Strut It: Bold Visibility through Instagram Marketing

Elizabeth Marberry
  • 5.0 (103)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 2d ago

    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 had13:41 The mindset that allowed me to post every day for over a year with little to no growth and keep going anyway17:21 Meet Asli Wade: seven-figure Etsy seller, handmade gift creator, and Hot Reels graduate22:27 The truth about what Asli's growth actually looked like — five months of almost nothing28:34 Why the viral reel revealed the foundation she spent months building, not the other way around30:02 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 HEREAsli Wade's previous Strut It interview — Ep61Hot Reels VIP Wait List — enrollment opens Monday, August 17th. Join the wait list for first access and an exclusive private coaching bonusFree Monetize Your IG GuideWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

    The Truth About Instagram Growth in 2026 (Part 1)

  2. Jul 13

    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 brands05:07 The moment Michelle realized she wasn't growing on Instagram even though she was teaching it, and exactly what she changed07:30 Why sitting on the fence wastes more time and energy than just deciding to go all in08:23 How to use Instagram results as information instead of validation09:22 The two types of Instagram users every business owner needs to recognize and the decision point each of them faces10:19 Why Instagram now rewards the best content creators and why that's actually a gift11:17 The identity mindset shift required when you move from Instagram consumer to Instagram business owner16:20 What's working for organic Instagram growth right now: carousels, reels, and the share rate metric you need to watch18:44 The content test Michelle uses before posting anything: save it, share it, or watch all the way through20:59 How to keep people watching reels all the way through: layered hooks, visual movement, and ruthless editing22:21 How long your reels should actually be and why Michelle uses a "mini skirt" rule23:20 Why not all content has to go viral and how to separate attract, nurture, and sell content30:17 How Michelle runs a business and creates content with five kids, a dog, and two cats35:36 How Michelle uses AI including Claude Co-Work for competitor analysis and Instagram content research39:05 How Claude Co-Work opens a Chrome browser and analyzes Instagram accounts in real time41:00 How Michelle uses AI to automate daily social media news briefings and podcast guest thank-you emails41:52 Michelle's Descript workflow for podcast editingLINKS 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 ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

  3. Jul 6

    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 305:18 Way #1: Creating speaker kits and media kits — how Claude designed a 3-page editorial PDF speaker kit in a fraction of the time08:32 Way #2: Reviewing and improving sales pages — how AI acts as a fresh set of eyes to spot blind spots, redundancies, and missed opportunities10:19 Why AI recommendations aren't always right — and why the thought leader seat always stays with you11:15 Way #3: Competitor analysis and positioning — using AI to understand the landscape without copying anyone13:59 Way #4: Repurposing the podcast into multiple marketing assets — how one transcript becomes a newsletter, LinkedIn post, Instagram stories, carousels, hooks, and more16:25 Way #5: Capturing ideas before they disappear — how Elizabeth uses the voice memo function on walks, in the car, and in the shower20:08 Way #6: Speaking proposals and pricing research — using AI to position pitches and research market rates21:55 Way #7: Supporting coaching delivery, client onboarding, and organization26:34 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought PartnerLinks Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner WorkshopPart 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.Part 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 Marketing 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 ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

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

  4. Jun 29

    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 created06:24 The exhausting mistake most business owners are making with AI: starting from zero every single time07:49 What an AI Thought Partner document actually is — and why it's a living, breathing asset10:00 Category 1: High-level business overview — who you are, what you do, what makes you different11:51 Category 2: Your target audience — what keeps them up at 2am, what they desire, what they fear14:14 Why being a paid user of both Claude and ChatGPT means this document goes everywhere with you14:44 Category 3: Your offers — what you sell, who it's for, what objections people have before buying18:27 Category 4: Your brand voice — why a list of adjectives isn't enough and what to do instead19:24 Category 5: Your stories — your founder story, client wins, lessons learned, and the moments that shaped your perspective21:14 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought PartnerLinks Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner WorkshopPart 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 @elizabethmarberryFree DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberryFree Monetize Your IG GuideWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

