In this episode of Social Media Decoded, host Michelle Thames chats with Clair Sidman, VP of Marketing at Collective Voice, about what it really means to be a creator-first brand in 2025. Clair unpacks why trust is outperforming virality, how creators can stop chasing trends and start building true impact, and how platforms like Collective Voice are empowering historically overlooked voices to turn influence into ownership.

Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or marketing leader, this episode offers practical strategies for staying relevant, visible, and authentic in a crowded digital space.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Clair also shares:

Resources & Links:

Read: The Creator Pay Deep Dive featuring Michelle Thames

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creator economy 2025, collective voice marketing, creator-first strategy, monetization tips for influencers, brand storytelling, authentic content marketing, inclusive creator tools, social media myths 2025, marketing trends, creator brand strategy, AI and creators, Clair Sidman interview, Gen Z influence, platform-led growth, Collective Voice podcast, Michelle Thames

In this Social Media Decoded episode, experiential strategist Amber “The Activator” Owens (BrandFelt Activation) shares how to turn casual followers into raving superfans using brand activations, live events, and community-driven digital marketing. We unpack low-cost event ideas, how to promote IRL experiences with social media, and the metrics that prove ROI—so small businesses can create buzz, deepen loyalty, and drive sales without massive budgets.

Website: brandfeltactivation.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ambertheactivator
Instagram: @ambertheactivator

Entrepreneurs, local brands, and creators who want to build community, boost retention, and increase revenue by pairing social media with smart, scrappy experiential marketing.

Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:

experiential marketing, brand activations, event marketing for small business, turn customers into community, community building strategy, low cost brand activations, social media event promotion, user generated content at events, micro influencer partnerships, pop up events, customer retention and loyalty, measure event roi, hybrid marketing strategy, local marketing ideas, community led growth,

In this Social Media Decoded episode, brand strategist and storytelling expert Jodi-Kay Edwards shares her proven blueprint for going from invisible to in-demand—without chasing hustle culture. We break down alignment over hustle, clarifying your message, building confidence to show up consistently, and turning visibility into real revenue with a simple, sustainable personal-brand strategy.

Website: jodikayedwards.com

Programs: jodikayedwards.com/ceo, jodikayedwards.com/indemand

Instagram: @jodikayedwards

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Coaches, service providers, and creators who know they’re great at what they do but aren’t being seen, booked, or paid at the level they deserve—and want a clear, confidence-boosting path to consistent clients.

personal branding for entrepreneurs, get seen get paid, hidden gem to in-demand, alignment over hustle, brand messaging clarity, authority content strategy, pricing your services, confidence to show up online, visibility routine, client attraction system, sustainable marketing, storytelling for brands, offer positioning, charge your worth, consistency for creators,

In this Social Media Decoded episode, strategist and “operations unicorn” Steph Rubio shares how to combine mindset + operations to stop undercharging, clarify your offer suite, and show up online with confidence. We dig into specificity and simplicity—the two levers that make your messaging convert—plus the systems that keep your business running like a well-oiled machine while you sell. Steph gets real about imposter syndrome, visibility fears, and the gritty choices that built her resilience and results.

Operations that support sales: practical systems for delivery, follow-up, and consistency

Women entrepreneurs, coaches, and creatives who are ready to be seen, charge their worth, and scale sustainably without complicated funnels.

Website: stephrubio.com
Instagram: @virtually_stephrubio

Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:

show up online, visibility strategy, simplify your offers, offer suite clarity, specificity and simplicity, pricing confidence, stop undercharging, operations for small business, systems for entrepreneurs, mindset for women entrepreneurs, imposter syndrome in business, authentic selling on social media, messaging that converts, content that sells, sustainable scaling strategies

In this Social Media Decoded episode, beauty industry leader, author, and business coach Ebony N. Stroder breaks down how to build a profitable, values-aligned brand without niching down. She shares real frameworks for juggling multiple passions, marketing different offers without confusing your audience, and creating systems that keep you visible (and paid) across diversified income streams.

Revenue design: turn skills into diversified income streams that actually fit your life

Instagram: @MultipassionateEbony

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Creators, coaches, beauty pros, and small business owners who resist “pick one thing” advice and want a sustainable way to embrace all their gifts while growing revenue.

multi-passionate entrepreneur, diversified offers, personal branding for creatives, marketing multiple offers, visibility strategy, content systems for entrepreneurs, confidence online, beauty industry entrepreneur, small business growth, purpose-driven business, build a brand without niching down, time management for creators, income streams for coaches, audience clarity, sustainable marketing,

In this episode, Michelle Thames chats with visibility strategist and PR expert Lyndsey Akers, Founder & CEO of Akers&Co, about how high-achieving women can leverage their stories to grow powerful personal brands, land media coverage, and build legacy-driven businesses—without burnout or performative fluff.

Whether you're pitching yourself for the first time, trying to expand your brand beyond social media, or tired of waiting for “permission” to show up boldly—this conversation will light a fire under you.

