Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

In episode 558, Megan chats to Carrie Barnard about strategies to create a community on Facebook and how to generate genuine engagement from your followers by asking them what they want and giving it to them. Carrie is a mother to 8 amazing children. She has some biological children and has adopted through foster care. She is a huge advocate for helping others which is how Eating on a Dime was born. With over 3 Million Fans on Facebook and recipe videos with over 100 million views, Eating on a Dime has become a trusted source for easy recipes for the entire family. In this episode, you’ll learn why being flexible in your approach is essential to succeed on Facebook, what type of content is currently doing well on the platform and how to make the most of it to help drive traffic to your blog. Key points discussed: - Build community, not just traffic: Focus on serving your followers and asking what they want rather than solely growing numbers. This builds loyalty. - Ask for content ideas: Regularly ask your Fac

In episode 557, Emily Baksa teaches us how to build an engaged email list and why this is essential for our businesses, especially during volatile times. Emily is a food copywriter and content strategist who uses mealtime to make a positive impact on people and the planet. She writes crave-worthy, conversion-generating copy for food bloggers, CPG brands, chefs, farmers, and other culinary change makers to help grow their businesses. In this episode, you’ll learn practical tips for creating enticing opt-ins, email series showcasing your expertise, providing valuable, personalized content and leveraging testimonials and reader favorites. Key points discussed: - Build email series: Create ongoing email conversations around seasonal topics or your areas of expertise to keep subscribers engaged. - Highlight reader favorites: Share the most popular recipes or content from your site each month to focus on what readers enjoy rather than self-promotion. - Optimize opt-ins: Craft enticing sign-up offers that showcase v

Many of us struggle with anxiety, overthinking and stress. In this episode, I discuss 5 ways for cultivating more mindfulness and reducing stress by being in the present moment. Being happy doesn’t need to be complicated. And we actually don’t need a ton of money, beauty or possessions to feel happy. Happiness can actually be found in simply letting go of our anxiety, overthinking and distractions and really taking in our surroundings - appreciating life and people who support us. But, you’ll need to be intentional about it. Here are 5 ways in which I live in the moment, letting go of distractions and overwhelming thoughts. Action Plan: 1 - Meditate - Sit quietly for 15 minutes a day to get the mind to stop thinking (make it less or more time depending on your situation). This can change your life if you do it consistently. 2 - Get caught up in the fun parts of life - Do enjoyable activities like skydiving, hiking with friends, amusement parks that fully engage you in the moment and prevent worrying. 3- Call

In episode 555, Megan chats to Katie Jasiewicz about the ins and outs of hiring interns to help us with our blogs, covering everything from job descriptions, the hiring process and quality of work delivered. Katie Jasiewicz (jazz uh wits) is a seasoned blogger with almost 15 years of experience. She's known for her popular websites; Katie’s Cucina (a recipe blog) and Sew Woodsy (a craft/DIY blog). In 2014, she transitioned from a corporate marketing job, and turned her passion for food and crafting into a full-time career. She recently launched Easy Seafood Recipes, a niche seafood recipe website. Katie continues to share her expertise and insights from her journey spanning over a decade in the blogging world. In this episode, you’ll learn how to hire an intern either for college credits (i.e. free) or a salary, what tasks to give them, how to train them and whether it’s a viable way to outsource blogging tasks. Key points discussed: - Motivated interns can help lessen your workload: Use a diligent hiring pro

In episode 554, Sonia Khosla teaches us several mindset hacks for a happier, more successful life, including how to make small changes over time to create momentum in your business and what to do when things don’t go as planned. Sonia Khosla founded Love Incredible Recipes as a way to share her favorite vegetarian and refined sugar-free recipes. She has a passion for food and making recipes using fresh and healthier ingredients. Love Incredible Recipes aims to inspire people to make fresh vegetarian meals using wholesome ingredients as well as refined sugar-free desserts and snacks. In this episode, you’ll learn why adopting a positive outlook and focusing on serving others can help keep you motivated when things go wrong, especially as you’re starting out in blogging. Key points discussed: - Small, consistent changes can have a big impact over time: Small, consistent changes to habits and routines can lead to significant improvements in mindset and success when done regularly. - Shifting perspective helps ma

