcome to episode 480 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, we're excited to air the second episode of our mini-series with Memberful, in which Bjork discusses the ins and outs of membership sites and the power of recurring revenue. The Secret to Generating Recurring Revenue with Bjork Ostrom Tired of chasing after millions of followers? In this week's podcast, Bjork spills the beans on how you can build a thriving business with just a small but dedicated community. He discusses the power of recurring revenue and how that can translate into stability for your business. He also breaks down some key business metrics that can help you track your progress and make smart decisions. Let's face it: Building a sustainable business isn't about getting everyone on board. It's about finding your tribe and serving them really well. This episode is a must-listen if you're looking to grow your business in a more sustainable way! Three episode takeaways: You Don't Need Millions of Followers: It's a common misconception that you need millions of followers or subscribers to build a successful and profitable business. The reality is that even a small, dedicated community can be enough! By focusing on quality over quantity and building strong relationships with your audience, you can create a sustainable income stream that allows you to thrive. Recurring Revenue is Key to Stability: One of the biggest advantages of membership sites is the predictable income they generate through subscription fees. This recurring revenue provides a stable foundation for your business, allowing you to focus on growth and improvement without constantly chasing new opportunities. Unlike one-time sales or advertising revenue, which can fluctuate, membership fees offer a reliable source of income. Understand Your Business Metrics: To make informed decisions and evaluate the health of your business, it's essential to track key metrics such as MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue), churn rate, customer lifetime value, and customer acquisition cost. These metrics can help you understand your business's performance, identify areas for improvement, and make strategic decisions. Resources: Memberful Episode 45 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast: How to Use Facebook Ads to Reach the Right People with Tony Rulli from IntentionalSpark.com QuietLight Episode 32 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast: Buying & Selling Websites with Mark Daoust from Quiet Light Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Publishing a cookbook, fostering a community, and creating a work-life balance with Danielle Walker ----- Welcome to episode 479 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danielle Walker. The Art of Cookbook Publishing with Danielle Walker Danielle's journey to becoming a cookbook author is anything but ordinary! From a chance encounter with a publisher to releasing her seventh (!!!) cookbook, "Make It Easy," she's learned so many valuable lessons along the way that have propelled her into the successful cookbook author she is today. In this episode, Danielle shares her insights on building a strong community, understanding your audience, and prioritizing mental health and work-life balance. You'll discover how these strategies have helped her create successful cookbooks and maintain a fulfilling career. For aspiring cookbook authors and anyone looking to build a successful online community, this episode is for you! In this episode, you'll learn: The unconventional path to cookbook publishing: Early on in her journey, Danielle had a publisher reach out to her to work on a cookbook, and this unexpected opportunity led her to the world of cookbook writing. She's learned so much along the way and shares some valuable lessons from her early experiences in this episode — from the necessity of advance payments to the importance of hiring an agent. The importance of building a community: Danielle used Kajabi and Substack to connect more deeply with her audience and gather valuable feedback for her cookbook. By fostering a sense of community, she was able to better understand her readers' needs and preferences and shape the content she created for them. Prioritizing mental health and work-life balance: Danielle discusses how important it was for her to take a step back to reevaluate her work to ensure she brought value to her community and have a better relationship with her work. You'll learn about how she's been able to find a healthy balance between her professional and personal life — no easy feat! Resources: Danielle Walker's website Against All Grain Episode 443 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast: Why David Lebovitz Switched from Blogging to Substack Danielle's latest cookbook, Make It Easy 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Meals Made Simple by Danielle Walker (her first cookbook!) Episode 191 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Building a Better Bio with Ryan Walker Follow Danielle on Instagram and Substack Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Income diversification, monetization strategies, and memberships with Bjork Ostrom ----- Welcome to episode 478 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, we're launching the first episode of our three-episode mini-series with Memberful, in which our very own Bjork Ostrom talks about the power of community, income diversification, and memberships. How to Address This Common Food Blogging Mistake Let's face it: most food bloggers are stuck in a rut when it comes to making money. They're relying on one source of income (usually ads), and that's a bit of a risky game. If Google or Pinterest decides to change their algorithms, your traffic and income could take a nosedive. So, what's the solution? Diversification! Instead of squeezing the same old orange, look for other juicy options. Affiliate marketing and sponsored content can be great ways to boost your income, but if you're looking to bring in recurring income, you may want to consider membership sites. They let you build on what you're already good at: creating awesome content and connecting with your audience. We hope you enjoy this episode — be sure to tune in to the second part of the mini-series next week! In this episode, you'll learn: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Relying solely on ad revenue can be risky, especially if your traffic sources change. Diversify your income streams. Explore options like affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and memberships to create a more stable business. Build a strong business foundation. Focus on creating valuable content, engaging with your audience, and building relationships to support sustainable income. Resources: Memberful 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Ewen Finser's newsletter: Niche Media Publishing Food Blogger Pro Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsor! This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying your traffic sources, the power of community, and using Reddit as a growth hack with Ewen Finser ----- Welcome to episode 477 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ewen Finser from Venture 4th Media. Leveraging Reddit as a Traffic Source In this episode, Bjork sits down with Ewen Finser to discuss the evolving landscape of digital content creation. With algorithm changes impacting traffic, Ewen emphasizes the importance of diversifying your audience reach beyond Google. He shares insights on building a strong presence on platforms like Reddit, while also highlighting the power of community-building as a cornerstone for long-term success. Ewen also delves into the art of platform-specific content creation. He explains how understanding and catering to the unique preferences of each platform is essential for maximizing your impact. Get ready to gain valuable insights into expanding your online reach and building a sustainable digital business! In this episode, you'll learn: Diversify Your Traffic: With algorithm updates and the rise of platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it's time to start looking for an alternative recipe for your traffic. Building a strong presence on other platforms can be a game-changer as you find new ways to reach your audience and ensure your content is where they are. The Power of Community: The real key to success is building a loyal community and providing them with information that will actually help them. Platforms like Reddit (which Google is starting to treat as a publisher!) offer a unique opportunity to connect with your audience on a deeper level. By providing value, being authentic, and engaging with your community, you can create a sustainable business that's less reliant on Google's ever-changing rules. Master the Art of Platform-Specific Content: Every platform is different. What works on Instagram won't necessarily work on Reddit so in order to succeed, you'll need to tailor your content to each platform. It's about understanding your audience and giving them what they want, where they want it. By mastering this, you can maximize your reach and impact. Resources: Venture 4th Media Reddit Leverage Course Niche Media Publishing Follow Ewen on X and LinkedIn Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating effective category pages, navigating keyword research, and balancing SEO with creativity with Casey Markee from Media Wyse. ----- Welcome to episode 476 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Casey Markee from Media Wyse. Advanced SEO Q&A with Casey Markee This is the third and final episode of our Summer Membership Spotlight, in which we have been sharing a piece of content that is normally exclusive to Food Blogger Pro members here on the podcast. We are finishing the series with a replay of our Advanced SEO Live Q&A with Casey Markee! Food Blogger Pro members submitted many questions all about SEO — Helpful Content Updates, SEO best practices, topic clusters, AI, and more! We hope you learn a lot from this Q&A (we always do!) and that you enjoyed this special series on the podcast. In this episode, you'll learn about: SEO Survival Guide: Get the latest scoop on Google's cookie changes and how to optimize your content for search engines, even after the Helpful Content Update. You'll hear more about keyword research tools and strategies that will help you rank higher. Recipe Creation and SEO Balance: Learn how to create delicious recipes that will both satisfy your cravings and rank well in search results. Casey will discuss building strong topic clusters and how you can leverage recipe roundups to boost your SEO. Leveraging AI for SEO: Discover ChatGPT's potential for SEO and how to use it effectively to improve your content strategy. Get the resources for this episode at foodbloggerpro.com/476. Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Growing your email list, connecting with your audience, and working with sponsors with Allea Grummert from Duett ----- Welcome to episode 475 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Allea Grummert from Duett. Grow Your Email List and Connect with your Audience with Allea Grummert Email marketing expert Allea Grummert founded her agency, Duett, in 2018 with the goal of helping content creators improve their email marketing. She's been an invaluable resource for the Food Blogger Pro and Pinch of Yum teams and is also an industry expert in the Food Blogger Pro community, so you may have seen her around the forum! In this episode, Allea spills the tea on growing your email list and building deeper connections with your audience. She'll also talk about why email is a must-have for content creators and how to turn it into a profitable asset. From crafting irresistible welcome sequences to landing brand sponsorships, Allea shares her proven strategies for email success. Get ready to level up your email game! In this episode, you'll learn about: Email is Your Secret Weapon: Learn why email should be a top priority for any content creator or publisher. Discover how to grow your email list, create compelling welcome sequences, and use chat marketing tools like ManyChat to boost your blog traffic. Connect and Convert: Uncover the power of email in building genuine connections with your readers. Allea talks more about her email philosophy and how you can leverage email to humanize your brand, increase engagement, and turn subscribers into paying customers. Automate, Monetize, and Thrive: Discover time-saving strategies for automating your email sequences and maximizing your email list's potential. Learn how to generate income through sponsored emails and ad networks while maintaining creative freedom. Resources: Duett Alexandra's Kitchen Interact Episode 277 of the Tax Smart Real Estate Investors Podcast: Growing A Multi-Million Dollar Empire & Real Estate's Role with Sam Parr Tax Smart Real Estate Investors Podcast The Hustle Sam's List Hampton Hubslife Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle Raptive: Newsletter Identity Capture Who Not How by Dan Sullivan Follow Allea on Instagram and X Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Running the #1 Food & Drink Newsletter on Substack, pivoting from freelance recipe development to creating your own content, and writing two cookbooks with Caroline Chambers from What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking. ----- Welcome to episode 474 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Caroline Chambers. How Caroline Chambers Grew Her Substack Newsletter Into a 7-Figure Business Caroline Chambers is not (and does not identify as) a food blogger. But she does happen to write the #1 Food & Drink newsletter on Substack with one of the most loyal communities around (myself included!). In this interview, Bjork and Caroline chat more about Caroline's early days running her own catering business, how she transitioned into freelance recipe development, and then eventually took the leap into starting her Substack newsletter. She shares her strategies for growing her following, converting subscribers to paid subscribers, providing value to her readers, and why she shares more than just food on her platforms. Oh, AND, she shares the details about her brand-new cookbook (What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking). In this episode, you'll learn about: From Catering to Cookbooks: Caroline shares her journey from running a catering business to becoming a bestselling cookbook author (with another cookbook coming out called What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking coming out on August 13th!). You'll hear about how she built a massive following and turned her passion for food into a thriving business. Building a Newsletter Empire: Discover how Caroline turned her Substack newsletter into a 7-figure business, the strategies she used to grow her subscriber base, and her mindset on converting subscribers to paid members. Balancing Growth and Well-being: Caroline opens up about the challenges of managing a large following and the importance of building a strong team. She'll talk about how she maintains her passion for cooking amidst the pressures of running a successful business. Resources: What To Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking Caroline Chambers thai-ish steak & noodle salad Pinch of Yum smitten kitchen Barefoot Contessa Woodbridge wines Melissa Clark's column on The New York Times Chronicle Books Just Married: A Cookbook for Newlyweds Tillamook Substack The Personal MBA Patreon What's Gaby Cooking 443: Why David Lebovitz Switched from Blogging to Substack Gary Vaynerchuk Union Square & Co Dan Pelosi What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking Cookbook Follow Caroline on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying your traffic sources, building your email list, and the tools to help you build your audience with Andrew Wilder and Colin Devroe ----- Welcome to episode 473 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Andrew Wilder and Colin Devroe from NerdPress. Future-Proofing Your Content with Andrew Wilder and Colin Devroe We were so thrilled to have Bjork sit down with Andrew Wilder and Colin Devroe for this episode! Andrew is the CEO of NerdPress and one of our Food Blogger Pro experts, so you may have seen him around the forum breaking down all things WordPress for our members! Colin Devroe is also on the NerdPress team—he's a Senior Product Manager currently working on SaveThis and Hubbub, NerdPress's very own social sharing plugin (previously Grow Social Pro and Social Pug before that). This episode has been an affirmation for us all that to keep your content flourishing, you'll want to dig deep to build a community and form lasting relationships with your readers. We hope you enjoy the episode as much as we did! In this episode, you'll learn about: Diversifying Your Traffic Sources: The landscape of social media is constantly evolving — while giants like Meta (Facebook, Instagram) hold significant power, it's crucial to look beyond them. You'll learn about the rise of the "fediverse," an open-source network allowing users to move between social platforms and take their content and followers with them, as well as the importance of diversifying your traffic sources and exploring emerging platforms to future-proof your content strategy. Build Lasting Connections with Your Audience: Growing a loyal email list is critical to building strong reader relationships. This episode emphasizes the importance of consistent communication and providing valuable content to your subscribers. The power of community is much stronger than you think and can help you and your content remain stable in the long run! Maximize Traffic and Community Through Strategic Tools: You'll hear about how various tools like Hubbub (their very own social sharing plugin), SaveThis (a tool within Hubbub Pro), and Flipboard can help you grow your audience — and your email list — while still providing value to your readers! Resources: NerdPress Hubbub Pro Hubbub Lite (free to use) SaveThis by Hubbub Flipboard Recap of Fediverse Webinar for Creators and Curators by Flipboard 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Nathan Barry's Newsletter Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Auditing their website, strategizing to increase search traffic, and diversifying revenue sources with Cameron Crawley and Sarah Cobacho from plantbaes. ----- Welcome to episode 472 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Cameron Crawley and Sarah Cobacho from plantbaes. Coaching Call: Increasing Search Traffic, Determining What to Prioritize, and Strategizing for Business Growth with Cameron Crawley and Sarah Cobacho from plantbaes This is a super special episode of the podcast, as it is part 2 (of 3) of our Summer Membership Spotlight. As part of this special podcast series, we are sharing a piece of content that is normally exclusive to Food Blogger Pro members here on the podcast on the last Tuesday of the month. This month we are excited to share an audio version of a Coaching Call! Every month, Bjork does a Coaching Call with a Food Blogger Pro member to go over three (or more!) questions that they have about their blog, social media, or business. This Coaching Call is with the delightful