Creating an avatar, securing brand sponsorships, and why you should follow-up with brands after a campaign with Jenny Melrose.
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Welcome to episode 130 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Jenny Melrose about making the transition to being an entrepreneur, connecting with brands online, and using a website that helps you price your sponsored content.
Sponsored content is a popular way for bloggers to monetize their businesses. You partner with a brand, create posts promoting their products, and then you’re paid based on a rate you negotiate.
If it seems like a lot of work, it is. But on top of that work, how do you make sure that you’re producing content that’s of value to the brands you’re working with?
That’s where Jenny’s expertise comes in. She has cracked the code on creating awesome sponsored content that is both on-brand and useful to the companies you’re working with. Her tips on creating an avatar, staying true to your voice, and pitching the right people can all help you earn an income from sponsored content work.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to blog while writing a cookbook, the importance of user experience, and how to approach your brand and business with David Lebovitz.
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Welcome to episode 129 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with David Lebovitz about how to develop the ability to stick with it, a lesson that helped him build his brand, and his a-typical approach to blogging analytics.
1999 was a big year for David; he left his job as a pastry chef to write his first cookbook, Room for Dessert and started a recipe blog. Little did he know that he was becoming one of the pioneers of the food blogging industry!
From there, David moved to Paris, wrote a few more cookbooks, and learned how to do what he loves while providing value to his readers. You’ll learn about his philosophy on email etiquette, his favorite social media platform, and why his blog is so important to his cookbook-writing process.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Important Google tools, switching to https, and how to perform effective keyword research with Katy Widrick.
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Welcome to episode 128 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Katy Widrick from Make Media Over about marketing strategies, search engine optimization, and Google tools that can help you refine your blog.
Katy got her start in television news, but she realized that her love was actually behind-the-scenes. Content creation, writing an email newsletter, consulting, and helping others start their blogs - that’s where Katy thrives.
She started her business, Make Media Over, a managed services and consulting business, to help start-ups and developed brands with online and influencer marketing. She helps her clients understand and use marketing funnels, SEO tools, and social media platforms to grow their following and increase engagement. Learn some of her tips and tricks in this interview!
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
What publishers look for when they're signing an author and how you get paid as an author with Maria Ribas.
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Welcome to episode 127 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Maria Ribas from Cooks & Books about what you could be doing today to set you up for a future book deal.
Maria is a literary agent, which means that she represents the interest of authors in the book publishing process. She has a lot of experience working with cookbook authors, and she started a blog, Cooks & Books, to teach others what she’s learned.
This episode is perfect for the bloggers who are interested in publishing a cookbook. Maria and Bjork cover the whole book publishing process in detail, from understanding who your true fans are to figuring out how to pitch to a publisher.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Be sure to review us on iTunes!
How to grow a sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business with Sean McCabe.
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Welcome to episode 126 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Sean McCabe about how to grow a sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business.
Turning your passion into your day job. That’s the dream, right?
Not so fast. Sometimes it’s better to have a day job outside of your passions, and Sean is here to tell you why.
In addition to this lesson, Sean also explains why investing in your audience is one of the most important decisions you can make when building your business.
Learn how to grow your sustainable, profitable, and audience-driven business in this interview.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
The common characteristics of chefs, how to diversify your online income, and what it takes to make it as an entrepreneurial chef.
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Welcome to episode 125 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Shawn Wenner and Chris Hill from Entrepreneurial Chef about the common characteristics of chefs, how to diversify your online income, and what it takes to make it as an entrepreneurial chef.
Being an entrepreneur isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s often really really tough. Especially when food is involved.
That’s why Shawn and Chris started Entrepreneurial Chef: to provide tools and resources for food entrepreneurs so that they can grow successful brands and businesses. They’ve built a brand around their own skills to help others in the food space monetize, serve customers, and pursue their dreams.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How they left their full-time jobs, how they got their start blogging, and why a desire to learn is so important.
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Welcome to episode 124.5 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Katy Keck from Palate Passion Purpose and Ben Myhre from Ramshackle Pantry.
