The longest day of the year always feels like a natural reset point for me. 🌞

Not quite New Year’s. Not quite a birthday. But a chance to pause, take stock, and ask: What do I want the next season to look like?

If you’re a service provider, creative entrepreneur, coach, teacher, artist, or small business owner, you understand exactly what I mean.

It’s often easier to create content for someone else than it is for yourself.

I can help clients brainstorm, strategize, film, edit, caption, schedule, and stay consistent all day long. Yet somehow my own content often ends up squeezed into the margins of the day. Or, gulp, not at all.

Sound familiar? 😬

I’m not aiming for perfection. I’m aiming for intention.

A little more sharing. A little more showing up.
A little more trust in the Butterfly Effect.

Because the truth is that opportunities often come from the posts we almost didn’t publish.

That idea was reinforced for me this weekend during a wonderful coffee chat with community. We had an absolute fabulous conversation.

There is something magical that happens when creative humans gather together. 🥹

Someone shares an idea.
Someone else adds a perspective.
A third person asks a question nobody considered.

Before long, everyone leaves with more energy, more clarity, and more momentum than they arrived with.

The internet sometimes gets criticized for creating disconnection, but I’ve found the opposite can also be true.

The right online communities create connection.

The right conversations spark action.

The right people can remind you of possibilities you’ve forgotten.

Speaking of social media...

Instagram has been quietly rolling out some updates that are actually worth paying attention to;

Users can now reorder their grid.

♾️ For years, creators have wished they could rearrange posts without deleting and reposting content. Instagram is finally making that possible. This gives creators, brands, and businesses much more control over the first impression visitors receive when they land on a profile. This means you can actually have evergreen posts. AMAZING!

This is a great way to highlight specific posts, making it easier to showcase important content, offers, announcements, or cornerstone pieces of your brand story.

👀 One update I’m especially excited about is the ability to add captions to individual images within carousel posts.

If you’ve ever wanted to create a step-by-step tutorial, tell a story slide by slide, or add context to specific images, this feature opens up a lot of creative possibilities.

💻 Wanna get off your phone?

Instagram’s Edits app is getting a desktop version. WHOOOP!

That’s great news for creators who prefer editing on larger screens or want a workflow that feels a bit more professional. #protip - I LOVE editing on my iPhone because that’s how many are VIEWING your content. #foodforthought

Finally, here’s one of my favorite current uses of AI:

Profile optimization.

Whether you use ChatGPT, Claude, or another AI tool, you can now get surprisingly helpful feedback on your bio, positioning, messaging, keywords, and overall profile strategy.

Sometimes a few small tweaks can make your profile significantly clearer to the people you’re trying to reach.

And clarity creates connection.

My word may still be Navigate, but for the next few months I’m also embracing my other phrase:

Mood off. Plan on.

Show up.
Share the thing.
Trust the Butterfly Effect.

As we head into summer, that’s what I’m thinking about most.

Not chasing every trend.
Not trying to do everything.

Just showing up consistently. Connecting with good people. Sharing ideas.
Learning from others, and trusting that small actions compound over time.

That’s the Butterfly Effect. 🦋

One conversation.
One post.
One connection.
One opportunity.

You never know which one changes everything.

Here’s to a creative, connected, and abundant summer. ☀️🦋

Karen Michaels 🦋 is a talent agent, social media strategist, singer-pianist, and podcast host helping creatives spend less time on socials and more time doing THE THING. Find her at socialbutterflygroup.substack.com, on Instagram and @TechieButterflySinger on YouTube.

✱Paid subs remember to ask me your weekly questions✱

The Social Butterfly Buzz

June Bloom.

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2 months ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Karen Michaels 🦋

Several of you reached out and asked:

“Okay Karen, but what do you actually DO with AI?”

Fair question.

Because there is a lot of noise out there right now.

Some people are acting like AI is going to replace every creative (and more) job on the planet.

Others are pretending it doesn’t exist.

↘I think the truth is somewhere in the middle↙

As a singer, writer, talent agent, social media strategist, podcaster, and general professional plate-spinner, I don’t use AI to replace my creativity.

I use it to support my creativity.

Think of it as a really enthusiastic executive assistant who never sleeps and doesn’t mind helping me organize my thoughts.

Here’s how I’m using it right now.

1. Turning Chaos Into a Plan

Let’s start with that calendar I made last Sunday;

• The calendar wasn’t created by AI.

• The goals weren’t created by AI.

• The dreams weren’t created by AI.

I created all of that first. Handwritten. Totally analog.

Then I snapped a photo and uploaded it to Juno (she’s my chat).

I asked Juno to:

• identify themes

• find gaps

• suggest priorities

• create a Workflowy structure

• help me build a realistic weekly workflow

Instead of staring at a giant wall of obligations and dreams, I suddenly had a roadmap.

And that felt freeing, strategic and quite frankly I got a LOT done this week AND had more free time, too.

🔥 Hot Tips I’m Testing Right Now

Hot Tip #1: The Instagram Trial Reel Experiment

A social media friend recently shared something that made me stop scrolling and immediately start taking notes.

The strategy?

