674: Smart Strategies For Growing a Food Blog as a Side Hustle (+How to Avoid Social Media Burnout) with Alicia Gonzalez Tome

In episode 674, Alicia Gonzalez Tome teaches us practical strategies for managing time efficiently, optmizing for SEO and balancing life and blogging - especially as a part-time blogger. Alicia Gonzalez Tome is a GF & DF nomad foodie who loves nature and sports. She had a thyroid disorder that led her to change her diet and was part of her natural recovery from this autoimmune disease. Originally from Spain and based in Australia since 2017, she is constantly traveling and currently living in her campervan along the NSW coast. In this episode, you'll learn key strategies for efficiently managing a food blog, from photography tips to time management strategies, while keeping balance in your life. Key points discussed include: - Be intentional with content: Focus on high-volume keywords and recipes that will drive traffic to your blog. - Use the right tools: Investing in tools like RankIQ, SEMrush, and the Feast plugin can save time and boost efficiency. - Batch content creation: Plan ahead and shoot multiple recipes in one session to streamline your workflow. - Keep photography simple: Use a basic camera, natural light, and minimal props to create beautiful yet efficient food photography. - Avoid social media burnout: If Instagram or other platforms drain your energy, it’s okay to take breaks and focus on SEO instead. - Schedule and plan ahead: Set clear deadlines for recipe testing, photography, and writing to stay on track. - Know your limits: Be realistic about how much content you can produce each month to maintain a work-life balance. - Take breaks when needed: Stepping back can help you return with fresh energy and creativity. If You Loved This Episode… You’ll love Episode 593: 3 Simple Ways to Successfully Blog Part-Time While Working Full-time with Kimberlee Ho Connect with Alicia Gonzalez Tome Website | Instagram

Stop letting negative thoughts and words hold you back—this episode explores five things to stop saying and thinking to create a more positive, fulfilling life. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the power of our words and thoughts. What we tell ourselves shapes our reality, and sometimes, we don’t even realize how much negativity we let in. I recently made a commitment to be more intentional about the things I say and think—and let me tell you, it’s not always easy! But the shifts I’ve noticed already are incredible. If you want to create a better future for yourself, join me as we talk about five things to stop saying and thinking so you can start seeing real change. Action Plan: 1 - Stop complaining about things you can't control. Complaining drains your energy and keeps you stuck. Instead, focus on gratitude and actionable solutions. 2 - Stop gossiping about others. Gossip creates negativity and doesn’t serve you. Shift conversations to positive or productive topics. 3 - Stop making excuses. Excuses hold you back from growth. Take responsibility and reframe challenges into opportunities. 4 - Stop overthinking and worrying about the future. Stay present and take action instead of getting lost in “what-ifs." 5 - Stop believing you're not good enough. Replace self-doubt with affirmations and recognize your worth—because you are enough. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 672, Megan chats to Dana Shrager about how to stand out in today’s crowded online food blogging space by embracing authenticity and developing a unique voice. Dana Shrager is the recipe creator at Dana’s Table, where she shares recipes for Jewish holidays and healthy-ish family dinners. She started a recipe website 13 years ago to share recipes with family and friends. Three years ago, she rebranded and began running her site full-time. Now, she helps readers from around the world feel confident cooking and gathering loved ones around their holiday tables. In this episode, you'll learn how to develop a distinct blogging voice, build trust with your audience, and create content that resonates in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Key points discussed include: - Find Your Unique Point of View: Defining your niche and personal style helps you stand out among the many food blogs online. - Authenticity Matters: Readers connect more with real, relatable content rather than polished perfection. - Communicate Your Expertise: Share your recipe testing process, pitfalls, and tips to build credibility. - Leverage Audience Engagement: Engage with your readers via social media, email, and community groups to understand their needs. - Be Transparent with Your Process: Explain why your recipe works, how you developed it, and what makes it special. - SEO and Passion Go Hand in Hand: While SEO research is essential, choosing recipes that align with your expertise will attract a loyal audience. Connect with Dana Shrager Website | Instagram

