The Social Strategist

Hosted by Michelle Gifford

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Episodes

300

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The Social Strategist is your marketing podcast to keep you up to date with all of the changes, trends, and best marketing strategy for social media. If you are using Instagram, blogging, TikTok, email marketing, Pinterest, or other social platforms, then this is the podcast for you.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 123 min

Instagram Just Changed Everything: Series Content, Adam Mosseri's Algorithm Update & What Creators Need to Do Next

Instagram Just Changed Everything: Series Content, Adam Mosseri's Algorithm Update & What Creators Need to Do Next Instagram is testing a brand-new feature that could completely change how we create content: Netflix-style series for Reels. In this episode of The Social Strategist Podcast, Michelle Gifford breaks down what Instagram's latest experiment means for creators, coaches, and business owners trying to grow on social media. Plus, we're unpacking Adam Mosseri's recent post about algorithms, recommendations, and why users are feeling disconnected from the platforms they spend the most time on. You'll learn: What Instagram's new series feature is and why it matters Why TikTok and Instagram are both investing heavily in episodic storytelling How Adam Mosseri says the algorithm actually works Why followers matter less than engagement in today's Instagram landscape How to create binge-worthy "TV show" style content that keeps people coming back The difference between content pillars and content series Practical ways to build stronger audience connection through storytelling How to use "lenses" so you can share more of your life without confusing your audience Join Club 10 now: https://iammichellegifford.com/club10 If you're a creator, entrepreneur, coach, or small business owner trying to grow on Instagram in 2026, this episode will help you stay ahead of the latest Instagram updates and build a content strategy designed for where social media is heading. Keywords: Instagram strategy, Instagram algorithm, Adam Mosseri, Instagram updates, Instagram growth tips, Reels strategy, content marketing, creator economy, social media marketing, Instagram series feature, storytelling content, episodic content, grow on Instagram, Instagram tips for business owners, content strategy for creators.

May 25, 202614 min

0-300k Instagram Growth Case Study: Jessie Jean Home the queen of yapping

The Creator Who Grew 300K Followers by Saying She's "Not the Expert" | Instagram Growth Strategy What if the fastest way to grow on Instagram right now isn't looking more polished… but more human? In this episode, Michelle Gifford breaks down the explosive rise of Jessie Jane Hom, a creator who gained over 300,000 followers in just a few months by doing the opposite of what most creators are taught to do. No guru energy. No overly polished content. No pretending to have it all figured out. Instead, Jessie built a personal brand around "yapping videos," emotional connection, strong hooks, audience research, and showing up in the middle of the journey instead of waiting until she had all the answers. Michelle unpacks the 7 Instagram growth strategies Jessie is using right now, including: The "I'm not the expert" hook How to use audience polls for viral content ideas The power of hot takes in Instagram Reels Emotional content that gets shared How captions increase Instagram watch time Why creators should teach from the middle of the climb How to create Instagram content series that keep followers coming back If you're trying to grow on Instagram in 2026, build a personal brand, create better Reels, or figure out what's actually working with the Instagram algorithm right now, this episode will give you practical strategies you can start using immediately. This episode is especially for creators, business owners, influencers, and personal brands who want to grow faster on Instagram without sounding like everyone else online. https://substack.com/@michellegifford

April 20, 202623 min

More Women in Ai: How to get started with Ai

AI is here. It's coming faster than you want it to. And if you're feeling behind, overwhelmed, or like you'd rather just sit this one out — this episode is for you. After a few months off the podcast, I'm back with a long-form conversation about AI, what our place is in it, and why women especially can't afford to stay on the sidelines. In this episode: The dinner-party whisper conversation that's happening in every neighborhood right now Why women have been in this exact spot before — and what happens when we wait The Reese Witherspoon post (and stat) that stopped me in my tracks The reframe that changed everything for me: this isn't happening to me, it's happening for me How I'm using ChatGPT, Claude, and Cowork in my business right now What I learned when I uploaded six years of audience questions into Claude Why you don't need to be an expert — you just need to start Mentioned in this episode: Michelle AI (my custom GPT trained on my frameworks): https://iammichellegifford.com/michelleai My YouTube tutorial walking through ChatGPT, Claude, and Cowork: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izWGsMgIf3o&t=1s Join the conversation on Substack: https://michellegifford.substack.com/ Let's keep talking. Head to Substack and tell me where you land on AI — I'm reading every comment.

