100: How to Stand Out on Instagram Without Burning Out in 2026 (Part 2)
In this episode, we talk about how to stand out without burning out. We cover the shift away from generic content. We explore the rise of story-driven and mission-led marketing. We talk about how to grow your visibility in a way that feels human, sustainable, and aligned with your real life.
You will learn why playing the long game matters. You will learn how to use storytelling to stand out in a crowded market. You will learn how to use AI as a strategic partner instead of a replacement. You will learn why personal branding is now non-negotiable. You will also learn how DM automation connects your content to real leads and sales.
If you want your Instagram to work for you in 2026 without living on the app, this episode will give you a clear direction.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
00:05 – Why consistency with intention beats posting everywhere
06:13 – Why Instagram growth is a long game
09:04 – Why generic content is forgettable
10:02 – Why story-driven content is winning right now
11:27 – How to use storytelling to create connection and trust
19:22 – Why your brand needs a human face in 2026
21:33 – How direct-to-camera content builds authority
22:55 – How mission-led content creates loyalty and community
24:46 – How niching down makes your marketing stronger
13:44 – How to use AI as a strategic thought partner
15:32 – The CRIT framework for better AI results
26:59 – How to use DM automation to connect content to your funnel
28:28 – How ManyChat helps you grow your list on autopilot
27:58 – Why visibility without conversion is a trap
30:52 – The three big takeaways for your 2026 content strategy
Key Takeaways:
Generic content is out. Story-driven and mission-led content is in.
Your business needs a human face in an AI world.
AI should support your thinking. It should not replace your voice.
Your content must connect to your funnel.
DM automation bridges the gap between views and sales.
Sustainable growth beats hustle every time.
A Truth You Need to Hear:
“Visibility without a funnel is just noise.” — Elizabeth Marberry
Resources Mentioned:
Hot Reels Full Program Details
Free Close Sales in Your Sleep, DM Automation Guide:
Get your First month FREE of ManyChat Pro.
Learn the CRIT framework that takes you into the top 1% of AI users
S3 Ep100 Transcript: How to Stand Out on Instagram Without Burning Out in 2026 (Part 2)
00:00
You've landed on part two of our four part series on Instagram marketing trends and predictions for 2026. Today's episode is all about standing out without burning out. The shift away from generic content, the rise of story-driven mission-led marketing, and how to create content that feels human, sustainable, and aligned for you and your brand. I hope you're excited. Let's go.
00:30
Welcome to Strut It, a podcast about creating bold visibility on social media with zero apologies. I'm Elizabeth Marberry, your host and Instagram marketing coach. I help small business owners get seen on Instagram and monetize their offers so they can make more money doing their sole led work. If you're tired of spinning your wheels on Instagram and you're seeking simple, proven Instagram marketing strategies that actually work, you're in the right place.
00:59
Let's dive in.
01:09
Welcome back to the show. I'm thrilled you have joined me for part two of this four part series on Instagram marketing trends and predictions for 2026. I'm Elizabeth Marberry and I am honored to share the next few minutes with you and pour into you as much wisdom as I can so you can walk away from this episode feeling really excited, empowered and clear on your next step so you can get seen and paid on Instagram.
01:38
If you haven't had a chance to listen to part one, I definitely recommend going back and listening because there was a lot of gold in there and today's conversation is really building on that foundation. So last week in part one, we talked about the data and yes, there is more content being created than ever before. Reach is more competitive, attention is more fragmented and
02:06
The opportunity is still very real, especially for creators and business owners who are willing to understand what's changing and evolve their strategy over time. And I know you're one of those people because you're here listening to this podcast. So virtual high five. I'm reaching through the mic, giving you a high five. I know I'm a dork, but that's just how I roll. So today I want to focus on what we actually do with that.
02:36
data and information and we're going to talk about how to stand out and truly get seen so people can pay you for your products or services without burning out without hustling and without falling into that all or nothing mentality with Instagram. You know the one where you post consistently for a week or two you're really fired up and then it becomes too much maybe you don't get great results
03:03
You feel disappointed and then you disappear for a week. Then you come back feeling behind or frustrated or like you're just not good at this whole content marketing thing. And that cycle continues over and over again. I see this with a lot of people who come to work with me initially, where they are finally at a place where they're like, I just want to get off of that start stop cycle. I really want to commit.
