92: Overthinking Your Content? Here’s How to Build Confidence on Instagram – Part 2
In this episode, I go deeper into the visibility work we started last week. I explore two blocks that show up for every entrepreneur I know: imposter syndrome and perfectionism. These patterns often present as hesitation, overthinking, procrastination, or feeling like you need everything perfect before you show up online. I share how they show up in life and business, how they have shown up in my own journey, and how you can move forward with confidence even when doubts and fears are present. I also talk about the power of DM automation and how it keeps your business running even when you step away from your phone.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
[00:00] Why visibility work matters and why hesitation usually comes from deeper blocks
[00:28] Introduction to imposter syndrome and perfectionism
[00:59] My mission to help entrepreneurs get visible and monetize on Instagram
[02:07] How DM automation allows your content to drive leads while you are offline
[03:03] How keywords in comments or DMs trigger links and next steps automatically
[08:43] How imposter syndrome signals growth rather than weakness
[10:12] The emotional journey leading up to speaking at Wedding MBA
[12:42] Why imposter syndrome is a nervous system response, not a lack of skill
[13:10] Why the only path through it is action
[14:04] How perfectionism shows up through planning, delaying, and waiting
[15:00] How writing my book has challenged my own perfectionism
[20:30] Why sustainability matters more than hustling in every direction
Key Takeaways:
Imposter syndrome and perfectionism are not signs that you lack readiness. They are signals that you are growing.
You do not need to eliminate doubt. You need to learn how to move forward with it.
Confidence comes from taking action, not waiting for perfection.
Visibility and results come from consistency, not flawless execution.
DM automation helps your business continue to sell and serve while you rest or focus elsewhere.
Links Mentioned:
Try ManyChat Pro free for 30 days or by DMing the keyword LEADS on Instagram
Join the Hot Reels Waitlist: elizabethmarberry.com/hot. Get early access and bonuses when doors open in December.
A Truth You Need to Hear:
“Feeling like a fraud does not mean you are one. It means you are stretching into something new.”
S3 Ep92 Transcript: Overthinking Your Content? Here’s How to Build Confidence on Instagram – Part 2
00:00
I hope you're excited because today we're going even deeper into the visibility work we started last week. If you listened to part one, you already know how powerful it is when you finally understand the real reason you hesitate to show up online for your business. And today we're talking about the two visibility blocks that sneak up on literally every single entrepreneur and small business owner I know, even the ones who look wildly confident on the outside or on camera.
00:28
we're breaking down imposter syndrome and perfectionism. The sneaky thoughts that tell you you're not ready, you don't know enough, or you need to have the full plan before you even start. So if you've been holding back, hesitating, overthinking, or waiting for everything to fall into place before you show up, this episode is gonna give you the push and the clarity you need to move forward and get the results you're after. I hope you're excited. Let's go.
00:59
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 lead 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.
01:28
Let's dive in.
01:37
Welcome back to the show. Thank you for joining me for part two of this mini series on the four visibility blocks that are keeping you stuck and what to do instead so you can get more eyes on your business and attract more leads and sales with your content. Before we dive into the episode, I wanna take a quick moment to recognize that this episode is dropping the week of Thanksgiving. So if you are running a Black Friday deal, a Cyber Monday promo or a holiday sale,
02:07
or you're simply wanting to drive leads and sales from your content while you are offline, on vacation, or working in your zone of genius, I wanna give you a tool that will make your life a thousand times easier, and that is DM automation. You've heard me talk about it before, and I've done full episodes on this, and we'll link those in the show notes. But this is honestly one of the top reasons I love marketing my business on Instagram.
02:34
When you set it up the right way, your content can keep working for you and moving people toward a sale while you're completely offline. Like actually sitting at Thanksgiving dinner with your family and not checking your phone every five minutes. Doesn't that sound lovely? Here's how simple it is. You make a post, a reel, or even an Instagram story, and you give people a keyword to comment or reply with.
03:03
That magic keyword triggers your automated DM or direct message and they immediately get the link to what they're looking for. So whether that's your holiday discount code for your product or a link to book a consult or even your lead magnet if you're wanting to grow your email list, whatever your sales funnel is, this is one of the easiest ways to drive leads and sales
03:32
during busy seasons. And honestly, all year long, I use this tool. So let me give you a quick example of how you can use this strategy. You can record a quick Instagram story, and that could be your face on camera or just a video or picture with text on the screen. And you could share why you love what you do or showing kind of the behind the scenes of your offer, your product, your service, and then tell people to reply with,
04:01
your keyword. So let's say your keyword is shop now, all one word, and they'll automatically get the link to snag your deal. Let's say you own a jewelry boutique and you have this really special bracelet that is on sale just for Black Friday. You could talk about it and say, reply, grab it, and I will send you the link to purchase this.