January 13, 2026Episode 1129 min

The Future of Instagram Straight from Mosseri's Mouth

Do you feel like you finally find your rhythm on Instagram, only for the app to go and change the song? It is so easy to feel like you're constantly playing catch-up, but friend, I have some news: The roadmap for the future is already here. Today, we are diving deep into a game-changing update from the head of Instagram himself, Adam Mosseri. We aren't talking about "predictions"—we're talking about the literal shift happening in 2026. Instagram isn't trying to ruin your business; it's trying to survive. And if you want your business to survive (and thrive!) alongside it, you need to move from being a "content creator" to a thought leader. Your Mosseri-Inspired Action Plan: Define Your Authenticity Rules: Instagram doesn't deserve 100% of you. Write down 3-5 things you will share and a firm list of what is off-limits. Your authenticity is an intentional identity, not an emotional expose. Create the "Un-fakeable": As AI gets better at mimicking "messy" aesthetics, the bar is shifting. Stop asking "Can I create this?" and start asking "Can I create something that only I can create?" Move to Thought Leadership: People don't want just another "quick tip"—they want your perspective, your tested results, and your unique "why." Focus on the DMs and Community: The feed is for entertainment, but the connection is happening in the DMs. Build a community that stands for something, not just an audience that watches something. Stop being a victim of the algorithm and start owning the power of your own voice! We need more moms with influence, and that starts with you taking the first step today. If you're worried about these changes in Instagram and want some extra help, come join my coaching group, Grow The Gram, where I will teach you my proven system for getting followers and making money on Instagram! It's open to join through January 27th, so don't wait! Join Club 10 and get daily prompts, trending audio, and the community you need to grow your next 10K followers. If this episode helped you find some clarity today, it would mean the world to me if you'd leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast app! It helps other women entrepreneurs find this community and grow their dreams, too.

January 8, 2026Episode 1026 min

From Goals to Execution: How High-Performing Moms Actually Grow Businesses

Ever feel like you're setting big, beautiful goals for your business, but by the time the month ends, they just... fizzle out? Today, we're getting under the hood of your business to talk about why those goals might be stalling. We're diving into the three types of business goals every creator needs: Growth, Systems, and Projects. Setting a goal is only half the battle; the magic happens in the systems that hold those goals up. I'm sharing exactly how to build those foundations so your goals don't just stay on paper, but actually come to life. Plus, I'll show you how I track my progress so you can stop guessing and start growing with confidence. Ready to take action? Join Club 10: Stop doing Instagram alone! Get daily prompts, trending audio, and the community you need to grow your next 10K followers. Download My Scorecard: Grab the exact tool I use to track my business metrics and stay on the path to growth. Leave a Review: If this episode helped you find some clarity today, it would mean the world to me if you'd leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast app! It helps other women entrepreneurs find this community and grow their dreams, too.

