Social Media Decoded

What if turning 40 isn't about having everything figured out—but finally having enough experience to build what you actually want?

In this special 40th birthday episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames reflects on entrepreneurship, reinvention, visibility, relationships, community, success, and what it really means to start over.

After years of building businesses, creating content, podcasting, speaking, working with brands and clients, experiencing setbacks, pivoting, and rebuilding, Michelle is entering her 40s with a completely different definition of success.

This isn't a "40 lessons at 40" episode.

It's a conversation about becoming.

Michelle shares the biggest lessons she's carrying into this next decade and why she believes your experience, relationships, reputation, and body of work become some of your greatest assets as you evolve.

If you're rebuilding your business, reinventing yourself, questioning what's next, or wondering whether it's too late to change directions, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why you're allowed to become someone new
• Why starting over doesn't mean starting from zero
• How years of experience create valuable pattern recognition
• Why visibility is a doorway—not the final destination
• How to turn visibility into relationships, opportunities, and revenue
• Why relationships can become more valuable than follower count
• How to stop building your business around being understood by everyone
• Why your real life, interests, expertise, and experiences can work together inside your brand
• Why results and case studies matter when positioning yourself as an expert
• What Michelle has learned from helping local businesses turn visibility into real-world customer activity
• Why sometimes you need to build the room you've been waiting to enter
• How Michelle is approaching Connected & Paid and Connected & Paid Live
• Why age and experience can become business advantages
• Why experts are still allowed to evolve, learn, and ask for help
• How to stop constantly proving yourself
• Why Michelle is prioritizing visibility, relationships, community, and opportunity in her next decade
• How to build a business that supports the life you actually want

Starting Over Doesn't Mean Starting From Zero

One of the biggest lessons Michelle is carrying into 40 is that rebuilding doesn't erase everything that came before it.

When you start again, you bring your:

Experience.

Relationships.

Skills.

Reputation.

Body of work.

Mistakes.

Data.

Stories.

Results.

And pattern recognition.

You aren't necessarily beginning at zero.

You're beginning again with experience.

That distinction can completely change how you approach a season of reinvention.

Visibility Isn't the Goal

Michelle has spent years teaching visibility, but her philosophy around visibility has evolved.

Getting seen isn't enough.

Going viral isn't enough.

Growing followers isn't enough.

The bigger question is:

What happens because people saw you?

Did someone join your email list?

Book a call?

Invite you to speak?

Discover your business?

Become a customer?

Attend your event?

Refer you?

Offer a partnership?

Visibility creates the opportunity to be discovered.

Your ecosystem determines where that attention goes next.

Relationships Over Followers

One conversation can create an introduction.

One introduction can create an opportunity.

One room can create a relationship.

One relationship can eventually create a client, collaboration, referral, speaking engagement, media opportunity, or partnership.

That's why Michelle is entering this decade thinking differently about networking and community.

Instead of walking into every room asking, "Who can buy from me?" she's focused on deeper questions:

Who should I know?

Who should know me?

Who can I help?

Who should meet each other?

What could we build together?

Because some opportunities aren't hiding inside another social media strategy.

They're hiding inside relationships you haven't built yet.

Build the Room You Wish Existed

Michelle also shares why she's building Connected & Paid Live and creating spaces for women who are building, reinventing, looking for meaningful connections, and ready for bigger opportunities.

Sometimes you're waiting for an invitation into a room you're actually supposed to create.

Start the podcast.

Host the dinner.

Create the community.

Build the offer.

Plan the event.

Make the introduction.

Create what you wish existed.

Your Age Can Be an Asset

Turning 40 isn't making Michelle feel like time is running out.

It's making her more intentional about how she uses her time.

Experience brings context.

Discernment.

Relationships.

Stories.

Receipts.

Pattern recognition.

And a clearer understanding of what you actually want.

Whether you're 30, 40, 50, 60, or beyond, reinvention doesn't have an expiration date.

Stop Trying to Prove Yourself

There's a difference between communicating your authority and constantly trying to convince people you're worthy.

You can be an expert and still be evolving.

You can teach and still learn.

You can lead and still ask for help.

You can be successful while rebuilding another part of your life or business.

Those truths don't have to compete with each other.

What Michelle Is Building at 40

Michelle is entering this next decade focused on four things:

Visibility. Relationships. Community. Opportunity.

Visibility helps the right people discover you.

Relationships turn recognition into trust.

Community creates proximity and belonging.

And together, those things can create opportunities—clients, collaborations, speaking engagements, media, referrals, partnerships, and revenue.

The goal isn't simply to become internet famous.

It's to become known for something that matters and build somewhere for that visibility to go.

Ready for Your Own Next Chapter?

If you've been following Michelle's journey and thinking, "I need Michelle's eyes on my business," this is your invitation.

Book a 1:1 Visibility Strategy Call with Michelle.

Together, you'll look beyond simply posting more content and examine the bigger picture:

What are you building?

What do you want to become known for?

Where are people discovering you?

What happens when they find you?

Where are you sending them?

What's confusing?

What's disconnected?

What opportunities could you be overlooking?

And what can you simplify?

You may not need more content.

You may need clarity.

You may not need another offer.

You may need stronger positioning.

You may not need more followers.

You may need a better pathway for the people already paying attention.

DM Michelle the number 40 for information about working together.

Join the Birthday Conversation

Instead of simply wishing Michelle a happy birthday, answer this question:

What are YOU building in your next chapter?

If you're listening on Spotify, share your answer in the comments.

And if this episode reminds you of a woman who's rebuilding, reinventing, or entering a new chapter, send this episode to her.

Remind her:

You're not starting from zero. You're starting from experience.

Key Takeaway

Maybe 40 isn't about arriving.

Maybe it's about finally having enough life behind you to intentionally build what's next.

More visibility.

Better relationships.

Stronger community.

Bigger opportunities.

More revenue.

More peace.

And a whole lot less proving.

Here's to the next decade.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everybody wants more visibility—more followers, more views, more reach, and more people discovering their business.

