Eat Blog Talk

In this episode, we're going to talk about five steps to designing a future version of yourself that is energetic, fulfilled, and happy. What does 'Future You' look like? I love this concept of being able to implement new habits and improve the quality of my life, year by year. We probably don't realize how much control we have over our future selves. In fact, we're all constantly shaping our lives through our thoughts, beliefs, habits, and emotions. So what is the problem? We get complacent and stop trying to change. We end up not reaching our potential, but it doesn't have to be that way. We can shake off complacency, step into intentionality, and take control of creating a future version of ourselves that's happy, fulfilled, and thriving. That's what I intend to do in 2025 and here are five easy steps you can follow too. Action Plan: 1 - Design future you on paper. 2 - Display the details of your future self where you can see them daily. 3 - Start allowing the details of your future self to guide your decisions. 4 - Surround yourself with people who support your future you. 5 - Track your progress and adjust as needed. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 648, Megan chats to Jules Grasekamp about how to reframe failure as an opportunity for growth and refining your food blogging business, especially in light of Google traffic loss. Jules Grasekamp is the sweet-toothed Scot behind Bonni Bakery, a dessert blog showing you how to easily create impressive desserts at home. She uses her experience from 10 years of running her own bakery to give detailed recipes packed with expert tips for success to make showstopping desserts and grow your confidence in the kitchen. In this episode, you'll learn how stay positive and embrace unpredictability while overcoming severe challenges, like revenue loss, in your business, as this may lead to new opportunities. Key points discussed include: - Failure is not the end, but a stepping stone: Embrace failures as opportunities to learn, grow, and refine your business. - Be brutally honest with yourself: Critically examine your business to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. - Have a long-term plan for delegation: Strategize how you can eventually offload tasks you don't enjoy to free up time for what you love. - Consume positive, motivational content: Start your day or week with uplifting podcasts, books, or speakers to maintain a growth mindset. - Actively participate in a supportive community: Attend events and connect with other bloggers to find inspiration, advice, and a sense of belonging. - Embrace the unpredictability of entrepreneurship: Understand that volatility in income and traffic is part of the journey, and focus on the opportunities it presents. - Persist with enthusiasm: Maintain your drive and determination, even when facing failure, as success often comes from stumbling forward with unwavering passion. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 402: Reach 85k Page Views in 7 Months After 7 Years of Failure with Maren Epstein. Resources Mentioned The Brendon Burchard Podcast: Hosted by Brendon Burchard, this motivational podcast offers personal growth advice and life coaching. Good Work with Barrett Brooks: Hosted by Barrett Brooks, this podcast features interviews with founders, scientists, authors, and adventurers, discussing impactful work and leadership. Connect with Jules Grasekamp Website | Instagram

In episode 647, Lisa Steele teaches us how to make a drastic change to our niche and online presence like she did by going from lifestyle blogging to food content creation. Lisa Steele is an author, blogger and 5th generation chicken keeper living in Maine. She started her business more than 10 years ago and grew a successful "chicken lifestyle" blog called Fresh Eggs Daily. In 2022, Lisa got a cookbook deal with HarperCollins and that started her pivot to egg recipes and cooking. In this episode, you'll learn about the challenges to expect when you start a new food blog, positioning yourself as an expert in your niche and how to successfully build a multifaceted online presence Key points discussed include: - Focus on your goals, not what others are doing: Determine your unique objectives and align your activities accordingly, rather than comparing yourself to other bloggers. - Streamline your activities ruthlessly: Regularly evaluate your tasks and drop anything that doesn't directly contribute to your goals, even if it's popular with others. - Develop a thick skin for criticism: Expect and be prepared to handle negative feedback, as it often comes with success. Don't take it personally. - Leverage your expertise and authority: Position yourself as the go-to expert in your niche, which can open up opportunities like media appearances and partnerships. - Prioritize engagement over follower count: Publishers are more interested in your ability to connect with and influence your audience than just the size of your following. - Recognize the long-term benefits of cookbooks: While the initial monetary rewards may not be as immediate as your blog, cookbooks can provide passive income and increased credibility over time. - Be prepared for the challenges: Understand that both food blogging and cookbook writing require significant time, effort, and resilience, but the rewards can be worth it if aligned with your goals. Guest Details Connect with Lisa Steele Website | Instagram

