Young and Profiting with Hala Taha

Episode: Julie Solomon: How to Monetize Your Instagram Brand Even with a Small Following | YAP Classic

Guest: Julie Solomon (Business Coach, Author, Host of The Influencer Podcast)
Host: Hala Taha
Date: December 12, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Hala Taha sits down with Julie Solomon—industry-leading business coach and Instagram branding strategist—to dissect how entrepreneurs and creators can monetize their Instagram brands, no matter the size of their following. Julie dismantles common myths about virality and oversharing, details actionable Instagram strategies, and gives insider tips on content, automation, and building monetized offers. The discussion is practical, motivational, and packed with both mindset gems and tactical approaches for anyone navigating the ever-evolving landscape of online branding.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. On Being an Influencer and Protecting Privacy

Timestamp: 04:12–07:45

• Julie reveals she's an introvert and keeps much of her family and personal life private, challenging the stereotype that influencers must share everything.
• Quote:

  “Vulnerability does not necessarily equal having to open up every aspect of your life. Just as having a large following doesn't mean you have to be overtly visible. You get to decide what visibility means to you.” — Julie Solomon (06:05)

• Main takeaway: You can build authority and inspire your audience without oversharing. Decide what visibility means for you.

2. Every Entrepreneur is a Person of Influence

Timestamp: 08:27–09:51

• Julie argues that anyone trying to persuade or sell online is already an "influencer".
• Mindset shift: Embrace the role, because resisting “showing up” online limits business growth.
• Quote:

  “We're all in sales whether we want to admit it or not. We're all creating influence whether we want to admit it or not. … There are only two problems for growth: a conversion problem or a visibility problem.” — Julie Solomon (08:55)

3. Instagram Content: From Overwhelm to Monetization

Timestamp: 09:51–12:46

• The trap: Focusing on hacks, algorithms, or virality over value.
• Success comes from crafting value-based content for a specific problem and audience—consistently.
• Large followings are useless without conversion; many with 100,000+ followers make no money.
• Quote:

  “Are you just creating content just to create content, because that is just a hobby, or are you actually creating content to solve a problem for somebody…?” — Julie Solomon (11:53)

4. The Cold Creator Epidemic & Importance of 'Know, Like, and Trust'

Timestamp: 13:28–14:37

• Viral content alone doesn’t lead to opportunity or lasting brand partnerships.
• Quote:

  “They didn’t take the time to build that know, like and trust with their audience. They were just creating content for the sake of creating content… Now, they don’t have anything to show for it.” — Julie Solomon (13:47)

5. Building a Magnetic Brand that Attracts (and Repels)

Timestamp: 15:24–20:59

• Magnetism: Speak directly to one person—solve one specific problem, and transformation follows.
• Repelling is as important as attracting; clarity on who you serve (and don’t serve) is powerful.
• Quote:

  “If you’re going to attract the right people into your world, you also have to repel. They’re the same coin, just both ends of the coin.” — Julie Solomon (17:07)

• “You are here”—draw a line for your audience from their start (A) to the transformation (Z) you deliver.

6. Brand as a Business: Selling and Monetizing Your Offers

Timestamp: 25:17–29:30

• Treat your content and brand as a business, not a hobby.
• Always have something to sell; otherwise, content is just a pastime.
• Julie's framework: Build an “ecosystem” where all offers are visible and feed into each other, with clear monetizable calls to action.
• Quote:

  “You have to have something to sell at the end of this—otherwise, get really honest with yourself that what you are creating is a hobby that’s probably not gonna make you a lot of money.” — Julie Solomon (25:27)

7. Automations & DM Strategies for Sales

Timestamp: 32:38–37:41

• DM automations—like ManyChat—can drive conversions at scale; but, automations only work if your offers and messaging are already dialed in.
• Julie’s “Trust Funnel” approach: Set up systems so content works while you’re offline.
• Quote:

  “People love spending money when there is a clear transformation on the other side.” — Julie Solomon (35:23)

Offer Strategy Pro-Tip:

• Don’t default to low-ticket offers. Higher-priced offers work if your transformation is clear.
• A non-converting offer won’t work better just because it’s automated.

8. Brand Messaging: Focus on Desire, Not Pain

Timestamp: 38:04–41:42

• Shift away from pain-point marketing and toward desire-based, future-focused messaging.
• Speak to the transformation your offer provides—not the struggle or the “how-to” steps.
• Quote:

  “Sell me the dream, sell me the desire, sell me the transformation. I don’t care what the seat looks like on the plane.” — Julie Solomon (40:47)

9. Small Followings, Big Money—Busting the Follower Myth

Timestamp: 42:33–45:03

• You do not need a massive audience to be profitable.
• Brands prefer micro and nano-influencers (1k-10k followers) for their engaged communities.
• Quote:

  “A large following does not equal more money. In fact…the majority of people landing paid brand deals consistently, daily, weekly, have less than 3,000 followers.” — Julie Solomon (42:51)