But what happens after they find you?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, visibility strategist and Thames Media Solutions founder Michelle Thames challenges entrepreneurs to stop thinking only about getting more attention and start thinking about where that attention is going.

Because visibility without a next step is just attention.

If 10,000 new people discovered your business today, would they know what to do next?

Could they join your email list?

Book a strategy call?

Join your membership?

Attend your event?

Buy your product?

Start a conversation?

Or would they simply consume your content and keep scrolling?

Michelle breaks down how to build a visibility ecosystem that turns attention into relationships, opportunities, community, and revenue.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why more visibility isn't always the solution to your marketing problem
• The difference between attention and intentional visibility
• Why going viral doesn't automatically create revenue
• What should happen after someone discovers your content
• Why every business needs a clear destination for its visibility
• How to choose the right call to action based on your content
• Why your email list, events, membership, products, services, and conversations should work together
• How to build a customer journey instead of collecting followers
• Why content should be the entrance to your ecosystem—not the entire strategy
• How Michelle is applying this strategy while building Connected & Paid and Connected & Paid Live
• Why in-person events can deepen relationships that started online
• How community can become part of your business growth strategy
• Why proximity, introductions, conversations, and relationships matter in an AI-driven world
• How to connect social media, email, podcasting, events, offers, and community
• Why follower count doesn't necessarily equal business strength
• The five questions to ask when auditing your visibility ecosystem

Visibility Without a Next Step Is Just Attention

A Reel can get 20,000 views.

A post can go viral.

A speaking engagement can put you in front of hundreds of people.

But if those people don't know where to go next, much of that attention disappears.

Visibility creates the opportunity.

Strategy builds the bridge.

Instead of only asking, “How can I get more people to see me?” Michelle encourages entrepreneurs to ask:

“What do I want people to do after they see me?”

That's where visibility starts becoming a business strategy.

You Need a Destination

Your destination doesn't have to be the same for every piece of content.

Depending on your business, the next step could be:

• Joining your email list
• Booking a strategy call
• Entering your membership
• Registering for an event
• Purchasing a product
• Listening to your podcast
• Starting a conversation

The goal isn't to give your audience ten different calls to action at once.

It's to create a logical next step based on where they are in the relationship with you.

Content Gets Attention. Your Ecosystem Does the Rest.

Your social media shouldn't exist separately from your email.

Your email shouldn't exist separately from your offers.

Your podcast shouldn't exist separately from your events.

Your events shouldn't exist separately from your community.

Instead, think about the journey:

Content → Conversation → Relationship → Community → Opportunity → Revenue

Someone might discover you through a Reel.

That Reel could lead them to your podcast.

Your podcast could lead them to your email list.

Your email could invite them to an event.

The event could create a relationship.

That relationship could eventually lead to a client, collaboration, referral, partnership, or another opportunity you couldn't have predicted.

That's an ecosystem.

Building Connected & Paid Live

Michelle also takes listeners behind the scenes of how she's thinking about Connected & Paid Live.

Rather than simply trying to sell event tickets, she's intentionally building a room where women can create relationships, make introductions, have meaningful conversations, and discover new opportunities.

From speaker announcements to preview calls, podcast episodes, community conversations, and event content, each piece is designed to help people understand the vision behind the room and decide whether they want to become part of it.

Because sometimes the most valuable thing that happens at an event isn't what happens on the stage.

It's meeting the person sitting next to you.

Your 5-Question Visibility Audit

Ask yourself:

1. Where are people discovering me?

Social media? Search? Referrals? Speaking? Podcasting? Networking? Events?

2. What do I want them to do next?

Choose a primary next step instead of sending people in ten different directions.

3. Is the next step obvious?

Could someone discovering you for the first time figure it out quickly?

4. What happens after they take that step?

How are you nurturing the relationship and staying connected?

5. What is the deeper destination?

Is the ultimate goal a service, product, membership, event, community, partnership, or client relationship?

When you can answer those questions, you're no longer simply creating content.

You're building an ecosystem.

Join the Next Fill the Room Preview Call

If you've been watching Michelle build Connected & Paid Live and you're curious about the room, join the next Fill the Room preview call.

Michelle will walk you through what she's creating, who Connected & Paid Live is for, what you can expect from the experience, and why she believes this room is going to be special.

Not only because of who's on the stage—but because of who's going to be sitting next to you.

DM Michelle the word ROOM for information about the next Fill the Room preview call and Connected & Paid Live.

Join the Conversation

If you're listening on Spotify, answer this question in the comments:

Where are you currently sending people after they discover you?

Your email list?

Website?

Strategy call?

Membership?

Event?

Or nowhere yet?

And if you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and share your biggest takeaway from this episode.

Key Takeaway

You don't always need more visibility.

You need somewhere for your visibility to go.

Content gets attention. Your ecosystem turns that attention into relationships and revenue.

Stop measuring your entire marketing strategy by how many people saw you.

Start building a clear path for the right people to discover you, trust you, enter your world, and take the next step.

Because visibility gets you noticed.

Your ecosystem gives people a reason to stay.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a local business stops simply posting on social media and starts using a real visibility strategy?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, visibility strategist and Thames Media Solutions founder Michelle Thames takes listeners behind the scenes of a real local marketing case study with Honey Bee Gardens in Downers Grove, Illinois.

In roughly 30 days, Michelle and her team helped the farm create a more strategic approach to social media, storytelling, email marketing, calls to action, community marketing, automation, and customer follow-up.

And the results started showing up beyond likes and followers.

The farm reported 180 new customers from social media in one week, Farm-to-Table Dinner registrations grew from approximately 20 to 67, and one promotional Reel generated 800+ comments.

But this episode isn't about chasing viral numbers.

It's about turning visibility into action.

