Eat Blog Talk

In this episode, we're going to talk about five practical steps to deal with entrepreneurial mistakes and how to move on. We all make mistakes. When we make a mistake in our business, especially when we let others down, we can feel devastated. But this is part of being human. And being a business owner. I'm no different. I've made plenty of entrepreneurial mistakes. So how I do I deal with these types of situations? Here are some strategies that I use to deal with mistakes: Action Plan: 1 - Accept and process mistakes: Take time to pause, feel the emotions, and let the reality of the mistake sink in before moving forward. 2 - Take action to clean up the mess: Identify the necessary steps to address the mistake and rectify the situation as best as possible. 3 - Learn the lesson: Reflect on the mistake to understand the underlying lesson and implement changes to prevent similar issues in the future. 4 - Practice self-forgiveness and grace: Extend compassion to yourself, as mistakes are inevitable, and avoid dwelling on them excessively. 5 -Set mistakes aside and move on: Recognize the broader context of life and the insignificance of small mistakes, allowing you to let go and focus on the future. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Ghostwriter – Terrence Roche (terrence@plantpowercouple.com) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 597, Megan chats to Melodee Fiske about how food bloggers can hire a trained food photographer to scale their business and why it's important to hire a specialised photographer. Melodee is the creator and owner of Pretty Focused. She's a wife, homeschool mom and a second grade teacher turned food photographer. Melodee started working as a food photographer for food bloggers in 2016. In 2017, she started to have friends ask her to teach them how to do it too, so she did, and that's when Pretty Focused was born. Since then, she's had over 1,000 students join Pretty Focused to learn how to photograph food for food bloggers. Melodee connects them with potential clients inside their marketplace when they graduate. Over the last 3 years, 69% of our grads reported making $50,000+ working as food photographers for bloggers. In this episode, you'll learn about the benefits of outsourcing food photography, the strategies Melodee teaches in her Pretty Focused course, and how to become a trained food photographer to generate extra income. Key points discussed: - Hiring out photography is not a weakness: It is a strength that allows you to focus on growth and vision for your business. - Communication is key when handing over your brand's photography: Effectively communicating your brand and vision ensures the photographer can represent your blog well. - Pretty Focused teaches photography skills tailored for food bloggers: The course covers a variety of photography skills specific to the needs of food bloggers. - Pretty Focused provides coaching and community support: In addition to photography training, the course includes coaching and a supportive community. - Graduates earn significant income: Many graduates have been able to make substantial income working as food photographers for bloggers. - The Buyers Club connects trained photographers with food bloggers: This community facilitates connections between food bloggers and qualified photographers. - Outsourcing photography enables business expansion: Some bloggers have been able to start additional sites due to the ability to outsource their photography. - Make decisions based on your unique business needs: Avoid basing decisions solely on what others think and focus on what is right for your specific business Connect with Melodee Fiske Website | Instagram

