get your
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Join us on Sept 13, 2024
- Virtual Tastemaker Conference takes place online and can be accessed anywhere across the world! The theme of this year’s conference is Monetizing Your Business!
- Food content creation is exciting from a creative perspective. But what about making money? And doing it in a way that is lucrative, sustainable, and leads to financial freedom on your own terms? That’s what this VTC is all about! From revenue streams, passive income, to investing—we are covering it all!
- Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, this premier food blogger conference is for everyone—including YOU!
- All main sessions will be presented live, so you can ask questions and interact with speakers, attendees, and sponsors. Access to the giveaways and prizes requires live participation. On-demand content will be available through the virtual venue.
- It will be an all-day, live event. However, if you are not able to attend live for any reason, Virtual Tastemaker Conference is being recorded and will be available on-demand after the conference concludes.
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Valuable Education
- Virtual Tastemaker Conference is where food bloggers and content creators come together online to build community with fellow foodies and brands, learn from top industry experts in classes and online excursions, and experience the magic of Tastemaker.
- There are six classes and workshops as well as a keynote speaker.
- PLUS: Bonus on-demand content, 1 live cooking class excursion, 1:1 live virtual networking with fellow attendees & brands, and giveaways & virtual swag.
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Networking
- Network and meet fellow content creators as well as our sponsors! Then at the end of the day, enjoy a networking opportunity with the team!
- A virtual exhibitor hall where you can network with our amazing brand sponsors who are looking to work with you and share their services to help you grow your business.
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Over $1,000 in Value
Whether you consider yourself a newbie or seasoned pro, Tastemaker Conference is for all levels of experience to socialize with a community of makers, dreamers, and creators in this impactful and memorable event. It’s time to invest in yourself, and level up your food blog and content creator business.
Buy Your Ticket
Refund Policy: All tickets to any event, including the conference, workshops, and digital products, are NON-REFUNDABLE. Tickets may be transferred to another person up to 30 days before the event. All transfers must be made by the original ticket holder. Tastemaker Conference is not responsible for organizing the ticket transfer.
Each attendee will receive full playback of the conference, whether or not they are able to attend.
September 13, 2024
10:00 AM ET Welcome
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Speaker:
Abbey Rodriguez (she/her)
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Speaker:
Chandice Probst (she/her)
Speaker: Abbey Rodriguez (she/her)
Speaker: Chandice Probst (she/her)
10:10 AM ET Opening Keynote: Excited and Engaged at Every Stage
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Speaker:
Jenny Guy (she/her)
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Speaker:
Heather Tullos (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
How to find a new direction when everything around you has changed
Speaker: Jenny Guy (she/her)
Speaker: Heather Tullos (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
How to find a new direction when everything around you has changed
10:50 AM ET Break
11:00 AM ET Selling with Ease (Not Sleaze!) with Easy-as-Pie Nurtured-for-Sales Newsletters
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Speaker:
Prerna Malik (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
Newsletters aren’t just for sharing your latest recipe or YouTube video. Neither should you be in sell-sell mode all the time. Nurtured-for-sales newsletters are the perfect way to connect with AND convert your audience. In this session, certified conversion copywriter and co-founder of Content Bistro, Prerna Malik will share how you can write conversion-rich newsletters that build your relationship and authority with your audience and help you generate revenue as well. You can create (and automate!) newsletters that nurture your audience and sell your digital products, courses, or services in a way that feels good and fuels conversions. Whether you have your own products or are an affiliate, these newsletters will help your audience learn from you AND buy from you.
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: Understand what are nurtured for sales newsletters and why their food blog or business needs them Master the 4Ws + 1H approach to creating a powerful newsletter strategy Know all about the 5 key ingredients needed before you write a word of copy AND how to use them! Implement an easy-to-use Newsletter Structure that takes minutes to write and can make serious money!
Speaker: Prerna Malik (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
Newsletters aren’t just for sharing your latest recipe or YouTube video. Neither should you be in sell-sell mode all the time. Nurtured-for-sales newsletters are the perfect way to connect with AND convert your audience. In this session, certified conversion copywriter and co-founder of Content Bistro, Prerna Malik will share how you can write conversion-rich newsletters that build your relationship and authority with your audience and help you generate revenue as well. You can create (and automate!) newsletters that nurture your audience and sell your digital products, courses, or services in a way that feels good and fuels conversions. Whether you have your own products or are an affiliate, these newsletters will help your audience learn from you AND buy from you.