Michelle breaks down the exact strategy behind the results—and the lessons any local business owner can use to make their marketing work harder.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why posting consistently is not the same as having a marketing strategy
• How to identify a visibility problem inside a local business
• Why businesses should market experiences instead of constantly marketing themselves
• How storytelling creates curiosity and gives customers a reason to visit
• Why clarity is essential for converting social media followers into customers
• How Honey Bee Gardens' Farm-to-Table Dinner grew from approximately 20 registrations to 67
• What Michelle's team learned from a Reel that generated more than 800 comments
• How automation helped turn social media interest into a clear path to registration
• Why engagement means very little without a next step
• How Honey Bee Gardens reported 180 new customers coming from social media in one week
• How strategic marketing helped rebuild momentum despite weather-related cancellations
• Why local businesses need multiple marketing touchpoints instead of relying solely on Instagram
• How email, Facebook, social media, websites, events, automation, and word of mouth work together
• Why every piece of content needs a specific job
• How to use data to adjust your content strategy in real time
• Why a strong customer experience has to exist before marketing can amplify it
• The difference between a social media problem and a visibility-system problem

The Honey Bee Gardens Results

When Thames Media Solutions began working with Honey Bee Gardens around July 27, one of the immediate goals was increasing awareness and driving more people to the farm's experiences.

One major focus was the Farm-to-Table Dinner.

At the beginning of the partnership, approximately 20 people were registered.

That number grew to approximately 67 registrations.

Content surrounding the dinner also generated significant interest, including one Reel that received 800+ comments.

Instead of allowing that engagement to stop at the comment section, Michelle created an automated follow-up process through Meta's business tools so interested people could receive the registration link.

The strategy connected:

Content → Interest → CTA → Follow-Up → Link → Opportunity to Convert

The farm also reported 180 new customers attributed to social media during one week, based on asking visitors how they discovered the farm.

During the broader campaign period, website sessions also surpassed 8,300, representing an increase of approximately 160% compared with the previous period.

Michelle explains why these numbers should not all be attributed to one Reel or one marketing channel. Social media, email, existing customers, word of mouth, the farm's reputation, repeated promotion, and other touchpoints all worked together.

That's exactly why businesses need a marketing ecosystem.

Stop Selling the Business. Start Selling the Experience.

One of the biggest changes was shifting the messaging away from simply telling people to "visit the farm."

Instead, the strategy answered the question:

Why should someone come?

Family activities.

Adult experiences.

Farm-to-Table dining.

Flowers.

Seasonal activities.

Weekend outings.

Homeschool experiences.

Local events.

The business wasn't simply selling access to a farm.

It was showing potential customers:

"Here's what your Saturday could look like."

That shift makes marketing more relevant to the customer's actual life.

The Visibility System

Michelle shares a six-part framework local businesses can use to evaluate their marketing:

1. Discovery: Can the right people find you?

2. Curiosity: Does your content make them care?

3. Clarity: Do they understand what you're offering?

4. Action: Do they know what to do next?

5. Follow-Up: What happens after someone shows interest?

6. Retention: How are you getting customers to return?

You don't necessarily need 100 more posts.

You need these six pieces working together.

Content Needs a Job

Before creating your next Reel, Facebook post, email, or video, ask:

What is this content supposed to do?

Is it designed to create discovery?

Build trust?

Drive registrations?

Capture leads?

Start conversations?

Bring customers through the door?

When content has a clear job, marketing becomes much more strategic.

Ready to Build Your Visibility Strategy?

If you're posting consistently but aren't sure why that attention isn't turning into customers, clients, registrations, or revenue, Michelle offers 1:1 Visibility Strategy Calls.

During the session, you'll look at your:

• Visibility
• Messaging
• Content
• Offers
• Customer journey
• Follow-up
• Marketing ecosystem

The goal isn't another generic social media consultation telling you to post more Reels.

It's identifying where people are dropping off and developing a visibility strategy connected to what your business is actually trying to accomplish.

DM Michelle the word STRATEGY to learn more about booking a 1:1 Visibility Strategy Call.

Join the Conversation

Where is your visibility system breaking down?

Discovery? Curiosity? Clarity? Conversion? Follow-up? Retention?

If you're listening on Spotify, leave your answer in the episode comments.

If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and share your biggest takeaway from this case study.

Key Takeaway

The goal of visibility isn't to be seen by everybody.

It's to be seen by the right people—and make it easy for them to take the next step.

Don't just post.

Tell better stories.

Create curiosity.

Give people a clear reason to act.

Follow up.

Watch the data.

Adjust the strategy.

And most importantly:

Know the job of your content.

Because when your content has a job, your marketing gets a whole lot smarter.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if growing your business doesn’t require creating more content, launching another offer, or spending even more time on social media?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, marketing strategist and entrepreneur Michelle Thames shares why she’s approaching September differently. Instead of doing more, she’s focusing on making the visibility, content, relationships, and platforms she has already built work harder.

After years of building her personal brand, podcast, email list, local visibility, speaking opportunities, partnerships, events, and community, Michelle is shifting from constant creation to leverage.

She breaks down what has actually moved her business forward—and why relationships, follow-up, community, strategic partnerships, and a connected visibility ecosystem often create more opportunities than simply posting more.

If you're an entrepreneur who feels like you're constantly creating but not getting enough business from your visibility, this episode will help you rethink your strategy.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why doing more isn't always the answer to business growth
• The difference between being busy and building momentum
• What has actually created opportunities in Michelle's business
• Why relationships are an essential part of a visibility strategy
• How Michelle is batching her podcast and content to create more freedom
• How to repurpose one idea across multiple marketing channels
• Why email marketing needs to do more than promote your offers
• How to turn podcasting into a larger authority-building strategy
• Why speaking opportunities need a clear next step
• How strategic partnerships can expand your reach faster than building alone
• Why Michelle is investing more deeply in community
• How to create a visibility ecosystem that connects your content, email, podcast, events, offers, and relationships
• Why entrepreneurs should focus on leverage instead of constantly adding more

The September Shift: From More to Leverage

Michelle's focus for September is simple:

Stop automatically adding more. Start leveraging what already works.

That means batching content instead of reinventing it every day.

Nurturing an existing email list instead of only chasing new followers.

Following up with relationships instead of constantly looking for new contacts.