How to start positioning your brand for real media opportunities

✨ Ready to stop playing small and get visible with confidence?
Start with Michelle’s FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge to get clear on your message and start showing up in a way that attracts aligned opportunities.

📲 Let’s connect on IG! Follow Michelle at @michellelthames

PR for entrepreneurs, how to get media coverage, personal branding tips for women, brand visibility strategies, storytelling in business, how to pitch yourself for podcasts, legacy branding, visibility without burnout, women in PR, build a values-based brand, Lyndsey Akers interview, Akers&Co PR

In this Social Media Decoded episode, entrepreneur, professor, and coffee shop owner Tahnee Hipel shares how to build a feel-good business that balances profit with purpose—without buying into hustle culture. We dig into aligning your brand with your values, telling authentic stories on social, avoiding burnout, and turning clarity + consistency into cash (even if you’re pivoting or re-igniting your spark at 40+).

Getting started (or restarted) with your personal brand—without feeling fake or forced

Instagram (Tahnee): @tahneeunlimited

Women entrepreneurs, creators, and small business owners who want sustainable growth, brand alignment, and marketing that feels good and performs.

Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:

feel-good business, ditch hustle culture, authentic marketing, personal branding for entrepreneurs, values-based business, women entrepreneurs over 40, avoid burnout in business, balance passion and profit, social media storytelling, brand alignment, sustainable growth strategies, purpose-driven business, rebuild your brand, mindful entrepreneurship, routines for entrepreneurs,

In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames sits down with Eternity Sledge — multi-passionate entrepreneur, community leader, and founder of the Multifaceted Collective — to talk about how she turned chaos into clarity through her unique G.L.A.D. philosophy. Eternity shares how she built a purpose-driven brand rooted in wellness, impact, and authenticity, while juggling multiple businesses and nonprofit work. Tune in for a powerful conversation on content strategy, brand messaging, and how to market as a multi-passionate entrepreneur.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How Eternity developed the G.L.A.D. method to help overwhelmed entrepreneurs get clear and focused
• The mindset shifts needed to build a multi-passionate brand without burnout
• Her journey from walking away from traditional education to creating her own path
• The strategy behind her wellness subscription box and community, the Multifaceted Collective
• How she balances business and nonprofit work with a clear marketing message
• Tips for building visibility and impact across multiple platforms

Resources & Links:

🎯 Grab the Chaos to Clarity Guided Journal

🌱 Join the Multifaceted Collective

💡 Support her nonprofit Mirkat Impact

📲 Connect with Eternity on Instagram: @eternitysledge

Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!

Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:

• Instagram: @michellelthames
• Threads: @michellelthames
• LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames
• YouTube: Michelle L Thames
• Podcast: Social Media Decoded

Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE

Michelle Thames teaches a simple 3-step lead engine that turns short daily content into 15 qualified leads per day using a DM keyword, a saved replies stack, and a clear offer line you can write in three minutes.

• The “15→15” system: content → keyword → conversation → booking
• How to choose one offer and one keyword for the week
• The one-sentence offer line that makes people instantly “get” what you do
• Copy-and-paste Saved Replies Stack for deliver → clarify → invite
• A 15-minute multi-platform routine (IG, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts, podcast)
• The five metrics that actually predict sales (not vanity likes)

• Write your offer line with the fill-in template.
• Set POWER as this week’s keyword and add it to every post.
• Save the three replies (delivery, clarifier, invite) inside your DMs.
• Post one 60-second tip with a keyword CTA today.
• Track DMs started, replies, bookings, and revenue for seven days.

Let’s Connect & Get Your Freebie!

Stay inspired and get daily visibility tips—follow Michelle everywhere:

• Instagram: @michellelthames
• Threads: @michellelthames
• LinkedIn: Michelle L Thames
• YouTube: Michelle L Thames
• Podcast: Social Media Decoded

Ready to increase your Visibility? Join the FREE 7-Day Visibility Challenge HERE

Power Hour (Visibility/Podcast Audit): DM POWER on Instagram for the booking link.

Spotify Q&A: What’s your offer line? Share it and I’ll give feedback in a future episode.

In this Social Media Decoded episode, marketing strategist Lindsey Wagnon breaks down how women founders can ditch hustle culture, simplify their marketing, and scale sustainably—especially in the first 1–3 years of business. We cover lean-budget marketing, post-purchase automations that turn buyers into promoters, and the exact systems Lindsey uses to show up consistently without a huge team or ad spend.

• The lean, high-impact marketing moves to grow on a shoestring
• How to set up post-purchase funnels that create repeat buyers & referrals
• A simple, sustainable content system for busy women with a 9–5
• What to stop doing (common money/time wasters in early marketing)
• How to align your schedule, boundaries, and business model to avoid burnout

Lindsey Wagnon — Founder, Lindsey Wagnon Marketing; host of The Savvy Startup Marketer podcast; specialist in strategic, affordable, automation-driven marketing for women-owned small businesses.
Website: lindseywagnon.com
Instagram: @lindseywagnonmarketing