Social Media Decoded

In this Social Media Decoded episode, beauty industry leader, author, and business coach Ebony N. Stroder breaks down how to build a profitable, values-aligned brand without niching down. She shares real frameworks for juggling multiple passions, marketing different offers without confusing your audience, and creating systems that keep you visible (and paid) across diversified income streams. What You’ll Learn The multi-passionate blueprint: how to structure multiple offers under one clear brand Smart messaging: talk to one audience while selling more than one thing Systems that save time: content batching, quarterly planning, and light-lift launches Confidence + visibility: show up boldly online without burning out Revenue design: turn skills into diversified income streams that actually fit your life Resources Website: ebonynstroder.com E-commerce: shopatlastfashion.com Instagram: @MultipassionateEbony Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Ideal For Creators, coaches, beauty pros, and small business owners who resist “pick one thing” advice and want a sustainable way to embrace all their gifts while growing revenue. multi-passionate entrepreneur, diversified offers, personal branding for creatives, marketing multiple offers, visibility strategy, content systems for entrepreneurs, confidence online, beauty industry entrepreneur, small business growth, purpose-driven business, build a brand without niching down, time management for creators, income streams for coaches, audience clarity, sustainable marketing,

In this episode, Michelle Thames chats with visibility strategist and PR expert Lyndsey Akers, Founder & CEO of Akers&Co, about how high-achieving women can leverage their stories to grow powerful personal brands, land media coverage, and build legacy-driven businesses—without burnout or performative fluff. Whether you're pitching yourself for the first time, trying to expand your brand beyond social media, or tired of waiting for “permission” to show up boldly—this conversation will light a fire under you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to turn your personal story into a powerful brand message Why your lived experience is your superpower in PR The truth about landing media coverage as a values-driven entrepreneur 5 ways to build brand visibility beyond social media How to pitch yourself without overthinking or playing small Why someone less qualified is getting the spotlight you were made for How to start positioning your brand for real media opportunities Resources + Links Mentioned: Follow Lyndsey on Instagram: @lyndseyakers Subscribe to her newsletter: https://www.lyndseyakers.com/newsletter Listen to the Present and Powerful Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/present-and-powerful-omnipresence-in-leadership/id1794804827 Learn more about Akers&Co: http://www.akers.co Next Steps for Listeners: ✨ Ready to stop playing small and get visible with confidence?Start with Michelle’s FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge to get clear on your message and start showing up in a way that attracts aligned opportunities. 📲 Let’s connect on IG! Follow Michelle at @michellelthames PR for entrepreneurs, how to get media coverage, personal branding tips for women, brand visibility strategies, storytelling in business, how to pitch yourself for podcasts, legacy branding, visibility without burnout, women in PR, build a values-based brand, Lyndsey Akers interview, Akers&Co PR

In this Social Media Decoded episode, entrepreneur, professor, and coffee shop owner Tahnee Hipel shares how to build a feel-good business that balances profit with purpose—without buying into hustle culture. We dig into aligning your brand with your values, telling authentic stories on social, avoiding burnout, and turning clarity + consistency into cash (even if you’re pivoting or re-igniting your spark at 40+). What You’ll Learn The feel-good business blueprint: alignment > hustle, and what that looks like day-to-dayHow to use social media to tell your story authentically and attract aligned clients Practical steps to balance passion and profit (pricing, offers, boundaries) Burnout prevention: systems, routines, and energy management that actually work Getting started (or restarted) with your personal brand—without feeling fake or forced Guest Resources Website: tahneehipel.comYouTube: youtube.com/@TahneeHipel Success Planner: tahneehipel.com/success_plannerBruud Coffee Bar (Instagram): instagram.com/bruudcoffeebar Instagram (Tahnee): @tahneeunlimited Ideal For Women entrepreneurs, creators, and small business owners who want sustainable growth, brand alignment, and marketing that feels good and performs. Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE feel-good business, ditch hustle culture, authentic marketing, personal branding for entrepreneurs, values-based business, women entrepreneurs over 40, avoid burnout in business, balance passion and profit, social media storytelling, brand alignment, sustainable growth strategies, purpose-driven business, rebuild your brand, mindful entrepreneurship, routines for entrepreneurs,

