Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

In episode 588, Megan chats to Laura Arnold about why an SEO content calendar is important for diversifying your brand and how to set it up to improve your rank on Google. 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. In this episode, you’ll learn more about how to balance new posts with content updates, which keywords to choose, the significance of storytelling and expert phrasing and whether social media is important or not. Key points discussed: - Consistency is key: Maintain consistent SEO efforts and content creation for long-term growth and success. - Manageable workloads: Create a content calendar that fits within your capabilities and resources for sustainable success.

In episode 587, Brenda Cadman teaches us how to organize our uploads and templates in Canva to create designs quickly and without fuss. Brenda Cadman is a Canva Verified Expert from Prince Edward Island, Canada. After spending more than two decades supporting businesses with their website development needs, she now focuses on teaching small business owners how to use Canva more effectively and efficiently. Brenda has taught thousands of business owners through her courses, and in particular, she loves to help business owners tame their hot mess Canva accounts by creating an organizational system that ensures they can spend less time in Canva, and more time doing what they love. In this episode, you’ll learn about creating custom folders for better categorization, template and time management and thereby streamlining the design process. Key points discussed: - Organize Canva uploads: Create custom folders to categorize and easily find your uploaded images, videos, and other media. - Leverage the brand kit: Use

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 ways to manage feelings of overwhelm in entrepreneurship. If you are an entrepreneur long enough, you are bound to experience times when you have to evolve or you can't go on. Often, when you’re in a state of complete overwhelm, it’s a signal that something needs to change. I think most of us want to stay passionate about what we do but we don’t want to get buried by to do lists and business projects. Here are 5 ways I manage overwhelm and keep a positive outlook. Action Plan: 1 - Time Tracking: Track everything you do for a minimum of 3 days, preferably 7 days. Comb through the data to identify where you're spending your time and make changes to reduce draining activities. 2 - Exercise and Self-Care: Commit to a daily habit of exercise, even if it's just 10 minutes and engage in self-care activities like meditation war spending time in nature, reading, or creative pursuits. 3 - Take a Break: Listen to your gut and take a break, whether it's a 30-minute break durin

In episode 585, Megan chats to Carol Borchardt about the advantages of being a food blogger after you’ve retired and how to succeed regardless of your age. Carol Borchardt is a retired personal chef with 22 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! She is also a former newspaper food columnist and mom to rescue kitty, Olive. Carol is married (almost 29 years) with two stepchildren and four grandchildren. At From A Chef's Kitchen, which Carol started ten years ago, she shares easy, step-by-step, chef-tested restaurant-quality recipes that are easy to make at home. If You Loved This Episode… You’ll love Episode 132 with Jen Lefforge – Starting A YouTube Channel Over 40. In this episode, you’ll learn about what it is like being a full-time retired food blogger, why it is important to start sooner rather than later and how to overcome technical difficulties. Key points discussed: - Start a food blog at any age: Carol started her food blog between the ages of 40-50 - it’s never too late to pursue a crea

In episode 584, Chris De La Rosa teaches us 6 unique monetization strategies so that we can earn a living without relying on income from ads. Chris De La Rosa, is the founder of CaribbeanPot.com, a platform dedicated to exploring the vibrant culinary culture of the Caribbean. Although his roots trace back to Trinidad and Tobago, Chris’s goal is to showcase recipes from all the enchanting islands that contribute to the rich tapestry of Caribbean cuisine. Through his website, social media channels, and YouTube videos, Chris shares the authentic flavors, techniques, and stories that make Caribbean food so special. In this episode, you’ll learn how to outsource finding brand deals, successful ways of selling digital products and how to leverage your culinary expertise by collaborating with restaurants and tech companies. Key points discussed: - Branded partnerships and sponsorships: It is essential to align brand deals with your niche and stay true to your audience. Hire out the process of contacting brands. - Di

