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How to Personalize AI for Better Content with Aleka Shunk05 Aug 202500:59:11

Leveraging AI to be a more efficient content creator and the role of keywords in today's SEO landscape with Aleka Shunk.

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Welcome to episode 530 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Aleka Shunk from Aleka’s Get Together and Keywords with Aleka. She also happens to be one of our FBP experts! 

How to Personalize AI for Better Content with Aleka Shunk

In this conversation, Bjork and Aleka discuss the evolving landscape of SEO and content creation, particularly focusing on the role of keywords and the integration of AI tools like ChatGPT. They explore how keywords remain essential in SEO, despite changes in content creation approaches.

Aleka will also share insights on how to use AI to streamline content creation processes, enhance brand collaborations, and personalize interactions for better outputs. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adapting to AI advancements and leveraging them to improve efficiency and creativity in content creation.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Keywords are still relevant, but AI can be your co-pilot: Don’t ditch those keywords! They’re still super important for getting your content found. Think of AI as your super-efficient sidekick that can help you with everything from brainstorming ideas and creating outlines to finding new content opportunities.
  • Personalize your AI for pro-level results: Just like you wouldn’t give every human the same instructions, don’t treat AI tools the same! The more you personalize your interactions and even create custom GPTs for specific tasks, the better and more relevant your AI-generated content will be. 
  • Keeping it real in the age of AI: AI can seriously speed up your workflow and help you refine your content, saving you a ton of time, but remember, the human touch is what makes your content truly unique and engaging! You can leverage AI to boost your efficiency, but always keep your personal style and voice front and center.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Editing Can Transform Your Food Photography with Roberta Dall'Alba29 Jul 202501:03:14

Editing more efficiently in Lightroom, using AI thoughtfully in your food photography, and developing a visual aesthetic that's uniquely yours with Roberta Dall'Alba.

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Welcome to episode 529 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Roberta Dall’Alba.

In this podcast interview, Bjork and Roberta discuss the importance of having your own distinct style or photography aesthetic to build your brand and why editing is such an essential part of this process. Roberta is an incredible food and travel photographer (trust me, you need to check out her food photographs!) and was a 2023 Lightroom Ambassador. Needless to say, she has spent a lot of time experimenting with Lightroom.

Roberta dives into how she approaches editing food photos with integrity, efficiency, and her own unique style. From navigating AI tools responsibly to building a signature look in Lightroom, she offers practical tips to help creators stay authentic while working smarter. This is an excellent interview to help you take your photography and editing to the next level.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to use AI thoughtfully in food photography and editing — Roberta shares her approach to using generative AI tools in editing. While she’s open to retouching photos, she avoids adding anything artificial, always considering if edits will help readers successfully replicate the recipe and/or align with her values.
  • Efficient editing leads to better results — Roberta walks through her streamlined Lightroom workflow, from importing and filtering/organizing, to color grading, taking a step back, and final reviews on mobile, to ensure efficient, high-quality results (and to avoid over-editing).
  • Build a visual style that’s truly yours — She emphasizes the importance of creating your own presets over buying someone else’s, why you should deepen your understanding of color theory, and how to develop editing efficiencies that reflect your brand’s unique style.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Kate Shungu Grew to 800k Sessions a Year from Pinterest by Using a Marketing Campaign22 Jul 202500:52:55

Committing to consistency, running strategic year-long marketing campaigns, and leaning into a niche with Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality.

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Welcome to episode 528 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kate Shungu from Gift of Hospitality.

How Kate Shungu Grew to 800k Sessions a Year from Pinterest by Using a Marketing Campaign

Kate first started food blogging in 2017 with no real focus or niche. In 2018, she rebranded to entertaining and hospitality but, understandably, had to pivot again during the summer of 2020. Since then, she settled into her niche of vintage recipes for modern cooks and quickly grew to 50k sessions by the spring of 2021.

In this interview, Bjork and Kate discuss approaching your brand promotion via platform-specific, year-long marketing campaigns and how to think about marketing as investing your time versus spending your ad dollars. Kate’s success stories on both Pinterest and Facebook will be really inspiring to anyone looking to diversify their traffic sources away from Google!

Three episode takeaways:
  • How Kate doubled her Pinterest traffic in one year — Kate spent a year devoted to growing her Pinterest account, and it (majorly) paid off. Pinterest is now Kate’s biggest traffic driver and has kept her afloat through many Google algorithm updates. Kate shares her keyword research strategy on Pinterest, her pinning schedule, and more in this interview.
  • How to develop “marketing campaigns” to promote your brand — Kate uses her background in marketing to develop year-long “marketing campaigns” for her brand and has seen huge success when committing her time to different social media platforms (so far, Pinterest and Facebook) for an entire year. She shares why you don’t need to worry about over-promoting your content, and how you can get started with your own marketing campaigns.
  • The importance of clarifying who you’re marketing to — Bjork and Kate discuss the benefits of constraints for creators, and how committing to a niche and defining the person you’re marketing to can transform your marketing strategy. By focusing on your reader — how they use the internet and what platforms they’re on, you can simplify your brand and clarify your business.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

How Storytelling Helps Creators Stand Out Online with Brita Britnell15 Jul 202500:59:03

The power of storytelling, experimenting across platforms, and connecting with your audience with Brita Britnell. 

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Welcome to episode 527 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brita Britnell from Food with Feeling (who also happens to be our Social Media Video Expert!). 

How Storytelling Helps Creators Stand Out Online with Brita Britnell

In this episode, Brita shares how leaning into storytelling became the heart of her content strategy, and the secret behind quadrupling (!!!) her Instagram following in just one year. From freelancing to full-time content creation, she walks us through the lessons she’s learned about building meaningful connections, staying consistent, and creating content that resonates. Whether it’s reposting viral hits or crafting seasonal recipes, Brita’s approach is rooted in authenticity and real-life experiences.

We also dive into why follower count isn’t everything (especially on Facebook), how Brita built a thriving email list, and what she’s learned from years of experimenting across platforms. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your personal story into a creative brand that lasts, this episode is packed with inspiration, insight, and plenty of real talk.

Three episode takeaways:
  • The power of real connection: Whether it’s at a conference, through email lists, or in the comments section, Brita shows how building real relationships (online and off) can lead to big opportunities. She emphasizes that collaboration and community often open more doors than follower counts ever could.
  • How to create content that clicks: From storytelling and seasonal posts to reposting viral hits, Brita breaks down how she keeps her audience engaged and why follower count isn’t the whole story, especially on platforms like Facebook. Her success proves that staying authentic and experimenting with your content strategy pays off.
  • Experiment, evolve, and stay consistent: Brita shares how she’s mixed freelancing, focused learning, and a whole lot of trial-and-error to grow a fulfilling and financially stable career as a creator. Her journey is a great reminder that you don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to keep moving forward!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Amy Bakes Bread Grew from 500K to 11 Million Pageviews in Just Two Years08 Jul 202500:49:18

Managing a rapidly growing business, growing an Instagram account to 520K followers, and scaling to 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025 with Amy Coyne from Amy Bakes Bread.

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Welcome to episode 526 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Amy Coyne from Amy Bakes Bread.

How Amy Bakes Bread Grew from 500K to 11 Million Pageviews in Just Two Years

Amy Coyne first started her blog in 2020 as a hobby. She’s always had a passion for sourdough and, combined with her background as teacher, felt like a food blog teaching others to bake sourdough and solve their baking problems was a perfect fit.

In this episode, Amy discusses the evolution of her blog from hobby to full-blown business (with over 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025!), the inflection points that led to significant growth, and the importance of community building on platforms like Instagram. She also shares insights on her business revenue streams, the challenges of work-life balance as a creator, and her strategies for continued growth and engagement with her audience.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How Amy grew her Instagram account to over 520K followers — In January 2023, Amy challenged herself to post on Instagram daily for 90 days, growing her account from 1,000 to 16,000 followers. This experiment became her proof of concept. Since then, she’s consistently shown up with content like Q&As, bake-alongs, and carpool chats. Now with over 520,000 followers, Amy shares the strategies that have fueled her growth, including how she uses analytics to refine her approach.
  • How Amy is managing her rapidly growing business — Amy opens up about her current income breakdown, her goals to diversify revenue streams, and how she balances motherhood with business growth. She also talks about why she recently brought on part-time help. Describing her success as “life-changing,” Amy reflects on how her growing business has impacted her family life.
  • How Amy scaled her blog to over 11 million pageviews in the first half of 2025 — Amy shares the SEO and keyword strategies that helped her grow from 500,000 pageviews in 2023 to over 11 million in the first half of 2025. She explains how viral recipes have boosted her blog’s visibility in search results, how her traffic sources have evolved, and how she balances creating content for her blog versus social media.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Raptive and Yoast.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Unlocking the Hidden Value of Your Recipe Content with Sandie Markle of Blueberri01 Jul 202500:57:05

Turning older content into revenue and structuring your content for discoverability with Sandie Markle of Blueberri.

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Welcome to episode 525 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Sandie Markle from Blueberri. 

Unlocking the Hidden Value of Your Recipe Content with Sandie Markle of Blueberri

In this episode, Sandie Markle shares her journey from working at SideChef to launching her own venture, Blueberri. She and Bjork dive into the evolving world of food content creation, especially how creators can structure their content to boost visibility, make it more discoverable on different platforms, and turn old recipes into new revenue. Sandie also sheds light on the unique value that nano and micro influencers bring to brand partnerships.

They also unpack how creators can tap into licensing opportunities, work with tech companies, and even use overlooked platforms like LinkedIn to find new gigs. Whether it’s understanding the worth of a single recipe or building smart, non-traditional income streams, this episode is full of practical advice for creators who want to make more from the content they already have.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Your Old Content is Still Gold: Sandie shares how creators can repurpose and license existing recipes — even if they aren’t getting tons of traffic. Think: $100–$250 per recipe just sitting in your archive!
  • Structure = Discoverability (and Dollars!): Making your content easy to find, share, and reuse is a game-changer. Sandie breaks down how simple formatting tweaks can boost your reach and unlock new revenue streams.
  • Partnerships, Platforms, and Knowing Your Worth: From nano-influencer perks to why LinkedIn is a hidden gem, Sandie dives into how creators can build smart brand partnerships and confidently navigate the tech world.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Mary Smith Uses Her 500k Instagram Followers to Monetize Across Platforms24 Jun 202500:49:52

Creating multiple revenue streams, making $100 a day from affiliate revenue, and committing to consistent content creation with Mary Smith from Mary's Whole Life.