10. What’s Actually Working on Instagram in 2024

Timestamp: 46:05–51:35

• Hashtags? Not relevant for growth on Instagram in 2024.
• “Talking head” (on-camera, direct-to-camera) content and inspirational reels are gaining traction.
• Reels of 30–90 seconds perform better than super-short loops.
• Instagram Stories remain a powerful (yet underappreciated) conversion tool.
• Julie’s Formula: 3–4 feed posts/week (M–Th), go easy on Fridays, and post face-to-camera Stories daily
• Quote:

  “If you can, just try to show up at least once a day on an Instagram story…show up…your beautiful face…You’re going to see a lot more engagement, not only short term, but over time—and that will lead to more sales.” — Julie Solomon (50:29)

11. How to Drive Engagement & Build Community

Timestamp: 58:07–61:24

• Ask specific, direct questions to prompt engagement (yes/no, A/B choices).
• Showcase behind-the-scenes, let followers help make decisions, and act on their feedback.
• Peer-to-peer collaborations (lives, story swaps, joint giveaways, JV launches) drive growth and create valuable relationships.
• Quote:

  “Our followers always know what’s best. They’re so smart, they’re so brilliant, they’ve got so many great ideas. So, bring them into the conversation.” — Julie Solomon (59:46)

12. Masterminds & Investing in Yourself

Timestamp: 62:26–68:47

• Masterminds are the future for entrepreneurs—the right group will help you break through to new income and impact levels.
• Invest in coaching or masterminds with leaders 5 steps ahead of you.
• Julie’s first $25k mastermind was pivotal to her business, fast-tracking her from $250k/year to $1M+.
• Quote:

  “If you’re not willing to invest $10,000 in a coaching program…don’t expect to make $25,000. It’s all energy, it’s all connected.” — Julie Solomon (64:40)

13. Manifestation, Energy, and Setting Intentions

Timestamp: 69:33–73:31

• Julie blends neuroscience, manifestation, and intention to "call in" business success.
• The “I Declare” technique: Walk daily, verbally declare your desired result (e.g., “I declare I’ll make $50,000 this month”), and let go of the 'how'.
• Quote:

  “When I set an intention and when I decide to think differently and to expect miracles, miracles happen. And when I don’t, they don’t happen.” — Julie Solomon (71:15)

Notable Quotes

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-----------|-------------|---------------| | “Vulnerability does not necessarily equal having to open up every aspect of your life…You get to decide what visibility means to you.” | Julie Solomon | 06:05 | | “Are you just creating content just to create content…or are you actually creating content to solve a problem for somebody…?” | Julie Solomon | 11:53 | | “They didn’t take the time to build that know, like and trust with their audience…Now, they don’t have anything to show for it.” | Julie Solomon | 13:47 | | “If you’re going to attract the right people into your world, you also have to repel. They’re the same coin, just both ends of the coin.” | Julie Solomon | 17:07 | | “A large following does not equal more money…The majority…landing paid brand deals…have less than 3,000 followers.” | Julie Solomon | 42:51 | | “Sell me the dream, sell me the desire, sell me the transformation. I don’t care what the seat looks like on the plane.” | Julie Solomon | 40:47 | | “If you can…just try to show up at least once a day on an Instagram story…You’re going to see a lot more engagement…that will lead to more sales.” | Julie Solomon | 50:29 | | “What you focus on is what you get…When I set an intention and expect miracles, miracles happen.” | Julie Solomon | 71:15 | | “If you’re not willing to invest $10,000 in a coaching program…don’t expect to make $25,000. It’s all energy.” | Julie Solomon | 64:40 |

Timestamps for Critical Segments

• 04:12 – Julie on being an introvert, boundaries, and vulnerability
• 08:27 – Every entrepreneur is a person of influence
• 09:51 – Instagram content that monetizes vs. content that doesn’t
• 13:28 – Building “know, like, and trust”; The fatal flaw of cold creators
• 15:24 – Foundations: One person, one problem, one transformation
• 25:17 – The difference between a brand and a profitable business
• 32:38 – DM automation, automating sales, pitfalls of low-ticket thinking
• 38:04 – Desire vs. pain-point marketing in messaging
• 42:33 – The myth of having to build a huge following
• 46:05 – Instagram in 2024: What content works, hashtags, stories, talking heads
• 58:07 – Promoting engagement; peer collaboration tips
• 62:26 – Masterminds: When and why to join, getting a return on investment
• 69:33 – Julie’s manifestation & “I declare” technique

Tone & Final Takeaways

The tone is warm, practical, and empowering—with both women sharing candid stories and actionable advice. Julie emphasizes that clarity, intention, and relationship-building trump vanity metrics or algorithm-chasing. Monetization comes from authentic connection, strategic offers, and investing in mindset and business fundamentals. “Let it be easy,” Julie says—profit, visibility, and impact are possible, even with only a hundred true fans.

Connect with Julie Solomon:

• Instagram: @julssolomon
• Revenue Growth Lab: juliesolomon.net/profiting

Listen, Learn, and Profit!