Eat Blog Talk | Megan Porta

In episode 623, Dalit Vaknin shares her journey of overcoming the challenges of building a successful blog in her second language, English, and how other non-native English speakers can do the same. Dalit, a former dietician, is a passionate food blogger and culinary enthusiast. After relocating to the US, she turned her love for food into a thriving blog specializing in artisanal ice cream. Dalit's mission is to inspire others, especially those whose first language is not English, to pursue their passions through writing and blogging. She believes language should never be a barrier to sharing your unique voice and stories with the world. In this episode, you’ll learn how to keep motivated when blogging in English as your second language, how to overcome self-doubt and use visual aids and other useful tools. Key points discussed include: - Embrace the journey: Blogging in a second language may be challenging, but approach it with an open mindset and celebrate your progress along the way. - Leverage visual aid

In this episode, we're going to talk about why prioritizing community and building relationships are a critical part of your business. As a food blogger and entrepreneur, I can't stress enough how important it is to prioritize community in 2025. I know it can feel scary or uncertain to invest in things like conferences, retreats, and masterminds, but trust me, it's going to pay off big time. The key is to approach it with intention and a willingness to be vulnerable. Get out there, connect with your peers, and don't be afraid to go deep in the right communities. And if your budget is tight, no worries - you can always create your own community hub. The most important thing is to show up consistently, wherever you decide to plant your flag. Do that, and you'll see the rewards in your business and personal life. Here, I’ll share five specific action steps that can help guide you on this community-building journey. Action Plan: 1 - Understand the power of connection: Community and meaningful connections can have

In episode 621, Megan chats to Jessie-Sierra Ross about her experience of traditional cookbook publishing, including how to pitch, propose and promote a cookbook. Jessie-Sierra Ross is a former professional ballerina turned food blogger and home entertaining specialist. Originally from Boston, she traded in her pointe shoes for an apron, and hasn’t looked back since! A self-taught, cook and food stylist, Jessie is the personality behind her blog, “Straight to the Hips, Baby”. Known for her step-by-step recipes, easy elegance, and light and bright photography style. Working alongside her photographer husband, Jessie creates food and drink recipes for her blog, and features in magazines, as well as on TV, via cooking segments on NBC, PBS, and BloomTV Network. Jessie-Sierra is currently working on her latest creative project, a floral-inspired cookbook with Schiffer Publishing. In this episode, you’ll learn about the detailed process of recipe testing, photography, the role of an editor in refining the manuscrip

In episode 620, Michelle Puster teaches us how to silence our inner critic and the RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Interconnect, Nurture) method to manage overwhelm and stress as an entrepreneur and parent. Michelle is a mom of three kiddos and is a marriage and trauma therapist and most recently a podcaster/blogger. On her podcast and blog she shares her true life story of recovery from parenting burnout using mindfulness, mediation, and self-compassion. In this episode, you’ll learn more about balancing the challenges of running a business and parenting and how to proactively address burnout by managing your sleep, movement, and social connections. Key points discussed: - Recognize your feelings of overwhelm and burnout: Don't ignore or suppress these emotions, as they will only persist. Instead, acknowledge and validate what you're experiencing. - Practice self-compassion: Be kind and understanding towards yourself, rather than harshly judging or criticizing yourself. - Silence your inner critic: Challenge the neg

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 things you can start doing right now that might change your life. Over the past year, I've tried out a bunch of little changes in my life, and let me tell you, some of them have been total game-changers for me. Sure, they might seem super simple, but these hacks have seriously transformed how I feel and function day-to-day. They've lifted this mental weight off me, boosted my energy, and helped me stay laser-focused on what really matters. Even trying out just one or two of these strategies could make a huge difference in your life and business. So let me break them down for you... Action Plan: 1 - Get comprehensive blood work done: This can help identify any vitamin, hormone, or other imbalances that may be contributing to low energy, mood swings, or other health issues. 2 - Outsource email management: Hiring an assistant or using email management tools can help you regain control of your inbox and reduce the mental clutter it can cause. 3 - Create a goal card and

