539: The Low-Cost Investment That Can Change Your Blogging Career - Benefits of Joining an Accountability Group with MaryAnne Hoekstra

In episode 549, Megan chats to Jess Saunders about strategies for growing a big Instagram account, emphasizing the importance of consistency, experimentation, and connection with followers.  Jess Saunders co-founded Vegan Punks in 2017 in order to show that vegan food is delicious, easy to make and accessible. Prior to this, Jess was the social media lead at the world's first green energy company, is accredited by the Charted Institute of Marketing and social media agency founder. In recent times, Jess has over tripled her Instagram following to over 110,000 using a unique strategy and reel formula that she developed over a number of months. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use Instagram analytics to find content that works, effective hooks that grab attention and whether the timing of your post matters. Key points discussed: - Consistency is key to Instagram success: Post in line with your strategy every day (or on a consistent basis) even when it feels like it's not working to see big results eventually. - Compound small actions over time: Consistency compounds to significant results when maintaining effort on a long-term growth strategy. - Find your niche: The narrower your niche, the easier it will be to find what engages your audience best. - Experimentation is crucial for growth: What is working for other content creators? Trying new content types, hooks and styles is needed to find what resonates with your audience and increase reach. - Analyze engagement metrics: Watch time, saves and comments can reveal what content performs best and where users lose interest to improve future posts. - Consider audience activity times: Posting when followers are online can boost initial engagement and trigger wider distribution from Instagram. - Use hooks to grab attention: Visual and spoken hooks at the start can intrigue viewers and increase time watched, a strong signal to Instagram. - Engage your community: Asking viewers to comment or DM in captions builds relationships and indicates when a recipe is really popular. Connect with Jess Saunders Website | Instagram

In episode 548, Luay Ghafari teaches us strategies for growing a food blog through SEO and social media and why your audience should be your main focus. Luay is a published author, social media content creator, blogger, photographer and gardening educator. Like many other bloggers, he wears multiple hats. Luay is based in Toronto Canada and his gardening/cookbook, Seed to Table, was released July 2023. He also teaches a garden-to-table Master Class. In this episode, you’ll learn about how Luay grew his blog sessions quickly over the last 2 years, including his unique approach to SEO, building a strong social media presence and his emphasis on E-A-T.  Key points discussed - Create for your reader while following Google’s guidelines: Focus on building a loyal following through consistent content creation aimed to serve your audience instead of creating for Google. - Streamline recipes for readability and internal linking: Write recipes concisely without unnecessary photos or fluff and link related recipes to boost older posts and improve user experience. - Consider seasonality and content clusters when planning topics: Focus content by season or topic area to provide more value to readers.  - Invest in tools and services to help your blog business grow: If you treat your blog as a business, you would  invest in audits, keyword research and other paid services to help it grow. - Diversify revenue streams and platforms to weather industry changes: Do not rely solely on one platform or monetization method. - Create unique, shareable content for social media growth: Novel, interesting content is more likely to drive engagement and new followers on social media - what unique twist can you put on your content? - Leverage redirect tools like ManyChat for social traffic: Use automation tools to easily share blog content in response to social media comments. - Continually increase your E-A-T: Promote your qualifications and achievements on your About Page and keep it up to date. Connect with Luay Ghafari Website | Instagram

Burnout. Every time it hits, I act like I’m all surprised. Like, what? How can this happen? Have you ever felt the same? As I’m currently going through a bout of burnout, I want to share 5 ways in which you can recover from it. If there is one lesson I have learned about burnout, it is: Once it happens you can’t undo what has been done. And you can’t rush your recovery. You’ll need to let it run its course. There are ways in which you can help yourself recover quicker. And this is what I’d like to share with you: practical ways to get back on track with your work and prevent burnout from happening again. Action Plan: 1 - Acknowledge when you feel burnt out and surrender yourself to recovery. 2 - Pump the brakes, slow down work, and have grace for the healing process. 3 - Prioritize daily acts of self-care to help with recovery and continue making this part of your routine. 4 - Seek support from loved ones (or professional if needed) by openly discussing feelings of burnout. 5 - Reevaluate your goals and plans to figure out how to prevent future burnout - journal about your main goals for next year and what you need to prioritize now to achieve them. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Ghostwriter – Terrence Roche ([email protected]) Promote your food blogging services: www.eatblogtalk.com/audioclip Megan’s recommended books and resources at eatblogtalk.com/books.

