AI, Visibility, and the Future of Social Media: Lessons from the Instagram Summit with Manychat

Summary

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Social Media Decoded

Episode: AI, Visibility, and the Future of Social Media: Lessons from the Instagram Summit with ManyChat

Host: Michelle Thames
Release Date: September 22, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this special recap, host Michelle Thames shares her key takeaways from attending the Instagram Summit 2025, hosted by ManyChat in Los Angeles. Michelle dives into how AI and visibility are shaping the future of social media, brand growth, and entrepreneurship. Drawing from her personal journey and interactions at the summit, she offers actionable strategies on using automation, embracing authentic connections, and leveraging AI tools to amplify your business and online presence.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Behind-the-Scenes at the Instagram Summit

• Atmosphere:
  Michelle describes the vibrant energy at the event, set at the 1 Hotel Hollywood, with creators, coaches, and brands conversing about the next wave in social media.

  • “Imagine walking into the 1 Hotel Hollywood in LA. Creators everywhere, buzzing, energy, brand sharing. What’s next in the social space. It was an amazing experience, I have to say.” (03:21)

• Event Highlights:

  • Meeting and reconnecting with industry peers and previous podcast guests, including Brock Johnson, Monty Lands, Gabby, Michelle Gford, Megan, and Taylor.
  • Shoutout to the ManyChat team for their hospitality and effort: “The connections. 10 out of 10. The programming. 10 out of 10... opportunities at every single place of this event to do what you want to do.” (03:54)

• Visibility in Action:
  How her podcast and online presence led to this opportunity:

  • “Being in that room reminded me that visibility is the reason why, why I was even there. This podcast got me in the door, and that’s what I want for you too.” (05:22)

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2. Three Biggest Lessons from the Summit

a. Conversations Are the New Conversions

• Buying and selling are evolving—sales happen directly through DMs, not just on websites.

• ManyChat is innovating automation tools to make these conversations scalable and still feel personal:

  • “We're moving into a world where selling doesn't just happen on websites or email lists. It's happening in the DMs. People want to connect, they want to ask questions and buy through conversation.” (05:35)
  • “And ManyChat is leading the way with automation that makes that scalable... that makes that human.” (05:52)

• Michelle hints at new features from ManyChat still under embargo but promises they’ll “change the game.”

  • “There are some new features coming out on ManyChat that I can't even tell you about... [they’re] going to change the game for you.” (06:11)

b. AI Isn’t Optional—It’s Essential

• AI tools like ChatGPT, ManyChat, and Canva allow entrepreneurs to save time, create with consistency, and focus on what truly matters.

  • “AI isn't optional anymore. It isn't a fad. It's the tool that's allowing entrepreneurs, especially my women over 40 plus who juggle a lot, to save time and stay consistent.” (06:35)

• AI frees up creators to engage more meaningfully, not less.

  • “These tools free you to focus on what matters most.” (07:01)

c. Community Still Wins—Even in a Tech-Focused World

• Tech and AI are not replacements for human connection; real relationships are still foundational.
  • “People crave human connection. And what I saw from the summit confirmed this. The most powerful brands are layering AI plus automation on top of real authentic relationships. It's not either or, it’s both.” (07:13)

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3. Action Steps for Listeners

• Merge AI + Visibility:
  • “It means you need to lean into visibility and AI together.” (07:36)
• AI as a Time Saver:
  • “If you've been holding back from showing up online because you don't have the time, AI is your time saver.” (07:43)
• Automation Turns Followers into Clients:
  • “Automation in your DMs can turn followers into clients.” (07:51)
• Visibility plus Smart Systems is the Answer:
  • “If you've been wondering how to stand out, Visibility plus smart systems is the answer.” (07:58)
• Special Emphasis for Women Over 40:
  • “Especially for my women over 40 plus, I love you. This is your moment. You already know the power of relationships. Now pair that with AI and you will be unstoppable.” (08:07)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Staying Consistent & Being Seen:
  • “This trip wasn’t just fun. It was a reminder of the power of visibility and why staying consistent creates opportunities that you would never imagine.” (01:31)
• The Power of Community:
  • “I met so many amazing new friends who I am super excited to be connected to... The connections. It was so amazing.” (04:37)
• On the Game-Changing Nature of AI Tools:
  • “AI isn’t a fad—it’s the future, and I don’t want you to be behind.” (02:13)
• Encouraging Listeners to Take Action:
  • “I am so grateful for this opportunity and I want you to know that if you keep showing up, opportunities will find you too.” (09:10)