In episode 596, Megan Ellam teaches us how to write and market cookbooks to earn a significant portion of our income from self-publishing. Megan Ellam is an Australian-based author, photographer, and recipe developer, best known for Mad Creations and 365 Keto Club. Since 2017, Megan has shared her low-carb recipes and weight loss journey, leading to the self-publication of over 10 keto cookbooks and more than 60 eBooks, including two World Gourmand Cookbook Award winners! A passionate foodie, Megan runs Mad Creations alongside her partner in love and life, Dave Hunter. In this episode, you'll learn more about how to add extra value to your cookbook or ebook, pricing books correctly and successful marketing ideas to sell more books fast. Key points discussed: - Niche down and create a clear theme and vision for your book: Determine the topic, focus and feel of your book to ensure a cohesive final product. - Develop an index of recipe ideas before writing: Plan out the content of your book to make the writing process more efficient. - Assemble a team of diverse recipe testers: Include both skilled and novice cooks to get well-rounded feedback on your recipes. - Offer unique, original recipes that stand out: Develop creative, eye-catching dishes that your audience can't find elsewhere. - Add extra value through cook's notes, variations, and additional content: Enhance your books by providing helpful information beyond just the recipes. - Leverage your existing blog content by refreshing and repurposing it: Reshoot and repackage your popular recipes to create new book offerings. - Price your books and ebooks higher to reflect their value: Don't underestimate the time and effort you've invested; charge accordingly. - Utilize various marketing channels, including social media and email: Promote your books through a diverse range of platforms to reach your audience. - Consider collaborations and partnerships to expand your reach: Explore opportunities to work with brands or other creators to cross-promote your books. Connect with Megan Ellam Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to deal with negative emotions towards platforms like Google and social media networks. Have you ever had a negative experience with an online platform? For us bloggers, it can be Google or any of the social media networks. It's often a feeling of not being rewarded for our hard work on the platforms. I've said in the past things like: "I hate Facebook." Because I genuinely felt like Facebook had something against me as if it were human. Following along with the idea that these platforms are like humans, how can we repair our relationships with them? Here are 5 steps I take to turn feelings of lack and hatred into appreciation and abundance. Action Plan: 1 - Identify which relationship needs mending: Choose one platform that is causing you the most frustration. 2 - Make a list of how the platform has wronged you: Write out all the ways you feel the platform has let you down. 3 - Make a list of what you are grateful for regarding the platform: Reflect on the positive aspects and benefits the platform has provided. 4 - Give the relationship some love: Educate yourself on the platform, learn more about its features, and consistently pay attention to it. 5 - Lather, rinse, repeat: Go through these steps repeatedly until you feel the relationship is being repaired. Keep your gratitude list visible as a reminder. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Food Blog Writing at Maes Media (Chelsea Plummer) Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 594, Megan chats to James Wythe about why he decided to shift his focus from content creation for social media to creating content for his blog, despite having a social following of over 1 million. After a sudden illness caused James to be housebound for 4 years, he taught himself to cook with a chair in the kitchen. James started his blog to share his journey of recovery and recipes in 2016. Since then James has built a social following of over 1M and published a cookbook. The blog currently has 300,000 monthly page views which James 5x in the last year. If you Loved this Episode… You'll love Episode 569: Turning to Instagram Because of the Helpful Content Update – How To Grow Your Instagram Account To Add More Revenue Streams with Mika Kinney and Sarah Bond (For a contrasting point of view!) In this episode, you'll learn more about social media burnout, finding your passion for content creation, how to step back from social media, especially if you have a large following, while considering the future of your career and longevity of your content. Key points discussed: - Stepping back from social media can help overcome burnout: You may realize that you are feeling burned out from the pressure and comparison of social media, so focusing more on your blog could be beneficial. - Owning your content is important: Owning your content on your website is important to consider, rather than relying solely on social media platforms that can restrict or remove access. - Balancing social media and blog content is challenging: You may find it difficult to create separate content for your website and social media that appeals to different audiences consistently. - Large social media followings don't guarantee success: Even with a large following, the social media landscape is becoming increasingly saturated and competitive for brand collaborations. - Republishing and updating old content can significantly boost traffic: Going back and improving your existing blog content can lead to a significant increase in traffic. - Creating a depth of content is key for long-term growth: Focus on creating more new content and update older posts to build a stronger foundation for your blog. - Passion and enjoyment should drive content creation: You may realize that you still love creating content and helping others, but not the pressure of social media. - Cycles and trends in the industry require adaptability: The industry may shift back towards longer-form content, away from the current saturation of short-form video recipes, so you need to be prepared to adapt. Connect with James Wythe Website | Instagram

In episode 593, Kimberlee Ho teaches us 3 easy ways to grow our blog part-time while working full-time, including, how to be selective with our focus and time. Kim is a home baker from NJ, who loves to share approachable baking recipes and tips with busy families like her own on her blog, kickassbaker.com. Kim works full-time during the day and bakes, recipe tests, and photographs at night and on the weekends in between acting as an Uber driver for her two teenage daughters. Her goal is to inspire home bakers to kick ass in the kitchen! In this episode, you'll learn more about identifying growth drivers for your blog, the importance of adapting to changing industry trends as well as intentional time management and the support of a community in achieving blogging goals. Key points discussed: - Focus on 1-2 key growth drivers: For example, you can focus on growing page views and sessions to attract and retain readers, rather than getting distracted by new platforms. - Test different work methods: Experiment with your work schedule and batching tasks to find the most efficient approach for you. - Use to-do lists: Keep multiple to-do lists to stay organized and reduce anxiety about forgetting important tasks. - Embrace flexibility: Maintain a flexible mindset, adapting your methods as your needs and circumstances change over time. - Leverage trusted networks: Ask for feedback and support from the blogging community to avoid shiny object syndrome. - Break down goals into steps: Break down larger goals into manageable, actionable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. - Advantages of working full-time: By having full-time job Kim can enjoy growing her blog without the pressure of relying on it as her sole income. Connect with Kimberlee Ho Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about why we feel envious of other bloggers in our space and how to turn envy into celebration and collaboration. Food blogging is competitive. There are thousands and thousands of food blogs online. For a long time I approached food blogging as a competitive career. I felt like I had to do better than everyone else, a feeling which led me to isolate myself. This held me back big time! And it's only when I started changing my approach to seek out and collaborate with other food bloggers, that my business really started taking off. So here are 5 ways in which you can do the same. Action Plan: 1 - Change your mindset from competition to collaboration: See other food bloggers as teammates, not competitors. 2 - Celebrate and support others with a generous spirit: Outwardly and inwardly express happiness for their successes. 3 - Celebrate your own accomplishments: Take time to write down your wins, no matter how small, to boost your confidence. 4 - Own your unique story and journey: Embrace the lessons and challenges that have shaped your business. 5 - Immerse yourself in the food blogging community: Reach out to those who inspire you and build relationships. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topics you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Coaching and Mentorship for Food Bloggers by Brittany Roche Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources

In episode 591, Megan chats to Alexandra Shytsman about how to avoid 7 common food photography mistakes beginners make, including lighting, angle and styling mistakes. Alexandra Shytsman is a recipe developer, food photographer, and creator of The New Baguette, a plant-based recipe site. Her mission is to inspire people to cook healthier plant-centered meals at home. She is the author of Friendsgiving, co-author of The Complete Vegan Cookbook, and contributes to sites like Simply Recipes and EatingWell. She has also been teaching in-person food photography classes (in groups and one-on-one) since 2018. Originally from Ukraine, Alex moved to New York City at a young age and has lived there ever since. In this episode, you'll learn more about using natural light versus artificial light, the correct angle for shooting food, which garnishes to use and which ones to avoid and how to make boring food stand out. Key points discussed: - Lighting is crucial: Use natural light or photography-specific equipment, rather than overhead kitchen lights, to achieve flattering and accurate food photography. - Avoid tilted angles: Keep the camera horizon straight to create a more natural and comfortable viewing experience for the audience. - Provide context: Zooming out to show the entire plate or scene, rather than just a close-up, helps provide context and balance to the image. - Choose props carefully: Neutral-colored, non-distracting props are recommended to avoid drawing attention away from the food. - Are your photos in focus? Learning to use the camera in manual mode and checking focus before finalizing the shot can help ensure crisp, in-focus images. - Garnishes can transform boring photos: Adding thoughtful garnishes, such as herbs, spices, or seeds, can enhance the visual appeal of the food. - Plan before you shoot: Creating a mood board and shot list beforehand can help streamline the photography process and ensure all necessary shots are captured. - Embrace negative space: Allowing for some empty space around the food can create a more balanced and visually appealing composition. Connect with Alexandra Shytsman Website | Instagram

Are you tired of feeling stuck or overwhelmed in your blogging journey? In this episode, I'm sharing some exciting news about the 2025 Eat Blog Talk Mastermind, including the new tiered packages designed for bloggers at every stage. I'll walk you through the program's logistics and highlight how the mastermind can fast-track your blog's growth, no matter your budget or experience level. But that's not all—stay tuned for powerful transformation stories from current mastermind members! You'll hear how they've overcome common blogging pain points, from stagnant traffic to unclear goals, and turned their blogs into thriving businesses with more traffic, revenue, and confidence. Here's what you'll learn in this episode: - New mastermind tiers for 2025 that cater to different budgets and experience levels. - How the mastermind can help you accelerate growth and avoid common blogging mistakes. - Real-life transformations from current members—how they grew their traffic, increased revenue, and found clarity in their blogging strategies. - Why community, expert guidance, and accountability are the key ingredients to lasting success. - How the program can help you gain confidence, clarity, and focus to tackle your biggest blogging challenges. Ready to take your blog to new heights in 2025? Tune in now to hear how you can be part of this life-changing experience or visit eatblogtalk.com/mastermind to apply.

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 ways to be proactive, focus on progress and invite more good things into your business. We all want good things to flow into our business. Sometimes, it feels like we're making no progress or regressing. I've been there, multiple times. Even this year. For bloggers, this might mean losing followers, getting less pages views, trying to get into an ad network… the list goes on and on. By this same token, if you embrace a proactive, positive approach to your blog and focus on what's going well, you will most likely invite more good things into your business. Here are some practical ways to do this. Action Plan: 1 - Extend the invitation: Invite good things, opportunities, money, and positive energy into your business on a daily basis. 2 - Practice daily gratitude: Write down 5-10 things that are going well in your business each day and express gratitude for the progress (however small) you've made. 3 - Do daily decluttering: What tasks are cluttering your mind and business? Make a list and systematically work through and complete them. 4 - Engage in daily learning: Spend at least 15 minutes each day learning through podcasts, books, or discussions to stay eager and ready for good things. 5 - Invest in your business: Consider making strategic investments in coaching, masterminds, conferences, or courses to open the floodgates for positive growth. Get in touch with Megan if there is a specific mindset and self-care topic you'd like her to cover. Website | Instagram Resources Madison Wetherill's Web Design Services Promote your food blogging services Megan's recommended books and resources