If you have a marketing plan as a blogger, more than likely that plan has a national focus. There’s nothing wrong with that, especially if that’s where you feel the majority of your readers come from. However, there’s something to be said for cultivating a local audience too. In fact, that’s one reason I asked today’s guest to be on the show. So read (and listen) on to learn about Growing a local audience for your blog with Emily Paster.
I think one of the best things bloggers can do for themselves is to establish themselves as an expert. — Emily…
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When you’re trying to establish yourself as an expert with your readers, do you ever consider the notion that building up a local audience can plan a huge role in the process? Today’s guest, Emily Paster did just that. Of course, the thing is, it’s not as if she had that as an end goal. She genuinely was passionate about creating a Food Swap in her city, Chicago. And as the Chicago Food Swap became a known entity, so did she. She’s done local TV segments and has received local food blogging awards, all because she was well-known within the local food scene. An added bonus? She was building community around food, helping people in Chicago get to know each other as well.
Emily is co-founder of the Chicago Food Swap and is publishing a book with tips on how you can create a Food Swap in your area too (see link below with more information). As a result, Emily has become well known within the Chicago food scene. Of course there are other ways to get involved with your local food scene without creating a food swap, but it happens to be one really great idea. Emily shares in today’s interview some of the tips she’s used to organize the Chicago Food Swap and the opportunities it’s created for her to interact with people in her community.
Of course, we also talk about blogging and social media in general. Emily shares about her favorite social media (and soon to be favorite social media, aka SnapChat) and other blogging tips. Learn more about Growing Your Local Audience for Bloggers with Emily Paster!
Featured Content – Growing a Local Audience for Your Blog with Emily Paster
Here are some of the highlights of my discussion with Emily, where we discuss:
How Emily started her blog West of the Loop
How Emily began the Chicago Food Swap
Why Emily thinks it’s important for bloggers to get involved locally
Emily describes the process she uses for organizing the Chicago Food Swap
We talk about the benefits of building up a local market
We talk about important blogging strategies
Emily uses a combination of planned posts and inspired posts in her planning process
We talk a little about SnapChat and how it’s the next up-and-coming social media platform for food bloggers
Show Notes
This episode includes references to some resources you might find interesting. Here they are:
Check out Emily’s sites: West of the Loop and the Chicago Food Swap
Give a shout-out to Emily and connect with her via Twitter and Instagram!
Emily mentions some other Food Swaps including: Food in Jars (the Philly Food Swap) and Kate Payne and Meg Paska, who started the first food swap.
You can order a copy of Emily’s book Food Swap
Emily’s currently loving the Great British Baking Show
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Production, music, graphic art & sound design by Shawn Beelman
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That’s it for today’s podcast. As always, thanks so much for joining in the discussion!
Growing A Local Audience for Your Blog with Emily Paster is a post from Chopped Conference.
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