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames sits down with Eternity Sledge — multi-passionate entrepreneur, community leader, and founder of the Multifaceted Collective — to talk about how she turned chaos into clarity through her unique G.L.A.D. philosophy. Eternity shares how she built a purpose-driven brand rooted in wellness, impact, and authenticity, while juggling multiple businesses and nonprofit work. Tune in for a powerful conversation on content strategy, brand messaging, and how to market as a multi-passionate entrepreneur.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Eternity developed the G.L.A.D. method to help overwhelmed entrepreneurs get clear and focusedThe mindset shifts needed to build a multi-passionate brand without burnoutHer journey from walking away from traditional education to creating her own pathThe strategy behind her wellness subscription box and community, the Multifaceted CollectiveHow she balances business and nonprofit work with a clear marketing messageTips for building visibility and impact across multiple platformsResources & Links:🎯 Grab the Chaos to Clarity Guided Journal🌱 Join the Multifaceted Collective💡 Support her nonprofit Mirkat Impact📲 Connect with Eternity on Instagram: @eternitysledgeLet’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:Instagram: @michellelthamesThreads: @michellelthamesLinkedIn: Michelle L ThamesYouTube: Michelle L ThamesPodcast: Social Media DecodedReady to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE

Michelle Thames teaches a simple 3-step lead engine that turns short daily content into 15 qualified leads per day using a DM keyword, a saved replies stack, and a clear offer line you can write in three minutes.What You’ll LearnThe “15→15” system: content → keyword → conversation → bookingHow to choose one offer and one keyword for the weekThe one-sentence offer line that makes people instantly “get” what you doCopy-and-paste Saved Replies Stack for deliver → clarify → inviteA 15-minute multi-platform routine (IG, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, podcast)The five metrics that actually predict sales (not vanity likes)Action StepsWrite your offer line with the fill-in template.Set POWER as this week’s keyword and add it to every post.Save the three replies (delivery, clarifier, invite) inside your DMs.Post one 60-second tip with a keyword CTA today.Track DMs started, replies, bookings, and revenue for seven days.Resources Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:Instagram: @michellelthamesThreads: @michellelthamesLinkedIn: Michelle L ThamesYouTube: Michelle L ThamesPodcast: Social Media DecodedReady to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HEREPower Hour (Visibility/Podcast Audit): DM POWER on Instagram for the booking link.Spotify Q&A: What’s your offer line? Share it and I’ll give feedback in a future episode.

In this Social Media Decoded episode, marketing strategist Lindsey Wagnon breaks down how women founders can ditch hustle culture, simplify their marketing, and scale sustainably—especially in the first 1–3 years of business. We cover lean-budget marketing, post-purchase automations that turn buyers into promoters, and the exact systems Lindsey uses to show up consistently without a huge team or ad spend.What You’ll LearnThe lean, high-impact marketing moves to grow on a shoestringHow to set up post-purchase funnels that create repeat buyers & referralsA simple, sustainable content system for busy women with a 9–5What to stop doing (common money/time wasters in early marketing)How to align your schedule, boundaries, and business model to avoid burnoutGuestLindsey Wagnon — Founder, Lindsey Wagnon Marketing; host of The Savvy Startup Marketer podcast; specialist in strategic, affordable, automation-driven marketing for women-owned small businesses.Website: lindseywagnon.comInstagram: @lindseywagnonmarketing

In this fun and insightful episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames chats with Kaelyn Urena, Founder & CEO of Socially Smooth, to uncover why so many entrepreneurs and brands are struggling to get engagement on social media—and how to fix it fast.Kaelyn shares her top strategies for creating actionable content, sparking meaningful engagement, and building a loyal, thriving community. If you're tired of posting and getting nothing but crickets, this episode is your wake-up call! Learn how to create content that actually connects, works with the algorithm, and turns followers into superfans.Whether you're a coach, content creator, small business owner, or digital marketer—this is a must-listen!What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why your content might be flopping (and how to turn it around)✅ The key ingredients of content that gets people talking✅ How to create social posts that build real community✅ What most brands get wrong about engagement✅ How to use storytelling, trends, and consistency the right way✅ Kaelyn’s favorite hacks for beating the algorithm and staying relevantGuest Info:🔗 Website: talbotmedia.tv📲 Instagram: @kaelyn_nicole__, @socially.smooth, @talbotmediaConnect with Michelle:💻 Website: www.michellethames.com📲 Instagram: @michellelthamesSEO Keywords (include in upload platform tags & blog post):social media content strategy, how to increase engagement on Instagram, social media marketing tips, build an online community, actionable content strategy, content that converts, Kaelyn Urena, Socially Smooth, how to grow on social media 2025, why my content isn't worki 