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Welcome to episode 524 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mary Smith from Mary’s Whole Life.

How Mary Smith Uses Her 500k Instagram Followers to Monetize Across Platforms

This week is our third (and final!) episode in our mini-series with Grocers List. In this episode, we chat with a gluten-free food creator who’s built an incredible business by staying consistent, continually learning, and always looking for new ways to serve her audience.

Today, Mary gets over 600,000 monthly blog page views and brings in revenue through ads, affiliate links, and brand partnerships. She shares more about her Instagram strategy (with over 500k followers), including her tips for viral Reels, how she uses Grocers List to capture emails, make deep links, and customize meal plans, and how working with a management company has transformed her brand partnerships.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to be intentional with your affiliate strategy and deep linking — By using deep linking on the Amazon affiliate links she shares, Mary has boosted her conversion rate from 5% to 21%, a massive jump that now brings in around $100/day in revenue. She recommends using tools strategically to lower costs, like applying deep links only on Instagram, and doubling down on what converts.
  • How to use tools to bring social followers into your email ecosystem — Switching from ManyChat to Grocers List helped Mary streamline subscriber growth and increase engagement (the “save to email” feature led to 3,000 new subscribers in just a few months)! Mary also explains her process for creating and promoting an ebook opt-in on Instagram.
  • How to make weekly meal plans for your email list — One of the ways Mary has added value for her email subscribers is by sending out a weekly Friday morning email with a meal plan for her subscribers with a curated grocery list. She explains how she formats and customizes these resources with very little effort in this episode!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Grocers List.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Turning Followers into Revenue with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List17 Jun 202501:01:46

Leveraging social media and your email list to make your content work smarter with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List.

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Welcome to episode 523 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List. 

Turning Followers into Revenue with Ben Jabbawy from Grocers List

In this week’s episode, we’re continuing with our Grocers List mini-series with Ben Jabbawy, the founder of Grocers List! He’ll dive deep into how creators can truly leverage social media — not just for likes, but for real, tangible growth. The key is to shift your mindset from surface-level content to strategic storytelling that drives your business forward.

You’ll also hear about why email lists are a creator’s secret weapon. While algorithms change, your direct connection with your audience shouldn’t. Building a list gives you control over your communication and creates consistent revenue opportunities. Plus, he’ll unpack how to make your content work smarter by using automation, repurposing assets, and minimizing the busywork that slows creators down. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Social media can be used to build a business: The episode emphasized how important it is for creators to use social media platforms to capture real value and drive their entrepreneurial goals, not just for surface-level engagement. 
  • Email lists are a creator’s best friend: You’ll hear about how crucial email lists are for maintaining a strong connection with your audience and building reliable revenue streams. It’s all about owning your audience and having direct communication, rather than relying solely on ever-changing social media algorithms.
  • Make your content work smarter, not harder. Creators, especially food creators, can benefit from tools and strategies that reduce friction in sharing content, automate workflows, and repurpose what they’ve already created. This frees up time and expands reach without sacrificing user experience — it’s a win-win situation!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Grocers List. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Pinch of Yum Uses Instagram to Grow Their Email List10 Jun 202500:50:09

Making Instagram work smarter for your business, repurposing old content, and making the most out of DM automation tools with Lindsay Ostrom from Pinch of Yum.

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Welcome to episode 522 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork interviews Lindsay Ostrom from Pinch of Yum.

How Pinch of Yum Uses Instagram to Grow Their Email List

Welcome to the kickoff episode of our new mini-series, sponsored by Grocers List! In this conversation, Bjork and Lindsay are diving into how Pinch of Yum is rethinking its Instagram strategy, especially when it comes to using Reels, DM automation tools, and driving email list growth. They chat about how to balance creativity with conversion, and Lindsay shares why her opinion of DM automation tools has completely changed over time.

Lindsay also gets into the nitty-gritty of repurposing blog content and using Grocers List as a strategic bridge to get Instagram followers into the email ecosystem. If you’re looking to work smarter with your content and make Instagram actually work for your business, this episode is for you!

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to repurpose old content — Lindsay discusses how she has been breathing new life into older recipes by organizing and packaging her existing content into resources and opt-ins that can a) provide value to readers and b) drive followers to sign up for the Pinch of Yum email list.
  • Pinch of Yums’ current Instagram process and strategy — Lindsay shares her current content strategy for Instagram and how she’s been rethinking the value of Instagram in her business. Historically, she viewed Instagram primarily as a means to build awareness around the brand and new recipes, but she is now being more strategic about the Instagram to email pipeline. She explains her practical tips for getting started with this mindset shift in this discussion!
  • How to make the most out of DM for automation tools — Lindsay first tried out a DM for automation tool to drive site traffic a few years ago, but didn’t like how it cluttered her Instagram inbox and made engaging with readers more difficult. So she abandoned it! Recently, however, she tried again (this time with Grocers List) and has had great success building her email list. In this interview, she explains what changed her opinion on these tools (and shares the Instagram inbox organization tip you need)!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Grocers List.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot on Scaling, Burnout, and Finding Joy Again03 Jun 202500:59:01

Scaling a Brand, Navigating Burnout, and Finding Your Why with Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot.

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Welcome to episode 521 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Joanie Simon from The Bite Shot. 

Joanie Simon of The Bite Shot on Scaling, Burnout, and Finding Joy Again

In this week’s episode, Joanie gets real about the not-so-glamorous side of turning a creative passion into a full-on business. She shares how her love for food photography grew into something much bigger (and messier!) than she expected, from hiring a team to navigating the financial and emotional rollercoaster that comes with scaling. Spoiler: it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but it was 100% worth the ride!

We also explore the tricky balance between staying creative and keeping up with the structure a business demands. Joanie opens up about burnout, the pressure to please everyone, and how she lost touch with her audience along the way. Through mentoring, self-care, and redefining what success actually looks like, she’s found her way back to her “why” — and she’s sharing what that process really looked like.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Growth can be messy, but so worth the effort!: Joanie shares how her food photography side hustle grew into a full-blown business, including the ups and downs of hiring a team, dealing with new responsibilities, and learning from the messy parts of scaling.
  • The tug of war between creativity and structure: From chasing inspiration to juggling deadlines, Joanie talks about how building a business can sometimes smother the creative spark and how she’s working to find a balance that actually fuels both.
  • How Joanie reconnected with her why: Joanie opens up about people-pleasing, burnout, and losing touch with her audience — and how mentoring, self-care, and redefining success helped her get back to what really matters.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

What It Really Takes to Publish a Cookbook with Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin27 May 202500:50:26

Pitching, writing, publishing, and marketing a cookbook with Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin.

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Welcome to episode 520 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin.

What It Really Takes to Publish a Cookbook with Erin Clarke from Well Plated by Erin

In this episode, we are thrilled to welcome back Erin Clarke (after 9 years!!!) to dive into the behind-the-scenes journey of traditionally publishing a cookbook — from developing the recipes and managing timelines to copy-editing and more. Erin opens up about how she balanced her cookbook projects with her ongoing blog work, as well as the challenges and rewards of publishing a cookbook.

Bjork and Erin also chat about the marketing side of cookbook creation — how Erin mapped out the social media strategy for her cookbook promotion, why she crafted all of her captions in advance, and how she documented the entire cookbook process on social media to create excitement and drive sales. Erin emphasizes that cookbook writing shouldn’t be motivated by money but by a passion for cookbooks and the long-term brand legitimacy and awareness that these books help build.

Three episode takeaways:
  • The cookbook proposal is your blueprint — Erin explains why a compelling cookbook proposal is essential — not only does it help you effectively pitch to publishers, but it also forces you to test your concept (and whether you’re up for the challenge!) and clarify your vision before writing begins.
  • Cookbook writing is a long game — Success requires patience, consistency, and a commitment to detail. Erin shares about the challenges of adjusting to the timeline of print publishing and the shift in mindset required to develop a cookbook.
  • How to develop recipes that work — Erin walks through her incredibly detailed approach to recipe development (have you ever counted the kale stalks in a bunch at the grocery store?) and how being methodical when developing and writing recipes from the get-go creates a strong foundation for your future self and sets your readers up for success.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Christina Leopold of Addicted to Dates Turned Content into Community and Hit 550K Followers20 May 202500:49:35

The power of consistency, community, and time management with Christina Leopold from Addicted to Dates. 

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Welcome to episode 519 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Christina Leopold from Addicted to Dates. 

How Christina Leopold of Addicted to Dates Turned Content into Community and Hit 550K Followers

This week’s episode dives deep into the journey of food blogger Christina Leopold, who built and scaled her brand, Addicted to Dates. Her story is packed with gold for anyone looking to grow their online gig. One of the biggest takeaways? Consistency is key, but working smarter with your content is essential for staying sane.

Christina also spills the tea on turning her passion into a full-time hustle. She had to get down to business with things like SEO and figuring out how to make money. Plus, she emphasizes the power of knowing your worth and when to bring in some extra hands. Finally, we chat about the importance of connecting with your community and fellow creators. It’s all about building those authentic relationships and learning from each other!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Consistency and repurposing are your best friends: Christina’s journey highlights that showing up regularly (like her daily posts for years!) is huge. To maintain your sanity, you’ll have to get smart about your content – think repurposing and making the most out of what you create (like turning one recipe into a bunch of posts).
  • Treat your blog like a business (because it is!): Making the leap to full-time meant learning about SEO, monetization, and how to manage her time like a boss. Hiring help, tracking analytics, and creating systems (like batching recipe posts) gave her more space to focus on the creative stuff she loves.
  • How connections can fuel growth: From community support to brand partnerships, Christina emphasizes the power of real connections. Engaging with others has opened doors to brand collaborations, steady income, and long-term growth.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K13 May 202500:49:14

Surveying your audience, building effective lead magnets, and staying consistent with emails with Molly Thompson from What Molly Made.

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Welcome to episode 518 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Molly Thompson from What Molly Made.

How Molly Thompson Grew Her Email List from 15K to 100K

Tired of the ever-changing Google algorithms, Molly Thompson decided to lean into email marketing a few years ago and has since developed a super effective four-part system for growing her email list.