Cameron Crawley and Sarah Cobacho from plantbaes! We're so excited to share this Coaching Call with you and hope you'll tune in next month for our last membership spotlight episode of the summer! In this episode, you'll learn about: Building a Massive Following Fast: Cam and Sarah share their secrets to skyrocketing their Instagram following to over 1.1 million in just a few years (!!). You'll hear about how their backgrounds in video and nutrition fueled their success. Monetizing Your Platform: Discover how Cam and Sarah generate income from their platform and their plans for future revenue streams. Get ready to learn how they've created a successful website that launched in August and qualified for Raptive by September! Growing Your Online Business: Learn valuable tips on building a strong community, crafting engaging content for both social media and your blog, and boosting your search engine visibility. Bjork will also answer the questions Cam and Sarah submitted beforehand about increasing traffic and what to prioritize in their business for maximum revenue growth. Resources: plantbaes The Ultimate Plant-Based Cookbook Food Rules by Michael Pollan Wix Pinch of Yum Income Reports Raptive NerdPress Ahrefs Clariti Budget Bytes 430: Grow Your Email List with ConvertKit's Creator Network with Nathan Barry ConvertKit Primal Kitchen 452: YouTube, Meal Plans, and Business Growth with Nisha Vora The Lean Startup Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Circle Pillars of Productivity Memberful Follow plantbaes on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Offering services, building partnerships, and goal-planning with Matthew Gartland from SPI Media ----- Unlocking Success through Strategic Goal-Planning, Partnerships, and Providing Services with Matthew Gartland Welcome to episode 471 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Matthew Gartland from SPI Media. Last week on the podcast, Bjork chatted with Lidey Heuck. To go back and listen to that episode, click here. Matthew Gartland started his creative agency Winning Edits in 2011 to support author entrepreneurs. He eventually merged companies with Pat Flynn to found what is now known as SPI Media. Today, SPI Media is a thriving community of online entrepreneurs who have come together to build their online businesses through a treasure trove of educational content, an engaging community, and training experiences. In this episode, Matthew talks about how strategic goal-planning, community, and providing services can help budding entrepreneurs unlock success and grow their audience. You won't want to miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn about: Turning Your Skills into Side Hustle Superpowers: You already have superpowers (aka awesome skills)! Matthew talks about how to lean into skills you already have to create solutions to real-life problems for clients and build a fulfilling career on your own terms! Quality is King (or Queen): Solving problems is great, but doing it with amazing service sets you apart. Matthew shares how prioritizing top-notch quality can help you set your business apart from the competition. Community & Goals: Your Recipe for Success: Building a business isn't just about showing up and hoping for the best. Matthew reveals the importance of strategic goal-setting and creating a roadmap for success. He'll also discuss the power of community – how fostering connections with other entrepreneurs and building strategic partnerships can accelerate your growth. Resources: SPI Media Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Episode 53 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Pat Flynn's Tips for Building Online Businesses That Fly Shopify Basecamp Facebook Groups Teachable Snackdive Connect with Matthew via email Follow Smart Passive Income on X and check out their podcast Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Contributing recipes to NYT Cooking, avoiding the comparison trap, and working with the Barefoot Contessa with Lidey Heuck. ----- Welcome to episode 470 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lidey Heuck. How Working as Ina Garten's Assistant Kicked Off Lidey Heuck's Career as a Food Creator and Cookbook Author Lidey's first job out of college was as Ina Garten's assistant — yes, you read that right! After 7 years working as part of the Barefoot Contessa team, Lidey has gone on to grow her own business as a food creator. She is a recipe contributor to New York Times Cooking, runs her own food blog, and recently published her first cookbook, Cooking in Real Life. In this interview, she shares more about her experience working at Barefoot Contessa, how she balances creating content for different platforms, what it's like to contribute to NYT Cooking, why she might want to open a brick-and-mortar shop, and so much more. This is an enjoyable listen that will get you thinking about the many different routes a career path as a food creator can take. Hope you enjoy this fun episode as much as we did! In this episode, you'll learn about: Building a Food Career Through Unconventional Paths: Lidey's story proves you don't need a perfect path to land your dream food gig. Working for Ina Garten (the Barefoot Contessa!) launched her career, showing there's magic in unexpected opportunities! Growth Through Diverse Food Experiences: You'll hear about how her time at Barefoot Contessa was just the beginning. She went on to conquer TV shows, big publications, and everything in between. Get ready for some serious food world inspiration! Lidey's Recipe for Success (and How She Balances Her Projects): Lidey's a total rockstar, churning out recipes for her blog, cookbooks, and even the New York Times! We'll uncover her secrets for creating killer content across different platforms and keeping her sanity while doing it. Plus, a peek into what a typical day looks like for this busy bee (and maybe some recipe development tips!). Resources: Lidey Likes Cooking in Real Life: Delicious & Doable Recipes for Every Day (a Cookbook) Barefoot Contessa Snackdive The Lost Kitchen NYTimes Cooking Substack Follow Lidey on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Outsourcing tasks, growing a social media following, and self-publishing a cookbook with Erin Collins from Meaningful Eats. ----- Welcome to episode 469 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Erin Collins from Meaningful Eats. How Erin Collins Went from 25,000 to 250,000 Instagram Followers While Self-Publishing a Cookbook Erin started her blog, Meaningful Eats, in 2012. Since then, she has self-published a cookbook (another one is coming out soon!), grown her site to 1 million monthly page views, and gained over 275,000 Instagram followers. In this interview, Erin talks about how she achieves a work-life balance by delegating tasks and how being aware of her "zone of genius" allows her to focus on what she's most passionate about. She also discusses how she committed to growing her Instagram following by honing in on her audience's needs. She self-published her cookbook "Gluten-Free Cookies, Brownies, and Bars" last fall and generated over $100,000 in revenue in the first nine months! It was great to hear about her process of self-publishing a cookbook. We can't wait for you to dive in to hear more about her story! In this episode, you'll learn: How she balances parenthood and blogging (hint: weekly family meetings are key!) How she uses timed constrictions to be more intentional with her time How she prioritizes her work during seasons of limited time How outsourcing tasks allows her to achieve a work-life balance How to leverage your zone of genius (and being aware of your zones of competence and incompetence) for your blog How she grew her Instagram following from 25,000 to 250,000 How she decided to make the shift to quality over quantity How incorporating various series (12 GF cookies for Christmas) into her Instagram strategy drove engagement How she uses chat marketing tools like ManyChat to deliver content Why she decided to self-publish her cookbook (which saw almost $100,000 in revenue in the first 9 months!) and how she went about it. The cost breakdown of self-publishing a cookbook: working with a printing company, shipping, etc. How she's looking to make the shift to connect with her audience and include more income streams Her number one tip for food bloggers who are just starting out (spoiler: it's to focus on one thing at a time) Resources: Meaningful Eats Erin's cookbook "Gluten-Free Cookies, Brownies, and Bars" Episode 365 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast: How to Find Your Zone of Genius and Hire the Right People with Emily Perron Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett Designing Your Work Life The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel ManyChat Mixam Sticker Mule Ecwid 1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly Follow Erin on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started at foodbloggerpro.com/work-with-us. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Becoming a private chef, prioritizing projects, and sharing your aspirations with others with Kenneth Temple. ----- Welcome to episode 468 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews celebrity chef and food blogger Kenneth Temple. Breaking into the Private Chef Industry and Sharing What You're in Pursuit of with Celebrity Chef Kenneth Temple Kenneth Temple started his food blog in 2017 and has been a private chef since 2009 so he's got a lot of great insights to share with us in this interview. He now finds himself cooking for NFL, MLB, NBA players, and Grammy artists. On the blog side, he qualified for Mediavine in November of 2023—a huge milestone! In this interview, Kenneth and Bjork discuss how he broke into the private chef industry, landed his first celebrity client, and why he chose to go down this route over working in a restaurant. They also talk about the importance of putting yourself out there and sharing your aspirations with others and the power of word-of-mouth marketing. They also chat about what blogging as a chef looks like and how he had to adjust his strategy after learning about SEO and searchability. Even if your goal isn't to pursue a career as a private chef, we find Kenneth's advice on managing your time and promoting yourself extremely valuable and think you will too. We hope you enjoy the episode! In this episode, you'll learn: Kenneth's background as a private chef and why he chose this path over working in a restaurant. How he was able to land a private chef gig with an NBA player from the New Orleans Hornets. How he went about pricing his work. How he prioritizes his time due to the seasonality of his work and what his day-to-day looks like now. How he maintains a professional relationship with his clients. Tips for those looking to break into the private chef industry. How he grew his network by sharing what he was in pursuit of (and why you should do the same!). How he used his knowledge as a private chef to create a 21-day meal prep challenge to help his clients with weight loss. How he got into food blogging in 2017 and blogged as a chef (and what that means exactly!). How he learned about searchability and adjusted his blogging strategy. What his experience was like as he grew his site and got accepted to Mediavine. The pros and cons of working in realms that were 1:1 and 1:infinite. How he saves time and stays productive by batching recipes. How he chose to de-prioritize certain projects because he realized they weren't solving problems for his audience. How he's now looking for pursuits that will allow him to solve problems. Resources: Kenneth Temple Meiko and the Dish Mediavine Grandbaby Cakes Follow Kenneth on Instagram and Other platform - facebook, youtube, tiktok, whatever seems most important for them Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Strategizing for growth, pivoting to Pinterest as an alternative to SEO, and branding on Pinterest with Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media. ----- Welcome to episode 467 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media. Pinterest Strategy in 2024 This is a super special episode of the podcast, as it kicks off what we are calling our Summer Membership Spotlight. Over the next three months (June, July, and August) we will be sharing a piece of content that is normally exclusive to Food Blogger Pro members here on the podcast. We are starting with a replay of our Pinterest Live Q&A with Kate Ahl! This Q&A originally aired in April. Food Blogger Pro members submitted lots of great questions all about Pinterest strategy — branding, pinning strategy, types of pins, you name it. We're so excited to share this Q&A with you (it's a really informative one!) and hope you'll tune in for our other membership spotlight episodes throughout the summer. In this episode, you'll learn: What constitutes a "fresh pin." Whether hashtags still relevant on Pinterest. The differences in performance between video and static pins. How many pins you should create for each blog post. Kate's favorite scheduling tools and how to approach hidden pins. What outsourcing the management of your Pinterest account looks like. When you might start to see growth on Pinterest. The importance of branding when creating Pins. How to audit your Pinterest boards. Resources: Simple Pin Media Pinterest Predicts Tailwind Follow Kate on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Why SEO is about more than building traffic, how to think more holistically about your SEO strategy, and the importance of community with Ann Smarty. ----- Welcome to episode 466 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ann Smarty from Smarty Marketing. How to Respond to the Recent Google Updates Ann Smarty has been working in the SEO industry for over 20 years, and she has lots of expertise to share with us in this interview! Bjork and Ann chat about the current state of SEO, including a deep dive into the impact of the recent Google Helpful Content Updates. They also discuss the history of backlinks with SEO and how to approach link-building as a content creator (and why it's more about community than you might think). Ann has a really great perspective on the importance of developing a holistic SEO strategy and why diversifying your income and traffic sources matters now, more than ever. Don't miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: About the current state of SEO (is it as bad as it feels?!). Who was most impacted by the recent Helpful Content Updates. Why backlinks seem to have protected sites during these Google updates. More about the 'backlink controversy' in the SEO industry. How to approach link-building as a content creator. Why building a community and saying "yes" is so important in this SEO environment. What you should do to strategically take advantage of traffic when you have it (to prepare for when you lose it). The importance of diversifying your traffic and income sources. Resources: Smarty Marketing Moz SparkToro Google SearchLiaison Pinch of Yum Search Engine Journal Tax Smart Real Estate Investors Podcast Memberful Skool Follow Ann on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Welcome to Tiny Bites from the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ben Holland from Clariti about the upcoming deletion of Universal Analytics data — and what you need to do about it. Get the resources for this episode a foodbloggerpro.com/podcast/tiny-bites-universal-analytics-data.

Monetizing through a membership as a food creator, choosing a subscription platform, and marketing a membership to your community with Jen Matichuk from Memberful. ----- Welcome to episode 465 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jen Matichuk. Creating a Subscription Platform for Your Food Blog Are you tired of brand partnerships or navigating the Google algorithm? Have you ever considered starting a membership for your community? Then you won't want to miss this podcast episode with Jen Matichuk from Memberful. And yes, Memberful is a podcast sponsor, but this episode isn't sponsored by them! We were just really excited to have an honest conversation about what it looks like to create a membership as a food creator, and how you might go about doing it, and Jen is the perfect person to cover this topic. In this episode, Bjork and Jen chat about how to determine if a membership is the right option for your business, how to choose a subscription platform, how to predict if a subscription model will be successful for you, how to market content behind a paywall, and more! In this episode, you'll learn: More about Jen's career and how she ended up in her current role at Memberful. The details behind the membership that Jen started with Rhett & Link. The importance of researching and communicating with your audience before creating any new format of digital content. How to choose a membership/subscription platform. The behind-the-scenes of how and why Molly Baz came to start her membership site with Memberful. How to play the numbers game to predict how successful a membership might be for you. How to determine the price point and pricing structure for your membership. How to shift your mindset around marketing a product that you made. How to approach transitioning some of your content behind a paywall. Resources: Memberful Rhett & Link Mythical Society Patreon Rooster Teeth Substack Molly Baz Wonderly Jo Club Discord Connect with Jen via email Connect with Jen on LinkedIn or Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Evolving your business to fit your audience's needs, assembling a team of recipe developers, and growing an email list from 1,000 to 75,000 subscribers with Jason Norris from Recipe Teacher. ----- Welcome to episode 464 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jason Norris from Recipe Teacher. How Email and High-Quality Content Helped Jason Norris Reach Millions of Monthly Pageviews with Recipe Teacher Jason Norris has gone on quite a journey with his site, Recipe Teacher. From trying to sell the site for $1000, to growing a site that reaches millions of monthly pageviews and is worth well over a million dollars. In this interview, Jason shares more about the growth of his site, how he has built a team of recipe developers, his approach to SEO, and more. He also explains how he grew his email list from 1,000 to over 75,000 subscribers by working with our friend Allea at Duett and, in the process, learned that many of his readers are seniors! Jason's journey to success is a really fun one to hear about, and one that we know will inspire many of you to keep plugging along. Enjoy! In this episode, you'll learn: How he went from trying to sell his site (Recipe Teacher) for $1000 (with no offers!) to building the same site to be worth over a million dollars. How he developed and sold his first website — WindyCityFishing (and his second website)! The origin story of Recipe Teacher (and how the Instant Pot changed his life). The importance of evolving your business and being adaptable. When he first felt like he had made Recipe Teacher successful, and what it felt like when he first qualified for Raptive and saw his earnings skyrocket. How he has grown his team of recipe developers. Why he has been focusing on updating old recipes. When