04:28
bracelet, we only have 10 of these in stock first come first serve. It works, it's fast, and it lets you live your life. So that's an example of a story you could do. Those are really easy to do on a whim. You don't have to do a lot of editing. You don't need to have a lot of savvy Instagram skills to go and run and implement that strategy this week. And if you watch my Instagram stories, so first make sure you're already following me on Instagram at Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R. B-E-R-R-Y, I actually do quite a bit of selling in my stories, but it probably doesn't even feel like selling because of how I do it. And I essentially do that same formula I just taught you where I share something I'm actually doing in my day. Like I just got done doing a 90 minute Instagram audit with a new private client of mine. And here is what she was struggling with. And here are some things I helped her to fix.
05:25
to optimize her Instagram profile, to act like a magnet, to attract her ideal clients. If you are interested in getting an audit, reply to the story, apply, A-P-P-L-Y, and I will send over my application. That is the first step if you want to work with me. That's a great example of how I am bringing you in behind the scenes. I'm showing you the process of what I do, the results my clients get, and then I'm giving a clear call to action of what to do next. This works.
05:54
You cannot do it once and expect it to work. You need to be consistent and show up over time. But this strategy absolutely works and I love it. So if you don't already have DM automation set up in your business, I have a gift for you. Of course, hello, it's the holiday season. I have a little gift for you. You can try ManyChat Pro. So ManyChat, M-A-N-Y-C-H-A-T. That is the tool that I use for both my businesses and what I recommend to all of my clients.
06:24
You can try it out totally free for a full month when you use my link. Now this free month is not available publicly on their site. They created this offer just for my community and the link is inside the guide that I made for you. So here's how you can grab this link. Head on over to Instagram and DM me the keyword leads, L-E-A-D-S. Again, make sure you're following me.
06:52
at Elizabeth Marbury, otherwise I won't see that message come through. And I will send you a one page guide that shows you exactly how DM automation works, how to set it up. And inside that guide is my private link to try ManyChat Pro for free for 30 days. And just in case you're wondering, cause I was teaching about the strategy at a recent conference and people were concerned that it would be really expensive.
07:20
$15 a month to get started if you decide to do it. It is not a huge investment. To me, it's a total no-brainer. Definitely worth your time in learning it and setting it up if you're serious about really driving leads and sales with your Instagram content. We'll also drop the guide in the show notes below if that's easier for you to grab. This tool is a total game changer.
07:44
Especially right now when you want your business to keep driving leads and sales, but you probably want to take some time off to be with your family during the holiday season or travel or rest or whatever you want to do. So once you get the hang of it, you're going to use this tool year round and it's going to be a game changer for your strategy. So don't forget to DM me the keyword leads on Instagram and I can't wait to see you run with this. Last week we talked about the first two blocks that keeps so many entrepreneurs stuck when it comes to showing up online and that was
08:14
fear of judgment and self doubt. Today we're diving into the next two big visibility blocks that come up for pretty much everyone I've ever coached, including myself. We are talking about imposter syndrome and perfectionism. Both of these can feel so heavy, but once you understand what's really going on underneath them, everything starts to shift.
08:43
And I wanna start by saying these blocks aren't signs that you're not ready. They're actually signs that you're growing and expanding. So let's dig deeper into these two visibility blocks. Imposter syndrome. I wanna start with this one because it shows up really anytime you're about to step into a bigger room, a bigger opportunity, a bigger moment in your life.
09:12
And for some of us, it could be the first time that I tell you as a client of mine, I want you to record a direct-to-camera video where you are speaking straight to the camera. Dani, who is one of my Hot Rails clients right now, she's actually going to be coming on the show in a few weeks to share her story. She shares that when she first recorded a video of herself talking to the camera, she seriously wanted to throw up and she started to cry after she filmed it.
09:42
Sometimes we feel silly saying that, but it's true. Anytime we are getting pushed out of our comfort zone, imposter syndrome is going to poke its head up. And actually, I want to share something that happened to me just last week at Wedding MBA, which is a business conference that attracts over 7,000 wedding professionals from all over the world. And I was going to take the stage in the biggest room of my life. So I want you to picture this.