Turning podcast episodes into emails, social media content, speaking points, and community conversations.

Being more selective about events, collaborations, and speaking opportunities.

And creating a business that doesn't require the founder to be online every minute for the business to keep growing.

Because sometimes growth isn't addition.

Sometimes growth is leverage.

Join the Conversation

Michelle wants to hear from you.

If you're listening on Spotify, finish this sentence in the episode comments:

“In September, I'm no longer __________.”

What are you simplifying, eliminating, or refusing to force in your business?

If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and share your answer there.

Join Connected & Paid

If you're ready to become more intentional about your visibility, relationships, implementation, and business growth without trying to figure everything out alone, join Michelle inside Connected & Paid.

Connected & Paid is a community for ambitious women who want to become more visible, build meaningful relationships, create opportunities, and turn their expertise into a business that works.

DM Michelle the word CONNECTED to learn more.

Key Takeaway

You may not need another platform.

You may not need another offer.

You may not need more content.

You may not even need more followers.

You may need to make what you've already built work harder.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if growing your business online didn’t require creating brand-new content every single day?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames sits down with creator, educator, agency owner, and Call Her Creator podcast host Katelyn Rhoades for a real conversation about visibility, content systems, creator confidence, and building a business that doesn’t depend on one platform or one income stream.

Katelyn shares how she went from working a traditional marketing job to building an online audience, launching a social media agency, growing a podcast, creating digital products, landing brand partnerships, and developing her Visibility Vault.

But the biggest lesson?

You don’t have to constantly reinvent the wheel to stay visible.

Michelle and Katelyn break down how repeatable content frameworks, recognizable branding, strategic repurposing, strong hooks, carousels, email marketing, and documenting your real life can help you become memorable without burning yourself out trying to create something new every day.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How Katelyn used social media visibility to leave her job and build her own business
• Why consistently showing up online can create opportunities you never expected
• How to stop putting pressure on yourself to create completely new content every day
• Why content frameworks and repeatable templates can actually make you more creative
• How recognizable branding helps people remember your content
• Why your best-performing content should be repurposed instead of abandoned
• How Katelyn reviews 30-, 60-, and 90-day content performance to decide what to create next
• Why people probably didn’t see your content the first time you posted it
• How to use carousels strategically with stronger hooks, value, and calls to action
• Why documenting your real life can sometimes connect better than highly polished content
• How visibility helped Katelyn land opportunities including Forbes, podcast sponsorships, speaking, and brand work
• Why being good at what you do isn’t enough if nobody knows you exist
• How showing up online can strengthen your confidence as an entrepreneur
• Why follower count shouldn’t determine whether you start pitching yourself or sharing your expertise
• How email can create deeper relationships when you stop treating every message like a marketing campaign
• Why entrepreneurs should build multiple streams of income
• How Katelyn currently monetizes through agency services, creator partnerships, podcasting, digital products, memberships, and the Visibility Vault
• Why building an email list, podcast, or other owned audience matters if social media disappears
• How authenticity will become even more valuable as AI-generated content becomes more common

Stop Reinventing the Wheel

One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that consistency doesn’t mean creating something completely different every day.

Look at what’s already working.

Repurpose it.

Turn it into a series.

Update the hook.

Change the example.

Use the same framework again.

Your audience probably hasn’t seen everything you’ve already created—and recognizable content can actually strengthen your personal brand.

The goal isn’t to constantly surprise people with a completely different version of yourself.

The goal is to become recognizable enough that people know your content before they even see your name.

Visibility Creates Opportunities

Katelyn’s story is proof that visibility can open doors you couldn’t have planned for.

Her decision to consistently share what she knew online ultimately helped create opportunities including growing a large audience, launching an agency, starting a podcast, landing media exposure, working with brands, speaking, and creating multiple revenue streams.

Michelle and Katelyn also discuss an important truth for anyone who has been hiding:

Someone with less experience or expertise may be receiving opportunities simply because they are willing to consistently show people what they know.

You don’t want to become your industry’s best-kept secret.

Build Beyond Social Media

Instagram may be an important visibility tool, but it shouldn’t be your entire business.

This episode also explores why creators and entrepreneurs should build an ecosystem that includes channels such as:

• Social media
• Email
• Podcasting
• YouTube
• PR
• Digital products
• Services
• Brand partnerships
• Community

The more ways people can discover, learn from, and stay connected to you, the less dependent your business becomes on any single algorithm.

About Katelyn Rhoades

Katelyn Rhoades is a creator, educator, entrepreneur, social media agency owner, and host of the Call Her Creator podcast.

She also created the Visibility Vault, a collection of tried-and-tested Canva templates, captions, and plug-and-play resources designed to help creators stay visible without starting from scratch every time they post.

Her approach combines content strategy, visibility systems, confidence, authenticity, and practical tools that help entrepreneurs consistently show up online.

Join the Conversation

What part of this conversation hit you the hardest?

Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to create something new every day?

Are you sitting on content you could repurpose?

Are you letting follower count keep you from showing up?

Or do you need to finally start building your email list?

If you’re listening on Spotify, leave a comment and tell us your biggest takeaway.

If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and let Michelle know what you’re changing after listening to this episode.

And if this conversation reminded you of another entrepreneur or creator who needs permission to stop overthinking their content, send this episode to them.

Key Takeaway

Visibility isn’t about doing more just for the sake of doing more.

It’s about doing the right things consistently enough to become recognizable.

Stop trying to recreate the wheel every day.

Show up.

Share what you know.

Repurpose what works.

Build relationships.

Build your email list.

And create a business people can discover in more than one place.

Because the visibility you build today could create opportunities months—or even years—from now.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Getting more views, followers, and attention on social media does not automatically mean you’re building a profitable business.

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down the four stages of visibility every entrepreneur, creator, and personal brand needs to understand:

Being seen. Being known. Being trusted. Being paid.

Michelle shares what she has learned firsthand after generating millions of views, creating local content that has reached hundreds of thousands of people, attracting brand opportunities, and watching her content open doors for both her business and the businesses she features.

