1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:04,000 There's a little rumor going around in the Internet space that it's too 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:07,840 crowded. And today I have Michelle Guilford on the show to talk about how 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,480 you can stand out despite the crowding that's happening in 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:15,320 our lovely Internet spaces, especially our favorite Instagram. So 5 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,160 we'll get into that and more in the 363rd episode of the 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,800 Mindful Marketing Podcast. But first, a word from our sponsor. 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,160 Riverside is the all in one podcast recording and editing tool 8 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,920 that I use for this right here show. I use it to edit not 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:34,760 only the audio in the video, it is like Chef's Kiss magical, making 10 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:38,560 the entire process so, so easy. 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Michelle, welcome to the show. 22 00:01:18,830 --> 00:01:21,550 Hey, thank you so much for having me. This is going to be a good 23 00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:25,130 conversation. I'm excited. I'm excited we were talking about 24 00:01:25,130 --> 00:01:28,050 before that. I'm just nosy, so I'm excited to be like, so what you really 25 00:01:28,050 --> 00:01:31,890 doing? I'm thrilled to have this conversation, but just to kind of 26 00:01:31,890 --> 00:01:35,614 frame and set the stage for everyone listening. Give us like the 30, 27 00:01:35,686 --> 00:01:38,730 60 second spiel about you and your business. 28 00:01:39,370 --> 00:01:42,970 Sure. I am an Instagram marketing and social media 29 00:01:42,970 --> 00:01:46,730 strategist and I have a marketing agency where we do it for you 30 00:01:46,730 --> 00:01:50,570 and I also am teaching it and I'm also building my own brand. So I 31 00:01:50,570 --> 00:01:54,350 try to hit it at every side. So I am helping people who are like 32 00:01:54,350 --> 00:01:58,070 far along. Right. And we're doing it for them in our agency and. And 33 00:01:58,070 --> 00:02:01,590 then I'm teaching people who are starting and growing. So I am 34 00:02:01,590 --> 00:02:05,310 deeply entrenched every day in Instagram and 35 00:02:05,310 --> 00:02:09,150 where people are struggling with Instagram and what's working. So I'm excited to. 36 00:02:09,150 --> 00:02:12,750 I'm excited to dive in. Yeah, me too. Because I so 37 00:02:12,750 --> 00:02:16,190 my background for listeners and for you too, Michelle. I also used to owned a 38 00:02:16,190 --> 00:02:19,990 social media agency and of course I teach social media as well. And like, it's 39 00:02:19,990 --> 00:02:23,430 one of Those things where we have job security because it's always 40 00:02:23,430 --> 00:02:27,190 changing. And also, like, don't try 41 00:02:27,190 --> 00:02:30,910 to learn this for yourself. Like, this is literally our job. So come to us, 42 00:02:30,910 --> 00:02:34,510 get the info, get the details. So tell me, you know, 43 00:02:34,510 --> 00:02:38,350 with Instagram, especially here, now in 2025, 44 00:02:39,150 --> 00:02:42,430 it, there are a lot of, shall we say, 45 00:02:42,430 --> 00:02:46,030 trends happening. So I want to start the conversation with, you know, someone 46 00:02:46,030 --> 00:02:49,630 coming into this. They're looking at the scope, they're looking at the landscape of Instagram 47 00:02:49,630 --> 00:02:53,150 and they're like, how do I balance all of this? I've got the trending content 48 00:02:53,470 --> 00:02:57,250 and I gotta, I don't know, talk about my. What are some of the steps 49 00:02:57,250 --> 00:03:00,730 that you have your clients and customers think about when they're approaching 50 00:03:00,730 --> 00:03:04,250 Instagram today? Sure. So one of the things that will 51 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:07,930 completely change how you show up on Instagram is to realize that different pieces 52 00:03:07,930 --> 00:03:11,730 of content have different goals. So if we 53 00:03:11,730 --> 00:03:14,450 know that, and I'll dive in just a little bit, but if we know that, 54 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:18,050 then we don't have to stress out if this one doesn't perform well, doesn't get 55 00:03:18,050 --> 00:03:21,810 as many views, or if this one does because we have goals. So I 56 00:03:21,810 --> 00:03:25,450 like to break up my content into the attract, nurture, 57 00:03:25,450 --> 00:03:29,270 sell method, which is what I teach. It's what my, my agency does. 58 00:03:29,270 --> 00:03:33,030 But like, we're going to create some content to attract new people in. 59 00:03:33,350 --> 00:03:37,030 We're also going to create some content to nurture people. And 60 00:03:37,030 --> 00:03:40,750 then of course we're going to sell too and to realize that different pieces of 61 00:03:40,750 --> 00:03:44,550 content have different goals. So maybe those trends are what 62 00:03:44,550 --> 00:03:48,270 we jump on to attract new people in. And then we've 63 00:03:48,270 --> 00:03:51,710 really got to establish ourself as the expert as well as, like, get people 64 00:03:51,710 --> 00:03:55,470 connected to us. And so that would be more nurture content. And then we have 65 00:03:55,470 --> 00:03:59,020 sell content, which would be like testimonials or maybe 66 00:03:59,100 --> 00:04:02,740 just looking at like, look, someone, we did this for the client 67 00:04:02,740 --> 00:04:06,220 and now they have this. Or showing if you're a designer or something like that, 68 00:04:06,460 --> 00:04:10,220 where you're actually showing what you do and asking people 69 00:04:10,220 --> 00:04:14,020 to buy. Do you think there's a brand that like, trends don't 70 00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:16,460 work for at all? Yeah, absolutely. 71 00:04:18,220 --> 00:04:21,820 I think that's absolutely true. So I don't think trends are for everyone. 72 00:04:22,780 --> 00:04:26,620 I think that you can do trending audio that's, you know, just in the background, 73 00:04:26,620 --> 00:04:30,280 that doesn't necessarily make you play one way or the other that 74 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:33,520 can help you. But as far as trends, like, you have to look at your 75 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,440 brand and, and make sure, like I always look at 76 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:41,080 resonance. Like, will this resonate with my audience? So you have 77 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,560 people that are. Maybe I should clarify, but when you're talking about 78 00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,240 trends, do you mean, like, people are doing this dance 79 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,800 move or whatever? Yeah. Or even, like, memes and stuff? 80 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,480 Like, every time it's like the Grammys or the Oscars or 81 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,160 even, like, the Olympics, it's like everyone and their mom is posting a meme. And 82 00:04:59,300 --> 00:05:02,060 sometimes I'm like, okay, yeah, I totally can hop on this, but most of the 83 00:05:02,060 --> 00:05:05,660 time, it's not for me. So I'm always curious how 84 00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:09,340 people are approaching these. And, like, how do we decide if it is 85 00:05:09,340 --> 00:05:12,780 for me or if it isn't? Yeah. So I look at timing and 86 00:05:12,780 --> 00:05:16,100 resonance. Those are the two things that I think about. So if you. 87 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:20,260 If it's like the Oscars and it's a week late, you missed it. You missed 88 00:05:20,260 --> 00:05:23,780 the boat. It's almost like the. It's like the first. 89 00:05:23,860 --> 00:05:27,220 The first day. That's about all you have. And that's the same with other trends. 