03:30
to myself first and foremost, but also to my business and my community to show up more consistently and with more ease and clarity. I hope that that is you because this episode is gonna serve you in getting there. And if you know that you are in a place of needing that mentor and support, make sure you have joined the Hot Reels VIP wait list. It will take you 30 seconds to join. Hot Reels is my 12 month Instagram content lab. It is a high touch.
04:00
group coaching program where I teach you exactly how to grow your visibility and really get in front of more of your ideal clients on Instagram. The doors are closed for it right now, but you can head on over to Elizabethmarbury.com slash hot. That's Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R-B-E-R-R-Y.com slash hot. And that's where you will always see the most live information. If you are not already on the wait list, get your cute butt on there because
04:30
It'll take you less than 30 seconds and spots are extremely limited in this program. This last round I had only five spots available and all of them were taken. Hooray! So if you know that you want my support and this program sounds really interesting to you and it sounds like it could be the right next step for you in your business and your visibility.
04:51
make sure your name is on the Hot Rails wait list. You'll be the first to know when the door is open. And I offer some exclusive bonuses that are not available to the public that you definitely are gonna want to grab. head on over to elizabethmarbury.com slash hot, or make sure you're following me on Instagram at Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R-B-E-R-R-Y. Send me a direct message with the word hot, H-O-T.
05:17
And my robot assistant will send you the link to join the wait list. It takes less than 30 seconds and it would be so fun to see your name pop up on that list. So what I'm seeing across the board from my own Instagram accounts, I have a brick and mortar business and a service-based online coaching business and with all of my clients' businesses on Instagram is that the people who are thriving right now are yes,
05:44
posting consistently, but more importantly, they're posting with intention. They're not trying to be everywhere at once. They're focused. They have a sustainable weekly rhythm and they're building a marketing strategy that works not just in January when you're feeling fired up, but in February, March, April, during the summer when your kids are home and all the way through the rest of the year.
06:13
because Instagram success is a long game. And if you want real results, you have to be willing to play the long game. I talk about this a lot because I find for some reason, especially in the social media marketing space, business owners or creators who are trying to grow, they have this wrong impression that if they just do the right few tweaks in their content, they're gonna just.
06:40
get to 10,000 followers really quickly. Well, could that happen? Sure. If you have a video pop off, go mega viral in your niche, millions of views. Could that lead to thousands of followers? Yes, it can. Could you get to 10K very quickly? Of course you could. But the truth is that you don't want to bank on that, right? You want to be willing to have the mindset of playing the long game.
07:07
And when you understand that it is the long game, you will be much more likely to keep showing up even when there's no evidence that it's working. And that mindset of showing up even if there's no evidence yet that it's working is truly why I've achieved this level of success in my own business, going to six-figure brands and creating a business and a life that lights me up.
07:37
It's because I just kept going brick by brick. And speaking of the long game, today's actually a really special episode. And I know I've been talking a lot in this intro. I promise we're gonna get into the goods in a second, but I do wanna pause and just say, this is the 100th episode of season three. Season three is where I really narrowed the focus of this podcast to Instagram marketing. Before that, the show was more broadly about entrepreneurship and business growth. And I remember,
08:05
when I made that pivot a couple of years ago thinking, oh wow, this feels really scary to go super niche, but I'm so glad I did. I focused because it's exactly what I teach you, right? Like when you're too all over the map, people don't know what you do, right? But when you choose a clear focus and really own it, that's how you become known as an authority and a thought leader in your space. This podcast,
08:34
has really grown a lot over the past couple of years because of that clarity and because of you. So thank you so much for being here, for listening, for sharing the show and trusting me as a guide in this space. It truly means the world to me. Okay, so let's get into how do we stand out without burning out? Let's first talk about what not to do and that is posting generic content.
