The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Creating a brand aesthetic, sharing lifestyle content, and prioritizing brand partnerships with Remy Park from Veggiekins. ----- Welcome to episode 438 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Remy Park. Balancing Lifestyle and Recipe Content Remy's journey to food blogging started as a means of overcoming her history of disordered eating and addiction by sharing a diary-like view into her favorite recipes and lifestyle. Many years later, her blog, Veggiekins, is now her full-time job. Remy is a pro at balancing sharing lifestyle and recipe content on her various social media platforms and blog, and she explains more about her strategy for repurposing content in this interview. She also shares how she filters what she shares with her followers and how she handles negativity online. Last but not least, Remy gives her advice for creating a uniform brand aesthetic in her photographs and on her site. It's a wide-reaching and inspiring interview — grab your headphones! In this episode, you'll learn: Remy's journey to veganism and how it changed her life and provided a purpose for her blog. What her day-to-day workflow looks like, and how she approaches outsourcing her work. How she thinks about documenting her life and sharing lifestyle content on social media. How she balances creating and repurposing content for multiple platforms. Why she prioritizes brand partnerships and how she maintains relationships with brands. How she creates an aesthetic and consistent visual look for her brand. How she deals with negativity on social media. More about the process of writing her cookbook. Resources: Veggiekins 384: How Toni Okamoto Runs Two Food Blogs and Grew Her Email List to Over 80,000 Subscribers Sesame, Soy, Spice Pre-order Follow Remy on Instagram and YouTube 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.

Finding your voice as a creator, understanding cultural appropriation, and cultivating gratitude with Marta Rivera Diaz from Sense and Edibility. ----- Welcome to episode 437 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Marta Rivera Diaz from Sense and Edibility. How Grief, a Diagnosis with MS, and Biracial Background Shaped Marta Rivera Diaz's Career as a Food Creator Every once in a while on the Food Blogger Pro Podcast, we have an episode that feels like "required listening" for food creators. This is one of them! Bjork and Marta have a really thoughtful and moving conversation about the importance of finding your voice as a food creator and presenting your authentic self to your followers and community. Marta grew up as a child of two active-duty airmen and as a biracial individual (she is half-Black and half-Puerto Rican). She was also diagnosed with MS in her early thirties. All of these experiences have shaped her as a person and as a creator. She speaks beautifully about the effects of her background on her personality and her work, and why it is so important to her to share recipes that reflect her heritage. It's a perfect episode for the week after Thanksgiving, as we all reflect on what we're grateful for in our personal and professional lives. Don't miss it! In this episode, you'll learn: How Marta's background impacted how she presents herself to the world (and why she's working to change that). How she found her voice and true self as a creator. More about her culinary background and how she came to create Sense and Edibility. How her diagnosis with MS in her early thirties changed the trajectory of her career. How her seasons of grief shaped her approach to cooking and creating. What D, E, I, A (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) is and how it relates to the food blogging community. The difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation. What advice Marta would give to her younger self. Resources: Sense and Edibility The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts The Gap and the Gain Follow Marta 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 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.

Understanding the Pinterest algorithm, focusing on user engagement, and hiring out the management of your Pinterest account with Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media. ----- Welcome to episode 436 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media. How to Find Success on Pinterest in 2024 This is Kate's sixth (!!!) episode on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast because she is our go-to resource when it comes to all things Pinterest. And there have been a lot of changes to Pinterest in recent years! Kate is here to explain those changes (sunsetting Idea Pins, evolving algorithms, and the rise of video) and more in this interview. She also shares more about how her team at Simple Pin Media manages Pinterest accounts for food creators (including Pinch of Yum) and what success looks like on Pinterest. If you're confused about Pinterest strategy (who isn't?!) and/or need some motivation to get back into posting on the platform, this is the interview for you! In this episode, you'll learn: How Pinterest has changed in recent years (hint: video! algorithm!). Why you need to focus on user engagement when planning your Pinterest content. How the Pinterest algorithm has evolved. How to think about brand partnerships on Pinterest. Why Idea Pins are no longer a thing (and what the new format looks like). How to repurpose Instagram or YouTube content for Pinterest. What success looks like for Simple Pin Media when managing a Pinterest account (like Pinch of Yum's). How to track Pinterest analytics in GA4. How to hire out the management of your Pinterest account. Resources: Simple Pin Media HerPaperRoute Rhodium Weekend The Simple Pin Podcast Pinterest Investor Overview Detailed Follow Kate on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn 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.

Running a mission-driven food blog, balancing business with purpose, and creating a recipe-testing process with Michelle Cehn from World of Vegan. ----- Welcome to episode 435 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Michelle Cehn from World of Vegan. Prioritizing Recipe Testing and Purpose in Food Blogging Michelle has been blogging for a long time (she even has the @vegan handle on Instagram!) and has been passionate about animal rights and vegan cooking from the get-go. But her approach to sharing that mission with her readers has evolved over the years, and she explains more about why in this interview. Michelle also shares more about how she balances the aspects of her job that bring her joy and a sense of purpose with the business and financial side of running a food blog. Last but certainly not least, Michelle and Bjork chat about the recipe testing process that Michelle has used for her cookbook and for her blog, and how she recruits volunteers to help test each of her recipes. In this episode, you'll learn: How and why Michelle started a vegan blog and how her approach to sharing vegan recipes has changed over the years. How Michelle and Toni Okamato monetized their sites with meal plans. How she balances a mission-driven and profit-driven approach to her business. What the recipe testing process at World of Vegan looks like. About the recipe testing process (with over 75 volunteers!) for Michelle's cookbook. The exact questions Michelle asks her recipe testers for each recipe. Resources: World of Vegan 384: How Toni Okamoto Runs Two Food Blogs and Grew Her Email List to Over 80,000 Subscribers Plant Based on a Budget Plant Based on a Budget Meal Plans The Plant-Powered People Podcast The Friendly Vegan Cookbook Follow Michelle on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group This episode is sponsored by Cultivate WP 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

Welcome to Tiny Bites from the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ewen Finser from Venture 4th Media about the recent Google algorithm updates. ----- Google has been… very busy in Q3 and Q4 of 2023. If the updates feel nonstop, it's because they have been: Core Update at the end of August/early September Helpful Content Update in September Spam Update in October Core Update in October Another Core Update in November Some of these updates may impact your site traffic positively, some may impact your site traffic negatively, and some may have no real impact. But every update tends to cause some unease for online creators. So what can you do about them? What exactly is the Google algorithm and why is it updated? The Google algorithm is essentially how Google indexes and categorizes all of the content that is published online. You can also think of it as Google's ever-changing thesis on what constitutes 'good' or 'valuable' content. Updates occur in response to new information Google has, tweaks to what they think is valuable, and/or how they measure or evaluate content. The algorithm is constantly changing and evolving. As Ewen mentions in the interview, Google released their most recent Helpful Content Update and used AI to determine if entire sites were helpful or not helpful (while previous updates tended to be on a post-by-post basis). If a certain percentage of your content is deemed unhelpful, your content will be deprioritized in the algorithm. This update did not include rewarding helpful sites, but rather penalizing unhelpful sites. How should you approach the Google algorithm updates? The #1 thing you can do to anticipate and respond to Google algorithm updates is to focus on creating high-quality, user-first content. There will be ebbs and flows with every Google update — know that if your traffic goes down with one update, it might go up with the next update. Because of this, it's important to avoid huge course corrections after updates. But what if your site was negatively impacted and you can't figure out why? Ewen has noticed a few takeaways from the recent Google algorithm updates that might explain why: Older sites tend to perform better. Market leaders tend to perform better. User experience with display ads may play a role. Topical relevance matters (i.e. does your content cover too broad of a subject matter? Do you have gaps in your content?) How should you respond to Google algorithm updates? The first thing to do after any update is to let the dust settle. It usually takes two weeks to roll out an update. Wait to change anything on your site so that you can determine that any traffic changes were, in fact, due to the update (and not just a natural ebb or flow). Ewen shared lots of great tips for reacting to Google updates and creating content that is more resilient when these algorithm updates do come. Here are a few of our favorites: Use data (like from Google Analytics) to inform decisions. Experiment and test hypotheses. Understand what your audience wants. Avoid chasing trends that are only working right now. Solve a problem for your audience. Follow SEO best-practices. If you're looking for more concrete suggestions for responding to an algorithm update traffic dip, consider: Turning down the ads on your site for a bit, or removing intrusive video ads for a time. See if that change has any effect on user experience and/or site traffic. Filter through your content and consider the posts that aren't getting any traffic at all. Update those posts if they are relevant to your overall content strategy and have the potential for traffic. Otherwise, delete/redirect. Look at your inventory to assess where you have big gaps in content. Consider diversifying your traffic sources (email, social, etc.). Last, but not least, check out this guide from Google with questions to ask yourself to help you uncover potential opportunities for improving your content. Thanks, again, to Ewen for joining us on the podcast. We hope this episode provided some additional context, guidance, and encouragement when it comes to Google algorithm updates. Learn more: Venture 4th Media Semrush Ahrefs Search Quality Rater Program Guidelines 243: Best-in-Class Content – Keyword Research, Creating Value, and Authority with Ewen Finser Google is slowly killing blogging by Spencer Haws Ewen on LinkedIn Niche Media Publishing Content Teams A Q&A on Google Search updates 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 three food blogs as a family, organizing retreats for food bloggers, and leveling up your email marketing strategy with Taryn Scarfone from Joy Filled Eats. ----- Welcome to episode 434 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Taryn Scarfone from Joy Filled Eats. Navigating Google Algorithm Updates, Leaning into Email Marketing, and Running Three Food Blogs Taryn started Joy Filled Eats eight years ago and has recently started two additional food blogs, one with her 14-year-old daughter and one with her husband. With each new blog, her approach has become more intentional and strategic — and has seen more rapid success as a result. In this interview, Taryn shares more about how she manages the responsibilities of three food blogs. She also speaks to the effects of recent Google Algorithm updates and why she has prioritized email marketing for Joy Filled Eats. Taryn has also hosted a mastermind group for food bloggers, as well as an in-person retreat with fellow food creators. She explains the process of organizing both, in case you feel inspired to do the same! In this episode, you'll learn: How she came to have three food blogs and why she enjoys running these sites with her family. What it's like to juggle the responsibilities for all three sites. How they grew A Grill for All Season to 150,000 monthly pageviews. How her sites have been affected by Google Algorithm updates and how they recover from updates in which the sites are negatively impacted. More about Google Discover and how it can affect site traffic. How she organized a retreat and a mastermind group for food bloggers. How she leveled up her email marketing strategy and grew her email list to 40,000+ subscribers. Resources: Joy Filled Eats A Grill for All Seasons Baking Me Hungry Google Discover 430: Grow Your Email List with ConvertKit's Creator Network with Nathan Barry Sidetracked Sarah Raptive Evolving Table It is a Keeper Email Crush by Matt Molen ConvertKit LiveIntent 201: Email Marketing for Bloggers with Matt Molen Follow Taryn 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.