In this episode, Bjork and Molly delve into Molly’s strategies for growing her email list from 15,000 to 100,000 subscribers within a year (and how that has led to an increase of 300,000 pageviews every month!). Molly shares her insights on repurposing content across platforms, surveying her audience for pain points, using her website as a central hub, and her strategies for driving traffic back to her site.

Three episode takeaways:
  • The importance of consistency in email engagement — Molly sends out three emails per week, focusing on providing value to her audience. This consistent engagement has helped her build a loyal subscriber base and drive significant traffic back to her site.
  • Why you need to understand your audience’s pain points — A key strategy Molly employs is surveying her audience to understand their challenges and needs. She explains how she uses ChatGPT to organize and analyze the data, and how these insights allow her to create content that addresses her audience’s pain points, making her opt-ins and emails more relevant and engaging.
  • How to effectively use lead magnets — Molly shares her approach to creating opt-ins that convert. She discusses how to use platforms like Instagram to drive email opt-ins and the importance of structuring a welcome series to nurture new subscribers effectively.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Preserving Tradition While Scaling a Modern Business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook06 May 202501:05:00

Crafting a brand with meaning and scaling a business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook.

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Welcome to episode 517 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Shen Chen, who jointly runs the English-language Japanese food blog Just One Cookbook with his wife Nami. 

Preserving Tradition While Scaling a Modern Business with Shen Chen from Just One Cookbook

This week on the podcast, Bjork sits down with Shen Chen — one-half of the powerhouse duo behind Just One Cookbook. Shen shares the behind-the-scenes story of how a humble food blog grew into a multifaceted business, spanning YouTube, e-commerce, and digital memberships. He talks about the impact of shifting traffic trends, how COVID–19 changed the game, and why sometimes a business pivot isn’t just smart—it’s necessary.

Shen also opens up about his newest venture: a brand inspired by Japanese craftsmanship and cultural preservation. From navigating the complexities of physical products to using social media and SEO to fuel organic growth, this episode is packed with practical tips and thoughtful insights for anyone looking to build a meaningful, resilient business. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Three episode takeaways:
  • From Food Blog to Full-Fledged Business: Shen shares how Just One Cookbook evolved beyond recipes, expanding into YouTube, e-commerce, and community-building. You’ll also hear him talk about how external factors like COVID–19 forced a shift in strategy, leading to new ventures and unexpected growth. 
  • Crafting a Brand with Meaning: Discover how Shen’s passion for Japanese craftsmanship sparked a new business rooted in tradition. He unpacks the power of appreciating quality, preserving cultural heritage, and building a product line that tells a deeper story.
  • What It Really Takes to Scale a Business: From social media strategy to SEO, from paid ads to packaging logistics — Shen gives us a peek behind the curtain at the not-so-glamorous, but essential, parts of running a physical goods business. Spoiler: it’s a lot, but totally worth it!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

 
Diversifying Income Series: Monetizing Your Email List with Matt Molen29 Apr 202500:45:56

Growing and nurturing your email list, understanding your subscribers' needs, and creating lead magnets with Matt Molen from Email Crush. 

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Welcome to episode 516 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Matt Molen, the CEO of Email Crush. 

Diversifying Income Series: Monetizing Your Email List with Matt Molen

In this episode, Matt shares email marketing principles and why it’s one of the most powerful tools bloggers often overlook. He breaks down how to grow your list, why your subscribers are more valuable than you think, and how email can become a key revenue stream if you do it right!

Matt also offers practical tips on creating convert lead magnets, writing emails people want to read, and building trust through simple, effective sequences. Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to level up, this interview is packed with email strategies you can start using today!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Email marketing that actually pays off: For food bloggers, email is more than a newsletter — it’s a key revenue stream. From sharing your story to promoting products or partnerships, it’s one of the most effective ways to grow your income and your brand.
  • How to build (and nurture) your list with intention: Your current traffic is your best resource for growing your list. With the right lead magnets—think quick-start guides, mini recipe series, or kitchen cheat sheets—you can attract the right audience and keep them coming back for more.
  • Consistency and value drive results: Whether it’s a weekly roundup or seasonal content, consistent, valuable emails lead to higher engagement. Understand what your readers need, simplify your messaging, and make every email worth opening.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying Income Series: Mastering Brand Partnerships with Candice Ward22 Apr 202501:00:25

Build relationships that last with brands, simplify brand outreach, and develop confidence in your offerings with Candice Ward from Eat More Cake

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Welcome to episode 515 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! For part three of our Diversifying Income Series, Bjork interviews Candice Ward from Eat More Cake.

Diversifying Income Series: Working with Brands

In today’s crowded content landscape, with the rise of AI, increased competition, and more user-generated content, Candice shares how she built a stable business by diversifying her income and getting strategic with brand partnerships.

This episode breaks down Candice’s three-pillar approach to building relationships with brands: crafting a strong offer, getting more eyeballs on that offer, and—most importantly—learning how to sell your offer. She shares practical tips for using analytics to evolve your offerings, developing an email sequence that gets responses, and how to pitch brands with purpose. This episode will make you excited to rethink your brand partnership strategy — don’t miss it!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Why you should be using the offer/market/sales framework for brand pitching — Candice explains the 3 main pillars of brand partnerships and how to optimize each phase of your outreach.
  • Simple ways to use weekly workflows to make real connections with brands — Candice has incorporated brand outreach via email sequences, LinkedIn, and social media into her workflow and explains her process for communicating with brands and how to develop an email sequence so that you can easily begin the process yourself!
  • How to build confidence in pitching — Very few content creators are confident pitching to brands right out of the gate. Candice explains her tips for becoming more confident (hint: repetition helps!) and how reframing pitching as building relationships with brands to help them solve a problem can help creators overcome their mental hurdles to communicating with brands.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying Income Series: Cooking Classes with Jess Smith from Inquiring Chef15 Apr 202500:57:28

Making decisions about diversifying your business and launching and running a cooking camp for kids with Jess Smith from Inquiring Chef.

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Welcome to episode 514 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! For part two of our Diversifying Income Series, Bjork interviews Jess Smith from Inquiring Chef.

Diversifying Income Series: Cooking Classes

Jess Smith launched her blog, Inquiring Chefs, in 2010 and has slowly but steadily transformed it into a thriving multi-six-figure business. In recent years, she’s expanded her income streams by publishing her debut cookbook, Start with a Vegetable, and launching Inquiring Chef Academy, which offers popular in-person cooking summer camps for kids in Kansas City.

In this episode, Bjork and Jess dive into the origins of Inquiring Chef Academy, exploring why and how Jess decided to add an in-person experience to her brand. Jess’s summer camps are a massive hit (with the 2025 sessions selling out in just a few hours), and they’ve reignited her passion for food blogging. Even if in-person cooking classes aren’t your thing, this episode will provide fresh insights on diversifying your income and your creative outlets — you won’t want to miss it!

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to make decisions about diversifying your business — Jess’s current income distribution looks like this: 71% from ad revenue, 13% from cooking camps, 10% from her cookbook, and 6% from brand partnerships. However, when she first considered launching her cooking camps, it wasn’t driven by money but by creativity. In this discussion, Bjork and Jess talk about the importance of finding balance in your business to prevent burnout and ensure long-term success, and how to make decisions that reflect those values.
  • The logistics of running your own cooking classes — Jess dives into the tools she uses to manage her cooking camps, including the software for registration, how she developed the curriculum, how she promotes the camps, how she built a team to support the operations, and why she isn’t interested in scaling her camps (yet). This episode has all the details you need if you’re considering launching something similar!
  • How to launch cooking classes — Jess announced her summer camps in January 2024 and has sold out two consecutive summers of camps. She reveals how she pushed past her hesitations and shares the behind-the-scenes process of getting her cooking camps off the ground (spoiler: it was the toughest business challenge she’s faced yet)!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Diversifying Income Series: Membership Sites with Adam Sobel08 Apr 202500:57:25

Generating recurring revenue through membership sites, the power of community, and how to scale your business with multiple income streams.

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Welcome to episode 513 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Adam Sobel.

Diversifying Income Series: Membership Sites with Adam Sobel

In this week’s episode, Adam Sobel of Cinnamon Snail shares his journey from owning a restaurant to launching successful online cooking classes after the pandemic. He reveals how building a loyal community was key to his growth, along with using content marketing, lead magnets, and split testing to attract and convert customers. Adam also dives into how paid ads and staying adaptable in the digital world have been essential to his success.

It doesn’t stop there! Adam will also talk about scaling his business with multiple income streams, including membership programs and free offers, while automating key processes to generate steady revenue. Tune in for actionable insights on growing your business in today’s digital age!

Three episode takeaways:

  • From Restaurant to Online Success: After the pandemic hit, Adam made a big shift from owning a restaurant to teaching cooking classes online. He quickly realized that building a strong community and customer loyalty was key to his growth.

  • Smart Digital Strategies: Content marketing, lead magnets, and split testing became game-changers for Adam. He also dives into how paid ads and constantly adapting to the digital world have been crucial for attracting and converting customers.

  • Scaling with Multiple Income Streams: By offering membership programs and leveraging free offers, Adam’s been able to create a steady stream of revenue. Automation has also helped simplify his business, making it easier to generate income while focusing on what matters most.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Cookie Finance. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How to Balance Creativity and Consistency in Blogging01 Apr 202500:54:03

Balancing creativity and consistency, maximizing productivity, and navigating food trends with RIz Asad from Chocolates and Chai. 

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Welcome to episode 512 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Rizwan Asad from Chocolates and Chai. 

How to Balance Creativity and Consistency in Blogging

This week, we’re chatting with Riz from Chocolates and Chai, who shares some amazing insights on balancing creativity with monetization. It can feel like a compromise when you’re trying to make money from your blog, but Riz breaks down how ad revenue, affiliate marketing, and licensing can actually work together with your content without sacrificing quality!

Riz also drops some valuable tips on staying efficient and consistent in your content creation. You’ll also hear him talk about how jumping on popular topics, like viral TikTok recipes, can really up your visibility and engagement. Lastly, we dive into the importance of finding your niche — understanding who your audience is and carving out a space that’s uniquely yours is the key to long-term success while staying true to your creative passion. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Three episode takeaways:

  • Balancing Creativity and Consistency: Finding the sweet spot between staying true to your creative vision and consistently putting out content is essential for long-term success. Building trust with your audience while keeping things fresh and true to your style is key here!

  • Maximizing Productivity: If you’re juggling a full-time job or managing the pressures of blogging, Riz has been there and says that batching tasks and minimizing distractions can significantly boost your efficiency. Staying organized will help you keep the content flowing without burning out!