09:04
Generic content doesn't stand out, which actually creates a huge opportunity if you are willing to be specific. And here's what I mean by generic content. Five tips for growing your business. Monday motivation, how to be more confident. Basically surface level advice that anyone in your industry could post. These aren't wrong.
09:34
but they are forgettable. And with more creators than ever sharing their expertise, the content that stands out is the content that makes people feel something. But here's what's happening that's even more interesting. There has been a massive shift toward what I call the storytelling revolution, okay? When people come onto Instagram, remember Instagram is social media, social.
10:02
They're craving connection. They're craving a sense of belonging. They're craving entertainment. The content that's working is real stories, like personal stories, specific experiences and really authentic moments, maybe a moment of failure or a moment that you thought this thing was gonna happen and something else happened, right?
10:29
The content that's breaking through right now isn't five ways to do X, it's here's what happened when I tried X and why it changed everything. Okay, so an example of this would be, let's say you are a fitness coach. Instead of saying five ways to stay consistent with your workouts, it becomes here's what happened when I stopped
10:57
following a strict workout plan and why it completely changed my results. And then what does that do? It's a storytelling hook. So you're telling a story of your own lived experience. It peaks the curiosity of the viewer. So they're like, okay, wait, so what did you do instead if you stopped following a strict workout plan? Like what changed? And it also speaks to that pain point of that person's ideal client. Maybe
11:27
the whole strict workout plan regimen doesn't work for them and their busy schedule, right? They need a flexible plan. You can hear how the difference between five ways to stay consistent with your workouts. The second one hooks us more. It calls out a specific pain point and it's a pattern interrupt, right? Because you're saying I stopped doing this thing and this completely changed everything for me. So you can go and run with that hook idea this week.
11:57
Here's what happened when I tried X and Y, it changed everything. That is the hook. Storytelling isn't new. It's actually the original form of marketing, right? It's a human form of communication that's as old as time itself. And that's a proven way to build trust and create emotional connection and memorably deliver a message.
12:24
And I'm really seeing this across all of my clients accounts. The posts that get shared and saved and actually convert followers into clients are the ones that either tell a story or are super specific in their messaging. They're personal. They make people feel seen. And remember, that doesn't need to be serious and emotional. That could be entertaining.
12:48
The entertaining reels that I love that crack me up make me feel seen and make me feel less crazy. Like I've been binging the ones recently about women moving through perimenopause and I'm just like, oh my gosh, thank you. I feel less crazy now that you made this joke about what it's like to be a woman dealing with perimenopause. So when I say make your people feel seen, sounds so serious, but remember you can have a lot of fun with your content. So the key insight here is people don't just want information anymore.
13:17
You know, they can just go Google it or use child GBT. They wanna feel something. They want connection. They want context and meaning behind what you're sharing. Now we can't have the conversation about how to stand out online without addressing the elephant in the room, which is AI, artificial intelligence, right? Because if we're talking about 2026 trends, we cannot ignore how AI is changing content creation. But here's my take.
13:44
AI should be your strategic thought partner, not your replacement. Okay? A lot of people, a lot of marketers are using AI in ChatGBT and it's leading to mediocre results. And that's because they don't yet know how to leverage this tool and I don't blame them. It's very new, right? I use ChatGBT daily in my business.
14:11
but I use a specific framework that I learned from Jeff Woods, who's the author of the AI Driven Leader, and he was a guest on my podcast a few weeks back. So we'll be sure to tag that episode in the show notes if you wanna go check it out. But he has this incredible framework called CRIT, C-R-I-T. And this framework completely changes.
14:36
how you're gonna use AI in content creation, in content strategy, in marketing and sales funnels. And honestly, everything in your business and life. One question you can ask yourself every day that you sit down and you work and you get stuck is, how can AI help me with this thing? And when I started using really deep diving into AI, it was a couple of years ago. And I remember it wasn't a part of my workflow at that time.
15:06
Like I had this post-it note on my desk of like, okay, how can AI help me do this thing? And it really helped me to remember that if there's something I'm struggling with, no matter how big or small, AI can help me through it. And the more you use it, the easier it becomes. Like anything else, you start to understand the power that is available to you through the use of artificial intelligence. So.
