Case Study: Nicole Masson
Meet Nicole
Nicole is the creator behind Fresh Apron, a food blog focused on simple recipes using seasonally fresh ingredients.
What started as a hobby in 2016 to share recipes with family and friends evolved into her dream career – but she was struggling to make it sustainable.
The Challenge
Before joining our group coaching program in January 2024, Nicole faced several key challenges:
- Stagnant Traffic: Despite having around 25,000 monthly sessions, growth had plateaued, leaving her short of qualifying for premium ad networks like Mediavine and Raptive.
- Lack of Focus: She felt scattered, trying to do everything without a clear strategy.
- Insufficient Income: Her monthly revenue was inconsistent, fluctuating between $0 and a few thousand through a combination of:
- SHE Media ad revenue (~$500/month)
- Occasional VA client work
- Sporadic brand collaborations
The situation was taking a personal toll. “I felt terrible; like I just didn’t feel confident,” Nicole recalls. “…this was my dream career, but I was like I just can’t do it.”
If you hadn’t joined our group coaching program, how would that have impacted your business?
“I don’t know that I would still be doing it full-time…I probably would have had to get a part-time job somewhere, doing something else…I just didn’t have the right amount of income for it to be sustainable so I would just still be stuck there.”
The Solution
Through our group coaching program, Nicole implemented several key changes:
- Strategic Time Management
- Learned to identify and prioritize high-ROI activities
- Created efficient systems and workflows
- Reduced time spent on low-return activities like social media
- Traffic Diversification
- Developed a consistent Pinterest strategy
- Built Pinterest traffic to nearly match Google traffic levels
- Revenue Stream Optimization
- Focused on proven income sources
- Expanded VA client base
- Prioritized relationships with kitchen brands
- Upgraded to a premium ad network
The Results
Within months of completing the program, Nicole achieved remarkable growth:
Traffic Growth
- Qualified for and switched to Raptive Rise
- Increased from 25,000 to 70,000+ monthly sessions
- Reached 90,000+ monthly page views
Revenue Growth
- 3-4x’d overall income
- 4x’d monthly ad revenue from $500 to $2,000+
- Expanded VA client base for consistent income
- Increased brand collaboration revenue
Personal Impact
- Transformed food blogging into a sustainable full-time career
- Gained confidence in business decisions
- Achieved financial stability
- Feels more excited about future growth potential
Please note that individual results may vary. Case study details shared with client permission. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Nicole’s Key Takeaways
Here’s what Nicole took away from group coaching and the advice she has for food bloggers considering it:
- Focus on Revenue Drivers: “Figure out what’s making you money and focus on that…If something isn’t driving traffic or revenue, it shouldn’t be a priority.”
- Build Community: “Finding other bloggers who are motivated and excited and want to grow too, and want to share their knowledge with you…I feel like having that community of other like-minded people really helps with your mindset.”
- Embrace Accountability: The weekly group calls and community provided ongoing support and immediate feedback.
“It was such a positive space. There was no negativity…everybody just wanted everybody else to do better.”
Is Group Coaching Right For You?
Nicole recommends the program for intermediate bloggers who:
- Have 50-100+ published posts
- Are approaching or recently qualified for ad networks
- Are motivated to grow their business
- Have an established website and basic systems in place
- Are ready to implement strategic changes
“The stage everyone was at in our group was perfect,” Nicole notes. “It’s ideal for bloggers who are established and motivated to grow, rather than complete beginners.”
Nicole’s Group Coaching Testimonial
Watch Nicole’s Full Interview
Ready to transform your blog like Nicole did?
Join our group coaching program!