90 00:05:27,220 --> 00:05:31,060 Like, I always think if I've scrolled on Instagram for 5 91 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:34,480 to 10 minutes and either seen that trend more than once 92 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:38,640 or whether it's like a meme or, you know, like, around an event or 93 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:41,920 not, but, like, am I already annoyed with it? Okay, then I'm not going to 94 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:45,760 create more content about it. The second thing is, does this. Will this 95 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,440 resonate with my audience? And does this resonate with me? And if the 96 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,240 answer is no, don't do it, like, there is no need to jump on a 97 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,960 trend, especially if your energy is not there and it's. And 98 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:00,800 if your audience is going to be like, meh, pass, you know, but if 99 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,560 there's something that you get real excited about, that it would be fun 100 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:08,360 and it would be easy to create, I say test it, you know, and. Because 101 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,000 that's what we're doing is, like, just testing content. So there are 102 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,800 accounts that are much more serious, right? They are the experts, and they're like, 103 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,280 hey, every day they show up and they do talking head 104 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:23,000 videos. It would be weird if they were like. And then the Oscars. 105 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:26,360 And let's. Let's talk about, like, what everyone wore, right? 106 00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:30,320 That would not. It would not fit into their brand or their niche. But 107 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:34,020 there are current events that do happen that make sense. And so we just have 108 00:06:34,020 --> 00:06:37,300 to be aware of that. And also just be aware when. Like, when you get 109 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:41,100 that ick feeling like, that's not for me, then you just don't do it, and 110 00:06:41,100 --> 00:06:44,860 that's totally fine. And that's why we get to build our own brands. Yeah. 111 00:06:44,860 --> 00:06:48,020 I mean, I always say, like, you don't. You don't really know where a boundary 112 00:06:48,020 --> 00:06:51,540 is until you cross it or until that line is tested. And I think that's 113 00:06:51,540 --> 00:06:55,340 true for trends, too. Sometimes you don't know how cringe it is until you do 114 00:06:55,340 --> 00:06:59,100 it. But I will say this, too. Sometimes I love stuff, and my people don't 115 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:02,580 like it. Like, I am a huge fan of RuPaul's Drag Race. Like, 116 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:06,480 literally obsessing every season. Every Spin off season. I listen to podcasts about 117 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,240 the show. Like, I am a little too far gone. And 118 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:14,280 I. There was a point in time where, like, I even had, like, whole 119 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:18,040 episodes with, like, Spin off titles about Drag Race, and people were like, 120 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,760 okay, Andrea, like, calm down. And so some of it is 121 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,080 testing too. Like, I like it, but my people don't like it that much. So 122 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,320 I have to. I have to use my Drag Race references sparingly, 123 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,400 otherwise people start tuning out. And I think this is the beauty of marketing, right? 124 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:36,220 Like, we can have fun with it. We can has things in play and stuff, 125 00:07:36,220 --> 00:07:38,580 but at the end of the day, we kind of have to look at the 126 00:07:38,580 --> 00:07:41,700 data and move forward. So do you. Do you have any examples of that where 127 00:07:41,700 --> 00:07:44,940 you're like, I really love this. And then people are like, okay, Michelle, calm down. 128 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:49,340 Well, I think, like, I think with your specific example, 129 00:07:49,660 --> 00:07:53,380 it's really good because it makes you say, like, this is something that we 130 00:07:53,380 --> 00:07:57,180 have to figure out as personal brands is, like, what 131 00:07:57,180 --> 00:08:01,020 is the level of excitement that, like, for 132 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:04,580 specific things that I want to bring and does it make sense and does it 133 00:08:04,580 --> 00:08:07,800 enhance my brand or does it take away from it? 134 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,840 And like you said, sometimes you're like, ooh, got caught up. You know, got 135 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:15,160 caught up. That doesn't resonate as much as I want. And I mean, like, I 136 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,600 talk about this is not the same, but. 137 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,680 But I am the coach for my girls softball teams, 138 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:27,040 and I'm, like, talking about in stories all the time, and. And sometimes I'm like, 139 00:08:27,040 --> 00:08:30,800 oh, I don't know that everyone actually cares that much about this, you 140 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,160 know, and it's okay to layer it in, and it's okay for it to be 141 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:37,480 a thing, but just to be, like, just aw. 142 00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:41,860 We get to be very intentional about how we build our brands. And 143 00:08:42,100 --> 00:08:45,900 part of that intention is listening and saying, like, And. And 144 00:08:45,900 --> 00:08:49,060 just, like, feeling, reading the room, the energy. Like, are people. 145 00:08:49,620 --> 00:08:53,220 Is this. Is this getting. Bringing people in, or is it repelling people? 146 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:56,900 And I mean, like, Sometimes it's like, well, maybe that does repel people. 147 00:08:57,380 --> 00:09:00,700 That's fine. Is it repelling the right people or is it, you know, people that 148 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,220 are my people that I'm trying to talk to, Is it repelling them 149 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:07,980 or is it bringing them closer? And so I think just like 150 00:09:07,980 --> 00:09:11,640 paying attention to that and just know that you're probably very 151 00:09:11,640 --> 00:09:15,360 few people, very few marketers, very, very few personal brands 152 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,360 are going to just like ruin it with one post. There are people 153 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,960 who have. And we could dive into that. But like, you know, but like, 154 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:26,840 but like, but very few of us with these kind of things. We're not going 155 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,160 to ruin. We're not going to ruin it so we can test things out 156 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,400 and see how it feels. See how it feels, the post. See how the energy 157 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:36,680 that comes back. Yeah, okay, I do want to get back to that 158 00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:39,600 ruining moment because I think we need to talk about that. But I do have 159 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,210 a nosy question that popped up earlier for me, which is you talked about, 160 00:09:43,690 --> 00:09:47,490 you know, post about your girls soccer practices. Was it soccer or 161 00:09:47,490 --> 00:09:51,130 softball? Softball. And so this is like a boundaries question 162 00:09:51,210 --> 00:09:54,330 because I think some people, me included, 163 00:09:54,890 --> 00:09:58,570 feel hesitant to put our kids or our families online 164 00:09:59,450 --> 00:10:02,890 or even like our personal lives and things like that. So especially for personal 165 00:10:02,890 --> 00:10:06,730 brands, how do you decide this for yourself? Like, where 166 00:10:06,730 --> 00:10:10,270 are your own boundaries when it comes to social media? Really great 167 00:10:10,270 --> 00:10:13,550 question. So my kids, 168 00:10:14,110 --> 00:10:17,950 my content is not dependent on my kids. That is something I feel very 169 00:10:17,950 --> 00:10:21,790 passionate about and I'm not an influencer, so I can do that. 170 00:10:21,790 --> 00:10:25,310 Right. But we all have to figure out what that boundary is for ourselves. 