10:12
The room seats 1,000 people, okay? It's Wednesday afternoon and I'm speaking at four o'clock. I had spent the morning meeting a friend for quick coffee, practicing yoga in my hotel room, doing lots of deep breaths, having a nice shower. I had professional hair and makeup artists come to my room, which was just so fabulous. I was doing all the things. did a run through of my talk. I like to do a little rehearsal the day of.
10:42
I put on my bright hot pink dress, the one that I chose months ago, okay? So I'm doing all of the things that I need to to get myself centered and ready for this big moment. And I'm walking through the hotel lobby on my way to catch my Uber to the convention center. And out of nowhere, this little whisper shows up in my head. This is the wrong dress. It's too much. It's too bright.
11:12
It's obnoxious. People are going to think it's too loud, which is totally ridiculous because I planned that outfit down to the detail, right? And if you've seen my branding, it's very bright pink and obnoxious and in your face and bold. But this is how imposter syndrome works. It finds the tiniest crack and tries to slide in. So I'm in the Uber trying to breathe. And then I walk into the convention center and there are
11:42
thousands of people. It's loud, it's bright, it's Vegas. And honestly, I was feeling really overstimulated and my nervous system is lit up like a Christmas tree. And one of my speaker friends, Renee Dallo, stops me and says, are you okay? And I just burst into tears. Like not ideal with a full hair and makeup situation, but that was my reality. And the thoughts coming up were like this.
12:12
Can I actually do this? Am I the right person? Are my words, my thoughts, my experiences good enough? Do I know enough? Which, hello, is imposter syndrome. It sneaks in right at the moment when you're about to step into something new. And that's what imposter syndrome really is. And what I want you to understand about it is that feeling like a fraud
12:42
doesn't mean you are one. It means your nervous system is noticing that you're stretching and pushing your edges. And it's not a sign that you're unqualified. It's a sign that you are actually right on schedule. You're actually where you need to be. And so I got on that stage and I did it scared. Of course, once I got going, it was awesome.
13:10
The nerves left my body. I was in my flow. I was with the audience. I was connecting. I was in my zone of brilliance. But it was that anticipation of getting there that I had to really push through and move through those feelings of discomfort. And I got incredible feedback when I was done. It was a very thrilling and personally fulfilling situation for myself.
13:35
And what I want you to take away from that story is that the only way out of imposter syndrome is through action. You can't think your way out of it. You have to do your way out. You have to take action alongside of those feelings. All right, let's move on to the next visibility block, is perfectionism. I know this one so well. Perfectionism shows up oftentimes as overthinking,
14:04
over preparing, over planning your content. I'll start when the kids are finally in school or I'll start when we have enough in savings energy. And I'll be honest, this has been showing up for me again recently. As many of you know, I have a big dream on my heart to write a book this year. And I hired a book coach because I always tell you if you wanna do something new, hire someone who has already done it and can guide you.
14:31
Right, hire the coach or the mentor who's done what you wanna do and they can shortcut your learning curve. So I'm walking the walk, talking the talk, I'm doing that, I hired the book coach. But even with that support, I've been frozen. And it's not because I don't want to write the book. It's not because I don't have enough ideas. It's because a part of me wants the entire map before I even take the first step.
15:00
I want the structure, the chapter list, the final message, all of it. And every time I sit down to write, my brain goes, not yet. You don't see the whole picture. You're not ready. That's perfectionism. And it's sneaky because it pretends to be planning or being thoughtful. But really, it's keeping me stuck and it's keeping me from starting. And my book coach keeps reminding me.
15:29
You don't build a book from the outline backwards. You build it from your stories forward one chapter at a time. Right? Like you follow the Bride of Crumbs. You start writing. It sounds like I haven't written any of it. I have, but it's been a slog for me. I'm still in that place of resistance and blockage around it. And I know I'm going to get through it, but I'm being vulnerable and real in telling you this. And
15:57
What I've come to learn about perfectionism is that it's really, again, your nervous system trying to keep you safe, loved, approved of, accepted, and it whispers that if you don't get it right, something bad might happen. Okay? Which I'm not a therapist, but what I've discovered in my work and in the work with my own therapist and in coaches and mentors, a lot of times our perfectionism is usually
16:26
traced back to childhood patterns or wounds. And so what I want you to hear today is that it's not that you're lazy or that you're unmotivated or that you don't want it enough, right? Perfectionism is a protective response and protection often shows up as procrastination, okay? So I'm curious as you're listening to me telling the story of
16:55
writing the book, if some of you feel, wow, that's what I've been doing with my Instagram content, is I am really trying to perfect it or I'm really telling myself, I just have to see this 12 month strategy planned out before I do my first post, right? And in terms of how we move through this, the answer is actually simple, but it's not easy. And it's that you have to take imperfect action.
