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Instagram is filling up with AI-generated content. And as more small business owners and creators start using these tools, one thing is becoming really clear — everyone is starting to sound the same. So how do you use AI effectively without losing what makes you you? That's exactly what we're tackling today. This is part one of a four-part series on how to use AI in your marketing as a small business owner. We're going back to the basics, laying the right foundation, helping you avoid common mistakes, and making sure you have what you need to stand out instead of blend in.

*INSTAGRAM UPDATE WORTH KNOWING

Instagram just rolled out the ability to reorder your grid posts. To access it, go to your profile, long press on any post, and select Reorder Grid from the menu that appears. You can then drag and drop your posts to change the order they appear on your public profile.

This matters because those first nine posts on your profile often determine whether someone follows you or not. My advice: don't overthink it and don't spend three hours rearranging your feed like it's a living room makeover. But do think strategically about what someone sees within the first five to seven seconds of landing on your profile, and make sure it's positioned to attract your ideal client or customer.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

02:17 Instagram update: how to reorder your grid posts and why it matters

05:24 Why we're in the "Summer of AI" and the perspective I'm bringing to this series

07:16 The real conversation happening around AI in 2026 (it's not "should I use it" anymore)

07:45 Why using AI is quickly becoming the baseline and what the actual competitive advantage is now

08:39 What AI-generated "slop" looks like and why it's hurting the people posting it

09:36 Why AI is making thought leadership more valuable, not less

10:33 Mistake #1: Waiting until you figure it out (the fear and avoidance trap)

13:50 Mistake #2: Using AI to replace your thinking instead of amplify it

15:37 Mistake #3: Giving AI zero context and why this is the biggest reason outputs feel generic

18:49 The mindset shift that changed everything: treating AI like a strategic thought partner

19:17 One action step to take this week: ask AI to interview you before it creates anything

20:39 About the live workshop: Build Your AI Thought Partner

Links Mentioned:

• Build Your AI Thought Partner Workshop
• Think Bigger: Using AI to Expand What’s Possible in Your Business with Geoff Woods
• Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberry
• Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberry
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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I am sitting down with Austin Armstrong, author of Virality, keynote speaker, founder of Syllaby AI, and someone who has generated billions of views across social media through short-form video strategy. 

We talked about what's actually working on Instagram in 2026  including how Austin uses trial reels to test content, his strategy for repurposing videos across platforms, and why collaborations are still one of the fastest ways to grow your audience organically. But we also went deep into AI. 

Austin shared how he's using ChatGPT's newest image generation update to create Instagram carousel posts in a fraction of the time, how Claude Co-Work is changing the way creators and business owners work with AI beyond just prompting, and how entrepreneurs can use these tools to simplify content creation without losing authenticity or personality. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

02:11 How Austin went from MySpace at 14 years old to becoming one of the leading voices in AI marketing

07:31 Why every CEO and founder should be building a personal brand and how it lets you pivot

11:24 Why consumers increasingly buy from people who share their belief systems

13:20 What's actually working on Instagram right now: Austin's top strategies for 2026

13:48 How Austin reposts top-performing content and why one repost just hit 600,000 views

15:13 The tool Austin uses to download Instagram videos without a watermark

16:13 Why collaborations are still one of the most underrated growth tools on Instagram (and how to add up to 5 collaborators per post)

19:24 How Austin uses trial reels to A/B test hooks before posting to his main feed

25:32 How Austin is posting 3 times a day on Instagram — and how AI makes that possible

25:59 The exact process for using ChatGPT Image 2.0 to create Instagram carousel posts in minutes

31:11 What Claude Co-Work actually is — a plain-English breakdown for beginners

39:46 All about Syllaby — the AI video creation and scheduling tool Austin founded

Links Mentioned:

• Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberry
• Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberry
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide
• Syllaby - Austin's AI video creation and scheduling platform
• Austin Armstrong's Website
• Follow Austin on Instagram
•  SnapInsta - free tool to download your Instagram videos without watermark
• Previous episode — Ep119: How I Use AI to Reverse Engineer Viral Hooks

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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Today I'm pulling back the curtain on how I'm using AI in my business to reverse engineer viral hook formulas, generate stronger content ideas, and speed up my content creation process without losing personality or authenticity in my marketing. This is part three of our hooks and messaging mini series, and it might just be the most practical episode of the bunch.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

01:43 Why this hook series has been about so much more than just text on screen

02:07 How I run two businesses simultaneously — The Wedding Dance Coach in Denver and my Instagram marketing brand

04:20 The #1 mistake business owners make when using AI for content creation

05:16 What a Master AI Brand Book is and why building one changes everything about your AI outputs

06:43 The simple strategy I use to reverse engineer viral hook formulas with AI

07:40 How to study Instagram content like a marketer, not a consumer

08:34 Exactly what to say to ChatGPT or Claude when you upload a viral hook screenshot

09:55 How to prompt AI to generate 10 hook variations using your brand voice

11:16 Why AI is your strategic thought partner not your replacement

13:36 Hot Reels client results: from 2,000 to 70,000 followers, and six figures added in revenue