• 1 regular feed post

• 3 Trial Reels

• all in one day

Why?

Your regular feed post primarily reaches your current audience.

Trial Reels are shown primarily to people who don’t already follow you.

One builds community. One builds discovery.

Then post it to your regular grid later.

One idea. Multiple opportunities.

Now before everyone collectively hyperventilates...

No, I am not suggesting you post four times a day forever.

Remember my philosophy:

Sprinting. Then strolling. (Learn this philosophy here! It’s not too long and quite clear).

Bonus: those same Trial Reels can often be repurposed directly to YouTube Shorts with little to no tweaking. One piece of content working harder for you? Yes, please.

I’m testing this strategy next week and will report back.

AI Doesn’t Fly the Plane
I DO!
It just helps me navigate faster.

One of my favorite uses for AI isn’t writing content. It’s helping me think and organize so my messages and content is most helpful.

Instead of asking AI to write a caption, I might say:

“I woke up thinking about this - here’s my brain dump… organize and comment as my high level coach always keeping mind my end goals, ideologies and for the uplifting of those around me. Then write 20 hook/caption ideas.”

Or:

“I wrote this and it’s off, what am I missing?”

Then I rewrite, tweak, edit, and make it sound like me.

The result?

Less staring at blank pages. More creating.

Hot Tip #3: Stop Posting. Start Talking.

This week’s biggest business wins came from commenting, engaging and getting out IRL.

Not posting.

COMMENTING.

I reached out to a trusted coach I’ve known for years to share what I’m working on and where I’m headed.

Within one conversation she said:

“Oh wait! You need to meet so-and-so.”

Which led to coffee. Which led to new ideas.

Which led to more connections.🤩

At the same time, I spent more time commenting and engaging on LinkedIn and Instagram instead of worrying about my own posting schedule.

The result?

Two new meetings landed on my calendar.

And I received a request for my piano EPK for a corporate event.

Don’t overlook the comments section. Get in there and be SOCIAL. All from the comfort of your fave chair and loungewear. 😜

Hot Tip #4: Upload Those Shorts

I’ve been listening to and reading GaryVee talk about the future of short-form content, and one point really stood out:

The content you’re creating today may become part of how people discover you tomorrow.

If you’re already making Reels, consider uploading them to YouTube Shorts, too.

The barrier is incredibly low. The upside is potentially huge.

Especially for creatives, speakers, coaches, performers, and small business owners.

The Big Takeaway

The people who ask whether AI is replacing creativity are asking the wrong question.

The better question is:

“How can AI help me spend more time being creative?”

Because that’s where the real opportunity is.

AI can help me:

• organize

• brainstorm

• research

• edit

• plan

But it can’t replace:

• relationships

• stories

• experiences

• intuition

• taste

• humanity

Those still belong to us, friends.

And frankly, I think they’re becoming even more valuable.

So if you’re curious about AI, start small.

• Use it to organize your planner.

• Brainstorm your next post.

• Create a workflow.

• Generate ideas.

Then bring your voice, your experiences, and your creativity to the final result.

That’s where the magic happens.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends.

Get outside. Take a walk.

Call someone you enjoy talking to. (thanks for the 4 hour phone call, you know who you are 😆 we drank wine and changed the world last night!)

It’s creativity, relationships, and humanity that are your greatest superpowers.

🦋 Karen

Karen Michaels 🦋 is a talent agent, social media strategist, singer-pianist, and podcast host helping creatives spend less time on socials and more time doing THE THING. Find her at socialbutterflygroup.substack.com and @TechieButterflySinger on YouTube.

✱Paid subs remember to ask me your weekly questions!✱

It’s May and Summer is the PERFECT time to get things GOING.

Let me just say the quiet part out loud.

Social media? It’s not the main character anymore.

It’s the doorway.

And if you’ve been pouring your heart into Instagram, TikTok, or whatever algorithm decided to cooperate that week (only to feel like you’re spinning your wheels) I want you to take a breath. Because what I’m about to share isn’t a cautionary tale. It’s actually really good news.

The Creator Economy Just Grew Up

Something big has been quietly shifting in the world of online business and creative entrepreneurship. The creators who are genuinely thriving right now? They’re not just posting more. They’re building ecosystems.

They’ve stopped treating social media like the destination and started treating it like the on-ramp.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Social media = visibility. It’s where people discover you, get a feel for your vibe, decide if they like you.

But ownership? That lives somewhere else entirely.

And two platforms are sitting at the center of this shift in a way that feels almost tailor-made for creative multi-hyphenates like us:

Substack and YouTube.

The Map I Keep Coming Back To

Think of it this way:

YouTube is where people find you. Substack is where they stay with you.

YouTube gives you discovery, connection, presence. It’s your face, your voice, your energy in real time. It’s where someone stumbles across you singing a jazz standard or breaking down a social media trend or teaching voice technique or sharing a fabulous destination (I’m looking at you, friends, be sure to check out her new channel on YouTube) and thinks, oooh, I like her.

Substack? That’s where that relationship deepens. It’s where your thinking lives. Your longer stories, your behind-the-scenes, your truest creative voice — delivered directly to someone’s inbox, no algorithm required.