  • Navigating Trends and Monetization: Keeping an eye on trends, like those on TikTok, can help boost your content’s visibility. And while monetizing a blog can feel tricky or like you’re compromising your creativity, finding a balance that allows you to make money while staying true to what you love doing is possible.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Cookie Finance. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The Cost of Content and Why Carla Lalli Music left YouTube25 Mar 202500:59:33

Finding success as a personal brand, balancing creative work with financial sustainability, and leaving YouTube for Substack with Carla Lalli Music.

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Welcome to episode 511 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Carla Lalli Music.

The Cost of Content and Why Carla Lalli Music left YouTube

Carla Lalli Music has been a fixture of food media for the last 15 years, including six years as the Food Director of Bon Appetit. You might also know Carla from her incredibly popular YouTube series, Carla’s Cooking Show, her two cookbooks (with a third one in the works!), or her Substack newsletter, Food Processing.

In this interview, Carla dives into her recent viral Substack post about her decision to leave YouTube, including her transparent breakdown of the costs of creating content on YouTube (spoiler alert: she was losing money). Carla also explains more about why she doesn’t create recipes for SEO and how she uses connection with her audience as her north star when making business decisions.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to find success as a personal brand — Carla has created a business rooted in her personal brand and exceptional and reliable recipes rather than focusing on SEO. She prioritizes authentic connection with her audience, entertainment value, and community over crafting content purely for algorithmic success, a strategy that she is hopeful will help her recipes and content stand out in the age of AI.
  • The challenges of balancing creative work with financial sustainability — Despite the joy she (initially) found when making YouTube videos for her channel and a team she loved collaborating with, the financial reality of her video production costs ($3500 per video) and the declining and limited revenue from Google ads led Carla to reevaluate her place on the platform. In addition, the tight production schedule required to produce four high-quality recipe videos a month left Carla with little bandwidth to create content for Substack or her upcoming cookbook.
  • How to recognize when something is no longer serving you or your business — After producing 177 full-length episodes for Carla’s Cooking Show, Carla’s decision to step away from YouTube was ultimately a choice based on finances, psychological toll, limited bandwidth, and diminishing returns. Carla and Bjork discuss the sustainability of content creation on platforms like YouTube and how creators have to analyze what is moving the needle in their business and, ultimately, what kind of creator they want to be.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Publishing a Fan Cookbook for A Court of Thorns and Roses with Chelsea Cole18 Mar 202500:52:11

Reinventing your brand, transitioning from self-publishing to traditional publishing, and developing a cookbook for a fan base with Chelsea Cole from A Duck's Oven.

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Welcome to episode 510 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we are welcoming back Chelsea Cole from A Duck’s Oven.

Publishing a Fan Cookbook for A Court of Thorns and Roses

This is Chelsea’s third (!!!) appearance on the podcast and we’re thrilled to have her back. In her previous two interviews, she has shared her wisdom on self-publishing and creating content within her sous-vide niche. But today she is back on the podcast with a bit of a 180 — to discuss her first traditionally published cookbook in a totally different niche — a fan cookbook for the A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series.

In this interview, Bjork and Chelsea discuss cookbook publishing and how it can be a part of your overall business strategy. Chelsea also shares how she chose the subject matter for her new cookbook and what it was like to write and develop a cookbook for a (very devoted) fan base, all while giving birth to and raising her first child!

Chelsea also explains more about the royalty structure for cookbooks, how cookbooks can be a source of passive income for food creators, and how she is thinking about her current reinvention as a food creator.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to negotiate your cookbook contract — Chelsea is no stranger to publishing cookbooks, but this was her first go-around in the traditional publishing space. She worked with a great agent and has lots of insights into how to negotiate your payments as an author (including negotiating the photography, the advance, the royalty structure, etc.).
  • How to approach testing new ideas with your audience — Before the launch of A Feast of Thorns and Roses, Chelsea shared recipes in a specific, small niche (sous vide). In this interview, she shares how she approached this new venture with her audience, how it has reignited her love for recipe development, and how to use your audience when exploring new types of content.
  • The pros and cons of self-publishing versus traditional publishing — Chelsea has literally written a course on self-publishing and knows the process backward and forward. She shares the advantages and disadvantages of each (speed, control, marketing, etc.) and provides insider knowledge to both sides of the publishing world for those looking to make a similar decision.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by KeySearch and Clariti.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating Reader-First Content and Growing to 800,000 Monthly Page Views with Elena Davis11 Mar 202501:00:19

Prioritizing providing authentic value to your readers, updating old content, and choosing the right marketing channels for your content with Elena Davis from Cucina by Elena.

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Welcome to episode 509 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Elena Davis from Cucina by Elena.

Creating Reader-First Content and Growing to 800,000 Monthly Page Views with Elena Davis

We are so excited to welcome back Elena Davis to the podcast this week. When we first chatted with Elena in 2022, she had just hit 100,000 page views and qualified for Mediavine. Three years later, Elena’s site, Cucina by Elena, gets over 800,000 monthly page views! But her journey to get there has not been without it’s challenges.

In this interview, Elena catches us up on the last few years of her business — including a major traffic decline in 2023 (and how she recovered from it) and how her mindset around her business, and the value she provides to her community, has changed.

Three episode takeaways:
  • The importance of updating content — After hitting a traffic plateau in September 2023, Elena realized that some of her older content wasn’t serving her audience (or Google!) anymore. Instead of leaving it stagnant, she began steadily auditing her old blog posts. Elena speaks to the importance of continually evaluating the value of your content and knowing when to take action to improve your site. Her approach was key to her traffic growth and helped her bounce back better than before.
  • How to choose the right marketing channels for your food blog — When it comes to marketing, knowing which channels work for your brand is everything. Elena relies on email marketing, Pinterest, and Instagram (especially Reels) to drive traffic, engage her audience, and build brand loyalty.
  • Prioritizing providing value to your readers — Elena has a really wonderful perspective on creating content that serves your readers above all else. She shares more about how she guides readers through her blog, how she helps them achieve their goals, and how that mindset has changed her business.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How Britney-Brown Chamberlain Grew Her Food Blog to a $20K/month Business04 Mar 202500:56:49

Understanding active passive income, creating authentic content, and navigating brand partnerships with Britney-Brown Chamberlain from Britney Breaks Bread.

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Welcome to episode 508 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Britney Brown-Chamberlain from Britney Breaks Bread. 

How Britney-Brown Chamberlain Grew Her Food Blog to a $20K/month Business

This week’s podcast features Britney Brown-Chamberlain of Britney Breaks Bread, who shares her inspiring journey from a $200/month blog to a $20,000/month business. Britney discusses the strategic approach to “active passive income,” offering practical advice on SEO, trend analysis, and maximizing online revenue.

Britney also dives into the power of authenticity and how it plays a huge role in building a loyal following. She shares her social media strategies, how she balances creating content she loves with what her audience craves, and the importance of high-quality content that reflects her unique style. Plus, she goes beyond blogging and talk cookbooks (yep, she wrote one!), brand partnerships, and the difference between marketing content vs. a physical product. Be sure to tune in to learn more about how to take your blog to the next level!

Three episode takeaways:

  • How Britney Went From $200 to $20k: Britney shares her journey from a $200/month side project to a $20,000/month business, highlighting the importance of strategic planning and execution. She discusses the concept of “active passive income” and how it has fueled her success, along with practical tips for SEO, keyword research, and capitalizing on seasonal trends.

  • The Power of Authenticity: Britney emphasizes the critical role of authentic content creation in building a loyal audience. She also explores the importance of social media marketing, email list building, and fostering genuine engagement to expand reach and cultivate a thriving community.

  • Going Beyond the Blog: Beyond blogging, Britney discusses her experiences with writing a cookbook, navigating brand partnerships, and the nuances of product versus content marketing. She’ll also dive into the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by KeySearch. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Key Strategies for Taking Your Blog Full-Time with Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette25 Feb 202501:02:28

Building a full-time business as a food creator over the course of eight years, understanding your 'why,' and meeting your goals with Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette.

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Welcome to episode 507 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette.

Key Strategies for Taking Your Blog Full-Time

In this podcast episode, Alexandra shares the ins and outs of becoming a full-time food creator and her reflections on what she would have done differently to meet her goals more quickly if she had the chance to start over.

Alexandra breaks down the strategies and decisions that have moved the needle over the years — from projecting expenses and investing in courses or audits to building a community of fellow food creators and batching your time. It’s a really practical and inspiring episode for beginner food bloggers looking to take your food blog to the next level!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Understanding your “why” — Alexandra speaks to the importance of defining your “why” as an entrepreneur to help provide clarity and direction for your business and to ensure that your time and efforts align with your core goals.
  • Surround yourself with a supportive community — As a Ukrainian immigrant, Alexandra has had to navigate the challenge of pursuing a career path that breaks the mold of the more “traditional” jobs that her family might have chosen for her. She stresses the importance of having a supportive network of fellow food creators who understand the unique challenges of building a business in this space.
  • How to overcome the fear of taking your food blog full-time — Alexandra reflects on the early years of her career as a food creator and what she would do differently now. She breaks down how she knew when she was ready to reduce her freelance work and commit to her site full-time and shares the advice she would give to beginner food bloggers waiting to make the leap.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by KeySearch.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How to Grow Your Audience as a Food Creator on Reddit18 Feb 202500:53:23

Understanding Reddit's community dynamics, Reddit posting strategies, and how to maintain a work-life balance with Jacqueline Schell.

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Welcome to episode 506 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jacqueline Schell from Crafty Cookbook. 

How to Grow Your Audience as a Food Creator on Reddit

In this episode, Jacqueline Schell from Crafty Cookbook talks all about how to navigate the world of content creation on Reddit and how to connect with like-minded people by engaging with established communities. Jacqueline also shares why authenticity is essential (Redditors are all about genuine content!), but balancing that with strategic posting can help boost your visibility.

And if you struggle with time management at all, we’ve got you covered — Jacqueline will talk about how conducting time audits, setting aside dedicated time for side projects, and using mobile tools can keep you productive without burning out. Whether you’re posting on Reddit or balancing a busy content creation schedule, Jacqueline’s advice will help you stay on track and organized! Don’t miss out on this episode for practical tips on growing your online presence and keeping your workflow efficient. ✨

Three episode takeaways:

Reddit’s Unique Community Dynamics: Reddit offers a unique space for content creation, but understanding Subreddit rules, community norms, and moderator roles is key. Engaging with established communities can give you valuable feedback and help grow your presence.

