I Spent 15 Years in Marketing—Here’s What I’d Do If I Was Starting Over in 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: Social Media Decoded – "I Spent 15 Years in Marketing—Here’s What I’d Do If I Was Starting Over in 2025"

Release Date: March 3, 2025
Host: Michelle Thames
Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
Transcript Provided: Yes

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Introduction

In the March 3, 2025 episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames, a seasoned marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience, shares invaluable insights for entrepreneurs looking to build their businesses from the ground up in the ever-evolving landscape of social media and digital marketing. Drawing from her extensive background—ranging from building her personal brand to leading marketing initiatives for major beauty brands—Michelle offers a comprehensive blueprint for modern business growth, emphasizing smarter strategies over sheer hustle.

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Key Mistakes New Entrepreneurs Make

1. Being Everywhere at Once

Timestamp [03:15] – Michelle Thames:

"You do not need to be everywhere to be successful. If I was starting over, I really just would pick one platform, master it and repurpose my content elsewhere."

Michelle highlights the common pitfall of spreading oneself too thin across multiple social media platforms. Instead, she advises focusing on mastering one or two platforms that align best with your business type. For instance:

• Service Providers or Coaches: Focus on Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Content Enthusiasts: Opt for YouTube and TikTok.

This strategic concentration allows for deeper engagement and more effective content repurposing, ensuring higher quality and consistency.

2. Focusing on Followers Instead of Conversions

Timestamp [05:40] – Michelle Thames:

"Likes don't pay bills. Followers don't equal dollars. What matters? Conversions, engagement, relationships."

Michelle stresses the importance of prioritizing meaningful interactions and conversions over vanity metrics like follower counts. Building trust through valuable content and focusing on solving real problems creates a loyal customer base that translates into actual revenue. She emphasizes that:

• Conversions and Sales: Are the true indicators of business success.
• Engagement and Relationships: Foster long-term customer loyalty and repeat business.

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Step-by-Step Playbook for Building a Business from Scratch in 2025

Step 1: Niche Down and Clarify Your Target Audience

Timestamp [06:20] – Michelle Thames:

"Who do you want to help, the problem you want to solve and how can you package your solution in a way that stands out?"

Michelle advises entrepreneurs to define their niche with precision. Instead of broad statements like "I help business owners with marketing," she recommends specifying:

• Target Audience: e.g., "I help coaches and consultants..."
• Specific Problems: Clearly articulate the issues you address.
• Unique Solutions: Package your services in a way that differentiates you from competitors.

Step 2: Build Your Brand with 90 Days of High-Value Content

Timestamp [07:00] – Michelle Thames:

"Map out 90 days of high value content that is focused on solving pain points."

Creating a content strategy that spans three months ensures consistent and purposeful content delivery. Key components include:

• Solving Pain Points: Address what keeps your audience up at night.
• Quick Wins: Provide actionable tips that can be implemented immediately.
• Storytelling: Connect on a personal level by sharing relatable stories.

Choosing a preferred content format—be it reels, carousels, or long-form videos—and committing to it can streamline your content creation process and enhance audience engagement.

Step 3: Start Selling from Day One

Timestamp [08:10] – Michelle Thames:

"There is no ready. Do not wait to feel ready."

Michelle emphasizes the importance of monetizing early. Instead of waiting for the perfect offer or website, she encourages entrepreneurs to:

• Offer One-on-One Services: Such as coaching or consulting, which are easy to sell and require minimal overhead.
• Conduct Paid Workshops or Challenges: These can showcase your expertise and provide immediate value to participants.
• Leverage DMs for Relationship-Based Sales: Focus on building connections rather than cold pitching.

Starting sales early not only provides immediate revenue but also valuable feedback to refine your offerings.

Step 4: Scale with Systems and Automations

Timestamp [08:50] – Michelle Thames:

"Build out a course or a program so you can stop trading time for money."