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

  5. Jun 22

    How to Use AI Without Sounding Like Everyone Else on Instagram (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail Every reel, every caption, every time you show your face on camera — you're building something you can't fully see yet. You never know where all of this will lead until you get into action and start finding your voice. This is part two of my four-part series on how to use AI to market and grow your business on social media without losing what makes you you. Last week I covered the three biggest AI mistakes small business owners make. Today I'm diving into the four things AI actually needs from you if you want your content to stand out instead of blend in. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 01:19 Why Elizabeth is speaking to 150 people in Cincinnati — and what it proves about content compounding over time02:44 Why most small business owners are under-leveraging AI even though everyone is using it03:36 A quick recap of Part 1 — the three biggest AI mistakes (and how to avoid them)04:32 The missing ingredient in most people's AI content strategy: the human element05:00 Thing #1: Your stories — why your lived experience is the raw material of your brand06:52 Thing #2: Your opinions — where thought leadership actually lives09:34 Thing #3: Your client stories — what AI will never know unless you tell it11:50 Thing #4: Your perspective — the differentiator AI can't replicate13:44 Your homework this week: how to build your Story Vault in a Google Doc15:34 What's coming in Part 3 — the exact document Elizabeth built to train AI on her brand15:59 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought Partner YOUR HOMEWORK: BUILD YOUR STORY VAULT Open a Google Doc this week and create a document called My Story Vault. Add these four headings: Stories from my life (mistakes, wins, pivotal moments, childhood memories that connect to your work)Client success stories (transformations, results, things clients have said to you)Things I believe (your hot takes, opinions, frameworks, things you'd push back on in your industry)Questions my audience asks (the same questions you hear on sales calls, in DMs, in emails — every week)Add five items under each heading. That's it. Once you start feeding this into your AI conversations, the quality of everything it creates for you will shift dramatically. Links Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner WorkshopPart 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 @elizabethmarberryFree DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberryFree Monetize Your IG GuideWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

    How to Use AI Without Sounding Like Everyone Else on Instagram (Part 2)

  6. Jun 15

    Everyone Has AI. Here's How to Stand Out Anyway. (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail Instagram is filling up with AI-generated content. And as more small business owners and creators start using these tools, one thing is becoming really clear — everyone is starting to sound the same. So how do you use AI effectively without losing what makes you you? That's exactly what we're tackling today. This is part one of a four-part series on how to use AI in your marketing as a small business owner. We're going back to the basics, laying the right foundation, helping you avoid common mistakes, and making sure you have what you need to stand out instead of blend in. *INSTAGRAM UPDATE WORTH KNOWING Instagram just rolled out the ability to reorder your grid posts. To access it, go to your profile, long press on any post, and select Reorder Grid from the menu that appears. You can then drag and drop your posts to change the order they appear on your public profile. This matters because those first nine posts on your profile often determine whether someone follows you or not. My advice: don't overthink it and don't spend three hours rearranging your feed like it's a living room makeover. But do think strategically about what someone sees within the first five to seven seconds of landing on your profile, and make sure it's positioned to attract your ideal client or customer. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 02:17 Instagram update: how to reorder your grid posts and why it matters 05:24 Why we're in the "Summer of AI" and the perspective I'm bringing to this series 07:16 The real conversation happening around AI in 2026 (it's not "should I use it" anymore) 07:45 Why using AI is quickly becoming the baseline and what the actual competitive advantage is now 08:39 What AI-generated "slop" looks like and why it's hurting the people posting it 09:36 Why AI is making thought leadership more valuable, not less 10:33 Mistake #1: Waiting until you figure it out (the fear and avoidance trap) 13:50 Mistake #2: Using AI to replace your thinking instead of amplify it 15:37 Mistake #3: Giving AI zero context and why this is the biggest reason outputs feel generic 18:49 The mindset shift that changed everything: treating AI like a strategic thought partner 19:17 One action step to take this week: ask AI to interview you before it creates anything 20:39 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought Partner Links Mentioned: Build Your AI Thought Partner WorkshopThink Bigger: Using AI to Expand What’s Possible in Your Business with Geoff WoodsHot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberryFree DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberryFree Monetize Your IG GuideWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

