Dishing Up Digital with Ellen Mackenzie

The reason your Instagram Reels are sounding flat isn't your hook — it's the storytelling layer right after it. In this video I'm walking through the exact 5-technique storytelling system I've used for a decade on my own account, including the journalism filter for deciding which stories are even worth posting and a real before/after caption rewrite so you can see what changes. ✨ Covered in this...

5 things I wish someone had told me before I became a social media manager — the stuff nobody talks about because it's easier to sell the dream than prepare you for the reality. From dealing with trolls and negative comments on your content, to losing clients you love, to the hiring nightmares nobody warns you about — this is the honest version.  In this video:  ✨ Why negative comments hit di...

Instagram engagement just hit record lows... and as a creator and business owner, I'm feeling it. So I'm walking you through the 3 things I'm actively changing about my Instagram strategy in 2026 - in real time - so you can decide whether to copy them, tweak them, or wait for my update in a month. In this video, I break down what's actually happening with the Instagram algorithm in...

If you're using Claude like a search engine, you're using maybe 5% of what it can actually do. In this video, I'm showing you the exact way I set up Claude Cowork to run my multi-six-figure freelance business — and the three foundation steps that put you ahead of 99% of freelancers and solopreneurs still typing prompts into a chat box. This is Layer 1 of the AI operating system I use a...

Scaling as a social media manager or freelancer: it's simple math and a simplified business. In this video I'm breaking down exactly how many clients you need (at $1,500, $2,000, and $2,500/month) to hit six figures, why simplicity is your biggest competitive advantage, and the mindset shift that changed how I run my entire business. In this video: ✨ The exact client math behind a $100K s...

Here's the exact 4-step system I use to reset when I'm burnt out, overwhelmed, and my systems have completely fallen apart — and how you can do it too. In this video, I'm covering: - How to triage your brain when everything feels urgent - Reconnecting with your quarterly goals (and why that fixes everything) - Using AI as your executive assistant (morning briefings, email triage, trend...

If you’re a UGC creator in 2026… this is the conversation nobody’s really having. UGC isn’t dead. But relying on it as your entire business? That’s where things start to fall apart. In this video, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening behind the scenes — from market saturation and rising standards, to why audiences are starting to see straight through “authentic” UGC ads. I’ve worked in this...

This is a full Q1 CEO report and deep-dive into the data behind my business — not just what I made, but how I made it, what actually drove sales, and where the biggest opportunities for growth are right now. In this video, I’m walking you through a real quarterly business review so you can see: how to analyse your revenue, leads, and conversion data what numbers actually matter when you’re trying...

If you’ve been overdelivering, overposting, and still undercharging… this is probably why. In this video, I’m breaking down what I’d actually include in a $3k/month social media management package — and more importantly, what doesn’t need to be there. Because premium pricing doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from how you position, structure, and run your business. We’re covering: ✨ What a $3...

Thinking about using Notion to run your social media management business? Watch this review first. I tested Notion for two months inside my own workflow to see if it could replace my task manager, planning system, and content calendar. And while it’s one of the most powerful free productivity tools online, there are a few limitations social media managers don’t talk about enough. In this video, I’...

Most freelancers don’t have an income problem. They have a reinvestment problem. Once you start making money in your business, that revenue is no longer a salary. It’s fuel. And if you want to hit consistent $10K, $20K, $30K+ months, you have to learn where to pour it. In this episode, I’m breaking down the only three investments that have actually shifted the needle in my business over the last s...

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 us...

Ready to quit your 9–5 and become a full-time social media manager in 2026? This is your roadmap. In this episode, I’m giving you a full 12-month plan to go from beginner (or part-time side hustler) to booked-out and thriving in your SMM business. You’ll learn exactly what to do in each quarter — from landing your first client without an Instagram following, to building a portfolio that converts,...

