In this episode, Michelle explores the attention economy concept and how to navigate the noisy digital landscape. She emphasizes the importance of relevance, value, emotion, uniqueness, and visual appeal in capturing attention. Michelle provides actionable strategies such as prioritizing quality over quantity, being consistent, building a community, and experimenting with new formats. She reminds listeners that building an audience takes time and effort, but by consistently providing valuable an...
Aug 12, 2024•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the importance of digital marketing for small businesses during the Black Friday season. She emphasizes the need to reach the target audience, build relationships, and track results. Michelle provides actionable strategies such as creating compelling offers, leveraging email marketing, generating social media buzz, and utilizing paid advertising. She also offers one-on-one strategy sessions to help businesses customize their Black Friday plans. Overall,...
Aug 05, 2024•12 min•Ep 406•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the July 2024 updates on Instagram. She covers new features such as the ability to add 20 audio tracks to Instagram Reels, the upgraded notes feature, the testing of ads in Reels, the expanded access to broadcast channels, and the development of AI chatbots by Meta. Michelle provides actionable steps for leveraging these updates, including experimenting with Reels, using notes to engage with the audience, exploring broadcast channels for direct communic...
Jul 31, 2024•11 min•Ep 405•Transcript available on Metacast JOIN THE SOCIALLY SAVVY CIRCLE In this episode, Michelle shares proven strategies for organic Instagram growth. She emphasizes the importance of organic followers who are genuinely interested in your content and brand. Michelle highlights the power of authenticity and building a community on Instagram. She discusses the types of content to create, the importance of consistency, and the use of hashtags. Michelle also talks about the need for engagement, collaboration with other brands, tracking a...
Jul 29, 2024•15 min•Ep 404•Transcript available on Metacast JOIN THE SOCIALLY SAVVY CIRCLE In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the power of community building through Facebook groups. She emphasizes that Facebook groups are not outdated and can be a secret weapon for brands. The main reasons to invest in a Facebook group are direct engagement, creating a sense of community, and gaining valuable insights. Michelle provides tips for building a thriving Facebook group, including defining its purpose, creating engaging content, setting clear rules, an...
Jul 26, 2024•16 min•Ep 406•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the secret sauce to social media success and reveals the three biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make on social media. The first mistake is content chaos, where entrepreneurs post sporadically without a plan. The second mistake is the 'me, me, me' message and mess, where entrepreneurs constantly self-promote without providing value to their audience. The third mistake is getting caught up in vanity metrics, such as likes and followers, instead of focusing ...
Jul 24, 2024•13 min•Ep 403•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the benefits of starting a podcast and shares her secrets to podcasting success. She emphasizes the importance of positioning yourself as an expert, building trust and credibility, and growing your audience organically. Michelle also highlights the value of podcasting for content creation and networking. She then explains her lazy approach to podcasting, which focuses on having a laser-focused niche, consistency, value-packed episodes, and building a co...
Jul 22, 2024•14 min•Ep 402•Transcript available on Metacast Are you tired of chasing followers and wondering why your brand isn't popping? In this episode, your girl Michelle Thames is spilling the tea on why follower count is overrated and how to build a community that will ride for your brand till the wheels fall off! We're talking about the myth of follower count, the power of community, and practical tips for building a tribe that loves your brand as much as you do. Get ready to ditch the vanity metrics and build real relationships with your audience...
Jul 19, 2024•15 min•Ep 401•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the power of evergreen content and its benefits for content creators, influencers, and entrepreneurs. Evergreen content is content that remains relevant and useful to new and returning visitors, regardless of the current news cycle or season. Michelle explains that evergreen content can drive sustained traffic to your site, boost your SEO, and help you establish yourself as an authority in your field. She emphasizes the importance of focusing on core is...
Jul 15, 2024•14 min•Ep 400•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames shares tactics to increase visibility on Instagram through Instagram Reels. She emphasizes the power of Instagram Reels in reaching a broader audience and engaging with users. Michelle discusses the importance of using trending audio and having an engaging start to your reel. She also highlights the value of offering valuable content in each second of the reel and maintaining consistency in posting. Michelle shares her own success with Instagram Reels and encoura...