171 00:10:25,950 --> 00:10:29,750 So it's mostly in my stories that I talk about softball and I 172 00:10:29,750 --> 00:10:33,390 don't share anyone else on the team. Right. And I don't share 173 00:10:33,390 --> 00:10:37,230 much about my girls. But one of the things, like my connecting 174 00:10:37,230 --> 00:10:40,670 points with my audience is that I'm a mom and I'm running 175 00:10:41,090 --> 00:10:44,810 an agency and a business and I still have time for 176 00:10:44,810 --> 00:10:48,130 softball. So it is a part of my story that I want to 177 00:10:48,690 --> 00:10:52,410 underline, but I don't, I share enough to know 178 00:10:52,410 --> 00:10:56,090 that it's happening. But I'm not. Like, I take 179 00:10:56,090 --> 00:10:59,410 my kids. I have five kids. I have a 180 00:10:59,810 --> 00:11:03,530 senior in high schooler. I mean senior in high school down to 181 00:11:03,530 --> 00:11:07,330 a nine year old. And so like, it's one thing to show your kids when 182 00:11:07,330 --> 00:11:10,960 they're little, but I have my son's 183 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:14,440 friends follow me on Instagram, so I am very 184 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,120 aware and I will ask them, like, hey, 185 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,560 you know, like, if I'm sharing something about our family or sharing a family 186 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:24,960 picture, I'm like, hey, you good with this or not? You know, 187 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,640 and because they, I have an adult, he's 18, he's 188 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:32,440 graduating and I have to respect that he's an adult. 189 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,730 And I also have to respect that my kids are going to be adults and 190 00:11:35,730 --> 00:11:39,290 do I want people to know all of this stuff about them. Now 191 00:11:39,290 --> 00:11:43,050 with my softball teams, I have a 9 year old and a 192 00:11:43,050 --> 00:11:46,170 12 year old, girls who both play softball. And 193 00:11:47,290 --> 00:11:51,129 that's about, I mean, you feel close, like you like know what's going on, 194 00:11:51,129 --> 00:11:54,250 but you don't actually know specifics. And that's kind of where 195 00:11:55,050 --> 00:11:58,570 my line is. And I asked my kids and like, do you want to, 196 00:11:58,570 --> 00:12:02,170 do you want me to share about this or not? You know, and because again, 197 00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:05,960 my content is not dependent on my kids, but me as 198 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,760 a mom, knowing people, knowing that I'm a mom and that I'm doing this, I 199 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:13,240 want that energy to be like, and you can do it too. And so I 200 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,080 do share some glimpses into my motherhood. Yeah, I 201 00:12:17,080 --> 00:12:20,160 love that. And like I'm a new mom. So I have a three year old 202 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,840 and a one year old and I love it. When you said five 203 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,480 kids, like, my heart panicked. Like I was like, oh my God, never. 204 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,360 I mean, bless you. Good for you. One is harder than five almost. I 205 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:35,090 don't know, one's a lot. Listen, two, I can make 206 00:12:35,090 --> 00:12:38,650 a whole podcast series on having two kids versus one because I would. I feel 207 00:12:38,650 --> 00:12:42,370 like I was tricked. But I love them. I love them very much. No, 208 00:12:42,370 --> 00:12:46,090 but it is one of those things too where for me 209 00:12:46,490 --> 00:12:49,810 right now, in this period in my life, when I look at people who I 210 00:12:49,810 --> 00:12:53,530 admire, like other business owners, other content creators, I am 211 00:12:53,530 --> 00:12:56,410 looking for people who have similar lives to me, right? 212 00:12:57,050 --> 00:13:00,730 People who I feel like I can follow their advice because, 213 00:13:01,210 --> 00:13:05,030 you know, they're in it with me. People who, like, it doesn't even have to 214 00:13:05,030 --> 00:13:08,390 be kids. Like it could be, you know, maybe they're taking care of aging parents 215 00:13:08,390 --> 00:13:12,110 or they have chronic illness or, you know, there's something where 216 00:13:12,110 --> 00:13:15,910 it's like, you know, the Gary Vee model doesn't fit. Like wake up at 6am, 217 00:13:15,910 --> 00:13:19,750 post literally all day. Like we don't have time for that. Like 218 00:13:19,910 --> 00:13:23,430 we're living our lives. And so that's why I like that you, that you reflect 219 00:13:23,430 --> 00:13:27,270 that back too. I want to circle back though, to this 220 00:13:27,270 --> 00:13:31,120 idea of posting content and getting a negative 221 00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:34,960 response because we've all seen it, We've all seen it. And I 222 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,480 think that I Have my own theories, but I'm curious to hear yours about, 223 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:42,240 you know, when we do cross that line, when we do post something 224 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,879 insensitive or we get feedback from our community that they're like, hey, we 225 00:13:45,879 --> 00:13:49,680 don't like this. How do we navigate those situations? With 226 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:52,480 like, grace? Yeah. I think that most, 227 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:56,640 at least the audience that I am trying to build is pretty forgiving 228 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,400 because they know that I'm just doing the best I can. 229 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:04,800 So if I said something that was insensitive or 230 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:08,840 that like looking back, I'm like, oof, that wasn't 231 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,440 great. You know, I would hope that I. I mean, 232 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:16,200 public relations is my background. That's like what I majored in. And anyway, 233 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:19,840 where how I first started in business and really just like 234 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:23,920 owning up to it and being like, darn it, okay, 235 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,680 let's move on. You know, like, this is what I'm going to do better 236 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,240 or whatever. But I think, I mean, that's. If we're doing something that maybe was 237 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:34,880 hurtful or harmful, if it's like playful and it's just like, oh, that didn't 238 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,920 resonate and like I got bad comments, then it's like, 239 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,840 I, I will look and see where those comments are coming from. Because if they're 240 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,600 my people and it's like, oh, Michelle, this is a bad showing. 241 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:48,480 I'm gonna look at that and self reflect and say, 242 00:14:49,490 --> 00:14:52,690 yeah, is that true? And what do I need to change? Because I will tell 243 00:14:52,690 --> 00:14:55,130 you, I am not here to be perfect. And I know that I am not, 244 00:14:55,130 --> 00:14:58,050 you know, and I'm very aware of that. And so 245 00:14:59,170 --> 00:15:02,970 I don't think I need to. Let's see. Not every comment that 246 00:15:02,970 --> 00:15:06,730 is given to me has the same value to me because you have passersby 247 00:15:06,730 --> 00:15:10,410 who have no idea who I am. One of my first viral reels a 248 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:14,210 couple years ago was like, listen, I was newly back to the gym. 249 00:15:14,210 --> 00:15:17,930 I was rowing on my, like on the rowing machine and doing a real bad 250 00:15:17,930 --> 00:15:21,130 job of it, but by darn, I was there. Anyway, so I just posted a 251 00:15:21,130 --> 00:15:24,810 B roll video of me rowing with like something else on the screen and 252 00:15:24,810 --> 00:15:28,290 my. That blew up because people are real 253 00:15:28,290 --> 00:15:31,890 passionate about rowing form, apparently. Well, now you 254 00:15:31,890 --> 00:15:35,610 know, now I know. And every time I'm like, okay, I'm better 255 00:15:35,610 --> 00:15:39,410 than I was two and a half years ago. But it's also, you see, 256 00:15:39,490 --> 00:15:43,140 like those moments are funny because I'm like, I mean, that 257 00:15:43,140 --> 00:15:46,820 means very little about me as a person, how I 258 00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:50,260 row. So those are the things that I'm looking at is like, is this Is 259 00:15:50,260 --> 00:15:53,700 there's a self reflection. Are the, Is this from someone that 260 