Social Media Decoded

What if turning 40 isn't about having everything figured out—but finally having enough experience to build what you actually want? In this special 40th birthday episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames reflects on entrepreneurship, reinvention, visibility, relationships, community, success, and what it really means to start over. After years of building businesses, creating content, podca...

Everybody wants more visibility—more followers, more views, more reach, and more people discovering their business. But what happens after they find you? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , visibility strategist and Thames Media Solutions founder Michelle Thames challenges entrepreneurs to stop thinking only about getting more attention and start thinking about where that attention is going....

What happens when a local business stops simply posting on social media and starts using a real visibility strategy? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , visibility strategist and Thames Media Solutions founder Michelle Thames takes listeners behind the scenes of a real local marketing case study with Honey Bee Gardens in Downers Grove, Illinois. In roughly 30 days, Michelle and her team help...

What if growing your business doesn’t require creating more content, launching another offer, or spending even more time on social media? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , marketing strategist and entrepreneur Michelle Thames shares why she’s approaching September differently. Instead of doing more, she’s focusing on making the visibility, content, relationships, and platforms she has alre...

What if growing your business online didn’t require creating brand-new content every single day? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames sits down with creator, educator, agency owner, and Call Her Creator podcast host Katelyn Rhoades for a real conversation about visibility, content systems, creator confidence, and building a business that doesn’t depend on one platform or one i...

Getting more views, followers, and attention on social media does not automatically mean you’re building a profitable business. In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames breaks down the four stages of visibility every entrepreneur, creator, and personal brand needs to understand: Being seen. Being known. Being trusted. Being paid. Michelle shares what she has learned firsthand afte...

What happens when business slows down, clients leave, and you have to figure out how to become visible again? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames shares the real story behind her recent business rebuild, her return to content creation, and the visibility strategy that helped create more than 2.1 million video views in roughly 90 days . Michelle breaks down how going back to b...

Why do some local business videos generate thousands of views, shares, comments, and real customers while others barely get noticed? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames breaks down the strategy behind her viral Hidden Gem videos and explains why their success has very little to do with food. From storytelling and curiosity to local pride, community sharing, strong hooks, and...

Is your email list helping you grow your business—or is it collecting dust? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames sits down with award-winning email marketing strategist Melissa Seideman to discuss how entrepreneurs can use email marketing to build stronger relationships, increase sales, and create long-term business growth. Melissa shares how one client grew from $8,000 per mo...

What does it really take to land media opportunities, build a recognizable personal brand, and become the person people think of when opportunities arise? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames shares the real story behind her recent appearance on WGN Spotlight Chicago and why it had nothing to do with luck. She explains how one relationship that started in 2024, combined with y...

Have you ever felt like you're doing everything you're "supposed" to do in your business—creating content, growing your audience, chasing the algorithm—but something still feels off? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames shares the biggest business decision she made this year and why it completely changed the direction of her business. Instead of focusing on creating more conte...

Have you ever felt like your business was evolving, but no one understood the vision? In this first CEO Diary episode of Social Media Decoded , I'm taking you behind the scenes of my business to share what I'm really building—and why I've shifted my focus from creating more content to building meaningful community. I talk about why relationships have become my greatest business strategy, how Coffe...

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 c...

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...

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 r...

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...

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...

Everyone is talking about AI. But most creators, entrepreneurs, and business owners are making one major mistake: they’re asking AI for personalized business advice without giving it access to the information it actually needs. In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames breaks down one of the most exciting announcements from the KIT Craft + Commerce conference: MCP (Model Context Pro...

What if the most valuable skill of the next decade isn’t content creation, AI, or automation? What if it’s community building? In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle Thames explores why community builders are uniquely positioned to thrive in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, automation, and digital connection. While technology continues to evolve, one thing remains...

I almost didn’t go to the KIT Craft + Commerce conference. Before the trip, I was overwhelmed, anxious, questioning everything, and honestly wondering if I should stay home and work instead. But what happened after I got in the room reminded me of something I deeply believe: Visibility is bigger than social media. In this episode of Social Media Decoded , I’m sharing the real lessons I learned at...

Have you ever felt like what used to work in your business just… doesn’t anymore? In this honest and behind-the-scenes episode, Michelle Thames opens up about the real pivot happening in her business right now — from shifting strategies and simplifying offers to leaning deeper into local visibility, community building, and creating a business that actually feels aligned. If you’re an entrepreneur,...

Everybody wants to go viral… but what if virality isn’t actually the thing that grows your business? In this episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle Thames is sharing the real truth about what going viral has actually taught her about visibility, business growth, and building a brand that lasts. After going viral multiple times across Instagram, Reels, and Threads, Michelle is pulling back the...

What really makes a brand unforgettable? In this special Behind the Brand episode of Social Media Decoded , Michelle sits down with Jayanta Jenkins , Former Vice President of Global Creative at Starbucks , to unpack what it takes to build one of the most recognizable brands in the world. With over 25 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and creative leadership, Jayanta shares what it tak...

Summer is here, the kids are home, schedules are changing, and business still has to move. So how do you stay visible online when life gets… life-y? In this episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle is talking about what it really looks like to stay consistent in your visibility without burning yourself out. Whether you're a mom, entrepreneur, working full-time, or simply trying to juggle all the...

If Michelle Thames had to rebuild her brand from scratch in the next 30 days, this is exactly what she would do. In today’s episode of Social Media Decoded, Michelle breaks down the visibility system she’d build to grow an audience, attract opportunities, and create momentum online without burning out or posting randomly. If you’ve been overwhelmed trying to show up consistently on social media, g...