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: Understand what are nurtured for sales newsletters and why their food blog or business needs them Master the 4Ws + 1H approach to creating a powerful newsletter strategy Know all about the 5 key ingredients needed before you write a word of copy AND how to use them! Implement an easy-to-use Newsletter Structure that takes minutes to write and can make serious money!
11:50 AM ET Break
12:00 PM ET Maximizing Affiliate Marketing Earnings
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Speaker:
Lisa Childs (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
This session will focus on actionable steps that helped Lisa with her affiliate earnings
💛 Share items organically (with and without affiliate links) to get audience used to coming to you for purchasing advice. Serve audience more than you sell to them to gain trust.
📱 Start with Amazon affiliate program (then expand to specific Amazon programs where you can earn much more than the base)
💰 Look for items in two categories: Inexpensive that you can sell a lot of (quantity) or Expensive (where you only need to sell a couple to earn the same amount)
💻 Leverage different platforms to sell items to different audiences.
📈 Look at ROI’s and study the math so you can figure out what’s worth your time to promote.
🧡 Be choosy about which items and programs you’ll join. You still need to stay authentic to your personal brand.
📊 Look at analytics to see what your audience is actually clicking and buying. Make relationships with the company reps for your most beloved companies.
👀 Look at what people are buying and use that data to your advantage when approaching brand deals or creating your own products (giving specific numbers and examples). You can leverage the data to earn more $$$!
📜 Being an ethical and legal content creator- always disclose and follow FTC guidelines
🙌 Advanced tips and tools
Speaker: Lisa Childs (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
This session will focus on actionable steps that helped Lisa with her affiliate earnings
💛 Share items organically (with and without affiliate links) to get audience used to coming to you for purchasing advice. Serve audience more than you sell to them to gain trust.
📱 Start with Amazon affiliate program (then expand to specific Amazon programs where you can earn much more than the base)
💰 Look for items in two categories: Inexpensive that you can sell a lot of (quantity) or Expensive (where you only need to sell a couple to earn the same amount)
💻 Leverage different platforms to sell items to different audiences.
📈 Look at ROI’s and study the math so you can figure out what’s worth your time to promote.
🧡 Be choosy about which items and programs you’ll join. You still need to stay authentic to your personal brand.
📊 Look at analytics to see what your audience is actually clicking and buying. Make relationships with the company reps for your most beloved companies.
👀 Look at what people are buying and use that data to your advantage when approaching brand deals or creating your own products (giving specific numbers and examples). You can leverage the data to earn more $$$!
📜 Being an ethical and legal content creator- always disclose and follow FTC guidelines
🙌 Advanced tips and tools
12:50 – 1:20 PM ET ThermoWorks Cooking Class
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Speaker:
Chef Martin Earl (he/him)
Speaker: Chef Martin Earl (he/him)
1:20 – 1:50 PM ET Virtual Speed Networking
This is your chance to make new connections with fellow foodie creators and sponsors face to face.
Attendees will be randomly assigned to a small group of 2-4 other participants and given 5 minutes of time to get to know one another. Once the time limit is up, all attendees will be randomly assigned to a new group until the networking session is over.
All attendees who participate in the virtual speed networking session for at least 20 minutes will be entered to win a FREE ticket to Tastemaker Conference 2025 in Las Vegas!
This is your chance to make new connections with fellow foodie creators and sponsors face to face.
Attendees will be randomly assigned to a small group of 2-4 other participants and given 5 minutes of time to get to know one another. Once the time limit is up, all attendees will be randomly assigned to a new group until the networking session is over.
All attendees who participate in the virtual speed networking session for at least 20 minutes will be entered to win a FREE ticket to Tastemaker Conference 2025 in Las Vegas!