Think PR is only for big brands with big budgets? Think again. In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames sits down with Katrina Owens, founder of Knockout Directive and a top brand and publicity expert, to reveal how any personal brand can use public relations to skyrocket visibility and attract game-changing opportunities. Katrina shares how one speaking gig completely transformed her career, why building a “blue ocean” personal brand is your ticket to standing out, and exactly how PR can fuel your social media growth. You’ll discover practical, beginner-friendly PR strategies you can start using today to get featured in podcasts, publications, and stages—without waiting for a massive following. Whether you’re a coach, service provider, or online entrepreneur, this episode will teach you how to pitch yourself with confidence, leverage your wins for more visibility, and build a brand that feels famous for the right reasons. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why PR is a secret growth weapon for personal brands The key elements of a “blue ocean” brand How PR and social media work together for maximum reach 3 steps to become press-ready today Ways to repurpose and leverage PR wins for long-term growth Connect with Katrina Owens: Website: https://www.knockoutdirective.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knockoutdirective/ Join the Fame-Ready Challenge: https://knockoutdirective.myflodesk.com/fame-ready-challenge Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Get your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE! Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners!public relations for personal brands, PR strategies for entrepreneurs, how to get featured in the media, PR tips for coaches, blue ocean branding, personal brand PR tactics, grow your brand with PR, podcast PR tips, how to become press-ready, publicity for entrepreneurs

If you’re still telling people to “click the link in bio,” you might be losing sales. In this powerful Fast-Fix Friday episode, host Michelle Thames breaks down why DM automation is outperforming traditional links—and exactly how to use it to convert more leads and boost engagement on Instagram. Michelle shares: The psychology behind why “comment to buy” works A 3-step strategy to set up keyword-triggered DMs (without being techy) Real examples for coaches, product-based brands, and service providers How to hack the IG algorithm using DMs The secret to turning your content into a 24/7 lead machine Plus, get her Done-for-You DM Automation Mini-Kit—with pre-written templates you can plug into ManyChat or Meta’s native tools for just $10. If you’re tired of low clicks and zero conversions, this episode is your sign to stop linking out—and start closing inside the DMs. 🧩 Resources Mentioned: 💬 DM Automation Mini-Kit – $10 Templates 🧠 Power Hour: IG Audit & Fix Session Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Get your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE! Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners! Instagram sales funnel, Instagram DM strategy, DM automation for Instagram, keyword-triggered DMs, how to sell on Instagram without a website, Instagram marketing tips 2025, ManyChat Instagram automation, comment to buy Instagram, Instagram CTA examples, Instagram engagement hacks, Michelle Thames marketing, Social Media Decoded podcast

In this inspiring episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames sits down with Deidra Fogarty, business coach, marketing strategist, and founder of Black Girls Teach. Deidra shares how educators can turn their classroom expertise into thriving coaching and consulting businesses. If you’re an overworked teacher ready to monetize your skills and build a personal brand that pays, this episode is packed with game-changing insights.Whether you're a current educator or recently left the classroom, you'll learn how to package your knowledge, position yourself as a thought leader, and confidently step into entrepreneurship.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✅ Why educators already have expertise that can be monetized✅ The first steps to building a profitable personal brand as a teacher✅ How to turn your educational background into a thriving coaching or consulting business✅ Social media tips to build visibility and attract clients✅ A mindset shift from being a teacher to becoming a CEO✅ How Deidra helps educators package their offers and make consistent incomeGuest Info:👩🏽‍🏫 Deidra Fogarty is a former teacher, assistant principal, and instructional coach turned business strategist. Through Black Girls Teach, she helps educators launch and grow successful online businesses by leveraging their expertise.🔗 Work With Deidra: https://bit.ly/Work-with-Dee📸 Instagram: @teachmedee | @blackgirlsteach🌐 Website: blackgirlsteach.com | deidrafogarty.comLet’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:Instagram: @michellelthamesThreads: @michellelthamesLinkedIn: Michelle L ThamesYouTube: Michelle L ThamesPodcast: Social Media DecodedReady to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HEREGet your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE!Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners!