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Resources & Calls to Action

• Free Resource:
  Michelle offers her favorite ChatGPT prompts for marketing and visibility.

  • “If you want them, head on over to Instagram and DM me the word prompts—P R O M P T S—to my Instagram @MichelleLThames and I'll send them right over.” (08:35)

• Upcoming Episode Teaser:

  • Full conversation with Anna, VP of Growth at ManyChat, dropping soon: “We dive deeper into growth, AI, and the future of marketing. You don’t want to miss it.” (09:23)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome & Reflections: 01:30 – 03:07
• Summit Recap & Connections: 03:07 – 05:22
• Lesson 1: Conversations Are the New Conversions: 05:35 – 06:24
• Lesson 2: AI Isn't Optional: 06:24 – 07:13
• Lesson 3: Community Still Wins: 07:13 – 07:36
• Action Steps & Free Resource Offer: 07:36 – 08:52
• Closing Motivational Remarks: 08:52 – 09:31

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Tone & Style

Michelle maintains a conversational, motivational, and inclusive tone throughout, often addressing her audience directly (“my friend”, “especially for my women over 40 plus, I love you”), providing actionable advice, and championing both technology and human connection as critical pillars for future social media success.

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Conclusion

Michelle’s insights from the Instagram Summit stress that combining smart AI tools with real relationships is the key to sustainable growth online. Visibility, consistency, and embracing new technology are no longer optional—they're essential for anyone serious about standing out and building a business or brand in the evolving digital landscape.

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Transcript

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[Michelle Thames]

Hey, y'.

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All.

[Michelle Thames]