Do you ever wonder where your time goes? Do you ever feel completely drained but don’t understand why? It’s probably time to do an audit. I realised the importance of doing regular audits on my life and business a few years back. Like tracking time, energy drains and to do lists. It has made a huge difference. However, in order to make the most of your audit, you need to be prepared to make some life changes. Here are 5 audits that can change your life and practical strategies for how to implement changes to improve your health, income and relationships. Action Plan: 1 - Time audit: Complete at least a week-long time audit and note any discrepancies between perceived vs actual time spent working. 2 - Energy audit: Fill out "gives me energy" and "drains my energy" lists, then take steps to minimize your biggest drains. 3 - People audit: Evaluate your closest relationships by making a list of the 10 people you spend the most time with. Identify anyone on the list that seems to drain your energy. 4 - Calendar au

In episode 552, Megan chats to Parker Thornburg about his recent experience of buying an existing blog, how it is different to starting a new one and practical advice for succeeding as a blogger regardless of which path you choose. Parker Thornburg worked at Yahoo for 8 years in Omaha, NE. After Parker left Yahoo to enter the startup world, he told his manager of 8 years that he wanted to stay connected and possibly even own a business together someday. That day came in April 2023 when they purchased a food blog, Foodness Gracious, that had been established since 2012. They continue to work full-time jobs while spending all of their spare time trying to grow Foodness Gracious. Parker has an amazing wife of 23 years and three great children aged 18, 16 and 11. In this episode, you’ll learn about which factors you should evaluate before buying or selling an existing blog (or starting a new one), including time, energy, goals, and budget, and making sure your passion aligns with the blog’s niche and target audie

In episode 551, Lilian Boukheir teaches us how to cultivate a growth mindset in food blogging, by understanding the ups and downs of running a business and the need to focus on progress rather than perfection. The Matbakh is a Mediterranean food blog blending culture and good food. I’m a mom, engineer, psychology grad student, and food blogger. The Matbakh started as a passion project and has since grown into a monetized food blog. In this episode, you’ll learn about developing a flexible mindset instead of a rigid approach to blogging, having compassion for yourself in the face of life’s challenges and why you should keep your wins top of mind. Key points discussed: - Focus on progress, not perfection: Focus on gradual improvements rather than getting stuck in perfectionism. - Build habits for success: Create consistent habits like publishing frequently to grow your blog steadily over time.    - Celebrate small wins: Appreciate comments or minor improvements to keep yourself motivated through challenges. - M

Food blogging is an intense job. This year in particular feels extra turbulent for us food bloggers. On top of Google’s HCU, I’ve taken on some new projects (who remembers that food blogging conference in Denver?) and had to part ways with my VA who’s worked for the business for many years. So I’d like to share 5 steps I’ve been taking to get through this turbulent time. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of slowing down and focusing on things you can control when you feel overwhelmed by changes in your space. And remember, self-care and keeping a positive mindset are more important than ever during turbulent times! Action Plan: 1 - Awareness: Ask yourself, what is  the source of turbulence and what is in your control? 2 - Plan: Pull out the top 5-10 things you can do this week to minimize your distress. 3 - Delegate: Assign realistic due dates or people to each point on your list to manage the workload. 4 - Action: Do the things on your list and get accountability from others. 5 - Evaluation:

In episode 549, Megan chats to Jess Saunders about strategies for growing a big Instagram account, emphasizing the importance of consistency, experimentation, and connection with followers.  Jess Saunders co-founded Vegan Punks in 2017 in order to show that vegan food is delicious, easy to make and accessible. Prior to this, Jess was the social media lead at the world's first green energy company, is accredited by the Charted Institute of Marketing and social media agency founder. In recent times, Jess has over tripled her Instagram following to over 110,000 using a unique strategy and reel formula that she developed over a number of months. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use Instagram analytics to find content that works, effective hooks that grab attention and whether the timing of your post matters. Key points discussed: - Consistency is key to Instagram success: Post in line with your strategy every day (or on a consistent basis) even when it feels like it's not working to see big results eventually

