545: Discover Your Authentic Food Blogging Voice by Sharing Vulnerability and Letting Go of Inhibitions with Desiree Nielsen

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 about the importance of standing out as a food blogger, how to find your unique voice and style (while still following SEO guidelines) and how to build a community that is not reliant on social media platforms or Google. Key points discussed: - Reflect on your personal food interests and cooking style: Take time to understand your preferences, tastes, and approach to cooking to develop a unique voice. - Look at what others are doing differently: Analyze popular blogs and recipes to find gaps that allow you to approach topics in a distinctive way.  - “Write drunk, edit sober”: Write without inhibition first and then structure anecdotes and humor within a format to meet SEO guidelines. - Prioritize search volume: Focus recipes on your blog on trending topics and keywords people are actively searching to maximize visibility. - Develop recipes with unique ingredients: Add a flavor profile or component that is unique to you to make recipes stand out and memorable.  - Build community consistently: Nurture readers through high-value, free content to develop loyal readership and build a newsletter to connect directly with your community. - Embrace the unexpected: Leave space for unforeseen opportunities that could further your growth in surprising new directions.  - Share vulnerability: Connect with readers through candid self-disclosure in small doses to form deeper relationships. - Your Path is Your Path: Pursue your interests wholeheartedly and say "yes" to chances that excite you creatively. Guest Details Connect with Desiree Nielsen Website | Instagram