Welcome back to Social Media Decoded. I'm your host, Michelle Thames, and today's episode is really special. I just got back from la where Manichat flew me out to record live at the Instagram Summit 2025. It was such a full circle moment. From starting my podcast at home to now being recognized as a voice in the industry and sitting down with amazing leaders like Anna, the VP of growth at Manichat. This trip wasn't just fun. It was a reminder of the power of visibility and why staying consistent creates opportunities that you would never imagine. It was also the few days before the anniversary of me being fired from my job nine years ago. So it was really a full circle moment and I am really grateful. There have been so many emotions and just going on a trip like that really reminded me of a lot of things. So today I'm recapping some of my biggest lessons from the summit and sharing how AI and visibility are changing the way that that we all do business. Because if you're not on AI, my friend, go ahead and Just get on the bandwagon. I don't even want to say the bandwagon because this is the future and I don't want you to be behind. So that is why, you know, if you've been here, if you've been listening to this podcast a while, you know, I've been on AI since the beginning, and it's only going to get better. Okay? So go ahead and grab your pens and your notepads and let's get into it. So let's start with a little BTS of the trip. Imagine walking into the 1 Hotel Hollywood in LA. Creators everywhere, buzzing, energy, brand sharing. What's next in the social space. It was an amazing experience, I have to say. Shout out to the Manichat team 10 out of 10 for the experience. First of all, the. The name tags. Quality. Okay. The swag bags. Priceless. The food. 10 out of 10. The connections. 10 out of 10. The programming. 10 out of 10 from somebody who, number one, does events and number two, who goes to events and appreciates a good experience for someone who is a content creator, influencer, business owner. There was opportunities at every single single place of this event to do what you want it to do. So I got to record a live podcast with Anna, who is the VP of Growth at MannyChat, and that episode will be out this week. So make sure that you turn on your notifications. If you're not already subscribed to the podcast, go ahead and press that button. We talked about the future of digital growth, how conversations are turning into conversions, and how automation done right can actually help us be more human in business. Right? I also connected with incredible entrepreneurs and even met some of my online business friends in person for the first time. Hugs, laughs. And all the things. I got to connect with people like Brock Johnson. Okay, he was there. He was on the podcast before. Make sure you scroll. It was about in 2023 when I had Brock on the podcast and we talked all things, of course, Instagram, and he's agreed to come back on the podcast. So I got to connect with him. I got to connect with Monty Lands, one of my Instagra friends. I got to connect with my girl Gabby, who also has a marketing agency. She's also been on the podcast. I got to connect with Michelle Gford, who has been on the podcast, and we got to meet in person. Also got to connect with Megan, who's going to be a upcoming guest on the podcast. And I met her through the power table live with my girl Taylor. Do you see the connections here? The connections. It was so amazing and I met so many amazing new friends who I am super excited to be connected to. I met the Amazing Manny chat team who was incredible. Again, thank you so much. And the amazing Anna who again, I got to do the podcast episode with who? I cannot wait for you to hear this episode. I cannot wait for you to hear the episode. Being in that room reminded me that visibility is the reason why, why I was even there. This podcast got me in the door and that's what I want for you too. So let's get into the tips and the teaching here today. So I hope you got your pins ready. Here are the three biggest lessons I walked away with. The first one is conversations are the new conversions. We're moving into a world where selling doesn't just happen on websites or email list, it's happening in the DMs. People want to connect, they want to ask questions and buy through conversation. And Manichat is leading the way with automation. That makes that scalable also that makes that human. I mean, it's some new features coming out on Manichat that I can't even tell you about. We are under embargo, baby. And when I say the new things that they are coming out with, I can almost shout. I want to shout. I can't wait for you to learn it because it's going to change the game for you. I know it's going to change the game for me. I already got my strategy together. But it's going to change the game for you. AI isn't optional anymore. It isn't a fad. It's the tool that's allowing entrepreneurs, especially my women over 40 plus who juggle a lot to save time and stay consistent. Whether it's ChatGPT, helping you brainstorm, ManyChat, automating your DMs, or even Canva to help you generate designs. These tools are free, right? No, these tools free you to focus on what matters most. And the third thing is that community still wins, even with all the tech. People crave human connection. And what I saw from the summit confirmed this. The most powerful brands are layering AI plus automation or on top of real authentic relationships. It's not either or, it's both. So what does this mean for you? The entrepreneur, the creator, the executive listening. Right now, it means you need to lean into visibility and AI together. You've been holding back from showing up online because you don't have the time. And AI is your time saver if you've been posting content but not seeing traction Automation in your DMs can turn followers into clients. If you've been wondering how to stand out, Visibility plus smart systems is the answer. And again, especially for my women over 40 plus, I love you. This is your moment. You already know the power of relationships. Now pair that with AI and you will be unstoppable. And because I want you to take action, I created something very special for you. I put together a list of my favorite visibility ChatGPT prompts that I've been using over the last year. The exact ones that I use to create content faster, to stay consistent, and to keep my brand top of mind. Always. If you want them, go on and head on over to Instagram and DM me the word prompts P R O M P T s DM me the word prompts P R O M P T s to my Instagram at Michelle L Thames. Send it to my Instagram at Michelle L Thames and I'll send them right over. I am so grateful for this opportunity and I want you to know that if you keep showing up, opportunities will find you too. Now stay tuned. Later this week, I'll be dropping my full conversation with Anna, the VP of Growth over at Manny Chat, where we dive deeper into growth, AI and the future of marketing. You don't want to miss it. Trust me, it's a good episode. And until next time, keep shining online. I will talk to you in the next one. Peace.

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