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 strategies you can use to accelerate business growth, especially when your business feels stagnant. I don't know about you, but sometimes it feels like my entire business needs an overhaul, and other times, it just feels like a certain part of my business isn't growing. While our businesses can't be growing optimally all the time, there are strategies we can use to give our business a boost when it feels like we’ve hit a dead end or like we're running ourselves to the ground on the entrepreneurial hamster wheel of work, work, work. What’s more these strategies may lead to an increase in revenue and other rewards. Action Plan: 1 - Prioritize relationships: Building and nurturing relationships with others can lead to exponential business growth that you may not be able to anticipate. 2 - Join or form a quality mastermind group: Being part of a high-quality mastermind group can provide unique perspectives, valuable connections, and accelerate the growth of your busine

In episode 582, Megan chats to Katharine Rosenthal about creative ways to earn money while waiting to join an ad network. Katharine is a Dietitian and Food Blogger and she started her blog in early 2023. She focuses on healthy-ish recipes that are easy and approachable. As a Dietitian, Katharine fully believes that there is room for every food and she wants to spread that philosophy and idea to all of her readers. Katharine’s favorite saying is "nourish to flourish" and to her that means to eat nutrient-rich foods most of the time but also grab those fries and drink the milkshake when you are craving it! In this episode, you’ll learn about how to generate income through online and local partnerships, how to use your expertise to earn extra money and time management tips for balancing multiple income streams. Key points discussed: - Diversify income sources through online partnerships: While waiting to get into an ad network, you can generate revenue through online partnerships - you don’t need many followers

In episode 581, Leslie Osborne teaches us how to create high-quality recipe videos using a phone, including what settings to use while recording and how to use artificial lighting correctly. Leslie started her food blog Bessie Bakes in 2015 after going to artisan bread and pastry school in Chicago, IL in 2012. She wanted to have a food-based business but after having her son, she realized that she needed to work from home but still share her recipes and passion for baking. After really struggling with food photography because she couldn't find affordable yet high-quality backdrops, Leslie started learning how to make her own. In 2019 she launched Bessie Bakes Backdrops and began selling her own line of lightweight, cleanable photography backdrops on her own website and Amazon. Along the way, Leslie has personally done all the photography and videography for her products and social media accounts and shares lots of tutorials and behind-the-scenes content on IG and Youtube! In this episode, you’ll learn about v

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 steps to improve your meditation practice so that you can experience rewards like better sleep and less anxiety. Meditation has changed my life. That is ever since I learned how to mediate correctly. Because, I imagine like many other people who have given up this mindfulness practice, I was approaching it all wrong. In fact, it was never a priority for me, just something I would try before work calls or meetings and then in a panicked state. This year I changed my approach and I’ll never go back to life without meditation. This year I changed my approach and I’ll never go back to life without meditation. It just makes me a better mom, wife and business owner. Here are the 5 steps I use for successful meditation. Action Plan: 1 - Play theta waves music before you get settled into your meditation. This will help put you in a relaxing theta brain wave state. 2 - Find a quiet place to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, where you won't be disturbed. Communicate with family memb

In episode 579, Megan chats to Sandie Markle about why we should shift our mindset about AI and instead leverage technology to create sustainable revenue growth beyond ads. With a passion for all things food, Sandie's journey in the tech world has equipped her with a unique perspective and a refined palate. As the former Senior Director of Content Engineering at SideChef, she led strategic initiatives to optimize grocery partnerships and recipe content, amassing over 18 years of expertise in efficient processes and robust strategies. Now, as the founder of Blueberri Consulting, she's dedicated to helping businesses elevate their content and tech infrastructure to help home cooks all over the world make memorable meals. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to stay ahead of the curve with AI and other technology advancements as well as the importance of updating your LinkedIn page as you never know how it might benefit your business. Key points discussed: - Embracing AI and technology: Embrace AI and new tec