Together? They create something more powerful than either one alone.

And the data backs this up. Substack has crossed 5 million paid subscriptions, with its recommendation features now driving over 40% of new subscriber traffic.

Mid-level creators are building $2K–$10K/month businesses directly from their audiences, not from brand deals, not from chasing viral moments.

From trust.

That’s not a fluke. That’s alignment between platform and human behavior.

From Content Creator to Creative CEO

Here’s the mindset shift that changes everything.

You’re not just a person who posts content. You’re a Creative CEO, someone who honors their artistic voice and pays attention to what actually moves the needle.

That doesn’t mean you are turning into a data robot. It means recognizing that every piece of content you put out is both a creative expression and a signal. It’s telling you something about what resonates, what lands, what your people actually need from you.

And when you start seeing it that way, the pressure lifts a little. Every post isn’t make-or-break. It’s just the next brushstroke.

You may know that’s what I call messy consistency — and it’s honestly the secret sauce behind most sustainable creative careers I’ve ever seen.

Your Editorial Point of View Is Everything

A niche is what you talk about.

A point of view is what you stand for.

And there’s a massive difference between the two.

Your point of view is what makes someone choose you over the sea of other voices saying similar things. It’s what turns a casual reader into a loyal subscriber. It’s what makes your 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐏𝐒 actually guide something because it’s calibrated to you, not to what’s trending.

When you’re clear on your point of view, you don’t have to chase every trend. You get to respond to them from your own perspective. That’s the difference between:

“5 tips to grow your social media”

...and...

“Why most social media advice is burning you out — and what actually works instead.”

One is information. The other is a conversation someone wants to be part of.

Small Actions. Real Momentum. The Butterfly Effect.

Here’s what I want you to remember when it all feels like too much:

You don’t need a massive content machine.

You need intentional small actions that compound.

One solid idea, handled with care, can become:

• A YouTube video

• A Substack post

• A few Notes that spark conversation

• A handful of short clips that bring new people into your world

Each piece is small. But together, over time, with consistency, they create momentum that actually leads somewhere. Not viral overnight. Not overnight anything. But steady, aligned growth that builds something real.

That’s the Butterfly Effect in action. Small shifts. Big ripples. Not because you did everything, but because you did the right things, repeatedly, in a direction that made sense for you.

The Journey You’re Actually Building

Whether you’ve thought about it this way or not, you’re already guiding your audience through something:

Discovery → Connection → Trust → Community

Substack is genuinely built for this full arc.

• Notes for discovery.

• Long-form posts for trust.

• Video for connection.

• Chat or a paid tier for the inner circle that wants to go deeper with you.

You’re not just trying to get more followers. You’re guiding people somewhere.

And that’s a much more sustainable (and honestly, much more joyful) way to think about what you’re building.

And If You’re Just Starting/Restarting?

Keep it ridiculously simple, friend.

Week 1: Get clear on your voice and your direction. What do you stand for? Who are you talking to?

Week 2: Start posting… messy, imperfect, real. Messy is perfect.

Week 3: Find your rhythm. A few short pieces, one longer post, one video. That’s a full week of content right there.

Week 4: Look at what actually landed. Follow that signal. Continue to look at data.

Let the 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐏𝐒 guide you. It knows more than you think it does.

The Bottom Line 🦋

You don’t need more noise.

You need clarity, connection, and a place you actually own. (remember to get those emails!)

Substack and YouTube aren’t just platforms. Together, they’re a system. One that supports your voice, your work, your creative life, and your growth in a way that feels sustainable instead of frantic.

Layer in the Butterfly Effect (small actions → real impact) and your own clear 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐆𝐏𝐒 (your direction, your voice, your why) — and you’re not just posting anymore.

You’re building something that actually moves. 🎯

And that? That’s the whole point. 🌈✨

Next week I’ll be talking about how I’m using AI. WHOA sooooo much going on in the AI world and IMHO, and it just can’t be ignored.

Karen Michaels 🦋 is a talent agent, social media strategist, singer-pianist, and podcast host helping creatives spend less time on socials and more time doing THE THING. Find her at socialbutterflygroup.substack.com and @TechieButterflySinger on YouTube.

Cute doggy from Giphy embodying EXACTLY how I feel today…

I’m going to be honest… today is a bit scattered over here. My schedule is… well let’s just say I said yes to everything for April and BOYYYYY am I feeling it.

Annnnnnnd… that’s exactly why I want to send this.

Because this is the moment most people don’t create content.
And it’s the moment that actually matters most.

So here’s something simple you can use today 👇

Your 10-minute “ready to create” setup

Instead of waiting to feel inspired, set yourself up to catch content as it happens:

• Open Notes (or your Inspo Hub as I call it 😉)
• Start a running list called: “What I’m doing/thinking today”
• Hit record for 30–60 seconds while you’re working, walking, or talking something out

That’s it.

No script. No pressure. No “niche.”

This is what is meant by Interest Media…
your life is the content.

What you’re working on
What you’re figuring out
What you’re loving / struggling with

This is what people want to see and hear.