Jul 08, 2024•10 min•Ep 399•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses a game-changing strategy for planning and organizing content. She emphasizes the importance of being intentional with content and aligning it with business goals. Michelle introduces AI tools like ChatGPT and Canva that can streamline the content creation process. She then outlines a one-hour content planning strategy that involves setting clear goals, brainstorming topics, organizing them on a content calendar, and outlining key points. Michelle also o...
Jul 01, 2024•13 min•Ep 398•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the benefits and process of starting a family-run business. She emphasizes the importance of trust, mutual respect, and clear communication when working with family members. Michelle shares several family business ideas, such as a plant nursery, holistic pet care, interior design, experiential learning programs, food truck business, event planning services, and fitness business. She also provides tips on getting started, including having a family meetin...
Jun 28, 2024•13 min•Ep 397•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the importance of staying motivated as an entrepreneur, especially during challenging times. She emphasizes the need to embrace the journey and appreciate the growth that comes from adversity. Michelle also highlights the significance of setting small achievable goals and celebrating daily wins. Staying connected with your why and building a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs are other key strategies she recommends. The main takeaway is t...
Jun 24, 2024•12 min•Ep 396•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle discusses how to leverage Instagram Stories to engage and sell to your audience, even if you have a small following. She emphasizes the power of Instagram Stories and the unique way it allows you to connect with your followers. Michelle provides tips on crafting compelling content, including using polls and questions to spark conversations, sharing behind-the-scenes content, and demonstrating products or services in action. She also highlights the importance of personal...
Jun 20, 2024•10 min•Ep 395•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses how to monetize your expertise and turn your skills into a profitable online income. She emphasizes the importance of identifying marketable skills, packaging up expertise, building an audience, and marketing and selling your expertise. Michelle provides examples of different platforms and strategies for monetizing skills, such as one-on-one services, digital products, YouTube channels, and podcasts. She also highlights the significance of building a st...
Jun 17, 2024•13 min•Ep 394•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames shares her personal journey, from being fired from her healthcare job to finding success in the digital world through social media. She talks about her experience in the healthcare field, her struggles to move up in the industry, and the pivotal moment of being fired. Michelle then discusses how she embraced the digital marketing world, relied on her side hustle, and eventually landed a job as a digital marketing manager for a beauty brand. She emphasizes the pow...
Jun 14, 2024•14 min•Ep 393•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames shares her top eight tools that have helped her run her business. The tools are categorized into communication and collaboration, creating content, managing the back end, and marketing and automation. Some of the tools mentioned include Slack for team communication, ClickUp for project management, Riverside for professional podcast and video recording, ChatGPT for AI-generated content, Google for email communication and document management, QuickBooks for account...
Jun 13, 2024•15 min•Ep 392•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the crucial steps to putting yourself out there online, setting goals, and building confidence. She emphasizes that everyone starts somewhere and that fear is normal but can be overcome through action. Michelle advises starting small and focusing on authenticity to attract an audience. She also emphasizes the importance of setting smart goals and taking action to execute ideas. The episode concludes with encouragement to take the first steps towards put...
Jun 10, 2024•11 min•Ep 391•Transcript available on Metacast Summary In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses the smoke and mirrors of online success posts on social media. She emphasizes taking these posts with a grain of salt and not getting caught up in the hype. Michelle highlights that many influencers are not making as much money as they claim and that building a sustainable business takes time and commitment. She encourages listeners to value transparency over theatrics and to focus on real success stories that involve years of hustle and grind. ...
Jun 05, 2024•11 min•Ep 390•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle discusses outdated tactics on Instagram and provides insights on how to keep your Instagram strategy fresh and effective in 2024. She covers topics such as niche-specific hashtags, over-promotional content, leveraging Instagram stories and reels, and the importance of audience interaction and engagement. Michelle emphasizes the need for authenticity, meaningful connections, and strategic planning to boost visibility and engagement on Instagram. Takeaways Instagram strat...
May 31, 2024•15 min•Ep 389•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses actionable ways to monetize social media efforts, including direct sales, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, offering exclusive content, and creating/selling digital products. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and value creation for the audience. Michelle also offers personalized marketing makeovers to help optimize social media strategies for maximum profitability. Takeaways Social media offers numerous opportunities for monetization b...
