The “Quiet” Strategy to Book Premium Clients With Less Than 1K Followers episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 31, 2026 · 15 MIN

The “Quiet” Strategy to Book Premium Clients With Less Than 1K Followers

from Dishing Up Digital with Ellen Mackenzie · host Ellen Mackenzie

You don’t need 10K followers. You don’t even need 1,000. If you’ve been holding off on going “all in” with your social media management business because you think you need a big following first… this is your wake-up call.In this episode, I’m sharing the quiet strategy to book premium, high-ticket clients — even if you’re brand new and barely have a presence online. These are the same methods I used to go full-time as a social media manager, and what I’ve taught to hundreds of students inside the Dishing Up Digital School.Spoiler: your follower count is the least important thing. Premium clients aren’t looking for virality — they’re looking for someone who gets results, builds trust, and makes their life easier. That can be you (even if you’re just getting started).🎧 We’re covering:- How to build a client-booking portfolio (even with zero experience)- The exact places to network to find clients who pay well- Why growth ≠ income (and what to focus on instead)- Case studies from students who’ve booked $2K+ clients with less than1K followersIf you’re ready to ditch the Instagram follower pressure and start landing real clients in 2026, let’s dive in.💕 Thank You to Rella for Sponsoring this videoUse code ELLEN for 10% off your subscription:👉 https://getrella.com/?via=ellenStudents mentioned:Julia - https://www.instagram.com/social.vitality/Jade - https://www.instagram.com/jade.mc.neil/Liv - https://www.instagram.com/lilastudios.nz/Mackenzie - https://www.instagram.com/thesparklestrategy/Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alaskasocialco/xxEllen________________________________________________________________🔗 //LINKS (ad affiliates) //30% off the planning template I use with the code ELLENM30: https://productivitymethod.com/ELLENM30Camera: https://geni.us/iPjpAtLens: https://geni.us/kNkJOxFull list of tools & software I use: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/tools🤯 //FREE TRAINING SERIES//0 to 7 figures: enter your social media manager era!https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/private-podcast💻 // WORK WITH ELLEN // Join the Dishing up Digital School: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/Dishing-up-Digital-SchoolJoin the high level mastermind: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/the-lfg-mastermind SMM template bundle: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/offers/DwKaVUZdBuy Ellen’s book: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0473664798📲 // SOCIAL MEDIA //Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmackenzieeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellenmackenzieee👩‍💻 Ellen’s business: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/📧 Sponsorship enquiries: [email protected]

You don’t need 10K followers. You don’t even need 1,000. If you’ve been holding off on going “all in” with your social media management business because you think you need a big following first… this is your wake-up call.In this episode, I’m sharing the quiet strategy to book premium, high-ticket clients — even if you’re brand new and barely have a presence online. These are the same methods I used to go full-time as a social media manager, and what I’ve taught to hundreds of students inside the Dishing Up Digital School.Spoiler: your follower count is the least important thing. Premium clients aren’t looking for virality — they’re looking for someone who gets results, builds trust, and makes their life easier. That can be you (even if you’re just getting started).🎧 We’re covering:- How to build a client-booking portfolio (even with zero experience)- The exact places to network to find clients who pay well- Why growth ≠ income (and what to focus on instead)- Case studies from students who’ve booked $2K+ clients with less than1K followersIf you’re ready to ditch the Instagram follower pressure and start landing real clients in 2026, let’s dive in.💕 Thank You to Rella for Sponsoring this videoUse code ELLEN for 10% off your subscription:👉 https://getrella.com/?via=ellenStudents mentioned:Julia - https://www.instagram.com/social.vitality/Jade - https://www.instagram.com/jade.mc.neil/Liv - https://www.instagram.com/lilastudios.nz/Mackenzie - https://www.instagram.com/thesparklestrategy/Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alaskasocialco/xxEllen________________________________________________________________🔗 //LINKS (ad affiliates) //30% off the planning template I use with the code ELLENM30: https://productivitymethod.com/ELLENM30Camera: https://geni.us/iPjpAtLens: https://geni.us/kNkJOxFull list of tools & software I use: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/tools🤯 //FREE TRAINING SERIES//0 to 7 figures: enter your social media manager era!https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/private-podcast💻 // WORK WITH ELLEN // Join the Dishing up Digital School: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/Dishing-up-Digital-SchoolJoin the high level mastermind: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/the-lfg-mastermind SMM template bundle: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/offers/DwKaVUZdBuy Ellen’s book: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0473664798📲 // SOCIAL MEDIA //Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmackenzieeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellenmackenzieee👩‍💻 Ellen’s business: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/📧 Sponsorship enquiries: [email protected]

NOW PLAYING

The “Quiet” Strategy to Book Premium Clients With Less Than 1K Followers

0:00 15:45

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

MG Show MG Show The MG Show, hosted by Jeffrey Pedersen and Shannon Townsend, is a leading alternative media platform dedicated to uncovering the truth behind today’s most pressing political issues. Launched in 2019, the show has grown exponentially, offering unfiltered insights, comprehensive research, and real-time analysis. With a commitment to independent journalism and factual integrity, the MG Show empowers its audience with knowledge and encourages active participation in the political discourse. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs The Small Business Startup School Inc. Starting or buying a small business? While personal circumstances may vary, business patterns remain timeless. On The Small Business Startup School, we explore strategies, insights, and practical solutions to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate their journey.Hosted by Ola Williams—a retail entrepreneur, fintech founder, and financial coach with over two decades of experience—this podcast marries financial awareness and retail psychology with optimism to deliver actionable takeaways.Join us to learn, grow, and connect as we uncover the keys to business success.Let’s continue to learn together and be encouraged to keep on connecting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Dishing Up Digital with Ellen Mackenzie?

This episode is 15 minutes long.

When was this Dishing Up Digital with Ellen Mackenzie episode published?

This episode was published on January 31, 2026.

What is this episode about?

You don’t need 10K followers. You don’t even need 1,000. If you’ve been holding off on going “all in” with your social media management business because you think you need a big following first… this is your wake-up call.In this episode, I’m sharing...

Can I download this Dishing Up Digital with Ellen Mackenzie episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!