The Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Bjork Ostrom

Welcome to The Food Blogger Pro Podcast, hosted by Bjork Ostrom from Pinch of Yum! Our goal is to help you create a beautiful, functional, and profitable blog.

  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    Key Strategies for Taking Your Blog Full-Time with Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette

    Building a full-time business as a food creator over the course of eight years, understanding your 'why,' and meeting your goals with Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette.

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    Welcome to episode 507 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Alexandra Shytsman from The New Baguette.

    Key Strategies for Taking Your Blog Full-Time

    In this podcast episode, Alexandra shares the ins and outs of becoming a full-time food creator and her reflections on what she would have done differently to meet her goals more quickly if she had the chance to start over.

    Alexandra breaks down the strategies and decisions that have moved the needle over the years — from projecting expenses and investing in courses or audits to building a community of fellow food creators and batching your time. It’s a really practical and inspiring episode for beginner food bloggers looking to take your food blog to the next level!

    Three episode takeaways:
    • Understanding your “why” — Alexandra speaks to the importance of defining your “why” as an entrepreneur to help provide clarity and direction for your business and to ensure that your time and efforts align with your core goals.
    • Surround yourself with a supportive community — As a Ukrainian immigrant, Alexandra has had to navigate the challenge of pursuing a career path that breaks the mold of the more “traditional” jobs that her family might have chosen for her. She stresses the importance of having a supportive network of fellow food creators who understand the unique challenges of building a business in this space.
    • How to overcome the fear of taking your food blog full-time — Alexandra reflects on the early years of her career as a food creator and what she would do differently now. She breaks down how she knew when she was ready to reduce her freelance work and commit to her site full-time and shares the advice she would give to beginner food bloggers waiting to make the leap.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by KeySearch.

    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.

    25 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 53 minutes 23 seconds
    How to Grow Your Audience as a Food Creator on Reddit

    Understanding Reddit's community dynamics, Reddit posting strategies, and how to maintain a work-life balance with Jacqueline Schell.

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    Welcome to episode 506 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jacqueline Schell from Crafty Cookbook. 

    How to Grow Your Audience as a Food Creator on Reddit

    In this episode, Jacqueline Schell from Crafty Cookbook talks all about how to navigate the world of content creation on Reddit and how to connect with like-minded people by engaging with established communities. Jacqueline also shares why authenticity is essential (Redditors are all about genuine content!), but balancing that with strategic posting can help boost your visibility.

    And if you struggle with time management at all, we’ve got you covered — Jacqueline will talk about how conducting time audits, setting aside dedicated time for side projects, and using mobile tools can keep you productive without burning out. Whether you’re posting on Reddit or balancing a busy content creation schedule, Jacqueline’s advice will help you stay on track and organized! Don’t miss out on this episode for practical tips on growing your online presence and keeping your workflow efficient. ✨

    Three episode takeaways:

    Reddit’s Unique Community Dynamics: Reddit offers a unique space for content creation, but understanding Subreddit rules, community norms, and moderator roles is key. Engaging with established communities can give you valuable feedback and help grow your presence.

    Authenticity & Strategy Matter: Redditors appreciate personal, authentic posts, so focus on being genuine with your content. At the same time, keep in mind that strategic posting can boost visibility, and securing a subreddit name can be a smart branding move.

    Maintaing a Work-Life Balance as a Content Creator: Time management is crucial for content creators. Conducting time audits, scheduling side projects, and utilizing mobile tools can help you stay productive and maintain a work-life balance.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens. 

    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.

    18 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 52 minutes 36 seconds
    Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking

    Using deep links, understanding your audience's behavior, and tracking links with Scott Allan from URLgenius.

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    Welcome to episode 505 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Scott Allan from URLgenius . 

    Maximizing Affiliate Revenue with Deep Linking

    Ever wondered how to squeeze every last drop of revenue from your affiliate links? In this week’s episode, Scott Allan from URLgenius reveals how deep linking can boost affiliate sales by preventing commission losses, especially on mobile and social platforms like TikTok. It’s a game-changer for driving conversions and preventing missed opportunities.

    Scott also discusses the importance of understanding your audience’s app behavior to tailor your affiliate strategy, plus the power of testing and tracking links to optimize revenue. Tools like URLgenius make it easy to track, test, and tweak your links for better results — small adjustments can lead to big boosts in income! Don’t miss this episode packed with actionable tips!

    Three episode takeaways:

    • Deep Linking is a Game Changer for Affiliate Sales: Using deep links in your content (especially on mobile and social media) can boost conversions and prevent lost affiliate commissions. This is key for ensuring you’re not missing out on sales, especially when users are on apps like TikTok or mobile shopping platforms.

    • Understanding Your Audience & Their App Behavior is Crucial: Knowing how your audience shops — whether they’re on mobile or desktop, and what apps they use — can help you tailor your affiliate strategy. Influencers and creators, especially, need to be aware of app usage to maximize sales and engagement.