In episode 578, Kathy Berget teaches us what to do when our blog images have been used without our permission and how to get compensated for them. Kathy is the author, photographer, recipe developer, and writer at Beyond the Chicken Coop where she creates delicious home-cooked recipes utilizing what they grow and raise. Kathy is a former elementary school principal and has three grown kids; twin boys and one girl. Kathy and her husband live in the country on their own little farm. In this episode, you’ll learn about copyright for images, ways in which you can respond and how to use image theft protection services like Pixsy to get compensated. Key points discussed: - Image theft is a common issue for food bloggers: Food blog images are often stolen or used without permission by various businesses, including restaurants, markets, and online retailers. - Copyright protection is automatic for blog images: Photographers automatically have copyright over their images, even without formal registration. - Services l

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to respond with confidence to 5 questions food bloggers get from friends and family that can upset us. People outside our industry may struggle to understand what we do as food bloggers. It is not as evident as being a doctor or a teacher and so we might get more questions that seem ‘stupid’ when we tell people what we do. Here are some common ones and how not to let these questions get to you, but instead learn how to respond with confidence and patience. Action Plan: 1 - "You're a what or what exactly do you do?" - Explain in simple terms what you do, so that a 13 year old can understand. 2 - “Do you make money? How do you make money? How much money do you make?" - If you’re comfortable with the question, answer again in an easy way to understand or gently change the subject. 3 - “How is your business doing?" - Respond positively and avoid getting angry over any underlying meaning. 4 - “How is your little blog doing?" - Nobody has the vision you have for your b

In episode 576, Megan chats to James Elliot about how to manage business obstacles, turning unexpected changes into opportunities for growth. James is a passionate and enthusiastic presenter who genuinely cares about people, and loves to speak, teach and deliver value. He's spoken at live events, as well as virtual ones, for people all over the world. He even has his own private training institution, where he trains people who want to make an impact on their organization, and do it in a fulfilling way. In this episode, you’ll learn why business obstacles are ideal opportunities for business growth, specifically how to use self-reflection to pivot tasks that are no longer lighting you up to something you truly want to do. Key points discussed: - Navigating tough transitions: You can navigate difficult industry changes and transitions by embracing them as opportunities for growth and pivoting your business. - Don’t be afraid to be you: Embracing one's authentic self and unique qualities can lead to greater succ

In episode 575, Natasha teaches us how to effectively delegate tasks to our team and empower them to run our business when we’re not there. Natasha Zo is a former journalist from Siberia today running her international PR and visibility agency. As a PR agent, she’s helped authors launch #1 bestselling books, booked national TV, and landed clients on the world’s top podcasts and magazine covers. Leading up to this she lived on 3 different continents, volunteered in Central America, managed a high-performing marketing team in Asia, and taught public speaking to refugee teenagers. She is on a mission to see less clickbait and more empowering knowledge in the media. In this episode, you’ll learn about what to look for when hiring employees, or outsourcing tasks, and how to prepare for extended periods off in your business (like maternity leave) by delegating tasks effectively. Key points discussed: - Delegating and streamlining are crucial for growth and freedom: Automating and delegating tasks allows entrepreneu

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 things to let go of in our business, especially looking at how these things are holding us back and what we can do instead. Internally, we hold on to so much unnecessary baggage, and this can impact us very negatively if we're not careful. As entrepreneurs, we can get even more bogged down, because with this territory comes a lot of daunting situations and therefore a lot of opportunity to just hold really tightly onto some things. So, here are the 5 things I’ve learned to let go of in my business. Action Plan: 1 - Caring what others think: Stop worrying about what people will think or say about you and your business, and instead focus on operating with integrity and serving your audience. 2 - Fear of failure: Embrace failure as a necessary part of the entrepreneurial journey, as it provides opportunities for learning and growth. 3 - Lack of confidence: Replace feelings of self-doubt with courage, and take bold actions in your business despite any lack of confidenc

