241: Personalizing Your Pitch to Land Brand Deals within Your Niche with Kim Cauti and Chelsea Vetre

In episode 525, Nicole Winegardner teaches us the importance of staying true to who we are in a world full of distractions and focus on what lights us up. Nicole blogs with her bestie Andrea, who lives in Washington and you’ll find Nicole in Virginia. Together they have a food blog where they specialize in simple delicious recipes for busy families. Nicole is the one to do the recipe development and food photography and keyword research. Andrea takes care of the writing and Pinterest, web stories, social media and is currently learning video editing. Their blog was founded in 2021. In this episode, you’ll learn how to overcome blogging challenges like spreading yourself too thin, struggling to achieve your goals and feeling bogged down by your responsibilities. Key points discussed: - Focus: Evaluate where your focus lies regularly. Redirecting your focus can guide you towards positive outcomes and away from distractions. - Stay True to Yourself: Authenticity fuels success. It's crucial to reassess your goals and ensure they align with your true desires. - Effective Goal-Setting: Set achievable goals without overwhelming yourself. Habit stack and regularly evaluate your to do list to maintain balance and prevent burnout. - Regularly Revisit Goals: Rather than setting and forgetting goals, consistently evaluate them to ensure they are still relevant to your priorities. - Focus on One Thing at a Time: If you spread yourself too thin, you risk not achieving anything. Delegate tasks and focus on mastering selected skills. - Prioritize Fun: There is a correlation between enjoyment and productivity. Incorporate moments of joy and relaxation into your daily routines to enhance overall well-being and effectiveness. - Rest is Important: Don’t be scared to take a break when needed as your blog will always be there when you return and you’ll be more productive. Connect with Nicole Winegardner Website | Instagram

In episode 524, Megan talks to Lauren Woodger about why mindset is such an important element of building a successful business and 8 mindset hacks we can implement today. Lauren began "The Scatty Mum" in 2019 as a hobby blog to share allergy-friendly recipes when her daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies. In 2022, she took a leap and left her day job to focus on her blog full-time. Even though her daughter has outgrown her allergies, Lauren still understands the struggle of preparing meals for everyone. She's passionate about creating easy, allergy-friendly recipes that the entire family can enjoy. Lauren lives in Surrey in the UK, with her husband and two children. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to cultivate a positive mindset as a blogger and entrepreneur, including prioritizing networking, becoming a more productive entrepreneur and celebrating your progress every day. Key points discussed: - Connecting with other bloggers: Build connections within the blogging community through social media, Facebook groups, and networking events to combat feelings of isolation and provide valuable insights and encouragement. - Celebrating progress: Track and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. It is crucial for maintaining motivation and perspective on your blogging journey. - Invest in productivity courses: Transform your approach to work and time management by learning strategies such as backward planning and focus work sessions. - Limit comparison: Avoid the trap of comparing your progress to others’. It is essential for maintaining a positive mindset. - Concentrate on one main goal at a time: By focusing on a single primary goal, you can channel your energy and resources effectively. - Implement a timed daily schedule: Planning your day ahead can help you maintain focus and structure throughout the day. - Combat shiny object syndrome: Prioritize ‘focus work’ in the morning and allocating time for administrative tasks later in the day. - Take breaks when you need to: Don’t forget to do things that promote well-being, such as going for walks and listening to podcasts. Connect with Lauren Woodger Website | Instagram

Are your thoughts about money generally positive or negative? Megan discusses the topic of money as energy as well as wealthy habits that will help increase our revenue. This is Part 2 of 3 about 5 ways to help us bring more money into our business. Our thoughts and beliefs influence our financial situation. Megan emphasizes this by exploring the importance of tracking and appreciating every penny earned and encouraging us to adopt wealthy habits and qualities, suggesting that creating a welcoming environment for money can lead to increased financial prosperity. She covers the following key points: - Money as Energy: Thoughts, beliefs, and actions influence the flow of wealth in your life. - Track and Appreciate Every Penny: Track every penny earned or found, and express gratitude for all forms of income, no matter how small. - Adopt Wealthy Habits and Qualities: What are the habits and qualities of wealthy individuals? Emulate these traits to attract abundance into your life. - Create a Welcoming Environment for Money: Assess whether you are fostering an environment conducive to attracting wealth, or inadvertently repelling it. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Money as Energy: The Dynamic Flow of Wealth in the Cosmos by Kulwant Saluja (article referenced in episode)  