00:15:54,180 --> 00:15:57,740 I value their opinion, who, who knows who I am? And if 261 00:15:57,740 --> 00:16:01,300 not, then I'm like, but if so, I say, oh, okay, like, 262 00:16:01,380 --> 00:16:04,460 what do I need to learn from that? And how can I do better and 263 00:16:04,460 --> 00:16:08,060 be better or just maybe be clearer? Because I've said some things where people have 264 00:16:08,060 --> 00:16:11,670 said, oh, Michelle, have you thought about this? And I was like, oh, we're on 265 00:16:11,670 --> 00:16:14,910 the same page. But I obviously wasn't clear enough. And so then that helps me 266 00:16:14,910 --> 00:16:18,510 refine my message and I can't be. I. 267 00:16:18,670 --> 00:16:22,270 I think my job as a content creator and 268 00:16:22,670 --> 00:16:26,510 as an educator and as a thought leader is to consistently 269 00:16:26,510 --> 00:16:29,790 and constantly be refining my message. And 270 00:16:30,110 --> 00:16:33,710 so that's going to take like, refinement doesn't come from everyone saying, 271 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,160 you're great, you know, keep saying it. That those 272 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:41,720 edges are knocked off only through people pushing back and 273 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,840 saying, like, how you said that wasn't quite right. 274 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:48,840 And so just being like, humble and aware of that, 275 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,800 I think just goes such a long way. Yeah, a hundred percent. And 276 00:16:52,800 --> 00:16:56,200 I think that this is actually a good problem to have, because 277 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:00,160 when we're putting ourselves out there online and people are having 278 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,960 a response to it, that means they're paying attention. Right? That means our, 279 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,900 our content actually got reach by people. And so we're getting that 280 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:11,620 feedback loop, that positive feedback loop or negative feedback loop. At least 281 00:17:11,620 --> 00:17:14,860 we're getting some sort of traction and engagement. But I want to talk about the 282 00:17:14,860 --> 00:17:18,460 other side of this, because a problem that I'm hearing a lot of people have 283 00:17:18,460 --> 00:17:22,300 right now, especially on Instagram, is that that dang algorithm is not 284 00:17:22,300 --> 00:17:26,020 showing our dang posts. Right. So what do we do? Like, is it too 285 00:17:26,020 --> 00:17:29,660 crowded? What's the deal? Well, some really great 286 00:17:29,660 --> 00:17:33,100 changes happened with the algorithm, and the algorithm is not out to get you. So 287 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:36,650 I first, like, I need people to just breathe that in. The algorithm is not 288 00:17:36,650 --> 00:17:39,650 out to get you. Put it on a T shirt, Put. It on a T 289 00:17:39,650 --> 00:17:43,490 shirt, Write it down every morning, the mantra. But 290 00:17:43,570 --> 00:17:46,850 what we have to understand is, yes, there are more people 291 00:17:46,930 --> 00:17:50,730 creating online, and there are more people online 292 00:17:50,730 --> 00:17:54,570 than ever. And on Instagram and the algorithm, the 293 00:17:54,570 --> 00:17:58,290 whole goal of the algorithm is to understand who you are and to 294 00:17:58,290 --> 00:18:01,930 play matchmaker with people who it thinks will like your content. The 295 00:18:01,930 --> 00:18:05,490 algorithm is actually trying to match us up with the right people, 296 00:18:05,810 --> 00:18:08,710 and there's some things that get in the way of that, and one of those 297 00:18:08,710 --> 00:18:12,310 is that we don't niche down. We're not clear on our content. So I'm all 298 00:18:12,310 --> 00:18:15,950 about, like, looking at my content and saying, am I attracting the right person? 299 00:18:15,950 --> 00:18:19,630 Am I consistent in my messaging? Am I using 300 00:18:19,630 --> 00:18:23,470 keywords so Instagram understands what I'm talking about and am I doing 301 00:18:23,470 --> 00:18:27,150 that on a consistent basis? And if I'm not, then that's on me, 302 00:18:27,150 --> 00:18:30,430 that the algorithm doesn't understand me, you know, and then, 303 00:18:31,870 --> 00:18:34,910 so I will look that, I will look at that, then I'll also look at 304 00:18:34,910 --> 00:18:38,510 what does the algorithm want. So the algorithm, especially for our 305 00:18:38,510 --> 00:18:41,310 content, it is looking for engagement cues. 306 00:18:42,030 --> 00:18:45,670 So some of those are. And, well, the most valuable ones are 307 00:18:45,670 --> 00:18:49,269 sharing and liking. That's what they told us. Then we have 308 00:18:49,269 --> 00:18:52,950 commenting and saving. Those are next. But you have to think about, 309 00:18:52,950 --> 00:18:56,350 okay, if I want my content to be seen by more people, 310 00:18:56,990 --> 00:19:00,740 then, yeah, shares make sense, right? Because that person is 311 00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:03,420 sharing it with someone else or sharing it to their stories. And so more people 312 00:19:03,420 --> 00:19:07,020 are seeing it. And so I need to start creating content 313 00:19:07,020 --> 00:19:10,620 with that in mind. So we have this 314 00:19:10,620 --> 00:19:14,220 huge tool, we have this huge platform that has 315 00:19:14,300 --> 00:19:17,940 millions and millions of people on it, and a huge portion 316 00:19:17,940 --> 00:19:21,300 are your audience. And we have this 317 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:25,100 algorithm that's trying to figure out, like, who are you and how can 318 00:19:25,100 --> 00:19:28,340 I show you to the right people so more people stay on Instagram. So it 319 00:19:28,340 --> 00:19:32,050 is worth understanding and learning how Instagram works for 320 00:19:32,050 --> 00:19:35,730 you and how the algorithm works and then creating specific 321 00:19:35,730 --> 00:19:39,290 content that will work on Instagram. So short form content, 322 00:19:39,290 --> 00:19:42,890 there are skills that, like, creating short form content is a skill. 323 00:19:43,610 --> 00:19:46,930 It's not a gift bestowed from heaven. It is a skill that you. I mean, 324 00:19:46,930 --> 00:19:50,090 yes, there's people that are better at it, naturally, but this is a skill that 325 00:19:50,090 --> 00:19:53,890 you can learn. And so if you want to start using, using Instagram 326 00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:57,530 to its fullest, you've got to start paying attention to how am I creating 327 00:19:57,530 --> 00:20:01,130 short form videos? Do I have a hook within the first 3 328 00:20:01,130 --> 00:20:04,890 seconds? Visual and written hook. Is it 329 00:20:04,890 --> 00:20:08,290 something that is. Have I been like, have I been 330 00:20:08,290 --> 00:20:11,650 ruthless in editing it so that it's not longer than it needs to be? And 331 00:20:11,650 --> 00:20:15,490 my watch time goes up. We have to start thinking more like many 332 00:20:15,490 --> 00:20:19,290 YouTube creators, because if you're a YouTube creator, you're thinking about all of this all 333 00:20:19,290 --> 00:20:22,250 the time, right? But for Instagram, 334 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:27,040 we're getting better at search, the search engine's getting better. They promise it'll continue 335 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:30,680 to get better, and the algorithm's getting better. 