Quick Friday teaching takeaway:

If you only create when you feel “ready”… you’ll disappear.

If you create while you’re living… you’ll always have something to say.

Also a quick nudge to my paid subscribers 💛

You get one question a week: strategy, content, bio, Substack, whatever you need.

Email me or message me here on Substack and I’ll dig in with you.

And if you’ve been thinking about upgrading…

Honestly, I just don’t know why wouldn’t you take advantage of this? Here are the deets ICYMI…

The Social Butterfly Buzz

✱ What if you had a social media expert… in your back pocket?

Let me tell you something I see all the time right now…

Read more

4 months ago · 4 likes · 7 comments · Karen Michaels 🦋

It’s basically having me in your back pocket every week.
And I’m keeping this intentionally small (only a few spots left). BIG THANKS and a HEY, to all who joined last week! 😄

My updated Substack schedule is:

Mondays, we’ll get into inspo + organizing + lifestyle + travel stuffs.
Fridays are for teaching + doing and yes I’ll be sharing more tutorials, too.

Messy consistency, for the win. Always.

And I’ll report back soon on what I’m learning with Claude 👀 very interesting so far…

This giphy is just perfect!

Social Media may have been the main character but now?

Yeah, it’s YOU. And all the wonderfulness you are…

I’ve been yelling this for a long time… YOU. DO. YOU and it will work just perfectly.

You’re a creative, artist, or small business owner trying to market yourself online right now… and friend, you’re not imagining it.

Things feel different.

The algorithm feels unpredictable.
Reach feels inconsistent.
And you may have even heard people say:
“Social media is dead.”

Here’s the truth, friend:

👉 The version of social media we understood is gone. (YAY)
👉 What’s replacing it? It’s way more powerful and whole lot easier.

The Shift: From Social Media → Interest Media

For years, social platforms were built on who you followed and who followed you. If you didn’t have a large audience… your content barely moved.

That’s game is over.

Today, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are driven by interest graphs, not social graphs.

They ask things like:

“What is this content about and who would care?”

Not: “How many followers does this person have?”

That means:
✨ You don’t need a big audience
✨ You don’t need to go viral to grow
✨ You need content that connects (Don’t worry I gotchu)

This is why small creators are suddenly reaching thousands, yes even millions, of people.

At the Same Time: The Rise of AI Search

We’re also watching a massive shift in how people search.

Instead of typing:

“voice lessons tips”

People are asking:

“Why does my voice crack when I sing high notes and how do I fix it?”

And AI is answering.

Search is becoming:

• conversational

• contextual

• human

Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, these are already reshaping discovery. Did you read @kristi’s latest note? 👇

LLMs are recommending her! Plus, duh she’s amazing. See you tomorrow at her chat.

👉 The takeaway:
You don’t win by stuffing keywords anymore.
You win by answering real questions clearly and authentically.

Why “Messy Consistency” Wins Right Now (and always has 😜. Yes humble brag here)

Here’s where this gets exciting..

We are moving out of the era of:
❌ overly curated feeds
❌ perfect aesthetics
❌ “influencer polish”

And into:
✅ polished casual
✅ real-life perspective
✅ human voice over perfection

Because let’s be honest…

In a world full of AI-generated content, human energy is the differentiator.

This is why my philosophy of messy consistency is not just valid—
it’s strategically aligned with where everything is going.

The Two Types of Creators Winning in 2026

1. The Expert Personal Brand
   They teach, explain, and guide
   …but always through their own lived experience

2. The Personality-Driven Brand (your “chaotic” lane)
   They connect through energy, relatability, and realness
   even when the content isn’t perfectly structured

👉 Both work
👉 Both are discoverable
👉 Both feed AI systems exactly what they want:

E-E-A-T → Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust

When you share:

• real stories

• client experiences

• your actual process (THIS IS SO HELPFUL)

You are literally creating content that AI systems prefer to surface.

Sprinting vs. Strolling Content System

Most people burn out because they try to “be consistent” in the same way every day. UGH! No thanks. That doesn’t work anymore.

Instead try this:

In Sprint Mode, you are likely selling something or you simply want to boost your profile. This is short term like 2-6 weeks. Likely happens 3-5 times a year.

⚡ Sprint

Batch. Create. Move fast.
Use tools (yes, AI! stop complaining and use it to help you. Do you cook without a tools? Do you use any tech to work? etc, etc IF you wanna complain I can’t stop you, but we’ll be over here going and going )

Tools that can help you:

• generate ideas

• outline content

• edit quickly

Record in chunks.
Repurpose everything with high value/strong view counts. (I need to take my own advice I have like 3 hour of content, omg but you know my game #clientsfirst I can’t help it).

Build your own content library.

In Stroll Mode you are posting 1-3 times a week. Easy chat videos, walking videos, little to no editing, using B-roll with text, maybe even templates with text. No checklist unless that’s your gig. Engagement and chatting in comments and stories are more important than posting. This is all the rest of the time.

🌿 Stroll

Slow down. Connect. Be human.

