Social Media Decoded

What if the goal isn't to build a bigger audience—but to build meaningful relationships?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares the mindset shift that completely changed how she approaches social media, networking, and business growth. After years of chasing followers and viral moments, she realized the real opportunities weren't coming from her follower count—they were coming from the rooms she was creating.

From visiting local hidden gems and hosting Coffee & Connections to intimate networking dinners, retreats, and her upcoming Connected & Paid event, Michelle explains why authentic community is becoming the most valuable marketing strategy in today's digital world.

If you're an entrepreneur, content creator, coach, or small business owner wondering how to grow your business beyond social media, this episode will inspire you to focus on relationships that lead to collaborations, referrals, sponsorships, and lasting impact.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why building community is more valuable than chasing followers

How networking events create real business opportunities

The difference between building an audience and building relationships

Why local visibility can transform your business

How to create experiences that turn followers into clients and collaborators

Why community builders are the new influencers

The marketing strategy that algorithms can't replace

Key Takeaway:
Followers don't become your sponsors. Followers don't become your collaborators. People do.

If this episode inspired you, send Michelle a DM with the word ROOM and share the kind of community you're building.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another entrepreneur who believes relationships are the future of business.

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

Everyone tells you to get more visible.

Post more content.

Start the podcast.

Book the speaking engagement.

Land the collaborations.

But what happens after the visibility?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, I'm joined by Annie Mossbacher, Chief Growth Officer at Dubsado, for an honest conversation about what happens when your business starts growing faster than your systems can support.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed after signing new clients, struggled to keep up with emails and proposals, or wondered why success suddenly feels exhausting, this episode is for you.

We talk about founder burnout, client experience, sustainable growth, and why systems aren't boring—they're freedom.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why visibility exposes broken business systems

The hidden reason founders burn out after growth

How to create a client experience people never forget

The first system every service provider should implement

Why doing everything yourself is costing you money

How to stop overdelivering at the expense of your health

What sustainable growth actually looks like

Why authenticity is becoming your greatest marketing advantage

Memorable Quotes

"Visibility without systems will burn you out."
"Growth isn't about doing more. It's about becoming ruthless with your priorities."
"The business you prayed for shouldn't become the business that breaks you."
Connect with Annie

Instagram: @anniemossbacher
Learn more about Dubsado: dubsado.com/?c=michellethames

Resources Mentioned

Dubsado

Client Experience

Business Systems

Founder Burnout

Service-Based Business Growth

If You Enjoyed This Episode...

Share it with another entrepreneur who is building a business behind the scenes.
If this episode helped you rethink how you're growing your business, take 30 seconds to leave a review. Your reviews help more entrepreneurs discover the show.

Want to support the podcast?

Buy Me a Coffee and help us continue creating free content for entrepreneurs.

Follow Michelle:

Instagram: @michellelthames

Thanks for listening to 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.

What tools does Michelle Thames actually use to run her business every week?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle takes you behind the scenes of her visibility stack and shares the four platforms that power her podcast, email marketing, client management, and website. From creating content to automating workflows and building stronger customer relationships, these are the tools she relies on every single day.

If you're an entrepreneur looking to simplify your business, save time, and create more opportunities through visibility, this episode is for you.

In This Episode

Why systems are just as important as visibility

How Michelle uses Riverside to turn one recording into weeks of content

Why KIT is the foundation of her email marketing strategy

How Dubsado automates client onboarding and saves hours every week

Why ShinePages is changing the way she thinks about websites and online presence

The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when choosing software

How to build a visibility ecosystem instead of relying on social media alone

Resources Mentioned

Want my complete Visibility Stack?

DM TOOLS on Instagram to receive the exact platforms Michelle uses to run her business, along with her favorite resources and affiliate links.

Connect with Michelle

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

Website: michellethames.com

Love the Show?

If this episode helped you, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur. Your support helps more business owners discover the podcast and learn how to build a brand that creates real opportunities.

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

What if your next client, speaking engagement, sponsorship, or brand partnership isn’t waiting for another cold pitch—but for you to become more visible?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames takes you behind the scenes of how her recent local business videos, community events, speaking opportunities, and brand partnerships are creating momentum in her business. She shares why visibility is about so much more than followers and explains how showing up consistently can open doors you never expected.

If you’ve been posting consistently but feel like the opportunities just aren’t coming, this episode will change the way you think about your content—and your business.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why visibility creates opportunities long before someone reaches out

How Michelle’s viral local business videos led to new conversations and partnerships

The mindset shift that’s helping her attract speaking engagements and sponsorship opportunities

Why every piece of content should be treated as a business asset

How to position yourself so clients, brands, and event organizers think of you first

The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make when creating content

How Michelle evaluates businesses and spots marketing opportunities everywhere she goes

Key Takeaways

Opportunities are created long before they’re received.

Visibility is an investment—not an expense.

Every piece of content is either building trust or being forgotten.

The right people can’t hire you if they don’t know you exist.

Ready to Become More Visible?

Michelle is now offering her $199 Visibility Intensive, a one-on-one strategy session designed to help you identify what’s holding your brand back and create a visibility plan that leads to real opportunities.

DM Michelle the word “VISIBLE” on Instagram 

Connect with Michelle Thames

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

Website: michellethames.com

Listen to more episodes of Social Media Decoded for weekly strategies on visibility, personal branding, content marketing, and building a business that attracts opportunities.

Love the Show?

If this episode inspired you, please leave a review and share it with another entrepreneur. Your support helps more business owners discover the podcast and learn how to build a brand that stands out.

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

Is community the new competitive advantage?

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames shares why she’s shifting her focus from simply creating content to intentionally building community. After hosting her intimate Summer in the South Suburbs dinner, responding to hundreds of social media comments, and watching her local business videos spark real-world conversations, she realized something powerful:

People aren’t starving for more content—they’re starving for connection.

Michelle shares why authentic relationships are becoming more valuable than algorithms, why networking is evolving into community building, and how creating meaningful spaces can transform your business and your life.

If you’ve been feeling like you’re building your business alone, this episode is your reminder that the right room, the right conversation, and the right relationships can change everything.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

Why community is becoming the biggest competitive advantage in business

How Michelle’s viral local content is creating real-world connections

Why responding to every comment still matters

The difference between building an audience and building a community

How relationships lead to referrals, collaborations, and new opportunities

Why entrepreneurs are craving genuine connection now more than ever

The vision behind the Connected & Paid Collective and Michelle’s upcoming November event

Key Takeaways

Visibility gets people to notice you.

Community gives them a reason to stay.

Relationships create opportunities that algorithms never can.

Business doesn’t have to be built alone.

Resources & Links

Join the Connected & Paid Collective

Send Michelle a DM with the word COMMUNITY on Instagram to learn more.

Support the Podcast

Love the show? Support future episodes through Buy Me a Coffee.

Send Michelle a DM with the word COFFEE for the link, or check the links below.

Book Michelle for your next event, workshop, or conference:
https://michellethames.com/contact

️ Listen to more episodes:
https://bleav.com/shows/social-media-decoded/

Join Michelle’s email community:
https://michellethames.kit.com/7daychallenge

Connect with Michelle Thames

Instagram: @michellelthames

Threads: @michellelthames

LinkedIn: Michelle Thames

Website: https://michellethames.com

If You Enjoyed This Episode…

Please leave a review and share this episode with a friend or fellow entrepreneur. Your support helps more people discover the show and allows us to continue creating free content that helps entrepreneurs become more visible, build meaningful relationships, and grow thriving businesses.

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