Strut It: Bold Visibility through Instagram Marketing

Hosted by Elizabeth Marberry

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

156

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Instagram is one of the biggest social platforms with over 3 billion monthly active users… So how do you, as an entrepreneur, grow your following, get more clients, and actually get SEEN in the crowded social media space? You need to learn how to leverage Instagram to grow your business—without spending ONE DIME on paid ads— by creating content that resonates with your ideal clients. And I’m here to show you how. Welcome to Strut It, a podcast about creating bold and unapologetic visibility on social media! I’m Elizabeth Marberry, your host and Instagram Marketing Coach. I help small business owners get SEEN on Instagram and monetize their offers so they can make more money doing their soul-led work. Instagram can be a game changer for small business owners, but you have to have a strategy and show up with confidence to create content that gets you SEEN. Join me each week to learn how to Strut It on Instagram, grow your following, and get more clients. Head to elizabethmarberry.com/freebies to grab your free Monetize Your IG guide where you’ll learn 7 Simple and Proven Ways to *Finally* Make Money On Instagram.

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August 31, 2026Episode 13258 min

Why Most AI Content Fails at Sales with Molly Mahoney (And the Buyer Psychology Fix)

Send us Fan Mail If you have been using AI to create content and it still is not converting into sales, you are not alone and you are not doing it wrong. You are just missing one crucial ingredient. Today I am sitting down with Molly Mahoney, known as The Prepared Performer, a digital marketing strategist who launched the world's first AI-focused content membership back in 2021, long before AI became everyone's favorite buzzword. She has built a seven-figure business entirely on organic content, she has had videos reach 39 million views, and she is one of the most brilliant people I know when it comes to blending AI strategy with genuine human connection. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 05:14 What buying beliefs are and why they are the missing ingredient in most AI content strategies 09:38 How to use AI to uncover the hidden objections and fears standing between your ideal client and a buying decision 14:22 The awareness ladder: unaware, problem aware, solution aware, most aware and how to create content for each stage 19:45 Why most business owners are only creating content for people who are already ready to buy and what they are missing 26:03 How Molly uses ManyChat automation to move people through the awareness stages and into sales conversations 33:17 The exact AI prompt framework Molly uses to train AI on buyer psychology before creating any content 39:52 Why your weird is your superpower and how authenticity is what separates AI content that converts from content that just sounds good LINKS MENTIONED The Perfect Person Profile Creator thepreparedperformer.com mollymahoney.com Molly on Instagra m AI Content Club Molly's AI content membership Enroll in Hot Reels now ManyChat The DM automation platform both Elizabeth and Molly use and recommend WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

August 24, 2026Episode 13138 min

What 16 Years in Business Taught Me About Instagram, Coaching & Growth

Send us Fan Mail Today is a special episode. I am celebrating 16 years in business and I want to do something a little different. Instead of teaching you a strategy or walking you through a framework, I want to sit down with you the way I would sit down with a good friend over coffee and share the things I know now that I wish I had known sooner. The lessons that changed my business, my mindset, and honestly my life. We are talking about Instagram, we are talking about coaching, we are talking about what growth actually looks and feels like from the inside. And I am also sharing a very exciting announcement: Hot Reels is officially open for enrollment. This is the last time I will be offering it at this investment level. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 02:47 16 years of business in 16 minutes: the pivotal lessons Elizabeth has learned about growth, visibility, and staying in the game 08:14 Why your business can only grow as fast as you grow and the identity work that nobody talks about in marketing podcasts 13:22 The moment Elizabeth almost quit Instagram and what she did instead 17:55 Why investing in coaching has been the single biggest ROI decision in Elizabeth's business, every single time 22:08 The Hot Reels enrollment announcement: what is included, what has changed, and why this is the last enrollment at this investment level 28:36 What the next 16 years will look like and the vision Elizabeth has for her business and her clients 33:14 A love letter to the business owner who is still figuring it out HOT REELS IS OPEN Hot Reels is officially open for enrollment and this is the last time it will be offered at the current investment. Here is what is included: Live coaching twice a month on Zoom Weekly trending content idea with exact hook formulas and AI implementation workflows Up to two pieces of content reviewed per week inside the private community Active coaching support Monday through Thursday A program capped at 20 business owners so Elizabeth knows your name, your business, and what you are working toward A private bonus coaching session for everyone who enrolls during this launch Current investment: $444 per month or $4,444 paid in full. This investment increases at the next enrollment. Enroll in Hot Reels now LINKS MENTIONED: Join Hot Reels Here: Descript (video editor) My Social Media Marketing Podcast In t erview: Listen Watch Read : https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/new-ways-to-expand-reach-and-engagement-on-instagram WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