In episode 573, Megan chats to Emilie Pullar about how she monetized her food blog quickly by having a strong work ethic and writing blog posts for her reader instead of focusing just on SEO. The Burnt Butter Table is run by Emilie Pullar and is a pasta filled blog with recipes ranging from quick 10 minute pasta sauces to intricate filled pasta shapes made from scratch. Emilie's true passion for food shines through her recipes where she endeavors to explain and break down processes in an easy to understand way. In this episode, you’ll learn about the value of believing in yourself and following your passion as well as the need for mindset shifts to maintain a sustainable entrepreneurial journey. Key points discussed: - Passion and hard work are key to building a successful food blog: Are you passionate about your niche because you’re going to need it to motivate you to put in the work. - Detailed, user-focused content is more important than SEO: Create high-quality, detailed recipes that provide a great user

In episode 572, Dee Rotman teaches us how to create strong results for a new blog, getting high page views from the start by building an audience on social media first. Deeckla (Dee) Rotman founded Dee & Sweets in December 2022, sharing baking recipes and tips with time-sensitive home bakers on social media. Having created over a hundred dessert recipes, Dee launched her blog in April 2024 and is already seeing strong growth. Dee became an entrepreneur after having been a marketing leader in the corporate world for most of her career. In this episode, you’ll learn why Dee prioritized growing a following on Instagram before launching her blog, what she plans on prioritizing next and how she handles competition. Key points discussed: - Start building an audience on social media before launching a blog: This helps drive traffic to the new blog and establish an engaged following. - Hire help strategically: Bringing on freelancers and part-time assistants can alleviate burnout and allow you to focus on growth.

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 steps to prepare for Q4, so that you can get the most out of it without risking burnout. Q4 is a big deal in our industry. People love food. And people especially love food from approximately October 1st through the end of the year, every year. How can we make the most of this time of year as a food blogger? Here, I share 5 steps I take to prepare for Q4 so that I can stay on top of my food blog, watching the increase in traffic and revenue that comes with Q4, while still being able to enjoy the holidays. These steps will also help you prevent burn out as you manage the busiest time of year for us food bloggers. Action Plan: 1 - Change your perspective: Approach Q4 with gratitude and excitement rather than fear or worry. 2 - Delegate, automate, and eliminate: Identify tasks you can delegate, automate, or eliminate to free up time and energy for Q4. 3 - Make self-care and mindset a priority: Proactively schedule time for physical exercise, meditation, and other self

In episode 570, Megan chats to Heather Farris about optimizing Pinterest to boost blog traffic, including how to use Pinterest Trends as part of your keyword strategy. Heather is an accountant and bookkeeper turned blogger and Pinterest marketer. Since 2016, she has helped hundreds of Pinterest creators grow their traffic and sales through both organic and paid ads. She regularly helps creators understand how to spend their time and money to grow their businesses on and off Pinterest. In this episode, you’ll learn how to interpret Pinterest trends, why Pinterest is an important search tool like Google and what types of pins you should be making to get traction on the platform. Key points discussed: - Pinterest is a powerful search engine for food bloggers: Pinterest users often use the platform as their primary search engine, making it a valuable tool for food bloggers to reach their audience. - Treat Pinterest as a "parking lot" for content: Think of it as a long-term time investment as, if you’re using the

In episode 569, Mika Kinney and Sarah Bond teach us the nitty gritty of growing an Instagram account as a way to drive traffic to our blogs and add new revenue streams instead of relying on Google. Guest Bio: Mika: Mika is a food-obsessed gal who has learned everything she knows from Food Network and cooking shows. She learned how to combine sweet and spicy from Bobby Flay and how to make a sponge cake from the Great British Baking Show. As the co-founder of Joy to the Food, her mission is simple: To prove that eating more protein is not complicated and can actually be a lot of fun! Sarah: Sarah Bond is the food blogger behind the vegetarian website, Live Eat Learn. With degrees in nutrition and food science, she started her food blog in 2015 as a creative outlet that combined her favorite things - photography, food, and writing. She now works full-time on her blog from Denver, Colorado. Along the way, she started her niche sites Brew Buch (pronounced "booch") for all things kombucha brewing, and Bone Appetre