he decided to take Recipe Teacher full-time. His approach to SEO and keyword research. Why he prioritizes outsourcing certain aspects of this business. How he grew his email list from 1,000 to 75,000 subscribers in 3 years. How focusing on email marketing helped Jason learn more about his site's demographics (spoiler alert: he has a huge audience of seniors!). Resources: Recipe Teacher WindyCityFishing Flippa Quiet Light 032: Buying & Selling Websites with Mark Daoust from Quiet Light 159: Different Ways to Create an Income Online with Mark Daoust Raptive Google AdSense Upwork Pinch of Yum Keysearch Semrush Google Search Console Google Trends Duett Allea on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast here, here, and here ConvertKit Constant Contact Email Jason Follow Jason on Facebook and Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leaning into the science of SEO, committing to a niche, and dividing attention between three websites and businesses. ----- Welcome to episode 463 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shaunda Necole from The Soul Food Pot. How a Love of SEO and Entrepreneurship Helped Shaunda Necole Grow Three Successful Websites and Hit 1 Million Monthly Pageviews Shaunda Necole has a true passion for being an entrepreneur — from her first business owning a cheerleading product company to today, running three websites, a food tour of Las Vegas, writing books, and more. In this interview, she shares more about her love of SEO and keyword research and how her SEO strategy has changed in light of Google's recent Helpful Content Updates. She also explains how she divides her time between her three websites (a food blog, a travel website, and her personal site), in addition to her SEO consulting, Las Vegas food tours, and upcoming travel book. In a time where SEO can feel really unpredictable, Shaunda's perspective and approach to SEO is one we all need to hear (and she clearly knows what she's doing — her food blog hits 1 million monthly pageviews during the holiday season)! We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. In this episode, you'll learn: How Shaunda first got interested in SEO via Pinterest. How she first started out as an entrepreneur in the cheerleading product space. How she went from cheerleading products to MacKenzie-Childs to the food space. More about how she started with brand partnerships (and why she brought on a manager). Why (and how) she transitioned from brand partnerships to SEO. How she has committed to her niche (Southern soul food) over the years. Why she enjoys keyword research and SEO for her site. How she divides her attention between her three websites. Why she syndicates content from her travel website to MSN (hint: backlinks!). How content syndication with MSN works (plugin, canonical links, ad profit sharing, appeasing Google, and more). Her favorite keyword research tool and how that has changed since the recent Helpful Content Updates (HCUs). How she is updating and republishing content to recover from the HCU. The importance of being "well-rounded." Resources: The Soul Food Pot Shaunda Necole White & Sable Wix MacKenzie-Childs 406: Monetization Strategies in the Influencer Industry with Brittany Hennessy Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media Johanna Voss Las Vegas Right Now Tiny Bites: Understanding and Reacting to Google Algorithm Updates Consulting with Shaunda Superfrico Follow Shaunda on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Building three blogs in different niches, growing a team and building a community, and diversifying traffic sources with Julie Evink from Julie's Eats & Treats. ----- Welcome to episode 462 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Julie Evink from Julie's Eats & Treats. Monetizing Three Blogs, Outsourcing Tasks, and Self-Publishing a Cookbook Julie started her first blog, Julie's Eats & Treats, back in 2010. Since that time she has taken her site full-time, started two other blogs, grown a team, and is self-publishing a cookbook! In this interview, Julie shares more about growing her blog and how that experience changed her approach to her other two sites. She also chats about outsourcing tasks, how she hires team members, and what she thinks is working really well in her businesses currently. Her cookbook is being released on May 21, so we also get to hear about the process of self-publishing a cookbook. It's always fun to hear about the journey of someone who has been blogging for as long as Julie has (14+ years!) and we know you'll enjoy this interview as much as we did. In this episode, you'll learn: More about the origin story of Julie's three blogs. What she learned from her first blog (Julie's Eats & Treats) in 2010 and later applied to her second blog (Gimme Some Grilling) in 2018. How monetization differs between her niches. How she has built her team over the years (and why she likes having part-time employees). What her day-to-day workflow looks like. Her advice for making food blogging as a career less lonely. What she thinks is working well in her businesses these days (hint: passive income!). How she has diversified her traffic sources (and why that matters to her). The importance of growing an email list. The process of self-publishing a cookbook (including the workflow and initial investment). Resources: Julie's Eats & Treats Gimme Some Grilling Kids Activity Guide Asana Julie's Eats & Treats Cookbook: Easy, Family-Friendly Recipes from a Midwestern Mom Shopify Tastes Better from Scratch Inherit Co Follow Julie on Facebook and Instagram. Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Developing a photography portfolio, growing a career in photography, and the importance of telling a story through your photographs with Alanna O'Neil. ----- Welcome to episode 461 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Alanna O'Neil. Building a Career as a Photographer and Storytelling Through Visuals Alanna O'Neil has been a photographer for almost as long as she can remember. Despite starting her career in fashion, she took a risk and moved to Hawaii to start a career as a photographer, and hasn't looked back. In this interview, Alanna shares more about building a career as a freelance photographer, developing your skills as a photographer, building a portfolio, and the importance of storytelling through visuals. She has an incredibly calming and inspiring energy, and this interview will give you a lot to think about as an entrepreneur, creative, and photographer. Don't miss it! In this episode, you'll learn: How Alanna first got into photography (spoiler: it involves a horse barn and a dark room in her childhood home)! How she makes time and space to make big life decisions (like moving to Hawaii and changing careers). How she started her career in food photography. How she built her photography portfolio and why working for free is underrated. More about the program she is developing for new photographers. Her actionable tips within business, mindset, and photography for someone trying to build a photography business. Her recommendations for improving your photography. Why you should think about telling a story with your food photos. How she minimizes comparing herself to other creators. Resources: Alanna O'Neil Pinch of Yum Humans of New York Two Huge Chocolate Chip Cookies The Gap and the Gain Follow Alanna on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Memberful. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Getting removed from Mediavine, leaning into social media as a traffic driver, and rebuilding to 85,000 monthly sessions with Yasmin Henley from By the Forkful. ----- Welcome to episode 460 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Yasmin Henley from By the Forkful. How Yasmin Henley Recommitted to Her Blog and Grew to 85,000 Monthly Sessions Yasmin started By the Forkful (her second blog) in 2019 and quickly qualified for Mediavine. But, as often happens, life got in the way when she had her daughter and went back to work full-time. After taking a step back and being removed from Mediavine, Yasmin has worked hard to bring her site back to life. In the last year she has built the traffic on her site back up to 85,000 monthly sessions and is once again part of an ad network! In this interview she shares more about her process for growing site traffic, the role of social media in driving traffic to her site, and how she balances her full-time job, family, and blog. We loved this interview with Yasmin — she's an open book and her honesty is so refreshing and helpful for anyone building a business! In this episode, you'll learn: How she initially qualified for Mediavine after starting her blog in 2019. Why she neglected her site for 1–2 years (hint: sometimes life gets in the way) and was removed from Mediavine. How a viral TikTok video inspired her to reinvest in her blog. How she built the traffic back up on her site (to 85,000 sessions last month!). How she has grown her social media followings at the same time. How she balances her blog with her full-time job and family. Her current strategy on Facebook (which is a major traffic driver for her). Why updating older content is one of the most valuable things she does for her business. What advice she would give to her past self when she was removed from her ad network. Resources: By the Forkful Mediavine Y Combinator Follow Yasmin on Instagram and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Balancing a business and home-schooling 8 children, building a team, and diversifying your business to different platforms with Lisa Bass. ----- Welcome to episode 459 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boone. How Lisa Bass from Farmhouse on Boone Diversified Her Business and Found Work-Life Balance Lisa Bass first started her site, Farmhouse on Boone, in 2016. Since then, she has diversified her brand to include a podcast, YouTube channel, courses, and more (all while raising 8 children)! In this podcast interview, Bjork and Lisa talk about balancing her business with her family life, and how she has built a team to support her business over the years. Lisa also chats about how each arm of her business ranks in terms of income, and why she continues to prioritize YouTube. Lisa has been one of our most-requested podcast guests and we're so happy to have her join us! Hope you enjoy the episode. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Lisa's journey from starting her site in 2016 (and growing her site to have multiple millions of monthly pageviews). What she attributes her success to. How she balances her business and home-schooling her 8 (!!!) children. How she has built her team over the years and what the workflow within her business looks like. How her different platforms (blog, social media, podcast, YouTube) fit into her income. Why she continues to prioritize creating content for YouTube. What her strategy around creating YouTube content is (and how she's improved it over the years). What she would do if she was just starting Farmhouse on Boone today. What tools she uses to run her business. Resources: Farmhouse on Boone Simple Farmhouse Life Raptive MrBeast Mark Rober True Native Media Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) Trello Slack Final Cut Pro Epidemic Sound Teachable EasyWebinar ConvertKit Follow Lisa on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Balancing a full-time job in the SEO industry with running a food blog, managing burnout, and applying SEO best practices to your site with Marley Braunlich from Baked Abundance. ----- Welcome to episode 458 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Marley Braunlich from Baked Abundance. SEO Tips from a Food Blogger Who Works Full-time at an SEO Agency Marley Braunlich started working full-time at an SEO agency shortly after launching her food blog, Baked Abundance. In this interview, she shares more about balancing a full-time job and a side hustle (especially when they're both in the same industry!) and how she manages burnout. Marley also explains what tips and tricks she has learned from her full-time job and how she has worked to optimize her site for search engines and build domain authority. If you want to increase your site traffic (who isn't?!) without losing the aspects of food blogging that bring you joy, you won't want to miss this interview! In this episode, you'll learn: More about Marley's full-time job at an SEO agency and how it has impacted her food blog. The tools that Marley learned about through her job and now uses for her site. How she balances a full-time job and blog in the same industry. How she manages burnout and adjusts her content strategy with a full-time job and a side hustle. What she has learned from coaching calls with other food bloggers. The patterns she has noticed amongst blogs that have seen the greatest success at her SEO agency. How she has worked to build her domain authority and increased backlinks. Resources: Baked Abundance Semrush Detailed SEO Extension Detailed Q3: Analysing The SEO Playbook of Digital Goliaths In-Depth, Every Quarter Mediavine Feast Eat More Cake by Candice Broken Oven Baking 100 Days of Real Food Connectively Featuring HARO Follow Marley on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Acquiring an existing food blog, navigating traffic drops, and reimagining a site to make it your own with Parker Thornburg from Foodness Gracious. ----- Welcome to episode 457 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Parker Thornburg from Foodness Gracious. How to Acquire and Grow a Food Blog Starting a food blog or business is hard work. It can take months (years!) of determination, practice, and consistency before you start to see results. So what if you just… skipped ahead?! That's exactly what Parker Thornburg and his business partner did when they acquired the existing food blog, Foodness Gracious. But just because the site was up and running (with thousands of recipes!) doesn't mean the transition has been an easy or seamless one. In this interview, Parker shares more about the process of acquiring a site, what the transition has been like, how they've navigated hiring and traffic drops, and have started to come out the other side. Whether or not you're thinking about acquiring a site (or selling your own), there are lots of great lessons to be learned for anyone! In this episode, you'll learn: More about Parker's professional background (including time at Yahoo and a start-up). Why Parker decided to acquire an existing food blog. About the process of acquiring a site and using a brokerage site. What factors to consider when acquiring a site (including calculating potential profits). How they hired their team and what the early days of the site looked like after acquisition (including lots of lessons learned). How Parker and his business partner have navigated traffic drops since acquiring their site. The importance of consistency and habits when trying something new. How he balances his full-time job, family life, and growing Foodness Gracious. What he wants the legacy of this site to be. Resources: Foodness Gracious Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game QuietLight Empire Flippers 032: Buying & Selling Websites with Mark Daoust from Quiet Light 159: Different Ways to Create an Income Online with Mark Daoust Mediavine beehiiv Maray Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones Snackdive Follow Foodness Gracious on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by CultivateWP and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Navigating the creator landscape, improving the value of your site, and the importance of diversifying with Chelsea Clarke. ----- Welcome to episode 456 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chelsea Clarke from Her Paper Route. Monetizing, Diversifying, and Leaning Into Pinterest and Email We are thrilled to welcome back Chelsea Clarke to the podcast this week. Chelsea is an expert at all things monetizing, buying, selling, and optimizing sites and she shares lots of that expertise in this interview. Bjork and Chelsea chat about the current state of the industry for online creators, and how the slew of recent Google algorithm updates have impacted the industry. Chelsea also shares how she has reacted to these changes with her sites (hint: it includes Pinterest, video, and email marketing). Chelsea also explains more about how buying and selling websites works, and how you can make your own site more valuable for yourself (and for potential investors)! In this episode, you'll learn: Chelsea's view on the current "state of the industry" for creators. A recap of all of the recent Google algorithm updates. Her recommendations for diversifying traffic sources (remember Pinterest?). Why to prioritize building a community around your brand. Why Pinterest is such a valuable traffic source (and how to get started with Pinterest SEO). What the future of search might look like. How she has strategically grown her email list and approaches the marketing funnel on her site. How to make your site more valuable (both for yourself and/or if you ever planning on selling your site). How she approaches buying and selling sites. Resources: Her Paper Route 297: Blog Flipping – Developing, Monetizing, and Selling Websites with Chelsea Clarke Google on Helpful Content Raptive Google Seach Liason on Twitter Pinterest The Simple Pin Podcast Pinteresting Strategies 2.0 by Carly Campbell Blogging Like We Mean It TikTok Niche Investor Epic Gardening Follow Chelsea on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Developing your own product line, diversifying income streams, and increasing brand awareness with Barbara Hobart. ----- Welcome to episode 455 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Barbara Hobart. Creating Your Own Products and Adding a Revenue Stream Barbara Hobart is a television writer and producer who also happens to work with food bloggers and other entrepreneurs to identify, create, and manufacture custom products. In this interview, Bjork and Barbara chat about why food creators might consider selling their own products to generate new revenue streams and increase brand awareness. They walk through all of Barbara's recommendations for how to develop, manufacture, and distribute a product, and what kinds of products tend to perform well for food creators. We always love to chat about diversifying income streams on the podcast, and this is a great episode to get you thinking about how you might do that! Don't miss it. In this episode, you'll learn: More about her background as a television writer and producer in Hollywood and how she (accidentally!) got started creating products. The importance of diversifying income as a creator. How someone should know if they're ready to build a physical product and/or a brand that sells products as a digital creator. Her recommendations for how to easily create, manufacture, and ship a product. Products that food creators might consider selling (and how to get started). The difference between white-labeling something and creating a custom product. What to know about food safety, insurance, and the importance of due diligence when selling your own food products. Why selling your own products can help you control your bottom line. Resources: BarbaraHobart.com 430: Grow Your Email List with ConvertKit's Creator Network with Nathan Barry ConvertKit Primal Kitchen Shopify Pinch of Yum Nom Nom Paleo Spice Blends Best Ever Backdrops Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Balancing two blogs, social media, and two dessert shops, using trends and viral videos to drive blog traffic, and winning a baking competition on Netflix with Catherine Zhang. ----- Welcome to episode 454 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Catherine Zhang. Catherine Zhang on Being a Netflix Star and the Power of Social Media Catherine Zhang has quite a resume: she was on (and won) NETFLIX's Zumbo's Just Desserts season 2, runs two food blogs, has over 1 million followers between Instagram and TikTok, and owns Kurepu Crepes — a dessert shop with locations in Perth and Sydney. She also happens to have a Bachelor of Science majoring in Food and Nutrition Science, and spent two years working in pastry kitchens. Safe to say, she has had tremendous success as a creator over the last few years. In this podcast interview, Bjork and Catherine chat about her professional journey, how she balances her businesses, and the power of social media. It is a really fun and inspiring interview — Catherine is so intentional about everything she does for her businesses and will definitely leave you with a lot to think about. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Catherine's professional journey (including opening two brick-and-mortar dessert shops, being on a Netflix show, and growing her Instagram following to 500,000+ followers). How she first started creating content online. How she applied for (and won!) the Netflix baking show, and how it impacted her online presence. How she balances her blog, social media accounts, and dessert shops (Kurepu Crepes). How she manages and maintains her blog (which gets 350,000+ monthly pageviews). Why she decided to start a second food blog (Dimsimlim) with her business partner (and how they qualified for Raptive within one week). How she uses social media, trends, and viral videos to drive blog traffic. What she's learned about the process of building a team and running a brick-and-mortar business. Resources: Catherine Zhang NETFLIX's Zumbo's Just Desserts Pinch of Yum Snackdive crumbl Dimsimlim Raptive Kurepu Crepes dimsimlim on Instagram Follow Catherine on Instagram and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Transitioning careers, deciding not to take your blog full-time, and using your blog as a business card with Vincent DelGiudice from Always From Scratch. ----- Welcome to episode 453 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Vincent DelGiudice from Always From Scratch. Balancing a Full-time Job and Your Food Blog We first met Vinny when he joined Bjork for a Coaching Call in 2023. He is on the podcast this week to chat more about his career journey — including how he made the leap from working as a full-time speech-language pathologist to where he is now. Vinny started his blog, Always From Scratch, in 2019 and has had lots of success in that short amount of time — including qualifying for Mediavine and reaching over 100,000 followers on Instagram. While he contemplated taking his site full-time last year, he has since decided to hold off and shares more about his decision-making process in this interview. Vinny and Bjork chat about balancing a full-time job with your blog, how you can use your blog as a "business card" for other job opportunities, and how to create a work-life that fills your cup. In this episode, you'll learn: What's changed since Vinny's Coaching Call with Bjork in the last 6 months. Why Vinny decided not to take his blog full-time (yet!). How he used his blog and Instagram account to get himself a full-time job in this industry. How he balances his full-time job, his blog, and his family. How to mentally justify the early days of blogging, when you're spending lots of time on something without yet making an income. How qualifying for Mediavine and reaching 100,000+ followers on Instagram changed his mindset. What advice he has for someone looking to make the transition into running their blog full-time. How to approach your work tasks to make help you be "gas tank full." Resources: Always From Scratch Food Blogger Pro Coaching Calls Pivot: The Only Move That Matters Is Your Next One Designing Your New Work Life Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life The War of Art Follow Vinny on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating content for YouTube, developing meal plans for your community, and strategizing for growing your brand with Nisha Vora from Rainbow Plant Life. Welcome to episode 452 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Nisha Vora from Rainbow Plant Life. YouTube, Meal Plans, and Business Growth Nisha Vora (who just so happens to be the YouTube Expert on Food Blogger Pro!) is back on the podcast this week to chat about all things YouTube, business growth, and meal plans! Bjork and Nisha kick off the conversation with a deep dive into YouTube — YouTube shorts, longer-form videos, monetization on the platform, and more. Nisha also recently launched Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life and shares more about the process of developing and marketing the meal plans, and what the future of Rainbow Plant Life might look like! In this episode, you'll learn: How she prioritizes creating content for her different platforms (blog, YouTube, newsletter, and social media). How her income varies between platforms. Her current strategy around YouTube Shorts vs. long-form videos (and how monetizing differs between the two). How she developed her meal plans product. Why surveying her audience played such an important role in the development of her meal plans. What meal plans version 2.0 might look like. How she tested and promoted her meal plans. How she continues to improve her skills as a content creator. How she balances creating content and managing the business side of Rainbow Plant Life. How she has grown the Rainbow Plant Life team. Resources: Rainbow Plant Life 302: Growth Strategies – Growing Your Brand on YouTube and Beyond with Nisha Vora Digiday Meal Plans by Rainbow Plant Life ConvertKit Eisenhower Matrix Follow Nisha on Instagram and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Memberful and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Navigating the evolution of online content creation, balancing SEO with creating content you love, and defining success for you with Katie Higgins from Chocolate Covered Katie. ----- Welcome to episode 451 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Katie Higgins from Chocolate Covered Katie. Staying True to Yourself as a Content Creator Katie first started creating content online in 2006 and has been making a living from her food blog, Chocolate Covered Katie for a long time. In her first podcast interview (!!!) Katie shares openly about navigating the online content creation space for almost 20 years and how she has stayed true to herself throughout that time. Katie has been very intentional about running her business in a way that prioritizes doing the things she loves — creating recipes, SEO, photography, FOOD, and letting go of the things she doesn't — video, sponsored content, Instagram. She has a really refreshing perspective on what success looks like and how she navigates imposter syndrome in the industry. We've been longtime followers of Katie and enjoyed getting a peek behind the scenes of her brand! In this episode, you'll learn: How she first started creating content on the internet (on Xanga!). How she started monetizing her site. How she has persevered through all of the iterations of what it looks like to publish content online. Why she prioritizes the parts of food blogging she likes (i.e. SEO) and doesn't worry about the things that she doesn't (i.e. video). How she balances SEO with creating content she loves. What success looks like for her right now (and how she deals with imposter syndrome). Why she is working to make the user experience better on her site. Why she's chosen not to do sponsored content for her blog or social media accounts. Resources: Chocolate Covered Katie Pinterest Semrush Vivid Vision Follow Katie on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started at foodbloggerpro.com/work-with-us. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Delegating tasks, batching content, and planning ahead with Jessica Hylton Leckie from Jessica in the Kitchen. ----- Welcome to episode 450 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jessica Hylton Leckie from Jessica in the Kitchen. Planning for Extended Time Away from Your Food Blog Jessica first started her blog 10 years ago when she was in school pursuing a law degree. Since that time, she has continued to scale her business and now receives 1–2 million pageviews each month. While pregnant with her first child, Jessica knew that she wanted to take some time away from her business to focus on being a mom. In the process, she developed a strategy for planning extended time away from your food blog and social media accounts, without losing any of the momentum she had worked so hard to build. Whether you're hoping to take a maternity/paternity leave, need time away to support a family member or loved one, or just need a break from being an entrepreneur, this is an incredibly valuable episode all about the importance of planning ahead, delegating, and learning to let go. In this episode, you'll learn: How she transitioned from her baking business to her food blog (all while in law school)! How she scaled her brand to 1–2 million monthly pageviews and over 1 million followers across her social media accounts. How (and why) she decided to leave her career in law to pursue her career as a food creator. How she planned ahead on her blog and social media for her year-long maternity leave. Why she found it valuable to outsource certain tasks and work "on" her business instead of working "in" her business. How she approaches delegating work. Resources: Jessica in the Kitchen Moz The Tipping Point The E Myth Revisited Follow Jessica on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti, Memberful, and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying income streams, working as a private celebrity chef, and scaling his food blog from 6,000 to 45,000 monthly page views in 5 months with Matthew Duffy. ----- Welcome to episode 449 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Matthew Duffy. Monetizing Through Bread, Courses, and a Food Blog We first got to know Matthew when he joined Bjork for a 2-hour-long marathon Coaching Call as a Food Blogger Pro member. He started his career in food as a professional chef in Michelin-starred restaurants before becoming a private chef to a slew of celebrities. Since that time, Matthew has become an online food creator with his courses, social media accounts, and food blog (while also baking lots of bread and panettone on the side). Since his Coaching Call last fall, Matthew has kept the FBP team updated on his progress with his site (spoiler alert: there has been a lot of progress!). One major win? His site traffic has grown from 6,000 monthly pageviews to over 45,000 in just 5 months! In this interview, Matthew shares more about his professional background, why he decided to start sharing content on social media and his blog, more about his different streams of income, and lots more. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Matthew's background as a professional, celebrity, and private chef. Why he started teaching about bread. How he transitioned his career into the online space and prioritized Instagram. How he has built his brand and business online while also growing his bakery business. Why he decided to work with a brand management agency. About his different streams of income (in-person and online classes, selling bread, AdSense, and affiliate marketing). How he scaled from 6,000 monthly pageviews to 45,000 in 5 months. Why he and his wife are focusing on the blog right now. Resources: MatthewJamesDuffy.com Food Blogger Pro Coaching Calls Bread: A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes by Jeffrey Hamelman Matty Matheson on Instagram Teachable Mijune Pak Follow Matthew on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and CultivateWP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Using trending audio on TikTok, navigating the social media algorithms, and creating video content with Faith Christensen from Faith's Fresh. ----- Welcome to episode 448 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Faith Christensen. How Faith Christensen Grew Her TikTok and Instagram Platforms to 2.5 Million Followers Faith first started posting food content to Instagram and TikTok when she was in 2019 when she learned she was intolerant to gluten and dairy. Since that time, she has taken her career as a food creator full-time and grown her social media accounts to over 2.5 million followers (!!!). In this interview, Bjork and Faith talk about Faith's strategy for creating video content, how she uses trending audio, her tips for navigating the algorithms, and why she decided to work with a management agency to support her with brand partnerships. If you're looking to up your game on TikTok or Instagram this year, you won't want to skip this interview! In this episode, you'll learn: How Faith grew her social accounts to over 2.5 million followers. More about how she uses trending audio on TikTok. About her process for creating video content on Instagram and/or TikTok. How she approaches reposting content between platforms. Her thoughts on navigating the algorithms on social media. The importance of changing camera angles when filming videos for TikTok. Why she exclusively edits on her phone. How she uses analytics to shape her strategy on TikTok and Instagram. Why she decided to work with a management agency. Resources: Follow Faith on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Capcut Digital Brand Architects Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Memberful and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Approaching risk as an entrepreneur, diversifying your income, and learning more about the changes in the world of search with Ewen Finser. ----- Welcome to episode 447 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ewen Finser. How to Diversify Your Traffic and Income The last few years have brought big changes to the online content creation world — AI, Google algorithm changes, you name it! As an entrepreneur, these changes can feel overwhelming, discouraging, and even scary. So… what can you do about it? That's why we asked Ewen Finser back on the podcast! He knows a lot about the importance of diversifying your business — from traffic sources to income and everything in between. Bjork and Ewen chat about how to diversify your traffic income, how to approach risk, and different strategies and tools for managing your finances. Don't miss this interview! In this episode, you'll learn: About some of the changes happening in the world of search. More about search generative experience on Google. How to approach risk on search, email, and social media platforms to help create a stable foundation for your business. How to think about the income you're creating from your business as an investor. The importance of diversifying your income. How to approach scaling your business and managing risk. About Ewen's favorite tools and apps for money management. Resources: Venture 4th Media 243: Best-in-Class Content – Keyword Research, Creating Value, and Authority with Ewen Finser Tiny Bites: Understanding and Reacting to Google Algorithm Updates Niche Media Publishing Google September 2023 Helpful Content Update – Changes To The Algorithm Future PLC 443: Why David Lebovitz Switched from Blogging to Substack MarketBeat Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine Mercury LiveOakBank TreasuryDirect Wealthfront American Deposit Management Co. Max My Interest Monarch Money Follow Ewen on LinkedIn Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by CultivateWP and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Promoting your work, creating multiple forms of content for different platforms, and positioning yourself as an expert with Erin Jeanne McDowell. ----- Welcome to episode 446 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Erin Jeanne McDowell. How to Position Yourself as an Expert Erin Jeanne McDowell is a cookbook author, food blogger, and video creator who brings lots of joy to everyone who follows along with her. In this interview, Bjork and Erin discuss her career journey so far, and how it all started with her love of writing. Erin discusses her approach to creating multiple forms of content for her many platforms, including how she balances creating video content for Food52 and her own YouTube channel. She has come to be one of the leading experts on baking in the online space and you'll learn lots of her secrets in this great interview! In this episode, you'll learn: How Erin's entrepreneurial journey as a food creator started. The importance of prompts in writing. How she has approached the promotion of her cookbooks. Her strategy for creating multiple forms of content (without getting too overwhelmed). What it is like creating content for Food52 vs. her brand. How she thinks about her schedule and productivity. How she has become the ultimate expert in baking as a content creator. Resources: Erin Jeanne McDowell Food52 Snackdive Bake It Up a Notch! on Food52 Real Baking with Rose The Book on Pie Pillars of Productivity Savory Baking The Fearless Baker Happy Baking Follow Erin on Instagram and TikTok Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti, Memberful, and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Pursuing zero-based dream building, being intentional about educating yourself, and focusing on yourself and the needs of your audience with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 445 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we have a solo episode with Bjork! Zero-Based Dream Building for Content Creators In this solo episode, Bjork is chatting all about the concept of zero-based dream building. He discusses why you might want to try this strategy when thinking about growing your business and following your dreams, as well as how to go about zero-based dream building. Bjork goes through a step-by-step process of zero-based dream building, which should help you as you're thinking about setting goals for your business and for personal growth! It's a short but sweet, thought-provoking episode — the perfect listen as we head into 2024. In this episode, you'll learn: How to approach 'zero-based dream building.' The importance of staying in your own lane when building your dream (i.e. business). Why you should focus on yourself (how you like to communicate and what you'd like to be an expert in). Why you should focus on the needs of your audience during this process. How to pursue getting a tiny bit better every day at a medium and a topic. How to be intentional about how you educate yourself. Resources: Readwise Reader Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Cultivate WP. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.