1:50 PM ET Break
2:00 PM ET Leveraging LinkedIn to Foster Relationships with Brands and Increase Pitch Conversions
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Speaker:
Candice Ward (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
There are more and more creators reaching out to brands. With the increased competition, it’s more important to stand out and make a human connection directly with the brand. LinkedIn allows you to leverage relationships with the decision maker and close more brand partnerships that are in alignment with your brand and audience even quicker.
By the end of this session, attendees will able to:
1- Identify their ideal customer and create a list of qualified brands to reach out to about a brand partnership
2- Have a clear understanding of how to leverage LinkedIn to provide important insight about the Brand to leverage in your pitch to increase the response rate
3- 4 simple and effective ways to nurture relationships with brands on LinkedIn and increase your conversions to more paid opportunities
Speaker: Candice Ward (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
There are more and more creators reaching out to brands. With the increased competition, it’s more important to stand out and make a human connection directly with the brand. LinkedIn allows you to leverage relationships with the decision maker and close more brand partnerships that are in alignment with your brand and audience even quicker.
By the end of this session, attendees will able to:
1- Identify their ideal customer and create a list of qualified brands to reach out to about a brand partnership
2- Have a clear understanding of how to leverage LinkedIn to provide important insight about the Brand to leverage in your pitch to increase the response rate
3- 4 simple and effective ways to nurture relationships with brands on LinkedIn and increase your conversions to more paid opportunities
2:50 PM ET Break
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Speaker:
Speaker:
3:00 PM ET Crafting a Compelling Pitch
Level: Intermediate
In this 45-minute session, we will delve into the art of crafting a pitch that captures attention and drives results. Designed specifically for food bloggers, this workshop will explore how to create a pitch that resonates with your audience, whether you’re pitching to brands, collaborators, or media outlets. We’ll break down the pitch-building process into manageable steps, from developing your unique angle to delivering your message with confidence. Participants will engage in interactive exercises, real-life examples, and receive actionable feedback to refine their pitches.
By the end of this session, attendees will able to:
1.Understand the Elements of a Compelling Pitch: Learn the fundamental components that make a pitch engaging and persuasive.
2.Develop a Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Identify and articulate your unique strengths to stand out in a crowded market.
3.Master Pitch Structuring Techniques: Apply effective frameworks to organize and present your pitch clearly.
4.Enhance Pitch Delivery Skills: Gain practical tips for delivering your pitch confidently and professionally.
5. Receive and Incorporate Feedback: Learn how to refine your pitch based on constructive feedback and real-world scenarios.
Level: Intermediate
In this 45-minute session, we will delve into the art of crafting a pitch that captures attention and drives results. Designed specifically for food bloggers, this workshop will explore how to create a pitch that resonates with your audience, whether you’re pitching to brands, collaborators, or media outlets. We’ll break down the pitch-building process into manageable steps, from developing your unique angle to delivering your message with confidence. Participants will engage in interactive exercises, real-life examples, and receive actionable feedback to refine their pitches.
By the end of this session, attendees will able to:
1.Understand the Elements of a Compelling Pitch: Learn the fundamental components that make a pitch engaging and persuasive.
2.Develop a Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Identify and articulate your unique strengths to stand out in a crowded market.
3.Master Pitch Structuring Techniques: Apply effective frameworks to organize and present your pitch clearly.
4.Enhance Pitch Delivery Skills: Gain practical tips for delivering your pitch confidently and professionally.
5. Receive and Incorporate Feedback: Learn how to refine your pitch based on constructive feedback and real-world scenarios.
3:50 PM ET Break
4:00 PM ET Managing Finances for Content Creators
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Speaker:
Cydni Hodges (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
Join this insightful session on managing finances tailored specifically for content creators. From personal to business finances, this sessions is designed to help you learn how to get organized, avoid common mistakes and plan ahead for a less stressful tax season.
By the end of this session, attendees will better understand how to (1) organize their finances to meet their business and personal needs, (2) identify potential business related tax write-offs to help reduce their tax liability, and (3) avoid common bookkeeping and finance mistakes.
Speaker: Cydni Hodges (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
Join this insightful session on managing finances tailored specifically for content creators. From personal to business finances, this sessions is designed to help you learn how to get organized, avoid common mistakes and plan ahead for a less stressful tax season.