May 29, 2024•15 min•Ep 388•Transcript available on Metacast Do you want to know how to thrive in the digital marketplace? I have just the advice you're looking for. In this episode, Michelle Thames shares the top 10 strategies for entrepreneurs to thrive in the digital marketplace. The strategies include knowing your audience, engaging with them, creating consistent and high-quality content, leveraging multimedia, optimizing for SEO, automating routine tasks, diversifying income streams, focusing on growth and scaling, and continuously learning and adapt...
May 27, 2024•14 min•Ep 387•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle Thames discusses shiny object syndrome (SOS) and its impact on entrepreneurs and digital marketers. She explains that SOS is constantly switching from one new tool or trend to another, which dilutes efforts and hinders success. Michelle explores why people fall prey to SOS, such as the natural appetite for novelty and the fear of missing out. She provides strategies for overcoming SOS, including setting vision-based goals, embracing mastery, cultivating patience, and es...
May 20, 2024•12 min•Ep 386•Transcript available on Metacast Michelle Thames announces joining the Bleav Network , a major sports and entertainment powerhouse. She thanks her listeners for their support and shares her journey of organically starting the podcast. Michelle emphasizes that she will remain true to her authentic style and commitment to bringing realness to digital marketing. She assures listeners that the podcast will continue to provide valuable content and expects even more opportunities and collaborations in the future. Takeaways Starting a...
May 13, 2024•12 min•Ep 385•Transcript available on Metacast Understanding your audience is the foundation of successful marketing efforts. Tailoring your messages to their needs and preferences can make your content more engaging and effective. Methods to understand your audience include surveys, feedback forms, social media analytics, and creating customer personas. Applying audience insights can shift your business strategy and lead to remarkable results. Ignoring audience insights can result in wasted resources, disjointed campaigns, and missed opport...
May 08, 2024•8 min•Ep 384•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle discusses the power of email marketing as a cornerstone of effective digital marketing strategy. She highlights the benefits of direct access to your audience's inbox, higher engagement rates compared to social media, personalization and segmentation, building trust and credibility, and driving revenue through email marketing. Michelle also recommends email marketing tools and offers a free ebook on monetizing your email list. Takeaways Email marketing provides direct a...
May 06, 2024•11 min•Ep 383•Transcript available on Metacast This episode discusses the topic of turning a side hustle into a main hustle while balancing a nine-to-five job. The host shares tips on setting realistic goals, maximizing time, mastering schedule, building a brand, networking, learning and adapting, and knowing when to make the transition. The episode emphasizes the importance of hard work, patience, perseverance, and planning in the journey of transitioning from a side hustle to a main hustle. Takeaways Set realistic goals and prioritize task...
May 03, 2024•13 min•Ep 382•Transcript available on Metacast Consistency in content posting is crucial for success on social media. It builds trust, engages your audience, and helps the algorithm favor your content. However, maintaining consistency can be draining. Planning and scheduling are important for consistent content creation. It lets you stay on top of mind for your ideal clients and customers and gives the algorithms fresh content. Consistent posting also shows you are reliable, building trust over time. Creating a content calendar is essential ...
May 01, 2024•9 min•Ep 381•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of "Social Media Decoded," host Michelle explores the critical steps for identifying the most effective social media platform for your brand. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your digital marketing strategy, understanding where to focus your social media efforts can significantly impact your success. Michelle breaks down how to assess different platforms based on your business goals, audience demographics, and content type. Key Points Discussed: Understanding...
Apr 29, 2024•7 min•Ep 380•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Michelle discusses the potential ban of TikTok in the United States and its implications for digital entrepreneurs. She provides actionable tips to help entrepreneurs remain visible and adapt to the changing landscape. The main takeaways include diversifying social media presence, repurposing TikTok content on other platforms, fostering a sense of community beyond TikTok, and staying adaptable and innovative in marketing efforts. Takeaways Diversify your social media presence to...
Apr 24, 2024•8 min•Ep 379•Transcript available on Metacast 