    • Testing and Tracking Links to Optimize Revenue: Regularly testing different link strategies and using tools like URLgenius to track and optimize your affiliate links can help you understand what works and adjust for better results. Small tweaks can lead to bigger revenue boosts!

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsor!

    This episode is sponsored by Clariti. 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.

    11 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 49 minutes 58 seconds
    From 1K to 250K: The Instagram Growth Strategy That Transformed Joy to the Food

    Using data to navigate helpful content updates and drive social media success and taking your blog full-time with Mika Kinney from Joy to the Food.

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    Welcome to episode 504 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Mika Kinney from Joy to the Food.

    From 1K to 250K: The Instagram Growth Strategy That Transformed Joy to the Food

    Mika and her husband Dan launched their food blog, Joy to the Food, in 2021 with the goal of building a successful brand and business. Just a few years later, Mika has left her full-time job as a civil engineer, they’ve qualified for Raptive, and their Instagram following has soared to over 250,000.

    In this interview, Mika reveals the exact strategies that fueled her rapid growth—from 1,000 to 250,000 followers on Instagram in just one year. She also shares how they’ve weathered the recent Helpful Content Updates and come out stronger, plus how she leverages analytics to drive key decisions.

    This conversation is a must-listen for anyone eager to supercharge their social media strategy in 2025 or seeking affirmation that they, too, can transform their food blog into a full-time career with the right approach.

    Three episode takeaways:
    • The importance of diving into analytics — Mika’s engineering background is evident in her Instagram and SEO strategies. She explains her process for navigating Instagram analytics and how she uses the data to drive content decisions (including niching down to protein recipes with protein powder) and to predict which types of content will achieve certain business goals.
    • How to go from 1,000 to 250,000 Instagram followers in one year — Mika walks listeners through her Instagram strategy, including the importance of consistent daily posts and her strategy for posting Reels that fall into four “buckets” — for reach, for growing an audience, for existing followers, and for outbound clicks/sales. Mika highlights key elements like trending audio, video duration, text overlays, and optimized captions with keywords.
    • How to recover from Helpful Content Updates – After the September 2023 HCU caused a steep drop in page views for Joy to the Food (from 80,000 to 3,000!), Mika and Dan turned things around by doubling down on high-quality, niched-down content. They focused on site improvements, refined keyword research, and stayed adaptable, ultimately recovering and growing beyond their previous traffic levels.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Member Kitchens.

    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.

    4 February 2025, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    Finance Mini-Series: Smart Money Habits for Bloggers with Ansley Beutler

    Treating your blog like a business, choosing a business structure, and growing your income with Ansley Beutler

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    Welcome to episode 503 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Ansley Beutler from Peach Perfect Financials — this is the fourth and final episode of our finance mini-series!

    Finance Mini-Series: Smart Money Habits for Bloggers with Ansley Beutler

    In this episode, Ansley spills the tea on all things finances – from the nitty-gritty of bookkeeping and taxes to smart ways to grow your income. She’ll talk about why it’s crucial to treat your blog like a real business, how to keep track of all your expenses, and some common money mistakes bloggers make.

    She’ll also chat through some awesome tax deductions you might not know about (ahem, business meals), the pros and cons of different business structures, and how to invest your hard-earned cash. This episode is packed with financial wisdom that every blogger needs to hear, so you won’t want to miss this one!

    Three episode takeaways:
    • Smart Financial Management is Key for Bloggers: From understanding expenses (like groceries for recipe testing) to separating personal and business finances, keeping your books in check is crucial. Regular bookkeeping helps prevent tax time stress and makes things easier down the road.
    • Don’t Get Discouraged: Building a successful blog takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you’re not raking in the cash immediately. Focus on creating great content and building your audience and things will start to pick up!
    • Diversify Your Income Streams: Affiliate marketing is booming! Consider exploring different ways to make money, like selling your own products or offering online courses. Diversifying your income streams will make your business more stable and less reliant on any one source.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Siftr and Clariti. 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.

    28 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 57 minutes 11 seconds
    Finance Mini-Series: How to Become a Sponsor Magnet with Justin Moore

    Navigating brand partnerships, tips and tricks for negotiating collaborations, and understanding your worth with Justin Moore.

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    Welcome to episode 502 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Justin Moore from Creator Wizard. 

    How to Become a Sponsor Magnet with Justin Moore

    In this episode, Justin dives deep into the world of brand partnerships and shares his proven approach to securing long-term sponsorships. He walks us through his Sponsorship Wheel framework, which helps creators craft customized proposals that align with brand goals and foster genuine, lasting relationships. It’s not just about pitching for a quick deal — the name of the game here is creating a foundation for ongoing collaboration that benefits both parties.