Once the business model is validated, scaling becomes essential. Michelle recommends:

• Automate Email Marketing: Nurture leads effortlessly and consistently.
• Batch Content Creation: Streamline content production to maintain regular posting without last-minute stress.
• Develop Courses or Programs: Transition from time-based services to productized offerings, allowing for passive income and broader reach.

Implementing these systems ensures sustainable growth and enables the business to operate smoothly without constant hands-on management.

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Additional Insights and Offers

Throughout the episode, Michelle underscores the importance of building an email list from day one, referring to it as "your house" in the borrowed land of social media. She offers a free Email List Building Guide, accessible via her Instagram or website, encouraging listeners to take immediate action.

Timestamp [09:00] – Call to Action:

"If you are listening to this podcast and you do not have an email list, I am side eyeing you. Sure am. Build your email list from day one."

For those seeking personalized guidance, Michelle introduces her Voxer Coaching service, providing real-time feedback and marketing strategies without the need for traditional Zoom calls. She invites listeners to connect via Instagram or through links in the show notes.

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Conclusion

Michelle Thames concludes the episode by reiterating the importance of starting smart rather than working harder. Her structured approach—focusing on niche clarity, strategic content creation, early monetization, and scalable systems—offers a clear roadmap for entrepreneurs aiming to build a profitable and sustainable business in 2025.

Timestamp [09:24] – Final Encouragement:

"Let's help more entrepreneurs skip the trial and error phase and start building smarter."

By following Michelle's expert advice, listeners can avoid common pitfalls and accelerate their path to business success.

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Notable Quotes

• On Platform Strategy:
  "You do not need to be everywhere to be successful."
  — Michelle Thames [03:15]

• On Measuring Success:
  "Likes don't pay bills. Followers don't equal dollars."
  — Michelle Thames [05:40]

• On Starting to Sell Early:
  "There is no ready. Do not wait to feel ready."
  — Michelle Thames [08:10]

• On Building Systems:
  "Build out a course or a program so you can stop trading time for money."
  — Michelle Thames [08:50]

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Social Media Decoded is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of modern marketing with a strategic and informed approach. Michelle Thames leverages her extensive experience to provide actionable steps, ensuring that entrepreneurs can build, grow, and scale their businesses effectively in 2025.

For more insights and personalized support, listeners are encouraged to engage with Michelle through her coaching services and available resources.

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Note: Advertisements and non-content sections were omitted from this summary to maintain focus on the valuable insights shared by Michelle Thames.

Transcript

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[Michelle Thames]