In this episode, I share five practical strategies to help you start your year on the right foot and carry positivity throughout the months ahead. How's your new year going so far? Are you still sticking to those New Year's resolutions, or are a few starting to slip through the cracks? If they are, don't stress—you're definitely not alone! If overwhelm or negativity is creeping in, this episode is here to help you hit reset. I'll share how a little intentional planning and some small, consistent actions can pave the way for a positive and fulfilling year. From practicing gratitude and reflecting on your progress to setting meaningful goals and visualizing your dreams, I've got strategies to keep you motivated and moving forward. Action Plan: 1 - Review and reflect on the previous year with a gratitude exercise. 2 - Make a list of things you're looking forward to in the coming year. 3 - Set goals for the year in various areas and review them weekly. 4 - Create a vision board. 5 - Commit to making one positive, permanent change each month. Get in touch with Megan below. Website | Instagram

In episode 645, Megan chats to bloggers, Ashley Freeman and Gwen Wolken, about how to achieve success as a new blogger. This is part 2 of the New Blogger conversations. Ashley is a seasoned culinary content creator with 11 years of experience who launched her blog, Little Black Skillet, at the end of 2023. Her journey began in the publishing world as a recipe developer, food stylist, and cookbook editor before transitioning to freelance. Ashley has served as the editor of over 40 cookbooks and has authored two of her own, including The Duke's Mayonnaise Cookbook, published in 2020. She also brought her culinary expertise to television, working as the head food stylist for seasons 1–4 and culinary producer for seasons 5–9 of the Food Network show Delicious Miss Brown. Gwen Wolken founded A Sweet Thyme to share her recipes with family and friends and to connect with others who love to cook. Today, the blog houses delicious and dependable Mediterranean recipes that are mostly gluten-free and simple to prepare. After spending time in corporate America, Gwen became an entrepreneur and had several businesses, but her favorite was a chocolate business that she nurtured for over ten years before creating A Sweet Thyme. Gwen is married and the Mom to three adult boys, two of which are married. In this episode, you'll learn how to invest wisely in your blogging business when you're starting out and why networking can make a big difference to your blog's growth trajectory. Key points discussed include: - Understand your audience: Regularly survey your audience to ensure your content aligns with their needs and interests. - Explore new content formats: Consider adding video content to your Pinterest strategy to diversify your offerings. - Evaluate your marketing efforts: Regularly assess the return on investment for your participation in Facebook recipe roundup groups. - Leverage organizational tools: Use tools like Reminders and spreadsheets to create a daily to-do list and stay organized. - Find your niche: Identify your unique strengths and passions, and let them shine through in your content. - Invest in your business: Be willing to spend money on hosting, themes, and other tools to improve your blog's performance. - Build a supportive community: Participate in mastermind groups and attend conferences to connect with like-minded bloggers. - Adapt to platform changes: Stay flexible and willing to adjust your strategies as platforms like Pinterest update their algorithms. - Embrace authenticity: Focus on creating content that aligns with your values and resonates with your audience, rather than chasing trends. Connect with Ashley Freeman Website | Instagram Connect with Gwen Wolken Website | Instagram