The biggest lesson?

A viral video is not a business strategy. It’s an attention event.

If your visibility doesn’t lead people somewhere, you may be getting attention without creating revenue.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why more followers may not be the solution to your business growth problem
• The difference between being seen and actually becoming known
• How positioning helps people associate your name with a specific problem, solution, or expertise
• Why constantly posting random content can actually confuse your audience
• How to build trust through consistency, case studies, stories, results, and showing how you think
• Why your audience needs proof before they are ready to buy
• How to turn social media visibility into clients, partnerships, speaking opportunities, and revenue
• Why every piece of attention needs a clear destination
• How to create a visibility ecosystem using social media, podcasts, email marketing, events, offers, and community
• The four questions you should ask when auditing your current personal brand and content strategy

Michelle also shares how her recent return to content creation has helped her rethink her own business ecosystem and why the ultimate goal is not simply going viral.

The goal is becoming known by the right people, trusted for the right thing, and paid for the value you provide.

The 4 Stages of Visibility

1. Seen: People discover you.

2. Known: People begin associating you with a specific topic, solution, or expertise.

3. Trusted: Your content, experience, results, stories, and consistency give people a reason to believe you can help them.

4. Paid: Your visibility leads to a clear offer, opportunity, client, partnership, product, service, event, or community.

If people are watching your content but you’re struggling to turn that attention into business, this episode will help you identify exactly where the disconnect may be.

Join Connected & Paid

Connected & Paid is where Michelle is helping women actually build this muscle.

Inside the community, women entrepreneurs and professionals are learning how to become more visible, strengthen their positioning, build strategic relationships, create opportunities, follow up, make the ask, and ultimately turn visibility into revenue.

If you’ve been thinking:

“People are watching me, but I’m not making enough money.”

or

“I know I’m good at what I do, but I’m not known for it yet.”

Connected & Paid was created to help you bridge that gap.

Check the links in the show notes to learn more about Connected & Paid and connect with Michelle before joining.

Your Visibility Audit

After listening, ask yourself:

Can people see me?

Do people know me for something specific?

Have I given people enough evidence to trust me?

Is there an obvious way for people to pay me?

Because visibility without a next step is just attention.

Share This Episode

Know an entrepreneur who keeps saying, “I just need more followers”?

Send them this episode.

You may not need a bigger audience.

You may need a better strategy for moving the audience you already have from:

Seen → Known → Trusted → Paid.

If you’re listening on Spotify, answer the episode question:

Which stage are you in right now: seen, known, trusted, or paid?

And if the episode helped you, share it to your Instagram Stories, tag Michelle, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

About Social Media Decoded

Social Media Decoded helps entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners understand what it actually takes to build visibility, grow a recognizable brand, create meaningful relationships, and turn their online presence into business opportunities.

Hosted by marketing and visibility strategist Michelle Thames, the show goes beyond simply posting on social media and explores the strategy behind becoming known, trusted, connected, and paid.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when business slows down, clients leave, and you have to figure out how to become visible again?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the real story behind her recent business rebuild, her return to content creation, and the visibility strategy that helped create more than 2.1 million video views in roughly 90 days.

Michelle breaks down how going back to being a creator changed everything—from local viral content and increased brand visibility to paid partnerships, sponsorship conversations, brand deals, travel opportunities, and new business opportunities.

This is not an episode about chasing virality.

It is about learning how to become known.

Michelle shares what she learned from losing clients, rebuilding her business, creating content without constantly selling, and using social media visibility to create real-world opportunities.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why disappearing during a slow business season can hurt your growth
• How Michelle generated 2.1M+ video views through organic content
• Why shares and saves can matter more than vanity metrics
• How local content helped create brand deals and paid opportunities
• Why every piece of content does not need to sell an offer
• The difference between going viral and becoming known
• How strong positioning turns visibility into business opportunities
• Why your existing skills may be the key to your next business chapter
• How to use social media content to create leverage when pitching brands
• What to do when you are rebuilding your business and questioning your next move

Key Takeaway

The strategy is not going viral. The strategy is becoming known.

When people understand who you are, what you do, and what you should be known for, visibility can lead to referrals, brand partnerships, clients, speaking opportunities, collaborations, and revenue.

Mentioned in This Episode

Michelle shares recent social media results including:

• 2.1M+ video views
• 28K+ shares
• 17K+ saves
• Multiple videos reaching more than 100K views
• Paid brand and business collaborations
• Sponsorship opportunities
• Travel and hospitality partnerships
• Increased local visibility and recognition

Your Visibility Homework

Ask yourself:

What do I want people to know me for?

Then look at your content and ask whether your current social media presence reinforces that message.

If not, that may be the visibility gap holding your brand back.

Work With Michelle

If you are posting consistently but your social media presence is not creating opportunities, Michelle’s Visibility Audit can help you identify what is unclear, what is hurting your positioning, and where you should focus next.

Find the Visibility Audit and additional resources in the links associated with this episode.

Connect With Michelle

Follow Michelle Thames for more on:

Social media marketing
Content creation
Personal branding
Visibility strategy
Brand partnerships
Entrepreneurship
Local marketing
Creator strategy
Building a recognizable brand

Subscribe to Social Media Decoded on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss an episode.

If this episode resonated with you, leave a review and share it with an entrepreneur who is rebuilding, pivoting, or ready to become more visible.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do some local business videos generate thousands of views, shares, comments, and real customers while others barely get noticed?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down the strategy behind her viral Hidden Gem videos and explains why their success has very little to do with food. From storytelling and curiosity to local pride, community sharing, strong hooks, and audience trust, Michelle reveals what actually makes people stop scrolling, pay attention, and take action.

More importantly, this episode isn't just for restaurants or local businesses. Michelle explains how entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, creators, and service providers can use the same principles to build authority and become known for their expertise.

Because going viral isn't the strategy.