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Social Media Decoded Podcast, the number one podcast to help you understand social media better so that you grow your business, get more clients and monetize. I'm Michelle Thames, marketing strategist, business coach, host of this podcast, and the woman who's been in the marketing trenches for over 15 years. I've done it all. Built my personal brand from scratch, led marketing for a major beauty brand, and now I run my own successful digital marketing agency. But let's keep it real. If I had to start over all again in 2025, woo, baby. Some things would be very different now. I wouldn't waste my time on the wrong platforms. Absolutely not. I wouldn't chase any vanity metrics. No ma'am. I'd build smarter and not harder. And today I'm breaking it all down. If I had to start from zero. No audience, no connections, no fancy strategies. This is exactly what I do. So grab a notebook because I'm about to save you years of trial and error. Let's go. Let's talk about the first thing, the biggest mistakes I see new entrepreneurs make. Let's start with this. I see people making these mistakes right now. And listen, if you're doing one of these, do not freak out, just fix it, because I'm going to give you what to do. The first mistake is trying to be everywhere at once. Listen, I know it's tempting to show up on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook groups and email marketing all at the same time. But let me tell you something. You do not need to be everywhere to be successful. Wait, what? Michelle. Oh, you do not need to be everywhere to be successful. If I was starting over, I really just would pick one platform, master it and repurpose my content elsewhere. If you're a service provider or coach, start with Instagram and LinkedIn together. If you love video, try YouTube and TikTok. And no matter what. Do you hear me? No matter what. Build your email list from day one. If you are listening to this podcast and you are a business owner and you do not have an email list, I am side eyeing you. Sure am. Build your email list from day one. Okay. If I could go back in time, I would have started my email list sooner and started to really build it. Because social media platforms are borrowed land. Your email list is your house. Here's a tip from the pros. If you're listening right now and you do not have an email list, go to the link in my bio and grab my free email list building guide. Get on it now. Right now. Okay. Or send me a DM on Instagram @ Michelle L. Thames the word email and I'm going to give you that for free. All right, the second mistake is focusing on followers instead of conversions. Look, I get it. Seeing that follower count go up feels good. It really feels good. But let me tell you something. Likes don't pay bills. Followers don't equal dollars. What matters? Conversions, engagement, relationships. If I was starting from scratch in 2025, I would care less about going viral and more about solving real problems for my audience. Building trust through valuable content, Getting my first a hundred customers before worrying about my first 10,000 followers. Because guess what? You can have 5,000 followers and make six figures. You can have 100,000 followers and still be broke. So here's the pro tip that I have for you. Stop chasing vanity metrics. Instead, focus on your calls, book sales made and email subscribers gained. That's the real flex friend. All right, now what I would do if I was starting over in 2025. All right, let's get into the step by step playbook. If I had no audience, no website, no connections, this is how I'd build my business from scratch in 2025. Step one niche down and get super duper clear on who I help. Most people make this mistake of saying I help everyone. Nope, that doesn't work. If I was starting Over. I asked myself three questions. Who do I want to help, the problem I want to solve and how can I package my solution in a way that stands out? Instead of saying I help businesses owners with marketing that's so general. I help coaches and consultants do X, Y Z and X Y Z. See the difference? The more specific you are, the faster people will hire you. Step 2 Build my brand with 90 days of high value content now. Now that I know who I help, it's time to get visible. But not just by posting for the sake of posting friend. No no no. I would map out 90 days of high value content that is focused on solving pain points. What is keeping my audience up at night giving them quick wins? What's one thing that they can apply today? And storytelling. Because people connect with people, not just products. And I would pick one content format that I enjoy, reels, carousels or long form video and go all in baby. All in. Step 3 Start selling from day one. No more waiting to feel ready. There is no ready. Okay? This is where most people mess up. They build the audience but then they never sell. If I was starting over I wouldn't wait until I had a perfect offer or a perfect website. I would start making money asap. And I did not do that at first. And that's why I am telling you do not make this mistake. Start by offering one on one coaching or consulting. Easy to sell, high ticket, not no overhead. Sell a paid workshop or a challenge. Prove your value. Then upsell leveraging DMs for relationship based sales. No cold pitching, just connections. Here's a pro tip friend. You do not need a fancy website to sell. I don't know who told you that. You just need clarity and confidence. That's it. The fourth thing is scale with systems and automations. Once I've got proof that my offer sells baby, then that's when I'd scale. We're going to automate our email marketing so I'm nurturing leads while I sleep. I'm going to batch content so I'm not posting last minute. I am batching this episode right now. It is 7:46pm and I am recording this on a day and it's not going to even be posted today. It's going to be posted two weeks from now. Build out a course or a program so you can stop trading time for money. This is the difference between hustling forever versus building a business that runs without you. All right now that was a lot but I hope you took some notes because this is the roadmap that I wish I had when I started. And if you're serious about building a brand that gets seen and paid, here's your next step. The first thing Pick one platform and master it. Friend, start building your email list today. And number three Sell something asap. Do not wait to feel ready. And if you want real time coaching and support to actually implement this friend, I have my Voxer coaching. Okay, I will be in your pocket giving you real time feedback, clarity and marketing strategy so you can stop second guessing and start making money. Won't even got to get on those zoom calls. DM me Voxer on Instagram at Michelle L Themes or check down below in the show Notes to apply and if you love this episode, please screenshot it, post it to your Instagram stories and tag me. Let's help more entrepreneurs skip the trial and error phase and start building smarter. Okay, thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. I cannot wait to talk to you all in the next one.

[Wix Marketing Team]

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[Michelle Thames]

You.

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