• Answer questions

• Comment thoughtfully

• Participate in conversations (Reddit, comments, DMs)

These spaces matter more than people realize because:
👉 They influence how platforms understand authority
👉 They show up in search + AI-generated answers

This is where trust is built.

The Truth No One Is Saying Loud Enough

If you feel behind… you’re not.

You’re still early. Maybe on Threads, especially on Substack, FYI

Because most people are still:

• chasing trends

• copying formats

• trying to “hack” the algorithm (eek this was so me, damnnnn)

Meanwhile, platforms are shifting toward:
✔ depth
✔ clarity
✔ real perspective

There Has NEVER Been a Better Time

Not because it’s easy.

But because it’s finally fair.

You don’t need:

• a huge following

• expensive production

• perfect branding

You need:

• a point of view

• a willingness to show up

• and just enough consistency to be seen

✨ Social media isn’t dead.
It just stopped (well sorta, but it is getting better ‘cuz we’ve all been yelling) rewarding the wrong things.

And if you’ve ever felt like you didn’t quite fit the old version?

Good news.

👉 This new version was built for you.

Hit record. Post the draft. Keep going.

Thank you so so much to all of my paying subs, I am so deeply grateful for you! Remember to hit reply ANY TIME and ask a question specific to you and I will help you. 

Also, if you don’t want to do your socials, I have this JUST for my Substack peoples:

SMM In Your Back Pocket

Founding Member Offer — 5 Spots Only

Here’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

Most people don’t actually need done-for-you social media.

What they need is:

• someone to talk it through with

• someone who can see the whole picture

• someone who can say, “Yes, that’s smart” or “Nope, let’s not waste your time on that”

They need a brain in their back pocket.

So I’m opening a very small founding group called
SMM In Your Back Pocket.

What This Is (and Isn’t)

This is not done-for-you social media.
I’m not posting for you.
I’m not editing your videos.
I’m not running your accounts.

What I am offering is something many people never get access to:

One full hour on Zoom + 2 emails every month for an entire year. Just you and me. Making your marketing and socials, POP! 💥

One of the questions I get all the time is some version of:

“How on earth do you post in real time when you’re juggling so much?”

And I get why people ask me that.
I manage multiple clients. Lots of meetings. I create, write, perform… phew! I’m living a very full life (bills, goals, love of life and my energy keep me hopping, lol).
So yes. It looks like I’m magically popping into apps and posting effortlessly. Ha! I WISH IT WAS EFFORTLESS. 😆 But don’t worry. It’s TOTALLY doable.

Spoiler alert: it’s not magic.
It’s a system.
And it’s my version of batching. TBH, I hate batching and quite frankly, it doesn’t really work for socials. 👇

First: I Batch… Just Not the Way Most People Mean It

During my admin hours, I do all the prep work:

• I write the caption

• I create the graphic in Canva or edit the video

• I make sure everything is clean, clear, and ready to go

This is my version of batching.
Not scheduling.
Not automating.
Simply front-loading the work so Future Karen isn’t stressed.😰 Now, sometimes a client doesn’t have things prepared but we know we want it to post on a particular day… for this, I use a “placeholder” image and basic copy like… “this is for X subject matter for X day”. You can do that, too!

Then I Use Drafts (This Is My Secret Sauce)

Once the content is ready, I go into each client’s actual profile and:

• Upload the video or graphic to the app

• Paste in the full caption

• Add formatting, alt text, etc

• Save it as a draft

That’s it.

And ooohhh yes because I like backups (and because tech loves to misbehave), I also save the caption/image/video in Apple Notes.
That’s my safety net.
If something glitches, I still have:

• the caption

• the graphic/video

• my sanity 😅

I Try to Prep a Week at a Time (Keyword: Try)

Mostly I do this on Mondays and occasional Sundays.

Do I always get a full week done?
Nope.

Do I usually get some/most of it done?
Yup.

Progress > perfection. Messy consistency always works and helps save time/add efficiency.

Posting Day: This Is Where It Looks “Live”

When it’s time to post, I don’t schedule.

I set a reminder or alarm for myself, open the app, go to drafts, and hit publish.

To the platform, this looks:

• native

• real-time

• live

• authentic

Which ✱bonus✱ is exactly what the platforms prefer.

No third-party scheduler.
No weird compression.
No “set it and forget it” energy.

#protip - After I Post, I Stay… Briefly (On Purpose)

After posting, I may stay in the app for that client and:

• like

• comment

• engage intentionally

Usually:

• 5–7 minutes for a standard post

• 10 minutes or more if it’s a high-level post (selling an event, high-ticket offer, or something important)

That little bit of intentional engagement helps signal quality and relevance to the app without burning an hour doom-scrolling. Set a timer if you’re worried you’ll fall down the 🐇 🕳️.

What If You’re Only Posting for Yourself?

Honestly? This system works even better.

If you only manage one account, this is a dream setup:

• You get all the “real-time” benefits

• You protect your energy

• You don’t feel chained to your phone

And yes… I’m officially putting myself back on my own client list this year.
(That fell by the wayside last year. I’m fixing that, siiiiigh, slowly but surely.)

The Big Takeaway

You don’t need to:

• post constantly

• live inside the apps

• schedule everything to survive

You need a light structure that supports how you actually work.