In this real and raw episode, Michelle Thames shares her behind-the-scenes journey of pivoting her marketing agency while actively building a personal brand media company in real time.She dives into why she walked away from the traditional done-for-you agency model, how she's evolving her business to align with her values, and what this shift means for women entrepreneurs, creatives, and founders who are craving visibility with more freedom and purpose.Whether you're a multi-passionate entrepreneur, a coach, or a content creator thinking about rebranding, shifting directions, or expanding your personal brand, this episode is for you.Topics Covered:Why I’m pivoting out of agency lifeBuilding a lean, impactful media companyWhat I’m keeping vs letting goHow I’m integrating coaching, community, retreats, and strategyBuilding a personal brand media company for visibility & legacyWhat this means for YOU (and how we can work together)Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:Instagram: @michellelthamesThreads: @michellelthamesLinkedIn: Michelle L ThamesYouTube: Michelle L ThamesPodcast: Social Media DecodedReady to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HEREGet your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE!Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners!

Ever wondered what it really takes to sell out a women’s business event? In this no-fluff episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames takes you behind the curtain of Elevate & Empower LIVE 2025—sharing her proven strategies for curating the right room, building buzz, and delivering massive value that converts. You’ll discover why most events leave you with just a selfie (and no ROI)—and how Michelle flips the script with a playbook that prioritizes execution, community, and results. In this episode, you’ll learn: The #1 reason most women’s conferences miss the mark (and how to do it differently) The 4-step event framework that fills any retreat, summit, or mastermind—even if you’re starting from scratch How to choose (and pitch) speakers who drive value, action, and next-level transformation Insider strategies for audience research, sponsor outreach, and building a buzzworthy promo calendar What actually happens at Elevate & Empower LIVE—from VIP dinners to networking Bingo Nights and hands-on workshops Tangible takeaways you can steal for your next launch or event—whether you have 5 seats or 50 Meet the 2025 Speaker Lineup: Jordan Gill (Systems Saved Me): The queen of clarity and systems for service providers and coaches Taylor Smith (Power Table Live): Community-building strategist and “Community is the New Currency” movement leader Candace Junée (Epic Fab Girl): Marketing expert and offer-crafting powerhouse for ambitious women entrepreneurs PLUS:Michelle’s real talk on why she hosts events (and how they’ve changed her life and business), behind-the-scenes moments, and how you can get in the room—or steal her blueprint for your own. Ready for more? Download Michelle’s free Event Promo Pack for scripts, outreach templates, and her full event checklist.Join the email list to get first dibs on tickets, bonuses, and resources to take your brand to the next level. Resources Mentioned: Elevate & Empower LIVE 2025 Tickets Event Promo Pack Download – HERE Connect on Instagram: @michellelthames Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Get your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE! Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners! how to fill an event, women’s business event, entrepreneurship conference, speaker pitching, event promo strategies, visibility, marketing, Elevate & Empower LIVE, Michelle Thames, women in business, business networking, event launch tips