By the end of this session, attendees will better understand how to (1) organize their finances to meet their business and personal needs, (2) identify potential business related tax write-offs to help reduce their tax liability, and (3) avoid common bookkeeping and finance mistakes.
4:50 PM ET Break
5:00 PM ET The 6 Steps of the Sale: How to Run a Meeting Like a Pro
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Speaker:
Alexandria Drzazgowski (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
This class will guide you through the framework for conducting successful sales meetings from the opening of the meeting to closing the deal. You’ll learn essential techniques for building rapport, identifying customer needs, presenting solutions, handling objections, and securing commitments.
Whether you’re meeting with a brand, selling a course, or trying to secure a freelance client, this course will equip you with the skills to lead sales meetings with confidence and close those deals!
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to
1. Run a meeting with confidence, working their way through the 6 steps of the sale.
2. Know how to leverage a customer’s needs to close a deal.
Speaker: Alexandria Drzazgowski (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
This class will guide you through the framework for conducting successful sales meetings from the opening of the meeting to closing the deal. You’ll learn essential techniques for building rapport, identifying customer needs, presenting solutions, handling objections, and securing commitments.
Whether you’re meeting with a brand, selling a course, or trying to secure a freelance client, this course will equip you with the skills to lead sales meetings with confidence and close those deals!
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to
1. Run a meeting with confidence, working their way through the 6 steps of the sale.
2. Know how to leverage a customer’s needs to close a deal.
5:50 PM ET Closing Remarks
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Speaker:
Abbey Rodriguez (she/her)
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Speaker:
Chandice Probst (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
Speaker: Abbey Rodriguez (she/her)
Speaker: Chandice Probst (she/her)
Level: Intermediate
On Demand Sessions
Crafting a Delicious Brand: Elevate Your Food Blog with Effective Branding
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Speaker:
Ashlee Wright (she/her)
In this session, you will learn why branding is more than just a logo and how it can help your food blog brand shine. Ashlee will teach the core elements of what makes a strong brand and provide actionable tips for creating a unique, memorable, and tasteful brand. Whether you are starting or looking to refine your existing brand, this session will provide the insight you need to help add more flavor to your food blog brand.
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Understand the difference between a logo and a brand.
2. Learn why a strong brand is essential for standing out in the food blog world.
3. Get practical tips for building and refining your food blog’s brand.
Speaker: Ashlee Wright (she/her)
In this session, you will learn why branding is more than just a logo and how it can help your food blog brand shine. Ashlee will teach the core elements of what makes a strong brand and provide actionable tips for creating a unique, memorable, and tasteful brand. Whether you are starting or looking to refine your existing brand, this session will provide the insight you need to help add more flavor to your food blog brand.
By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:
1. Understand the difference between a logo and a brand.
2. Learn why a strong brand is essential for standing out in the food blog world.
3. Get practical tips for building and refining your food blog’s brand.
Creating a Compelling Offer (That Actually Sells)
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Speaker:
Emily Baksa (she/her)
Traditional blogger revenue through ads, affiliate links, and brand partnerships feels less reliable than ever. Your expertise is valuable; it’s time to think differently and regain control. This session will get your brain whirring with ideas for paid-for offers and help you translate your unique expertise into a reliable income stream that appeals to your loyal audience.
Speaker: Emily Baksa (she/her)
Traditional blogger revenue through ads, affiliate links, and brand partnerships feels less reliable than ever. Your expertise is valuable; it’s time to think differently and regain control. This session will get your brain whirring with ideas for paid-for offers and help you translate your unique expertise into a reliable income stream that appeals to your loyal audience.