We’re so excited about this bonus episode! Today we’re featuring two of our members: Katy Keck and Ben Myhre. They’re living the food blogging dream: blogging full-time, connecting with readers, and creating content every week.
Hear them talk about leaving their full-time jobs, growing their blogs, and more, covering the ups and downs of blog and business ownership. Plus, they share how they’ve used the fundamentals learned on Food Blogger Pro on their own blogs.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Why you should start gratitude journaling, the benefits of meditation, and how to cultivate awe with UJ Ramdas.
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Welcome to episode 124 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with UJ Ramdas from Intelligent Change about why you should start gratitude journaling, the benefits of meditation, and how to cultivate awe.
If you’re interested in the self-improvement space, you’ve probably read about the power of having a morning routine. That’s exactly why UJ helped start Intelligent Change and the Five Minute Journal.
The Five Minute Journal is designed to help you make positive changes in just five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night. UJ believes that the Five Minute Journal is a simple way to focus on the good, become more mindful, and live with intention. Learn how you can apply the principles in your own life today.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Why you should consider your audience's needs above your wants, how to write a strong social media bio, and questions you can ask yourself about your brand with Phil Pallen.
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Welcome to episode 123 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Phil Pallen about refining your brand, strengthening your social media presence, and considering your audience’s needs.
While his title is Celebrity Brand Expert, Phil says that he’s in the business of crafting first impressions.
And that’s exactly what your brand is: a reader’s first impression of you and your business.
Phil knows exactly how important a solid understanding of your brand is for your blog, and he has helped dozens of people and businesses refine their brand, create goals, and spruce up their social profiles. He’ll give you ideas about how you can fine-tune your brand so that you’re noticed and remembered.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
What "mobile-first" means, tips for making your website fly, and why you might choose to use a framework with Lauren Gray.
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Welcome to episode 122 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Lauren Gray from Once Coupled about mobile-first considerations, site speed recommendations, and theme frameworks.
Mobile-first, frameworks, photo size, https…you’ve probably heard these terms in the blogging space before. And the words alone are enough to make your head spin.
Developer and Food Blogger Pro Expert Lauren Gray is a pro at helping you make these tech decisions for your blog. And while they might seem like small decisions, they really will have a big impact on your site’s usability, search engine ranking, and workflow. This episode focuses on why you should start thinking about making these decisions for your business.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Finding your path, starting new ventures, and solidifying your brand with Emma Chapman.
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Welcome to episode 121 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Emma Chapman from A Beautiful Mess about starting new ventures, solidifying your brand, and finding your path.
Blogging and business ownership wasn’t always one of Emma’s goals. In fact, right after college, she decided to move to Hollywood to start an acting career. When that career path didn’t work out, she didn’t give up; instead she changed her focus and worked to build a job she loves.
Now as Founder & CEO of A Beautiful Mess, Emma focuses on building brands, creating apps, writing books, and producing content. Learn how she shaped her career after starting in a place of uncertainty.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to reinvent yourself, become an authority figure, and invest in your business with Dorie Clark.
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Welcome to episode 120 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Dorie Clark about her new book, Entrepreneurial You.
Becoming an entrepreneur and working on your side gig can be tough, but by understanding and applying a few different strategies, you can build the business you dream of.
Dorie’s new book Entrepreneurial You is a “blueprint for professional independence.” In it, she talks about just how important it is to have a strong brand when you’re building a business, how to become an expert and be trusted, and how that can help you sell your products and services. This podcast episode dives deep into the principles Dorie teaches in her book and shows you how you can take action on developing your business today.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to deal with competition, the benefits of using a framework, and how to practice minimalism with Brian Gardner.
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Welcome to episode 119 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Brian Gardner from StudioPress about building his business, dealing with competition, and practicing minimalism.
Brian was the pioneer of premium WordPress themes, and it happened a bit by accident. He was balancing a full-time job and his WordPress theme business at the same time. But once he realized that it would be “financially irresponsible” to work both jobs, he decided to jump head-first into his WordPress business.