In episode 522, Elizabeth Emery teaches us how to create a sustainable income from blogging, finding joy and balance in our work without risking burnout. Elizabeth is a plant-based food blogger and recipe developer based in Vancouver BC. Her passion is showing people how fun and accessible vegan and plant-based eating can be. Elizabeth created and has run Vancouver with Love for 5 years and have turned it into a full-time income during that time. In this episode, you’ll learn about why you should find income streams that you are passionate about, why you should pick freelance work carefully, as well tips to work less hours for more money. Key points discussed: - Find Joy in Work: Find joy and passion in your blogging work to sustain long-term success. What aspect of blogging brings you most fulfilment? - Set Boundaries: Set clear boundaries to avoid burnout and work intentionally to condense work into four days a week, allowing for adequate rest and personal time. - Diversify Revenue: Diversifying revenue streams in blogging helps you tap into the potential of ad revenue and incorporate it alongside freelance work and sponsored content. - Consistency and Intentionality: You have to be not only consistent but also intentional with you blogging efforts - where do you want to be in the long run? - Invest in a Business Coach: If you feel stuck or burnt out, reach out to a business coach to seek support and guidance from someone with experience. - You’re not Alone: Having a business coach or other support will help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and decision-making. - Recognize When You Need to Change: Acknowledge when adjustments in your work are necessary for personal and professional growth. - Balance Work and Personal Life: To sustain long-term success, use strategies for setting a healthy work-life balance including prioritizing self-care, and finding joy outside of work. Connect with Elizabeth Emery Website | Instagram

In episode 521, Megan chats to Jessica Mode about the impact of going to culinary school on her food blogging career, including learning new culinary skills, kitchen organization and choosing ingredients. Jessica Mode created Homebody Eats in 2019 as a way to teach home chefs how to master new culinary skills and create high-quality dishes in their home kitchens. With every recipe, she hopes to teach her readers one new kitchen skill that they can master and use in a future recipe. While you'll find a variety of recipes on her site, Jessica really enjoys baking and shaking up a good cocktail. Jessica has recently released her first online course, The Macaron Baking Experience, which teaches her readers how to successfully bake perfect macarons. In the coming year, Jessica hopes to release more online courses to share the skills she learned by attending culinary school in Italy. In this episode, you’ll learn about what to expect from culinary school, different courses available and how that translate your new skills to food blogging. Key points: - Choose the Right Culinary Institute: Depending on your budget and how much time you want to dedicate to culinary school, there are different courses available. - Learn about High-Quality Ingredients: Understand how to select the best ingredients for your recipes to develop amazing flavor while keeping it simple. - Improve Organisation and Composure in the Kitchen: Being organised with measurements before you start testing your recipe can streamline the testing process and improve your overall result. - Network with Professionals in the Culinary Industry: Get the chance to network with professional outside of the blogging space. - Access to Diverse Ingredients and Food Experiences: Culinary school offers new food experiences, like learning how to make pasta, charcuterie and wine pairing. - New Recipe Inspiration: Attending culinary school can expose you to new and unexpected flavor combinations and cuisines. - Invest and Do Hard Things in Your Business: Investing in your business and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is a way to prove to yourself that you are committed and want to make your business as successful as possible. Connect with Jessica Mode Website | Instagram  