Authenticity & Strategy Matter: Redditors appreciate personal, authentic posts, so focus on being genuine with your content. At the same time, keep in mind that strategic posting can boost visibility, and securing a subreddit name can be a smart branding move.

Maintaing a Work-Life Balance as a Content Creator: Time management is crucial for content creators. Conducting time audits, scheduling side projects, and utilizing mobile tools can help you stay productive and maintain a work-life balance.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens. 

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking11 Feb 202500:52:36

Using deep links, understanding your audience's behavior, and tracking links with Scott Allan from URLgenius.

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Welcome to episode 505 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Scott Allan from URLgenius . 

Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking

Ever wondered how to squeeze every last drop of revenue from your affiliate links? In this week’s episode, Scott Allan from URLgenius reveals how deep linking can boost affiliate sales by preventing commission losses, especially on mobile and social platforms like TikTok. It’s a game-changer for driving conversions and preventing missed opportunities.

Scott also discusses the importance of understanding your audience’s app behavior to tailor your affiliate strategy, plus the power of testing and tracking links to optimize revenue. Tools like URLgenius make it easy to track, test, and tweak your links for better results — small adjustments can lead to big boosts in income! Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable tips!

Three episode takeaways:

  • Deep Linking is a Game Changer for Affiliate Sales: Using deep links in your content (especially on mobile and social media) can boost conversions and prevent lost affiliate commissions. This is key for ensuring you’re not missing out on sales, especially when users are on apps like TikTok or mobile shopping platforms.

  • Understanding Your Audience & Their App Behavior is Crucial: Knowing how your audience shops — whether they’re on mobile or desktop, and what apps they use — can help you tailor your affiliate strategy. Influencers and creators, especially, need to be aware of app usage to maximize sales and engagement.

  • Testing and Tracking Links to Optimize Revenue: Regularly testing different link strategies and using tools like URLgenius to track and optimize your affiliate links can help you understand what works and adjust for better results. Small tweaks can lead to bigger revenue boosts!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

From 1K to 250K: The Instagram Growth Strategy That Transformed Joy to the Food04 Feb 202500:49:58

Using data to navigate helpful content updates and drive social media success and taking your blog full-time with Mika Kinney from Joy to the Food.

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Welcome to episode 504 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mika Kinney from Joy to the Food.

From 1K to 250K: The Instagram Growth Strategy That Transformed Joy to the Food

Mika and her husband Dan launched their food blog, Joy to the Food, in 2021 with the goal of building a successful brand and business. Just a few years later, Mika has left her full-time job as a civil engineer, they’ve qualified for Raptive, and their Instagram following has soared to over 250,000.

In this interview, Mika reveals the exact strategies that fueled her rapid growth—from 1,000 to 250,000 followers on Instagram in just one year. She also shares how they’ve weathered the recent Helpful Content Updates and come out stronger, plus how she leverages analytics to drive key decisions.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone eager to supercharge their social media strategy in 2025 or seeking affirmation that they, too, can transform their food blog into a full-time career with the right approach.

Three episode takeaways:
  • The importance of diving into analytics — Mika’s engineering background is evident in her Instagram and SEO strategies. She explains her process for navigating Instagram analytics and how she uses the data to drive content decisions (including niching down to protein recipes with protein powder) and to predict which types of content will achieve certain business goals.
  • How to go from 1,000 to 250,000 Instagram followers in one year — Mika walks listeners through her Instagram strategy, including the importance of consistent daily posts and her strategy for posting Reels that fall into four “buckets” — for reach, for growing an audience, for existing followers, and for outbound clicks/sales. Mika highlights key elements like trending audio, video duration, text overlays, and optimized captions with keywords.
  • How to recover from Helpful Content Updates – After the September 2023 HCU caused a steep drop in page views for Joy to the Food (from 80,000 to 3,000!), Mika and Dan turned things around by doubling down on high-quality, niched-down content. They focused on site improvements, refined keyword research, and stayed adaptable, ultimately recovering and growing beyond their previous traffic levels.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Finance Mini-Series: Smart Money Habits for Bloggers with Ansley Beutler28 Jan 202501:09:40

Treating your blog like a business, choosing a business structure, and growing your income with Ansley Beutler

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Welcome to episode 503 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ansley Beutler from Peach Perfect Financials — this is the fourth and final episode of our finance mini-series!

Finance Mini-Series: Smart Money Habits for Bloggers with Ansley Beutler

In this episode, Ansley spills the tea on all things finances – from the nitty-gritty of bookkeeping and taxes to smart ways to grow your income. She’ll talk about why it’s crucial to treat your blog like a real business, how to keep track of all your expenses, and some common money mistakes bloggers make.

She’ll also chat through some awesome tax deductions you might not know about (ahem, business meals), the pros and cons of different business structures, and how to invest your hard-earned cash. This episode is packed with financial wisdom that every blogger needs to hear, so you won’t want to miss this one!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Smart Financial Management is Key for Bloggers: From understanding expenses (like groceries for recipe testing) to separating personal and business finances, keeping your books in check is crucial. Regular bookkeeping helps prevent tax time stress and makes things easier down the road.
  • Don’t Get Discouraged: Building a successful blog takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not raking in the cash immediately. Focus on creating great content and building your audience and things will start to pick up!
  • Diversify Your Income Streams: Affiliate marketing is booming! Consider exploring different ways to make money, like selling your own products or offering online courses. Diversifying your income streams will make your business more stable and less reliant on any one source.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Siftr 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Finance Mini-Series: How to Become a Sponsor Magnet with Justin Moore23 Jan 202500:57:11

Navigating brand partnerships, tips and tricks for negotiating collaborations, and understanding your worth with Justin Moore.

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Welcome to episode 502 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Justin Moore from Creator Wizard. 

How to Become a Sponsor Magnet with Justin Moore

In this episode, Justin dives deep into the world of brand partnerships and shares his proven approach to securing long-term sponsorships. He walks us through his Sponsorship Wheel framework, which helps creators craft customized proposals that align with brand goals and foster genuine, lasting relationships. It’s not just about pitching for a quick deal — the name of the game here is creating a foundation for ongoing collaboration that benefits both parties.

Justin also stresses that negotiation should feel like a conversation, not a one-sided transaction. Understanding what both you and the brand are looking for and being flexible with pricing can pave the way for new opportunities! He highlights the importance of knowing your worth, crafting a standout media kit, and getting creative with your pitch to secure better deals. By mastering these skills, creators can turn sponsorships into a steady revenue stream while building strong, meaningful brand connections.

Three episode takeaways:

  • Optimizing Brand Partnerships: Justin’s journey into sponsorships shows the importance of building genuine relationships with brands. His ‘Sponsorship Wheel’ framework helps creators customize proposals, align with brand goals, and ultimately drive long-term collaborations.

  • Negotiation is a Conversation, Not a Transaction: Effective negotiations go beyond price — it’s about understanding each other’s goals. Tailoring your pitch based on a brand’s needs and being flexible with pricing can unlock new opportunities.

  • Know Your Worth and Be Creative: Creators often undervalue themselves, but a strong media kit, clear communication, and creative packaging can help you stand out. With the right approach, you can secure better deals and leverage sponsorships for ongoing revenue.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Food Blogger with Amina Al-Saigh21 Jan 202501:04:01

Monetizing a food blog, building a brand, and implementing systems and strategies with Amina Al-Saigh from Hungry Paprikas.

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Welcome to episode 501 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork interviews Amina Al-Saigh from Hungry Paprikas, where she shares recipes from across the Middle East with an authentic Arab voice.

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Food Blogger

In this interview, Amina shares her journey from starting out as a food content creator on Instagram while working full-time as an engineer to today as a full-time food creator with a brand new cookbook (Souk To Table).

Amina explains how she balanced her food blog with her full-time job in the early days, the importance of her niche in attracting brand partnerships, and the qualities that made her a desirable partner for brands, even when she had a small following.

Bjork and Amina also chat about the strategy of incremental stacking when adding tasks and processes to your workload and how workflow changes when you take your food blog from side hustle to full-time. This is a really inspiring interview for anyone, but especially those currently balancing a food blog with a full-time job.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Growing and monetizing on Instagram versus a blog — Amina shares when and why she decided to start her website in addition to her Instagram (which now has almost 200,000 followers) and how she qualified for Mediavine within a year. She also explains what it was like to start monetizing her site with ads, and how it compared to when she first started making money from brand partenrships with her Instagram account.
  • Incorporating systems and processes into your business — Before becoming a full-time food blogger, Amina worked as an engineer. And her background as an engineer is ever-present in the systems and processes she has incorporated into her business to make her life easier and work more efficient. Amina shares her processes and tips for organizing your workflow, from content scheduling to photography and editing to collaboration with her team.
  • Making progress while letting go of perfection — Success looks different for every creator, but Amina believes that if you continue to show up every day, prioritize learning, trust your gut, and let go of perfection, every food blogger will be able to reach their goals.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Siftr and Memberful.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Finance Mini-Series: The Smart Creator’s Guide to Taxes with Nate Coughran16 Jan 202501:06:32

Setting up an LLC, claiming unique deductions, and deciding on when to hire a tax professional with Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance.

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Welcome to episode 500 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This is the second episode of our finance mini-series, and we’re excited for Bjork to sit down with Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance. 

Finance Mini-Series: The Smart Creator’s Guide to Taxes with Nate Coughran

In our latest episode, Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance shares key tips for getting your finances on track as a creator. First off, setting up an LLC can protect your personal assets and reduce audit risk. Nate also recommends keeping separate bank accounts for your business—this makes tracking your money way easier and less stressful.

When it comes to taxes, creators can claim unique deductions, but it’s important to find the right balance. Nate emphasizes staying on top of your bookkeeping throughout the year to avoid end-of-year stress. And if you’re making over $75K, it’s worth hiring a pro to ensure your tax strategy is solid and you’re setting aside enough for taxes. It’s all about staying ahead and keeping things simple!

Three episode takeaways:

  • Financial Setup for Creators: Creators should consider forming an LLC to protect personal assets and reduce audit risk. Keeping separate bank accounts for business transactions and tracking finances regularly helps you stay on top of your money

  • Tax Strategy & Deductions: Creators can often claim unique deductions that traditional businesses can’t. However, to avoid end-of-year stress, it’s important to balance aggressive and conservative deductions and be proactive with bookkeeping throughout the year.