August 17, 2026Episode 13038 min

The Instagram Growth Formula Nobody Talks About (Part 5)

Send us Fan Mail Today I want to answer the question every entrepreneur quietly asks themselves: can I actually do this? I am introducing you to my Hot Reels graduate, Dani Alvarez. When Dani first joined Hot Reels, she did not know how to make a reel. She was not comfortable on camera. She did not know what a trending audio was, and she seriously questioned whether Instagram was ever going to work for her business. Fast forward one year later: she had grown her audience from around 1,800 to more than 22,000 followers, created multiple viral reels including one with more than 15 million views, and added over $100,000 in revenue to her business. This is not really a story about Instagram. It is a story about what becomes possible when you commit to mastering one skill long enough for it to change not just your marketing, but your confidence, your identity, and your business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 09:45 Why commitment is the biggest thing standing between where you are today and where you want to be 10:44 Meet Dani Alvarez: beverage burro business owner, homeschool mom, and Hot Reels graduate who grew from 1,800 to 22,000 followers and added $100,000 in revenue in one year 15:01 Dani in her own words: what it felt like the first time she got on camera and why she almost cried posting her first reel 20:48 The 90-day plateau before the breakthrough: how Dani posted consistently for three months with almost no results before one reel hit six million views 24:09 The unexpected opportunity Instagram created: how Dani and a business partner launched an entirely new coaching business for farm and beverage animal owners around the world 27:36 How Elizabeth landed a live international TV segment on one of the biggest UK morning shows because a producer found her on Instagram 30:28 The series wrap-up: five lessons, five client stories, one invitation Links Mentioned: Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Mond ay, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonus Apply for a private Instagram Breakthrough Session Free Monetize Your IG Gu ide Part 1 Ep126: The Truth About Instagram Growth in 2026 Part 2 Ep127: Why Your Instagram Content Isn't Turning Followers Into Clients Part 3 Ep128: The Biggest Instagram Mistake That's Repelling Your Dream Clients Part 4 Ep129: How to Make Money on Instagram Without Thousands of Followers 93: How She Made $100K from Instagram in Under 12 Months with Dani Alvarez (A Hot Reels Success Story) WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

August 10, 2026Episode 12939 min

How to Make Money on Instagram Without Thousands of Followers (Part 4)

