In episode 662, Christina Jolam and Nadia Shatila share how they were able to recover from devastating traffic loss following Google's Helpful Content Update (HCU).

Nadia is the blogger behind Simple And Fraiche, a website dedicated to sharing wholesome recipes that utilize real foods with minimally processed ingredients. Her goal is to help people create recipes that not only fuel their bodies but also taste great.

Christina Jolam helps home chefs get confident cooking seafood through her site, Weekday Pescatarian. The former communications consultant creates foolproof fish recipes that work whether you're shopping at a Portuguese fish market or your local grocery store. Cooking and writing from her adopted home in Portugal, she helps her followers master restaurant-quality seafood dishes and build a delicious, fish-forward lifestyle.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to endure long periods of traffic loss and decide what action you should take to successfully regain momentum.

Key points discussed include:

- Accept the reality of change: Google updates aren’t personal; they aim to improve user experience. Adapting to change is key to long-term success.

- Assess and improve your content: Review existing posts with a fresh perspective—focus on user experience, clarity, and overall helpfulness.

- Strengthen EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): Build credibility by showcasing expertise in your niche through an updated about page, author bios, and citations.

- Optimize technical aspects: Ensure images, alt text, interlinking, and post formatting enhance usability and search visibility.

- Diversify traffic sources: Relying solely on Google traffic is risky—invest in Pinterest, email lists, social media, and brand partnerships.

- Update and refine posts regularly: Revisiting older content with new insights keeps your blog relevant and valuable.

- Stay curious and keep learning: Instead of blaming algorithm changes, focus on learning, adapting, and finding new ways to serve your audience.

If You Loved This Episode…

You’ll love Episode 648: How to Bounce Back and Thrive After Significant Google Traffic Loss with Jules Grasekamp

Connect with Christina Jolam

Website | Instagram

Connect with Nadia Shatila

Website | Instagram

In this episode, we're going to talk about how to use fear as a catalyst for growth in five key areas to open up new opportunities this year.

Fear can be a major roadblock, but what if we started viewing it as a guide instead? This year, I decided to challenge myself by facing fears head-on, and today, I’m sharing five powerful areas where stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to personal and professional growth. Whether it’s putting yourself out there in new ways, making bold business moves, or tackling financial and health challenges, embracing fear can open up new doors. Let’s dive in and get uncomfortable—in the best way possible!

Action Plan:

1 - Personal Growth: Challenge limiting beliefs and take on new experiences that push you forward.

2 - Professional Growth: Show up boldly in your business, even when it feels scary or imperfect.

3 - Community: Connect with others, build relationships, and embrace the vulnerability that comes with it.

4 - Courageous Action: Take bold steps in life and business that may feel intimidating but lead to huge rewards.

5 - Health & Finances: Tackle fears around well-being and money to create a stronger foundation for success.

Get in touch with Megan below.

Website | Instagram

In episode 660, Megan chats to Lauren Less about how to quickly grow a Substack audience and harness the platform for food blogging and community engagement.

Lauren Less combines her passions for food and helping others by creating a space where people can find allergy-friendly recipes, chronic illness support, non-toxic lifestyle suggestions, and health and wellness tips. She discusses everything from fitness with chronic illness to tips for traveling with food allergies and everything in between.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Lauren grew her Substack from zero to 13,000 subscribers and how Substack can serve as both an email list and a blog, helping you connect with your audience in a more personal and customizable way.

Key points discussed include:

- Substack is more than just an email platform: It functions like a blog, allowing creators to share content and build a community.

- Growing a subscriber base takes consistency: Lauren used Instagram and TikTok to direct her audience to her Substack.

- Listening to your audience is key: Making adjustments based on subscriber feedback improves engagement and retention.

- Monetization is built-in: Substack allows creators to offer paid subscriptions for exclusive content.

- Cross-promotion helps growth: The recommendation feature on Substack lets creators share and promote each other’s newsletters.

- Substack offers more than written content: Features like podcasting, video, and live interactions help creators engage with their audience in multiple ways.

- Owning your audience is crucial: Unlike social media platforms, Substack ensures direct access to subscribers without algorithm limitations.

Connect with Lauren Less

Website | Instagram