15:32
Let me teach you the crit framework. I'm not going to go too deep on this because I've done entire episodes and AI series on this podcast, but this framework is a game changer and it's called the crit framework. So C stands for context. Give AI the background it needs and this is where you have to be really descriptive and robust and side note whenever I'm working with AI I use the microphone. I use the microphone. I rarely ever type into AI.
16:02
unless I'm doing like a big copy and paste of like a podcast transcript, for example. But in general, when I'm going back and forth and I'm in the strategic thought leader seat and the AI is my strategic thought partner, I am speaking to it as if I was speaking to an assistant in the room or a CFO in the room or a mentor, right? Like that is literally how I use AI where it feels very intuitive for me and how I process things. I'm a verbal processor.
16:31
but it's also much quicker for me and I'm all about speed. So you give the AI as much context as possible for whatever task you want it to do or whatever you need help with, right? You're giving context. The R is role. You assign it a very specific role. I is interview. And you have the AI or charge to be asked you clarifying questions one at a time. So we can get full context and clarity as to
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all of the information it needs to pull from your human brain to create the thing that you need to create in a way that would be really unique and specific to you, your stories and your audience. And T is task. You give it a specific task, completed, right? You tell it what you need it to do. Okay, so I'm gonna use the framework and I'm gonna go back to that hook prompt I gave you earlier and tell you how you could use the crit framework.
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to run with this prompt because sometimes we get a prompt and we're like, wait, okay, I get it, but like, what would I plug into the blanks? Like how would I customize this for my business? So using the crit framework, you would say, hi, please help me to write a compelling hook that is really specific to me, my brand and will activate my ideal client.
17:56
And as I'm giving the context, by the way, if it doesn't know you, who you are, what your business, your ideal clients, it needs to know all of that. And my Chad GBT already knows all that about me, so I don't need to say it every time. But depending on how much you have used the AI or not, you will need to give it all of that information, right? So that's the context. The role, act as a content messaging.
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strategist and expert copywriter and storyteller who really understands my audience and my brand voice. So that was a role. Now interview me and ask me one question at a time up to three questions to gain further context and clarity so you can really write this hook from my lived experience. You answer all these questions and you say the task is here's what happened when I tried X.
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and why it changed everything. Knowing all of the information I just gave you give me 10 different ideas of how I can use that hook formula in my next reel. That is a very specific example of how you could use the Crip framework to write better hooks, write better captions, better emails, all of that. Because I've said it before and I'll say it again, AI is not going to replace you, but you may be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI. It is simply a tool.
19:22
So get on board, baby, if you're not on board yet and have fun with that crit framework. Shout out to Jeff Woods. Again, we'll be sure to tag our interview with him in the show notes. Another important piece to bring into this, how do we stand out conversation is that personal branding is non-negotiable. Now hang with me because you might be listening to this and you're like, I'm not the face of my company.
19:50
or I'm selling a product, so that's not me, but hang with me because I am going to fight for your attention now to understand the power of building a personal brand no matter what you're selling. In 2026, your company needs a face, a human face, okay? People don't wanna buy from faceless brands anymore.
20:15
Especially when they can't tell if your content was created by a human or AI. In this AI world and in this trust recession that we're in, we want to see real people. Like we want to hear real voices and connect with authentic perspectives. So whether you're a service provider or you have a product-based business, someone needs to be the face of your brand. Okay? It could be you, it could be someone on your team, it could be your customers' faces. You know, I'm thinking about
20:44
My Brick and Mortar Dance Studio, we work with engaged couples. So if you go to our feed, the face of our brand is our couples, right? We're showcasing them, we're showcasing their videos in the studio. And then I, as the CEO, I do get in our Instagram stories and I show up as the face of our company, because I know how important that is.
