What I Learned Hosting 50+ Live & Online Events as a Marketing Strategist - Social Media Decoded

Summary4 min read

Podcast Summary: Social Media Decoded

Host: Michelle Thames
Episode: What I Learned Hosting 50+ Live & Online Events as a Marketing Strategist
Date: October 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this insightful episode, Michelle Thames draws from her extensive experience as a marketing strategist and community builder, sharing hard-earned lessons from hosting over 50 live and online events. The episode's main theme centers on the real, practical elements that make events successful—not just in terms of logistics and ticket sales, but through cultivating visibility, community, and authentic connection. Michelle breaks down her top takeaways, emphasizing actionable strategies for anyone looking to create impactful events, grow their brand, and foster lasting relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The People, Not the Promo (00:29)

Core Message: Success comes from focusing on genuine connection, not just flashy promotions.
Michelle recalls her earlier days stressing over “perfect flyers and countdown posts,” only to realize:
“People don’t come because of a pretty post. They come because they feel connected to you, to your story, to the mission behind the event.” (01:13)
Inviting with intention (“I’d love for you to be there”) leads to more impact than generic ticket sales pitches.
Example: A small, 10-person event led to two clients and a critical sponsor introduction.
“Don’t underestimate the power of an intimate room. Your event doesn’t have to go viral. It just needs to reach the right people.” (02:11)

2. The Visibility Layer Most Founders Miss (02:23)

Key Lesson: Visibility comes from showing up consistently, not a one-off announcement.
Michelle stresses the importance of “making the event part of your content,” such as:
- Sharing behind-the-scenes planning moments.
- Going live to explain the event’s purpose.
- Posting clips of previous joyful moments to showcase event energy.
“People buy into the energy, the experience, not just information.” (03:06)
Repurposing content (e.g., podcast episodes into reels/emails) can funnel attention directly toward your events.
Consistency is more important than audience size:
“You don’t need a huge audience. You do need consistent touch points that remind people this is the room you belong in.” (03:25)

3. Sponsorship—Building Win-Win Partnerships (03:34)

Transformation: Michelle shifted from self-funding her events to attracting sponsors by reframing her events as desirable marketing platforms.
Essential steps:
- Approach sponsors with confidence.
- Show them the audience, visibility, and transformation they’ll gain.
“Sponsors aren’t just writing checks. They’re investing in your audience, your story, and your impact.” (04:05)
Advice: Consistently document your impact (photos, testimonials, social stats) to showcase value for potential sponsors.

4. The Real ROI: Relationships (05:14)

Ultimate Reward: Hosting events yields the highest return in genuine relationships, not just in profits.
Michelle highlights how collaborations, clients, and opportunities most often come from in-person event connections rather than online networking.
“Events remind us that visibility isn’t just online. It’s about showing up in real life, connecting authentically, and building trust face to face. That’s how communities grow. That’s how movements start.” (05:41)

Recap & Resources (06:05)

Summary of Lessons:
- Focus on real people, not just promotions
- Build visibility through consistency and storytelling
- Seek out and document sponsorship opportunities
- Value relationships as the biggest ROI
Special offer: Michelle shares a free resource—“10 ChatGPT Prompts for Event Visibility”—for actionable event marketing content.
Event plug: If you’re near Chicago, join Michelle’s “Elevating Empowered Live” event on November 1, 2025, for a day of real connection and actionable strategies.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On connection over promotion:
“People don’t come because of a pretty post. They come because they feel connected to you, to your story, to the mission behind the event.” — Michelle Thames (01:13)
On intimate events:
“Don’t underestimate the power of an intimate room. Your event doesn’t have to go viral. It just needs to reach the right people.” — Michelle Thames (02:11)
On selling experiences:
“People buy into the energy, the experience, not just information.” — Michelle Thames (03:06)
On sponsorship value:
“Sponsors aren’t just writing checks. They’re investing in your audience, your story, and your impact.” — Michelle Thames (04:05)
On real-life connection:
“Events remind us that visibility isn’t just online. It’s about showing up in real life, connecting authentically, and building trust face to face.” — Michelle Thames (05:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:29 – Episode theme introduction and focus on meaningful event creation
01:13 – Lesson 1: “The people, not the promo”
02:23 – Lesson 2: “The visibility layer most founders miss”
03:34 – Lesson 3: “Sponsorship—building win-win partnerships”
05:14 – Lesson 4: “The real ROI: relationships”
06:05 – Recap, resources, and event invitation

Tone & Language

Michelle’s tone is friendly, encouraging, and grounded in real-world experience. She balances strategic insights with personal storytelling, making her advice feel actionable and accessible to fellow marketers, entrepreneurs, and community builders. Her focus on genuine connection infuses the episode with warmth and authenticity.