Do you want to earn more money? Most of us would answer ‘yes’ to that question, yet we don't feel like we can talk about money openly. Megan unpicks this topic from a mindset perspective. This is Part 1 of 3 about 5 ways to help us bring more money into our business. As food bloggers, we normally have the potential to earn a lot. We’re skilled and passionate about what we do, generous and willing to seek financial freedom for our families. Yet, if we are looking to achieve our financial goals, it’s important to embrace a positive attitude towards money, debunking limiting beliefs, including those inherited from childhood. Megan talks through her own example of having gone from unnecessary debt to financial empowerment and encourages us to rewrite our own money stories like she did. She covers the following key points: 1. Money Matters: Don’t be afraid to discuss money openly. 2. Budgeting is Important: Keep track of your income and expenses to avoid debt and make more money. 3.  Money Beliefs: Recognize and challenge ingrained money beliefs (e.g. you have to work hard to earn more money) 4. Overcome Limiting Beliefs: Strategies for rewriting the stories you tell yourself about money and foster abundance. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 519, Madison Wetherill teaches us why it’s important to embrace the CEO mindset and implement regular CEO time in our businesses for risk management and goal-setting. Madison Wetherill is the founder of Grace + Vine Studios, as well as a food blogger and homeschooling mama to 3 boys. She is passionate about supporting bloggers and helping them to scale their blogs to increase their impact. She is the host of The Vine Podcast, sharing strategies for content creators to grow their food blog and connect with their audience. In this episode, you'll learn why scheduling regular CEO time can help your business grow, the importance of distinguishing between working on your business versus in it, and strategies for standing out in a crowded market. Key points include: - Is Your Blog a Business? If your blog is generating an income, you should start thinking of it as a business. - Regular CEO Time: Add regular CEO time to your calendar and involve your support system, like your spouse, to help you stick to it. - Have a Plan: It's crucial to have a clear plan of action for each CEO session to avoid getting sidetracked by other tasks. - CEO Checklist: Create a checklist for CEO time, including tasks like reviewing income/expenses, analyzing post performance, and planning upcoming tasks. - Assess Risks in Your Business: During your dedicated CEO time, risk management is one of the most important tasks to future-proof your business. - Create Additional Income Streams: Risk management involves coming up with backup systems and additional stream of income for when things go wrong. - Invest in Yourself: Taking on the CEO role means investing in yourself, whether through joining masterminds, attending conferences, or other professional development opportunities. - Stand Out: Don't be afraid to differentiate yourself from others in the industry, as blending in can hinder growth and opportunities. Connect with Madison Wetherill Website | Instagram

In episode 518, Megan chats to Nadia Tariq about the transition from a food blogging hobbyist to business owner, highlighting key shifts in mindset, organization, and discipline. Nadia is a computer science graduate, x- project manager turned into pastry chef. She has been creating customized themed cakes for over a decade as a home business creating beautiful cakes for friends and family. Originally from Pakistan, she is based in Riyadh, KSA. Nadia started blogging in 2009 and only recently she decided to turn it into a business. Nadia is now working on her blog strategically in the quest to share her family recipes, Pakistani bakery and street foods to get recognized on the face of the culinary world She is also working as a food photographer, which was her long lost passion to generate some extra income which was not possible earlier due to raising a young family. In this episode, you’ll learn about why a food blogger would decide to turn their blog into a business, how to recognize that pivotal moment and what changes you should make to prioritize your blog’s growth. Here are the key takeaways: - Recognize the Shift: You have to make the decision to turn your blog into a business, and start either part-time or full-time. - Invest in Learning: A crucial element is continuous learning and investing in resources like  podcasts and courses to enhance your skills in food photography, SEO, and content creation. - Listen to Audience Needs: By paying attention to audience feedback and trends, you can adapt your content strategy to meet the demands of your audience. - Effective Time Management: Use batching techniques to streamline your workflow and balance blogging with other responsibilities and sources of income (e.g. food photography for clients). - Discipline and Productivity: Motivation is unreliable, you need to be disciplined and work according to a plan. - Setting Up for Success: Set yourself up for success as a food blogger by being consistent, niching down, and taking a long-term approach. - Embrace Change and Exploration: Don’t be afraid of changing your path if you are no longer passionate about what you are doing. Connect with Nadia Tariq Website | Instagram

