The Future of Instagram Marketing: A Preview of the ManyChat IRL Summit

Summary

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The Future of Instagram Marketing: A Preview of the ManyChat IRL Summit

Podcast: Social Media Decoded
Host: Michelle Thames
Date: September 10, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, host Michelle Thames shares her excitement about being invited by ManyChat to podcast live at the Instagram IRL Summit 2025 in Los Angeles. She explores why this event is a game-changer for entrepreneurs, creators, and business owners—highlighting emerging trends in Instagram marketing and offering her audience an exclusive opportunity to join. Michelle sets the stage for what to expect at the summit, discusses the future of Instagram strategy, and underscores the importance of personal branding and visibility in today's digital landscape.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Significance of the ManyChat IRL Summit

• Michelle’s Milestone: Michelle expresses her excitement at being flown out to podcast live at the summit — emphasizing it as a “full circle moment.”
• Why Listeners Should Care:
  • The summit gathers social media innovators: “These are the people who are literally shaping where social media and marketing are headed next.”
    (01:44)
  • Attendees hear firsthand what's “working, what's changing, and how to position yourself for success before everyone else catches on.”
    (01:52)

2. Standing Out: The Importance of Visibility

• Michelle highlights that opportunities like this are a result of “consistency, showing up online and building a strong personal brand.”
  (02:00)
• Emphasizes sharing the journey with her audience to make these wins tangible and achievable for others.

3. Top Predictions for Instagram Marketing

• Michelle shares three primary trends she’s eager to learn about at the summit:

  A. AI and Automation in Social Media Marketing

  • Predicts a surge in tools that let businesses “personalize at scale without burning out.” (02:18)
  • ManyChat is positioned at the forefront of chat automation.

  B. The Power of DMs & Community Building

  • Notes Instagram’s shift into a “private, intimate space” via DMs, Close Friends, and Broadcast Channels.
  • Forecasts that building deeper connections that “actually convert into sales” will be a core conversation at the summit. (02:35)

  C. The Rise of Conversational Commerce

  • Michelle argues that shopping and selling “through chat, shopping through the DMs, through interactive experiences” is the future.
  • Warns: “If you're not thinking about how to sell conversationally, you're already behind.” (02:54)

4. Exclusive Listener Opportunity

• Michelle invites listeners to join her at the summit—offering a special discount code, decoded30, for 30% off tickets.
  (03:20)
• She encourages not just L.A. locals, but anyone interested in leveling up with insider strategies.

5. Personal Reflections & Next Steps

• Michelle underscores her gratitude towards ManyChat, citing her long-term use and advocacy of their service.
  • “This is really a full circle moment for me.” (04:10)
• Promises listeners a deeper, post-event recap in an upcoming episode with the “biggest takeaways” from the summit.
• Urges listeners to follow her on Instagram for exclusive, behind-the-scenes stories from the event.
  • “You know I'm going to take you behind the scenes.” (04:36)

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Notable Quotes / Memorable Moments

• "Visibility is everything. Opportunities like this don't just fall into your lap. They come because of consistency, showing up online and building a strong personal brand."
  — Michelle Thames (02:00)
• "If you're not thinking about how to sell conversationally, you're already behind."
  — Michelle Thames (02:54)
• "This is such a full circle moment for me and I cannot wait to take you behind the scenes."
  — Michelle Thames (01:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Michelle announces the summit & its significance | 00:59–02:05 | | Discussion: Why visibility and showing up matters | 02:00–02:18 | | Predictions: AI, DMs, and conversational commerce | 02:18–02:59 | | Listener invitation & discount code | 03:20–03:58 | | Gratitude & personal reflections | 04:10–04:36 | | Call to action (Instagram follow, episode teaser) | 04:36–05:44 |

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Overall Tone and Style

Michelle’s tone throughout is upbeat, encouraging, and transparent—focusing equally on strategic insight and personal empowerment. She makes complex trends feel actionable, motivating her audience to stay ahead of the curve both by attending events and by staying connected online.

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If you haven't listened, this episode is a motivating heads-up on what’s coming for Instagram marketers, why proactive visibility matters, and how crucial it is to leverage emerging conversational tools and private community features on social media.

Transcript

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Hey y'. All. Welcome back to Social Media Decoded. I'm your host Michelle Thames and today I have some really exciting news to share with you. Next week I'll be heading to Los Angeles because Manny Chat is flying me out to the Instagram IRL Summit 2025 to podcast live at the event. Yes, your girl is being flown out to LA for my podcast. This is such a full circle moment for me and I cannot wait to take you behind the scenes. So let's talk about why this matters. Now you might be wondering why you should even care about this event and why does it matter for entrepreneurs, creators and business owners like you, events like the Instagram IRL Summit bring together the people who are literally shaping where social media and marketing are headed next. When you're in the room, you get to hear firsthand what's working, what's changing, and how to position yourself for success before everyone else catches on. And here's the true friend Visibility is everything. Opportunities like this don't just fall into your lap. They come because of consistency, showing up online and building a strong personal brand. That's exactly why I'm so passionate about sharing this journey with with you. Let's talk about what I'm most excited to learn and a few predictions I have for where Instagram marketing is going. The first one is AI and automation in Social Media Marketing. Manychat has been leading the change on chat automation. I think we're going to see even more tools that help creators and business owners personalize at scale without burning out. The second thing is the power of DMs and community building. It's not going anywhere. Instagram is becoming more of a private, intimate space. Think DMs, close friends, broadcast channels. I predict that we'll hear a lot about how to leverage these features to build deeper connections that actually convert into sales. And the third thing is the rise of conversational commerce. Shopping through chat, shopping through the DMs, through interactive experiences through this is where social selling is headed. And if you're not thinking about how to sell conversationally, you're already behind. These are the kinds of conversations that I can't wait to bring back to you after the summit. And here's the best part. You don't have to wait for my recap friend. You can totally join me. Manichat created a special code just for my audience. Use the code decoded30 to get 30% off your tickets. Whether you want to attend, if you're in LA or you want to attend. You know, if you want to fly into la, you could totally do that. So if you've ever wanted to learn from industry experts, network with creators, and get insider strategies that will move your business forward, this is your moment. Go ahead. If you're in the LA area. If you want to join me, grab your ticket at the link below in the show notes and use the code decoded30 at checkout. That is D E C O D E D 30 at checkout. Next week I will be live in LA podcasting straight from the Instagram IRL Summit floor. So make sure you're following me on Instagram at Michelle L. Thames for all the behind the scenes because you know I'm going to take you behind the scenes. Shout out to Manny Chad, thank you so much for this. I am so super excited to do this live podcast interview at the Instagram IRL Summit and also to attend the summit. I've been using MannyChat for a while and you all know that I've mentioned mannychat many times on this podcast before, so this is really a full circle moment for me. I'm so grateful for my podcast for allowing me these special type of opportunities and and of course I'll be dropping a special episode after the event with all my biggest takeaways, so make sure that you stay tuned. Go go right now. Follow me on Instagram Michelle lthaves and drop me a note and tell me if you are excited to follow along for this. Thanks for tuning in today. I hope you are as excited as I am about what's coming for Instagram and marketing in general. Until next time, keep shining online and I'll see you in la. I'll talk to you in the next one.

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