From there Brian built StudioPress, which powers over 500,000 WordPress sites with its Genesis Framework. Learn how he dealt with competition, how he built his business, and why it’s helpful to use a framework and child theme for your blog.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to understand your brand, adapt for your different audiences, and develop a product line with Gaby Dalkin.
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Welcome to episode 118 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Gaby Dalkin from What’s Gaby Cooking about understanding your brand, developing a product line, and working with a team.
Gaby’s blogging story isn’t the typical blogging story. She started as a private chef for Jessica Simpson, built a team, and even worked with Williams Sonoma on a product line. Oh, and she also managed to build a hugely successful food blog, What’s Gaby Cooking.
But all of her success is rooted in a strong understanding of her personal and blog brand. She has an acute understanding of her audiences across all of her platforms, and that understanding influences how she interacts with those audiences.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Launching a meal planning site, learning how to adapt with a changing industry, and working with brands with Maria Lichty.
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Welcome to episode 117 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Maria Lichty from Two Peas and Their Pod about how blogging has changed in the past 10 years.
When Maria started blogging at Two Peas and Their Pod, the food blogging industry looked quite different.
Instagram, Snapchat, and Pinterest weren’t around, videos weren’t as popular, and the industry as a whole was much smaller.
But Maria has learned to adapt to this quick-changing world and to work to her strengths while growing her blog. She has hired a team to help her manage her social media and video work while she focuses on the work she loves like recipe testing, photography, and more.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to start sponsored content, how to price your work, and how to reach out to brands with Danielle Liss and the Pinch of Yum team.
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Welcome to episode 116 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, we’re sharing the Q&A from the Sponsored Content Bootcamp. You’ll hear Danielle Liss and the Pinch of Yum team talk about starting sponsored content, pricing your work, and reaching out to brands.
Sponsored content is a great way to generate income for your blog and make connections with brands you really love.
At the Sponsored Content Bootcamp on September 12, 2017, we showed attendees how to price their work, the tools you need to create sponsored content, and how the Pinch of Yum team handles their sponsored content work. We also held a Q&A at the end of the day where we answered questions from our attendees about sponsored content.
We’re sharing that Q&A with our podcast family today, and we couldn’t be more excited. Danielle Liss from Hashtag Legal and Businessese and Lindsay and Jenna from Pinch of Yum answer some of your questions about creating awesome sponsored content.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Advice for future cookbook authors, how to decide when it's the right time to make your first hire, and choosing a focus for your blog with Kathryne Taylor.
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Welcome to episode 115 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Kathryne Taylor from Cookie & Kate about how she decided her blog would have a food focus, when she chose to make her first hire, and her advice for future cookbook authors.
While Kathryne’s blog Cookie & Kate didn’t start out as a food blog, she transitioned to sharing healthy, whole food recipes. From there, Cookie & Kate became her full-time job, and she quickly learned the ins and outs of blogging, web development, and design.
Just a few months ago, Kathryne released her first cookbook, Love Real Food, which has gained a ton of praise (including nearly 200 5-star reviews on Amazon). She learned a lot from the cookbook publishing process, and she has a few tips that will help aspiring cookbook authors turn their ideas to realities.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to work with different personalities, divide responsibilities, and split your income with Polly Conner and Rachel Tiemeyer.
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Welcome to episode 114 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Polly Conner and Rachel Tiemeyer from Thriving Home about working as a partnership on their blog.
A blog is typically started as a sole venture, but Polly and Rachel decided to start their blog, Thriving Home, as a team.
While they both have different personalities, they use those differences to their advantage to divide tasks and grow their business. But even though they’re running their blog as a team, anyone can take lessons away from the way they treat their blog as a business. You’ll learn how they made their first $1, the most important thing that makes their partnership work, and the intentional way they invest back into their business, and more.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to use an Instagram strategy, get involved in blogging groups, and get advice from other bloggers with Ashley Walterhouse.
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Welcome to episode 113 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Ashley Walterhouse about working with brands, building her following, and growing her Instagram account to over 90K followers in two years.
Yep, that says 90K. In two years!