In episode 671, Amy Coyne teaches us the exact strategies she used to rapidly grow her sourdough blog, Amy Bakes Bread, from 100,000 to 10 million page views in just 2 years. Amy Coyne is a sourdough teacher, recipe developer, and mom to four awesome kiddos. She has grown her website over the last two years from 100K pageviews in 2022 to almost 10 million pageviews at the end of 2024. She shares tried-and-true sourdough recipes on her website and with her Instagram and social media communities. In this episode, you'll learn how Amy leveraged Instagram, built a strong community, deeply engaging with her audience, and strategically optimizing her blog to drive millions of page views. Key points discussed include: - Don’t underestimate consistency: Amy posted daily on Instagram for over a year, which significantly contributed to her growth. - Engage with your audience: She prioritized answering followers’ questions and tailoring content to their needs. - Leverage social media for blog traffic: Instagram played a major role in directing people to her website. - Optimize for SEO: After seeing success on social media, Amy shifted her focus to improving her blog’s search rankings. - Diversify content formats: She is expanding into YouTube and email marketing to connect with a wider audience. - Trust the process and start before you're ready: Amy emphasizes the importance of taking action, even when you feel unprepared. Connect with Amy Coyne Website | Instagram

Struggling with overthinking? In this episode, Megan shares five powerful strategies to stop ruminating and reclaim your mental clarity. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of overthinking, replaying past conversations, or worrying about things you can’t control—trust me, I’ve been there. Recently, my business coach called me out on how my own thoughts were draining me, not the external events I blamed. It was a wake-up call! So today, I’m sharing five simple but effective ways to break free from rumination and get back to a place of peace and productivity. Let’s put an end to the mental spirals together! Action Plan: 1 - Meditation: A simple daily habit to quiet the mind and break the overthinking cycle. 2 - Journaling: Get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper for instant clarity. 3 - Healthy Distractions: Shift your focus with an activity that keeps your mind engaged. 4 - Reframing & Resetting: Catch negative thoughts and flip the script to regain control. 5 - Change Your Environment: A quick physical shift can instantly reset your mental state. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 669, Megan chats to Chris Panteli about how food bloggers can build high-quality backlinks and boost their domain authority using digital PR strategies. Chris Panteli is the co-founder of Linkifi, a digital PR link-building agency that specializes in securing high-quality media links for clients. His entrepreneurial journey took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 33, leading him to sell his family's fish and chip shop business. Panteli holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Economics from the University of Liverpool. In January 2022, Panteli co-founded Linkifi, which rapidly grew to generate $50,000 per month within its first year. The agency focuses on responding to PR requests from journalists on behalf of clients, helping them secure valuable online links and enhance their SEO performance. Panteli is also a podcast host, co-hosting "Market Movers: Building Brands and Links with Linkifi," where he shares insights on branding, SEO, and link-building strategies. His expertise in digital PR and link building has made him a respected voice in the eCommerce and digital marketing industries. In this episode, you'll learn how to secure backlinks from top-tier media outlets, optimize your website for PR success, and track your mentions to maximize SEO benefits. Key points discussed include: - Why backlinks matter: High-quality backlinks help increase domain authority, improve SEO, and drive organic traffic. - Best platforms for PR opportunities: Websites like Source of Sources (SOS), Quoted, and Press Flow connect bloggers with journalists looking for expert sources. - How to pitch journalists successfully: Personalize your pitches, highlight your expertise, and follow up politely to increase your chances of getting featured. - Optimizing your website for PR: A clear about page, professional social presence, and credentials help journalists verify and trust your expertise. - Tracking and securing unlinked mentions: Use tools like Google Alerts and Talkwalker to monitor mentions, and reach out to request a backlink if your name appears without one. - The evolving role of AI in PR: AI can assist with research and structuring pitches, but maintaining a human, authentic tone is essential. Connect with Chris Panteli Website | Facebook

In episode 668, Donnie Lygonis teaches us the power of a growth mindset and how embracing failure can set you up for long-term success. Donnie Lygonis is an Innovation Strategist and Business Coach at KTH Innovation, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, where he has been helping researchers and students for over 14 years, turning their ideas and results into viable products and services. Donnie enjoys working hands-on with exponential technologies and collaborating with individuals who have world-changing and world-saving ideas. His latest venture is Mellanmål Inc, a U.S.-based company focused on bringing Swedish better-for-you-and-the-planet food products to America. In this episode, you'll learn how to shift your mindset to embrace challenges, develop resilience, and build meaningful connections that can drive your business forward. Key points discussed include: - Growth mindset is key to success: Your mindset determines how you approach challenges, failure, and change—embracing growth leads to resilience and adaptability. - Failure is not the end—it's a step forward: Rather than fearing failure, view it as a learning opportunity that helps refine your approach and move closer to your goals. - Success is a personal definition: Success isn’t just about money or status—it’s about fulfillment, impact, and finding meaning in your work. - Networking is a powerful tool: Building relationships and leveraging your network can help you gain new opportunities, perspectives, and support. - Small, consistent actions lead to big results: Progress is made through small, consistent steps over time—whether it's learning a skill, growing a business, or developing a new habit. - Celebrate your wins along the way: Taking moments to reflect on and appreciate what you've accomplished can fuel motivation and a positive mindset. If You Loved This Episode… You’ll love Episode 576: Tough Transitions – How to Transform Tremors of Change into Catalysts for Growth with James Elliot. Connect with Donnie Lygonis LinkedIn | Instagram

