Good Content with Shannon McKinstrie

We’re kicking off 2025 with a commitment to going back to basics and actually being excited about the content we are creating. It’s more important than ever to share your stories and show up as your true self to truly connect with your audience. I’m also sharing my thoughts on how the social media landscape has changed in recent years, exploring the shift away from toxic one size fits all advice and focusing more on transparency and integrity. Let's navigate this new year together and create content that's not just effective, but also enjoyable!In this episode we’ll be covering:How the social media landscape has changed since 2020 and even during 2024We’re ditching the toxic marketing tactics, there is no space for the stressful marketing advice that has become widespread in recent years.The return to fundamental marketing principles like transparency, integrity, and honesty.Applying the 4 H Method to your content strategy this year.Diversifying your content with a mix of personal stories to build a genuine connection with your audience.A peek at the big plans coming in 2025!Links from this episode: Grow Your Gram GuideThe 4 H Method MasterclassA Week of ContentEpisodes you might have missed:Episode 039: Transform Your Business in 2025: Top Tips and Trends for Good ContentEpisode 040: Build More Connections with Everyday MomentsEpisode 041: Let’s Make Content Creation the Easiest Thing on Your To Do ListEpisode 042: Your Simple B-Roll Can Become Easy Reels That Actually ConvertSend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

I have some EPIC reels to share with you today as we send off 2024 and head into 2025. I hope you did your homework from last week’s episode, because we are taking content creation seriously in the new year, and it’s going to be the easiest year of content creation yet. Now that we're making content part of our daily routine, let's talk about what you’re going to do with all the B-roll you’ve been capturing over the last week and how to turn it into simple and engaging reels.In this episode we’ll be covering:Skipping the fancy edits to embrace a minimal set up to document daily activities.Three different types of text for B-roll: Lists, Random Thoughts, the “Book Reel”Repurposing your reels and carousels without hitting copy and paste.Creating habits and routines that make it easy for you to capture relatable content throughout the day.Examples of successful reels that are currently going viral with simple B-roll videos of mundane activities.Links to reels in this episode:Reel #1: Toddler SnackReel #2: Productivity Coach Habit StackingReel #3: Podcaster with HeadphonesReel #4: Workout, Being UncomfortableReel #5: Hotel ContentReel #6: Logo's I redesignedReel #7: How Your Dinner Should FeelOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 017: Turn a Simple Idea into a Reel People Will LoveEpisode 037: Personalization is the Key to Your 2025 Content StrategyEpisode 039: Transform Your Business in 2025: Top Tips and Trends for Good ContentEpisode 040: Build More Connections with Everyday MomentsEpisode 041: Let’s Make Content Creation the Easiest Thing on Your To Do ListSend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

As 2024 wraps up, discover how to make content creation enjoyable and manageable. Dive into tips for hiring local talent to enhance your social media strategy. Learn to prioritize your content with effective systems and embrace authentic storytelling that resonates with your audience. Explore how to seamlessly capture everyday moments and simplify video editing. Remember, it’s not about creating perfect content; it’s about being genuine and making content creation a breeze!

I’ve said this before, but the reason my business is where it is today, is because of posting stories on Instagram. In the early days of my business (I’m talking 500 followers!) Instagram stories catapulted my growth, it was where I showed up the most, but it was also where I was most confident showing up. So let’s jump in to how you can start capturing those day to day moments and turn them into experiences on stories. It literally takes just moments to create and you could make a sale, gain a new follower, or build a connection with someone, even if showing up on stories does not come easy for you.In this episode we’ll be covering:The types of stories I shared in the early days of my business and examples of what I am sharing now.The anatomy of an Instagram account and how it represents your signage and storefront.How to reset your stories by taking breaks and letting them expire! Take advantage of this extra boost to your views.It’s normal for viewers to fall off after the first three stories, so front load those first stories!You want about 7% of your following to be viewing your stories, and you may see an extra boost in views when you are documenting a vacation or something fun!I’ll walk you through some examples of stories I share day to day and the different types of content I like to share in my stories.Every single day, try to put something in your stories that have nothing to do with your business but everything to do with you, your team, or your store. Should you be sharing your reels to your stories?!?Remember, people LOVE to follow PEOPLE and want to see your experiences!Other episodes you might have missed:Episode 002: Uncomplicating Social Media through Simple ContentEpisode 007: Relatability in Everyday Content with Instagram Stories and ReelsEpisode 012: Ditching the Toxic Advice on InstagramEpisode 022: Boost Your Instagram Engagement With These Simple StrategiesEpisode 032: We All Start at Zero: Embrace Storytelling to Connect with Your CommunitySend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

What an amazing year it has been! There’s a lot to unpack in this episode, I’m sharing a major milestone in my business journey and we’re talking about ethics in marketing. We’ll also look at current viral reels trends that you’ll be seeing more of in 2025.In this episode we’ll be covering:A behind the scenes look at hitting business milestones!Staying true to who you are and standing up for what you believe in.Ethical marketing practices and how things are changing.Current trends you’ll want to pay attention to when creating content.Links to reels in this episode:Reel #1: How to MeasureReel #2: Bec StewartReel #3: Dryer Sheet TricksOther episodes you might have missed:Episode 016: Overcome Social Media Overwhelm with Timeless Marketing StrategiesEpisode 027: Let Your True Personality ShineEpisode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your NicheEpisode 037: Personalization is the Key to Your 2025 Content StrategySend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

