Instagram Growth Secrets Every Business Owner Needs with Michelle Gifford

Send us Fan MailI 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 MARBERRYApply 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.