Becoming known is.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why curiosity is one of the most powerful tools in content marketing
• How Michelle creates hooks that make people stop scrolling
• Why storytelling works better than constantly promoting your business
• How local pride helps content generate organic shares and conversations
• Why the business owner—not the creator—should be the hero of the story
• How years of audience trust impact content performance
• The difference between getting views and generating real customer action
• How to turn one piece of content into part of a larger visibility ecosystem
• Why documenting your expertise builds more authority than simply calling yourself an expert
• How women entrepreneurs over 40 can turn their experience into a visibility advantage
• Michelle's five-part content framework: Curiosity, Story, Value, Emotion, and Action

The Bigger Visibility Lesson

You don't need everyone on the internet to know your name.

You need the right people to know exactly what to call you for.

Instead of constantly asking, "What should I post today?" start asking:

What do I want to become known for?

Then create content that provides evidence of your expertise.

Join the Conversation

Michelle wants to hear from you.

If you're listening on Spotify, leave a comment answering:

What do YOU want to become known for?

If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, leave a review and answer the same question. Your response may even inspire a future episode of Social Media Decoded.

Ready for Your Visibility Breakthrough?

If you're great at what you do but feel like not enough of the right people know about you, Michelle's Visibility Breakthrough Session is designed to help you change that.

Together, you'll look at your positioning, expertise, content, current visibility, and opportunities to determine how you can become more recognizable to the people who matter to your business.

Send Michelle a DM with the word BREAKTHROUGH to learn more.

Key Takeaway

Stop saying you're an expert. Start creating evidence.

The goal isn't simply to make viral content. The goal is to consistently create content that builds trust, demonstrates your expertise, strengthens relationships, and makes you unforgettable.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is your email list helping you grow your business—or is it collecting dust?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames sits down with award-winning email marketing strategist Melissa Seideman to discuss how entrepreneurs can use email marketing to build stronger relationships, increase sales, and create long-term business growth.

Melissa shares how one client grew from $8,000 per month to $200,000 per month using strategic email marketing, why you don't need a huge email list to be successful, and the simple welcome sequence every business should have in place.

Whether you're just getting started with email marketing or looking to improve your current strategy, this episode is packed with actionable advice for building trust, improving deliverability, and turning subscribers into loyal customers.

What You'll Learn

• Why email marketing is essential for long-term business growth
• How to turn subscribers into loyal customers
• Why you don't need a massive email list to generate revenue
• The welcome email sequence every entrepreneur should have
• Common email marketing mistakes to avoid
• How to improve email deliverability
• Subject line tips that increase open rates
• Why relationships matter more than algorithms
• How visibility and email marketing work together
• Practical ways to nurture your audience after they discover your business

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really take to land media opportunities, build a recognizable personal brand, and become the person people think of when opportunities arise?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the real story behind her recent appearance on WGN Spotlight Chicago and why it had nothing to do with luck. She explains how one relationship that started in 2024, combined with years of consistent visibility and intentional content creation, led to another opportunity on television.

If you've ever wondered why some entrepreneurs seem to attract speaking engagements, media appearances, partnerships, and new clients while others struggle to get noticed, this episode will change the way you think about visibility.

Michelle also shares how she's shifted from chasing the algorithm to building a complete visibility ecosystem—one that turns content into conversations, conversations into community, and community into clients.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why media opportunities are built through relationships, not luck
• The power of staying visible even when engagement feels low
• How consistency builds trust and authority over time
• Why creating an ecosystem is more powerful than growing an Instagram account
• The real strategy behind Michelle's Hidden Gem videos
• How to create content from your everyday life instead of chasing trends
• Why women over 40 have a unique advantage when building a personal brand
• The mindset shift that helped Michelle become unforgettable

Key Takeaways

• Visibility compounds over time.
• Relationships open doors that algorithms never can.
• Authority is earned through consistency, not claimed through titles.
• Your next opportunity may already be watching—you just have to keep showing up.

Ready to Become More Visible?

Michelle is launching her new 21-Day Visibility Sprint, designed to help women entrepreneurs stop wondering what to post and start building the kind of visibility that creates real opportunities, partnerships, media appearances, and clients.

Send Michelle a DM with the word VISIBLE to learn more.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Social Media Decoded, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who's ready to build a business that doesn't depend on chasing the algorithm.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything you're "supposed" to do in your business—creating content, growing your audience, chasing the algorithm—but something still feels off?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the biggest business decision she made this year and why it completely changed the direction of her business. Instead of focusing on creating more content, she made the intentional decision to build community—and it has led to more opportunities, stronger relationships, speaking engagements, partnerships, and meaningful business growth.

Michelle takes you behind the scenes of why she's investing in local businesses, hosting Coffee & Connections, organizing intimate networking dinners, and creating Connected & Paid Live. She explains why relationships have become her most valuable marketing strategy and why building a community will always outperform chasing followers.

If you're an entrepreneur, content creator, or business owner wondering how to build a brand that lasts, this episode will challenge the way you think about marketing, networking, and business growth.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• Why building community is more valuable than creating endless content
• The biggest business decision Michelle made this year
• How relationships create opportunities that algorithms never can
• Why local community building has become part of Michelle's business strategy
• The difference between building an audience and building a community
• How networking events can become relationship accelerators
• Why saying "no" creates space for bigger opportunities
• How to build a business that aligns with your values instead of trends

DM Michelle the word "COMMUNITY" on Instagram if this episode resonated with you and share what you're building.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever felt like your business was evolving, but no one understood the vision?

In this first CEO Diary episode of Social Media Decoded, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my business to share what I'm really building—and why I've shifted my focus from creating more content to building meaningful community.

I talk about why relationships have become my greatest business strategy, how Coffee & Connections, my Hidden Gem series, and Connected & Paid Live all fit together, and why I believe the future belongs to entrepreneurs who create ecosystems instead of chasing algorithms.