336 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,840 So we have to be committed to being better content creators. And 337 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,200 the thing that is the coolest thing about the algorithm now, 338 00:20:39,080 --> 00:20:42,200 this switch happened or Started to happen a year ago and it 339 00:20:42,760 --> 00:20:46,440 finished up in, I think, February, where it does not 340 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:50,160 matter how many followers you have, it's a content 341 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:53,720 based algorithm. So if your content is good, no matter how many 342 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,120 followers you have, it can go to millions. And I just want you to think, 343 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,080 anytime, any other time in the world when we have had this 344 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:04,160 opportunity, this option to show up, create a 30 second video that takes 345 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,760 us nine hours. Just kidding. It doesn't have to be. But you create this little 346 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,480 video and it can reach millions of people all 347 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,120 while you're sitting at your daughter's softball game. Okay, okay, Maybe 348 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:18,640 I'd stop complaining and figure out how to make it work. Right? And it's a 349 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:22,390 lot of work. And Instagram, I think one of the biggest problems 350 00:21:22,390 --> 00:21:25,750 or the hardest thing to overcome with Instagram is we 351 00:21:25,750 --> 00:21:29,190 consume a lot of content as creators, we 352 00:21:29,190 --> 00:21:32,910 consume a lot personally. And then it's really hard to switch our brain 353 00:21:32,910 --> 00:21:36,590 around to using it professionally. And so that switch 354 00:21:36,590 --> 00:21:40,430 is really hard. And so we either we have a couple things coming at 355 00:21:40,430 --> 00:21:43,350 us right when we're using it for business, we have in our brain, like, you're 356 00:21:43,350 --> 00:21:46,970 wasting time, you're wasting time. You're on Instagram. Look at, at, look at what your 357 00:21:46,970 --> 00:21:49,970 screen time is, you know, and your weight. And it's like, yeah, you have that 358 00:21:49,970 --> 00:21:53,410 voice going, especially if you're a mom or you have like, you have kids or 359 00:21:53,410 --> 00:21:56,770 other responsibilities. You feel like you shouldn't be on social media, 360 00:21:57,090 --> 00:22:00,930 it's bad. But then you have. But it's like, oh, but it's actually 361 00:22:00,930 --> 00:22:04,410 one of the marketing arms of my business. And if it were any other marketing 362 00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:08,050 arm, we would take it seriously. Right? We would look at it differently 363 00:22:08,130 --> 00:22:11,490 and start looking at analytics and we'd be showing up in different ways 364 00:22:11,810 --> 00:22:15,650 based on the responses of our audience. And then we start using Instagram as a 365 00:22:15,650 --> 00:22:19,410 business instead of as a consumer. And instead of 366 00:22:19,410 --> 00:22:22,730 like feeling like it's pulling us over and we don't know what to do. 367 00:22:23,370 --> 00:22:26,970 Yeah, okay. I know you were joking when you said a 30 second video takes 368 00:22:26,970 --> 00:22:30,570 nine hours. But my brain latched onto that because. Okay, so here's the thing. 369 00:22:30,810 --> 00:22:34,050 I feel like you, you nailed it when you said creating content is a skill 370 00:22:34,050 --> 00:22:37,850 that can be learned. But what I've seen in my experience 371 00:22:38,330 --> 00:22:42,090 is that as adults especially, we all want to learn something new. Like we 372 00:22:42,090 --> 00:22:44,290 just want to know, we just want to open it up and go, I know 373 00:22:44,290 --> 00:22:47,130 how to use this. And then we don't. We get frustrated and it does take 374 00:22:47,130 --> 00:22:50,810 some time. But once we do get there, we can create content. But 375 00:22:50,810 --> 00:22:54,570 I'm curious about, you know, you specifically and then 376 00:22:54,570 --> 00:22:57,930 also your clients, because I do think marketers, we spend more time on social media 377 00:22:57,930 --> 00:23:01,450 than. Than, like, I was gonna say normal people. Are we 378 00:23:01,450 --> 00:23:05,050 normal? No. I don't know. We. Yeah, we spend more time than normal 379 00:23:05,050 --> 00:23:08,850 people. So how much time are you spending and then how much time do you 380 00:23:08,850 --> 00:23:12,650 recommend other people spend on Insta? Wow, 381 00:23:12,650 --> 00:23:15,970 how much time am I spending? I'm. I'm at least spending a couple hours a 382 00:23:15,970 --> 00:23:19,690 day on Instagram. That is easy. Like either creating content, consuming content, 383 00:23:20,970 --> 00:23:24,810 looking at my clients, you know, there's at least a couple 384 00:23:24,810 --> 00:23:28,570 hours because, you know, as we're strategizing for clients, I am 385 00:23:28,970 --> 00:23:32,330 researching, I'm looking at data, you know, it's just a little bit different. 386 00:23:33,290 --> 00:23:36,330 I. As far as what other people should do, 387 00:23:37,450 --> 00:23:41,170 I need you to make a conscious decision and not even a decision, but 388 00:23:41,170 --> 00:23:44,020 just an awareness of how much marketing 389 00:23:44,980 --> 00:23:48,420 are you. Like, how much is Instagram a part of your marketing strategy? 390 00:23:49,460 --> 00:23:53,100 So if it is 100% a part of your market, like, that's your whole marketing 391 00:23:53,100 --> 00:23:56,820 strategy is Instagram, buckle up, sit down. Like, you 392 00:23:56,820 --> 00:24:00,500 need to get good at it. If you are paying ads 393 00:24:00,500 --> 00:24:04,180 and like, that's how you're getting and you just need Instagram to be a resume, 394 00:24:04,420 --> 00:24:08,020 then you can, you know, you can scale back. If you are a 395 00:24:08,020 --> 00:24:10,660 business and you're big enough to hire a team, 396 00:24:12,010 --> 00:24:13,130 you have to think about 397 00:24:15,610 --> 00:24:19,010 like, am I going to hire workers or am I going to hire 398 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:22,570 skilled people and am I willing to invest in this? 399 00:24:22,650 --> 00:24:26,370 Because, you know, you can find people who know how 400 00:24:26,370 --> 00:24:30,170 to use Instagram, right? Have you anyway, you know, and they just show up and 401 00:24:30,170 --> 00:24:33,890 they post stuff and you're like, that's not a strategy. And so we have to 402 00:24:33,890 --> 00:24:37,690 start looking at Instagram differently. Like, it is serious and it is a hundred 403 00:24:37,690 --> 00:24:41,530 percent. Like, if it's 100% of our marketing strategy, then that, that 404 00:24:41,530 --> 00:24:45,330 changes things. So if you're. So you have to look at your budget, 405 00:24:45,330 --> 00:24:48,810 whether that's time or money. And also, like, what are you 406 00:24:48,810 --> 00:24:52,090 expecting Instagram to do? And is your energy and time and money 407 00:24:52,090 --> 00:24:55,170 matching what you need that marketing channel to do? 408 00:24:56,050 --> 00:24:59,890 Yes, yes. All of it has to flow because 409 00:24:59,890 --> 00:25:03,610 it's. There's a hierarchy here. You can't go, like, I'm going to spend equal 410 00:25:03,610 --> 00:25:06,450 amounts of time on Instagram as everything else in my business if it's not a 411 00:25:06,450 --> 00:25:10,190 priority. Right. I love that. So what do think consistency looks 412 00:25:10,190 --> 00:25:13,910 like, especially for the Solo entrepreneurs, the small 413 00:25:13,910 --> 00:25:17,510 business owners who are out here on these Instagram streets trying to figure it 414 00:25:17,510 --> 00:25:21,150 out. What does consistency look like? 415 00:25:21,470 --> 00:25:23,470 Streets are hard out there. Yeah. 416 00:25:26,030 --> 00:25:29,830 Consistency looks like. I mean, I'm going to go back to my last answer, but 417 00:25:29,830 --> 00:25:33,470 it's going to look like what you can budget for. So 418 00:25:33,550 --> 00:25:37,390 I want you to make a conscious decision. A lot of 419 00:25:37,390 --> 00:25:40,730 people are like, well, I can only post three times a week. 420 00:25:40,810 --> 00:25:44,010 Cool. I love that. Do that, you know, and 421 00:25:44,330 --> 00:25:47,930 you, if you understand your audience, if you've created enough content 422 00:25:48,090 --> 00:25:51,890 that you know what your audience likes, I do think you can create less 423 00:25:51,890 --> 00:25:55,730 content. If you don't know and you don't know how to create 424 00:25:55,730 --> 00:25:58,610 content, you don't know how to do hooks, you don't know how to edit, you 425 00:25:58,610 --> 00:26:02,250 don't know how the type of thing that your audience is going to 426 00:26:02,250 --> 00:26:06,080 resonate with, then I say create a ton of content. Like, just 427 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:09,760 put stuff out there, because you don't know what works yet and you don't know 428 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:11,880 how to do it. And I say that because 429 00:26:14,040 --> 00:26:17,640 if you just like numbers, right? Analytics, 430 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,720 like, if you post two times a week, okay, that's eight times, 431 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,640 Eight times in a month. And then you have someone who's posting five times a 432 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:29,480 week, that's 20, you know, 20 posts. So they 433 00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:33,130 are going to get better two and a half times faster than you 434 00:26:33,130 --> 00:26:36,730 are because you haven't put in the time to do it. And you're 435 00:26:36,730 --> 00:26:40,570 also like, as I'm looking at analytics and as clients come 436 00:26:40,570 --> 00:26:44,330 on, I'm like, well, okay, the analytics for someone who's posting eight times a 437 00:26:44,330 --> 