Solving a problem for your readers, monetizing and scaling a food blog, and creating a community of creators with Zhen Zhou from Greedy Girl Gourmet. ----- Welcome to episode 433 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Zhen Zhou from Greedy Girl Gourmet. Transitioning from the Corporate World to Full-time Creator We first got to know Zhen when she joined Bjork for a Coaching Call on Food Blogger Pro back in July, and we loved that conversation so much we wanted to bring her on the podcast! In this interview, Zhen shares more about her journey from working in the corporate world to working full-time as a content creator. She shares her strategy for monetizing from the early days of blogging up until now, and how she has diversified her income. Zhen is also working to create a community of food bloggers through her Facebook group (Connecting Bloggers) and is very transparent with the steps she's taken to find success as a creator. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Zhen's Coaching Call with Bjork (lessons learned, takeaways, etc.). Why she started a Facebook group to connect food bloggers. The differences between her corporate job and her current role as a creator, and how she made the leap out of the corporate world. What the monetization of her site has looked like over recent years. The things that were most helpful for her to implement when trying to replace her corporate income with blogging. How she diversified her income. What her plans for scaling and diversifying her business look like (keeping in mind changes to third-party cookies and AI). Her best advice for beginning food bloggers. Resources: Greedy Girl Gourmet Food Blogger Pro Coaching Calls Mediavine Food Bloggers Central Connecting Bloggers Y Combinator Basecamp 18 Ways to Make Money From Your Food Blog in 2023 RhodiumWeekend Interbrand Chat GPT Bard Substack The Woks of Life Follow Zhen on Instagram 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

Evolving your content strategy as a creator, building a village of food creators, and managing outreach to brands with Morgan Peaceman from Nomaste Hungry. ----- Welcome to episode 432 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Morgan Peaceman from Nomaste Hungry. Creating a Community of Food Bloggers Food blogging (or any career as an online creator or entrepreneur) can sometimes feel like a lonely space. But Morgan Peaceman is working to change that! Morgan started her blog back in 2018 and has been cultivating a food blogging village ever since. She is extremely intentional about reaching out to fellow food bloggers and like-minded brands to build her community. She has seen increased success since growing her community, which she attributes to sharing resources, experiences, and contacts with other food creators. In this episode, Morgan talks more about how she has the confidence to reach out to other creators and brands, and why she thinks it's so important to do so. In this episode, you'll learn: How to create a community of like-minded food bloggers. About the early days of Nomaste Hungry and how her content stategy has changed over the years. Her advice for reaching out to connect with other food creators. How to be more confident when reaching out to brands for partnerships. How she tracks and manages her communications and follow-ups with brands. Resources: Nomaste Hungry A Couple Cooks Folk App Salesforce Superhuman Boomerang Follow Morgan on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Businessese and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors by going to foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. 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

Starting a membership site, managing slow periods as an entrepreneur, and shifting your mindset around success with Lauren Toyota from hot for food. ----- Welcome to episode 431 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lauren Toyota from Hot for Food. The Highs and Lows of Being a Food Creator for Over a Decade Lauren Toyota has been blogging for almost ten years and has had tremendous success during the past decade — two cookbooks, 450,000 subscribers on YouTube, and qualifying for Raptive. But all of these high points have been balanced by some professional lows, especially since the pandemic and becoming a mother. Lauren is incredibly honest in this interview about the current "slow" period of her business, and how her mindset has changed around her business goals recently. She openly shares her struggles, and how she views the future of hot for food. As part of the future of hot for food is Lauren's membership (EAT IT). Lauren walks listeners through the process of starting a membership and why she enjoys creating that type of content so much. This is a raw, transparent, brutally honest interview that we know will resonate with many of you! In this episode, you'll learn: What's changed (and what's stayed the same) since Bjork and Lauren last chatted on the podcast in 2016. The different experiences Lauren had writing and marketing her two cookbooks. How her business and mindset have changed over the last decade (especially due to the pandemic and becoming a mother). What the future of hot for food might look like. Why she decided to start a membership (EAT IT) on her website and what the process has looked like. How she's approaching creating content and growing her audience on YouTube. Resources: Hot for Food 079: How Finding a Unique Niche Led to YouTube Success with Lauren Toyota from Hot For Food Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face hot for food all day: easy recipes to level up your vegan meals The Iced Coffee Hour 1000 True Fans EAT IT by hot for food MemberPress The Getaway Co. Follow Lauren on Instagram and hot for food's YouTube page and her personal YouTube page Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Once Coupled and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors by going to foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. 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 started with ConvertKit's Creator Network, collaborating with other creators to accelerate growth, and monetizing your email list with Nathan Barry. ----- Welcome to episode 430 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Nathan Barry from ConvertKit. Grow Your Email List with ConvertKit's Creator Network Nathan Barry is back on the podcast this week to chat about all things email marketing and strategic business growth. ConvertKit recently started the Creator Network and Nathan is here to explain what it is, as well as how food creators can use it to grow their email lists. Nathan walks listeners through how to get started with the Creator Network and shares compelling case studies about how creators have strategically utilized the Creator Network as part of their business models. This is a great episode for anyone looking to diversify their income streams in a new way. We think you'll leave this episode feeling inspired to try something new and with a fresh perspective on sharing your content. In this episode, you'll learn: How ConvertKit has changed over the years and what it offers to creators. How email should fit into your marketing model. Why ConvertKit started the Creator Network (and more about how it works). How to get started with the Creator Network. Tips for optimizing your profile on the Creator Network. How to use the Creator Network strategically to optimize growth for your email list. How to collaborate with other creators within the Creator Network. More about ConvertKit's acquisition of SparkLoop and how to monetize through SparkLoop. About flywheels and how the concept applies to business. Resources: ConvertKit 140: From $300k in Product Sales to $9m in Software Sales with Nathan Barry Follow Nathan on Twitter James Clear: The 3–2–1 Newsletter Sahil Bloom: Curiosity Chronicle Ryan Holiday: Reading List Susan Cain: The Kindred Letters Lamberts Lately The Perfect Loaf 393: How Passion and Sourdough Feed a 9 Million Pageview Food Blog with Maurizio Leo SparkLoop Morning Brew The Skimm The Hustle ActiveCampaign MailChimp NathanBarry.com Mark's Daily Apple Primal Kitchen The Billion Dollar Creator essay Billion Dollar Creator Podcast Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Businessese and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors by going to foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. 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.