Send us Fan Mail If I could wave a magic wand right now and give you one of two things: tomorrow morning you wake up and your Instagram account has 50,000 new followers, or tomorrow morning you wake up with an additional $100,000 in revenue for your business. Which one would you choose? Today I am sharing two stories that illustrate exactly what I mean, and I am answering the question every business owner is really asking: how does Instagram actually make me money? WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 06:35 Why you do not need a huge audience to make serious money on Instagram and what actually determines whether followers convert into revenue 08:26 Meet Martine: a Pilates studio owner with fewer than 1,000 followers who made $3,000 in a single day from two clients who had been quietly watching her content for months 11:18 Meet Amber: a burnout recovery coach and former veterinarian who built a marketing system that turned her Instagram visibility into consistent leads and a $12,000 client 15:57 The framework Elizabeth teaches inside Hot Reels: visibility leads to trust, trust leads to action, action leads to revenue 21:22 How the $12,000 client found Amber, what the funnel looked like, and why it felt like the easiest sale she had ever made 26:27 Why every interaction with your content is a deposit into the trust bank and how that compounds into predictable revenue over time 31:05 Why you do not get an award for doing it by yourself and what Amber says about the real value of coaching and implementation CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES Martine Martine owns a Pilates studio in Seattle. When her breakthrough moment happened, she had fewer than 1,000 Instagram followers. No viral video, no influencer status. Just a business owner who consistently showed up and shared content that resonated with her ideal Pilates client. Two potential clients reached out on the same day after quietly watching her content for months. Between those two sales, she generated $3,000 in a single day entirely from her Instagram marketing efforts. Amber Amber is a burnout and stress recovery coach and former veterinarian of 17 years who helps high achievers, creatives, and vet med professionals heal from burnout. When she came to Elizabeth, she was speaking to everyone and seeing no traction. Together they refined her messaging and audience specifically toward veterinarians, built out a masterclass funnel, and Amber closed a $12,000 client from the very first time she ran it. Since recording her podcast interview, she ran a second masterclass that drew over 150 sign-ups. The funnel is working. Links Mentioned: Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Mond ay, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonus Apply for a private Instagram Breakthrough Session Free Monetize Your IG Gu ide WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

August 3, 2026Episode 12838 min

The Biggest Instagram Mistake That's Repelling Your Dream Clients (Part 3)

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever spent 20 minutes writing the perfect Instagram caption, carefully choosing every word, making sure you sounded knowledgeable, only to post it and hear crickets? Then five minutes later, someone posts a reel that feels almost ridiculously simple, and somehow it takes off. People are commenting, sharing it, booking with them. And you find yourself wondering: how is that content outperforming mine? Mine is so much more valuable. After coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs across dozens of industries, I've noticed something fascinating — the people with the most expertise are often the ones who struggle the most to communicate it. Not because they aren't brilliant, but because they've forgotten what it feels like to not know what they know. Today I'm sharing the story of my Hot Reels client Christa Rypins, and the messaging shift that completely changed how she creates content. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 07:28 What the "curse of expertise" is and why the more experience you have, the more likely you are to fall into this trap 10:55 Why people don't hire the smartest expert. They hire the person who makes them feel understood 12:16 Meet Christa Rypins: chronic pain specialist, Hot Reels client, and the messaging shift that changed everything 18:23 Why bite-sized educational tips aren't enough and the courage it takes to speak to the problem instead of the solution 21:14 Your homework: how to find your next five hooks using the exact words of your ideal client 25:45 The client who quietly watched Christa's content for months and what finally made her hire 33:27 Three lessons to take away from Christa's story LINKS MENTIONED Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Mond ay, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonus Free Monetize Your IG Gu ide Christa Rypins' Website Christa on Instagram @christarypins Christa's previous Strut It interview Ep113 WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

July 27, 2026Episode 12733 min

Why Your Instagram Content Isn't Turning Followers Into Clients (Part 2)

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever looked at your Instagram and thought — I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do. I'm posting consistently, I'm showing my face, I'm making reels. People even comment that my content is helpful. So why isn't anyone actually converting into a paying client or customer? If that's you, you're not crazy and you're not alone. Today I want to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions floating around the online business world: that if you just create enough content, the sales will eventually come. And today I'm sharing the story of one of my Hot Reels graduates who learned that lesson firsthand. She went from feeling completely defeated by Instagram to getting 7x more reel views and attracting clients directly from her content. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 04:03 Why consistency alone isn't enough and the real reason content isn't converting into clients 05:26 The most important question to ask before you film anything: what is the job of this piece of content? 08:11 Meet Caroline Hull: podcast strategist, Hot Reels graduate, and someone who had the expertise but couldn't get Instagram to work for her business 12:43 Why attention without clarity rarely becomes revenue and the four things your profile must communicate instantly 18:43 Caroline's client story: thousands of podcast downloads, zero conversions and the content shift that changed everything 21:33 Caroline's Hot Reels results: 7x reel views, increased engagement, and her highest revenue month since her brand pivot 24:28 Why a million views on the wrong message produces less revenue than 5,000 views to the right person LINKS MENTIONED Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Mond ay, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonus Free Monetize Your IG Gu ide WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