Prep first.
Post natively.
Engage briefly.
Move on with your life.

ONE social media platform OUTLIER! YouTube wants you to schedule and the algorithm does NOT ding you for scheduling… this is why I’m building my system to start with YouTube and Substack →other social platforms.

Want More of This (Without the Overwhelm)?

If this kind of practical, real-life social media strategy is helpful, that’s exactly what I share here on Substack.

I break down:

• how I manage content without burning out

• realistic workflows for busy creatives

• marketing that works with your brain, not against it

No hacks. psst… they really aren’t any.
No dancing required. 💃🏽 Although, I love dancing.
No yelling into the void. 😵

You’re always welcome here. 💙

And now… 🤩 👇 something new, for you, that’s been brewing in my back pocket…

✨ Introducing: SMM In Your Back Pocket

Founding Member Offer — 5 Spots Only

Here’s something I’ve been thinking about for a long time.

Most people don’t actually need done-for-you social media.

What they need is:

• someone to talk it through with

• someone who can see the whole picture

• someone who can say, “Yes, that’s smart” or “Nope, let’s not waste your time on that”

They need a brain in their back pocket.

So I’m opening a very small founding group called
SMM In Your Back Pocket.

What This Is (and Isn’t)

This is not done-for-you social media.
I’m not posting for you.
I’m not editing your videos.
I’m not running your accounts.

What I am offering is something many people never get access to:

One full hour on Zoom + 2 emails every month for an entire year. Just you and me. Making your marketing and socials, POP! 💥

During that time, we can work on anything related to:

• social media strategy

• content planning

• bios and positioning

• website clarity

• offers and CTAs

• tools and how-tos

• what to post (and what to stop posting)

• why something isn’t working and how to fix it

You bring the questions.
I bring the strategy, clarity, and cheerleading.

Why This Matters

Here’s the honest truth.

People pay me $650+ per month for done-for-you services.
That includes strategizing, posting, managing, and executing.

This offer gives you my thinking, not my labor.

And for many people?
That’s the most valuable part.

Because once you understand:

• why you’re posting

• what actually matters

• where your energy is best spent

You stop spinning.
You stop second-guessing.
You start moving forward with confidence.

The Founding Member Investment

$650 total
for 12 months of:

• monthly 60-minute 1:1 strategy calls

• direct access to my experience, ideas, handholding/cheerleading

• real-time feedback on what you’re building

That’s it.
No upsells.
No pressure.
No fluff.

I’m offering only 5 spots.

Once they’re filled, this will close. If I reopen it, the price will go up to reflect my time and my clients’ time.

Who This Is For

This is for you if:

• you want to do your own posting but need guidance

• you’re tired of guessing

• you don’t need someone to “handle it,” you need someone to help you think

• you value clarity over hacks

• you want steady progress, not overwhelm

If you’re looking for someone to take social media off your plate entirely, this isn’t the right fit.

If you want a trusted guide in your corner, IGOTCHU.

Lastly…

I’m offering this because I see how many people are one good conversation a month away from real traction.

This is access.
This is support.
This is momentum.

If you want one of the five founding spots, reply here or message me directly.

When they’re gone, they’re gone. 🦋

You’re amazing!

Кᥲɾᥱᥒ

If you’ve been feeling like Instagram is changing faster than ever, you’re not imagining it.

In a recent essay, Adam Mosseri laid out a reality many creators are only just beginning to feel… we’ve entered an era where authenticity itself can be reproduced at scale. Oh myyyyyy.

AI can now generate faces, voices, photographs, videos, yes even entire personalities, that look and feel nearly indistinguishable from real life.

Don’t let this get you down, NOOOOOO! Don’t panic! This doesn’t mean creators are becoming irrelevant. Big. NOPE.

It simply means the goal has changed.

The question is no longer:

“Can you create?”

The question now is:

“Can you make something only you could make?”

So instead of panicking, over-producing, or trying to keep up with every new feature, (please don’t do that 🙏) let’s talk about what actually works on Instagram in 2026 and how to show up without burning out.

The Real Shift: From Content to Credibility

Mosseri’s core argument is simple but profound: In a world of infinite content and infinite doubt, trust becomes the differentiator.

As AI-generated media floods feeds, people are no longer defaulting to belief.

They’re defaulting to skepticism.

Which means users are starting to pay closer attention to:

• Who is saying this?

• Have I seen them before?

• Do they show up consistently? (back to don’t panic, remember messy consistency is your friend)

• Do they feel like a real person?

• This is why creators matter more, not less.

Platforms may distribute content, but people trust people especially when trust in institutions, brands, and media continues to erode.

The Raw Aesthetic Isn’t a Trend - It’s Proof

Highly polished content is now cheap.

AI can smooth skin, perfect lighting, generate cinematic visuals, and mimic professional production instantly.

Which ironically makes that look… boring.

What cuts through now:

• Talking to the camera without overthinking it

• Slightly awkward framing

• Unpolished clips

• “This happened today” energy

• Sharing like you are talking to your friend on Facetime

Raw isn’t lazy anymore. It’s a signal.