In episode 548, Luay Ghafari teaches us strategies for growing a food blog through SEO and social media and why your audience should be your main focus. Luay is a published author, social media content creator, blogger, photographer and gardening educator. Like many other bloggers, he wears multiple hats. Luay is based in Toronto Canada and his gardening/cookbook, Seed to Table, was released July 2023. He also teaches a garden-to-table Master Class. In this episode, you’ll learn about how Luay grew his blog sessions quickly over the last 2 years, including his unique approach to SEO, building a strong social media presence and his emphasis on E-A-T.  Key points discussed - Create for your reader while following Google’s guidelines: Focus on building a loyal following through consistent content creation aimed to serve your audience instead of creating for Google. - Streamline recipes for readability and internal linking: Write recipes concisely without unnecessary photos or fluff and link related recipes to bo

Burnout. Every time it hits, I act like I’m all surprised. Like, what? How can this happen? Have you ever felt the same? As I’m currently going through a bout of burnout, I want to share 5 ways in which you can recover from it. If there is one lesson I have learned about burnout, it is: Once it happens you can’t undo what has been done. And you can’t rush your recovery. You’ll need to let it run its course. There are ways in which you can help yourself recover quicker. And this is what I’d like to share with you: practical ways to get back on track with your work and prevent burnout from happening again. Action Plan: 1 - Acknowledge when you feel burnt out and surrender yourself to recovery. 2 - Pump the brakes, slow down work, and have grace for the healing process. 3 - Prioritize daily acts of self-care to help with recovery and continue making this part of your routine. 4 - Seek support from loved ones (or professional if needed) by openly discussing feelings of burnout. 5 - Reevaluate your goals and plans

In episode 546, Megan chats to Carl Ross about the current state of SEO and why our traffic is either dropping or increasing following changes in Google’s algorithm. Carl is an engineer who spent many years in corporate technology consulting roles which gave him a unique perspective on the application of technology, processes, and getting a return on your investments. It means he’s spent literally decades helping customers make sense of technology products. In 2019, he started offering SEO services and the food blogging niche was an obvious fit. While Carl works with bloggers in many different niches, food bloggers are his bread and butter. In this episode, you’ll learn about current effective strategies to rank on Google, including what is implied by ‘helpful content’ and why you should focus on user experience and backlinks. Key points discussed: - SEO is not dead: While some sites have seen traffic declines, Google is still sending traffic to food blogs and recipe sites through search results. - Focus on c

In episode 545, Desiree Nielsen teaches us how to find our unique voice and cooking style in food blogging through self-reflection, embracing creativity and sharing vulnerability to meaningfully connect with readers. Desiree Nielsen is a registered dietitian in Vancouver Canada with over a decade of experience in plant-based nutrition and chronic digestive and inflammatory disease. She is the author of two Canadian bestselling and award-winning cookbooks, Eat More Plants and Good For Your Gut. Her latest book, Plant Magic, arrives April 2024. Her work has been featured in People, Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, KTLA, WGN Chicago, The Social, Food Network Canada and Elle Gourmet Canada in addition to hundreds of media features across North America. Desiree is also a food blogger and the host of the evidence-informed wellness podcast, The Allsorts Podcast, where she hosts a diverse roster of guests from NYT bestselling authors to leading health professionals and researchers. In this episode, you’ll learn a

Moving your body and staying physically fit has a significant impact on your mindset. Yet, many of us depioritize fitness in favor of work. In this episode, I explain why we should avoid falling into this habit and my top 5 ways to stay active. I found that the peak of my mental performance has always aligned with times when I was prioritizing my physical health. Moving my body consistently gave me confidence and I experienced so many other physical and mental benefits, including just being in a better mood. Action Plan: 1 - Track your steps using your watch, Fitbit or phone and find an accountability buddy. 2 - Commit to a workout program whether at home or at the gym, or choose a sport like running, cycling, CrossFit etc. 3 - Do daily bursts of physical activity like pushups, burpees or running on the spot. 4 - Double duty: Move while doing other tasks, for example you can walk while on a call. 5 - Choose the harder option such as taking the stairs instead of the escalator or parking far away from a venue.