21:06
But it's not like our entire feed. I am the CEO of the company. I don't teach the dance lessons. I have a small team of instructors that does the delivery of all these dance lessons. It wouldn't make sense if all of our posts were just me talking. Engaged couples want to see other engaged couples doing the thing, taking the dance lessons, performing their first dance with confidence. So there's definitely nuance here. But I'm very aware that every brand
21:33
We want to know the CEO, we want to know the founder, we want to know the team, we want to know the mission, we want the humanness in the brand. That makes sense. Here's how this shows up practically on Instagram. Direct-to-camera reels, those simple raw videos where you're just talking to the camera, kind of like you're on FaceTime with someone, you're sitting in your car, maybe in your kitchen.
21:57
Maybe you're at the office, but it's that unpolished, authentic vibe that is performing incredibly well right now on Instagram. Instagram stories. This is where you can be even more behind the scenes and personal and show your process, show your mess, show the highs, the lows. Maybe the boring parts of your day that you're like, does anyone care about how the factory floor gets cleaned at night? Or I don't know why that example just came into my head, but something really specific.
22:25
People like to see the messy middle. They like to see the behind the scenes and those real moments. So Instagram stories, direct-to-camera reels, those are really simple and easy ways for you to show your face. And in a world where AI can create content, your humanity becomes your competitive advantage. So really lean into that. Do not hide behind your content. Think about how your human
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vibrance can come through. This brings me to something I'm really passionate about, which is that mission-led content. And we did talk about this a little bit last week, but I want to emphasize it again in this world of AI where there's this increase in mediocre content, right? Generic tips and advice. What can't be replicated is your mission, your values, why you started your business, your stories.
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your client stories, your customer stories, your personal why, right? Your reason for doing the work that you do. The most successful creators I know aren't just teaching tactics, they're really leading movements. They stand for something bigger than their products or services. And when you think about a brand that stands for something bigger than their products, Nike immediately comes to mind. Nike has
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been so successful, not just because they're selling the best shoe on the market, it's because they built a community and a movement. The enemy is the voice in your head that says quit, right? And Nike's motto is just do it. And they have all these different stories of athletes and empowering women and sports and being a trailblazer and just never giving up, never quitting. m
24:19
There's an energy, there's a mission. No matter how big or small your business is, you can create a mission for your brand too. You can think about what do we stand for and what are we against? Who do we wanna repel? Because your content shouldn't be for everyone. Your products or service probably isn't for.
24:46
everyone. If it is for everyone, sales might feel really difficult for you. And I remember one of my private clients is a burnout recovery coach for veterinarians. When she first started to work with me, she was speaking to all women, like high achieving women who needed to recover from burnout and stress. And in digging deep with her and doing the work with her, we really refined her niche.
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to veterinarians and vet med. Because she herself had been a veterinarian for 16 plus years, had loved it, but also went through extreme burnout, ended up in the hospital, went through a lot and made it out the other side and now wants to support other veterinarians to enjoy their work and find ways to heal from burnout on way deeper levels than just, oh, go take a self-care day, right?
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And when I was working with her in really refining her messaging and her content to be so much more specific, I remember there was a little point of fear, right? There's always that point of fear of, oh my gosh, what if I go too narrow? We all have our stories in our head about why it's too narrow. I remember when I was narrowing down to Instagram, I was like, well, but I know other things, right? I've been an entrepreneur for 15 years. I can help with.
26:11
email marketing or mindset. I can help with all these different pieces. I'm a very multi-passionate person, yet I took the leap and I really focused and I kept with the focus. I wasn't constantly pivoting. And my client who's really gone all in on focusing on veterinarians, she just landed a high ticket client with the funnel that I taught her.
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She had a carousel post a few weeks ago that went viral and brought her in followers and new leads. You know, this works when you work it, but you have to be willing to take a stand with your content and be really specific. Now I wanna pivot and talk about something that's not new, but it's more important than ever in 2026. And that is DM automation, direct message automation.
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So I am a huge fan of ManyChat. I use it for both of my brands. It's how I've grown my email list massively, how I've sold out multiple program launches using only my organic content. And here's how it works. You create content that offers something very specific, valuable, and you invite people in to comment a specific keyword that you have set up.
