Kirsti Lang is a marketer and creator based in Cape Town. By day, she's a senior content writer at Buffer. By night, she's a podcaster and creator, cultivating an audience of ambitious marketers looking to level up their productivity, tech stacks, and careers.

In this episode, host Daniel and Kirsti Lang, content marketer at Buffer, explore data-driven Instagram strategies, focusing on content types, reach, engagement, and optimal posting times.

**Show Highlights:**

Introduction to Kirsti Lang (0:00-1:30): Kirsti introduces herself as a content marketer at Buffer, specializing in social media, productivity, and career growth.

Buffer's Data-Driven Approach (1:30-4:00): Kirsti explains Buffer's data-driven approach to understanding social media algorithms and helping users make informed content decisions.

Best Time to Post - Debunking the Myths (4:00-7:00): Daniel and Kirsti discuss common misconceptions about the "best time to post" and how Buffer's research offers a new perspective.

Reels vs. Carousels: The Reach vs. Engagement Dilemma (7:00-16:00): Kirsti reveals Buffer's findings that Reels offer the highest reach, while Carousels drive the most engagement (12% more than Reels, 114% more than single image posts).

Best Time to Post - The Data Revealed (16:00-24:00): Kirsti shares the best Instagram posting times (generally 3 PM-6 PM in the audience's time zone, specific times provided for each day), emphasizing their universal applicability.

Weekends vs. Weekdays - Is it Worth Posting? (24:00-28:00): Kirsti advises prioritizing weekdays (especially Monday and Friday) for posting over weekends due to higher reach.

The Importance of Content Quality (28:00-31:00): Kirsti stresses that high-quality content, including engaging hooks and authentic visuals, is crucial for success, even with optimal posting times.

Following Kirsti and Buffer (31:00-33:00): Kirsti shares her social media handles and encourages listeners to explore the Buffer blog.

Kirsti's Content Creation Setup (33:00-44:00): Kirsti describes her workspace and the simple tech she uses for video creation (Shure MV7 microphone, phone, budget tripod).

Video Editing Tools and Process (44:00-47:00): Kirsti discusses her end-to-end video editing process using CapCut and her plans to explore more advanced tools.

Find Kirsti online at:

Instagram: ⁠@itsmekirsti⁠

Buffer: ⁠Blog⁠

Read all the articles discussed in the episode:

⁠Data Shows Instagram Reels are Best For Reach — But Not Engagement⁠⁠

The Best Time to Post on Instagram in 2025: We Analyzed 2 Million+ Posts to Find Out⁠

Find me on ⁠Instagram⁠: ⁠@danielhillmedia⁠

Find me on ⁠TikTok⁠: ⁠@danielhillmedia⁠

Thanks for watching!

Jen Lehner is a digital marketing strategist, online course creator, and adjunct professor of digital marketing at Notre Dame College and Cleveland State University, founder of Jen Lehner Media, LLC, The Front Row and The Front Row Entrepreneur podcast. She is completely obsessed with sharing the wonders of digital marketing and online entrepreneurship with others.

You can find Jen online at:

The Front Row Flash Briefing: Amazon Alexa

Web: https://jenlehner.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejenlehner/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen_lehner

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Jenlehnermedia

(0:00) Intro: Host Daniel Hill welcomes listeners.

(1:00) Reels Trial Feature: Instagram's new feature lets users test reels for 24 hours before posting.

(4:00) Slow Time For Social Media News: The episode will recap 2024's social media highlights and predictions for 2025.

(5:00) Guest Jen Lenher: Digital marketing and systems strategist, host of The Front Row Entrepreneur.

(7:00) Favorite Moment of 2024: Jen: Australia's age limits on social media platforms. Daniel: The Timothy Chalamet look-alike contest promoted via flyers.

(15:00) Favorite New Instagram Feature: Jen: Collaborative posts. Daniel: Reels Trial and Broadcast Channels.

(18:00) Favorite New Tech: Jen: Ray-Ban smart glasses. Daniel: Orion glasses.

(26:00) Best TikTok Trend: Both: "Very mindful, very demure." Daniel: The "I’m looking for a man in finance" audio clip.

(30:00) Biggest Social Media Fail of 2024: Jen: X (formerly Twitter). Daniel: Lack of data security and managing multiple platforms.

(39:00) Favorite Social Media Account: Jen: Alli K Miller on Instagram and @shop.aif on TikTok. Daniel: Subway Takes and Beyond Meat on Threads. Both: Nutter Butter's viral TikTok campaign.

(48:00) Predictions for Social Media in 2025: Jen: Rise of organic content and community platforms, AI integration. Daniel: Creator burnout, YouTube Shorts growth, AI streamlining content.