In episode 543, Megan chats to Shyanne Reynolds about why it is worthwhile to hire a food blog writer, where to find reliable writers and other tips for the hiring process. Shyanne is a food blog content writer who helps bloggers manage editorial teams and rank in Google. She has 7 years of writing experience and a degree in English. Shyanne started her freelancing journey while in college and accidentally on purpose launched a 6 figure career. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to outsource food blog writing, how this benefits your business and why you shouldn’t ask your VA to do blog writing. Key points discussed: - Where to Find Food Blog Writers: Word of mouth is one of the easiest ways to find a reliable blog writer. - Why Should You Outsource Writing: Blog writing takes up most of our time, and can be especially overwhelming during content updates. - What to Look For In a Content Writer: Look at a content writer’s portfolio and someone who has ideally studied English, journalism or another relevant

In episode 542, Kathie Lapcevic teaches us how to create products that fill us up creatively and make customers happy, while making a profit. Kathie Lapcevic is a blogger and teacher living in northwest Montana. She is a quiet rebel, embracing a simple and seasonal life that isn’t exactly mainstream. She can often be found either making a mess in the garden or in the kitchen where she focuses on intentional living that showers love upon the important people in her life. In this episode, you’ll learn about how to brainstorm ideas for products that could work well for your niche and why testing the idea is essential before investing time and money into it. Key points discussed: - Align Your Product and Actions With Your Values: If you stay true to your niche you’ll feel good about your product and selling it will come more naturally. - How to Think Outside of the Box with New Products: Look at your competition - what are they selling? Will it work for your audience? Use it as inspiration but do not copy. - Rese

Do you finish your projects or do you postpone them indefinitely? It’s important to finish projects off in order to open up doors to new opportunities. Megan shares 5 things you can finish this week to reap the rewards waiting for you. Finishing off work projects can be hard. It’s sometimes easier to get started on an exciting new idea, but seeing it through to the end requires perseverance. Besides work, there are other things in our life that often get put on the back burner. But what if we just finished them? Stubborn admin tasks, home projects and other to do list items. Imagine the relief you’ll feel if you finish off one thing this week. Action Plan: 1. Finish off a house project: make it small and manageable like tidying up a drawer before moving on to bigger tasks. 2. Finish off a work project. Especially as an entrepreneurs, we tend to collect unfinished projects. If you’re putting something off the whole time, is it really worth your time at all? 3. Finish off a conversation with a family member, fr

In episode 540, Dyutima Jha teaches us how to keep readers on our food blogs for longer by creating visually compelling narratives with our photos, and which common mistakes to avoid. Dyutima is an architect-turned commercial and editorial food photographer and podcaster based in Singapore. She is the first South Asian woman to host a food photography podcast, My Food Lens. After 15 years as an architect, designing healthcare facilities around the world, she found her passion in food styling and photography. Today, she has a successful business working with clients around the world and teaching other photographers how to do so as well. Her work has been featured in a range of food & photography magazines like Thrive magazine, Whalebone magazine etc. and she has worked with several prestigious clients like The Intercontinental Hotel Singapore, McCormick etc. In this episode, you’ll learn about the importance of visual storytelling, lighting, angles, and consistency in creating compelling narratives that en

In episode 539, Megan chats to MaryAnne Hoekstra about why joining an accountability group can help you refocus and gain direction, especially after a drop in traffic. MaryAnne is the writer, recipe developer, and photographer behind Gastronotherapy, where she creates delicious recipes that are mainly vegetarian and vegan. MaryAnne grew up in Minnesota with a fondness for baking, and lived in NYC for 17 years. While there, she sharpened her palate over the years while taking cooking and baking classes, making dinner for friends, and trying as many restaurants as she could afford. In this episode, you’ll learn about 7 benefits of joining an accountability group, including having a supportive community with which to share resources, ideas and receive weekly support to help you set and achieve your blogging goals. Key points discussed: - Get Specific Support From an Engaged Community: Unlike general food blogger groups, a focused accountability group, like the Eat Blog Talk Accountability group, allows for more