In episode 618, Megan chats to Nora Bourdeau about balancing a blog with other commitments, highlighting the significance of living one's "why" and the value of small, consistent actions to propel progress over time. Nora Bourdeau started Balancing Bowls in 2022 as a way to record her recipes and share them with friends and family. Balancing Bowls is the product of a slightly chaotic life, a need to make and grow things, and a love of creative cooking. While the blog has a flexitarian approach to cooking, Nora loves to cook with beans and lentils so you will find lots of legume recipes and information on the blog. Living outside of Boston, Ma, with her husband and three kids, she is also a full-time high school art teacher. In this episode, you’ll learn about creating routine that serves your ‘why’, recognizing daily wins, regardless of how small they are, and focusing on the process over perfection. Key points discussed: - Embrace mini momentum: Recognize that progress is made through small, consistent steps

In episode 617, Chandice Probst and Abbey Rodriguez teach us how to thrive as a food blogger in the creator economy, including how to niche down and diversify revenue streams beyond traditional advertising. At Tastemaker Conference Abbey, Chandice and their team work daily to provide community, education and experience to the food creator community. Our main goal is to legitimize the creator economy which is set to be a 500 billion dollar industry by 2027. We'd love to discuss this very topic using the discussion ideas below that we feel would resonate with you and your audience. In this episode, you’ll learn about the creator economy's rapid growth, projected to reach $500 billion by 2027, how to leverage personal branding and the significance of in-person events for fostering connections. Key points discussed: - Diversify your revenue streams: Explore options beyond just advertising, such as memberships, cookbooks, and brand sponsorships to create a more sustainable business model. - Leverage your personali

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 steps to manage common feelings of inadequacy among entrepreneurs and how to stop feeling like a “loser”. I have felt like a loser so many times in the 14 years I've been an entrepreneur. I have experienced various embarrassing or devastating entrepreneurial moments: overnight traffic loss, burnout, not getting as much traction as other bloggers, getting booted from a major blogging Facebook group, you name it. So how have I dealt with these situations and pulled myself through? Here are 5 steps I take when faced with feeling like an entrepreneurial loser. Action Plan: 1 - It's not personal: Understand that setbacks in your business are not a reflection of your worth as an entrepreneur, but rather a normal part of the journey. 2 - Take responsibility: Identify what you could have done differently and use that knowledge to improve your future actions, rather than blaming external factors. 3 - Connect with peers: Surround yourself with a trusted circle of fellow entr

In episode 615, Megan chats to Elan Gelfand about the importance of focus, discipline, consistency, handling judgment, and reigniting passion. Elan Gelfand started the podcast Abundant Thinking where he talks about how to live a purposeful life and how to improve your mindset. Elan has spoken to some of the best coaches in their industry and has valuable insight on how to succeed and how to cultivate a bulletproof mindset. In this episode, you’ll learn about creating the right environment to minimize distractions, building discipline slowly to achieve long-term success and adopting a mindset of not caring about others' opinions. Key points discussed: - Start small to build discipline: Begin with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the difficulty, rather than setting unrealistic high expectations that are hard to maintain. - Eliminate distractions: Use tools like the Opal app to block distracting apps and create an environment conducive to focused work. - Consistency leads to discipline: Staying con

In episode 614, Abraham Busick teaches us easy content strategies for optimal growth on Pinterest, emphasizing it's role as a search tool and not a social media platform. Gracelaneco is a Pinterest management agency with a focus on bloggers and small brands. We love to share our proven strategy that keeps Pinterest simple and growing even through algorithm updates. In this episode, you’ll learn about Pinterest SEO, how to solve users' problems, experimenting with content formats, driving traffic to your blog and how to use Pinterest analytics to improve your strategy. Key points discussed: - Understand the Pinterest user mindset: You should recognize that Pinterest users are on the platform to solve specific problems, not just for entertainment, and tailor your content accordingly. - Plan content in advance: You should create content months in advance to align with the planning nature of Pinterest users. - Leverage Pinterest SEO: You should thoroughly research and incorporate relevant keywords into your pin d

