The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Welcome to episode 550 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, we are sharing a replay of our December Live Q&A from within the Food Blogger Pro membership — our annual Ask Bjork Anything session. ----- Every month within the Food Blogger Pro membership we host a Live Q&A for our members to attend. For most of these Q&As we welcome Food Blogger Pro Experts — people like Casey Markee, Andrew Wilder, and Allea Grummert — to answer questions based around their expertise. But every December we like to host an 'Ask Bjork Anything' to answer a wide range of questions from members! We wanted to share an edited version of the Q&A with our podcast listeners over our holiday break so that you could get a taste of what the Q&As are like in the membership and learn from all of the great questions our members asked! Happy Holidays! Here's a quick overview of the questions answered during the episode: Can you please refer a good SEO audit person for a small and newish blogger? What are best practices for URL slug? should you have the word recipe in them or does it not matter? I'm currently at 800k–900k page views/month in the high holiday season (usually 650k–800k throughout the year)- what do you recommend to push the site traffic to over 1 million page views/month as the baseline in even lower traffic seasons? After a hiatus from posting on my blog I'm wondering what are one or two things I should do that are the most important moving into 2026 for growth. Do you have any tips for Facebook? I see really little engagement on my posts and I'm wondering if it's worth it or not. Any suggestions for getting more comfortable on camera? I'm trying to film more videos/Reels and it's so hard! What is Pinch of Yum focusing on for 2026? Are you changing any strategies because of AI search? For someone starting this year, what would you prioritize? Social media? SEO? Newsletters? When should I start thinking about monetization? Is it still worth diving into onsite ads? What are some best practices for growing my email list? Is it still worth it to post on Pinterest with the rise of AI slop? Lately i've had a lot of spam ad comments on blog posts. I have to delete them and it's getting to be time consuming. I have the control to approve or delete the comments so the are not showing up on the blog thank goodness. How do you prevent these?! Is this a commen problem? I'm starting to notice the same issue with newletter signups. I'm curious how Pinch of Yum plans their content far enough ahead to thoroughly test recipes before publishing. How far in advance do they plan their editorial calendar, and how much time do they usually spend testing each recipe? If I want to run a food blog that focuses less on recipes and more on how to cook or how to use recipes in practical ways, how should I attract an audience, and how can I still use recipes to promote my work? How niche does one need to go these days? For example, I am in the toddler nutrition space, obviously very challenging to compete with the sites like yummy toddler food… do I need to go even further niche? I am a dietitian so I try and bring in that lens around supportive feeding and nutrition in the recipes/meals I create… but curious if I need to go further niched down If I want to shift my recipe blog into more of a "business hub" and focus on digital products rather than relying mainly on recipes and ad revenue, how would you approach that transition? I recently started a YouTube channel (thanks to your advice!), but I haven't monetized either my blog or YouTube yet. What would be the most strategic steps to move forward? Resources: ChatGPT Vs. Gemini Vs. Claude: What Are The Differences? Inside Crowded Kitchen's Strategy for Growing to 2.4 Million Followers on Facebook Crowded Kitchen Budget Bytes Yummy Toddler Food Condiment Claire Grocers List Manychat Pinch of Yum's Trader Joe's Meal Plan Reel Akismet Quiet Light Memberful Circle Membership.io Stan Store Thinkific Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast and Raptive. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

The power of authenticity, website usability, and new monetization opportunities with Rachel Cunliffe. ----- Welcome to episode 549 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Rachel Cunliffe of Cre8d Design. Finding Your Authentic Voice and Scaling Your Food Blog with Rachel Cunliffe This episode is packed with wisdom on thriving in the current food blogging landscape! Rachel Cunliffe, who tracks all the trends in her Best Served Hot newsletter, emphasizes that you absolutely have to stop chasing every trend out there and lean into your own style. Your authentic voice and that irreplaceable "human touch" are the only things guaranteed to truly connect with your audience, even as AI enters the mix. This is your number one priority for sustainable growth! Beyond the content, Rachel reminds us that the basics still matter: website