(54:00) Predictions for Tech in 2025: Jen: Agentic AI, wearables, health monitoring devices. Daniel: AI integration for task management (booking, purchasing).

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In this episode, marketing guru Nycole Hampton shares insider tips on everything from identifying potential brand partners to crafting compelling outreach emails. Discover strategies for standing out in a crowded market and building lasting relationships that turn opportunities into deals.

Whether you're a seasoned influencer or just starting out, Nycole's insights will empower you to succeed in the ever-evolving world of influencer marketing!
Nycole Hampton is a marketing expert with 19 years of experience in the industry and 13 years of leadership experience. She has worked on brand teams for global agencies, focusing on influencer marketing and social media. She is also an adjunct professor who teaches influencer and social media marketing. In this episode, Nycole answers listener questions about influencer marketing and shares practical tips for success. The episode covers topics like:

● How to identify potential brand partners: Nycole advises creating two lists - a "realistic list" of brands you already use and a "dream list" of brands you aspire to work with.

● How to write effective outreach emails: She emphasizes the importance of personalization, highlighting your relationship with the brand, and offering creative ideas for potential campaigns.

● How to follow up with brands: Nycole suggests using seasonal moments as opportunities to re-engage and recommends offering value by sharing your recent successes or asking for feedback.

● How to price your services in a changing market: She encourages influencers to understand their value and build a case for their pricing, considering additional deliverables or collaborative approaches to address potential engagement concerns.
Nycole is a seasoned brand marketing leader with nearly two decades of experience in marketing and brand strategy, including thirteen years in leadership roles. Throughout her career, Nycole has cultivated a broad range of marketing expertise, overseeing brand marketing initiatives, including social media, influencer marketing, content production, integrated marketing and community engagement.
At her core, Nycole is a builder—of brands, in-house teams, global agency practices, marketing philosophies, content engines for owned, paid, and earned channels, full-funnel integrated campaigns, and more. Her passion is driven by identifying opportunities to evolve, collaborate, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful impact. Nycole specializes in leveraging brand and growth marketing tactics and content strategies to meet customers where they are in their nonlinear journey.
Throughout her career, Nycole has worked with clients and strategic partners such as ALDI, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Auntie Anne's, Barefoot Wines, Chicago White Sox, Impossible Foods, Kimpton Hotels, Microsoft, Milk PEP, New Zealand All Blacks, NFL, Rite Aid, Samsung, So Delicious, and USA Rugby.
With her extensive background in brand and integrated marketing and early entry into both social media and influencer marketing, Nycole is excited to continue navigating the ever-changing marketing landscape. She enjoys leveraging her experience to educate and inspire the next generation of marketers, serving as an active mentor and speaking at industry events.
Nycole received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Bowling Green State University.
Nycole and her dog ChaCha call Los Angeles, CA home. You can find her on LinkedIn and Threads.

[1:45-3:50] Identifying Potential Brand Partners & Crafting Outreach Emails

[3:50 - 6:40] Standing Out from the Crowd and Viewing Ideas as Opportunities

[6:40-9:35] Following Up with Brands and Offering Value Beyond Initial Pitches

[9:35-11:10] Pricing Strategies and Demonstrating Your Value to Brands

[12:45-17:25] Bonus Conversation: The Pressure to Appear "Professional" in Video Content

Enjoy the episode!

In this episode of the Instagram Stories Podcast, I interview Chelsea Bradley, a social media strategist, who shares insights about her journey and expertise. Chelsea discusses her background in journalism, her transition to social media, and her approach to copywriting.

We delve into topics such as crafting effective social media posts, the importance of being succinct, and strategies to stand out in a crowded market.

Chelsea also offers practical tips on improving your copywriting skills and ensuring your message resonates with your audience. Towards the end, Chelsea talks about her involvement with a local Little League's social media and the impact she has made. About Chelsea Bradley: Chelsea is a social media strategist and consultant who emphasizes the importance of community and a solid social foundation. Her approach to business and live is to lead authentically, solve problems, connect and make a difference. She has worked with 150+ brands and 25+ agencies for over 15 years and spends her free time at Little League, San Diego Padres games or on her boat on the Pacific photographic sharks, dolphins and whales.

Episode Highlights:

(1:26) Effective copywriting, encompassing captions and emails, aims to capture attention and convey messages succinctly, informatively, and occasionally with humor. (7:15) Differentiating oneself in a competitive market necessitates pinpointing and communicating unique qualities through copywriting. (7:54) This may involve specializing in a niche area or emphasizing a distinct selling point.

(12:26) A technique for discovering a unique voice and key messages is to engage in free writing without focusing on formatting. This process can help uncover authentic expression and messaging. (13:07) Every post should have a clear and deliberate purpose. Be it promoting a product, sharing an experience, or simply taking a break, the message should resonate with the intended audience.