Michelle Thames breaks down the exact email pitch and follow-up cadence that secured her speaking slot at the Black Women’s Expo—and then hands you her “Stage-to-Story” workflow for turning one talk into five high-performing Instagram posts. Perfect for creators, coaches, and service pros who want to book stages and squeeze weeks of content (and revenue) from a single appearance. Key Points Covered Opportunity Radar: How Michelle spotted and responded to the BWE call for speakers in under 15 minutes. Exact Pitch Email Template: Subject line, credibility bullets, and closing sentence that got the yes. Follow-Up Timeline: 48-hour bump, 96-hour LinkedIn nudge, and the “asset ask” that guarantees video + photos. Stage-to-Story Workflow: Five IG content pieces—hero photo, reel, carousel, Stories highlight, quote graphic—and the 7-day posting schedule. Monetization Play: Convert your talk into a newsletter hook, podcast episode, and $37 mini-offer. Action plan listeners can copy this week to pitch their own stages. Action Steps Create a Google Alert: “[Your industry] + call for speakers + 2025.” Customize Michelle’s pitch email (see PDF). Schedule two follow-up reminders in your calendar. Secure recording and photo pass before event day. Use the Stage-to-Story checklist to plan five posts from one talk. Resources Mentioned Power Hour – Visibility Power Session Pitch Audit FREE Stage-to-Story Checklist - DM ME on IG @michellelthames and ask for this (say you listened this episode 😉) secure speaking engagements, speaker pitch email template, repurpose speaking content, Instagram content from live event, stage to social workflow, Black Women’s Expo speaker, Michelle Thames visibility tips, how to get speaking gigs 2025, create content from keynote, social media strategy for speakers

This episode hands you a clear, week-by-week roadmap for August, showing exactly how to fix your funnel, optimize one platform, activate community, and upsell with smart surveys—so you can boost visibility and revenue without overwhelm. Key Points Covered Why one focus per week beats multitasking for brand growth Week-1 “Bio & Link” funnel audit to capture more leads instantly Week-2 SEO tune-up for Instagram, LinkedIn, or your podcast trailer Week-3 micro-challenge framework to spark community engagement Week-4 upsell-and-survey strategy that drives sales and market research in one move Two 90-minute implementation blocks to lock in momentum Action Steps Rewrite your IG bio and replace multiple links with one clear freebie. Add keyword-rich alt text to ten existing posts or publish a 60-second podcast trailer. Run a five-day challenge inside your group or Stories to activate members. Offer a bite-size product and survey buyers on next-step desires. Resources Mentioned Visibility Insider newsletter for the printable F.O.C.U.S. worksheet- DM Me on IG @MichelleLThames Free 7-Day Visibility Challenge for daily accountability Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE Get your FREE $200-a-day Story Strategy guide HERE! Want my proven story strategy that’s helping women earn $200/day from their audience? DM “STORY” to me on Instagram (@michellelthames) and I’ll send you my favorite visibility and sales framework—free for listeners! Share This Episode Post a screenshot to your Stories with the week you’re tackling first and tag @socialmediadecodedpod and @michellelthames. Your plan could be highlighted in an upcoming recap. August marketing plan, monthly brand action plan, weekly content strategy, Instagram funnel audit, social media community challenge, upsell survey method, Michelle Thames visibility tips, 4-week business growth roadmap, social media action plan 2025, small business August strategy

Instagram has quietly rolled out a change that lets Google index your public posts, opening the door to evergreen search traffic. In this episode Michelle Thames explains what “indexing” means, why it matters for creators and brands, and three quick optimizations you can apply this weekend to start showing up in Google results. Key Points Covered What changed in 2025: Instagram’s new crawlable post wrapper How alt text, captions, and on-page engagement now fuel Google ranking Difference between hashtag reach and true search indexing Three fast wins: keyword-first captions, strategic alt text, and carousel keyword stacking Power tip: cross-linking your post in Threads for instant backlink juice Action Steps Front-load keywords in the first 120 characters of future captions. Write descriptive alt text for at least ten existing posts. Post a fresh carousel with slide-by-slide keyword variants and a clear CTA. Check out the new Visible & Booked merch and share how you’re wearing it! Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere: Instagram: @michellelthames Threads: @michellelthames LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames YouTube: Michelle L Thames Podcast: Social Media Decoded Book a Power Hour Strategy Session HERE Free 7 Day Authority Shift: Private Audio Experience Story Strategy Guide (Free Download): HERE Shop the Visible & Booked Merch Collection: HERE Follow Michelle on Instagram: @michellelthames Share This Episode! Screenshot this episode and tag @michellelthames with your biggest takeaway.Share your thoughts on Spotify comments or on Threads—Michelle loves featuring listener wins and tips! Instagram SEO update 2025, Google indexing Instagram posts, how to write alt text on IG, Instagram captions for SEO, Instagram carousel SEO strategy, social media search traffic, evergreen Instagram reach, Michelle Thames podcast, IG algorithm changes 2025, optimize Instagram for Google search