In episode 644, newer bloggers Kristina Cadelina, Rose Sioson and Mandy Martinez teach us how to start a successful blog in 2025. This is part 1 of the New Blogger conversations. Kristina is a food blogger who helps her readers reconnect with their wellness by offering nourishing and versatile Mediterranean inspired recipes. She is also a food photographer and helps brands and food bloggers grow their business by offering professional photography and video services. Rose is an experienced IT professional with over two decades in the field. Nearly a year ago, she launched Deliciously Rushed, a blog that blends her love for food with her need for a creative outlet, all while balancing a full-time job and family. Aware of her limited time, Rose strategically invested in courses to streamline her growth and minimize costly mistakes. Her primary goal for 2024 is to qualify for the Mediavine ad network, and she is currently on the verge of reaching the 50K session threshold needed to achieve it. Mandy is the photographer and recipe developer behind Semi Homemade Kitchen. Her passion lies in simplifying the art of cooking without sacrificing flavor. She believes that anyone, regardless of their cooking expertise, can whip up mouthwatering dishes. Using shortcuts like cake mixes, cookie mixes, pudding mix, premade pie crusts, biscuit dough, canned soups, pasta sauces, and more to make the cooking process accessible and enjoyable for everyone. In this episode, you'll learn about the importance of niche and experimenting with different strategies, as well as how to pick seasonal content to boost your visibility. Key points discussed include: - Consistency is key: Maintaining consistent activity and content creation across platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Google is crucial for driving traffic and growth. - Experiment with different strategies: Try various tactics like video pins, animated pins, and keyword research tools to see what works best for your unique blog and audience. - Invest in yourself: Joining mastermind groups, taking courses, and outsourcing tasks can provide valuable insights and free up time to focus on core activities. - Leverage niche communities: Actively participating in relevant Facebook groups can be an effective way to drive immediate traffic and build relationships with your target audience. - Capitalize on seasonality: Aligning your content with popular seasonal trends, like holiday recipes or summer ice cream, can help boost your visibility and engagement. - Diversify your traffic sources: While Google traffic is valuable, don't rely solely on it - explore other platforms like Pinterest and social media to build a well-rounded traffic strategy. - Stay true to your niche: Focusing on content that aligns with your blog's core purpose and resonates with your target audience can lead to greater success. - Embrace an experimental mindset: Be willing to try new things, even if they don't work out initially, as it can lead to unexpected breakthroughs. - Leverage freelancing opportunities: Combining your blog with freelance work, such as photography or recipe development, can provide financial stability and creative fulfillment. Connect with Kristina Cadelina Website | Instagram Connect with Rose Sioson Website | Instagram Connect with Mandy Martinez Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five key things entrepreneurs should avoid bringing on vacation in order to truly disconnect and recharge. I get how hard it can be to fully step away from work, even when you know you need a break. From my own experiences, I'll share some practical tips and strategies to help you protect your vacations and downtime. By the end of this episode, you'll have a better handle on the mindset shifts and boundaries that'll let you truly enjoy your time off. That way, you can come back feeling refreshed and ready to go—without the guilt or burnout. Taking the time to unplug is so important for your well-being and the long-term success of your business. Action Plan: 1 - Avoid unfinished to-do lists: They can cause mental clutter and keep you in work mode during vacation. 2 - Don't bring business guilt: Reframe downtime as an investment in your creativity and productivity. 3 - Avoid digital leashes: Set specific tech boundaries and remove distracting apps to stay disconnected. 4 - Set clear expectations: Over-communicate your availability and boundaries to your team, clients, and audience. 5 - Resist work temptation: Commit to being fully present and trust the systems you've put in place. Get in touch with Megan: Website | Instagram