Speakers
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Alexandria Drzazgowski (she/her)
Alexandria Drzazgowski is the food blogger behind The Foreign Fork, a project where she is cooking a meal from every country in the world. After backpacking to 15 countries in Europe and taking cooking classes in each one, Alexandria decided to take her project of cooking-around-the-world home with her. She started her blog in 2018, and to date has cooked over 500 recipes from over 100 countries. The Foreign Fork has been featured in publications like Buzzfeed, The Detroit News, and the Daily Mail and is the recipient of the Saveur Blog Award for Most Groundbreaking Voice. Most importantly, Alexandria is proud to have helped over 8.5 million readers across the world Put Some Culture in their Kitchen. Prior to her career launch as a food blogger, Alexandria worked as a sales representative for a Fortune 500 company. She broke the record for fastest-promoted new hire in her 7-state division, became the youngest Elite Sales Rep in the company, and consistently won trips around the world for being one of the highest performing sales reps in the country. She has transferred these skills to close almost 6 figures worth of business as a food blogger and can’t wait to teach you how to do it, too!
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Ashlee Wright (she/her)
Ashlee Wright is the founder and creative director of The Creative Zest, a boutique brand design studio specializing in the food industry. Based in northern Utah, Ashlee has 17 years of experience in design and marketing and one year of culinary training. Her unique background in marketing, design, and food industry knowledge enables her to help food entrepreneurs build tasteful brands. The Creative Zest offers services such as brand design and self-publish cookbook design. Ashlee is also the owner and content creator of The Design Foodie blog. She loves cooking, designing, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
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Candice Ward (she/her)
Candice is a sales coach for creatives, a food photographer, and an online educator. She is the creator of EAT MORE CAKE, a blog dedicated to all things sweet. Candice spent over a decade in corporate sales at Fortune 500 Companies hitting massive quotas, translating that knowledge to help other food content creators monetize and scale their business with purpose. She has coached hundreds of entrepreneurs and founded The Confident Pitch Program, teaching food content creators to build a profitable and sustainable business. She is passionate about helping other creatives reach their full potential and turn their dreams into a thriving business. Her biggest loves are her two boys, her husband, and CAKE.
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Cyd Hodges (she/her)
Cydni Mitchell Hodges (aka Cyd) is the Chief Operating Officer and part owner for the Sugar Geek Show, a recipe blog and online education platform for baking enthusiasts and sugar artists. Since 2014, Cyd has served as a food business coach through her brand Sweet Fest®, an online company that supports the business needs of the Sweet Community in the areas of professional development, marketing, branding and web design. By trade, Cyd is an accountant & financial analyst with a Masters from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the Founder of the Sugar Coin Academy, an online business academy for business owners in the baking and sweets industry, and she is also the organizer of The Ultimate Sugar Show, Georgia’s Largest Annual Baking and Sweets Expo in Atlanta. She is also the Business Blogger for the Retail Bakers of America and a columnist for American Cake Decorating Magazine.
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Emily Baksa (she/her)
Emily Baksa is a food copywriter and marketing strategist who helps food bloggers create content that grows their reach while reducing reliance on algorithms. Her conversion-focused copy has helped clients triple their page views, optimize email funnels, and launch first-time cookbooks. She’s obsessed with what to have for dinner, loves tasting new food on her travels, and has spent her entire career working with chefs in food service and hospitality.
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Heather Tullos (she/her)
Heather Tullos is the Senior Vice President of Support & Customer Success at Mediavine, and started the food blog Sugar Dish Me in 2011. Sharing strategies that help turn content creation into a full time business, and giving other publishers the right tools to make data-driven decisions to find their own success is at the heart of all the work she does. Heather lives in North Carolina with all the dogs she can manage (currently 6!) and 2 cats.
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Jenny Guy (she/her)
An experienced marketing professional and a dynamic leader, Jenny excels at driving impactful marketing and communications strategies for Mediavine. Jenny has been pivotal in helping Mediavine navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing with a forward-thinking, content-centered approach. Currently serving as the VP of Marketing & Communications, Jenny has been recognized as one of the “20 Top Women in Media & Ad Tech to Look Out For,” (2022). Her commitment to fostering a creator-first economy in the realm of programmatic ad tech has positioned her as a thought leader in the industry. As a Chief Member, Jenny actively contributes to the elevation of women in leadership roles and champions the values of education and diversity in ad tech. She is passionate about making a positive impact, not only within the marketing realm but also by fostering social change in the industry. Her dedication to education extends to being an ad tech educator, ensuring that industry professionals and independent publishers stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies.