    Everyone Has AI. Here's How to Stand Out Anyway. (Part 1)

  7. Jun 8

    Claude Co-Work, ChatGPT Carousels & the Future of Content Creation with Austin Armstrong

    Send us Fan Mail I am sitting down with Austin Armstrong, author of Virality, keynote speaker, founder of Syllaby AI, and someone who has generated billions of views across social media through short-form video strategy.  We talked about what's actually working on Instagram in 2026  including how Austin uses trial reels to test content, his strategy for repurposing videos across platforms, and why collaborations are still one of the fastest ways to grow your audience organically. But we also went deep into AI.  Austin shared how he's using ChatGPT's newest image generation update to create Instagram carousel posts in a fraction of the time, how Claude Co-Work is changing the way creators and business owners work with AI beyond just prompting, and how entrepreneurs can use these tools to simplify content creation without losing authenticity or personality.  WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE 02:11 How Austin went from MySpace at 14 years old to becoming one of the leading voices in AI marketing 07:31 Why every CEO and founder should be building a personal brand and how it lets you pivot 11:24 Why consumers increasingly buy from people who share their belief systems 13:20 What's actually working on Instagram right now: Austin's top strategies for 2026 13:48 How Austin reposts top-performing content and why one repost just hit 600,000 views 15:13 The tool Austin uses to download Instagram videos without a watermark 16:13 Why collaborations are still one of the most underrated growth tools on Instagram (and how to add up to 5 collaborators per post) 19:24 How Austin uses trial reels to A/B test hooks before posting to his main feed 25:32 How Austin is posting 3 times a day on Instagram — and how AI makes that possible 25:59 The exact process for using ChatGPT Image 2.0 to create Instagram carousel posts in minutes 31:11 What Claude Co-Work actually is — a plain-English breakdown for beginners 39:46 All about Syllaby — the AI video creation and scheduling tool Austin founded Links Mentioned: Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberryFree DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberryFree Monetize Your IG GuideSyllaby - Austin's AI video creation and scheduling platformAustin Armstrong's WebsiteFollow Austin on Instagram SnapInsta - free tool to download your Instagram videos without watermarkPrevious episode — Ep119: How I Use AI to Reverse Engineer Viral HooksWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

    Claude Co-Work, ChatGPT Carousels & the Future of Content Creation with Austin Armstrong

  8. Jun 1

    How I Use AI to Reverse Engineer Viral Hooks (Part 3)

    Send us Fan Mail Today I'm pulling back the curtain on how I'm using AI in my business to reverse engineer viral hook formulas, generate stronger content ideas, and speed up my content creation process without losing personality or authenticity in my marketing. This is part three of our hooks and messaging mini series, and it might just be the most practical episode of the bunch. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 01:43 Why this hook series has been about so much more than just text on screen 02:07 How I run two businesses simultaneously — The Wedding Dance Coach in Denver and my Instagram marketing brand 04:20 The #1 mistake business owners make when using AI for content creation 05:16 What a Master AI Brand Book is and why building one changes everything about your AI outputs 06:43 The simple strategy I use to reverse engineer viral hook formulas with AI 07:40 How to study Instagram content like a marketer, not a consumer 08:34 Exactly what to say to ChatGPT or Claude when you upload a viral hook screenshot 09:55 How to prompt AI to generate 10 hook variations using your brand voice 11:16 Why AI is your strategic thought partner not your replacement 13:36 Hot Reels client results: from 2,000 to 70,000 followers, and six figures added in revenue 15:20 Next week: Austin Armstrong on AI, marketing, and growing to almost 1 million Instagram followers Links Mentioned: Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberryFree DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberryFree Monetize Your IG GuideThe Wedding Dance CoachPart 1 → Ep117: The Secret to Stronger Instagram HooksPart 2 → Ep118: The 4-Part Hook Formula Behind Viral ReelsWORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with ElizabethFree guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on InstagramFollow 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.

    How I Use AI to Reverse Engineer Viral Hooks (Part 3)
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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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