If you're a business owner, creator, or entrepreneur looking to build a brand that's rooted in connection, visibility, and long-term impact, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why I stopped chasing followers and started building community
• The difference between creating content and creating connection
• How networking events became relationship accelerators
• Why community is the future of business growth
• How partnerships and sponsorships fit into a long-term brand strategy
• The vision behind Connected & Paid Live
• Why every entrepreneur should build a visibility ecosystem instead of relying on one platform

If this episode resonates with you, send me a DM on Instagram with the word EVENT to learn more about Connected & Paid Live.

Resources Mentioned

• Connected & Paid Live
• Coffee, Content & Connections
• Connected & Paid Collective

Connect with Michelle:

Instagram: @michellelthames

Website: https://michellethames.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the goal isn't to build a bigger audience—but to build meaningful relationships?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the mindset shift that completely changed how she approaches social media, networking, and business growth. After years of chasing followers and viral moments, she realized the real opportunities weren't coming from her follower count—they were coming from the rooms she was creating.

From visiting local hidden gems and hosting Coffee & Connections to intimate networking dinners, retreats, and her upcoming Connected & Paid event, Michelle explains why authentic community is becoming the most valuable marketing strategy in today's digital world.

If you're an entrepreneur, content creator, coach, or small business owner wondering how to grow your business beyond social media, this episode will inspire you to focus on relationships that lead to collaborations, referrals, sponsorships, and lasting impact.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why building community is more valuable than chasing followers
• How networking events create real business opportunities
• The difference between building an audience and building relationships
• Why local visibility can transform your business
• How to create experiences that turn followers into clients and collaborators
• Why community builders are the new influencers
• The marketing strategy that algorithms can't replace

Key Takeaway:

Followers don't become your sponsors. Followers don't become your collaborators. People do.

If this episode inspired you, send Michelle a DM with the word ROOM and share the kind of community you're building.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who believes relationships are the future of business.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone tells you to get more visible.

Post more content.
Start the podcast.
Book the speaking engagement.
Land the collaborations.

But what happens after the visibility?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, I'm joined by Annie Mossbacher, Chief Growth Officer at Dubsado, for an honest conversation about what happens when your business starts growing faster than your systems can support.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed after signing new clients, struggled to keep up with emails and proposals, or wondered why success suddenly feels exhausting, this episode is for you.

We talk about founder burnout, client experience, sustainable growth, and why systems aren't boring—they're freedom.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Why visibility exposes broken business systems
• The hidden reason founders burn out after growth
• How to create a client experience people never forget
• The first system every service provider should implement
• Why doing everything yourself is costing you money
• How to stop overdelivering at the expense of your health
• What sustainable growth actually looks like
• Why authenticity is becoming your greatest marketing advantage

Memorable Quotes

"Visibility without systems will burn you out."

"Growth isn't about doing more. It's about becoming ruthless with your priorities."

"The business you prayed for shouldn't become the business that breaks you."

Connect with Annie

Instagram: @anniemossbacher

Learn more about Dubsado: https://dubsado.com/?c=michellethames

Resources Mentioned

• Dubsado
• Client Experience
• Business Systems
• Founder Burnout
• Service-Based Business Growth

If You Enjoyed This Episode...

Share it with another entrepreneur who is building a business behind the scenes.

If this episode helped you rethink how you're growing your business, take 30 seconds to leave a review. Your reviews help more entrepreneurs discover the show.

Want to support the podcast?

Buy Me a Coffee and help us continue creating free content for entrepreneurs.

Follow Michelle:
Instagram: @michellelthames

Thanks for listening to Social Media Decoded!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What tools does Michelle Thames actually use to run her business every week?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle takes you behind the scenes of her visibility stack and shares the four platforms that power her podcast, email marketing, client management, and website. From creating content to automating workflows and building stronger customer relationships, these are the tools she relies on every single day.

If you're an entrepreneur looking to simplify your business, save time, and create more opportunities through visibility, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

• Why systems are just as important as visibility
• How Michelle uses Riverside to turn one recording into weeks of content
• Why KIT is the foundation of her email marketing strategy
• How Dubsado automates client onboarding and saves hours every week
• Why ShinePages is changing the way she thinks about websites and online presence
• The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when choosing software
• How to build a visibility ecosystem instead of relying on social media alone

Resources Mentioned

Want my complete Visibility Stack?

DM TOOLS on Instagram to receive the exact platforms Michelle uses to run her business, along with her favorite resources and affiliate links.

Connect with Michelle

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

Website: michellethames.com

Love the Show?

If this episode helped you, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur. Your support helps more business owners discover the podcast and learn how to build a brand that creates real opportunities.

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What if your next client, speaking engagement, sponsorship, or brand partnership isn’t waiting for another cold pitch—but for you to become more visible?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames takes you behind the scenes of how her recent local business videos, community events, speaking opportunities, and brand partnerships are creating momentum in her business. She shares why visibility is about so much more than followers and explains how showing up consistently can open doors you never expected.

If you’ve been posting consistently but feel like the opportunities just aren’t coming, this episode will change the way you think about your content—and your business.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why visibility creates opportunities long before someone reaches out
• How Michelle’s viral local business videos led to new conversations and partnerships
• The mindset shift that’s helping her attract speaking engagements and sponsorship opportunities
• Why every piece of content should be treated as a business asset
• How to position yourself so clients, brands, and event organizers think of you first
• The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when creating content
• How Michelle evaluates businesses and spots marketing opportunities everywhere she goes

Key Takeaways

Opportunities are created long before they’re received.

Visibility is an investment—not an expense.

Every piece of content is either building trust or being forgotten.

The right people can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist.

Ready to Become More Visible?

Michelle is now offering her $199 Visibility Intensive, a one-on-one strategy session designed to help you identify what’s holding your brand back and create a visibility plan that leads to real opportunities.

DM Michelle the word “VISIBLE” on Instagram

Connect with Michelle Thames

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

Website: michellethames.com

Listen to more episodes of Social Media Decoded for weekly strategies on visibility, personal branding, content marketing, and building a business that attracts opportunities.

Love the Show?