27:29
Right? When they comment this keyword on your content, they automatically get a DM with whatever link you want to send them. So this could be a link to join a wait list. This could be a link to your podcast or your shop or your application or your sales consult calendar, whatever it is, you got to think about your sales funnel or your goal with your Instagram content. But here's why this is so powerful in twenty twenty six. It connects your content to your
27:58
actual marketing funnel. And most creators are kind of stuck in what I call visibility purgatory. So they're getting like views or maybe even likes and comments and, or even they have a video that pops off and goes viral, but none of it really translates into email subscribers or leads or sales. And DM automation really bridges that gap. And I wanted to share that many chat just released a new feature
28:28
that has totally been a game changer for me and my clients. And that is that you can now automatically DM new followers with a welcome message and a valuable freebie if you want. So I've been testing this and it's still kind of new for me, but while not everyone opts in, it's been incredible for list building, right? So when someone follows me, they get a DM that says something like, hey, so glad you're here. I have a free Instagram visibility jumpstart kit for business owners.
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who want to get seen and paid on Instagram without ads, want me to send it over. And then they click, yes, send it over. And then you give them that free resource and then you can set up different funnels to follow up with them. You also don't have to send a link. You could use that initial DM to just invite conversations. So I think it's a really cool new feature. I'm seeing about 30 % of new followers are saying yes to this. Again, this is just my own personal research, but.
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It means that I'm constantly growing my email list on autopilot. And I love, love that because, know, remember you don't own your Instagram followers, you own your email list or your text list, right? So this strategy really helps you move people from the platform that you don't control to a list that you do control. And that absolutely needs to be top of mind as you think about your marketing strategy in 2026. If you have not yet signed up for many chat,
29:53
I have a free gift for you and it's not a public thing that they offer on their site. So listen up, make sure you're following me at Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R-B-E-R-R-Y on Instagram and DM me the keyword leads, L-E-A-D-S. And I will send you my little guide on how to close more sales in your sleep with DM automation. And in this guide, I give you one month of ManyChat Pro
30:22
totally free. So you can test this out for yourself, see how easy it is to set up. You can set up your first DM automation in less than 30 minutes. They make it very user friendly. You don't have to have any tech experience and I just cannot recommend it enough. So if you have not yet signed up for MiniChat with my link, you get a free month, which is really incredible. So make sure you DM me the keyword leads on Instagram if you want to grab that and sign up for MiniChat.
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ASAP so you can start driving more leads and sales with your content that you're already posting. Okay, so I know that was a lot. Let's take a deep breath. And to close it out, I just want to share here's three key takeaways from today's episode. One, generic content is out, okay? Story-driven, mission-led content creates connection and community that is in, my friend. So go for that, go deep on that.
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Second, your company needs a face. In an AI world, showing up authentically on camera is not optional anymore. Okay? It's essential for building trust. And next week, we're gonna talk more about the trust recession that we're in and what to do about it. Third,
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Don't sleep on AI. Now is the time to start using ChatGPT and AI as your strategic thought partner. And don't forget about playing with the Crip Framework by Jeff Woods. It is a game changer. And finally, always connect your content to your funnel with tools like DM automation so you can work smarter, not harder in 2026. If you're feeling overwhelmed, remember just take one piece, one thing from this episode.
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and go and implement it. Success goes to the implementers. And if you loved today's episode, be sure to share it with a business colleague or friend who is trying to figure out how to grow their business and visibility on Instagram in 2026 and beyond. I so appreciate your support. Thanks for hanging out with me today and I cannot wait to strut it with you next week. Thank you for listening to strut it. If you're ready to start leveraging Instagram to grow your business.
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then you're gonna wanna grab my free Monetize Your IG Guide, where you'll learn seven simple and proven ways to finally make money on Instagram. You can grab your guide at ElizabethMarberry.com slash freebies. That's ElizabethMarberry.com slash freebies to get my Monetize Your IG Guide. If you got some incredible value from today's episode,
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Be sure to leave a review and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. And I cannot wait to start it with you again next week.
