Social Media Decoded: Episode Summary
Title: Simplified Content, Real Results: Marketing Strategy for Side-Hustlers with Carlissa LeBlanc
Host: Michelle Thames
Guest: Carly (Carlissa LeBlanc), Founder of CD Creative Co Agency
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Introduction to the Episode
In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames welcomes Carly, the content marketing guru and founder of CD Creative Co Agency. Carly specializes in helping women entrepreneurs simplify their marketing efforts by batching a month's worth of content in just one day. Balancing a full-time job, motherhood, and her own podcast, Carly shares her journey and strategies for achieving consistent online presence without burnout.
Carly's Journey: From Pre-Med to Entrepreneur
Timestamp: [04:00]
Carly opens up about her unexpected pivot from pursuing a career in medicine to embracing entrepreneurship. As the first in her family to graduate from college, Carly faced significant life changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, including engagement, marriage, homeownership, and motherhood. She recounts,
“God was just like, yeah, actually, you're not going to school to be a doctor. And I was actually on my way to apply for medical school when all this had happened”
— Carly [04:00]
Despite initial reservations about entrepreneurship—stemming from witnessing family members struggle and eventually quit in their ventures—Carly found her calling by helping her church market during the pandemic. This experience ignited her passion for content marketing, leading her to establish her own agency.
Balancing a 9-to-5 Job, Business, and Motherhood
Timestamp: [06:09]
Michelle commends Carly for her ability to juggle multiple responsibilities without burning out and probes into her secret to success. Carly attributes her balance to discipline and structured scheduling. She explains:
“I have the flexibility of being able to have unlimited PTO. I have half days on Fridays, you know, I have a lunch hour. Like I'm able to work around my schedule”
— Carly [06:09]
By identifying her peak productivity hours and aligning them with her work and personal life, Carly efficiently manages her time. She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging personal work rhythms—admitting she's not a morning person and optimizing her schedule accordingly.
Overcoming Early Mistakes in Entrepreneurship
Timestamp: [08:46]
Michelle asks Carly about the initial mistakes she made while building her business alongside a full-time job. Carly candidly shares that trying to be present on every social media platform led to rapid burnout:
“I felt like I had to be on all of these platforms... building your business, you have your job, you have your kid, you have your husband. How are you going to be on all seven of these platforms and be consistent at it? And so I burnt out really, really quickly”
— Carly [08:46]
Realizing the futility of this approach, Carly shifted her strategy to focus exclusively on platforms where her target audience is most active, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing stress. She also discusses the pitfalls of comparing oneself to industry peers, which can lead to stagnation and loss of focus.
Streamlining Content Creation: The "Content in a Day" Package
Timestamp: [11:43]
Michelle delves into Carly's flagship service: batching a month's worth of content in a single day. Carly outlines her comprehensive process:
- Initial Consultation: Identifying the Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA) and understanding the problems the business solves.
- Brainstorming Session: A one-hour "brain dump" to generate content ideas, incorporating both client inspirations and Carly's external perspectives.
- Content Planning: Creating a shot list that includes a mix of talking heads, B-rolls, compilation reels, and trending topics.
- Shooting: Capturing all necessary content within three hours with her team.
- Editing: Post-production by her team ensures polished, ready-to-post content within 7-10 days.
She emphasizes the elimination of common content creation barriers:
“This solution has been such a blessing... no excuse for you not to be able to show up.”
— Carly [14:53]
Essential Tools for Automated and Efficient Marketing
Timestamp: [16:15]
Carly shares her "trifecta" of essential tools that keep her marketing efforts running smoothly:
-
ChatGPT:
- Usage: Brainstorming ideas, simplifying complex concepts for target audiences.
- Quote:
“ChatGPT is like my assistant, right hand man.”
— Carly [16:15]
-
CapCut:
- Usage: Easy-to-use video editing with templates for B-roll clips.