15:20 Next week: Austin Armstrong on AI, marketing, and growing to almost 1 million Instagram followers

Links Mentioned:

• Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on @elizabethmarberry
• Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on @elizabethmarberry
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide
• The Wedding Dance Coach
• Part 1 → Ep117: The Secret to Stronger Instagram Hooks
• Part 2 → Ep118: The 4-Part Hook Formula Behind Viral Reels

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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You already know that strong hooks are one of the biggest things separating content that gets ignored from content that gets watched, shared, and remembered. But today I want to take this a step deeper because most business owners think a hook is only the text at the beginning of a reel. And honestly, that's just one piece of it. There are actually four different places you can hook someone inside of one piece of content. And once you understand this, you'll start seeing viral content completely differently.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

01:56 The reel Elizabeth posted that hit 86,000+ views and the content strategy lesson inside it

03:18 Why timely, relatable content outperforms polished educational content (and how to use this in your business)

07:06 Hook #1: The text hook — why specificity beats everything

09:22 Hook #2: The visual hook — why most people process your visuals before they read a single word

10:43 Hook #3: The audio hook — your opening words, tone, pacing, and music choice all count

13:42 Hook #4: The caption top line — the most overlooked hook placement of all four

15:06 How to use all four hooks together to create content that stops the scroll AND drives business results

16:52 Next week: how Elizabeth uses AI to reverse engineer viral hooks

Links Mentioned:

- Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free:DM me the word LEADS on Instagram @elizabethmarberry

- Free Monetize Your IG Guide

- Hot Reels (my 12-month Instagram content lab)

- Missed Part 1? Ep117: The Secret to Stronger Instagram Hooks

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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If your brain feels a little overloaded right now, you are absolutely not alone. So many business owners are trying to keep up with content, trends, and algorithms while also running their actual business, life, and family. And I think a lot of us are over-complicating Instagram.

This is part one of a mini series on hooks, messaging, and what's working on Instagram right now.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

01:46 How speaking at Social Media Marketing World in Anaheim and the Wedding Show Producers International Conference came directly from consistent Instagram content

04:31 Why hooks are the #1 thing entrepreneurs are struggling with right now

05:26 What a hook actually is and why it's not manipulation or clickbait

06:48 The biggest hook mistake business owners are making in 2026: being too vague

07:17 A real before-and-after hook example: from generic to scroll-stopping

08:44 The four things strong hooks do: create curiosity, speak to pain points, challenge beliefs, and create emotional resonance

10:35 The questions you're asking about your content that are actually distractions

11:02 Why messaging (not camera quality or editing) is what changes your results

11:30 Hot Reels client Cathy: how one hook-driven reel hit 20,000 views in 24 hours

13:13 A teaser for next week: the four places you need to be hooking your audience (it's not just the text on screen)

14:38 Your homework: audit your last 9 posts for hook specificity

LINKS MENTIONED:

- Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free: DM me the word LEADS on Instagram @elizabethmarberry

- Free Monetize Your IG Guide

- Hot Reels (my 12-month Instagram content lab)

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow Elizabeth Marberry on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook

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We made it to part three of our three-part mini series on underrated Instagram growth strategies for 2026 and I saved two of my absolute favorites for last. In Part 1 we talked about growing without posting more. 

In Part 2 we covered how to create content that spreads. Today we're talking about how to get your brand in front of an entirely new audience — one strategy happening on Instagram and one happening completely off the app. These are two of the most overlooked growth moves I know, and I cannot wait for you to run with them.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• 01:48 Strategy 7: Instagram Collab Posts — the most underutilized feature for getting in front of new audiences fast
• 02:46 The biggest mistakes businesses make with collabs (and how to avoid them)
• 04:35 How to find the right collaboration partner — audience alignment, account size, and niche fit
• 05:04 Real-world collab examples: Pilates studio + local coffee shop, real estate agent + mortgage broker
• 07:49 Strategy 8: Speaking, workshops, and in-person networking — why real-life visibility drives the highest quality Instagram growth
• 09:17 How my speaking career directly correlated with spikes in my Instagram following
• 10:37 How to invite people to follow you in real life (and why you must always ask)
• 11:06 Why DM automation is the perfect backend system for in-person networking
• 11:35 Your homework: one action to take this month

LINKS MENTIONED

•  Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab. DM me the word HOT on Instagram @elizabethmarberry for all the details
•  Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on Instagram @elizabethmarberry
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide

🎙️ Missed the earlier episodes? Part 1 (Ep114) | Part 2 (Ep115) 

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

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Last week we talked about how to grow your account without posting more — strategic commenting, leveraging your warm audience, and repurposing your content. Today we're going deeper into the content itself. If your posts are consistent but not getting shared, reposted, or reaching new people, this episode is going to be a game changer. I'm sharing three strategies, including a newer Instagram feature you should absolutely be using and a simple tool that turns the content you're already creating into more followers. 