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 mindset tweaks that could accelerate your entrepreneurial success. Being an entrepreneur is hard. I always say this but I’ll say it again. It’s not just the discipline, commitment, knowledge and ability to seize opportunities that make entrepreneurship hard. It’s hard because without the right mindset, business owners often give up. But, I’ve got good news for you. This does not have to be the case. You can be a successful business owner and inspirational entrepreneur. Here are 5 easy mindset tweaks that can get you there. Action Plan: 1 - Have faith in yourself: Believe in your abilities, experience, and knowledge, and don't second-guess yourself. 2 - Let things simmer: Be patient and allow projects, problems, and growth to unfold at their own pace, rather than rushing the process. 3 - Embrace the champion mindset: Overcome your default human mindset of self-preservation and tap into your inner champion to achieve your full potential. 4 - Don’t be afraid to ask: R

In episode 612, Megan chats to Ann and Maddy Baum about Spillt’s newest offering: Premium subscriptions and why this is a great way to build an extra revenue stream for bloggers. Spillt is a social app for home cooks to save and organize their recipes from anywhere (however we don’t scrape the recipe, we always respect bloggers’ traffic). Spillt also offers bloggers tools to share their content through a free Wordpress plugin that syncs their recipes to Spillt. And most recently, Spillt launched a paywalled subscription tool that allows bloggers to create a subscription offering for their fans, giving them access to all their blog recipes ad-free, as well as customizable meal plans. In this episode, you’ll learn why Spillt is a great asset for food bloggers, including its ease of use, social element, subscription tool and meal plan creation, which aim to diversify bloggers' revenue streams. Key points discussed: - The Spillt app is a mobile and web-based platform: It allows home cooks to save and organize rec

In episode 611, Sena Wheeler teaches us the importance of email marketing for business growth, sharing her strategy of sending personalized, value-driven emails. Sena Wheeler is part of a 5th generation fishing family and the co-founder of Sena Sea, which brings wild Alaskan seafood direct to your door. She's passionate about sustainability, helping busy families eat healthier and educating people about the brain-boosting benefits of wild fish. She has a master’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science with a specialty in quantifying omega 3's in fish and determining preferred handling practices for premium quality. She and her husband enjoy running this family business together, spending part of the year in Alaska and having the flexibility to enjoy watching her children participate in their school sports, and of course, eating and cooking fish! In this episode, you’ll learn about the benefits of leveraging personal stories in email, building a quality email list and its long-term value and stability compared t

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 traits of high achievers and how to incorporate similar habits into our lives. When you spend time with inspiring, high-quality individuals, you suddenly notice traits that would be well-worth adopting. I attended a conference earlier this year where I noticed such high-achieving individuals. I observed five distinct things that set them apart and helped lead them to success as business owners. Here is how you can incorporate similar strategies to elevate your own personal and professional success. Action Plan: 1 - Avoid negativity: High achievers refuse to engage in criticism, gossip, cynicism, and complaining, as these behaviors can be draining and unproductive. 2 - Embrace challenges: You should be open to receiving and giving challenges and questions from others, as this can lead to valuable insights and personal growth. 3 - Celebrate failure: Failure should be viewed as a necessary step towards success, and high achievers wear it as a badge of honor, encouragi

In episode 609, Megan chats to Allie Hagerty about how she grew her food blog from 750 page views a month to over 100,000 page views a month. Allie has been food blogging since 2020, although she took a few years off. After being laid off from her full-time job as a new mom of a 4 week old, Allie decided to put all her energy back into reviving her old, crusty food blog. She started working on her new niche: new England and Mediterranean dishes (think fresh, minimalistic ingredients made delicious) in November '23. Allie had maybe 400 sessions monthly. Today, in June 2024, she has almost 75K sessions and is on MediaVine! Allie hunkered down, worked hard, and eliminated distractions like Instagram. She is proof that SEO is NOT dead. In this episode, you’ll learn about Allie’s strategies for creating content clusters, optimizing SEO, and maintaining consistency to achieve rapid blog growth. Key points discussed: - Focus on content clusters: You should focus on creating content clusters around ingredients, recip

