Podcast Summary: Shiny New Clients!
Episode: Accidentally Blowing Up on TikTok and the Storytelling Strategies that Made It Happen (with Marsha Shandur)
Release Date: June 23, 2025

Introduction

In this enlightening episode of Shiny New Clients!, host Jenna Harding delves into the unexpected journey of Marsha Shandur, a seasoned storyteller and corporate coach, who inadvertently skyrocketed her presence on TikTok. The conversation unveils Marsha's initial resistance to social media platforms, particularly TikTok, and the storytelling strategies that propelled her to viral fame. This episode is a treasure trove for service-based business owners looking to harness the power of social media and effective storytelling to attract ideal clients.

1. Initial Resistance to TikTok

Marsha begins by sharing her long-standing reluctance to engage with TikTok, mirroring Jenna's own hesitations. Despite her aversion, Marsha inadvertently found herself spending considerable time on social media, leading to an unexpected surge in her TikTok following.

• Marsha [00:59]:
  "I have a flip phone and an iPhone that has no SIM card and it doesn't have an email app and it doesn't have any social media apps... your phone isn't addicted because I can also only use my phone on Wi-Fi, but I still find ways anyway."

Marsha humorously describes her stringent measures to limit social media usage, highlighting the addictive nature of platforms like TikTok and her initial fear of falling into endless scrolling.

2. The Accidental TikTok Success

Despite Marsha's efforts to stay away, a conversation with her friend Jeff Harry, a TikTok enthusiast, led her to experiment with the platform's editing capabilities. This decision marked the beginning of her viral success.

• Marsha [02:08]:
  "TikTok seems like a nightmare... I was posting these videos on LinkedIn because I really like making video. If I am lucky, gets two likes, but people who aren't liking or commenting... because I was getting clients."

Encouraged by Jeff Harry, Marsha decided to post her first TikTok video, which unexpectedly garnered over a million views. This monumental response transformed her social media presence overnight.

• Marsha [05:00]:
  "I posted one and it went viral and got over a million views. And then I posted a few more that went viral. And Now I have 53,000 followers on TikTok."

3. Comparing Social Media Platforms

The discussion transitions to a comparison of TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram, emphasizing their unique strengths and how they cater to different audiences.

• Jenna [05:00]:
  "The big benefit of TikTok is it puts you in front of new people... TikTok still wins, but on Instagram it's a lot of the same people you're gonna be able to nurture your connections with people because your hot leads are gonna see every single video versus TikTok is that tool to get in front of the masses."

Marsha illustrates how TikTok excels in reaching a broad audience, while platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram are more effective for nurturing existing connections and targeting potential corporate clients.

4. Crafting Viral Content through Storytelling

A pivotal part of the episode focuses on Marsha's storytelling techniques that captivated TikTok's audience. She elaborates on the importance of addressing objections and crafting relatable narratives.

• Marsha [07:35]:
  "If you don't do the foundational work that I used to do with all my speaker clients... what is the desired outcome I'm helping deliver to them, not the one that I know that they need, but the one that they think they want."

Marsha emphasizes understanding the audience's perceived needs and desires, rather than imposing her own, to create compelling and effective stories that resonate deeply.

• Marsha [19:55]:
  "My whole theory on storytelling is that it's not about narrative beginning, middle, and end. It's about describing moments... it's the way that you tell it."

5. Strategies for Consistent and Authentic Posting

Maintaining consistency and authenticity emerged as key themes. Marsha shares insights from her friend Spencer West, who emphasizes the importance of habitual posting while respecting personal capacity.

• Marsha [18:53]:
  "I love that. I love that... like Spencer says, posting every day, Monday to Friday, he posts at the exact same time. I do not have the capacity to do that."

She advocates for "habit stacking"—aligning content creation with existing routines—to ensure sustainability without burnout.

• Marsha [18:16]:
  "If you just point and shoot and maybe I have like two or three runs at it, then done is better than perfect."

6. Leveraging Personal Stories for Professional Growth

Marsha recounts a personal story about advocating for her own compensation, which not only reinforced her negotiation skills but also resonated powerfully with her audience on TikTok.

• Marsha [07:35]:
  "It was just a five-minute video... I put that on TikTok and it just blew up. Maybe 70% people saying, oh, my gosh, this has helped me so much."

This anecdote underscores the potency of personal experiences in professional storytelling, making content relatable and impactful.

7. Practical Tips for Aspiring Content Creators

Towards the end of the discussion, Marsha imparts actionable advice for listeners aiming to replicate her success:

• Jenna [15:48]:
  "Good hook."

• Marsha [15:51]:
  "So I hooked them in. But honestly, I didn't think about it too much after that."

Marsha highlights the significance of an engaging hook to capture the audience's attention immediately. She also stresses the value of authenticity over perfection, encouraging creators to produce and share content without overcomplicating the process.

• Marsha [16:51]:
  "Knowing your capacities... done is better than perfect."

Conclusion

This episode of Shiny New Clients! offers a comprehensive look into how serendipitous moments and strategic storytelling can transform one's social media presence. Marsha Shandur's journey from TikTok skeptic to viral sensation serves as an inspiring blueprint for business owners seeking to attract and engage their ideal clients through authentic and well-crafted narratives.

Listeners are encouraged to embrace their unique stories, understand their audience deeply, and leverage the strengths of various social media platforms to build a thriving client base.

Where to Find Marsha Shandur

For more insights and resources from Marsha Shandur, visit marsha.com/shinnynewclients.