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• 02:30: POV-driven content — why having a clear point of view is the #1 thing separating brands that grow from brands that get ignored in 2026
• 04:26: A real-world example of POV content that got 77,000 views for an independent record store
• 08:37: How to use Trial Reels as a safe space to test bold opinions before posting to your main grid
• 09:08: Creating shareable and repostable content — why reposts are one of the fastest growth tools on Instagram right now
• 11:00: How to create content for a cold audience (not just the people who already know you)
• 13:46: DM automation — how it drives engagement, reach, and growth all at once
• 15:37: How comments triggered by DM automation increase your content distribution

LINKS MENTIONED

• Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free: DM me the word LEADS on Instagram @elizabethmarberry
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide: elizabethmarberry.com/freebies
• Hot Reels (my 12-month Instagram content lab): elizabethmarberry.com/hot
• Monster Music SC on Instagram: — great real-world POV content example!

NEXT EPISODE

Part 3 is coming next week and it's one of my favorites. I'm sharing strategies that work off of Instagram to grow your account. It has nothing to do with posting more content. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it!

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

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This episode kicks off a brand new three-part mini series all about underrated Instagram growth strategies that are working right now for small businesses and marketers who want to get seen and paid.

Over the course of this series, I'm teaching you eight different strategies. My encouragement is to pick one or two that feel aligned, test them, and build from there. Let's grow sustainably, not frantically.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 03:38 Strategy 1: Strategic commenting — why thoughtful comments on other people's posts can grow your following without posting more
• 07:18 Strategy 2: Inviting your existing warm audience — the most overlooked growth move that costs nothing
• 09:45 Strategy 3: Repurposing your own content — why your best posts deserve more than one chance
• 10:40 How to use the Edits app analytics to find your top-performing reels and bring them back
• 11:08 Why most content is only 1-5% off — and what that means for your strategy
• 12:04 Your homework: one simple action to take this week

LINKS MENTIONED

- Free Monetize Your IG Guide: elizabethmarberry.com/freebies

- Hot Reels (my 12-month Instagram content lab): elizabethmarberry.com/hot

- Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: @elizabethmarberry — DM me the word LEADS for my free DM Automation Guide + 1 month of ManyChat free

- Edits App by Instagram: available on the App Store

NEXT EPISODE

In Part 2, I'm breaking down why your content isn't reaching the right people even if you're posting consistently. I'll show you exactly how to position your content so your ideal clients actually share, send, and repost it. Make sure you're subscribed so you don't miss it!

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow 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.

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I'm sitting down with one of my beloved Hot Reels clients, Christa Rypins — a chronic pain relief specialist, Franklin Method practitioner, and former professional figure skater — to pull back the curtain on her incredible transformation. 

When Christa first came into Hot Reels, she was dealing with deep resistance to showing up online. Marketing her business felt emotionally overwhelming and, at times, completely shut her down. Now? She's signing clients directly from her Instagram content, and that one client covered her entire investment in Hot Reels.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 00:15 Why emotional resistance to posting is more common than you think and how to move through it
• 27:56 How Christa went from complete shutdown around marketing to signing a client whose investment covered her entire Hot Reels enrollment
• 24:42 The messaging mistake most experts make (and how Christa fixed it)
• 19:54 Why Instagram marketing is a long-term play and what "30 leads in 30 days" actually looked like for Christa
• 30:16 How DM automation (ManyChat) turned her content into a lead funnel
• 36:11 What it's like inside Hot Reels — straight from a client who's been in it for 18 months

Links Mentioned:

• Hot Reels — my 12-month Instagram content lab
• Free DM Automation Guide + 1 Month of ManyChat Free — DM me the word LEADS on Instagram
• Free Monetize Your IG Guide
• Christa's Website — The Intelligent Body
• Christa's YouTube — longer-form embodiment and pain relief videos

"If you want to grow, get support. If you want to stay stuck, don't get support." — Christa Rypins 

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

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If you’ve been struggling to show up consistently on Instagram, this episode reveals the real reason why—and it’s not your strategy! I'm breaking down the hidden visibility block that keeps business owners stuck, overthinking, and invisible: imposter syndrome.

You’ll learn how this shows up in your content, why it has nothing to do with your capability, and how to move through it so you can finally post with confidence, get seen, and get paid.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

00:00 Why you’re inconsistent even when you “know what to post”
01:38 Why strategy alone won’t fix your content struggles
02:36 How imposter syndrome blocks visibility and growth
06:19 The hidden ways fear shows up as procrastination
08:12 Why discomfort is actually a sign of expansion
09:11 How your nervous system affects content creation
10:38 Why your story is your biggest advantage
11:33 The real reason you’re not posting consistently
12:32 How to move through fear and take action anyway

Links Mentioned:

• HOT REELS VIP WAITLIST
• Hot Reels Full Program Details
• Get your ticket to 2026 Social Media Marketing World

WORK WITH ELIZABETH MARBERRY

• Apply for your FREE Instagram Breakthrough Session with Elizabeth
• Free guide to Monetize Your IG: Seven Simple and Proven Ways to Finally Make Money on Instagram

Follow 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.