usability and good design are often neglected, but they are crucial for keeping users happy (and staying monetized). With the food blogging market constantly evolving, success requires striking a balance between a strong, unique voice and paying attention to new monetization opportunities! Three episode takeaways: Stop chasing trends and be yourself: Rachel stresses that in today's chaotic online world, authenticity is your secret weapon. Algorithms may shift, but the irreplaceable "human touch" and your unique voice are the only things that truly connect with and grow your audience sustainably. Focus on your strengths and let your genuine self shine! Design matters more than you think: While we obsess over SEO keywords, Rachel points out that basic website usability and design are often totally neglected. Think of your site like your kitchen: if it's messy and hard to navigate, guests (and Google!) won't stick around. Don't skip the step of making your site genuinely pleasant to use. The food blogging landscape is changing: The food blogging landscape is still growing, but the rules are evolving. It's time to look beyond traditional display ads. Pay attention to new monetization opportunities and remember that balancing that authentic voice with smart strategy is the key to thriving in this market shift. Resources: Cre8d Design Best Served Hot — Rachel's Substack TechCrunch ProBlogger Raptive Kit Flodesk MailerLite Mailchimp Adweek Wimp Decaf Substack New York Times Cooking PageSpeed Insights Suno Reddit ChatGPT Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Clariti and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Navigating partnership trends, comparing the big three AI platforms, and Pinterest best practices. ----- Welcome to episode 548 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork is sitting down with our very own Emily Walker to talk through the updates shared in our latest blogging newsletter. Food Blogging News Roundtable: Brand Partnership Trends, AI Platform Comparisons, and Pinterest Best Practices In this episode, Bjork and Emily break down exactly how to navigate the "Big Three" AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude) and explain why building deep brand authority is your best defense in the changing search landscape. If you want to future-proof your business, doubling down on your niche expertise is no longer optional — it's essential. They'll then shift gears to practical platform strategies, covering why Pinterest is suddenly obsessed with your site's user experience and the specific metrics that actually drive YouTube growth. Whether you are planning your holiday marketing or just trying to streamline your workflow, this episode is packed with tips to help you adapt without sacrificing quality. Three episode takeaways: - The "big three" AI assistants aren't all the same: Bjork and Emily break down the key differences between ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. It's not about picking just one; it's about knowing which tool has the right "personality" and strengths for the specific content task you're tackling today. - Brand authority is your new SEO superpower: With AI changing how people search, keyword optimization isn't enough anymore. You'll hear about why doubling down on your niche and proving you are the expert is the best defense (and offense) in the era of AI-generated answers. - YouTube and Pinterest are craving different things right now: Stop treating all visual platforms the same! Pinterest is prioritizing user experience and site functionality, while YouTube is all about watch time and that crucial first click. Plus, Bjork and Emily chat through why consistency is still king for growing an audience through video. Resources: Subscriber to the Food Blogger Pro newsletter! Shoot Emily an email if you have any ideas for articles you want covered in the newsletter! ChatGPT Vs. Gemini Vs. Claude: What Are The Differences? — Search Engine Journal ChatGPT Claude Gemini Episode 541 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: Maximize Efficiency with AI (Without Losing Your Voice) with Trey Griffin from Raptive Episode 446 of the Simple Pin Podcast: How to Get Discovered On Pinterest The Role Of Brand Authority And E-E-A-T In The AI Search Era — Search Engine Journal The Creator-First Holiday Marketing Guide for Brands — Later Top 5 Tips for Food Bloggers on YouTube — Food Blogger Pro Episode 511 of The Food Blogger Pro podcast: The Cost of Content and Why Carla Lalli Music left YouTube Google Keyword Planner Semrush Genius Link Follow Food Blogger Pro on Instagram Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens and Raptive. Learn more about our sponsors at foodbloggerpro.com/sponsors. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Turning 5 million social media followers into real revenue, syndicating content strategically across platforms, and prioritizing Facebook with Lexi Harrison from Crowded Kitchen. ------ Welcome to episode 547 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Lexi Harrison from Crowded Kitchen. Inside Crowded Kitchen's Strategy for Growing to 2.4 Million Followers on Facebook Lexi Harrison and her mom first started sharing food content on Instagram back in 2015 — and what began as a fun creative outlet has now turned into a thriving, multi-platform business with over 5 million followers across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. In this episode, Lexi shares how they strategically grew their audience, refined their content approach, and learned to make social media work for their business. You'll hear how they navigated major shifts in priorities, why they overhauled their content strategy, and what happened when they decided to take Facebook seriously. If you've ever wondered how to build momentum on social media — or how to balance growth and monetization — you won't want to miss this one! Three episode takeaways: The benefits of prioritizing social media growth — For Crowded Kitchen, focusing on building their social media following has paid off significantly. Their social media traffic now surpasses their organic website traffic, and they're earning $4,000–$6,000 per week through the Facebook Monetization Program. On top of that, their larger audience has allowed them to secure higher-paying brand partnerships and even land a cookbook deal — clear proof that investing time and effort into social growth can yield major returns. How they use recipe series to drive engagement and new followers — Lexi shares more about their use of series like the "better than storebought" series they ran on social media in early 2024 that helped them grow from 30,000 followers in April of 2024 to over 2.4 million followers on Facebook now. Lexi explains the formula they use for the series, and tips for increasing new follower sign-ups. How they syndicate and recycle content strategically across platforms — With only 200 short-form videos to work with, Lexi explains their content posting schedule, their reposting strategy, and how they recycle content to reduce the workload and allow for time off (like for her maternity leave). Resources: Crowded Kitchen The Feed Feed Food Dolls Facebook Content Monetization Beta Grocers List ManyChat Crowded Kitchen Cookbook Follow Lexi on Instagram and Facebook Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Raptive and Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.

Adapting to the evolving search landscape, building an ecosystem around your food blog, and practical strategies for staying visible in an answer-engine-first world with Casey Markee from MediaWyse. ----- Welcome to episode 546 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Casey Markee from MediaWyse. Surviving (and Thriving) in an AI-First Search World In this episode, we're welcoming back Casey Markee from MediaWyse to talk about the evolving nature of search and traffic. Casey shares his latest insights on AI Overviews, their impact on food bloggers, how SERPs are changing, and why great content still wins. Bjork and Casey also chat about whether you should block AI bots, the growing importance of community, and practical strategies for staying visible in an answer-engine-first world. If you've been concerned about traffic drops, the future of food blogging, or how AI will reshape content discovery, this episode is a must-listen. Three episode takeaways: How AI Overviews are impacting traffic to food blogs — Casey explains the trends he is observing in his site audits and explains what it means for food creators. Why the need for trustworthy recipe creators has not diminished — Casey believes that the need for recipes created by trustworthy food bloggers is stronger than ever, and that the clarity, structure, and usefulness of your food blog will still drive success. How to adapt to the evolving search landscape — Casey shares his recommendations for food blogs to stay relevant — including AI buttons, building an ecosystem around your food blog, Google Discover, and how to get cited in AI overviews. Resources: MediaWyse Advanced SEO Q&A with Casey Markee 399: E-E-A-T, Static Homepages, AI, and More Food Blog SEO Advice with Casey Markee Cloudflare Raptive TopHatRank NerdPress RankIQ Lily Ray Semrush Ahrefs Profound Leite's Culinaria Blogging, AI, and the SEO road ahead: Why clarity now decides who survives Feast AI Buttons Healthful Blondie Cucina by Elena Fit As A Mama Bear Google Tests 'Preferred Sources' To Personalize Top Stories In Search Platter Talk — Air Fryer Cod Join the Food Blogger Pro Podcast Facebook Group Thank you to our sponsors! This episode is sponsored by Yoast. Interested in working with us too? Learn more about our sponsorship opportunities and how to get started here. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for interviews, be sure to email them to [email protected]. Learn more about joining the Food Blogger Pro community at foodbloggerpro.com/membership.