17:25
Not the next 10 steps all at once, just the next single step. The lead domino today. What is that thing? Post it, record it, write the messy first draft, let it be what it is. And then this is key. You have to take care of your nervous system afterward. You have to breathe through that urge to delete it.
17:53
edit it, fix it, restart it. And honestly, that's where the real growth happens. I'll never forget one of my clients had recorded this reel and she felt like it was a little silly for her. She's a real estate agent and she was like, I need to be professional, but this is totally my personality and I want to show this side, but it feels a little scary to show it. She said that that reel sat in her drafts folder for at least a week before she had the courage to post it. And even after she posted it, she wanted to just
18:22
go and delete it. And what's funny about this is that one video did 10 times better than her previous 10 videos. And she had to really take care of herself in ushering herself through that uncomfortable moment, right? This is what I wish I knew when I first started my entrepreneurial journey, and I hope it's a message that will serve your heart today. You don't have to get rid of fear, doubt,
18:51
imposter syndrome or perfectionism, those four visibility blocks that we've discussed. You don't have to fix these parts of you. They're not flaws. They're indicators that you are expanding. You get to move with them. You get to build self-trust by taking action, even when the fear is loud.
19:19
You get to be relentless about the life and business that you want. People see me on Instagram now and think, oh, she must have endless time or she's just naturally good on camera or she just is so confident as a speaker. No, I have two kids, two businesses, a full life. The only reason I've built what I have is because I have been consistent even when I was scared, even when I doubted myself, even when the perfectionist in me wanted to wait.
19:49
and take it down and wait until I had it all figured out. Your visibility grows through action. Your confidence grows through action. Your business grows through action. One step at a time is enough. And I don't know about you, but this time of year, sometimes I start to get really overwhelmed.
20:17
by all the things I feel like I should be doing for the holidays and the sales and the new year and making plans for 2026. And can we just pause and take a deep breath?
20:30
and ask ourselves, what is that one lead domino I can pay attention to and focus on in my business today? Can that be enough for you? I hope so. Because to be successful on Instagram and in business and in life, we have to create sustainability. Otherwise we will burn out, right? So my invitation to you is to focus on that lead domino and really
20:58
take action alongside any of those fears or doubts or thoughts that you're not where you need to be. We don't need to get rid of those thoughts. They're there to keep us safe and protect us, but we get to move alongside them. We get to move forward with them next to us and we get to be in the driver's seat. If today's episode hit home for you, just know that you're not alone.
21:24
and you don't have to feel ready to start showing up, you just have to begin. And if you are wanting more support in building your visibility and in driving more leads and sales with your organic content, I would love to support you. Make sure your name is on the wait list for Hot Reels, my 12 month Instagram content lab. You can DM me the keyword hot, H-O-T on Instagram and my robot assistant will send you the place to join.
21:52
Inside Hot Reels, gosh, we have such a special and intimate group of small business owners and creative entrepreneurs who are wanting to grow their visibility and really refine their content strategies. Inside our group, you get live group coaching calls with me. You get my eyes on your content every single week as you are learning and implementing one small step at a time. It is not like drinking from a fire hose.
22:17
We get to move forward step by step and you won't even recognize your business 12 months from now. One of my clients inside Hot Reels just posted today that one of her reels is at over 9 million views. It is fire inside our community and you definitely want to check it out. Make sure your name's on the wait list. You are the first to know when the doors open. We are opening the doors very soon.
22:43
So DMing the keyword hot, H-O-T on Instagram. Make sure you're following me at Elizabeth Marberry, M-A-R-B-E-R-R-Y. And we'll also drop the link to check out the program down in the show notes. I am sending you so much love today. I hope today's episode served you, your heart, your business. And I can't wait to start it with you next week.
23:06
Thank you for listening to Strut it. If you're ready to start leveraging Instagram to grow your business, 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.
23:32
If you got some incredible value from today's episode, 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.