Shooting multiple recipes in one day, styling 'hard to style' foods, and reaching out to brands for partnerships with Rachel Korinek from Two Loves Studio. ----- Welcome to episode 429 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Rachel Korinek from Two Loves Studio. Tips for Styling, Editing, and Monetizing Food Photography Food photography can be overwhelming, no matter if you're a beginner or if you've been blogging for a decade! Luckily we have Rachel Korinek to help walk us through the tips and tricks that make food photography and editing just a little bit easier. In this podcast episode, Bjork and Rachel chat about Rachel's journey as an entrepreneur, and how her definition of success has changed over the years. She also shares her strategies for shooting multiple recipes in one day, and how she prepares in advance for her food photography days. She also has lots of valuable advice about styling foods that aren't photogenic (meatloaf, anyone?). The episode ends with a series of listener questions about phone photography, editing, and background props — it's a good one! In this episode, you'll learn: How Rachel got into a career in food photography and the different stages of her business. What the seasons of success and the seasons of reinvention have looked like for her business. How she tackles shooting multiple recipes in one day. How she sets herself up for success before big photography days. Her recommendations for growing your team to help with efficiency with photography. Some of the common mistakes she sees food photographers make with food styling. Her tips for styling 'hard to style' foods. Why she primarily shoots with artificial lighting these days and the tools she recommends. How she approaches reaching out to brands for partnerships. The three core edits she recommends for editing photographs. Her recommendations for background props. Tips for using your phone for food photography. Resources: Two Loves Studio 154: 5 Tips to Improve Your Food Photography with Rachel Korinek Backlinko The Pez Outlaw The Legend of Cocaine Island Rachel's Simple (Yet Beautiful) Artificial Light for Food Photography YouTube Tutorial Adobe Lightroom Capture One Follow Rachel on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Businessese and Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors by going to foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. 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! In this episode of Tiny Bites, Bjork interviews Alison Bechdol from Digital-ade about GA4 data models and how to change yours if your data isn't looking quite right. As of July 1, 2023 Google Analytics 4, or GA4, is the default property within Google Analytics. There is a steep (and, it seems, long) learning curve to using GA4, especially because GA4 uses and collects data completely differently than Universal Analytics (or UA) did. New metrics, new language, new data… it's a lot to familiarize yourself with! In this podcast interview (our first episode of Tiny Bites!), Bjork chats with Alison Bechdol (who is also the Google Analytics Expert here at Food Blogger Pro) about some tips and trips that will make this transition from UA to GA4 a little easier. Resources: Google Looker Studio 363: What Bloggers Need to Know About Google Analytics 4 with Alison Bechdol Digital-ade The Insite Co Head over to foodbloggerpro.com/podcast to find the full episode shownotes! 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

Surveying your audience, Identifying pain points in your community, and starting a meal planning membership app as a food creator with Liam Smith from MealPro App. ----- Welcome to episode 428 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Liam Smith from the MealPro App. How to Diversify Your Income with a Meal Planning Membership App If you've been listening to The Food Blogger Pro Podcast for any length of time, you know how important it is to diversify your income as a food blogger. And one of the ways that you might consider doing that is by starting a meal planning membership app! Liam Smith founded the MealPro App as a white-label meal planning app to allow food creators to easily (and affordably) personalize an app for their community. Bjork and Liam chat about the process of developing the app, how food bloggers can monetize through the app, and the importance of surveying your community to better meet their needs. In this episode, you'll learn: About Liam's background in tech. What inspired him to develop his own meal planning app (the MealPro App). What no-code tools are and how we use them. All about his low-risk process for developing, testing, and marketing the app. How food creators might use the MealPro App to create a membership community. How to identify the problems or pain points your community needs help solving. The importance of surveying your audience to help refine your content strategy. What it looks like to start a membership through the MealPro App. How to monetize within the MealPro App (and how much money you might expect to make). Resources: MealPro App BBC Good Food The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss Upwork Webflow Bubble Y Combinator Mind the Product: How I Built an App Without Writing a Line of Code Fiverr MealPro App Masterclass ConvertKit ChatGPT WP Recipe Maker Teachable Kajabi Kevin Kelly: 1000 True Fans MealPro App Pricing Follow MealPro App on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Blogging with a global audience, diversifying website traffic sources, and tailoring content depending on the platform with Arman Liew from The Big Man's World. ----- Welcome to episode 427 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Arman Liew from The Big Man's World. Why Diversifying Your Website Traffic Matters Arman has been blogging for almost ten years now and has a really fresh perspective on everything from sponsored content to social media. He is really honest about some of the struggles he's faced with blogging over the years (fickle algorithms, anyone?) and how those have led to a very strategic and intentional approach to his site nowadays. Arman also shares more about what it's like to be a food blogger in Australia, and why he's chosen to prioritize an American audience with his content. It's a really entertaining and thought-provoking interview — don't miss it! In this episode, you'll learn: About the early days of The Big Man's World. How Arman was able to leave his full-time job to work on his blog. What strategies Arman found to be the most effective in growing his site. How he reached out to brands for sponsored content and decided what to charge. About how he put all his eggs in the Pinterest basket — and how he has recovered from that. How he transitioned from prioritizing Pinterest traffic to SEO. The importance of diversifying your traffic sources. How he tailors his content and voice depending on the platform. How he grew his team. Why he prioritizes an American audience despite blogging from Australia. What he's most excited about with his business right now. Resources: The Big Man's World Wayback Machine Pinterest Pinch of Yum NerdPress Raptive Atlassian Envato Follow Arman on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 social media strategy, avoiding overwhelm, and navigating new tools and trends in the social media space with Andrea Balogun. ----- Welcome to episode 426 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Andrea Balogun from Balogun Strategy & Design. Social Media Deep Dive: Threads, X, and AI Social media is constantly changing — new algorithms, new platforms, new trends. It's hard to keep up and it's easy to get overwhelmed. But luckily we have Andrea Balogun to help walk us through it all! Andrea's back on the podcast to talk about the hot topics in social media right now. She explains more about the Threads app and why food creators might consider adding it to their social media strategy. Andrea also imparts her wisdom around crafting a social media strategy and being intentional about how you create content for social media to avoid burnout. Andrea and Bjork also chat about new tools and AI in the social media space and how to incorporate them into your workflow. If you're on social media as a content creator, this is a must-listen! In this episode, you'll learn: About the work Andrea does at Balogun Strategy & Design. What Threads is and how food creators can use it. Why you might want to activate your Threads account sooner rather than later. The kinds of topics that perform well on Threads and/or Twitter/X. How to develop a social media strategy to avoid getting overwhelmed. How to approach creating content for social media. About new tools in the social media space that can make your life easier. How to use AI tools in your social media content creation. Resources: Balogun Strategy & Design The Food Blogger Pro Podcast 329: Social Media Strategy – Creating a Content Plan, Growing Your Following, and Diversifying Your Platforms with Andrea Balogun Threads @StripMallGuy @ViperChill Full Focus LifeScore Assessment Buffer Klap Dumme OpusClip Notion ChatGPT Bard Follow Andrea on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Blogging within a narrow niche, diversifying your income streams, and growing your team with Amy Palanjian from Yummy Toddler Food. ----- Welcome to episode 425 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Amy Palanjian. Thriving within a Niche and Creating Your Dream Job Amy Palanjian first started her blog, Yummy Toddler Food, in 2014. Since then, she has been incredibly intentional about every aspect of her business, from her content strategy and becoming an authority in her niche, to diversifying income streams and email marketing. In this interview, Bjork and Amy chat about all of these aspects of her business, and how she has worked to create a role for herself at Yummy Toddler Food that looks as close as possible to her dream job. It's a must-listen episode for anyone thinking about picking a niche, and how to grow your business within that niche. In this episode, you'll learn: About Amy's career journey, from working in magazines to starting Yummy Toddler Food in 2014. What skills and knowledge Amy uses towards food blogging from her decade in the magazine industry. How she has built her affiliate marketing strategy. What it's like to blog within a narrow niche. How she strategized to diversify her income streams. Why she decided to transition from selling ebooks to selling a printed cookbook. How and why she outsourced certain tasks in her business. The process that she used to organize all of her business-related files. How she built her job description to reflect what she actually enjoys doing. Her approach to email marketing, and why she uses both Substack and ConvertKit. Her strategy for growing her email list. Why she chose to work with a manager for her sponsored content. Resources: Yummy Toddler Food Squarespace WordPress Pinch of Yum Yummy Toddler Food eBooks and Cookbook Emily Perron The Food Blogger Pro Podcast #286: Build Your Team – How to Write an Eye-Catching Job Listing and Hire the Right People with Emily Perron The Food Blogger Pro Podcast #365: How to Find Your Zone of Genius and Hire the Right People with Emily Perron Google Workspace Substack ConvertKit Email Crush by Matt Molen Mailchimp The Food Blogger Pro Podcast #201: Email Marketing for Bloggers with Matt Molen Canva Cookit Media MealPro App Follow Amy on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Analyzing how AI could disrupt the world of digital content creation, strategizing for the future of food blogging, and understanding Raptive's initiatives to protect online content. ----- Welcome to episode 424 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Paul Bannister from Raptive. The Future of Content Creation (and Protection) in a World of AI It's hard to keep up with AI, as the technology, legislation, and our understanding of it, are rapidly evolving. As content creators, it's imperative that we stay as informed as possible to understand how AI will alter the future of food blogging, and what we need to do now to stay ahead of these changes. And that's why Paul Bannister is back on the podcast this week! Bjork and Paul discuss how AI tools are currently using existing content, like recipes from food blogs, and how online search might change in the coming years. They share actionable steps you can take to protect your content, and how you might want to change your content and business strategy in a world of AI. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the content creation space. In this episode, you'll learn: How AI has the power to disrupt the world of content creation and SEO. What Generative AI is. How AI tools use existing online content (like recipes). How AI might change online search and search traffic patterns. What the path forward for content creators looks like. How to prevent the GPTBot from crawling your site. What you can do to protect your content moving forward. How to approach balancing SEO vs. creating content in your own unique voice that connects with your audience. The importance of diversifying traffic sources. Resources: Raptive ChatGPT Bard Midjourney Runway Stable Diffusion Reddit will begin charging for access to its API OpenAI GPTBot Yoast How to prevent GPTBot from crawling your site 091: Optimizing Recipes for SEO with Joost De Valk from Yoast SEO Raptive's AI Open Letter The Washington Post: Inside the secret list of websites that make AI like ChatGPT sound smart How to sign the Consent to Advocate for Responsible AI agreement (CARA) Google's SGE Kevin Kelly: 1000 True Fans Search Engine Land Follow Paul on Twitter Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Educating their audience about data privacy, prioritizing annual goal setting, and building a team with Liz and Lauren Allen from Tastes Better from Scratch. ----- Welcome to episode 423 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lauren and Liz Allen from Tastes Better from Scratch. Building a Food Blog with 11 Million Monthly Pageviews Twin sisters Liz and Lauren Allen started Tastes Better from Scratch in 2009 and have been working together on the blog ever since. They are incredibly strategic about every aspect of their business, from hiring and content creation to data privacy and goal setting. In this interview, Bjork chats with Liz and Lauren about how they've expanded their business over the years and worked to maintain the huge growth they saw in 2020 that skyrocketed their pageviews from 5 to 11 million per month. They are also open and honest about their plans for the future of Tastes Better from Scratch in a world with AI and changing data privacy laws. If you're looking for new ways to think about growing your business while leaning into your strengths, you won't want to miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: About the origin story of Tastes Better from Scratch. How they went from 5 million monthly pageviews to 11 million monthly pageviews in 2020, and how they've maintained that growth since then. Their approach to updating and republishing content. What tools they use to analyze how their content is performing. How they plan their content calendars. What the Tastes Better from Scratch team looks like, and how they decide to outsource a task. How they create processes for their business. How they develop their annual plans and goals for the business. What they think the future of food blogging looks like (AI, data privacy, digital advertising, etc.). Why they're prioritizing email marketing right now. What they think the most important skills are in their current roles. Resources: Tastes Better from Scratch Semrush Google Analytics Google Search Console Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert Loom Slack Monday.com Bard Tastes Better from Scratch Meal Plans Manychat Follow Liz and Lauren on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Reinvesting in your business, working together as a couple, and prioritizing video with Liz and Paul Madsen from Zardyplants. ----- Welcome to episode 422 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Liz and Paul Madsen from Zardyplants. Why Success as a Food Blogger Isn't Linear Liz and Paul Madsen started Zardyplants in 2018 as a way to share their favorite plant-based comfort food recipes with readers. Over the last five years, they've worked together to grow the site (and Paul now works full-time for their business)! Liz and Paul share about the early days of Zardyplants, and how their processes and business have changed over the years. They have really practical advice about the importance of reinvesting in your business, being strategic around the types of recipes you create, and what to prioritize as a beginner blogger. This is a particularly valuable episode for beginner bloggers but is also a great listen for any content creator trying to define what success looks like for you and your brand. In this episode, you'll learn: About the early stages of Zardyplants, and what it was like starting a blog as a couple. How they've balanced working full-time with the blog over the years. What the division of labor is like between Liz and Paul. The benefits of having a side hustle. How and why Liz and Paul have transitioned the type of recipes they're creating over the years. How they approach keyword research. What growth on Instagram has looked like for Zardyplants. About their photography and videography equipment set-up. Why they chose to prioritize video as part of their growth strategy. Their history with, and strategy around, sponsored content. The importance of reinvesting in your business, and what they would recommend paying a premium for as a beginner. What advice they'd give to beginner bloggers. Resources: Zardyplants What success looks like Intercom Raptive Google AdSense KeySearch Ahrefs Semrush Canon EOS 80D Aputure at B&H Photo Video Canon EOS R5 C Mirrorless Cinema Camera Adobe Premiere Pro BigScoots Bluehost WPEngine Filmic Pro InShot Jeremy Giffon Follow Zardyplants on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 and diversifying your business, managing your time efficiently, and hiring team members. ----- Welcome to episode 421 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Cheryl Malik from 40Aprons. Scaling Three Food Blogs and Tips for Hiring a Virtual Assistant Cheryl first started food blogging in 2009, and now runs three different food blogs, in addition to an agency that matches food bloggers with virtual assistants. In this interview, Bjork and Cheryl chat about growing and diversifying her business over the years and how she manages her time efficiently while running all of her different businesses. She also shares recommendations for hiring team members, and how to effectively onboard new team members. It's a really practical episode that will give you lots of advice for thinking strategically about growing your team and your business. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Cheryl's food blogging journey from 2009 to the present. Why she decided to start three different food blogs. How she has grown her team, and why she started a business to help match food bloggers with virtual assistants. What the revenue streams look like amongst her different businesses. Her recommendations for successfully adding someone to your team and the onboarding process. What it's like to work with Cheryl's 40A agency to hire a virtual assistant. The difference between hiring a team member or contractor and working with an agency to find a virtual assistant. How she manages her time (and is more efficient) by batching her days. Resources: 40Aprons Easy Healthy Recipes Cheap Cheap Eats 40A Pinch of Yum's Traffic and Income Reports Whole30 Upwork Asana ClickUp Follow Cheryl on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Testing ChatGPT's recipe writing skills, transitioning from a blog to a Substack newsletter, and discussing the future of food writing with Dianne Jacob from Will Write for Food. ----- Welcome to episode 420 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Dianne Jacob. ChatGPT, Substack, and the Changing Landscape of Food Writing Dianne Jacob has been an expert in the food writing space for twenty years (she literally wrote the book on it!). We were happy to welcome her back to the podcast to chat about the changing landscape of food writing. In this interview, Bjork and Dianne discuss how AI might alter the food blogging space, and how food bloggers can best position themselves to adapt to these changes. Dianne also shares more about her Substack newsletter, and why she prefers writing for her Substack newsletter to blogging. Both Bjork and Dianne have been in the food writing space for decades now, and it's fascinating to hear them discuss what they think the future of food blogging might look like. Don't miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: About Dianne's professional background in food writing. How the food writing space has changed over the last 20 years. How AI (or machine learning) is changing the food writing space. What she learned from testing ChatGPT's recipe writing skills. What recipe attribution currently looks like for ChatGPT and Bard. Why your voice matters more than ever in the food blogging space. Why she transitioned from writing a blog to having a Substack newsletter. What she likes about being a content creator on Substack (spoiler alert: no need for SEO!). How Bjork and Dianne think the food blogging space will change in the coming years. Resources: Dianne Jacob… will write for food Dianne on the Food Blogger Pro Podcast in 2015 and in 2021 Will Write for Food by Dianne Jacob ChatGPT Bard Sally's Baking Recipes The Kitchn Preppy Kitchen Substack David Lebovitz Jeremiah Tower's Out of the Oven Chez Panisse 129: Forging Your Own Path with David Lebovitz Alison Roman's Substack Pinch of Yum's Meal Plans Connect with Dianne via email Follow Dianne on Instagram and Substack Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 lifestyle and SEO-friendly posts, outsourcing tasks that don't bring you joy, and diversifying income streams with Anne Mauney from fANNEtastic Food. ----- Welcome to episode 419 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Anne Mauney from fANNEtastic Food. Balancing Life, SEO, and Income Streams Over 14 Years of Food Blogging Anne Mauney has been running her blog for over 14 years now and, as you might imagine, her life has changed considerably during that time. Since starting her blog, Anne has become a Registered Dietitian with a Masters in Public Health, has gotten married, and had two children. In addition to all of those big life changes, she has witnessed the rise of social media and SEO, and weathered the huge changes in the food blogging landscape. In this candid conversation, Bjork and Anne chat about navigating life and blog changes and balancing parenthood with running a business. Anne shares more about her changing income streams over the years, and why outsourcing certain tasks that don't bring her joy has allowed her to continue blogging after all these years. It's a super valuable episode no matter where you are in your blogging journey! In this episode, you'll learn: About how food blogging has changed since Anne started her blog in 2009. How she has had to reinvent herself and her blog over the years to stay current. How she balances lifestyle posts and SEO-friendly posts in her blogging schedule. Why she prioritizes outsourcing the tasks that don't bring her joy, and how she has built her team. What her approach to keyword research is. How she has juggled childcare and blogging responsibilities over the years. What she would change, and what she would keep the same, from the last 14 years of blogging. How she incorporates her nutrition private practice into her business. More about the breakdown of her income sources at various points in her blogging journey, and how she diversifies her income streams. Resources: fANNEtastic Food Kath Eats Real Food Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life The E Myth Revisited Follow Anne on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Understanding plugins, the future of custom themes, and WordPress Site Editor with Lauren Gray from Once Coupled. ----- Welcome to episode 418 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lauren Gray from Once Coupled. Navigating the Changing Landscape of Technology in Food Blogging Lauren is the Founder and Director of Development at Once Coupled, a small development agency that works with food bloggers and other online publishers. She also happens to be the Web Development Expert here at Food Blogger Pro and is truly an expert on all things themes, plugins, and WordPress. And that's exactly what Bjork and Lauren are chatting about in today's podcast episode! They cover a lot of ground, from Site Editor and Block Editor to custom themes and technical debt. If you're curious about making changes to your website, updating your theme, or looking to add specific functionalities to your site, this is an interview you won't want to miss! In this episode, you'll learn: What Lauren does at Once Coupled and how they support food bloggers. How Once Coupled's services and offerings have changed over the years to reflect the changing landscape of food blogging. What Site Editor in WordPress is, how it works, and how it changes things for publishers and developers. What WordPress Blocks (and the Block Editor) are. The pros and cons of using Site Editor vs. a custom theme right now. Lauren's recommendations for how beginner food bloggers should progress through their website journey. What technical debt is, and why you need to keep it in mind when building your website. The purpose of, and future plans for, Once Coupled's plugins company, Small Plugins. The functionality of the Dynamic Connector plugin from Small Plugins. Resources: Once Coupled The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Episode 122: Site Speed in a Mobile-First World with Lauren Gray Nerdpress Bill Erickson The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Episode 236: Themes – Performance-Focused Designs with Bill Erickson Squarespace Webflow Wix Genesis Theme iMark Interactive Upwork Media Wyse Feast Small Plugins Get 70% off of Small Plugins plugins! Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Brainstorming, building, and marketing an app and WordPress plugin for saving online recipes and sharing them with friends. ----- Welcome to episode 417 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ann Baum from Spillt. Building a Recipe-Sharing App to Drive Traffic to Food Blogs Food creators are no strangers to recipe-sharing sites and social media apps; many of us have love-hate relationships with some of them! Sisters Ann and Maddie Baum knew that there was a better way to save and share online recipes — so they built it! Over the past several years, Ann and Maddie created Spillt, an app and WordPress plugin that allows users to save online recipes and share them with friends on the app, all while driving traffic and star ratings back to the food bloggers themselves! Bjork and Ann talk about Ann's career journey from working at Facebook to building the app, and take a peak behind-the-scenes at the creation of Spillt. Ann shares more about working with food bloggers to create the app, and why they wanted to prioritize food bloggers in the functionality of the app. It's a really informative episode and one you won't want to miss! In this episode, you'll learn: What Spillt is, and how food creators can use it to drive traffic and star ratings to their recipes. More about Ann's career path from working at Facebook to developing the Spillt app. Why Ann and her sister, Maddie, decided to build Spillt, and what market gap they hope to fill. What product development for Spillt looked like. Why they built Spillt in a way that prioritizes the needs of food bloggers. The difference between a content algorithm and a social algorithm, and why that difference mattered in the creation of Spillt. The plans for monetization on Spillt in the future. What user growth has looked like on Spillt so far. Resources: Spillt Tastemaker Conference Pinch of Yum Goodreads Slack Booked Up: Ben Smith on Traffic Clariti Follow Spillt on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Once Coupled, the development agency behind the brand ​Small Plugins​. To get a 70% discount on ALL (current and future) Small Plugins plugins, get early access to test new plugins, and vote on ideas for the next plugin, go to foodbloggerpro.com/small. 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

Documenting family recipes, managing a food blog as a family of four, and writing a James Beard-nominated cookbook with Sarah and Kaitlin Leung from The Woks of Life. ----- Welcome to episode 416 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sarah and Kaitlin Leung from The Woks of Life. Preserving Family Recipes with a Food Blog For Sarah and Kaitlin Leung, their food blog, The Woks of Life, is a family affair. They have run the blog with their parents, Judy and Bill, for over ten years, and now they all work together full-time! Bjork chats with Sarah and Kaitlin about the early days of The Woks of Life, including why they started documenting their family's Chinese recipes, and how they grew their site while working full-time. Sarah and Kaitlin share more about the division of labor when running a food blog as a family, and what they've learned over the last ten years of blogging. They have a really unique perspective on food blogging, and it's a can't-miss episode. In this episode, you'll learn: More about being nominated for a James Beard Award for their cookbook. The origin story of The Woks of Life back in 2013. Why they wanted to preserve and document their family's Chinese recipes on the blog. What the division of labor looks like amongst the four family members behind The Woks of Life. How they transitioned to running their blog full-time, and the changes they made during that time that were most beneficial for the growth of the blog. How the skills from their previous jobs translate to running the blog. What international site traffic looks like for Woks of Life, and how it affects RPMs. What advice they would give to beginner bloggers. Resources: The Woks of Life The Woks of Life Cookbook Clarkson Potter Pinch of Yum Chinese Ingredients Glossary Google AdSense Raptive The Go-Giver Optin Monster WeChat Designing Your Life Designing Your New Work Life Follow The Woks of Life on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Once Coupled, the development agency behind the brand ​Small Plugins​. To get a 70% discount on ALL (current and future) Small Plugins plugins, get early access to test new plugins, and vote on ideas for the next plugin, go to foodbloggerpro.com/small. 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

Insights on the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing, details on the financial and non-financial benefits of publishing a cookbook, and what it takes to be successful when self-publishing a cookbook with Matt Briel from Lulu. ----- Welcome to episode 415 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Matt Briel from Lulu Press. How and Why To Self-Publish a Cookbook Have you ever dreamed of writing a cookbook? Are you intimidated by the process of finding a publisher? Or are you just curious why a food blogger might want to write a cookbook? If you answered yes to any of those questions, this podcast episode is for you! Matt Briel is an entrepreneur and the Vice President of Marketing & Communications at Lulu.com, a print-on-demand, self-publishing, and distribution platform. Bjork and Matt chat about the differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing, why you might want to consider self-publishing a cookbook, and how to be successful when self-publishing content. It's a super informative episode that will give you a lot to think about when it comes to cookbooks! In this episode, you'll learn: More about Matt's background and how he came to be interested in publishing. What marketing looks like for Lulu and why they prioritize helping creators sell more books. The differences between print-on-demand and offset printing in the publishing world. Why print-on-demand is a more ecologically friendly option. What the print-on-demand process looks like from start to finish for a cookbook. What it takes to successfully self-publishing a cookbook, and who you need on your team. What a success story looks like for creators who self-published their cookbooks. How self-publishing a cookbook can help you diversify your income streams. The non-financial benefits of publishing a cookbook. What to do if you're curious to learn more about self-publishing a cookbook. Resources: Lulu Disney World is Awesome Podcast Simon & Schuster Shopify Fiverr 99designs Upwork The Peachie Spoon Lauren Fit Foodie Tiny Home, Big Flava Lulu's Resources Lulu's YouTube Page Connect with Matt via email Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Blogging While Working Full-Time, Pitching Brands, and Determining Your Rates with Kyleigh Sage from Barley & Sage ----- Welcome to episode 414 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kyleigh Sage from Barley & Sage. Combining Brand Work and Ad Revenue to Make $10,000-$15,000 a Month There are lots of different opportunities for food content creators to make money. And one of the most common ways is by partnering with brands! In this interview, Bjork and Kyleigh chat about partnering with brands on sponsored content and freelance work (even when you don't have a large social media following), including how to effectively pitch to brands and negotiate your contracts. Kyleigh is honest and transparent about her strategies for working with brands and how she navigates pricing her work. It's clear that she is passionate about helping other food bloggers find success, and you won't want to miss this interview! In this episode, you'll learn: About Kyleigh's professional background and journey to starting her food blog in 2019. How she strategically approached her first year of blogging while still working full-time. More about how she first started partnering with brands on sponsored content and freelance work. How she combines brand work and ad revenue to make $10,000-$15,000 a month. How an SEO audit transformed how she approached her blog and helped her qualify for Mediavine. How she recommends calculating your rates when working with brands. How to effectively pitch your work to brands and network with PR agencies. What she recommends for maintaining good relationships with brands and PR agencies. What she would repeat, and what she would change from her food blogging journey so far. Resources: Barley & Sage Mediavine Media Wyse Substack Pricing Guide for Food Photography Barley & Sage Resources Follow Kyleigh on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 a food blog while working full-time, outsourcing tasks for your business, and limiting burnout with Maggie Zhu from Omnivore's Cookbook. ----- Welcome to episode 413 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Maggie Zhu from Omnivore's Cookbook. Lessons in Burnout, Persistence, and Creativity after Ten Years of Food Blogging Maggie Zhu has been running Omnivore's Cookbook, a food blog all about modern Chinese cooking, for over ten years. That's a very long time in internet years! She's had incredible success growing her site during this time and just recently wrote her first cookbook. But this success didn't come without some struggle. Maggie has navigated intense periods of burnout over the last ten years and has learned that outsourcing and prioritizing her creativity are key to helping her overcome these phases. This interview is honest, raw, and thought-provoking, and we really hope it resonates with you as much as it did with us! In this episode, you'll learn: About how Maggie got started as a food blogger over 10 years ago. What it was like for her to work a full-time job while growing her food blog. What her goals are for her blog, and how she works through the comparison trap. How she limits burnout after blogging for 10+ years. Why she prioritizes outsourcing certain tasks for her business, and how she determines what to outsource. Where she finds people to join her team. How she approaches creating Chinese recipes for a Western audience. Why it's important for her to find a creative outlet outside of her blog. What advice she has for someone in the early stages of food blogging. Resources: Omnivore's Cookbook Pinch of Yum's Income Reports WP Engine Big Scoots Chinese Homestyle Cookbook by Maggie Zhu Upwork We Study Billionaires: Wealth and Health with Jason Karp Follow Maggie on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 grief, managing anxiety, and prioritizing your physical health with Sherry Walling from ZenFounder. ----- Welcome to episode 412 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sherry Walling, a clinical psychologist and founder of ZenFounder. How to Support Your Mental Health as a Content Creator Sherry Walling is back on the podcast today to talk about something we should all be discussing more — the mental health of entrepreneurs. If you have a career as a content creator, it can be difficult to separate your personal life from your professional life. It can also be lonely to run your own business. Not to mention the challenges of sharing parts of your life on social media! All this to say that entrepreneurs face a unique set of challenges when it comes to mental health, and this powerful episode with Sherry is one you won't want to miss. She shares more about the habits you can incorporate into your life to better manage anxiety, stress, and grief, and prioritize your emotional and physical well-being. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Sherry started a public conversation around the mental health of entrepreneurs. The first steps to take when your mental health is suffering. Why it's important to prioritize your well-being. The habits that entrepreneurs can incorporate into their lives to take care of their mental health. The practices Sherry incorporates into her life to support her physical and emotional health (including the trapeze!). The benefits and detriments of technology for our mental health. How to live your life in a way that honors your soul. How Sherry navigated seasons of grief, and the lessons she learned from those times. What content creators can do to support their mental health. How to separate your personal from your professional life, and why that matters. Why it's important for creators to have a hobby. Resources: ZenFounder ZenFounder Podcast Sherry's previous episode of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Headspace Full Focus The Entrepreneur's Guide to Keeping Your Sh*t Together: How to Run Your Business Without Letting it Run You Gear Junkie We Study Billionaires: Wealth & Healthy with Jason Karp Touching Two Worlds Untangle Grief Refuge in Grief Empowered through Grief The Grief Project Follow Sherry on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 a business as a couple, working with brands, and creating content for your audience. ----- Welcome to episode 411 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shanika Graham-White and Darnell White from Orchids + Sweet Tea about how they work together to run two businesses, partner with brands, and create content with their audience in mind. Working with Brands and Knowing What Your Work is Worth We're really excited to share this week's conversation with Shanika Graham-White and Darnell White. They're the creators behind the food blog Orchids + Sweet Tea, and the production company, Brooklyn Sweet Tea Productions. In this episode, you'll hear all about the evolution of their businesses, how they negotiate with brands, and more about their experience as black creators in the food blogging space. It's a really inspiring episode with tons of actionable takeaways, and we can't wait for you to give it a listen! In this episode, you'll learn: How and why Shanika and Darnell started Orchids + Sweet Tea, and why they decided to start a production company, too. How they made the leap from food photography to videography. Shanika's workflow and equipment set-up for photography and shooting video. What the division of labor looks like between Shanika and Darnell. How Darnell's background in programming translated to videography, and how he got started filming recipe videos. How Shanika determines and structures pricing when working with brands for sponsored content and/or video production. How they divide their time between their different businesses and goals. What advice Shanika and Darnell have for food bloggers wanting to start working with brands. How they navigated and persevered through the early stages of blogging, and how they found a balance between personalization and optimization. More about the experience of being black creators in the food and wellness space. How Shanika creates content with her audience in mind. What advice Shanika and Darnell would give to their past selves when they were just starting Orchids + Sweet Tea. Resources: Orchids + Sweet Tea Brooklyn Sweet Tea Productions Orchids & Sweet Tea: Plant-Forward Recipes with Jamaican Flavor & Southern Charm The Guardian: Hungry Planet: What the World Eats - in pictures Parker Walbeck Productions Follow Shanika and Darnell on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 changing landscape of video advertising, adapting to a future with AI, and understanding the removal of third-party cookies with Paul Bannister ----- Welcome to episode 410 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Paul Bannister from Raptive. AI, Third-Party Cookies, and Changes in Video Advertising Standards If it feels like the last few years have come with a lot of changes in the online world, that's because there have been tons of changes. We're talking ChatGPT and AI, the removal of third-party cookies, the rapid growth of video, and more. Luckily, our guest on the podcast today is just the person to break down these big changes and explain how it all relates to content creators. Bjork is chatting with Paul Bannister, the CSO and co-founder of Raptive (formerly AdThrive and CafeMedia) about all of these buzzy topics. Whether you're hoping to qualify for Raptive in the future, are already a Raptive creator, or are just curious about all of the tech news in the online space, this is a really informative listen! In this episode, you'll learn: More about the beginning of Paul's career founding Online Gaming Review in 1995. How he approaches big changes in the online space. What third-party cookies are, how they relate to digital advertising, and what you need to know about the removal of third-party cookies from Google. What's next for advertisers after the removal of third-party cookies. How ChatGPT and AI are changing the world of content creation. How the transition from UA to GA4 will change Raptive's eligibility criteria. About why he believes "video is the future" and how the advertising space is changing to reflect that. The difference between in-stream, out-stream, and accompanying content video ads. More about the new standards for video advertising. How Raptive is evolving to help content creators diversify their income streams. Resources: Paul's previous episodes on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast here and here Raptive formerly known as AdThrive and CafeMedia Dotdash Meredith ChatGPT Pinch of Yum's 20 Minute Healthy Chicken Parmesan Bard Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost Raptive's Eligibility Criteria 363: What Bloggers Need to Know About Google Analytics 4 with Alison Bechdol Google Analytics Course on Food Blogger Pro IAB Tech Lab Raptive Blog Follow Paul on Twitter Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Duett. Learn how the Duet team can leverage your email list for ever more site traffic at duett.co/foodbloggerpro. 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

Insights on dark ads and whitelisting, updates on privacy legislation, and details about how AI is impacting contracts with Danielle Liss from Businessese and LISS Legal. ----- Welcome to episode 409 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Danielle Liss from Businessese and LISS Legal. AI, Privacy Policies, and Sponsored Content The legal side of food blogging can be stressful, overwhelming, and complicated. Most food bloggers don't get into the business because of their passion for contracts and privacy policies! But that's why we have experts like Danielle to help us navigate these issues. In this week's podcast episode, Danielle is back on the podcast (this is her 9th episode!) to chat about legal hot topics in 2023. Danielle breaks down updates in privacy legislation, and the impact of AI on contracts and confidentiality, and explains more about whitelisting and dark ads. Danielle is a master at explaining tricky topics in a straightforward (and entertaining!) way, and this episode is a must-listen for any business owner! In this episode, you'll learn: How and why Danielle helps food bloggers and digital creators with the legal side of their businesses. Everything you need to know about dark ads and whitelisting, and the differences between the two. More about how AI is impacting contracts and brand deals. What you need to know when it comes to AI, confidentiality, contracts, and privacy policies. Details about updates in privacy legislation and privacy policies. About deletion requests, and how to approach them. More about the services Danielle's businesses (LISS Legal and Businessese) offer. Resources: LISS Legal Businessese Pinch of Yum ChatGPT Netlist Wins $303 Million in Patent Damages From Samsung Raptive Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Investing in education, self-publishing a cookbook, and shaping a career in food photography following a diagnosis with a chronic illness with Helena Murphy. ----- Welcome to episode 408 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Helena Murphy from Helena Rose Photography. Food Photography, Self-Publishing, and Chronic Illness Advocacy One of the best parts of working as a food creator is that you have the ability to determine exactly what your career looks like. By prioritizing your interests and diversifying your income streams, you can shape what your day-to-day work consists of to meet your needs! And that's exactly what Bjork is chatting about with Helena Murphy in today's podcast episode. Helena shares her journey from corporate marketing to freelance product and food photography, and how her diagnosis with Crohn's disease influenced both her personal, and professional life. Helena is an incredible photographer and has self-published both a magazine and a cookbook. She has a really inspiring story, and we're excited to share this interview with you! In this episode, you'll learn: All about Helena's career journey, and how she left her corporate job to start a freelance career. How she invested in education to improve her photography and editing skills. What advice she has for people looking to take the leap into photography as a career. How she determined what she wanted her business to look like and diversified her income streams. More about the process of self-publishing her cookbook. Her diagnosis with Crohn's disease, and how it led her to create a cookbook to help others with the same diagnosis. How her chronic illness has impacted how she views and operates her business. Why she chose to use a print-on-demand service for her cookbook, and what the process looked like. How she uses photography and aesthetics to convey a message and mood to her readers. Resources: Helena Rose Photography Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Capture One This American Life Lightroom Magic Course Beth Kirby ChatGPT The Multi-Hyphen Life: Work Less, Create More, and Design a Life That Works for You by Emma Gannon Ctrl Alt Delete The Plant-Based Crohn's and Colitis Cookbook Cowspiracy Omnom Magazine So you want to publish a magazine? Kindle Direct Publishing Asana Trello Airtable Follow Helena on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Optimizing your website for Core Web Vitals, following best practices for images, and learning more about Google's Ranking Factors with Andrew Wilder from NerdPress. ----- Welcome to episode 407 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Andrew Wilder from NerdPress. How Core Web Vitals and Image Size Impact Search Ranking Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the nitty gritty tech side of running a food blog? Well then, this week's podcast episode is for you. Bjork is chatting with Andrew Wilder, our WordPress Support Expert, and the Founder and CEO of NerdPress. In this episode, Andrew takes a deep dive into Core Web Vitals and explains how they're calculated, and why it's important to optimize your site with Core Web Vitals in mind. They also discuss the best practices for blog image sizes, including the best method for compressing your images, and frequently asked questions about Featured Images. Andrew is a frequent flyer guest on the podcast for a reason — he is super knowledgeable, and can teach us all about the tech side of blogging that many of us struggle with! If that sounds like you, you won't want to miss this episode. In this episode, you'll learn: All about Andrew's journey of starting and growing NerdPress as a business. Why it's important for creators to pay attention to Core Web Vitals. More about Google's Ranking Factors (and how they relate to Core Web Vitals). Everything you need to know about Core Web Vitals, including how they're calculated and how to optimize for Core Web Vitals. What Google Search Console is, and how to set it up. The process for optimizing and compressing the images on your site. The difference between .jpeg, .png, and .webp, and when to use them. Best practices for sizing and cropping your Featured Images. More about working with Andrew and the NerdPress team. Resources: Andrew's episodes on The Food Blogger Pro Podcast NerdPress International Food Bloggers Conference Google Search Console's Core Web Vitals report The Feast Plugin WP Rocket Perfmatters PageSpeed Insights 339: Tech Check-In – The Best Plugins and Tools for Food Bloggers in 2022 with Andrew Wilder Google Search Console Google Discover Adobe Lightroom Adobe Photoshop WP Recipe Maker ShortPixel Imagify Smush NerdPress Frequently Asked Questions Follow Andrew on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 influencer industry as a food creator, working with brands, and building a more profitable business. ----- Welcome to episode 406 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brittany Hennessy from Carbon August about influencer marketing. Monetization Strategies in the Influencer Industry Do you consider yourself to be an influencer? As a food creator, whether or not you have a large social media following, you are definitely influencing your audience. And today's guest is the expert when it comes to all things influencer. In this episode, Bjork is chatting with Brittany Hennessy, an author, and pioneer in the influencer industry. They discuss her career path, experiences working at a media company, and why creators are more important than ever in the marketing space. It's a thought-provoking episode that will help you think more critically about your strengths as a content creator, and how to build a stronger, more profitable business. In this episode, you'll learn: More about Brittany's career path and how she got started in the influencer industry. What it's like to work at a media company like Hearst. Why creators are more important than ever in the marketing space. Whether you're an endorser, entertainer, or educator as a creator, and what the metrics for success look like for each. Her advice for when you should build vs. monetize. Why she thinks that social media followers and email subscribers are the most important relationships to build. Why you should ask yourself "Is this good for my brand, is this good for my business, and/or does this make me happy?" when making decisions regarding what you share. How to approach affiliate marketing on a food blog. When and why you should consider working with an agency. More about Brittany's book (Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media). Resources: I Faked My Grandpa To The Top of Fashion Week Horizon