In this episode, I want to share five powerful strategies to help you recover when life throws you an unexpected curveball. We’ve all had those weeks where everything is going great—until suddenly, it’s not. Maybe you get sick, something unexpected happens, or bad news completely throws off your plans. Years ago, weeks like that would have totally taken me down, and I’d struggle to get back on track. But over time, I’ve learned a few things that make bouncing back easier, and today, I’m sharing five strategies to help you recover when life turns your week upside down. Action Plan: 1 - Embrace the climb back up the mountain: Recovery takes time, and small wins are worth celebrating. 2 - Build a trusted circle of support: Having reliable people in your life makes overcoming setbacks easier. 3 - Establish good habits: Foundational habits provide stability and help you regain momentum. 4 - Prioritize self-care: Taking care of yourself is essential, even in difficult times. 5 - Practice flexibility and acceptance: Letting go of control can reduce stress and make recovery smoother. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 666, Megan chats to Dawn Ledet about how food bloggers can overcome self-doubt, procrastination and perfectionism by building unshakable self-trust. Dawn Ledet, a certified life coach, former corporate sales executive, and author of Master Your Inner Dialogue: Transform Your Self-Talk for Goal Success, is on a mission to help high-achieving entrepreneurs and leaders crush their goals with clarity, confidence, and ease. Drawing on her expertise in coaching and years of experience in high-stakes sales and leadership, Dawn empowers clients to rewrite self-sabotaging narratives, build unshakable self-trust, and turn inner dialogue into a powerful tool for lasting success. Through practical strategies and proven frameworks, she helps people achieve their dreams without the overwhelm.  In this episode, you'll learn how mastering self-trust can help you make confident decisions, follow through on your goals, and ultimately achieve success in your blogging business. Key points discussed include: - Self-trust is the foundation of success: Without trust in yourself, challenges like procrastination and perfectionism can hold you back. - Three key skills for achieving any goal: Making decisions, following through, and having your own back are essential to personal and business growth. - Your inner dialogue shapes your reality: The way you talk to yourself can either propel you forward or keep you stuck in self-doubt. - Reframing procrastination and perfectionism: Instead of labeling yourself, recognize them as choices and get curious about why you're making them. - The power of asking the right questions: Instead of asking “Why can’t I do this?” try “What do I need to move forward?” to shift your mindset. - Energy matters in self-trust and productivity: Differentiate between draining energy and fulfilling energy that comes from aligned work. - Create an "I'm So Impressed" list: Keep track of your wins to build confidence and reinforce self-trust. Connect with Dawn Ledet Website | Instagram

In episode 665, Brett Dupree teaches us how collaborating with other content creators—especially through virtual summits—can accelerate business growth and create a steady, self-sustained income Brett DuPree is a food blogger and the founder of Freaking Delish, where she helps hardworking families create simple, delicious meals that fit into their busy lives. In addition to her blog and membership platform, she hosts an annual summit, "What's for Dinner?": The Summit, that brings together content creators from across the food and lifestyle space to share practical tips, recipes, and inspiration. With a focus on collaboration and serving everyday families, Brett is passionate about making mealtime stress-free and meaningful for everyone. In this episode, you’ll discover powerful collaboration strategies and gain insight into hosting virtual summits, helping food bloggers expand their reach and grow their businesses, without relying on social media. Key points discussed include: - Why collaboration matters: Working together with other bloggers can accelerate your growth and open new opportunities. - The power of virtual summits: Hosting or participating in online summits helps expand your audience and generate revenue. - Breaking free from social media dependence: Brett shares why she built her business without relying heavily on social media. - Overcoming fears around video content: Being comfortable on camera can open doors to new collaborations and opportunities. - How to build strong relationships: Genuine connections with fellow bloggers can lead to ongoing collaborations and success. - Getting past rejection in collaborations: Many bloggers are hesitant to collaborate at first, but persistence and exposure to new ideas can change their mindset. - Balancing summit planning with content creation: Hosting a summit is a big commitment, so careful organization and time management are key to success. Connect with Brett Dupree Website | Instagram