In episode 642, Megan chats to Bjork Ostrom about how to protect your time and mental well-being as a creator and business owner, so you can continue producing your best work and building the business you desire. Bjork loves to find ways to maximize potential - of people, of technology, of life. His wife Lindsay started a food blog a few years ago and they decided to do just that - maximize its potential. They hope to share what they've learned with other food bloggers here on Food Blogger Pro. Bjork is a terrible chef. In this episode, you'll discover effective strategies to organize your workday for maximum focus and reduced mental clutter, while also uncovering ways to find deeper fulfillment in your work. Key points discussed include: - Purpose prevents burnout: Clearly define the purpose and mission behind your work to stay motivated and avoid burnout. - Recognize "enough": Determine what "enough" looks like for your business and personal life, and set boundaries accordingly. - Implement effective systems: Develop repeatable processes to manage tasks, priorities, and projects, keeping your brain uncluttered. - Practice self-care: Prioritize your mental and physical health, as your brain is the primary tool for your creative work. - Embrace imperfection: Accept that you'll never be "done" and that some level of imperfection is inevitable - focus on continuous improvement. - Seek alignment: Ensure your daily work aligns with your deeper purpose and brings you a sense of flow and fulfillment. - Set boundaries: Establish clear boundaries around technology, work hours, and other commitments to protect your time and energy. - Reflect and adjust: Regularly reflect on what's working and what needs to change, then make small, incremental adjustments. - Leverage support systems: Build a team or community that can provide a "fallback" when you need it, reducing stress. If You Loved This Episode… You'll love Episode 536: Is Social Media Ruining Your Productivity? How to Prioritize Deep Work and Minimize Distractions with Mike Cleavenger Connect with Foodblogger Pro Website | Instagram | Facebook

In episode 641, Laura Arnold teaches us how to set realistic goals for SEO in 2025, staying ahead of AI and algorithm changes. Laura Arnold is a New York City-based Emmy-Nominated Culinary Television Producer, Cookbook Consultant, and award-winning Content Creator with over a decade of experience. She currently is the Supervising Culinary Producer for Food Network's The Kitchen, and has worked previously at ABC's The Chew, DotDash Meredith, Good Housekeeping, Food52, kitchn.com, and with many more brands. After learning about SEO through several food clients and brands over the past several years, she kept hearing from clients that they wished a food media expert had an SEO consultancy. She then founded Dang Good Digital, her own SEO consulting business specifically for food creators and bloggers to help them grow their brands, sites, and social media exposure. In this episode, you'll learn how to analyze your content and niche down to get more traction, why it's worth investing in video, even if it's not perfect, and ways to build a strong community. Key points discussed include: - Niche down your content: Analyze your past year's performance to identify your content strengths and focus on building out those areas. - Experiment with content pillars: Try increasing content in your top-performing areas, like salads, while maintaining a balance of other recipe types. - Research keywords strategically: For newer bloggers, look for high-volume, low-competition keywords to target and build content around. - Adjust your publishing cadence: Aim for 5 new posts and 12 post updates per month, adjusting as needed based on your blog's size and goals. - Write with a conversational tone: Incorporate trigger words and a more personal approach when writing blog post introductions and meta descriptions. - Embrace video content: Experiment with creating simple video content to accompany your blog posts, even using a smartphone. - Build a community presence: Invest time in building a community on 2-3 platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook. - Expect SEO changes: Stay adaptable as search algorithms and AI continue to evolve, focusing on creating high-quality content. - Understand domain authority: While it's important, don't let a low domain authority discourage you, as newer bloggers can still achieve success. Connect with Laura Arnold Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about five healthy distractions that can help you stop focusing on negative thoughts and feelings. As a business owner, wife, and mom, I totally get how easy it is to fall into cycles of stress, overwhelm, and anxiety. I've been there myself—it's tough to climb out of those dark moments. That's why I'm excited to share some super practical tips you can try in just five minutes to reset your mindset and recharge your energy. Whether you're feeling a little off or spiraling into full-on stress mode, these simple distractions can help you get back on track. Action Plan: 1 - 5 minutes of moving your body: Engaging in a quick physical activity like dancing, walking, stretching, or strength training can shift your mood and focus. 2 - 5 minutes of creativity: Tapping into your creative side through doodling, writing, or making something can help you get out of a negative mindset. 3 - 5 minutes connecting with a loved one: Reaching out to someone you care about, whether through a text, call, or making plans, can provide a healthy distraction. 4 - 5 minutes of gratitude: Intentionally reflecting on things you're grateful for, either by writing a list or visualizing, can pull you out of a negative rut. 5 - 5 minutes of mindful breathing: Practicing deep, conscious breathing exercises can help calm your mind and body when you're feeling stressed or anxious. Get in touch with Megan: Website | Instagram