Media Hearst Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media Collective Voice Magnolia Wirecutter Travis Scott Skims Striped Spatula The Casper Blog Getty Images DBA Follow Brittany on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Focusing on keyword research, creating a workflow, and monetizing your blog. ----- Welcome to episode 405 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Casey Rooney from Get On My Plate. Keyword Research, Resilience, and Resourcefulness As food bloggers, it can be easy to feel like you need to be doing everything to succeed. If you're not writing blog posts every day, killing it on social media, partnering with brands, etc., you won't ever achieve your goals. But that is not true. And Casey Rooney is the perfect illustration of that! She started her food blog, Get On My Plate, in 2021, and has had incredible success growing her site over the last two years. She has leaned into her passion for SEO and content creation and made a six-figure income in 2022. In this episode, Casey shares more about her workflow, keyword research process, and why she doesn't focus on social media. It's a really refreshing and inspiring episode, and we're excited to share it with you! In this episode, you'll learn: More about Casey's background as a teacher and her journey to starting her food blog in 2021. How she was able to grow her blog and monetize to make a six-figure income within two years. Why she stopped focusing on social media, and instead emphasized content creation and SEO. How her passion for content creation, teaching, and business shaped her approach to her blog. What she thinks the necessary skills are for any food blogger. All about her workflow for content creation. Her strategy for publishing Google Web Stories and what benefits she sees from them. What her process for keyword research looks like. How she optimizes and updates older blog posts. What the future of Get On My Plate looks like, and how Casey is diversifying her income. Resources: Get On My Plate Xanga TopHatRank TED: Grit: the power of passion and perseverance - Angela Lee Duckworth Monday.com BiggerPockets A Better Life with Brandon Turner Canva KeySearch RankIQ 1:1 Blog Coaching with Casey Follow Casey on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Incorporating gratitude into your routines, shielding yourself from the negative, and brainstorming what you're grateful for at work. ----- Welcome to episode 404 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork is wrapping up his mini-series on habits with a discussion on the habit of gratitude. A Gratitude Practice for Your Business In this solo mini-series, Bjork has covered four habits that he recommends creators incorporate into their routines. So far, Bjork has covered the importance of a monthly review, the habit of continual learning, and the habit of who. In today's episode, Bjork chats about the habit of gratitude in both your personal, and professional life. If you don't already have a gratitude practice in your life, this episode is just what you need to get started — practical tips, resources, and more. We hope you enjoy the last episode of our habits mini-series. We'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week! In this episode, you'll learn: How to build a habit of gratitude in your personal life. Why a gratitude practice can be beneficial for your business. Practical strategies for incorporating gratitude into your routines. How to focus on gratitude and shield yourself from the negative. Prompts for brainstorming what you're grateful for in your work. Resources: Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear The Food Blogger Pro Podcast Episode 124: How to Level Up Your Life with UJ Ramdas The Five Minute Journal Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 personal board of directors, determining who your experts are, and asking "who can help me with this?" ----- Welcome to episode 403 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we have the third episode in our series on habits for creators, all about the habit of who. Building the Habit of Who Do you ever feel like you need to be an expert in everything you do, both in your personal and professional life? If so, you're not alone, and today's episode is for YOU. In the third episode of Bjork's mini-series on habits, he is chatting all about the importance of surrounding yourself with trusted experts who can help you with specific aspects of your life and business. You'll learn more about creating a personal board of directors, determining who your experts are, and why you need to be asking "who can help with this?". In this episode, you'll learn: Why you should ask yourself the question "who can help me with this?" How to introduce the filtering mechanism of "who" into your business. Why you should consider building out a personal board of directors. The kinds of experts to surround yourself with in the food blogging space. How to find a mix of advisors from the digital, personal, and paid consultant realms. How the 'habit of who' can help boost productivity. Why you should take time to reflect on the gains you've made in your business. Resources: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork NerdPress Allea Grummert at Duett The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 quick and slow knowledge, using time blocks for continual learning, and pairing habits with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 402 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we have the second episode in our series on habits for creators, which is all about the habit of continual learning. How to Prioritize Continual Learning Do you currently set aside time in your schedule for continual learning? Or do you feel like you're just too busy to make time for it? Either way, we hope that today's episode will help you to rethink continual learning, and give you inspiration for incorporating it into your life as an entrepreneur. Bjork chats about the importance of continual learning as a business owner, time blocks, and habit pairing — you won't want to miss this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between quick knowledge and slow knowledge, and why you need a balance of both. How to use time blocks to implement the habit of continual learning. How to incorporate continual learning into your life on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis. Why using time blocks can lead to better building blocks for your business. How to pair the habit of continual learning with the habit of a monthly review. Resources: Notion Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 importance of a monthly review of your business's revenue, expenses, and profit, and how it can help you be more intentional about growing your business. ----- Welcome to episode 401 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork is kicking off the Habits Series on the podcast with a discussion about monthly reviews. Why You Should Start a Monthly Review of Your Business This solo episode with Bjork is the first in our Habits Series, in which Bjork will dive into simple, but effective habits that you can (and should!) incorporate into your business. Bjork explains the concept of a monthly review of your business's finances and analytics, and how it can benefit your business and help you think more strategically about growth. It's a really informative listen, and we hope you'll take away some helpful tips and tricks that you can incorporate into your business moving forward! In this episode, you'll learn: The importance of a monthly review of your revenue, expenses, and profit. How to get started tracking your business numbers with a spreadsheet. Why you should separate your personal and business expenses. How to think strategically about losses and expenses in your business. How your bookkeeping and monthly review process might evolve as your business grows. Why a monthly review can help you be more intentional about growing your business. Resources: Atomic Habits Pinch of Yum Income and Traffic Reports Quickbooks Xero Pilot ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 time and talent, cultivating a bias toward action, and embracing the grind with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 400 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork is chatting about four takeaways that he has observed during his interviews with experts, food creators, and friends over the last 400 podcast episodes. 4 Takeaways from 400 Episodes In this episode, Bjork reflects on conversations from the last few years and discusses four themes that came up time and time again in these interviews, and in some way contributed to the success of the guests. Over the course of the episode, Bjork unpacks each of these themes and provides examples and takeaways to help listeners apply these themes to their own businesses. As we celebrate 400 episodes, we wanted to thank YOU for listening to The Food Blogger Pro Podcast - we couldn't do it without you! In this episode, you'll learn: The four themes that Bjork has noticed over the course of the 400 podcast episodes he has recorded The importance of leaning into time, talent, and learning in your business (and hoping for some luck, too!) Why you should cultivate a bias toward action How to prioritize the skills you're naturally good at Why you might want to embrace your "grind" More details about our upcoming habits mini-series on the podcast And more! Resources: User Controlled Analytics: The 3 Most Important Types of Analytics in Your First Year of Blogging Atomic Habits Connect with Bjork via email Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Five food blog SEO takeaways from our member Q&A with Casey Markee. ----- Welcome to episode 399 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we're sharing a few recipe SEO takeaways from a Q&A we had for our members with Casey Markee. Internal Linking, Keywords, AI, and SEO for Food Bloggers We host Live Q&As every month for our Food Blogger Pro members, and one of our most recent Q&As was with our SEO Expert, Casey Markee. In today's episode, we're re-sharing five major takeaways from that conversation and giving you a bit more information about how you can implement his advice, where you can go to see examples, and where you can go to learn more. It's a new "style" of episode for us, and we hope you enjoy it! And if you're interested in getting access to the full SEO Q&A with Casey and you're not already a Food Blogger Pro member, listen to the end for a discount code to join! In this episode, you'll learn: What E-E-A-T means for food bloggers How AI may impact organic site traffic If there's an ideal recipe post "template" What to include on a static food blog homepage A few things that we can do to set ourselves apart in 2023 Resources: Ologies Media Wyse The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Chip Cookies from Handle the Heat 294: Bake Offs – Producing a Different Kind of Recipe Content for a Food Blog with Erika Kwee The Bake Offs on The Pancake Princess Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines Our latest update to the quality rater guidelines: E-A-T gets an extra E for Experience ChatGPT Learn more about food trends Broken Link Checker Find Casey on Food Blogger Pro Save $25 on a new annual Food Blogger Pro membership! ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, email us at [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Developing an email marketing strategy, serving your audience, and building brand loyalty with Allea Grummert from Duett. ----- Welcome to episode 398 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Allea Grummert from Duett all about surveying your audience and email marketing. Surveying Your Audience There are many different reasons that email marketing is a valuable tool for food creators. Having an email list can help with SEO, provide a reliable means of communicating your content, and build relationships with your readers. And that's what Allea Grummert is talking about with Bjork on the podcast today! Allea is an email marketing strategist and conversion copywriter at Duett, and the Food Blogger Pro Email Marketing Expert! In this episode, you'll hear about developing a rock-solid email marketing strategy, surveying your readers, and building brand loyalty. In this episode, you'll learn: How to overcome the mental barriers of email marketing for your business. Why email marketing is so valuable for a food blog. How to use email to connect with and better understand your audience. How often you should email your subscribers. Why you might want to send a survey to your subscribers, what questions to ask, and how to use the survey data to serve your audience. How to tailor your emails (or blog posts) to better meet the needs of your readers. How to strategically develop your welcome sequence. About two email marketing case studies that illustrate the benefits of email marketing. How to work with Allea on your email marketing. Resources: Duett ConvertKit Pinch of Yum Foureyes Typeform Clariti ProBlogger FinCon The Permission Sandwich Formula: How to Write Emails That Actually Get You Sales She Loves Biscotti Recipe Teacher Allea's Your First Welcome Sequence resource for The Food Blogger Pro community Follow Allea on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