July 20, 2026Episode 12636 min

The Truth About Instagram Growth in 2026 (Part 1)

Send us Fan Mail If you posted content consistently for five straight months and your follower count barely moved, would you keep going? Would you keep showing up every week if it felt like nobody was watching? Today I'm sharing the story of one of my Hot Reels clients who did exactly that. She joined my program with about 2,500 followers and a totally dormant account she hadn't posted on for years. She spent the first few months of Hot Reels wondering if any of it was working. By the end of our year together, she grew to more than 70,000 followers. If you've ever felt like you're posting, trying, learning, showing up, and still wondering if Instagram is even worth it anymore for your business, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 01:36 What this new 5-part series is all about (real client stories, real strategies, real data) 06:34 The yellow pages analogy: why Instagram is the greatest marketing opportunity small business owners have ever had 13:41 The mindset that allowed me to post every day for over a year with little to no growth and keep going anyway 17:21 Meet Asli Wade: seven-figure Etsy seller, handmade gift creator, and Hot Reels graduate 22:27 The truth about what Asli's growth actually looked like — five months of almost nothing 28:34 Why the viral reel revealed the foundation she spent months building, not the other way around 30:02 Why I cap Hot Reels at 20 business owners and what close-proximity coaching actually changes LINKS MENTIONED SHOP for Heartfelt Personalized Gifts handcrafted by Asli Wade HERE Asli Wade's previous Strut It interview — Ep61 Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Mond ay, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonus Free Monetize Your IG Gu ide WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

July 13, 2026Episode 12547 min

Instagram Growth Secrets Every Business Owner Needs with Michelle Gifford

Send us Fan Mail I am so excited to bring on one of the leading Instagram strategists for business owners — Michelle Gifford. She helps six and seven-figure brands grow their audience, sell out their offers, and generate real revenue through Instagram. She's also a coach, agency owner, podcast host of The Social Strategist, and a mother of five proving every day that it's possible to build a thriving business without sacrificing what matters most. When I invited Michelle onto the show, I knew we'd be talking Instagram strategy. What I didn't expect was how deep we'd go into the mindset behind building a successful business on Instagram. Grab your notebook. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 03:15 How Michelle went from teaching photography as a business to becoming one of the leading Instagram strategists for six and seven-figure brands 05:07 The moment Michelle realized she wasn't growing on Instagram even though she was teaching it, and exactly what she changed 07:30 Why sitting on the fence wastes more time and energy than just deciding to go all in 08:23 How to use Instagram results as information instead of validation 09:22 The two types of Instagram users every business owner needs to recognize and the decision point each of them faces 10:19 Why Instagram now rewards the best content creators and why that's actually a gift 11:17 The identity mindset shift required when you move from Instagram consumer to Instagram business owner 16:20 What's working for organic Instagram growth right now: carousels, reels, and the share rate metric you need to watch 18:44 The content test Michelle uses before posting anything: save it, share it, or watch all the way through 20:59 How to keep people watching reels all the way through: layered hooks, visual movement, and ruthless editing 22:21 How long your reels should actually be and why Michelle uses a "mini skirt" rule 23:20 Why not all content has to go viral and how to separate attract, nurture, and sell content 30:17 How Michelle runs a business and creates content with five kids, a dog, and two cats 35:36 How Michelle uses AI including Claude Co-Work for competitor analysis and Instagram content research 39:05 How Claude Co-Work opens a Chrome browser and analyzes Instagram accounts in real time 41:00 How Michelle uses AI to automate daily social media news briefings and podcast guest thank-you emails 41:52 Michelle's Descript workflow for podcast editing LINKS MENTIONED Hot Reels (my 12-month Instagram content lab): Michelle Gifford's Website: Michelle on Instagram: The Social Strategist Podcast: Michelle AI (Michelle's custom GPT): WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