Follow Chelsea online:

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chelsearhane

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chelsearhane

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chelsearhane

The Salty Shell Newsletter: TheSaltyShell.news

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In this episode of the Instagram Stories Podcast, I interview Joey Kushinski, co-founder of SmartPost App, about the features and benefits of the social media scheduling and content creation tool. Joey is a passionate business leader with a background in computer science, and co-founder of Smart Post App LLC. He is dedicated to improving productivity across social media platforms for Smart Post App's users. Smart Post App is a versatile platform that simplifies social media management for users. Available across iOS, Android, and the web, it streamlines the process of creating and scheduling content. Users can compose their posts within the app and seamlessly share them across multiple social media platforms. By allowing content creation at users’ convenience and strategic posting during peak engagement times, Smart Post App enhances productivity and audience interaction. In this interview, we discuss the origins of SmartPost App, its unique advantages compared to competitors like Buffer and Hootsuite, and how it helps users manage and schedule their social media posts effectively. Joey also talks about recent and upcoming features including image editing, AI integration, and YouTube Shorts support. Additionally, Joey shares his passion for drag racing and how technology intersects with this hobby.

Find Out More About Joey and the Smart Post App:

Smart Post App - https://smartpostapp.com/

Smart Post App Medium - https://medium.com/@smartpostapp

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/smart_post_app

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/pyraego

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Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Instagram Stories

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of influencer marketing and content creation with Lindsay Gamble, a leading consultant and advisor in the creator economy. From his early days as a hip hop blogger to mastering Threads and other social media platforms, Lindsay shares valuable insights on building a personal brand, staying ahead of industry trends, and creating content that resonates.

Lindsey Gamble is an influencer marketing and creator economy consultant, advisor, and speaker. Using his experience building influencer marketing programs for enterprise consumer brands and his deep understanding of the creator economy, he leads brands in entering new trends within the creator economy. He has previously worked with brands like PayPal, Tyson Foods, SharkNinja, Weber Grills, Fanatics, HotelTonight, Burt’s Bees, The Scott’s Company, and GoPro.

He also writes a weekly newsletter that breaks down creator economy news and trends, providing actionable insights for creators and brands. The newsletter was named one of the best marketing newsletters to subscribe to in 2024 by Buffer.

Lindsey's work and expertise have earned him recognition as a Top Voice in the Creator Economy by LinkedIn and a Top Creator Economy and Influencer Marketing Expert by Business Insider.

Quotes from this interview: "If you're passionate about something and you create content over time, you can create opportunities." "What I love about Threads is because it's connected to Instagram, you're able to still build off your Instagram presence, but it's another way to really share text-heavy content." On Threads: "You get those early adoptive benefits, but also you can fail early in some cases." "As a marketer, I think it's important to understand what the platforms care about so you can start creating content that leans into that." "I think most brands should be creator-first and think about those relationships." Follow Lindsey:

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lindseygamble_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsey-gamble/

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Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Instagram Stories

Cyndi Zaweski is an award-winning journalist and content strategist here to help you tell better stories. Her StoryCraft marketing framework gives founders a cohesive strategy to share their passions and expertise, using their story as the throughline between what they love and who they serve. She writes about the intersection of business growth and personal growth to inspire storytelling ideas in her community of more than 80,000 people online.

In this episode, Cyndi Zaweski, owner of StoryCraft with Cyndi, dives deep into the art of storytelling for solopreneurs and brands. Cyndi discusses the importance of storytelling beyond just answering why a business was started. She explains how a brand’s story is its personality and can be used to connect with the audience, make content engaging, and drive home a brand's mission.

Cyndi shares practical tips on finding and crafting your own story by looking at your life experiences and the common struggles you’ve faced. She emphasizes that every story needs tension or conflict to be compelling, using examples like her journey from being an uncomfortable news anchor to becoming confident on camera through consistent practice on Instagram Stories.

The episode also explores how individuals can position themselves as authorities without traditional credentials, by associating with experts and packaging valuable information effectively. Cyndi’s approach provides hope for aspiring content creators and entrepreneurs, showing that expertise is not just about having a degree but about experience and adding value.

Listeners will walk away with actionable insights on how to reframe their personal struggles into inspirational stories, and how to use these stories to build a strong, relatable brand presence. The conversation highlights the significance of consistency, vulnerability, and the willingness to learn and evolve in the process of storytelling.

Find Cyndi online at:

Website: www.cyndizaweski.com

Newsletter: www.cyndizaweski.com/newsletter

Short-Form Storytelling Course Waitlist: www.cyndizaweski.com/storytelling-course

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyndizaweski/

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Follow Me on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@danielhillmedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Instagram Stories