Strategies for effective bookkeeping, navigating business expenses, and confidently managing tax season as a creator with Amy Northard from Amy Northard, CPA. ----- Welcome to episode 397 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Amy Northard from Amy Northard, CPA about accounting for food creators. Demystifying Finances and Taxes Taxes and bookkeeping can be a major source of anxiety for anyone, but especially anyone who is self-employed… like many food creators! It can be difficult to know where to get started with managing your business finances, or how you might be able to improve your accounting processes! Luckily, that's what Bjork is chatting with Amy Northard about in today's podcast episode! Amy is a CPA and Partner at Amy Northard, CPA ("The Accountants for Creatives") and is an expert at setting up bookkeeping systems and navigating taxes for business owners in the creative space. In this episode, you'll hear more about when and how to start bookkeeping for your business, the best ways to prepare for tax season, when you might want to outsource your accounting needs, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: How and why Amy found her niche and started her accounting firm for creatives The importance of separating personal and business transactions How to reconcile your business expenses Whether groceries can be considered a business expense (and why it matters) What the IRS audit process would look like for a food blogger Tips for storing and organizing your business receipts Amy's recommendations for bookkeeping software Deductions that creatives might overlook The differences between sole proprietor, LLC, and S Corp, and how to choose which is the right fit for you How to manage payroll for your business When you should start to do bookkeeping for your business When you might want to consider outsourcing your bookkeeping or taxes How to manage losses when you're starting your business How to be intentional about taxes as a more established food creator Strategies for effective bookkeeping to make tax season easier Resources: Amy Northard, CPA Dropbox Shoboxed Quickbooks Xero Wave Justworks Gusto Follow Amy on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ------ This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 transition from blogging to owning a shop, how community drives brand awareness, and the importance of building an audience with Rosie Alyea. ----- Welcome to episode 396 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Rosie Alyea from Sweetapolita about serving your audience and transitioning from blogger to shop owner. The Business of Sprinkles This episode with Rosie is full of inspiration, and we're so excited to be talking to her this week about the way she transitioned from blogging to running a multi-million dollar product-based business! A common theme in this episode is the importance of serving your audience, and you'll learn how Rosie did that as a blogger and now as a sprinkle business owner. It's a super entertaining interview, and we hope the conversation opens you up to other ideas and ways that you can be supporting your audience where they need it most! In this episode, you'll learn: How Rosie got into baking How she realized she wanted to start her own company What her transition from blog to shop was like How community content drives brand awareness Why building an audience is so important What she was looking for by going on Dragons' Den How to work with the Sweetapolita team Resources: Cake Beauty Elisa Strauss' The Confetti Cakes Cookbook Sweetapolita The Sweetapolita Book Rosie on Dragons' Den Connect with Sweetapolita on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook ----- This episode is sponsored by Duett. Jump on a free discovery call to see how the Duett team can help you with your email marketing needs at duett.co/call. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, email us at [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Important questions to ask about your customers or audience, defining your H1, and why bloggers may want to sell products with Chad Cannon. ----- Welcome to episode 395 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chad Cannon to chat about strategically growing your business through understanding your audience and selling products. Scaling Your Business (and Your Revenue) This episode is all about the importance in having a deep understanding of what your business does and how it helps your audience in order to scale and grow. Chad Cannon is from ScaleFactor, a company focused on building and scaling businesses through their 7 Factors of Scale. You'll learn about three of the seven factors in this episode: Find Your Buyer, Align Your Brand, and Create Products. Our hope is that you'll be able to think through new ways to monetize as you're listening to this interview! In this episode, you'll learn: How he got his start helping businesses grow and scale What the "Law of Thirds" means Why founders may want to replace themselves What he took away from helping other businesses and applied to his own business Important questions to ask about your customers or audience How to define your H1 How to find a buyer or an audience Why product is important for food bloggers Why sponsors will appreciate your understanding of your brand and audience What the product creation process looks like How you can learn more from and work with Chad Resources: Platform University Full Focus Full Focus Planner Business Accelerator ScaleFactor Kolbe Assessments Food Blogger Pro's Coaching Calls ScaleFactor Podcast 1000 True Fans Duluth 7 Factors of Scale ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, email us at [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Being intentional with your social media use, navigating vulnerability in the online space, and launching a newsletter on Substack with Leslie Stephens from morning person newsletter. ----- Welcome to episode 394 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Leslie Stephens from the morning person newsletter about social media addiction and launching her Substack newsletter. Substack Newsletters and Social Media Use As content creators, many of us have a love/hate relationship with social media, and know just how addicting it can be. And that's what we're chatting about today with Leslie Stephens! Leslie is the writer behind morning person newsletter, and she joined Bjork on the podcast to talk about her decision to study social media addiction, and how her studies have influenced the choices she has made with her popular Substack newsletter. In this episoide, you'll learn about how to be more intentional with your social media use, how to navigate vulnerability in the online space, and why you might consider launching a newsletter on Substack. In this episode, you'll learn: How Leslie started her career as an editor at Food52 What she learned while working as an online creator for a major lifestyle brand in LA Why she decided to pursue a Masters with a focus on Social Media Addiction Why social media is so addictive and how to be more intentional when using it Why she started her morning person newsletter on Substack The pros/cons to the Substack platform How she found her newsletter niche and grew to thousands of paid subscribers in just one year How she navigates sharing her personal life and setting boundaries online Resources: morning person newsletter The Social Dilemma Follow Leslie on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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

How passion and growth are connected, how to reinvest in a website, and growing a loyal audience with Maurizio Leo. ----- Welcome to episode 393 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Maurizio Leo from The Perfect Loaf about business growth through passion. How Passion and Sourdough Feed a 9 Million Pageview Food Blog From co-founding and running a popular phone app to starting a sourdough blog that now gets 9 million pageviews a year, Maurizio Leo is a busy guy. But everything he does is deeply rooted in passion, and you'll hear why forming businesses around that passion has been crucial for his business growth and consistency in this conversation today. If you're looking for ways to diversify your income, growth strategies, or simply some inspiration to help you work towards your goals, you'll get it all in this episode! In this episode, you'll learn: About his background in computer science How he transitioned to working in the food space How the passion and growth are connected What his schedule looks like as an owner of two successful businesses At what point Maurizio knew The Perfect Loaf could be a business How the pandemic impacted The Perfect Loaf's traffic How he reinvests in the site Why he decided to offer a membership What the process of writing a cookbook was like What Maurizio is anticipating in the next few years Resources: SkyView The Perfect Loaf Businesses Do NOT Exist to Make Money | Simon Sinek Pinch of Yum's Holiday Bucket List Ang's Creamy Tortellini Soup The Perfect Loaf Membership Memberful Discord The Perfect Loaf Cookbook Follow Maurizio on Instagram ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, email us at [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Dealing with hacked Instagram and Facebook accounts and tips for securing your own social media accounts with Bjork Ostrom. ----- Welcome to episode 392 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork explains how the Pinch of Yum Instagram account got hacked and eventually recovered. Pinch of Yum's Hacked Instagram Account Last month, Bjork and Lindsay went through something we all fear as content creators: they completely lost access to the Pinch of Yum Instagram account after Lindsay's Facebook account got hacked. Talk about a scary situation! They were eventually able to get the accounts recovered, but they went through a few very stressful days trying to get everything sorted out. In this episode, Bjork shares the entire story of how this happened, how they were able to recover the accounts, and what measures they're taking to prevent this from happening in the future. Last but not least, Bjork also provides some tips for how you can secure your own social media accounts to hopefully avoid a situation like this. In this episode, you'll learn: How Lindsay's Facebook and Instagram accounts got hacked How two-factor authentication works How they were able to get the accounts recovered Tips for securing your own social media accounts How phishing works Resources: Pinch of Yum Meta Authy Google Authenticator 1Password Connect with Bjork via email Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group ----- This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food. 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 a literary agent, writing a cookbook proposal, and going through the cookbook publishing process from start to finish with Sally Ekus from The Ekus Group. ----- Welcome to episode 391 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sally Ekus from The Ekus Group about what the cookbook publishing process looks like. Behind the Scenes of the Cookbook Publishing Process As food bloggers and food creators, many of us dream about writing our own cookbooks one day. But what does it take to get a cookbook deal, and what does the cookbook publishing process actually look like? That's what we're chatting about in this interview with Sally Ekus! She's a literary agent at The Ekus Group and has brokered over 300 book deals with top publishers across the country. In this episode, you'll learn what she does as a literary agent, what steps are involved in the cookbook publishing process, how to set yourself up for success to potentially write a cookbook in the future, and more. In this episode, you'll learn: How Sally became a literary agent What she does at The Ekus Group Why cookbook proposals are so important How to set yourself up for success to potentially write a cookbook Why the topic for a first cookbook is so important How advances and royalties work for cookbooks What the differences are between frontlist and backlist titles What cookbook marketing and publicity look like What steps are involved in the cookbook publishing process How long it typically takes to write a cookbook What she teaches in her How to Write a Cookbook course Why writing a cookbook can lead to many other opportunities Resources: The Ekus Group How to Write a Cookbook course — The Ekus Group How to Be a Cookbook Author Facebook Group Everything Cookbooks Podcast Publishers Marketplace Follow Sally on Instagram and Facebook Connect with Sally via email Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group -----This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn how you can organize your blog content for maximum growth by going to clariti.com/food.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