Podcast Summary: Social Media Decoded

Episode: 3 Visibility Mistakes Keeping You Invisible Online
Host: Michelle Thames
Date: October 14, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, marketing strategist and visibility coach Michelle Thames explores the three core mistakes that keep even active entrepreneurs invisible online. She explains that true visibility isn’t about being everywhere or posting continually, but about being remembered and building true connections. Michelle shares real-world examples, actionable strategies, and powerful mindset shifts to help listeners get seen—and remembered—online.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mindset: Visibility Starts With Purpose (01:08)

• Visibility ≠ Attention: Michelle emphasizes that genuine visibility is about “building awareness and alignment,” not just chasing likes or validation.
• Validation vs. Vision: “If you’ve been posting, podcasting, emailing, and you still feel unseen, you might be focusing on visibility from a place of validation and not vision.” (Michelle Thames, 01:55)
• Intentional Showing Up: Michelle shares how purposefully showing up (speaking at events, sharing aligned messages) ultimately creates opportunities—sometimes months later.
• Compound Effect: “Your name starts traveling in rooms you haven’t even entered yet.” (Michelle Thames, 03:00)

2. Visibility Mistake #1: Posting Without Positioning (03:15)

• Random Content vs. Strategic Content: Simply posting tips or trendy content isn’t enough; authority and clear messaging must anchor your efforts.
• Brand Pillars: Michelle recommends picking three core brand pillars to rotate through in content so people associate you with specific values or topics.
• Quote:

  “Content is not strategy. Posting is not positioning. Your audience doesn’t just need to know what you do—they need to understand why you’re the one they should listen to.”
  —Michelle Thames (03:35)

• Actionable Tip:
  • Rotate content around your brand pillars.
  • Speak from authority, not anxiety.
  • Aim to create transformation, not just trends.

3. Visibility Mistake #2: Visibility Without Depth (06:13)

• Being Everywhere Isn’t Enough: Showing up on multiple platforms is pointless without depth, storytelling, and proof.
• Storytelling Power: Michelle urges listeners to share case studies and personal stories—like how she turned getting fired into the foundation of her agency.
  • These stories aren’t just about you, but “about what’s possible for them.”
• Quote:

  “Depth is when people don’t just like your content, they feel it.”
  —Michelle Thames (06:20)

• Reflective Question:
  • “What do I want to be known for? And does my content actually reflect that every week?”

  —Michelle Thames (06:45)

4. Visibility Mistake #3: Building Awareness Without Nurture (07:15)

• Chasing New vs. Serving Current Audience: Many entrepreneurs focus solely on attracting new followers and forget to nurture their existing community.
• Ecosystem Approach: Michelle explains the importance of connecting offerings—free resources, podcasts, email lists, communities, VIP events—so people feel compelled to stay.
• Quote:

  “Visibility is not just about new reach… If people come to your page and they don’t know what to do next, that’s not visibility. That’s confusion.”
  —Michelle Thames (07:38)

• Trust is the Currency: Engagement → Trust → Opportunities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Visibility isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being remembered.” —Michelle Thames (01:15)
• “When you do this consistently, people stop scrolling you and start remembering you.” (Michelle, 04:25)
• “The people who will win online are not the loudest, but they are the most consistent and clear.” (Michelle, 08:45)
• Key Recap:

  “Number one, post with positioning. Number two, lead with depth. Number three, nurture your audience like it’s your million-dollar asset. Because it is.”
  —Michelle Thames (09:20)

• “Visibility is the long game—the keep-showing-up-when-nobody's-clapping-yet game.” (Michelle, 09:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:08 — Introduction to visibility as a mindset and how validation vs. vision shapes your results
• 03:15 — Mistake #1: Posting without positioning
• 06:13 — Mistake #2: Visibility without depth
• 07:15 — Mistake #3: Building awareness without nurture
• 09:20 — Rapid recap & actionable steps for improving visibility

Tone & Style

Michelle’s delivery is practical, motivational, and infused with tough love. She encourages with personal anecdotes (“I say this with love because I’ve been there...”) and pushes listeners to approach visibility with strategy and heart—not just hustle.

Final Takeaways

• Purposeful, positioned, and nurturing visibility is what builds a lasting, profitable brand.
• Consistency and clarity will outlast being loud and everywhere.
• Visibility is about your message, your community, and the relationships you build—not just your follower count.

Want to dig deeper? Join Michelle’s Elevate and Empower Collective or DM her directly on Instagram @michelleLthames for support and next steps.