Digital Social Hour Podcast Episode #922 Summary: The $100K Instagram Boost Mistake No One Talks About

Release Date: November 25, 2024
Guests: Sean Lynch & Gentry Kelley

I. Introduction and Personal Background

In this episode of the Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly welcomes his long-time partners, Sean Lynch and Gentry Kelley. The conversation kicks off with a light-hearted discussion about their similar names and ethnic backgrounds.

Gentry Kelley shares insights about her Irish heritage and the evolution of her family name due to historical spelling variations:

“[01:17] Gentry Kelley: I think from my research is K E, L L E, Y. But people didn't know how to spell, so they would just say and they would just get a little mixture.”

II. Business Ventures: E-commerce, Oil & Gas, Real Estate

Sean Lynch delves into his past in the e-commerce sector, highlighting the challenges and successes he faced while running a supplement business in the early days of online marketing:

“[07:16] Host: Wow. E commerce in 2007.”
“[07:17] Sean Lynch: So he was like hand printing orders one by one... I figured out how like a kind of arbitrage on the products and I was able to get the products in.”

Gentry shares her journey into the oil and gas industry, emphasizing the importance of trusted partnerships:

“[28:11] Sean Lynch: I actually had sold a company...when I sold my E Commerce company, I was like, hey, let's try to buy your partner out...”

III. Mental Health and MTHFR Gene Mutation

A significant portion of the episode addresses mental health issues, particularly anxiety and panic attacks, and their link to the MTHFR gene mutation. Both Gentry and Sean discuss their personal struggles and the impact of genetic factors on their mental well-being.

Gentry Kelley explains how changing her supplements made a profound difference:

“[12:15] Sean Lynch: You have no idea.”
“[12:22] Gentry Kelley: ...just a really quick, easy supplement change like that.”

IV. IVF, Surrogacy, and Parenting Challenges

The conversation shifts to reproductive challenges, where Gentry recounts her experiences with IVF and surrogacy. She details the emotional and financial aspects of working with surrogates and the complexities involved in modern reproductive technologies.

Gentry Kelley reflects on her relationship with her surrogate:

“[14:27] Sean Lynch: Six months. It's like round two.”
“[16:15] Gentry Kelley: So that's not an issue at all.”

V. Starting the Podcast: Official Success Formula

Gentry and Sean discuss the inception of their joint podcast venture, Official Success Formula, highlighting their motivations and the collaborative synergy between them:

“[18:16] Gentry Kelley: Yeah, Started it earlier this year...Sean didn't even have social media until this year.”
“[18:42] Host: Wow.”

VI. Social Media Marketing: Instagram, TikTok Shop, YouTube

A central theme of the episode is the pitfalls of investing heavily in Instagram boosts, which Gentry and Sean label as a "$100K mistake." They debate the evolving landscape of social media marketing, comparing traditional platforms like Instagram and YouTube with newer avenues like TikTok Shop.

Sean Lynch warns about the decline in conversion rates:

“[08:06] Sean Lynch: ...conversion rate was like 82%.”
“[10:50] Host: Stressful man.”

Gentry Kelley expresses skepticism about TikTok Shop's effectiveness:

“[08:34] Host: Sounds like a Tick Tock shop's converting real well...”
“[09:01] Gentry Kelley: So I went on there and to me from what I can see it just kind of looks like an Alibaba or like a junk store.”

VII. Changes in the Cosmetics Industry and FDA Regulations

Gentry provides an update on the cosmetics industry's regulatory changes, detailing the increased oversight by the FDA and its implications for small businesses:

“[42:15] Gentry Kelley: ...the FDA just took over cosmetics. So before it was the wild west...”
“[43:26] Host: Did you guys see the insurance rates in Cali go up? Holy crap.”

VIII. Perspectives on Education and Life Skills

The discussion touches on the shortcomings of the traditional education system, emphasizing the lack of essential life skills such as financial literacy and business acumen:

“[37:22] Gentry Kelley: ...no real life skills. There's no financial anything...”
“[38:09] Gentry Kelley: ...everything's a lot more balanced.”

IX. Discussions on Elon Musk, AI, and Alien Life

In a more speculative segment, the trio debates topics like artificial intelligence, the potential existence of extraterrestrial life, and the influence of prominent figures like Elon Musk on technology and society.

Sean Lynch shares his admiration for Elon Musk's visionary approach:

“[47:09] Sean Lynch: He’s probably the person I look up to the most.”
“[48:20] Sean Lynch: I, I don’t think there's like spaceships coming down to the earth.”

X. Conclusion and How to Find the Podcast

As the episode wraps up, Gentry and Sean provide information on how listeners can follow their work and stay updated with their podcast, Official Success Formula.

Gentry Kelley directs listeners to their social media handles:

“[64:18] Gentry Kelley: So, on Instagram, my handle is Gentry Kelly Cosmetics...”
“[64:44] Host: Perfect. We'll link it below.”

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sean Lynch [10:52]: “I never, I told her, I told pretty much anybody in my business partner. I'll never invest in like a low margin product based business anymore.”

• Gentry Kelley [12:28]: “...if you're taking folic acid, your body's just regurgitating and it can't go through the funnel.”

• Sean Lynch [37:17]: “...I think that social media is amazing for the world. Of course, there's always like some bad that's going to come with anything that's that big.”

• Gentry Kelley [43:26]: “...there's a ton of thing. You have tons of things agree on.”

Key Takeaways

1. Caution with Social Media Investments: The episode underscores the risks associated with heavily investing in Instagram boosts without a clear strategy, highlighting potential financial pitfalls and declining effectiveness.

2. Importance of Mental Health Awareness: Both guests emphasize the role of genetics, particularly the MTHFR gene mutation, in mental health, advocating for informed medical interventions.

3. Navigating Modern Reproductive Technologies: Gentry’s experiences with IVF and surrogacy shed light on the emotional and logistical complexities involved in contemporary parenting methods.

4. Evolving Business Landscapes: Discussions reveal how industries like e-commerce, oil & gas, and cosmetics are changing, influenced by technology, regulation, and market dynamics.

5. Educational System Shortcomings: The conversation calls for a reevaluation of the education system to incorporate essential life skills, preparing individuals for real-world challenges.

6. Future of Technology and Society: Speculative dialogues on AI, extraterrestrial life, and influential figures like Elon Musk provide listeners with thought-provoking perspectives on future societal shifts.

How to Listen and Engage

To stay updated with Sean Lynch and Gentry Kelley’s insights on entrepreneurship, personal growth, and navigating the digital landscape, listeners can follow their podcast, Official Success Formula, available on all major platforms including Spotify and YouTube. Connect with them on Instagram:

• Gentry Kelley: @GentryKellyCosmetics
• Sean Lynch: @officialseanlynch

This summary encapsulates the core discussions and insights from Episode #922 of the Digital Social Hour Podcast, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't tuned in.