

The Instagram Stories Podcast
Daniel Hill - DanielHillMedia
The Instagram Stories is a 30 minute podcast that delves into the world of Instagram and the secrets to success on the platform. Each episode features a different Instagram expert, who shares their knowledge and expertise on topics such as growing your following, creating engaging content, and using Instagram for business.
From social media managers to influencers and business owners, our guests bring a wealth of experience and insight to the show. They'll discuss their personal success stories, share tips and tricks, and offer advice on how to make the most of your time on Instagram.
From social media managers to influencers and business owners, our guests bring a wealth of experience and insight to the show. They'll discuss their personal success stories, share tips and tricks, and offer advice on how to make the most of your time on Instagram.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 4, 2024 • 27min
Episode #73 - Nycole Hampton Teaches Pitching Brands for Influencer Marketing
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!

Oct 10, 2024 • 30min
Episode #72 - Chelsea Bradley and Mastering the Art of Succinct Messaging
In this conversation, social media strategist Chelsea Bradley shares her transition from journalism to mastering concise messaging. She emphasizes the art of crafting effective social media posts that capture attention and resonate with audiences. Chelsea discusses how to differentiate oneself in a crowded market by highlighting unique qualities through strategic copywriting. Listeners gain practical tips for improving their messaging and learn about her volunteer work with a local Little League's social media, showcasing the impact of authentic community engagement.

Sep 26, 2024 • 25min
Episode #71 - Joey Kushinski from Smart Post App - The Scheduling Tool with AI Built In
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
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - The Instagram Stories

Sep 6, 2024 • 24min
Episode #70 - Lindsey Gamble on Mastering Influencer Marketing and Threads
Lindsey Gamble, a leading consultant in the creator economy, discusses his journey from hip-hop blogging to becoming a top advisor in influencer marketing. He shares key insights on building a personal brand and navigating industry trends. Lindsey dives into the dynamics of influencer marketing, offering actionable strategies for creators and brands. He highlights his enthusiasm for Threads as a new platform for engagement, emphasizing the benefits of authenticity and creativity in content creation.

Aug 20, 2024 • 33min
Episode #69 - Cyndi Zaweski of StoryCraft with Cyndi on Crafting Your Brand's Story
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/
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - The Instagram Stories

Aug 8, 2024 • 29min
Episode #68 - Kristen Bousquet and the Anti-Pitch Method Guide to Brand Partnerships
In this episode, we chat with Kristen Bousquet, a creator monetization coach who helps content creators and influencers build profitable businesses. Kristen shares her journey from starting her business during the pandemic to creating a thriving membership community that combines the intimacy of one-on-one coaching with comprehensive educational resources.
Kristen started her company after selling her first business for $100k at 25 years old, and since then has been able to generate over $450k in her creator business as a microinfluencer. Soulcialmate’s goal is to educate entrepreneurial creators on how to turn their online influence into a profitable, self-sustaining business through "Soulcial Scoop" podcast, creator membership ("Soulcial Suite"), and coaching programs all while keeping the "soul" in "soulcial media".
We dive into her podcast, Social Scoop, where she discusses social media news and offers actionable tips for creators. Kristen also shares her innovative "anti-pitch" method for connecting with brands—focusing on
relationship building over cold pitching. She offers insights on identifying your unique value proposition and why it's crucial for standing out in a crowded space.
Kristen's passion for animal rescue also shines through as she discusses her experience fostering dogs and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of animals.
Whether you're a seasoned creator or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration to help you take your content creation journey to the next level. Don't miss it!
Timestamps:
[00:00] Introduction to Kristen Bousquet
[02:15] The origin of Kristen's membership community
[08:30] Overview of the Social Scoop podcast
[12:45] When to start monetizing your content
[17:00] The "anti-pitch" method explained
[30:00] Defining your unique value proposition
[41:20] Applying the anti-pitch method to podcasting
[45:30] Kristen's involvement in animal rescue and fostering dogs
Links:
Learn the Anti-Pitch Method with This Guide
Follow Kristen on Instagram: @KBOUSQ
Check out Kristen's podcast Soulcial Scoop: Listen here
Learn more about Kristen’s membership community: Join here
Thank you for listening!
Enjoyed this episode? Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
Want more content like this? Check out my Social Media News Podcast - The Instagram Stories

Jul 17, 2024 • 38min
Episode #67 - Jenn Herman, Author of Instagram for Dummies, Shares Reels Strategies for 2024
Jenn Herman, a social media consultant and globally recognized Instagram expert, shares valuable strategies for managing Instagram effectively. She emphasizes the importance of shares and saves for boosting engagement. Jenn discusses practical tips for creating impactful Reels and advises on a streamlined content strategy that includes three key post types weekly. With insights on time management for busy users, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to enhance your Instagram presence and foster growth.

Jul 10, 2024 • 30min
Episode #66 - Amanda Marochko from Buffer and the Threads Integration
Amanda Marochko is a Staff Product Manager at Buffer, responsible for maintaining and expanding Buffer's core product offering through channels and integrations. Prior to Buffer, she was the International Growth Lead (EMEA) at Shopify. Outside of work, she runs a non-profit for women in tech. She is originally from Ottawa, Canada and currently based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
In today's episode, we talk about Buffer - how social media managers and content creators can use it - plus the recent Threads integration Buffer just launched.
Follow Amanda's journey online using the follow links:
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Marochko
Threads - https://www.threads.net/@marochko
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/marochko
Find Amanda (and the rest of the Buffer team) at Buffer.com
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
News Podcast - The Instagram Stories

May 14, 2024 • 26min
Episode #65 - Steve Johnson and the The Out of Touch Adults’ Guide to Kid Culture
Stephen Johnson is a Staff Writer for Lifehacker where he covers pop culture, including two weekly columns “The Out of Touch Adults’ Guide to Kid Culture” and “What People are Getting Wrong this Week.”
Find Stephen at Lifehacker.com
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia
News Podcast - The Instagram Stories

May 6, 2024 • 34min
Episode #64 - Lia Haberman and ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Show Notes:
Lia Haberman is a social media advisor and educator. She consults for brands such as Google, Robert Half and AT&T; runs social workshops for groups such as Macy's Style Crew and the Costume Designers Guild; and teaches social media marketing and influencer marketing at UCLA Extension. She’s been featured on NPR’s Planet Money and quoted in
outlets such as in The Washington Post, Business Insider and Ad Age. And every week, she writes a newsletter for 25K+ marketers and creators called ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) to keep everyone up to speed.
Follow Lia:
ICYMI Newsletter (Substack)
Twitter
Threads
Instagram
News Podcast - The Instagram Stories
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts
Follow Me on Instagram: @danielhillmedia