00:26:47,970 month, there's just only so much information I can get compared to 438 00:26:47,970 --> 00:26:51,650 someone who's doing like 20, 30 posts a month. And so 439 00:26:51,970 --> 00:26:55,730 again, that doesn't mean everyone should post every day because that might stress someone out 440 00:26:55,730 --> 00:26:59,070 and they become homeless on these Instagram streets. But I, 441 00:27:00,670 --> 00:27:04,070 I don't want you to do that. But I do think that you need to 442 00:27:04,070 --> 00:27:06,990 start thinking, like, real seriously about, 443 00:27:07,870 --> 00:27:10,790 do I know what my audience likes and am I good? Do I know what 444 00:27:10,790 --> 00:27:13,990 I'm good at yet and how my voice is best used? If the answer is 445 00:27:13,990 --> 00:27:17,670 no, let's figure it out. Let's take a month, let's test some stuff out 446 00:27:17,670 --> 00:27:21,310 and put a ton of content out there. I do, like, a real love 447 00:27:21,310 --> 00:27:24,820 challenge every six months where I'm like, hey, this is. Is the 448 00:27:24,820 --> 00:27:28,540 audio you're doing, this is the hook you're doing. And like, 449 00:27:28,540 --> 00:27:32,300 this, like, I just tell people what to post and the people 450 00:27:32,300 --> 00:27:35,780 who show up for those 30 days. And they do it like 451 00:27:35,860 --> 00:27:39,460 they change. Either their numbers change or they, like, they 452 00:27:39,460 --> 00:27:42,980 change because they suddenly know how to do stuff and they realize that they've been 453 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:46,820 making content creation way too hard. So you gotta get. You 454 00:27:46,820 --> 00:27:50,540 gotta get consistent, like, with knowing exactly, like, what is your 455 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:54,340 goal with Instagram? And then what. What can you. What's your budget, 456 00:27:54,340 --> 00:27:57,760 time and money that you can put towards Instagram? Yeah. 457 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:01,440 Okay, well, we've been talking a lot about, like, micro video content, the 458 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,240 Instagram reels specifically. But one of the things, too, about Instagram 459 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,960 that I think I feel so bad for, like, new people to Instagram, because 460 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:12,159 if you're just logging in for the first time, it's like, okay, we have reels, 461 00:28:12,159 --> 00:28:15,320 we have carousels, we have static posts, we have stories. I know they're getting rid 462 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:19,080 of notes, but those are their broadcast channels. Like, what the heck? So when 463 00:28:19,080 --> 00:28:22,880 you're talking about, you know, reels, for instance, 464 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,880 do you think that's where we should put most of our energy right now? There's 465 00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:29,420 also been a rumor that carousel posts are making a comeback. Like, what are you 466 00:28:29,420 --> 00:28:33,180 seeing on your end? So carousels are making a comeback, and 467 00:28:33,180 --> 00:28:36,620 if you put music behind them, then they are able to show up on 468 00:28:36,780 --> 00:28:40,500 a reels feed in your reels feed. So if you're doing carousels, add some 469 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:44,299 music, whether you turn it down or whatever, but then you can get in the 470 00:28:44,299 --> 00:28:47,580 reels. So the reason why reels are usually where I tell people to start 471 00:28:48,700 --> 00:28:52,300 is because. Because the reels algorithm 472 00:28:52,300 --> 00:28:56,110 is different than the other algorithms in that it's pushing 473 00:28:56,110 --> 00:28:59,670 your content faster and easier out to people who don't follow you yet. 474 00:29:00,230 --> 00:29:04,030 And so if you want to grow, like, do that. But carousels are coming 475 00:29:04,030 --> 00:29:07,830 around. And especially now that carousels are being able to be used in the 476 00:29:07,830 --> 00:29:11,549 real feed, you just got to make sure as 477 00:29:11,549 --> 00:29:15,310 you're creating these carousels that you can say, like, why would anyone care about 478 00:29:15,310 --> 00:29:18,150 this? Because a lot of people are just, like, using them as 479 00:29:18,470 --> 00:29:22,230 2010 blog posts. Like, five steps to creating a diet 480 00:29:22,230 --> 00:29:26,030 plan. You know, the 2010 blog post, I feel called 481 00:29:26,030 --> 00:29:29,870 out. I just know it personally. I just know it 482 00:29:29,870 --> 00:29:33,630 personally anyway. And so, like, you know where it's like, no one's gonna click that. 483 00:29:33,630 --> 00:29:35,990 Like, five, 10, you know, five steps to 484 00:29:37,350 --> 00:29:40,830 your next morning routine. Those hooks don't work 485 00:29:40,830 --> 00:29:44,590 anymore because they're just, like, telling you there's no curiosity gap. There's no 486 00:29:44,590 --> 00:29:47,910 bringing you in. There's no, like, why? What's in it for me? And so 487 00:29:48,230 --> 00:29:51,980 I Think that sometimes, unless you're a great writer and you already know, like, 488 00:29:52,370 --> 00:29:55,010 the stories that you're going to tell and you can bring people with you, and 489 00:29:55,250 --> 00:29:58,690 if you're that side, then carousels are going to be great for you. If you're 490 00:29:58,690 --> 00:30:02,530 like writing and telling stories, you know, like, I don't want to do that, 491 00:30:02,530 --> 00:30:06,010 then reels are going to be easier. Yeah. Okay. 492 00:30:06,010 --> 00:30:09,850 Interesting. No, the 2010 blog post is like, so, like, 493 00:30:09,850 --> 00:30:13,090 I knew exactly what you were talking about. I was like, oh, So I think 494 00:30:13,250 --> 00:30:15,890 this is what I've been talking. This is what I've been talking about a lot 495 00:30:15,970 --> 00:30:18,850 too. That 2010 blog post line is going to stay with me 496 00:30:19,660 --> 00:30:23,420 because it is the shift from how to 497 00:30:23,420 --> 00:30:26,980 content to how I content. So I think this is where 498 00:30:26,980 --> 00:30:30,580 personal brands are really shining through. Because we don't need 499 00:30:30,580 --> 00:30:34,340 more information. We're in the age of information overload. Like, we literally don't need 500 00:30:34,340 --> 00:30:37,980 more how to. We want to know how you specifically do it. Like, 501 00:30:39,260 --> 00:30:42,940 so when I talk about things like, you know, 502 00:30:42,940 --> 00:30:46,430 I wake up, I don't feel like posting. What am I doing? That's what I'm 503 00:30:46,430 --> 00:30:50,150 doing specifically versus, like, if you wake up and you don't feel posting, here's what 504 00:30:50,150 --> 00:30:53,550 you need to do. And it feels very like you should eat your vegetables. And 505 00:30:53,550 --> 00:30:57,190 so I feel like that's really. The 2010 blog post vibe 506 00:30:57,190 --> 00:31:00,630 is like, eat your vegetables versus 2025. The 507 00:31:00,630 --> 00:31:03,350 elevated is like, okay, I don't feel like eating my vegetables. I'm going to show 508 00:31:03,350 --> 00:31:07,110 you what I'm doing. And I feel like that, like, reality TV 509 00:31:07,110 --> 00:31:10,630 show, like, let's go with me behind the scenes and let's do all this. I 510 00:31:10,630 --> 00:31:14,030 feel like that's really what's working right now with content. Is there anything else that 511 00:31:14,030 --> 00:31:16,950 you're seeing that really stands out to you with, like, like, oh, this is the 512 00:31:16,950 --> 00:31:20,770 typ content that's really performing well right now. Yeah, I mean, I 513 00:31:20,770 --> 00:31:23,090 think it's exactly what you're saying because 514 00:31:24,370 --> 00:31:28,210 we can find any information we want and we can go to ChatGPT 515 00:31:28,370 --> 00:31:32,090 and it will get a summary of all the information out there. But 516 00:31:32,090 --> 00:31:35,490 what we really want are we want experts 517 00:31:35,810 --> 00:31:39,010 that will curate it for us. So we want, 518 00:31:39,890 --> 00:31:43,720 like, we want someone else that lives a life that we want to live to 519 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,680 tell us what works for them. You know, like, that is. 520 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,720 That's. That's what this is all about, right? Is that we've suddenly we. We 521 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,720 have AI. We can all find out whatever we want 522 00:31:54,280 --> 00:31:57,960 and that type of information will be less Valuable than 523 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:01,640 what you're saying, right? Which is like, listen, I got two kids, 524 00:32:02,120 --> 00:32:05,680 you know, like your life. And explaining like, this is. I, you know, I'm 525 00:32:05,680 --> 