    Justin also stresses that negotiation should feel like a conversation, not a one-sided transaction. Understanding what both you and the brand are looking for and being flexible with pricing can pave the way for new opportunities! He highlights the importance of knowing your worth, crafting a standout media kit, and getting creative with your pitch to secure better deals. By mastering these skills, creators can turn sponsorships into a steady revenue stream while building strong, meaningful brand connections.

    Three episode takeaways:

    • Optimizing Brand Partnerships: Justin’s journey into sponsorships shows the importance of building genuine relationships with brands. His ‘Sponsorship Wheel’ framework helps creators customize proposals, align with brand goals, and ultimately drive long-term collaborations.

    • Negotiation is a Conversation, Not a Transaction: Effective negotiations go beyond price — it’s about understanding each other’s goals. Tailoring your pitch based on a brand’s needs and being flexible with pricing can unlock new opportunities.

    • Know Your Worth and Be Creative: Creators often undervalue themselves, but a strong media kit, clear communication, and creative packaging can help you stand out. With the right approach, you can secure better deals and leverage sponsorships for ongoing revenue.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsor!

    This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance. 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.

    23 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    From Side Hustle to Full-Time Food Blogger with Amina Al-Saigh

    Monetizing a food blog, building a brand, and implementing systems and strategies with Amina Al-Saigh from Hungry Paprikas.

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    Welcome to episode 501 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week, Bjork interviews Amina Al-Saigh from Hungry Paprikas, where she shares recipes from across the Middle East with an authentic Arab voice.

    From Side Hustle to Full-Time Food Blogger

    In this interview, Amina shares her journey from starting out as a food content creator on Instagram while working full-time as an engineer to today as a full-time food creator with a brand new cookbook (Souk To Table).

    Amina explains how she balanced her food blog with her full-time job in the early days, the importance of her niche in attracting brand partnerships, and the qualities that made her a desirable partner for brands, even when she had a small following.

    Bjork and Amina also chat about the strategy of incremental stacking when adding tasks and processes to your workload and how workflow changes when you take your food blog from side hustle to full-time. This is a really inspiring interview for anyone, but especially those currently balancing a food blog with a full-time job.

    Three episode takeaways:
    • Growing and monetizing on Instagram versus a blog — Amina shares when and why she decided to start her website in addition to her Instagram (which now has almost 200,000 followers) and how she qualified for Mediavine within a year. She also explains what it was like to start monetizing her site with ads, and how it compared to when she first started making money from brand partenrships with her Instagram account.
    • Incorporating systems and processes into your business — Before becoming a full-time food blogger, Amina worked as an engineer. And her background as an engineer is ever-present in the systems and processes she has incorporated into her business to make her life easier and work more efficient. Amina shares her processes and tips for organizing your workflow, from content scheduling to photography and editing to collaboration with her team.
    • Making progress while letting go of perfection — Success looks different for every creator, but Amina believes that if you continue to show up every day, prioritize learning, trust your gut, and let go of perfection, every food blogger will be able to reach their goals.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Siftr and Memberful.

    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.

    21 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 6 minutes
    Finance Mini-Series: The Smart Creator’s Guide to Taxes with Nate Coughran

    Setting up an LLC, claiming unique deductions, and deciding on when to hire a tax professional with Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance.

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    Welcome to episode 500 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This is the second episode of our finance mini-series, and we’re excited for Bjork to sit down with Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance. 

    Finance Mini-Series: The Smart Creator’s Guide to Taxes with Nate Coughran

    In our latest episode, Nate Coughran from Cookie Finance shares key tips for getting your finances on track as a creator. First off, setting up an LLC can protect your personal assets and reduce audit risk. Nate also recommends keeping separate bank accounts for your business—this makes tracking your money way easier and less stressful.

    When it comes to taxes, creators can claim unique deductions, but it’s important to find the right balance. Nate emphasizes staying on top of your bookkeeping throughout the year to avoid end-of-year stress. And if you’re making over $75K, it’s worth hiring a pro to ensure your tax strategy is solid and you’re setting aside enough for taxes. It’s all about staying ahead and keeping things simple!

    Three episode takeaways:

    • Financial Setup for Creators: Creators should consider forming an LLC to protect personal assets and reduce audit risk. Keeping separate bank accounts for business transactions and tracking finances regularly helps you stay on top of your money

    • Tax Strategy & Deductions: Creators can often claim unique deductions that traditional businesses can’t. However, to avoid end-of-year stress, it’s important to balance aggressive and conservative deductions and be proactive with bookkeeping throughout the year.

    • Know When to Get Professional Help: DIY bookkeeping works for smaller incomes, but if you’re making over $75K, it’s worth hiring a professional. Also, setting aside money for taxes is key to avoiding surprises and ensuring accurate tax reporting.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance. 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.