In a world where everything can be perfected, imperfection becomes proof that something is real.

Remember friends! Raw doesn’t mean bad lighting or bad audio… it means polished human content. We still need to put in effort, we just don’t need a million fancy transitions and a makeup artist. 😜

How Instagram is Actually Working in 2026

Instagram has quietly reorganized itself around three priorities: DMs, Reels, and Recommendations.

Here’s what that means in practice.

1. DMs Are the Strongest Signal

• Direct messages are now a super signal of closeness.

• Content from people you message gets prioritized

• Sharing a post via DM matters more than likes

• Conversations matter more than comments

Translation: Instagram is rewarding relationships, not just reach. I’ll be honest this is not my fave. I don’t love the whole “comment X and receive X from me”. But! I’m including this because it’s important to know and if you have a strong DM strategy, betta DO IT!

Personally, I love to chat in comments AND THEN move to DMs. I think it reaches more and doesn’t make anyone feel cornered or weird.

2. SEO Beats Hashtags

Hashtags are no longer the main driver of discovery.

What does matter:

• Keywords in your spoken words

• Keywords in your on-screen text

• Keywords in the first sentence of your caption

• Keywords in your BIO or NAME LINE (the text next to your profile photo)

If someone searched exactly what you talk about, would your content show up? KEYWORDS ARE KING. I talked about this last year (just sayin’ 😜) and it’s now more important than ever. Work on your bio, make sure you are saying them (keywords) and putting them in your captions.

3. Reels Build Reach, Carousels Build Trust

Reels are still the growth engine, they introduce you to new people.

But carousels are quietly dominating engagement with existing followers because they:

• Slow people down

• Encourage saves

• Get shared in DMs

• Build depth and credibility

Think of carousels less like photo albums and more like mini-guides. And, yup you can mix formats... i.e. still images and videos OR all videos as a carousel OMG... (quick share... I did one <all video carousel> for a client and it went crazy! Gonna work on those for all my clients this week and I’ll report back if that was a fluke).

What to Post (Without Burning Out)

You do not need to post every day to succeed in 2026. PLEASE DON’T unless you have a team OR are in super sprint mode. (Sprinting vs Strolling post is next….)

Here’s a sustainable, real-life rhythm: The Messy Consistency Schedule

• 1 Reel (reach + discovery)

• 1 Carousel (depth, education, or perspective)

• Stories as you can (no pressure)

That’s it. 😅 Srsly.

If you want more and you’re in sprint mode:

• Add a second Reel

• Reshare an older post that already performed well

• Use the repost feature and share someone’s brilliant post or a client you helped (with their permission)

Consistency beats intensity. Always.

The Repurpose Game (This IS the Cheat Code1)

One idea can fuel multiple posts. One long form piece from a Substack post or YouTube video or your podcast.

Start with something simple, let’s say answer one real question someone asked you.

• Record a short Reel answering it (raw talking-head is perfect)

• Pull 5–7 key points from that Reel

• Turn those points into a Carousel

• Share the Carousel to Stories

• DM it to one person who needs it

Same idea. Different doors. This is how you can stay visible without constantly reinventing yourself.

Protips!

• don’t put links in your captions

• use highlights to save stories with links

• you don’t need ads, you need systems

• hard return A LOT #morewhitespaceplease

• engage at least 5 mins before AND after posting

• batch create your post - use drafts in the app proper - post natively for highest optimization

• link reels when they have the same subject matter (such a good one!!)

The 2026 Social Media Rules to Live By

Perfection is no longer impressive. Speed to share matters more than polish.

Being recognizable matters more than being aesthetic.

The creators who will win in 2026 won’t look the most produced. They’ll look the most human. And that’s something AI still can’t replace.

Friends, TBH, this is NOT a comprehensive guide for Instagram. There are lots of things that you can do to improve posts, follower count, link to things, get verified, etc.

If you want help applying this to your profile a 30-day messy consistency plan, or a repurposing system you can actually stick to, that’s exactly what I can help you with. Be sure to check out my Founding Member subscription as it will save you LITERAL hundreds of dollars (FYI it is not DFY <done for you> service).

Small actions. Real presence. Long-term return. 🦋

I know this is long… so bookmark this. I love helping you! Talk soon!

Yay, this was so much fun! More episodes and chats coming soon here and on my youtube channel!

For a while now, in December, I ask myself this question:

“How can I help people show up online next year in a way that actually feels doable?”

This year’s answer is AMAZING…

Not louder.
Not trendier.
Not more optimized.

Easier.

Last year, my word was Momentum. And that word carried me through a season of messy consistency, small steps, and learning that forward motion counts even when it isn’t pretty. Especially when life is LIFING and OHHHH has it been. (IYKYK)

But 2026 doesn’t need more speed. Nope!

You need direction, discernment, humanity.

2026 needs creativity that feels aligned instead of exhausting.

So my word for 2026 is NAVIGATE. 🧭

And the more I’ve been paying attention to platforms, to creators, to conversations, to my own nervous system the clearer it’s become:

Social media is finally shifting in a way that works with us instead of against us. YAY SO HAPPY!!