  • Know When to Get Professional Help: DIY bookkeeping works for smaller incomes, but if you’re making over $75K, it’s worth hiring a professional. Also, setting aside money for taxes is key to avoiding surprises and ensuring accurate tax reporting.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance. 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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Leveraging 3 Million TikTok Followers to Launch a Product with Dana Hasson14 Jan 202500:57:48

Launching a cookie starter kit product, growing a TikTok following to 3 million followers, and networking with Dana Hasson.

 

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Welcome to episode 499 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Dana Hasson, an entrepreneur, content creator, self-taught baker, and founder of Homemade Ish.

Leveraging 3 Million TikTok Followers to Launch a Product

Dana Hasson has spent the last decade building her business — reaching over 3 million followers on TikTok and launching her first physical product, Homemade Ish Cookie Starter Kits.

In this interview, Dana explains how (and why) she transitioned from beauty and fashion content to food content and how she balanced networking and creating in the early days of building her brand.

Bjork and Dana also discuss the process of launching a physical product, including how she is pairing the brand with her existing content and leveraging her huge social media following.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Why consistency is the secret to success on social media — Dana shares more about how she grew her TikTok following to over 3 million followers and explains why she thinks posting consistently (5x/day, every single day, for over a year!) was the key to her success.
  • How to launch a physical product — Dana recently launched Homemade Ish, her line of Starter Cookie Kits. Learn how she built her team behind the product, developed a scalable recipe for her cookies (hint: it requires a food scientist!), and everything else you need to consider when developing a product.
  • The importance of a season of quiet hustle — Dana shares more about the early days of building her brand, when she focused on learning, networking, and understanding the industry — as she first started posting on social media.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Siftr and Memberful.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership

Finance Mini-Series: Investing in Your Business with Megan Porta09 Jan 202500:56:01

Investing in Yourself and your Business, managing seasons of burnout, and the importance of time tracking with Megan Porta.

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Welcome to episode 498 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Megan Porta from Eat Blog Talk and Pip and Ebby.

Investing in Your Business

You might recognize Megan Porta from her podcast, Eat Blog Talk (chances are, if you listen to this podcast, you also listen to hers)! Megan has also been a food blogger herself for over 14 years at Pip and Ebby and knows a lot about balancing her time between her many areas of focus.

In this podcast interview, Bjork and Megan chat about all things investing as an entrepreneur. Megan shares her strategies for making decisions about investments, how to invest in yourself, how to invest in your business in the early stages, and how investing in yourself and your business can help you overcome plateaus and avoid burnout.

Three episode takeaways:
  • How to invest in your business (when you don’t have any money to do so) —Bjork and Megan chat about how to approach investing in your business when you’re in the early stages and hesitant to spend the money and how to make decisions about investments.
  • How to get started investing in your business — Megan suggests starting by time tracking and reflecting on the current pain points in your business. You can then begin your investment journey by investing in solutions to remove those pain points.
  • How to get through seasons of burnout — Investing in your business (and yourself) is a critical component of avoiding and overcoming plateaus, burnout, or even quitting. Megan shares more about her personal journey with this and her strategies for managing seasons of burnout as an entrepreneur.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance.

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How to Reclaim Your Time and Find Your Focus07 Jan 202500:59:34

Mastering time management, outsourcing, and creating a vision for your life with Jaimee Campanella.

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Welcome to episode 497 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jaimee Campanella. 

How to Reclaim Your Time and Find Your Focus

In this episode, Jaimee Campanella gets real about the time management struggles bloggers and entrepreneurs face. She shares her journey of finding the balance between work and family and how being intentional with your time is a game-changer. From doing a time audit to figuring out how to prioritize tasks, Jaimee explains how you can stay on track without burning out and make time for what really matters.

Jaimee also talks about creating a joyful structure for your business, knowing when to outsource, and why documenting processes is key for sustainability. It’s all about blending creativity with structure so that you can stay productive without losing your passion. If you’re ready to break free from the time scarcity trap and create a work-life balance that actually works, this episode will be right up your alley!

Three episode takeaways:

Time Management Starts with Intentionality: A clear vision for your life can help you you structure your time around what truly matters. Jaimee’s advice: setting realistic expectations and prioritizing tasks based on interest and importance can help you prevent burnout and make your time feel more rewarding!

Outsource Wisely, but Don’t Rush: Outsourcing tasks can free up valuable time, but timing is everything. Make sure it aligns with your goals and comes after you’ve figured out where your time is really going. A time audit is a great first step!

Creativity and Structure Can Coexist: Building a structured approach to managing your time doesn’t come at the expense of your creative flow. With the right processes in place and a good team, you can have both productivity and passion without feeling overwhelmed.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

FBP Rewind: Brainstorming Content Ideas with Ranking Potential and Writing Great Blog Posts with Ashley Segura31 Dec 202401:02:03

Developing a content strategy and writing blog posts that will get traffic to your blog with Ashley Segura from TopHatRank.

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Welcome to episode 496 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we're rewinding back to one of our favorite episodes with Ashley Segura from TopHatRank and TopHatContent!

As bloggers, our goal is to create content that our readers find valuable. But even more, we want to create content that people are actually searching for. And that’s what we’re chatting about today with Ashley from TopHatRank and TopHatContent!

She’s an expert when it comes to content marketing, and she’s sharing some of her best advice for creators in this episode — everything from how to come up with great content ideas to what an ideal blog post structure looks like.

It was a really great interview, and we know you’ll have so many takeaways to apply to your own content strategy after listening. We hope you enjoy it!

Three episode takeaways:

  • Content Strategy & Audits: Ashley talks about how she got into content marketing and why content audits are essential for improving website performance. She shares tips on when to republish, delete, or noindex old posts to keep your content fresh and effective!
  • Creating & Structuring Content: From brainstorming blog post ideas with ranking potential to structuring posts for maximum impact, Ashley shares her process for crafting content that resonates with both users and search engines.
  • Understanding the User Journey: You'll learn about the importance of backlinks and how understanding the user journey can help drive engagement and improve SEO performance.

Resources:

This episode is sponsored by Yoast. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. 

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

FBP Rewind: How to Increase Your Organic Traffic with Keyword Research with Aleka Shunk24 Dec 202400:57:06

Getting started with keyword research, finding the right keyword research tool, and tracking your keywords with Aleka Shunk from Cooking With Keywords. 

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Welcome to episode 495 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we're rewinding back to one of our favorite episodes with Aleka Shunk from Cooking With Keywords!

How to Increase Your Organic Traffic with Keyword Research

Since launching her course, Cooking With Keywords, Aleka has taught countless students about the ins and outs of keyword research, and in this week's podcast episode, she’s sharing her best tips to develop a strong keyword research strategy.

You’ll learn what keywords and modifiers are, how to get started with keyword research, what tools you should use, and more. Whether you’re just diving into keyword research for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro, we know you’ll have so many takeaways from this conversation. Enjoy!

Three episode takeaways:

  • How keyword research works: Aleka walks listeners through the keyword research process and explains what keywords and modifiers are, what the different phases of keyword research look like, how to get started with keyword research, and more.
  • The keyword research tools Aleka recommends: There are so many different tools on the market for SEO and keyword research, it can feel impossible to choose. Aleka shares her go-to tools for keyword research and the pros/cons of various tools.
  • Why it's important to analyze and track your keywords: The keyword research process doesn't end when you hit 'publish' — it's just beginning! Aleka explains why it is so important to continue analyzing, tracking, and optimizing your keywords in order to see the most benefits from keyword research.

Resources:

This episode is sponsored by Clariti. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started at foodbloggerpro.com/work-with-us.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

 

The Secret to Building a Family Business and Reaching 2 Million Pageviews17 Dec 202400:58:33

Navigating business ownership with family members, establishing ownership of responsibilities, and creating genuine content with Echo and Erica Blickenstaff.

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Welcome to episode 494 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Echo and Erica Blickenstaff from the food blog Favorite Family Recipes. 

The Secret to Building a Family Business and Reaching 2 Million Pageviews

In this episode, Echo and Erica dive into the ups and downs of running a family business. The key to their success? Dividing responsibilities and playing to each other’s strengths. After struggling with everyone doing everything (hello, burnout!), they sat down to figure out who would take on what. Once that was sorted, it was like a weight was lifted, and they were able to dive deeper into their areas of expertise.

They also talk about the challenges of growing a business while staying true to your roots. After taking a hit from Google’s algorithm updates, they realized the importance of diversifying their revenue streams and not relying too much on search traffic. With 2 million monthly page views (!!!) and a focus on authentic, family-driven content, they’ve learned to balance growth with staying genuine. Whether you’re running a family business or just trying to keep things organized, this episode is full of actionable tips and inspiring insights!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Dividing Responsibilities for Success: Working with family can make decision-making tricky, but once the three sisters divided up their responsibilities based on each person’s strengths and weaknesses, everything fell into place. It helped them work more efficiently and allowed everyone to dive deeper into their areas of expertise.
  • Navigating the Business Roles: Inspired by the E Myth framework, they identified who best fit the roles of the entrepreneur, manager, and technician in their business. Understanding these roles helped them streamline operations and keep the business running smoothly.
  • Adapting and Staying Authentic: After being impacted by Google’s Helpful Content Update, they’ve been focusing on diversifying their revenue streams and staying true to their roots by creating authentic, family-focused content that AI can’t replicate.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Creating Viral Food Content on Social Media with Kimberly Espinel10 Dec 202400:56:50

Balancing business strategy with your passion, storytelling on social media, and listening to your audience with Kimberly Espinel, author of How To Make Your Food Famous.

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Welcome to episode 493 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Kimberly Espinel, food photographer and author of How To Make Your Food Famous.

Creating Viral Food Content on Social Media

We are excited to welcome Kimberly back to the podcast to discuss her new book, How To Make Your Food Famous, and her strategies for building a successful career as a food creator, especially in today’s ever-evolving social media landscape.

Kimberly discusses how she made the leap from her job as a social worker specializing in adoption to working for herself as a freelance food photographer, starting with brand partnerships and scaling her business along the way. She emphasizes the importance of listening to your audience — paying attention to what resonates with them and shaping your offerings around their needs — and shares her formula for creating viral food content.