In episode 546, Megan chats to Carl Ross about the current state of SEO and why our traffic is either dropping or increasing following changes in Google’s algorithm. Carl is an engineer who spent many years in corporate technology consulting roles which gave him a unique perspective on the application of technology, processes, and getting a return on your investments. It means he’s spent literally decades helping customers make sense of technology products. In 2019, he started offering SEO services and the food blogging niche was an obvious fit. While Carl works with bloggers in many different niches, food bloggers are his bread and butter. In this episode, you’ll learn about current effective strategies to rank on Google, including what is implied by ‘helpful content’ and why you should focus on user experience and backlinks. Key points discussed: - SEO is not dead: While some sites have seen traffic declines, Google is still sending traffic to food blogs and recipe sites through search results. - Focus on content, technical SEO, and backlinks: These three pillars are important for SEO success according to the three-legged stool analogy. - Optimize ad density: Reducing intrusive ads can improve the user experience and SEO performance of a site. - Build your brand: Establishing a presence on platforms beyond your website signals to Google that you are a genuine content creator rather than AI. - Be careful with AI-generated content: You can use AI to generate ideas, but do not copy and paste AI-generated text for your blog post. - Evaluate affiliate links: Excessive low-revenue affiliate links may affect your site’s Google ranking. - Experiment with changes: Disable or turn down ads to evaluate how they affect traffic and revenue. - How to deal with algorithm updates: During an algorithm update, some blogs rise while others fall, so monitoring changes and being flexible is important. - Focus on what you can control: Prioritize your efforts on things you can control on your blog, social media profiles, email list and other revenue streams. Connect with Carl Ross Website | Facebook

In episode 545, Desiree Nielsen teaches us how to find our unique voice and cooking style in food blogging through self-reflection, embracing creativity and sharing vulnerability to meaningfully connect with readers. Desiree Nielsen is a registered dietitian in Vancouver Canada with over a decade of experience in plant-based nutrition and chronic digestive and inflammatory disease. She is the author of two Canadian bestselling and award-winning cookbooks, Eat More Plants and Good For Your Gut. Her latest book, Plant Magic, arrives April 2024. Her work has been featured in People, Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, KTLA, WGN Chicago, The Social, Food Network Canada and Elle Gourmet Canada in addition to hundreds of media features across North America. Desiree is also a food blogger and the host of the evidence-informed wellness podcast, The Allsorts Podcast, where she hosts a diverse roster of guests from NYT bestselling authors to leading health professionals and researchers. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of standing out as a food blogger, how to find your unique voice and style (while still following SEO guidelines) and how to build a community that is not reliant on social media platforms or Google. Key points discussed: - Reflect on your personal food interests and cooking style: Take time to understand your preferences, tastes, and approach to cooking to develop a unique voice. - Look at what others are doing differently: Analyze popular blogs and recipes to find gaps that allow you to approach topics in a distinctive way.  - “Write drunk, edit sober”: Write without inhibition first and then structure anecdotes and humor within a format to meet SEO guidelines. - Prioritize search volume: Focus recipes on your blog on trending topics and keywords people are actively searching to maximize visibility. - Develop recipes with unique ingredients: Add a flavor profile or component that is unique to you to make recipes stand out and memorable.  - Build community consistently: Nurture readers through high-value, free content to develop loyal readership and build a newsletter to connect directly with your community. - Embrace the unexpected: Leave space for unforeseen opportunities that could further your growth in surprising new directions.  - Share vulnerability: Connect with readers through candid self-disclosure in small doses to form deeper relationships. - Your Path is Your Path: Pursue your interests wholeheartedly and say "yes" to chances that excite you creatively. Guest Details Connect with Desiree Nielsen Website | Instagram

Moving your body and staying physically fit has a significant impact on your mindset. Yet, many of us depioritize fitness in favor of work. In this episode, I explain why we should avoid falling into this habit and my top 5 ways to stay active. I found that the peak of my mental performance has always aligned with times when I was prioritizing my physical health. Moving my body consistently gave me confidence and I experienced so many other physical and mental benefits, including just being in a better mood. Action Plan: 1 - Track your steps using your watch, Fitbit or phone and find an accountability buddy. 2 - Commit to a workout program whether at home or at the gym, or choose a sport like running, cycling, CrossFit etc. 3 - Do daily bursts of physical activity like pushups, burpees or running on the spot. 4 - Double duty: Move while doing other tasks, for example you can walk while on a call. 5 - Choose the harder option such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator or parking far away from a venue. Resources Beach Body On Demand Coaching and Mentorship for Food Bloggers by Brittany Roche Promote your food blogging services: www.eatblogtalk.com/audioclip Megan’s recommended books and resources at eatblogtalk.com/books. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram  

In episode 543, Megan chats to Shyanne Reynolds about why it is worthwhile to hire a food blog writer, where to find reliable writers and other tips for the hiring process. Shyanne is a food blog content writer who helps bloggers manage editorial teams and rank in Google. She has 7 years of writing experience and a degree in English. Shyanne started her freelancing journey while in college and accidentally on purpose launched a 6 figure career. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to outsource food blog writing, how this benefits your business and why you shouldn’t ask your VA to do blog writing. Key points discussed: - Where to Find Food Blog Writers: Word of mouth is one of the easiest ways to find a reliable blog writer. - Why Should You Outsource Writing: Blog writing takes up most of our time, and can be especially overwhelming during content updates. - What to Look For In a Content Writer: Look at a content writer’s portfolio and someone who has ideally studied English, journalism or another relevant degree. Start with a test project. - Is Your Writer a Good Fit: Do you feel like they are matching your voice, do you have similar values and a positive base of communication? - What is an Editorial Manager: Editorial Managers oversee the work of several writers, making sure they all stay on brand. - What If It Doesn’t Work Out: Hiring a writer does not always work out, but it is worth trying several writers if that happens. Guest Details Connect with Shyanne Reynolds Website | Instagram