Motivation is flaky. Discipline and habits are what actually get you paid. In this episode, I’m breaking down the boring, repeatable daily habits that help you act like a $100K-a-year social media manager before the money shows up. Because six-figure businesses aren’t built on vibes. They’re built on systems, ownership, and habits that signal: this is a real company. If you want to grow faster, mo...

Transparent, juicy, and zero gatekeeping—today I’m breaking down exactly how I made $270,000 NZD in 2025 across my digital products, brand sponsorships, client work, and more. But here’s the twist: I made the same amount as last year… working way less and loving my business more than ever. This isn’t just a numbers episode—it’s the real story behind the pivots, risks, burnout, boundaries, and brea...

If you want to go viral in 2026, you need to stop creating carousels like it’s 2021. That basic Canva infographic? Not cutting it. Instead, you need bold, opinionated, story-led content that cuts through the scroll and converts eyeballs into followers, buyers, and fans. In this episode, I’m breaking down the 3 viral carousel types dominating my feed, my metrics, and my business right now—with real...

If you want a masterclass in modern marketing... stop looking at other creators and start looking at Kim Kardashian and Ryan Murphy. All Is Fair just had the biggest debut on Hulu ever, and whether you love the show or hate it... the marketing is undeniable. Today I’m breaking down the 5 strategies behind their viral success – and how YOU can use them to scale your content, your creative business,...

Are you scared AI is going to replace you as a service provider? I get it—but here's the truth: AI isn't your competition, it's your co-creator. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how I use AI in my business (without losing my human touch), how it’s helped me grow faster, create better content, and work fewer hours. We’re ditching the fear-mongering and talking real strateg...

Want to land your first social media manager client but feel stuck because you have no experience and no portfolio? In this video, I’m breaking down exactly how to build a high-converting portfolio from scratch - even if you’ve never had a paying client. Whether you’re a beginner SMM, content creator pivoting to services, or just want to book clients faster, this is your step-by-step roadmap. I’m...

I built an online business that’s now hitting nearly $1 M in revenue, and I didn’t do it with a viral reel or a big team. I did it with a clear strategy, consistent execution and the right systems. In this video I’m breaking down my full income journey, the key things that worked (and what didn’t), and how you can apply the same frameworks to your own business. xx Ellen 💕 Thank You to Rella for S...

AI isn’t replacing you—unless you let it. In this episode, I’m sharing the full replay of my most popular free webinar to date —a training designed to help you build a thriving, booked-out business as a social media manager or service provider in 2026 without getting left behind by AI. We’ll cover: Why ChatGPT won’t replace high-touch service providers How to become the irreplaceable option in you...

In this spicy episode of the Dishing up Digital podcast, I’m sharing some of the wildest, most chaotic moments from my 6 years as a social media manager. From nightmare clients to contractor drama, invoice ghosting to holiday content meltdowns—these stories had me questioning everything. But with each messy moment came a powerful lesson that’s shaped how I run my business today. Here’s what we’re...

You don’t need 100k followers, a trending Reel, or a viral launch to make your first $10k month. I hit five-figure months before I had 2,000 followers—and it wasn’t magic, it was method. In this episode of Dishing Up Digital, I’m pulling back the curtain on the actual strategy that helped me go from low views to high income. You’ll learn: ✨ Why follower count is NOT a business plan ✨ The 4-part...

If you’ve ever thought “I missed the boat” when it comes to content creation… this episode will flip that belief on its head. Today, I’m joined by one of my incredible students—Janice, a 60+ UGC creator who’s redefining what’s possible at any age . We’re talking about what it really looks like to start creating content later in life, how Janice landed her first brand deals, and the mindset shifts...

The creator economy is exploding—growing from $250B in 2024 to a projected $480B by 2027—but here’s the truth: you do not need a million followers or viral videos to claim your slice of the pie. In today’s episode, I’m walking you through the exact strategies micro creators can use to grow a magnetic brand, build a community, and generate consistent income—without burnout and without waiting to bl...