Social Media Decoded

Everybody wants to go viral… but what if virality isn’t actually the thing that grows your business?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames is sharing the real truth about what going viral has actually taught her about visibility, business growth, and building a brand that lasts.

After going viral multiple times across Instagram, Reels, and Threads, Michelle is pulling back the curtain on what people think virality is versus what actually creates long-term success online.

If you’ve ever thought:

“Maybe I just need one viral post…”

or felt discouraged because your content isn’t taking off…

this episode is your reminder that visibility is bigger than views.

Michelle breaks down why viral content does not automatically equal clients, the biggest mistake entrepreneurs make after gaining attention online, and why building a visibility ecosystem matters more than chasing trends.

She also shares surprising lessons from her recent local visibility strategy, how community and relationships are creating real opportunities, and why consistency still wins in 2026.

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode:

“Virality gets attention. Systems build businesses.”

If you’re a coach, service provider, creator, entrepreneur, or business owner trying to get visible online, attract more clients, and stop relying on random content to grow your business — this conversation is for you.

In This Episode, We Cover:

What people get wrong about going viral

Michelle’s experience going viral multiple times

Why viral content does not automatically grow your business

The truth about followers, views, and conversions

How local visibility is changing the game for entrepreneurs

Why relationships matter more than the algorithm

How to create a visibility ecosystem that actually converts

The power of consistency in business growth

What to focus on if your content isn’t taking off yet

Mentioned in This Episode:
Visibility Reset
Community building for entrepreneurs
Personal branding & visibility strategies
Local marketing & local visibility lessons

Connect with Michelle:
If this episode resonated with you, send Michelle a DM with the word VISIBLE on Instagram and share what part hit home for you.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What really makes a brand unforgettable?

In this special Behind the Brand episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle sits down with Jayanta Jenkins, Former Vice President of Global Creative at Starbucks, to unpack what it takes to build one of the most recognizable brands in the world.

With over 25 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and creative leadership, Jayanta shares what it takes to build culture-defining brands, lead global creative teams, and balance storytelling with business goals. From his early inspiration at museums in Washington D.C. to leading creative at brands like Starbucks and Disney, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs, marketers, creatives, and business leaders.

Michelle and Jayanta discuss why branding is more than aesthetics, how creativity drives business results, the role of leadership in scaling impact, and why the best brands create emotional connection, not just visibility. They also dive into marketing trends, brand strategy, consumer psychology, AI, culture, and what separates brands people notice from brands people remember.

If you’re building a personal brand, growing a business, leading a team, or trying to better understand marketing in today’s world, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

What it really means to lead creative at Starbucks

How iconic brands build emotional connection

The difference between visibility and cultural relevance

Creativity vs. business performance and why both matter

Leadership lessons from managing global creative teams

Why storytelling is still the foundation of great marketing

The future of branding and creativity in the AI era

What entrepreneurs can learn from billion-dollar brands

How great brands drive conversation and customer loyalty

Connect With Jayanta:

LinkedIn: Jayanta Jenkins
Portfolio: Jayanta.com

Resources Mentioned:

Starbucks branding and creative strategy

Consumer psychology in marketing

Brand storytelling and emotional connection

Creative leadership and team building

Loved This Episode?

If this episode helped you think bigger about branding, visibility, creativity, or leadership, screenshot the episode, share it on Instagram, and tag Michelle! Your reviews help Social Media Decoded reach more entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders ready to grow their visibility and impact.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Summer is here, the kids are home, schedules are changing, and business still has to move.

So how do you stay visible online when life gets… life-y?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle is talking about what it really looks like to stay consistent in your visibility without burning yourself out. Whether you're a mom, entrepreneur, working full-time, or simply trying to juggle all the things, this episode will help you create a visibility plan that actually fits your real life.

You do not need to post all day.
You do not need to disappear.
You just need a sustainable strategy.

Michelle shares simple ways to stay visible during busy seasons, how to stop putting pressure on yourself, and what she’s personally doing this summer to stay consistent without overwhelm.

If you've ever felt like life got busy and suddenly you disappeared online, this episode is for you.

DM VISIBLE on Instagram @michellelthames to learn about the 7-Day Visibility Reset.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If Michelle Thames had to rebuild her brand from scratch in the next 30 days, this is exactly what she would do.

In today’s episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle breaks down the visibility system she’d build to grow an audience, attract opportunities, and create momentum online without burning out or posting randomly. If you’ve been overwhelmed trying to show up consistently on social media, grow your audience, or figure out what actually works, this episode gives you a simple framework to focus on what matters most.

Michelle shares how to build a visibility strategy that creates trust, authority, relationships, and opportunities — not just more content.

In this episode, Michelle covers:

• How to simplify your visibility strategy in 30 days

• Why random posting is keeping entrepreneurs stuck

• The importance of having one clear message online

• How to choose the right social media platform for growth

• Why relationship building matters more than follower count

• The visibility system every entrepreneur needs

• How to create a clear next step for your audience

• Why social media is borrowed land and email marketing matters

• The difference between content and building an ecosystem

Whether you’re a coach, entrepreneur, content creator, speaker, or personal brand, this episode will help you stop overthinking visibility and start building a system that actually creates opportunities.

Connect with Michelle Thames:

Instagram: @michellelthames

Podcast: Social Media Decoded

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

100,000+ views in 7 days.

65,000 people reached.

Thousands of likes, comments, shares, and saves.

But let me tell you something…

That wasn’t the flex.

In today’s episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down the truth about going viral, social media visibility, and why content without strategy can leave entrepreneurs stuck chasing vanity metrics.

If your content suddenly blew up tomorrow, would you actually be ready?

Michelle shares what happened after one of her reels gained major traction, including brand visibility, relationship building, and unexpected opportunities that came from leveraging visibility the right way. She also explains why entrepreneurs need more than content — they need a visibility ecosystem.

If you’re building a personal brand, growing a business online, or trying to attract more clients through social media marketing, this episode is your reminder that visibility alone isn’t enough. You need a strategy behind the attention.

In this episode, Michelle covers:

• Why going viral doesn’t automatically grow your business
• The difference between vanity metrics and meaningful visibility
• What happened after her reel gained 100K+ views
• How social media visibility creates opportunities, partnerships, and trust
• Why entrepreneurs need a content ecosystem, not random posting
• 3 things to do after your content gets attention online
• How to turn visibility into business growth

Whether you're a coach, content creator, entrepreneur, speaker, or personal brand, this episode will help you rethink how you approach social media and online visibility.

Connect with Michelle Thames:

Instagram: @michellelthames
Podcast: Social Media Decoded
Website: www.michellethames.com
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.