In this episode, Megan teaches us five practical ideas to alleviate the stress and overwhelm often associated with Mondays, offering insights and strategies to make the start of our week more manageable and fulfilling. Planning can make a notable difference to the start of your week. The better you prepare for what you have to do on a Monday, the better you will feel. In this episode, Megan explains how she prepares for Mondays in order to set a positive tone for the week ahead. Megan covers the following key points: 1. The 15 Minute Friday Plan: Plan ahead by dedicating just 15 minutes on Friday to map out your upcoming week. By scheduling downtime and aligning tasks with your goals, you can reduce mental clutter and increase productivity. 2. The One Hour Friday To-Do List Tackle: Allocate one hour on Friday or Saturday to tackle small tasks from your to-do list for the following week to minimize Monday morning stress and set yourself up for a smoother week. 3. Inbox Zero: Dedicate time on the weekend to clear out your inbox. By organizing emails into folders and archiving non-essential items, you can start Monday with a clean slate and reduce mental clutter. 4. Tidy Up: Declutter and tidy up your physical environment. By maintaining order in your surroundings you can positively impact your mindset and productivity on Monday mornings. 5. Plan and Protect the Monday Morning Routine: Establishing and sticking to a morning routine sets the tone for a successful week. Remember to prioritize sleep, visualize your morning routine, and set intentions before bed to ensure a smooth start to Monday. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram

In episode 516, Jo Keohane teaches us how to style food to make it look as delicious as possible in order to drive more traffic to our blogs. Since graduating from Culinary School in NYC in 2010 Jo Keohane freelanced as a Recipe Developer and Food Stylist in test kitchens of many America’s best known publications, like Bon Appetit Magazine, Epicurious and Saveur. She has also worked with a variety of household brands like William Sonoma, Weightwatchers, Staub Cookware, Danone, Kraft and more. She started off life as a BBC journalist and then worked in PR in London. But a love of cooking and a desire to find a fulfilling career which would allow her to spend more time with her 3 kids took her back to school to study cooking. After moving to the USA in she was lucky enough to attend the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Now she runs her own food blog - The Family Food Kitchen - helping other busy families to eat well even when time is short! her blog focusses on easy, delicious and do-able recipes - and contains lots of one pot, sheet pan and easy meal ideas. In this episode, you’ll learn about what to consider before you start shooting your recipe, including how to layer and pick ingredients, backdrops, props and garnishes. - Food Styling is a Problem Solving Exercise: During recipe development, plan ahead to make sure your ingredients will help you make your dish look appealing. - Don’t Hold Back on Good-Quality Ingredients: Better quality ingredients will have more vibrancy and make your photos pop more. - Create Depth and Movement in Food Photography: Use layering to create depth in your photos and take photos of movement (e.g. pouring a sauce). - Balance Perfection and Authenticity: While it’s important to make your photos look appealing and create intrigue avoid overly perfect photos - crumbs and spills in small quantities add character. - Proper Ingredient Storage: Store ingredients to maintain freshness and quality. For example improper storage of herbs can lead to wilting and might detract from your photos. - Adjust Cooking Times for Food Photography: There’s a difference between cooking to eat food and cooking for photography. Adjust cooking times to ensure that the food looks its best on camera. - Use Props and Tools for Food Styling: Jo discusses the importance of having a set tray with essential tools and props for food styling, such as sharp knives, tweezers, Q-tips, paper towels, toothpicks, spritz bottles, squeeze bottles, spatulas, and brushes to aid in food styling. - Layering Garnishes to Enhance the Dish: Use different garnishing techniques to elevate the appearance of dishes for photography. By layering garnishes strategically, you can add depth and visual interest to the dish. Connect with Jo Keohane Website | Instagram