In episode 542, Kathie Lapcevic teaches us how to create products that fill us up creatively and make customers happy, while making a profit. Kathie Lapcevic is a blogger and teacher living in northwest Montana. She is a quiet rebel, embracing a simple and seasonal life that isn’t exactly mainstream. She can often be found either making a mess in the garden or in the kitchen where she focuses on intentional living that showers love upon the important people in her life. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to brainstorm ideas for products that could work well for your niche and why testing the idea is essential before investing time and money into it. Key points discussed: - Align Your Product and Actions With Your Values: If you stay true to your niche you’ll feel good about your product and selling it will come more naturally. - How to Think Outside of the Box with New Products: Look at your competition - what are they selling? Will it work for your audience? Use it as inspiration but do not copy. - Research the Market Before You Launch a Product: Ask your audience directly what they want to learn from you - use a survey with a few specific options. - Digital Products Become Passive Income: Digital products may require a lot of work upfront but beyond that you earn money from them with minimal time spent. - Add a Personal Touch to Your Products: How can you make your products unique and personal to your brand? - Know Your Ideal Profit Margin Before You Start: Tally up costs of production (if any) with your time spent to work out a suitable price for your products - avoid undervaluing yourself and remember that success takes time. - Reach Out to Other Bloggers: Are there other bloggers or brands you can collaborate with? Subscribe to newsletters in your niche to stay up to date with trends and potential collaborations. Guest Details Connect with Kathie Lapcevic Website | Instagram

Do you finish your projects or do you postpone them indefinitely? It’s important to finish projects off in order to open up doors to new opportunities. Megan shares 5 things you can finish this week to reap the rewards waiting for you. Finishing off work projects can be hard. It’s sometimes easier to get started on an exciting new idea, but seeing it through to the end requires perseverance. Besides work, there are other things in our life that often get put on the back burner. But what if we just finished them? Stubborn admin tasks, home projects and other to do list items. Imagine the relief you’ll feel if you finish off one thing this week. Action Plan: 1. Finish off a house project: make it small and manageable like tidying up a drawer before moving on to bigger tasks. 2. Finish off a work project. Especially as an entrepreneurs, we tend to collect unfinished projects. If you’re putting something off the whole time, is it really worth your time at all? 3. Finish off a conversation with a family member, friend or colleague. Are there any important topics that could be a game changer in life or business? 4. Finish off an admin task. What easy admin task can you finish this week? 5. Finish off a to do list item, either work or personal. Are there any to do list items that have been on your radar for months? Do them this week! Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Brand Positioning Coach (Carrie Tyler) Explore Megan’s recommended books and resources at eatblogtalk.com/books.

In episode 540, Dyutima Jha teaches us how to keep readers on our food blogs for longer by creating visually compelling narratives with our photos, and which common mistakes to avoid. Dyutima is an architect-turned commercial and editorial food photographer and podcaster based in Singapore. She is the first South Asian woman to host a food photography podcast, My Food Lens. After 15 years as an architect, designing healthcare facilities around the world, she found her passion in food styling and photography. Today, she has a successful business working with clients around the world and teaching other photographers how to do so as well. Her work has been featured in a range of food & photography magazines like Thrive magazine, Whalebone magazine etc. and she has worked with several prestigious clients like The Intercontinental Hotel Singapore, McCormick etc. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of visual storytelling, lighting, angles, and consistency in creating compelling narratives that engage and retain the viewer's attention. Key points discussed: - Plan Food Photo Shoots in Advance: Use a storyboard to stay focused creatively and save time during a photo shoot. - Think of Your Recipe as a Story: Like a movie, there's a plot, hero, theme and genre. Use these elements to tell your story. - Bring Readers into Your Story Through the First Image: Improve first impressions with powerful opening photos that hook readers emotionally or visually - Activate the Viewer's Imagination: Create a sequence of events and narrate this through your photos using ingredients, movement and context. - Readers Disengage with Technically Weak Photos: Check lighting, camera angles, storytelling cohesion, and color editing in photos. - Readers Disengage with Disconnected Visuals: Do your photos match with the vibe, colors and branding of your website? Do they match the specific type of recipe? - Show Readers the Bigger Picture: As a final photo, include the context of where readers might enjoy the recipe; use props to narrate this visually. - Make Dull Food Look Appetizing: By adding contrasting colors using herbs or flowers and by using macro shots, you can make unappealing food look great. Connect with Dyutima Jha Website | Instagram