Let’s be honest, it’s the holidays and you do not have the time to stress about what to post on Instagram this week. When used correctly, ChatGPT can be an incredible tool in your business, but instead of allowing ChatGPT to write boring, generic content for you, use it for inspiration and add your own unique twist. It isn’t always easy to know exactly what to ask ChatGPT, that’s why I’m sharing three prompts to help you get started. We’ll discuss how to ethically use ChatGPT in your content, with real life applications to spark your creativity, so you can start creating content right now. In this episode we’ll be covering:Why it’s risky to use ChatGPT to create content for you and how to use it responsibly.The different ways to use the content prompts and hooks I share with you..Three ways to use ChatGPT responsibly in your content: Inspiration and Ideas, Content Repurposing, Tweaks and EditingQuick tips for using ChatGPT to help with market research and understanding your audience better (PS: You still need to do your own market research!)How to use ChatGPT for inspiration and ideas while adding your own unique spin. Spice up your content, take your existing content and use ChatGPT to make tweaks and edits.Reels in this episode:Hawaii Reel ​​Other episodes you might have missed:Episode 014: Why Creating Specific Content Leads to Higher EngagementEpisode 035: Turning Inspiration into Unique and Original ContentEpisode 036: Maintaining Your Brand Identity When Everything is TrendyEpisode 037: Personalization is the Key to Your 2025 Content StrategySend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

As we look toward 2025, the focus is on making content more personal and relatable. The shift from generic educational material to authentic storytelling is explored, emphasizing why sharing personal experiences resonates deeply with audiences. Examples of successful viral content highlight the effectiveness of connecting on a personal level. Listeners also receive tips on creating timely, engaging content that incorporates humor and personal anecdotes, ensuring their strategies remain relevant and impactful.

In my eleven years of managing and teaching social media, I’ve actually never been asked this question before… and it was a good one. The question was: “with all the trends and the tips and the tricks out there, how do I make sure I'm not losing my identity in my content?” Here’s the thing, everyone keeps saying nothing is original anymore and yes, that is a problem, especially with the rise of AI, but remember, your content needs to be you. So let’s talk about how to preserve your brand identity when creating content.In this episode we’ll be covering:Data based approaches vs. quick fixes when it comes to your content strategy.How the quick fixes are where people really struggle with losing their identity.Leaning too heavily on AI and the impact it has on your content and audience.Going back to basics when it comes to creating content.Using the helpful tips you see online while still keeping your brand identity in it.Other episodes you might have missed:Episode 014: Why Creating Specific Content Leads to Higher EngagementEpisode 016: Overcome Social Media Overwhelm with Timeless Marketing StrategiesEpisode 027: Let Your True Personality ShineEpisode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your NicheEpisode 035: Turning Inspiration into Unique and Original ContentSend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

This is a really important topic that I wanted to talk about with you today and that is how to use inspiration when it comes to creating content. We’ll dig into the ethics of it all, including scrolling for inspiration, leveraging ChatGPT, and giving credit where it is due. We’ll also talk about using your own unique experiences to tailor your content and messaging to your niche - and one trick you should know about when it comes to being inspired.In this episode we’ll be covering:Leveraging ChatGPT for ideas and repurposing content. The ethics of inspiration, AI, and original content ideas. Long term strategy of tailoring your content and brand messaging.Navigating the current digital content landscape.Sharing your unique perspective and experiences when creating.Other episodes you might have missed:Episode 024: Is Storytelling the Missing Piece in Your Content?Episode 027: Let Your True Personality ShineEpisode 029: Tailoring Successful Reel Techniques to Your NicheEpisode 030: Attract New Followers with Talk to Camera ReelsEpisode 031: Navigating Content Creation When Everything Feels OverwhelmingLinks to reels  in this episode:Reel #1: The look says Anthropology but the receipt says...Reel #2: Five days of viral hooks for your reelsReel #3: Visual clutter is more exhausting than we realizeReel #4: Controversial things I say as a registered dieticianSend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!

Let’s dive into THE hot topic that's been stirring up the social media world. Instagram's head, Adam Mosseri, recently confirmed something many of us suspected—video quality on the platform dips when engagement drops. So, let’s discuss the importance of creating engaging content to keep your video quality high and your reach wide. I'll share some real-life examples of viral reels and why human connection in your content can make a huge difference. In this episode we’ll be covering:Why Instagram prioritizes content with high engagement metrics.The importance of creating specific, engaging content for reels.Content longevity and how older content with good engagement remains visible.Adapting marketing strategies to changing trends while the core message stays the same. Maintaining personal and relatable content to keep the human connection.Using specificity to call out your audience instead of creating generic content.Other episodes you might have missed:Episode 005: Create Shareable Content to Increase Your Reach with the 3 S’sEpisode 010: Turning Testimonials into Engaging Content for More SalesEpisode 014: Why Creating Specific Content Leads to Higher EngagementEpisode 019: Convert Viewers to Followers with the “That’s Me” ReelEpisode 022: Boost Your Instagram Engagement With These Simple StrategiesLinks to reels  in this episode:Reel 1: Apps and spicy margsReel 2: Orders books to support your career growthReel 3: High protein game day dipReel 4: Steal my dinners for this weekSend a message!If you use the send a message option above, be sure to include your email address if you would like a reply! (Please allow 3-5 business days for a response) Join me in the Reels Lab! Love this conversation? Make sure to follow and subscribe so you never miss an episode. Connect with me on Instagram!