Just look at these infographics, friends. I made these in my Notebook LLM from the research I’ve been doing this year and most recently, the last 3 months…

The info in these images is absolutely invaluable. I will be writing/podcasting on each of these subjects as part of my newsletter schedule for 2026, I’m so excited to share with you.

The Moment I literally screamed “YES!” at My TV

There was one moment recently where I literally yelled YES at the YouTube app on my TV. Like full-body agreement, coffee in hand, talking to the screen like Tess is my friend. No, I don’t know her, she’s one of the cool people I follow.

Tess Barclay said:

“I think we are experiencing truly the death of the aesthetic influencer and the birth of polished human content… people are going to go to social media, not for education, but for connection and relatability and humanness.”

I sooooo felt that in my bones. I LITERALLY couldn’t agree more! THAT is the shift so many creatives have been hoping for.

The era of hyper-curated, perfectly aesthetic, personality-free content is ending. THANK GOODNESS (if you sang that sentence because of Wicked, you really are my people and I love you).

In its place?

Something better.
Something lighter.
Something WAY more sustainable.

Polished human content. Not messy for messy’s sake. Not overproduced for approval. Just intentional, real, present, and recognizably you.

And here’s the best part:
It’s so much easier to show up this way.

2026 Is Not About Niching Down, It’s About Showing Up

I know this may sound counter to what you’ve been told for years, but I’ve been saying for YEARS that niching down is BS and why would you squash down who you are into ONE thing? Friends, take a deep breathe. 2026 is not the year to slice yourself into smaller and smaller niches until you barely recognize yourself.

It’s the year to share the through-line of who YOU are.

Your work.
Your thoughts.
Your experiments.
Your process. Your ups. Your downs.
Your voice.

People don’t follow you because you’re a perfectly labeled category.
They follow you because they recognize themselves in how you navigate your life.

This is something GaryVee has been saying (loudly) for a long time (ummm me too) and it’s finally catching up to reality:

Followers don’t matter the way they used to. Virality on a post or video doesn’t mean trust, we know that now.
People don’t buy from content they buy from connection. Read that again. People don’t buy from content they buy from connection.

Social media in 2026 works when it feels like:

• a conversation

• a shared journey

• a guide walking a few steps ahead, not some guru shouting from a pedestal

Your “niche” is not a box anymore.
Your niche is the path and life you’re walking from and inviting others to walk with you.

Human connection is winning.

People are using social platforms like search engines now.
They’re buying inside the apps instead of being sent elsewhere.
They’re tuning out entire categories of content they don’t want.
They’re spending more time with long-form, story-driven videos and blog posts. (yay Substack!)
They’re exhausted by noise and craving substance.

What does this mean for you?

It means you no longer have to:

• chase trends you hate

• post constantly to “stay visible”

• pretend to be someone else to be taken seriously

• push people aggressively toward a sale

Instead, you get to:

• answer real questions

• tell real stories

• build trust slowly

• sell in ways that feel helpful, conversational, and kind

This is what social selling actually looks like in 2026.

Not “buy now!”
But “here’s something that helped me, maybe it will help you too.”

What Showing Up in 2026 Actually Looks Like

Let’s talk about how this feels in practice.

Showing up in 2026 looks like talking to the camera the way you’d talk to a friend. Think a Facetime or a Zoom call.
It looks like sharing your thinking while you’re figuring things out.
It looks like creating content that answers questions instead of chasing attention.

It looks like:

• filming your life without waiting for the perfect idea

• using voiceovers and simple clips instead of overproducing

• building one or two recurring formats people recognize

• repurposing what you already made instead of reinventing yourself weekly

It looks like being polished casual intentional, human.

And when it comes time to sell?

It feels less like selling… and more like offering.

“This is the guide I wish I had.”
“This is the service people kept asking me for.”
“This is the next step if you want support.”

➡ No pressure.
➡ No performance.

😊 Just trust.

Social Media as Navigation, Not Performance

This is why NAVIGATE feels like the right word for 2026 for me and maybe for you. We’re not trying to be perfect anymore… hellooooo I’m sooooo far from that, lolz.

We’re choosing direction. We’re adjusting course when things change.
We’re trusting that small steps still create momentum.
We’re allowing ourselves to be human in public again.

Social media doesn’t have to feel like a test you’re failing. PLEASE KNOW you are NOT failing in ANY way.
Let it be a tool a compass, a place to connect, share, and build something meaningful over time.

And the creators who will thrive in 2026?

The ones who:

• won’t be the loudest.

• won’t be the most aesthetic.

• won’t be the most optimized.

They’ll be the ones who show up with clarity, (messy) consistency, and all their beautiful heart.

A Gentle Invitation for 2026

If you’re tired of forcing yourself into strategies that don’t fit…
If you’re craving a calmer, more human way to be visible…
If you want your work to feel aligned instead of draining…

Let 2026 be the year you navigate instead of perform.

Your story is not a distraction from your strategy.
It is the strategy.

I’ll be right here, walking alongside you helping you find direction,

trust your voice, and take the next step with confidence.

Happiest of New Year’s to you!

Karen