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Lisa Childs (she/her)
Lisa Childs is a Youtuber, food blogger, and cookbook author. She started her website, triedtestedandtrue.com and Youtube channel in 2019 where she started out doing Instant Pot recipes. In February 2020, Lisa was named Youtube’s Creator on the Rise and she is now a full time Youtuber first. In 2021, she published her first officially licensed Instant Pot cookbook with Simon and Schuster. Lisa and her team of employees love to help their readers have confidence and joy in the kitchen. Outside of the kitchen, she loves to eat ice cream (Jeni’s in Chicago is her favorite!!), watercolor or gouache paint, nap, listen to podcasts, volunteer, and travel to eat! Lisa resides in Salt Lake City, Utah with her two kids and husband.
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Maurice Shelton – Chef Blaque (he/him)
Maurice “Chef Blāque” Shelton, a South Side Chicago native, discovered his passion for food early on, inspired by his mother and grandmother. Transitioning from a diverse career in retail, management, and programming, Maurice pursued his culinary dreams by enrolling in Le Cordon Bleu School for Baking & Patisserie in 2006. In 2007, he founded Black Rose Pastries, quickly gaining recognition for his unique style that blends realism with modern techniques. Chef Blāque has traveled to over 42 states and four countries, sharing his expertise and winning accolades, including being crowned the Season 1 champion of Netflix’s Sugar Rush, a multi award winning Discovery+, Disney + & Food Network Competitor & Judge, winner . His work has been featured in numerous publications, and he continues to inspire others with his creative confections.
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Prerna Malik (she/her)
What do industry icons like Pat Flynn, Amy Porterfield, and Joanna Weibe have in common?
They’ve all hired Prerna Malik to write high-converting launch and sales copy for them.
Yes, co-founder of Content Bistro and a Copyhackers-certified conversion copywriter, Prerna is the copywriter behind million-dollar launches and 6-figure evergreen sales funnels. She is also the creator of the sales strategy-focused copywriting program — Ready-to-Sell.
Prerna and her co-founder-slash-husband, Mayank have built an intentionally profitable business while living in India and share their best-kept strategies to scale sustainably minus burnout on their blog and in their high-touch, intimately sized mastermind — Intentionally Profitable.
What People are Saying
Our 2024-25
Tastemaker Conference is the place to meet and make connections. We offer unique experiential marketing opportunities for food, tech, and houseware companies, who are looking to network and partner with influential food bloggers and content creators. Please fill out our contact form to inquire about Tastemaker Conference sponsorship.
Presented by
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Who is the conference for?
Tastemaker Conference is for all food bloggers, content creators, and brands. Whether you are just starting out, or you are a seasoned pro, there is something for everyone at our events. The education ranges from introductory, general, and advanced. The networking opportunities benefit all attendees, because relationships are one of the most beneficial factors in business growth. Find a mentor, be a mentor, make a connection with an amazing brand—whatever it is that you are looking for, you can find it at Tastemaker Conference.
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When and Where is the event?
It’s being held on September 13, 2024. And can be accessed from anywhere in the world with internet access!
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What does the General Admission ticket include?
Full General Admission access to our one-day conference.
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How many people will be attending the conference?
There will be 200+ like-minded food bloggers, influencers, and brands attending. A great place to network and make new foodie friends!
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How do I access the Conference?
All attendees will be sent links through the email they registered with. Make sure you confirm your subscription to our emails from hello@tastemakerconference.com. If you aren’t receiving emails, please contact us.
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What is the return policy?
All tickets to any event, including the conference, workshops, and digital products, are NON-REFUNDABLE. Tickets may be transferred to another person up to 30 days before the event. All transfers must be made by the original ticket holder. Tastemaker Conference is not responsible for organizing the ticket transfer.
Each attendee will receive full playback of the conference, whether or not they are able to attend.
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I’d love to speak at the conference! Is there a speaker application?
Our submissions are limited, but we would love to hear your ideas! Please submit a speaker application.
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This event looks like an amazing sponsorship opportunity. Whom should I contact?
We would absolutely love to work with you and offer affordable and unique experiential influencer marketing opportunities. Please email chandice@tastemakerconference.com to receive our current sponsorship deck.