July 6, 2026Episode 12425 min

7 Ways I Use AI to Market My Business, Save Time, and Increase Revenue (Part 4)

Send us Fan Mail Today I'm pulling back the curtain and sharing seven ways I've been using AI behind the scenes every single week to market my business, generate leads, increase sales, and save hours of work. Because when I'm learning a new tool or strategy, I don't just want the theory. I want to see how someone is actually using it inside a real business. This is the final episode of our four-part AI series, and it's the most practical one yet. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 00:44 Series recap — the biggest AI mistakes, using AI without losing your voice, and the AI Thought Partner document from Part 3 05:18 Way #1: Creating speaker kits and media kits — how Claude designed a 3-page editorial PDF speaker kit in a fraction of the time 08:32 Way #2: Reviewing and improving sales pages — how AI acts as a fresh set of eyes to spot blind spots, redundancies, and missed opportunities 10:19 Why AI recommendations aren't always right — and why the thought leader seat always stays with you 11:15 Way #3: Competitor analysis and positioning — using AI to understand the landscape without copying anyone 13:59 Way #4: Repurposing the podcast into multiple marketing assets — how one transcript becomes a newsletter, LinkedIn post, Instagram stories, carousels, hooks, and more 16:25 Way #5: Capturing ideas before they disappear — how Elizabeth uses the voice memo function on walks, in the car, and in the shower 20:08 Way #6: Speaking proposals and pricing research — using AI to position pitches and research market rates 21:55 Way #7: Supporting coaching delivery, client onboarding, and organization 26:34 About the live wo rkshop: Buil d Your AI Thought Partner Links Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner Workshop Part 1 (Ep121): Everyone Has AI. Here's How to Stand Out Anyway. The 3 biggest AI mistakes small business owners make — and the mindset shift that changes everything. Par t 2 (Ep122): The 4 Things AI Needs From You Your stories, opinions, client stories, and perspective — the human elements AI can't manufacture. Part 3 (Ep123): The Mark eting Asset That Saves Me 10 Hours a Week The 5 categories of the AI Thought Partner document and why it's more valuable than any funnel. WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.

June 29, 2026Episode 12324 min

The Marketing Asset That Saves Me 10 Hours/Week With AI (Part 3)

Send us Fan Mail Today I'm sharing something that sounds a little boring on paper but has changed everything about how I use AI. It's not a funnel, it's not a sales page, and it's not a complex system. It's a single living document. And it has become one of the most valuable marketing assets I've built in the last two years. If you've ever felt like AI gives you generic, forgettable content, this episode is going to show you exactly why that's happening and what to fix in your strategy moving forward. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 04:57 Why I built my AI Thought Partner document — and why it's more valuable than any funnel or sales page I've created 06:24 The exhausting mistake most business owners are making with AI: starting from zero every single time 07:49 What an AI Thought Partner document actually is — and why it's a living, breathing asset 10:00 Category 1: High-level business overview — who you are, what you do, what makes you different 11:51 Category 2: Your target audience — what keeps them up at 2am, what they desire, what they fear 14:14 Why being a paid user of both Claude and ChatGPT means this document goes everywhere with you 14:44 Category 3: Your offers — what you sell, who it's for, what objections people have before buying 18:27 Category 4: Your brand voice — why a list of adjectives isn't enough and what to do instead 19:24 Category 5: Your stories — your founder story, client wins, lessons learned, and the moments that shaped your perspective 21:14 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought Partner Links Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner Workshop Part 1 → Ep121: Everyone Has AI. Here's How to Stand Out Anyway. Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabeth marberry Free DM A utomation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabet hmarberry Free Monet ize Your IG Guide WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook Please be sure to rate, review and follow the show on Apple podcasts (or wherever you find your podcasts) so we can get this free value to other people who need it.