If this episode inspired you, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur. Your support helps more business owners discover the podcast and learn how to build a brand that stands out.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is community the new competitive advantage?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares why she’s shifting her focus from simply creating content to intentionally building community. After hosting her intimate Summer in the South Suburbs dinner, responding to hundreds of social media comments, and watching her local business videos spark real-world conversations, she realized something powerful:

People aren’t starving for more content—they’re starving for connection.

Michelle shares why authentic relationships are becoming more valuable than algorithms, why networking is evolving into community building, and how creating meaningful spaces can transform your business and your life.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re building your business alone, this episode is your reminder that the right room, the right conversation, and the right relationships can change everything.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why community is becoming the biggest competitive advantage in business
• How Michelle’s viral local content is creating real-world connections
• Why responding to every comment still matters
• The difference between building an audience and building a community
• How relationships lead to referrals, collaborations, and new opportunities
• Why entrepreneurs are craving genuine connection now more than ever
• The vision behind the Connected & Paid Collective and Michelle’s upcoming November event

Key Takeaways

Visibility gets people to notice you.

Community gives them a reason to stay.

Relationships create opportunities that algorithms never can.

Business doesn’t have to be built alone.

Resources & Links

Join the Connected & Paid Collective

Send Michelle a DM with the word COMMUNITY on Instagram to learn more.

Support the Podcast

Love the show? Support future episodes through Buy Me a Coffee.

Send Michelle a DM with the word COFFEE for the link, or check the links below.

Book Michelle for your next event, workshop, or conference: https://michellethames.com/contact

️ Listen to more episodes: https://bleav.com/shows/social-media-decoded/

Join Michelle’s email community: https://michellethames.kit.com/7daychallenge

Connect with Michelle Thames

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

LinkedIn: Michelle Thames

Website: https://michellethames.com

If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please leave a review and share this episode with a friend or fellow entrepreneur. Your support helps more people discover the show and allows us to continue creating free content that helps entrepreneurs become more visible, build meaningful relationships, and grow thriving businesses.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Everyone is talking about AI.

But most creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners are making one major mistake: they’re asking AI for personalized business advice without giving it access to the information it actually needs.

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down one of the most exciting announcements from the KIT Craft + Commerce conference: MCP (Model Context Protocol) and what it means for creators, marketers, and business owners.

Don’t worry—this isn’t a technical episode.

Michelle explains MCP in plain English and shares how connecting tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini directly to your email marketing platform could completely change the way you make business decisions.

Instead of generic AI answers, imagine getting insights based on your actual audience, subscribers, and business data.

From identifying your most engaged subscribers to creating smarter email campaigns and automations, this episode explores how AI is becoming more useful, more personalized, and more actionable for creators.

If you’ve ever wondered how AI can help you grow your audience, email list, and business without feeling overwhelmed by technology, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

• What MCP is and why creators should care • Why most people are using AI incorrectly • How AI becomes more powerful when connected to your business data • The difference between generic AI advice and personalized insights • Why email marketing still matters in the age of AI • How creators can use AI to better understand their audience • Why your email list is one of the most valuable assets you own • The future of AI-powered marketing for entrepreneurs and creators

Key Takeaways

Followers are borrowed. Subscribers are owned.

Better data leads to better decisions.

AI isn’t replacing great marketers—it’s helping them make smarter decisions faster.

The future belongs to creators who own their audience.

Connect With Michelle

Instagram: @MichelleLThames

If this episode was helpful, send Michelle a DM with the word KIT and let her know your biggest takeaway.

Affiliate Link For KIT: https://partners.kit.com/9agthn08tlmq-mcp

Resources Mentioned

• Kit Email Marketing Platform • ChatGPT • Claude • Gemini • KIT Craft + Commerce Conference

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the most valuable skill of the next decade isn’t content creation, AI, or automation?

What if it’s community building?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames explores why community builders are uniquely positioned to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital connection. While technology continues to evolve, one thing remains true: people still crave belonging, trust, relationships, and meaningful human connection.

Michelle shares what she’s learning through building Coffee & Connections, community walks, curated dinner experiences, The Collective, and her upcoming Connected & Paid event. She explains why the future belongs to those who know how to bring people together and why relationship capital may become one of the most valuable assets you can build.

If you’re a creator, entrepreneur, leader, or business owner looking to build something that lasts, this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why AI and automation are increasing the value of human connection • The growing loneliness epidemic and what it means for business • The difference between building an audience and building a community • Why relationship capital matters more than ever • Lessons from Coffee & Connections, The Walk, and The Dinner Series • How community creates opportunities that content alone cannot • Why community leaders are becoming the most influential people in business

Key Quote:

“Community leaders are the new influencers.”

Connect with Michelle:

Instagram: @MichelleLThames

DM the word COMMUNITY to continue the conversation.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I almost didn’t go to the KIT Craft + Commerce conference.

Before the trip, I was overwhelmed, anxious, questioning everything, and honestly wondering if I should stay home and work instead. But what happened after I got in the room reminded me of something I deeply believe:

Visibility is bigger than social media.

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, I’m sharing the real lessons I learned at the KIT Conference in Boise—from meeting creators in real life, hearing powerful talks from leaders like James Clear and Jay Papasan, giving James Clear my book (!), and realizing that the biggest opportunities often happen outside of social media and inside real conversations.

Because here’s the truth:

At a certain level, opportunities don’t come from algorithms. They come from relationships.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

Why I almost skipped the conference Anxiety, overwhelm, and showing up anyway What happened when I gave James Clear my book My biggest takeaway from Jay Papasan’s talk Why relationships matter more than follower count The power of getting in the right rooms Why proximity is one of the most underrated visibility strategies How real conversations lead to partnerships, referrals, and opportunities

Key takeaway from this episode:

“The biggest shift wasn’t what I learned on stage. It was what happened in the conversations.”

If you’ve been feeling stuck in business, overwhelmed with content creation, or wondering why visibility isn’t translating into opportunities—this episode is for you.

Because sometimes your next level isn’t another strategy.

Sometimes it’s the room.

Connect with Michelle: DM the word ROOM on Instagram @MichelleLThames

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.