About
Hey There! I’m James Miller
Culinary Writer & SEO Strategist | Food Historian | Digital Storyteller | Age 35
Boston, Massachusetts-based writer who believes understanding food history and search behavior helps connect recipes with people who need them.
My Story
I’m a weird hybrid: literature degree plus marketing certification plus obsessive food history nerd. While other kids collected baseball cards, I collected vintage recipes cut from newspapers. I wanted to understand not just what people ate, but why those recipes mattered enough to save.
That curiosity led me through food journalism, digital marketing, and eventually culinary writing where I could combine storytelling, research, and strategy. Turns out understanding why beef stew became popular during the Depression helps you write better content about budget-friendly soups today.
The Turning Point
Three years ago, I was freelancing for various food blogs when I noticed something frustrating: gorgeous, well-tested recipes getting zero traffic because nobody could find them. Meanwhile, mediocre recipes ranked first on Google because they understood search behavior.
I started researching food SEO—keyword patterns, search intent, featured snippet optimization. Then I found Soup Cozy, where Olivia was creating genuinely excellent recipes but struggling with visibility. I pitched combining her culinary excellence with strategic content optimization, and here we are.
What I Learned the Hard Way
Initially, I over-optimized everything, stuffing keywords until recipes read like robot-generated content. Our bounce rate skyrocketed because people arrived from Google searches but immediately left when content felt unnatural.
I had to learn that SEO serves storytelling, not replaces it. Now I research search behavior to understand what people actually need, then craft content answering those needs authentically. Keywords happen naturally when you’re genuinely addressing reader questions.
My Approach Now
For every Soup Cozy recipe, I research keyword opportunities, analyze search intent, and identify content gaps we can fill. But I never sacrifice readability for optimization. I write for humans first, search engines second—then ensure the technical SEO elements help Google understand our human-focused content.
I also research food history and cultural context, enriching recipes with stories about how dishes evolved, why they matter, and how they’ve adapted across time and geography.
What I Believe
SEO enables discovery: Good content deserves to be found
Search intent reveals needs: Keyword research shows what people struggle with
History provides context: Understanding food origins deepens appreciation
Technical optimization serves content: Never the reverseStorytelling beats keyword stuffing: Always, always, always
How I Can Help You
At Soup Cozy, I optimize every recipe for search visibility while maintaining authentic voice and storytelling. I research trending soup topics, identify content opportunities, and ensure our recipes answer actual search queries.
I also write our food history blog posts exploring soup traditions across cultures and time periods. My “Food Blog SEO” course teaches content creators how to balance optimization with authenticity.
A Little More About Me
When I’m not researching keywords or food history, I’m probably antiquing (hunting vintage cookbooks and kitchen tools), reading obscure culinary history books, or arguing with friends about food etymology (it’s “chowder,” not “chowda,” Boston).
My party trick? I can trace most popular American recipes to their cultural origins and explain their evolution. Yes, I’m fun at dinner parties.
Let’s Connect
I love discussing food history, SEO strategy, and culinary writing! Share your food history questions, ask about optimizing recipe content, or challenge me about food origins.
Get In Touch
Explore food history at www.soupcozy.com | Email: [email protected] | Instagram: @jamesfoodhistory