Episode takeaways:
  • How to balance business strategy while staying true to your passion —Kimberly reflects on how she navigates changes in Instagram’s algorithm and features, focusing on what makes her happiest—whether that’s photography or video — while still seeing growth on her account.
  • Kimberly’s secret formula for creating viral food content — She explains why her strategies are more timeless than they may seem, stressing the power of consistency in content creation. Kimberly also shares the commonalities she has observed among creators who were able to grow their accounts on social media.
  • The common traits among successful creators on social media — Authenticity, vulnerability, personality, and storytelling are all essential for those looking to grow their platforms in the next decade. If you can master one platform, nail your messaging, and build a community, the skills you build will carry you through to the next phase of your business.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Yoast. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The Art of SEO with Stephan Spencer03 Dec 202401:02:45

The staying power of SEO, experimenting with different SEO tactics, and how to create content that resonates with your audience.

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Welcome to episode 492 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Stephan Spencer. 

The Art of SEO with Stephan Spencer

In this episode, Stephan Spencer, author of The Art of SEO, breaks down why SEO is still as important as ever, even with AI changing the search landscape. While AI may shift how we search, SEO remains the backbone of the internet. Stephan encourages listeners to stay focused on their SEO goals, keep investing in strategies that work, and adapt to the evolving world of search.

You’ll also hear Stephan talk about the power of experimentation. Don’t be afraid to tweak things like title tags and test different tactics—whether it’s a boost or a drop, tracking results is key and tools like Google Search Console, SEMRush, and Ahrefs can help you monitor performance and refine your strategy. Lastly, you’ll learn about the importance of creating content that resonates with your audience—Google rewards authentic, helpful content, so the more personal and valuable your content is, the better it’ll perform in search.

Three episode takeaways:
  • SEO Still Reigns Supreme: Despite the rise of AI, SEO isn’t going anywhere. AI may change how we search, but SEO has been the backbone of the internet for decades. Keep investing in it, stay focused on your goals, and create your own reality in the world of search.
  • Experiment and Track Results: Don’t be afraid to experiment with SEO tactics (like changing title tags). You may see a boost—or a drop—but you can always course-correct. Stephan also talks about how you can use tools like Google Search Console, Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMRush to track your results and optimize your strategy.
  • Create Content That Connects: Focus on crafting comprehensive content that meets your audience’s needs and expectations. Personal stories and experiences matter, too! Google’s E-E-A-T metric rewards real, human experiences, so the more authentic and valuable your content, the better it’ll perform.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Member Kitchens. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Writing Standout Recipes and Navigating AI as a Food Creator26 Nov 202400:54:27

Mastering recipe development in a competitive market and adapting to AI as a food creator with Raeanne Sarazen, author of The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis, and Food Styling.

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Welcome to episode 491 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Raeanne Sarazen.

Writing Standout Recipes and Navigating AI as a Food Creator

Raeanne Sarzen wrote the book on recipes… literally. In 2023, Raeanne published The Complete Recipe Writing Guide: Mastering Recipe Development, Writing, Testing, Nutrition Analysis, and Food Styling. How did she get to be the expert in recipe writing? Raeanne is a Registered Dietitian and a classically trained chef who has worked in hospitals as a clinical dietitian, restaurant kitchens, in food publishing as a writer, editor, and test kitchen professional), and as a culinary nutrition consultant. So yes, she knows a thing or two about developing, writing, testing, and perfecting recipes!

In this interview, Bjork and Raeanna discuss the recipe development process, how food publishing has changed over the years, what it takes to write a great recipe, and how food creators can stand out online, especially in a world with AI.

Three episode takeaways:
  • What makes a really good recipe?: Raeanne argues that the quality of the recipe differentiates really successful food creators from the rest of the pack. In this interview, she walks listeners through the recipe development process, shares her tips for writing a user-friendly recipe, and discusses the importance of recipe testing.
  • How to adapt to AI as a food creator: Raeanne shares her thoughts on artificially generated recipes – in short, they’re not tested, devoid of personality, and written without personality or critical thinking. Bjork and Raeanne also discuss how you can use AI when developing recipes and writing content.
  • How to differentiate yourself as a recipe developer: Let’s face it — food blogging is a competitive space. But Raeanne believes that if you create accurate, concise, easy-to-follow recipes that solve the problems of your readers and infuse your content with your distinct voice, you can still build a successful career as a food creator.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Give to Grow with Mo Bunnell19 Nov 202400:55:15

Cultivating and nurturing relationships, the power of reciprocity, and the role relationships play in growing your business.

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Welcome to episode 490 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mo Bunnell from Bunnell Idea Group about his new book, Give to Grow.

Give to Grow with Mo Bunnell

In this week’s episode, we’re excited to share Mo's incredible journey from the world of actuaries to the vibrant realm of entrepreneurship. Mo dives deep into how he transitioned from crunching numbers to building a thriving business, discovering that the real magic lies in forging genuine connections. He emphasizes that generosity and relationship-building are key ingredients for success, and you'll definitely want to hear his insights!

Mo also explores the power of reciprocity in fostering meaningful relationships. He shares practical tips on making clear, trustworthy offers that can open doors to high-value connections, even if you’re starting from scratch. Whether you have a long list of contacts or are just beginning, Mo’s advice on tracking opportunities and nurturing relationships will inspire you to take proactive steps toward collaboration and growth. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to elevate your networking game!

Three episode takeaways:

  • From Actuary to Entrepreneur: Mo shares his journey from crunching numbers as an actuary to diving headfirst into entrepreneurship. Along the way, he discovered the magic of relationship-building, emphasizing how generosity and genuine connections can lead to success.
  • The Power of Reciprocity: You'll learn how Mo taps into the science of reciprocity to foster meaningful relationships. He stresses the importance of making clear, trustworthy offers to brands and prioritizing high-value connections that can drive your business forward.
  • Cultivating Relationships: Discover Mo’s practical tips for nurturing connections and generating leads—even if you start with no contacts! He encourages listeners to keep track of opportunities and relationships, showing that proactive engagement can exponentially grow trust and collaboration over time.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast. 

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Evolving Your Brand: When and How to Sell Products as a Food Creator12 Nov 202401:10:22

Mastering product development and sales, prioritizing problem-solving for your audience, and overcoming perfectionism with Jillian Leslie from MiloTree.

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Welcome to episode 489 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jillian Leslie from The Blogger Genius Podcast and MiloTree.

Evolving Your Brand: When and How to Sell Products as a Food Creator

In this week’s podcast episode, Jillian Leslie explains everything you need to know about selling a product as a food creator. Bjork and Jillian discuss the strategy behind developing a product and the importance of leaning into problem-solving for your audience.

Jillian also walks listeners through how to get started selling products, how to scale products and generate recurring revenue, and how to overcome perfectionism within your business.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Prioritize problem-solving for your audience — As recipe developers, we’re always looking to solve problems for our readers. Whether you’re developing quick and easy recipes for busy families or vegan recipes for readers hoping to make a lifestyle change, problem-solving is at the center of what we do. Jillian makes the point that the same mentality should apply to developing products to sell and that the more you can market a product as a solution, the more success you’ll have.
  • The importance of testing and iteration — Research, testing, and iteration are essential to growing any business, including developing and selling products. Jillian also explains her theory that creators should start by producing B- work and then refine their product from that point. In this interview, she goes into detail about this theory and talks more about how to prevent perfectionism from holding you back.
  • When to transition into paid content—Many content creators struggle with transitioning from providing free content to putting some content behind a paywall. Bjork and Jillian discuss more about overcoming this barrier and how to know when the time is right for you to create your first product (and how to scale your products).

Resources:

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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 podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Differentiating Your Content in a Crowded Market with Brian Watson05 Nov 202400:53:53

Prioritizing your blog, freeing yourself from metrics, and building a digital cookbook with Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude.

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Welcome to episode 488 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude. 

Differentiating Your Content in a Crowded Market with Brian Watson

In this week's episode, Brian Watson from Thee Burger Dude shares his inspiring journey from posting on Instagram to building a successful blog on WordPress. He'll reveal his secrets to standing out in a crowded digital landscape — including tips on simplifying your content creation process, focusing on versatile recipes, and the power of blogging and why it remains a vital tool for content creators.

Plus, he'll debunk the myth of chasing numbers and encourage you to be gentle to yourself to prioritize your mental well-being. Whether you're a seasoned blogger or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you grow your audience and build a sustainable online business!

Three episode takeaways:

  • Brian's Content Creation Journey: You'll hear about how Brian got his start on Instagram and eventually made the leap to YouTube. He dives into the early days of his content creation and how he built a successful blog on WordPress after initially trying out Wix, emphasizing the flexibility WordPress offers for monetization.
  • Discover the Power of Blogging: He highlights why blogging remains a crucial part of his success, serving as his main source of income, while platforms like Instagram serve as more of a bonus. He encourages content creators on TikTok and Instagram to consider starting their own blogs for a more stable and personalized space that they fully control.
  • Making Your Content Stand Out: You'll hear Brian talk about how to differentiate your brand in a crowded space, including tips on simplifying photography setups and focusing on multifunctional recipes that can be used across various dishes. Plus, he offers valuable advice for new bloggers: don’t get caught up in the numbers and embrace a mindset that prioritizes mental well-being and self-compassion!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Actionable Steps to Shape a Successful Brand with Katie Trant29 Oct 202401:02:39

Creating a brand to withstand algorithm changes, going beyond branding basics, and how your brand can influence your business strategy.

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Welcome to episode 487 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Katie Trant from Foodie Brand Lab and Hey Nutrition Lady.

Actionable Steps to Shape a Successful Brand

There has been a lot of buzz around the importance of building a strong brand as a food creator. Amidst the volatility of search algorithms and the rise of AI, food bloggers are looking for a way to stand out and build a loyal following.

Enter, Katie Trant! She has a Masters in Nutrition and started her own food site, Hey Nutrition Lady, back in 2010. She also works full-time at brand and business consultancies helping big companies define their brand. So you might say she was well-positioned to start Foodie Brand Lab to help food bloggers (like you!) refine their brand strategy.

In this interview, Bjork and Katie discuss everything you need to know about brand: what it is, why it matters, how to define your brand, and how it can influence your business strategy. Katie also provides actionable steps to start building a stronger brand to help you stand out in the crowded space of food blogging.