December 16, 2025Episode 915 min

My Secret to Ending the Year with Confidence: The Reverse Bucket List

Let's flip the script on traditional bucket lists and create something far more empowering: your Reverse Bucket List—a celebration of everything you've already lived, built, survived, and crushed (yes, even the tiny wins you usually gloss over). We'll walk through five soul-fueling categories to help you finally give yourself the credit you deserve. Get ready to honor your growth, validate your resilience, and spotlight the risks, boundaries, and breakthroughs that shaped you this year. And when your list is complete, you'll finish with one powerful reflection: "Looking at this list, what does this prove I'm capable of doing next?" Tune in, celebrate yourself, and let's make confidence contagious. Want my ChatGPT Reverse Bucket List prompt? It's just below--make sure to copy it and leave me a review on your podcast app so others can find the prompt, too! Want faster edits and better Reels? Grab my quick Instagram Edits App course—now 50% off! Come join Club 10 and grow your next 10K followers with daily Instagram prompts, trending audio, and a supportive community — so you can spend less time guessing and more time growing. Learn my proven Instagram system that's helped businesses grow faster, get seen by more people, and make more money. Let's hang out on Instagram! The prompt: Create a personalized Reverse Bucket List for me. Follow these instructions exactly: A reverse bucket list is NOT future goals. Only list things I've already done, lived through, survived, or accomplished. Include both the big things and the small, "I never give myself credit for this" things. Include moments of growth, hard seasons I made it through, risks I took, habits I built, boundaries I set, and things I'm proud of but rarely say out loud. Do NOT let me downplay anything. If it mattered, include it. Organize my reverse bucket list into these categories: Identity & Personal Growth Work, Creativity & Achievement Relationships & Family Hard Things I Survived Fun, Adventure & Unexpected Wins After listing them, write one reflection sentence answering: "Looking at this list, what does this prove I'm capable of doing next?" Before you create my reverse bucket list, ask me 5 clarifying questions about my year so you can make it accurate and meaningful.

December 9, 2025Episode 831 min

AI is Changing SEO: Here's Your Step-By-Step Strategy

SEO is changing faster than ever, and AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude are reshaping how people search, shop, and discover businesses online. In this episode, I break down what you need to do in 2026 to stay visible in an AI-driven world. You'll learn why traditional Google-first search is disappearing, how AI is becoming the new product discovery engine, and the essential steps every business—e-commerce, coaches, creators, and service providers—must take to show up in AI search results. I also give you the key content structures, frameworks, and long-form strategies that help AI recognize you as the expert in your niche, plus the hidden downsides you need to be aware of! You'll walk away with a powerful prompt to build your own 30–90 day AI SEO plan. Take a breath—you've got this. Want my secret prompt? It's just below--make sure to copy it and leave me a review on your podcast app so others can find the prompt! Want faster edits and better Reels? Grab my quick Instagram Edits App course—now 50% off! Come join Club 10 and grow your next 10K followers with daily Instagram prompts, trending audio, and a supportive community — so you can spend less time guessing and more time growing. Learn my proven Instagram system that's helped businesses grow faster, get seen by more people, and make more money. Let's hang out on Instagram! The AI SEO Implementation Prompt 1. Identify the questions people would ask AI that should lead to my products and services. 2. Rewrite my product pages, service pages, and website sections using AI AI-friendly structure. (Give examples from your website) 3. Create a list of long-form content topics that will help AI understand my niche expertise and frameworks. 4. Tell me where I need to publish: Is it blogs, YouTube, podcasts, or resource pages? So that AI can actually find and index my expertise. 5. Build a list of ChatGPT prompts I should embed on my site to help AI match my offerings to user intent. 6. Create a structure for "best of" resource pages related to my niche that help AI recommend me more often. 7. Audit what's missing from my discoverability strategy and tell me what to fix first. 8. Ask me follow-up questions until you fully understand my business, audience, niche, and offers. 9. Create a 30-day (or 60 or 90-day) AI SEO implementation plan. Ready to get started with some of those other steps I listed? Click here to register your domain with Google and click here to register with Bing. And as always, please leave a rating and review! It means the world.