If you’re anything like me, you randomly post to Instagram whenever you remember to in hopes of gaining followers and getting some click-throughs to your website.
But Ashley’s social media success is proof that it’s helpful to have a strategy when growing your social media presence. Posting at the right times every day, engaging with comments, and sharing the right recipes all play into growing your Instagram account.
Ashley has cracked the code on Instagram growth and engagement, and she’s sharing how she managed to grow her two-year-old blog, Fit Mitten Kitchen, into a full-time job.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to get perfect lighting and a consistent style with Taylor Mathis.
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Welcome to episode 112 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Taylor Mathis from Photographing FOOD about lighting, consistency, and his go-to equipment.
Photography is one of the most important aspects of food blogging. We’re always told that people eat with their eyes, and that couldn’t be more true when trying to gain a following as a blogger.
While Taylor started his photography career as a wedding photographer, his interests quickly settled on food photography. He has devoted his career to perfecting the art of food photography, and now he’s sharing what he has learned with you. His composition, lighting, and gear tips will give new insights into your photography setup and planning.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Why engagement is more important than numbers, how to run a business that doesn’t require growth, and how to find your rat people with Paul Jarvis.
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Welcome to episode 111 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks with Paul Jarvis about building a company of one, the most important part of his online business, and finding your “rat people.”
Paul has been working for himself for nearly 20 years, and his career has taken him in a few different directions. Starting out as a web designer, he began working for himself as a freelancer for clients like Danielle LaPorte, Marie Forleo, and Mercedes-Benz, and then he started selling his own software and courses.
And he wrote a vegan cookbook along the way.
While he built his business, he learned what it means to own, run, and grow a “company of one.” Paul’s experiences and advice will inspire you to think about your own business in exciting and unconventional ways.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to work in your zone, set a morning routine, and optimize your workspace with Bjork Ostrom.
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Welcome to episode 110 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks about 10 habits that can help your business grow long-term.
Forming habits can have an exponential affect on your business’ growth, and Bjork has seen that first-hand as he built Food Blogger Pro.
Bjork talks about 10 habits that have had a huge impact on his productivity and on Food Blogger Pro’s growth. He recommends apps, systems, philosophies, and practices that you can implement today into your business to see growth long-term.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
How to implement systems, shift your business' focus, and narrow your offerings with Greg Hickman.
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Welcome to episode 109 of the Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Greg Hickman about building systems, building courses, and building a profitable business.
Shifting the focus in your business might be a scary step. But for Greg, shifting his business focus came via a challenge, and he learned that it was a necessary step for growing his business.
He went from focusing on mobile marketing to automation and marketing funnels. Now he helps other businesses narrow down their offerings and use trends to build out their systems. He talks about finding the right product to sell, tools he recommends for marketers, and how you can give your audience value.
If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Common mindsets for entrepreneurs, how to find success through breakthroughs, and how to grow a podcast into a success with Natalie Eckdahl.
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Welcome to episode 108 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Natalie Eckdahl about growing her podcast into a six-figure success.
“If you build it, they will come.” That’s what Natalie thought of her audience when she first built her podcast back in 2014.
While that wasn’t exactly the case, Natalie started to understand her audience and quickly grew her struggling podcast, The Biz Chix Podcast, to a six-figure business.
Along the way, Natalie has coached many different types of women entrepreneurs, and she has learned about their struggles, issues, and tools for success. The lessons she has learned helps her educate, encourage and promote entrepreneurial women looking to grow their businesses.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.
Why “going viral” early might not be best with Sarah Wu.
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Welcome to episode 107 of the Food Blogger Pro podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork talks to Sarah Wu about her viral blog and why “going viral” quickly might not be the best thing for everyone.
Going viral. It’s the dream for all bloggers, right?
Not exactly.
Sarah Wu experienced what it’s like to have a viral blog early in her blogging career. She was featured on news outlets like Good Morning America, AOL, and Yahoo, saw her page views quickly grow, and started getting more comments. However, going viral wasn’t what was best for Sarah and her blog about school lunches.
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If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to podcast@foodbloggerpro.com.