3 episode takeaways:
  • What is a brand? A brand is much more than a logo, color scheme, design, or font. It includes such things as brand personality, tone of voice, brand position, brand purpose, and brand values. Your niche is part of your brand, but your brand has the potential to be even more impactful in your success than a niche.
  • A strong brand can withstand algorithm changes: It has never been more important to have a brand as a food blogger. Katie discusses how to shape the perception of your brand, and why brand matters so much in the current digital landscape.
  • Actionable steps to go from search traffic to direct traffic: Katie walks listeners through several thought exercises (like whether you have a traditional or personal brand) and concrete steps that they can take to start building a better brand.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Tailor Brands. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Building Brand Relationships that Last with Chris Pieta22 Oct 202400:55:59

Working with brands, communicating with clients, and staying organized with Chris Pieta from Creative Biz Launch. 

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Welcome to episode 486 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chris Pieta from Creative Biz Launch. 

Building Brand Relationships that Last with Chris Pieta

In this week’s episode, Chris highlights the value of narrowing your focus. By clearly defining what you offer and identifying your ideal client, you can transform your outreach efforts. When you zero in on how to help them achieve their goals, your messaging becomes much more impactful!

Chris will also talk about the power of personal connections (consider hopping on a call instead of just firing off emails)—it’s all about building relationships! Plus, he'll share how using a CRM can streamline your processes and keep your emails from landing in spam. With a solid onboarding system, you’ll make the transition smooth for new clients. Be sure to tune in for these tips to supercharge your business!

Three episode takeaways:

Narrow Down Your Niche: Chris emphasizes the importance of knowing exactly what you’re selling, your ideal client, and how you can help them achieve their dream outcome. This will help you tailor your outreach and messaging to resonate with the right people!

Reach Out Strategically and Nurture Relationships: When it comes to working with brands, you’ll want to lean on the power of clear communication and strategic outreach. Hop on a call with a client rather than exchanging emails—this personal touch can help you better understand your client’s needs and pave the way for a successful collaboration. You’ll also learn how you can use cold outreach to connect with potential clients and the different phases of a discovery call.

Streamline Your Process with Systems: A CRM can be a game-changer for managing leads, tracking interactions, and automating tasks. Chris also emphasizes the importance of setting up proper email infrastructure to prevent your emails from going to spam and creating a clear onboarding process to ensure a smooth transition for new clients!

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

 

Achieving Quiet Success as a Six-Figure Food Creator with Elizabeth Emery15 Oct 202401:00:06

Prioritizing passive income, overcoming burnout, and rediscovering joy as a food blogger with Elizabeth Emery from Vancouver with Love.

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Welcome to episode 485 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Elizabeth Emery from Vancouver with Love.

Achieving Quiet Success as a Six-Figure Food Creator

Food blogging can be a dream job — hey, we wouldn’t have started Food Blogger Pro if we didn’t believe that! But it also requires a lot of hustle, perseverance, and uncertainty. Elizabeth Emery first started Vancouver with Love in 2015 as a side hustle and took her site full-time in 2018. By 2021, she was feeling completely burnt out. That year ended up being a pivotal moment in her career.

To overcome her burnout, she met with a business coach and adjusted the parts of her business that she wasn’t happy with. Once she made significant changes to her business and income streams, she rediscovered the joy of content creation, and her business started growing along with these changes. Elizabeth is now making a six-figure income from her business, and she shares all the details about her journey in this great interview!

Three Episode takeaways:
  • How to overcome burnout: Between working on her blog for 6+ years, the pandemic, and unreliable income, Elizabeth found herself completely burned out running her food blog. She was desperate for a change but knew that she could still love her job with a few tweaks. In this interview, she explains the process of working with a business coach to find more joy and flexibility in her career.
  • Why ‘quiet success’ is underrated: Elizabeth has 30,000 followers on Instagram, no book deal (yet!), and isn’t on TV. And you don’t need any of those things to build a career as a successful food creator! It isn’t the right time for Elizabeth to pursue those goals, and she shares more about why those metrics of success aren’t for everyone.
  • How to prioritize passive income: Elizabeth has been very intentional in the growth of her business and in adjusting her sources of revenue to increase her passive income. In this episode, you’ll learn how she makes a six-figure income from her business between ad revenue, sponsored content, and freelance recipe development.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Tailor Brands and Yoast. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The Importance of Building Community with A Couple Cooks08 Oct 202400:56:02

Balancing passion, building a sustainable business, and predicting the future of food blogging with Alex and Sonja Overhiser from A Couple Cooks.

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Welcome to episode 484 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Alex and Sonja Overhiser from A Couple Cooks.

The Importance of Building Community with A Couple Cooks

Alex and Sonja first started blogging at A Couple Cooks over 14 years ago and have navigated countless changes in the food blogging landscape over the years. In this interview, they share the things that kept them going before they achieved success with their business and the importance of having an accountability partner in the early days.

They also discuss more about key decisions they’ve made in their business: why they’ve chosen not to build a team, why they don’t prioritize Instagram, and how they pivoted their cookbook strategy after initial rejections. Bjork, Alex, and Sonja have been friends for over a decade, and it’s a pleasure to hear them catching up as people who have been around the block in this industry.

Episode takeaways:
  • Balancing passion and business: Alex and Sonja have learned a lot in the 14 years that they’ve been running A Couple Cooks, including the delicate balance between their passion for sharing recipes with their community and the reality that their site is also their livelihood. In this interview, they share more about how they run a successful business while still making space for creativity and joy.
  • Developing a giftable cookbook: Alex and Sonja are publishing their second cookbook, A Couple Cooks: 100 Recipes to Cook Together, this fall, but it wasn’t a linear path to getting this cookbook published. After their first cookbook proposal was rejected by publishers, they went back to the drawing board and developed a new proposal for a “giftable cookbook” that was accepted by the first editor they approached!
  • Having the ability to pivot: With the growth of AI and the uncertainty of Google algorithm updates, it is more important than ever to build an experience and community as a creator. Alex and Sonja discuss this shift, including why they’re focusing more on email marketing, as well as their predictions for the content creation landscape over the next year.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How to Thrive in the Creator Economy and Build Successful Brand Partnerships01 Oct 202400:55:32

Legitimizing the creator economy and working with brands with Chandice Probst and Abbey Rodriguez from Tastemaker Conference

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Welcome to episode 483 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Chandice Probst and Abbey Rodriguez from Tastemaker Conference. 

How to Thrive in the Creator Economy and Build Successful Brand Partnerships

Chandice and Abbey have been on the front lines of the food content creation revolution, watching the industry evolve from bloggers to influencers and creators. Now, they’re dedicated to proving that being a food creator is a serious business, not just a hobby.

Tune in as they discuss the power of community and how embracing an abundance mindset can open doors to new opportunities. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation that could transform the way you approach your creative business!

Three episode takeaways:

Legitimizing the Creator Economy: Chandice and Abbey argue that being a [food] creator is a real business, not just a hobby. They’ve seen the food blogging industry evolve over the years and are working hard to decentralize the food creator business model.

Building Your Brand Takes Work: Getting brand partnerships isn’t as easy as it might seem. It requires a strategic approach, including creating a sponsorship deck, reaching out to brands directly, and even leveraging AI to find potential partners!

Collaboration Over Competition: The key to success in the creator economy is often collaboration. Abbey and Chandice emphasize the importance of building a supportive community and leaning into the abundance mentality over the scarcity mentality.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Tailor Brands. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

How to Build a Thriving Membership Site27 Sep 202400:53:35

Building community, providing exclusive value, and streamlining membership sites with Jen Matichuk from Memberful. 

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Welcome to episode 482 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jen Matichuk from Memberful—this is the third and final episode of our Memberful mini-series!

How to Build a Thriving Membership Site

In this week’s episode of our podcast, we’re diving deep into the power of community for your membership site! Join Jen as she shares her insights on how to foster genuine connections with your audience and ensure they feel valued and engaged.

Discover how to deliver exclusive content that truly resonates—think behind-the-scenes access and in-depth tutorials that keep your members coming back for more. Plus, Jen highlights some of Memberful’s essential tools that can streamline your site management and allow you to focus on building meaningful relationships with your audience. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Three episode takeaways:
  • Build a Community Around Your Content: A strong community can be a powerful asset for your membership site. Encourage engagement, provide exclusive content, and create a space where your members can connect with each other.
  • Offer Value Beyond Your Free Content: To justify the cost of a membership, provide exclusive content and benefits that your free audience can’t access. This could include behind-the-scenes content, in-depth tutorials, or access to a private community.
  • Use the Right Tools to Streamline Your Membership Site: Tools like Memberful can help you manage your membership site, from creating tiers to facilitating payments. By using the right tools, you can save time and focus on building your community.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsor!

This episode is sponsored by Memberful. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Email List with Nathan Barry from Kit24 Sep 202400:59:52

Leveraging email lists, boosting revenue, and building relationships with Nathan Barry.

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Welcome to episode 481 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Nathan Barry from ConvertKit, soon-to-be Kit.

Maximizing the Impact of Your Email List

Nathan Barry started ConvertKit back in 2013 and has grown his company into a multi-million dollar business with over 30,000 creators that use the platform. We are happy to welcome Nathan back to the podcast to chat about how he has grown his business, email marketing strategy, and the transition from ConvertKit to Kit.

As algorithms change and search traffic becomes increasingly unpredictable, it’s a great time to double down on your email list. Capturing your audience from both site traffic and your social accounts and building an ongoing relationship with that audience is a great way to diversify your income streams and protect the future of your business. This podcast episode dives into the importance of optimizing your emails for the reader, consistency, and driving revenue with your emails.

Three episode takeaways:
  • Strategies for Increasing Email List Sign-ups: When something goes viral on social media, how do you make sure you’re capturing that audience? Nathan and Bjork discuss the importance of optimizing links in your social media profiles, lead magnets, and other tips for growing your email list.
  • How Your Email List Can Increase Your Revenue: With the (slow) demise of third-party cookies, creators need to be more… creative with providing more relevant ads to their readers. If you’re working with an ad network, your email list can be an incredibly valuable resource for serving targeted ads to your users (thereby maximizing your ad revenue).
  • The Magic of Flywheels: Nathan explains how and why to apply the concept of flywheels, which emphasizes attracting, engaging, and delighting your community, to your business. He also makes a case for why you should focus on repeating what is working for your business (rather than chasing the next new thing).

Resources:

This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors.

Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started at foodbloggerpro.com/work-with-us.

If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.

Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

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