In episode 608, Courtney Carey teaches us how to plan and organize the cookbook creation process while managing other life responsibilities. Courtney Carey is the creator of Cake Me Home Tonight, a baking blog designed to help home bakers elevate their baking game! On her blog and social media, Courtney shares easy and delicious dessert recipes along with baking tips and tutorials to make baking fun and stress-free. Courtney recently released her debut cookbook, Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes, an 80's themed cookbook featuring cupcake recipes inspired by nostalgic and classic snacks and desserts. She enjoys sharing her love of all things dessert and all things 80's because there is nothing sweeter than nostalgia! In this episode, you’ll learn more about the challenges of balancing a blog, job, and family while writing a cookbook and how to meet deadlines despite setbacks. Key points discussed: - Plan and organize thoroughly: Carefully evaluate your work style, schedule, and responsibilities to set yourself up

In this episode, we're going to talk about 5 strategies to be more consistent in your business in order to achieve more faster. One of the things that have really served me well in my business is consistency. Consistent effort, even in small steps, leads to significant achievements over time. I help many food bloggers during planning calls on a monthly basis. What I find is that the ones who are consistent see results quicker than the ones who are not. If you are struggling with consistency and feel frustrated, the good news is you can teach yourself to be more consistent. Here are my top 5 strategies to improve consistency. Action Plan: 1 - Identify your "why": Knowing your deeper motivation and emotional drivers can fuel your consistency in business. 2 - Track your time: Analyzing how you spend your time can reveal opportunities to improve efficiency and create more space for consistency. 3 - Implement systems: Developing predictable workflows and automating tasks can help you stay on track and free up ment

Food photographer, Dyutima Jha, interviews Megan Porta about how to grow your business, becoming more successful, without working more hours. Originally published on Dyutima's podcast, My Food Lens. 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 & photography. Today, she has a successful business working with clients around the world and teaching other photographers how to do so as well. In this episode, you’ll learn about powerful strategies to improve your mindset, increase productivity, and achieve better results in your food blogging businesses without burning out. Key points discussed: - Acknowledge the power of your mindset: Your mindset is a crucial factor in achieving success, and it's often underrated - recognizing the impact of your t

In episode 606, Megan chats to Kris and Katie Kimball about their journey with The Blog Fixer, a service that helps WordPress bloggers automate technical tasks. Kris Kimball is a software developer who left the corporate world of banking in 2015 to start the Blog Fixer. His company helps thousands of WordPress bloggers like his wife Katie automate the boring technical stuff so they can focus on what they love. Kris and Katie are full-time online entrepreneurs raising 4 kids, and they love hiking in the mountains and hate home improvement projects. In this episode, you’ll learn about the common fixes for bloggers' sites and how Kris and Katie stay on top of relevant information to serve food bloggers' businesses. Key points discussed: - Automate tedious technical tasks: Chris Kimball developed The Blog Fixer plugin to help his wife Katie automate the process of adding no-follow attributes to hundreds of links on her blog, Kitchen Stewardship. - The plugin makes permanent changes to blog content: Unlike other p

In episode 605, Nikki Rausch teaches us how to close more paid partnerships by having a strategic follow-up plan and focusing on relationships. CEO of Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch has the unique ability to transform the misunderstood process of “selling”. With 25+ years of selling experience, entrepreneurs and small business owners now hire Nikki to show them how to sell successfully and authentically. Nikki has written 3 books, all available on Amazon. And she has a podcast called Sales Maven which you can find on your favorite podcast platform. In this episode, you’ll learn about effective strategies for landing and securing brand deals, including how to leverage existing networks, create curiosity, and recognize buying signals from potential sponsors. Key points discussed: - Identify your target sponsors: Make a list of the people/brands you want to work with as sponsors. - Leverage your network: Identify who in your network knows someone at the companies you want to work with, and ask them to make introducti