December 2, 2025Episode 723 min

The ChatGPT Prompt That Will Change Your 2026

I don't use ChatGPT to "look things up." I use it like a business coach. (Yes, I talk to it in the car. Yes, its name is Chad. 😂) "Hey Chad, poke holes in my assumptions, ask better questions, and map out my identity, content, offers, and revenue." Game. changer. ✨ With 2025 wrapping up, it's officially planning season—and this year I used ONE ChatGPT prompt that completely shifted how I'm looking at 2026. It helped me: ✔️ clarify what I want to be known for ✔️ simplify my platform strategy ✔️ tighten my offer suite ✔️ map out realistic revenue ✔️ build a 2026 plan that actually fits my life 2026, we're coming for you! Keep scrolling to grab the 10-part prompt that helped me map my content, niche, offers, and revenue with clarity. Want faster edits and better Reels? Grab my quick Instagram Edits App course—now 50% off! Come join Club 10 and grow your next 10K followers with daily Instagram prompts, trending audio, and a supportive community — so you can spend less time guessing and more time growing. Learn my proven Instagram system that's helped businesses grow faster, get seen by more people, and make more money. Let's hang out on Instagram! And as always, please leave a rating and review! It means the world. Copy + paste the entire prompt below into ChatGPT, hit enter, and answer its first question to start your strategy session: CHATGPT PROMPT: I want you to act as my strategic business coach and help me create clarity in my content, niche, and long-term business vision. Please do the following: Ask me deep follow-up questions instead of just agreeing with me. Poke holes in my assumptions and challenge my thinking. Help me identify the ONE thing I should be known for in the next 12–24 months. Help me separate my platform strategy (Instagram, YouTube, podcast, blog, etc.) and clarify what belongs where. Help me design a long-term identity arc—what I'm known for now vs. what I want to be known for in 2–3 years. Help me build a clear 6–12 month plan for my content, offers, and positioning. Help me create a revenue roadmap that matches my goals. Make sure your questions and your advice align with my actual goals—not what you think they should be. Throughout the process, continually ask: • "Why this?" • "Is this aligned with your real goals?" • "What would feel light, joyful, and sustainable?"Help me create a final strategic plan broken into: • Identity & positioning • Platform roles • Content cadence • Offer suite • Revenue plan • Next 6 months • Year 2 vision Start by asking me: "What do you want to be known for 12 months from now, and what do you want to be known for 3 years from now?" Then continue coaching me through the rest of the process, one question at a time. Want to save more time creating content? Get my Chat GPT Prompts!

November 25, 2025Episode 629 min

2026 Instagram Predictions

Get ready, friend—2026 is right around the corner, and big shifts are coming to Instagram, social strategy, and the way businesses grow online. In this episode, I pull out her crystal ball and share my top predictions for the year ahead: from the rise of storytelling content and search-driven discovery to live selling, community-building, in-person events, and the continued surge of carousels and long-form content. I also break down what you should be doing now—tightening your systems, getting serious about content strategy, leaning into Stories, using AI the right way, and finally letting go of "the way Instagram used to be." If you're ready to stop complaining, start creating, and build a business that thrives in 2026, this episode is your pep talk, your plan, and your pat on the buns. Let's get to work. Come join Club 10 and grow your next 10K followers with daily Instagram prompts, trending audio, and a supportive community — so you can spend less time guessing and more time growing. Let's hang out on Instagram! And as always, please leave a rating and review! It means the world.

November 19, 2025Episode 532 min

How to Build Real Confidence: Stop Waiting for the "Magic Switch Flip"

Ever wonder how truly confident people got that way? Is it a gift? A switch they flipped? Or something they just are? In this eye-opening episode, we're challenging the common—and often misleading—definition of confidence. I share my personal journey and reveal a powerful truth: building self-assurance is a process of becoming, not an event. What You'll Discover: Why instant results are a myth and long-term, disciplined commitment is the real magic bullet. The danger of sitting on the "fence of decision"—and how to finally get off it and start moving your business forward. Why you need the willingness to be bad at something (like creating new content) to eventually become great. The game-changing importance of having a fun, compelling vision for your goals. Practical, actionable systems to reduce friction and boost your consistency in showing up for your business. The critical role of finding a supportive community (and how to stop letting "mom guilt" sabotage your ambition). Confidence isn't given; it's earned through consistent action. If you're tired of waiting to feel ready, this episode gives you the exact steps to start becoming the person and business owner you know you're meant to be, inch by inch, win by win. Come join Club 10 and grow your next 10K followers with daily Instagram prompts, trending audio, and a supportive community — so you can spend less time guessing and more time growing. Let's hang out on Instagram! And as always, please leave a rating and review! It means the world.