    16 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 57 minutes 48 seconds
    Leveraging 3 Million TikTok Followers to Launch a Product with Dana Hasson

    Launching a cookie starter kit product, growing a TikTok following to 3 million followers, and networking with Dana Hasson.

     

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    Welcome to episode 499 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Dana Hasson, an entrepreneur, content creator, self-taught baker, and founder of Homemade Ish.

    Leveraging 3 Million TikTok Followers to Launch a Product

    Dana Hasson has spent the last decade building her business — reaching over 3 million followers on TikTok and launching her first physical product, Homemade Ish Cookie Starter Kits.

    In this interview, Dana explains how (and why) she transitioned from beauty and fashion content to food content and how she balanced networking and creating in the early days of building her brand.

    Bjork and Dana also discuss the process of launching a physical product, including how she is pairing the brand with her existing content and leveraging her huge social media following.

    Three episode takeaways:
    • Why consistency is the secret to success on social media — Dana shares more about how she grew her TikTok following to over 3 million followers and explains why she thinks posting consistently (5x/day, every single day, for over a year!) was the key to her success.
    • How to launch a physical product — Dana recently launched Homemade Ish, her line of Starter Cookie Kits. Learn how she built her team behind the product, developed a scalable recipe for her cookies (hint: it requires a food scientist!), and everything else you need to consider when developing a product.
    • The importance of a season of quiet hustle — Dana shares more about the early days of building her brand, when she focused on learning, networking, and understanding the industry — as she first started posting on social media.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Siftr and Memberful.

    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

    14 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 56 minutes 1 second
    Finance Mini-Series: Investing in Your Business with Megan Porta

    Investing in Yourself and your Business, managing seasons of burnout, and the importance of time tracking with Megan Porta.

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    Welcome to episode 498 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Megan Porta from Eat Blog Talk and Pip and Ebby.

    Investing in Your Business

    You might recognize Megan Porta from her podcast, Eat Blog Talk (chances are, if you listen to this podcast, you also listen to hers)! Megan has also been a food blogger herself for over 14 years at Pip and Ebby and knows a lot about balancing her time between her many areas of focus.

    In this podcast interview, Bjork and Megan chat about all things investing as an entrepreneur. Megan shares her strategies for making decisions about investments, how to invest in yourself, how to invest in your business in the early stages, and how investing in yourself and your business can help you overcome plateaus and avoid burnout.

    Three episode takeaways:
    • How to invest in your business (when you don’t have any money to do so) —Bjork and Megan chat about how to approach investing in your business when you’re in the early stages and hesitant to spend the money and how to make decisions about investments.
    • How to get started investing in your business — Megan suggests starting by time tracking and reflecting on the current pain points in your business. You can then begin your investment journey by investing in solutions to remove those pain points.
    • How to get through seasons of burnout — Investing in your business (and yourself) is a critical component of avoiding and overcoming plateaus, burnout, or even quitting. Megan shares more about her personal journey with this and her strategies for managing seasons of burnout as an entrepreneur.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsor!

    This episode is sponsored by Cookie Finance.

    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.

    9 January 2025, 9:00 am
  • 59 minutes 34 seconds
    How to Reclaim Your Time and Find Your Focus

    Mastering time management, outsourcing, and creating a vision for your life with Jaimee Campanella.

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    Welcome to episode 497 of The Food Blogger Pro Podcast! This week on the podcast, Bjork interviews Jaimee Campanella. 

    How to Reclaim Your Time and Find Your Focus

    In this episode, Jaimee Campanella gets real about the time management struggles bloggers and entrepreneurs face. She shares her journey of finding the balance between work and family and how being intentional with your time is a game-changer. From doing a time audit to figuring out how to prioritize tasks, Jaimee explains how you can stay on track without burning out and make time for what really matters.

    Jaimee also talks about creating a joyful structure for your business, knowing when to outsource, and why documenting processes is key for sustainability. It’s all about blending creativity with structure so that you can stay productive without losing your passion. If you’re ready to break free from the time scarcity trap and create a work-life balance that actually works, this episode will be right up your alley!

    Three episode takeaways:

    Time Management Starts with Intentionality: A clear vision for your life can help you you structure your time around what truly matters. Jaimee’s advice: setting realistic expectations and prioritizing tasks based on interest and importance can help you prevent burnout and make your time feel more rewarding!

    Outsource Wisely, but Don’t Rush: Outsourcing tasks can free up valuable time, but timing is everything. Make sure it aligns with your goals and comes after you’ve figured out where your time is really going. A time audit is a great first step!

    Creativity and Structure Can Coexist: Building a structured approach to managing your time doesn’t come at the expense of your creative flow. With the right processes in place and a good team, you can have both productivity and passion without feeling overwhelmed.

    Resources:

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    This episode is sponsored by Clariti. 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.

    7 January 2025, 9:00 am
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