This summary provides a comprehensive guide to all key themes, lessons, and memorable moments from the episode, making it valuable for listeners new and old.

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Transcript5 lines

[00:00]
MultiCare Representative
For 140 years, MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with local communities and expanding access to care. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org a T shirt and.
[00:17]
Schwab Advisor Services Representative
Jeans, Mac and cheese Some things in life are an obvious match, like RIAS and Schwab Advisor Services, the number one choice for independent advisors. The difference is so obvious. It's Schwabius.
[00:29]
Michelle Thames
Learn why@schwabius.com hey, welcome back to Social Media Decoded. It's Michelle Thames and I am excited for today's episode. If you've ever thought about hosting your own event, whether that's a brunch, a retreat, a networking night, a small workshop, a webinar, even today's episode is going to give you the real behind the scenes of what it actually takes to to make it all work. Because after hosting more than 50 plus live and online events, from five person meetups to full on conferences, I've learned that events aren't just about the logistics or ticket sales. They're about visibility, community and connection. And when you do them right, they can change your business and your life. So today I'm sharing the top lessons that I've Learned from hosting 1550 plus online and in person events as a marketing strategist and community builder. What worked, what didn't, and what I'll never do again. And because I want you to take action after this episode, I created something special, a free guide with 10 ChatGPT prompts for event visibility. You can use these prompts to write your next event post, pitch a sponsor, or create your eventbrite description in minutes. I'll share how to grab that at the end of this episode, so stay tuned. All right, let's get into it. First up, the people, not the promo. Lesson number one is the people, not the promo. I used to stress about getting everything perfect from the flyers, the graphics, the countdown posts. But the truth? People don't come because of a pretty post. They come because they feel connected to you, to your story, to the mission behind the When I shifted my focus from promoting to inviting, everything changed. Instead of buy your ticket now, I would say, hey, I'm hosting something powerful for women who want to grow their visibility and community and I'd love for you to be there. One of my smallest events, maybe 10 people, ended up being one of the most impactful. Two of those women have become clients and another introduced me to a sponsor that I still work with to this day. So don't underestimate the power of of an intimate room. Your event doesn't have to go viral. It just needs to reach the right people now. The visibility layer that most founders miss. Lesson number two. Most people think you promote an event once, maybe post a flyer, send one email and hope for the best. But visibility is built through consistency. Every event I've hosted has had its best turnout. When I've made it part of my content. Not just an announcement, but storytelling. For example, I'll share the planning process in my stories. I'll go live to talk about why I created the event. Or I'll post a clip from a past event where people are laughing and connecting. That is what sells tickets, not the flyer. People buy into the energy, the experience, not just information. And let me tell you, the moment I started repurposing my podcast episodes into reels and emails that all pointed to my events. Game changer. You don't need a huge audience. You do need consistent touch points that remind people this is the room you belong in. Let's talk about lesson number three, the sponsorship. For a long time, I was funding my events out of my pocket. The decor, the food, the venue, all of it. Until I realized I wasn't just hosting events. I was building marketing platforms that brands wanted to be a part of. What? Once I started approaching sponsors with confidence, showing them who was in the room, what kind of visibility they get, the transformation our events create, the game changed. Sponsors aren't just writing checks. They're investing in your audience, your story and your impact. Now I work with local and national partners who help bring my events to life. And that's what allows me to keep them accessible while still making them looks and impactful. If you're an event. If you're an event host or community builder, start documenting your impact now. Photos, testimonials, press mentions, social stats. Because that's your proof of concept for sponsorships later.
[04:53]
MultiCare Representative
For 140 years, MultiCare has been in Washington prioritizing long term solutions, partnering with local communities and expanding access to care. Together, we're building a healthier future. Learn more@ multicare.org.
[05:15]
Michelle Thames
Lesson number four the ROI of relationships. The biggest return from hosting events isn't always financial, it's relational. Some of my biggest opportunities, collaborations and clients came from people I met in the room, not in my DMs. And that's why I believe in doing this work. Because events remind us that visibility isn't just online. It's about showing up in real life, connecting authentically and building trust face to face. That's how communities grow. That's how movements start. So to recap, hosting 50 plus in person and online events have taught me that success isn't about the size of your audience or the fanciness of your flyer. It's about the people, the consistency, relationships, and owning the power of your story. And if this episode got your wheels turning, I want you to grab my free resource the 10 ChatGPT prompts for event Visibility. These are the exact prompts I use to write my event promos, my sponsorships, emails and my follow up messages after every event. You can grab it right now at the link in the show notes or DM me the word event on Instagram and I will send it right to you. And if you're near Chicago, come join me in person at Elevating empowered live on November 1, 2025. It's going to be an unforgettable day of connection, strategy and real talk about what it takes to grow your visibility in 2025 and beyond. Until next time, stay visible and stay empowered. I will talk to you in the next one. Peace.