- Quote:
“If you are a beginner and you're like, I don't know how to edit, there's so many templates in there for you to use.”
— Carly [16:15]
-
Instagram Scheduler:
- Usage: Scheduling posts in advance to maintain consistency despite a busy schedule.
- Quote:
“Once everything is in there and schedule, you can basically forget about it until it's time for you to get on and engage with people.”
— Carly [16:15]
Michelle echoes the importance of these tools, highlighting their accessibility and effectiveness in maintaining a consistent online presence without constant manual effort.
Maintaining Consistency Amidst Chaos
Timestamp: [19:54]
Michelle inquires about Carly's strategies for maintaining consistency in content posting, even when life becomes hectic. Carly attributes her unwavering consistency to focusing on her Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA), whom she personifies as "Brandi," a side-hustling mompreneur. She explains:
“When you have somebody that you are assigned to, like, you feel even more compelled to show up.”
— Carly [19:54]
By keeping Brandi at the forefront of her content strategy, Carly ensures that every piece of content is purpose-driven and aligned with her audience's needs. This targeted approach not only fuels her motivation but also enhances the relevance and impact of her marketing efforts.
Structuring Your Week for Success
Timestamp: [21:50]
Michelle asks Carly for advice on what every side hustler needs to build to make everything happen. Carly emphasizes the necessity of structure and discipline. She advises:
“You have to have a plan, on how you structure your weeks, how you structure your business, how you structure everything that you're assigned to.”
— Carly [21:50]
Carly advocates for themed days to streamline tasks and enhance productivity. Her weekly structure includes:
- Mondays: No meetings; easing into the week.
- Tuesdays to Thursdays: High-energy days for discovery calls, coffee chats, and recording podcasts.
- Fridays: Light and casual, reserved for catching up and preparing for the next week.
This structured approach allows Carly to maximize her productive hours while maintaining flexibility for personal and family time.
Connecting with Carly and Additional Resources
Timestamp: [25:52]
As the episode wraps up, Carly provides listeners with ways to connect and access her resources:
- Follow on Instagram: CD Creative Co
- Side Hustler Podcast: Weekly episodes every Tuesday.
- Free Guide: "30 Days of Done for Your Content Prompts" available at cdcreativecoachncy.com/content
Michelle encourages listeners to take advantage of these resources to enhance their own marketing strategies and build a profitable brand without the overwhelm.
Key Takeaways
- Focus on Target Platforms: Identify where your audience spends their time and concentrate your efforts there to avoid burnout.
- Batch Content Creation: Streamline your content process by dedicating specific days to create and plan your posts ahead of time.
- Utilize Essential Tools: Leverage tools like ChatGPT, CapCut, and Instagram Scheduler to automate and facilitate your marketing efforts.
- Maintain Consistency through Focus: Keep your Ideal Customer Avatar in mind to stay motivated and ensure your content remains relevant and impactful.
- Structure Your Week: Implement a themed schedule to balance productivity with personal life, enhancing overall efficiency.
Notable Quotes
“You have to have a plan... how you structure your weeks, how you structure your business... you have to be disciplined.”
— Carly [21:50]
“This solution has been such a blessing... no excuse for you not to be able to show up.”
— Carly [14:53]
“When you have somebody that you are assigned to, like, you feel even more compelled to show up.”
— Carly [19:54]
Conclusion
This episode of Social Media Decoded offers invaluable insights for side-hustlers balancing multiple roles. Carly's experience underscores the importance of strategic focus, disciplined scheduling, and leveraging the right tools to achieve marketing success without sacrificing personal well-being. Listeners are encouraged to implement these strategies to build a consistent and profitable online presence.
Connect with Carly:
- Instagram: CD Creative Co
- Side Hustler Podcast: Listen Here
- Free Content Guide: 30 Days of Done
Follow Michelle Thames:
- Instagram: @MichelleLThames
- Podcast: Social Media Decoded