00:32:09,040 recording podcasts, this is what I do before my podcast to make sure I'm ready 526 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:12,760 or whatever. Because then we're like, oh, that's how she 527 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,230 does it. And my life looks like hers, or I want my life to look 528 00:32:16,230 --> 00:32:19,870 like hers. And so as AI becomes, 529 00:32:20,030 --> 00:32:23,790 I mean, it's already huge, right? But we're going to see it 530 00:32:23,950 --> 00:32:27,710 integrated so much more. And really it's going to come down to that personal 531 00:32:27,790 --> 00:32:31,590 connection and building, like, being that 532 00:32:31,590 --> 00:32:35,150 curator for people. Like, listen, yeah, you can, you can go get the 10 533 00:32:35,150 --> 00:32:38,990 steps from ChatGPT, but let me tell you, the, like, how 534 00:32:39,070 --> 00:32:42,710 I do it as this type of person. So that's where I see 535 00:32:42,710 --> 00:32:46,490 things going, is like, the facts are going to be 536 00:32:46,490 --> 00:32:48,930 good and you're going to have to know them. We're going to have to know 537 00:32:48,930 --> 00:32:52,370 more because it's the application that's really going to be the valuable part. 538 00:32:53,170 --> 00:32:56,370 Yeah, I feel like this is just the age of AI too. 539 00:32:56,930 --> 00:33:00,730 Is that, like, the knowledge piece is not going to be enough. It's how 540 00:33:00,730 --> 00:33:04,490 we apply it that's really going to make the difference. It can be scary. 541 00:33:04,490 --> 00:33:07,210 It can be scary. But I do think there are ways that AI can help 542 00:33:07,210 --> 00:33:10,530 us in this next stage. To me, it reminds me of 543 00:33:10,770 --> 00:33:14,520 when I was in the second grade or third grade grade. I 544 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:18,360 distinctly remember one of my teachers making me do math and I 545 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:21,040 was like, but I have this calculator. Can I use the calculator? And she was 546 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,720 like, no, you have to know how to do it because you're not going to 547 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:27,320 be carrying a calculator in your pocket all the time. And now look, look at 548 00:33:27,320 --> 00:33:30,760 me now, Ms. Anderson. I have a calculator in my 549 00:33:30,760 --> 00:33:34,400 pocket all the time. And so that's how AI feels to me right now, where 550 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:37,000 it's like, some people are like, oh, you have to do the manual work of 551 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:39,480 it all. And I'm like, yeah, I know how to do the manual work, don't 552 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:42,920 get me wrong. But, like, if there's a calculator, I'm gonna use the calculator. 553 00:33:43,960 --> 00:33:47,700 So I say all that. I'm curious how you are using AI, AKA 554 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:51,380 the calculator in your, like, marketing day to 555 00:33:51,380 --> 00:33:55,220 day. Yeah. So, well, sometimes I have little 556 00:33:55,220 --> 00:33:59,060 chats with ChatGPT, and I'm like, hey, this is a decision I'm, 557 00:33:59,060 --> 00:34:02,380 I'm making and I list all the details and then it comes back to me 558 00:34:02,380 --> 00:34:05,220 and it's like, michelle, I think you already know the answer, but this is what 559 00:34:05,220 --> 00:34:08,940 I recommend. It's funny. Anyway, that did happen, like, where, like, I need 560 00:34:08,940 --> 00:34:12,650 to talk through something because I'm a verbal processor. And so, 561 00:34:12,650 --> 00:34:16,450 like, so I have it on my phone. I just speak into 562 00:34:16,450 --> 00:34:19,450 it, and I'm like, hey, here are the details of my business. I also am 563 00:34:19,450 --> 00:34:22,690 restructuring some of my products. And so I was like, hey, let me tell you 564 00:34:22,690 --> 00:34:26,290 what my products are. These are the price points. This is my revenue 565 00:34:26,290 --> 00:34:30,010 goal. Can you make a map for me this year of when I should 566 00:34:30,090 --> 00:34:33,610 launch and how many I need to sell of each to get there? 567 00:34:34,090 --> 00:34:37,210 And it can. Like, those are things that I'm going to go. I would have 568 00:34:37,359 --> 00:34:40,879 have figured out, right? But it would have taken me 20 minutes 569 00:34:40,959 --> 00:34:44,719 and I'd had to have stopped and pulled out my phone calculator. But this, 570 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:47,839 I'm like, I'm on the go. Like, I'm in the car. I was running errand, 571 00:34:47,839 --> 00:34:51,199 like, taking my kids to practice, you know, doing stuff. And 572 00:34:51,519 --> 00:34:53,999 I was like, oh, I got to figure out, like, my numbers. And so I 573 00:34:53,999 --> 00:34:57,559 was just talking to it. So that's something that is. I was like, that's just 574 00:34:57,559 --> 00:35:01,279 a practical thing. I've had 575 00:35:01,759 --> 00:35:05,570 quite a few, like, speeches that I have had to give the last. Last month 576 00:35:05,570 --> 00:35:08,890 or so. And I would write. I would write it 577 00:35:09,370 --> 00:35:12,970 and write, like, sections, and I would say, okay, chat gpd. 578 00:35:13,210 --> 00:35:16,490 I need. I need you to make this more. Because I'm. 579 00:35:16,810 --> 00:35:20,650 Because my background is pr. I'm a very, like, newspaper writer, where I'm like, 580 00:35:20,650 --> 00:35:24,410 these are the facts. And so I was like, could you 581 00:35:24,410 --> 00:35:28,050 add a little bit for storytelling and make this a little stronger? And it just 582 00:35:28,050 --> 00:35:31,770 shifted it a little bit, but it made it stronger. I've been doing the same 583 00:35:31,770 --> 00:35:35,490 thing with. So I'm the first draft and been doing that with 584 00:35:35,490 --> 00:35:39,320 substance and just saying, like, hey, this is 585 00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:42,880 a story. This is. You know, and because I'm a verbal processor and I have 586 00:35:42,880 --> 00:35:46,600 my own podcast, like, speaking, it is easier than writing it for me, so it 587 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:50,160 can write down whatever I say, add some things. So. And I'm using 588 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:54,000 it for that kind of thing, for editing my 589 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,520 content, that kind of stuff, as well as analyzing 590 00:35:58,000 --> 00:36:01,440 data and. Yeah, just making and 591 00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:05,260 streamlining the process, which. Which feels scary, I think, right now 592 00:36:05,260 --> 00:36:08,980 because it feels like it's taking away the creativity, you know, because 593 00:36:08,980 --> 00:36:11,500 it's like, well, we're not creating all of it. And I'm like, no, I'm not 594 00:36:11,500 --> 00:36:14,100 creating the Dumb parts, The parts that I don't want to do, 595 00:36:15,300 --> 00:36:19,019 I do not want to do that part right. And it's actually opening up 596 00:36:19,019 --> 00:36:22,820 me up to be more creative because, like, those little 597 00:36:22,820 --> 00:36:26,540 things that are not necessarily. Maybe not my strong suit or 598 00:36:26,540 --> 00:36:30,260 like, stuff that, like, speaking is easier. Speaking it 599 00:36:30,260 --> 00:36:33,340 into existence is easier than typing it into existence for me. 600 00:36:34,210 --> 00:36:38,010 And so I'm using my skills. Like, I'm just better at speaking it 601 00:36:38,010 --> 00:36:41,730 out than. And it's turning it into something that can be written or, 602 00:36:41,810 --> 00:36:45,250 you know, could be published and I can edit it. And so what I decided 603 00:36:45,250 --> 00:36:49,090 to do is I'm like, listen, we're all scared of AI 604 00:36:49,090 --> 00:36:52,650 and we feel overwhelmed by it. And so I was. I'm like, I'm going to 605 00:36:52,650 --> 00:36:56,490 just start using it. I'm just going to use it. And if I 606 00:36:56,490 --> 00:36:59,050 think about it, I'm going to pick it up, download it on your phone, and 607 00:36:59,050 --> 00:37:02,730 I'm going to use it. And just doing that has opened me up to 608 00:37:02,970 --> 00:37:06,770 more and more ways that I can use it to streamline my business and to 609 00:37:06,770 --> 00:37:10,490 take away some of the unnecessary parts to 610 00:37:10,490 --> 00:37:14,290 creating. Yeah, I think that's the key. Streamlining it. Yeah, 611 00:37:14,290 --> 00:37:17,370 it's faster. But again, it's like our calculator. 612 00:37:18,810 --> 00:37:22,570 Sure, you can be all precious about doing long 613 00:37:22,650 --> 00:37:26,170 division manually. Good for you. I'm glad you could do that. But 614 00:37:26,330 --> 00:37:30,050 real life, everyday stuff, as long as we get 615 00:37:30,050 --> 00:37:33,870 to the same answer, we, you know, we're still using our 616 00:37:33,870 --> 00:37:37,390 human brains, I think. I think it's great. Okay, so as we wrap up this 617 00:37:37,390 --> 00:37:40,390 conversation, one of the things I want to ask you about 618 00:37:40,870 --> 00:37:44,590 is really this mindset piece when it comes to creating 619 00:37:44,590 --> 00:37:48,310 content, and especially now, like, this episode comes out, 620 00:37:48,310 --> 00:37:51,750 we're heading into summer. Those of us with the kids, we're like, all right, summer 621 00:37:51,750 --> 00:37:55,430 mode. So over the next 30 days, what's something 622 00:37:55,430 --> 00:37:59,230 that we can think about? A mental shift that we can make to really strengthen 623 00:37:59,230 --> 00:38:02,870 our approach to creating content on Instagram and really everywhere in our 624 00:38:02,870 --> 00:38:05,980 market. Yeah, I would definitely 625 00:38:06,700 --> 00:38:10,140 put it on the calendar. So as 626 00:38:10,140 --> 00:38:13,900 creatives, I don't really believe in being like, this is how 627 00:38:13,900 --> 00:38:17,580 you create content. So some people really like to batch and other people, 628 00:38:17,900 --> 00:38:21,580 like, that makes them want to die. Like, batching a whole ton of content. 629 00:38:22,220 --> 00:38:26,020 And there's obviously some power and some benefits to batching, but if you dread 630 00:38:26,020 --> 00:38:29,160 it all the time, then I don't love that. So one of the things is 631 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:32,930 like, like, you either say, on Mondays, I. I do all my video 632 00:38:32,930 --> 00:38:36,010 and I'm just going to like, I'M going to get my makeup on, I'm going 633 00:38:36,010 --> 00:38:38,370 to get ready, and we're going to do all the video and do a bunch 634 00:38:38,370 --> 00:38:41,770 all at once and just video it and batch it in. In the different 635 00:38:41,770 --> 00:38:45,409 stages of the content creation process. I also know 636 00:38:45,409 --> 00:38:49,130 someone, some people who like to, like, just schedule on their calendar 637 00:38:49,130 --> 00:38:52,810 that every day I have 30 minutes, that I'm going to create something 638 00:38:53,290 --> 00:38:56,810 so that it's more a part of their, like, everyday routine. But it 639 00:38:56,810 --> 00:39:00,490 doesn't happen unless you put it on a schedule and on a 640 00:39:00,490 --> 00:39:04,230 calendar and it, like in a meeting that you would show up for. Because 641 00:39:05,110 --> 00:39:08,950 what usually happens is you want to 642 00:39:08,950 --> 00:39:12,710 create on Instagram, but then you don't, right? And then you get to the 643 00:39:12,710 --> 00:39:15,710 end of the week and you're like, oh, man, I should have posted. And then 644 00:39:15,710 --> 00:39:18,790 you scroll and then you scroll on Instagram for like an hour looking for ideas, 645 00:39:19,190 --> 00:39:22,230 and then you find something and then you're like, I'm just going to post this. 646 00:39:22,230 --> 00:39:25,550 And so you just post it. And then you're like, that didn't do well. And 647 00:39:25,550 --> 00:39:29,190 they're like, instagram's the worst. The algorithm hates me. Right? And you actually 648 00:39:29,190 --> 00:39:32,590 haven't taken time to create intentional 649 00:39:32,590 --> 00:39:36,270 strategic content or, or calculate a 650 00:39:36,270 --> 00:39:39,630 time and put in your calendar time when you're going to analyze what is working 651 00:39:39,630 --> 00:39:43,390 and what isn't. So as far as that goes, you 652 00:39:43,390 --> 00:39:46,950 need to start treating Instagram like it's part of your business 653 00:39:47,110 --> 00:39:50,830 and not just a last thing like, that you put on, 654 00:39:50,830 --> 00:39:54,590 you know, the end of your list that you're like, well, I know this is 655 00:39:54,590 --> 00:39:57,850 important, but I really hate it because the algorithm hates me because I'm not getting 656 00:39:57,850 --> 00:40:01,450 what I want. And it's like, well, if you showed up on Instagram or showed 657 00:40:01,450 --> 00:40:05,010 up for Instagram, like, you're showing up for, like, creating your product or creating your 658 00:40:05,010 --> 00:40:08,810 courses or teaching your whatever, you know, whatever type of entrepreneur you are, 659 00:40:09,210 --> 00:40:12,890 then your Instagram content would change, and so would how 660 00:40:13,050 --> 00:40:16,690 Instagram can help and serve your business 100%. 661 00:40:16,690 --> 00:40:20,530 It's your responsibility as a business owner to treat marketing seriously in your business. 662 00:40:20,530 --> 00:40:24,130 I totally agree. And I love that you said, you know, you can kind of 663 00:40:24,130 --> 00:40:27,280 play with it, whether you like batching or you like doing things day by day. 664 00:40:27,830 --> 00:40:31,470 I mean, there are different seasons in my life where I do both. Like, sometimes 665 00:40:31,470 --> 00:40:34,870 I'm like, batch queen. Like right now, batching all the way, like, 666 00:40:35,350 --> 00:40:38,990 makeup every day is not for me right now. But there are some days 667 00:40:38,990 --> 00:40:42,830 where, where periods in my life where, you know, I like to create 668 00:40:42,830 --> 00:40:46,670 content every day. That's actually my preferred method of doing it, is creating content 669 00:40:46,670 --> 00:40:50,070 every day. But like, with a one year old at home, where I'm literally recording 670 00:40:50,070 --> 00:40:53,350 podcast episodes while she's napping, it's not gonna happen every day. So for me, 671 00:40:53,980 --> 00:40:56,660 I gotta, I gotta plan ahead. I gotta plan ahead. So, you know, you get 672 00:40:56,660 --> 00:41:00,380 to decide this. You gotta treat your marketing seriously. I love that you that you 673 00:41:00,380 --> 00:41:04,020 emphasize that. Okay, so for everyone listening 674 00:41:04,020 --> 00:41:07,620 who's like, I love this. I'm limited on time. I know you've got, 675 00:41:07,620 --> 00:41:11,100 Michelle, this like weekly trend thingy. 676 00:41:11,260 --> 00:41:15,060 Plus plus, I love how you not only give the trends, but 677 00:41:15,060 --> 00:41:18,880 then you tell us exactly how to apply them. Tell me more about it. 678 00:41:19,590 --> 00:41:22,950 Yes, absolutely. So I have a membership 679 00:41:23,350 --> 00:41:25,790 that you can join and I'll give you a week for free to test it 680 00:41:25,790 --> 00:41:29,350 out where we are sending, like the trends that are happening that week. 681 00:41:29,510 --> 00:41:33,310 We send that out and then with examples and a description of how 682 00:41:33,310 --> 00:41:36,550 you can apply it to your business. Because I mean, 683 00:41:36,790 --> 00:41:40,510 looking for the right trend is actually the worst waste of time. 684 00:41:40,510 --> 00:41:43,870 That, like, it's so hard, right? You go on there and you're like, okay, I 685 00:41:43,870 --> 00:41:47,190 like this, but how many times has it been used and like, how can I 686 00:41:47,190 --> 00:41:50,230 apply it to your business? So we're streamlining that for you 687 00:41:50,930 --> 00:41:54,690 so that you can, like, just start creating content in a lot, like a lot 688 00:41:54,690 --> 00:41:58,490 faster. Um, so that's called the Insta Content Club. We'd love to 689 00:41:58,490 --> 00:42:02,170 have you. And if you use mindful marketing, you can get a week for 690 00:42:02,170 --> 00:42:05,930 free. I love that. Okay, we're going to put that link and the code in 691 00:42:05,930 --> 00:42:09,650 the description onlinedrea.com 363. 692 00:42:09,890 --> 00:42:13,610 Michelle, thank you so much for being on the show today. Thank you so 693 00:42:13,610 --> 00:42:17,410 much. It was so fun. Yes. And thank you, dear listener, for tuning into another 694 00:42:17,410 --> 00:42:21,170 episode of the Mindville marketing podcast. If you love this conversation and 695 00:42:21,170 --> 00:42:24,270 you want to learn more about how to apply marketing in your business, 696 00:42:25,070 --> 00:42:28,750 come to our Social Media Day summit. Okay. We're doing a free Social Media 697 00:42:28,750 --> 00:42:32,510 Day summit, a live panel on June 30th. 698 00:42:32,510 --> 00:42:36,310 That's a Monday. Okay. Come join me and some special guests where 699 00:42:36,310 --> 00:42:39,710 we talk about the state of social media, especially y' all. Keep talking about the 700 00:42:39,710 --> 00:42:42,710 algorithm. We're gonna talk about the algorithm, we're gonna talk about AI. We're gonna talk 701 00:42:42,710 --> 00:42:46,470 about it all. You can get your questions answered, but you gotta show up live 702 00:42:46,470 --> 00:42:50,240 for that. Go to online draft.com smd 703 00:42:50,240 --> 00:42:53,800 that social media day smd and that link will be in the show. Notes as 704 00:42:53,800 --> 00:42:57,520 well. I have another episode coming for you next Tuesday. Stay 705 00:42:57,520 --> 00:42:59,720 tuned for that. I'll see you then. Bye for now.