What if social media wasn’t your only option?

Breaking News: The secret to social media growth in 2025 is… the same tired advice you've already ignored.

Show up. Post daily. Be social. Engage. Comment.

Then come the recycled ‘expert tips’—master the algorithm, hop on the latest Reel trend, and chase your own tail indefinitely.

It’s endless advice.

Why does it sometimes feel so inauthentic?

We all know we have to be on social if we want to build a business, but there’s something missing—something that rarely gets talked about.

The Social Media Dilemma

Social media is a necessary reality for anyone wanting to build their own thing. But people tell me all the time they hate it.

I get it. I hate it, too. I’m not supposed to admit this, but after digging in and really being consistent for the last several weeks? Oof. I kinda forgot, but it’s hard work.

And it's not just the work...it's the feeling you get after being on there. Ick.

When I started my audience building journey it was 2016. And I thank my lucky stars for this crazy decision: I decided to launch a podcast at the same time.

Back then, podcasts weren’t what they are today. I wasn’t even a podcast listener—I just knew I wanted to shine a spotlight on these people I had found who were building careers they loved. Since I had never done that (as a musician), I just HAD to know how they did it. What made them tick. The steps they took. It just made sense to do dig in and find out straight from the sources in an interview setting.

I was fascinated by the people I had on as guests. These weren’t just artists; they were founders. They were solving real problems, building names for themselves, and making an impact.

And each time I got on a call to interview a guest, we got to create this cool experience together.

Over time, I learned how to guide and craft the conversation to build a message that could be remembered after listening to the episode, so the listener could walk away with something valuable.

What I didn’t realize at the time was: I was really onto something bigger than just a podcast.

I was unlocking a completely different way to grow an audience and connect with future clients—one that felt natural, engaging, and real.

Why Social Media Feels Gross for So Many People

I want to make sure I say that while the podcast organically got traffic and audience, it wasn’t a replacement for social media. I still had to post on social media at the same time to promote the podcast and build authority there, too.

As I did that, I learned to write engaging posts that sparked comments and conversations. That helped promote the podcast as well and helped me to become known in the niche.

But it was a grind. And it still is today.

The rules of the game haven't changed all that much. Sure, there are new trends like video, reels, and even entirely new apps that weren't around back then.

And the social media experts and gurus still said the same things that they're saying today:

Show up. Post multiple times a day.
Comment on big accounts.
Engage constantly.
Be seen.
If it’s not working, iterate.
Keep at it, even when it feels like no one is paying attention.

And while all of that is true, this approach often feels transactional, exhausting, and fake.

There’s a reason people resist it: It doesn’t feel real.

Social media is overwhelming. It’s constant dopamine. It’s easy to get sucked in and feel lost.

But here’s the paradox: Social media is both the best and worst thing for creators. It’s full of opportunity, yet exhausting. It’s free, yet it costs you time, energy, and sanity. You need it to build your own thing—but on someone else’s platform.

Which has been making me wonder, how do you show up in a way that feels good? And how do you stand out in a space that feels super oversaturated?

Then I thought...what if I had the answer in 2016??

I’ve noticed something over the last 10 years: we live in a world where people barely talk anymore.

We text instead of call. We avoid picking up the phone. We order food through apps.

And yet—when we do talk to someone, we feel great.

It’s like working out. Getting to the gym is hard, but once you’ve done it, you feel amazing.

And that’s what I unknowingly tapped into in 2016.

Voice.

The Real Key to Growth: Conversations and Voice

When I started my podcast, something different happened.

Podcasting wasn’t just content creation—it was an art form. A real-time exchange. Sorta like what I did as a musician. But better - because it was a space where my thoughts and ideas evolved through conversation.

And the biggest, most unexpected benefit?

People felt like they knew me before they ever interacted with me directly. They told me that all the time.

This has happened in my cohorts, in guest expert roles, and even in casual conversations outside of social media.

In 2025, voice matters more than ever.

Social media is more crowded, more saturated, and more inauthentic than ever.

But voice—through conversations, podcasts, and audio content—creates trust and real connection faster than anything else.

The world is shifting. AI-generated content is everywhere, and people are craving human connection. You can read content all day long, but nothing builds a bond like hearing someone’s voice.

Rethinking How to Show Up Online in 2025

Yes, you need to post and show up. That hasn’t changed.

But if social media feels gross, it’s time to rethink how you engage.

Instead of forcing engagement, create spaces where connection happens naturally.
Instead of treating social media like a numbers game, focus on real conversations.
Instead of just writing, start talking.

The next era of social media isn’t just about being seen.

It’s about being heard.

That’s why I've just decided to launch a private audio feed just for my email subscribers.
I want to connect more. I want to talk to you.

Maybe I’ll add interviews down the line. I'm not really sure. But I want to do something different and tap into the voice thing again.

In a world drowning in NOISE—social media, podcast feeds, inboxes—what if we started creating intimate spaces instead?

That’s what I’m thinking about right now.

After six weeks deep in the trenches, studying what social media really looks like in 2025, I know one thing:
This time around, in this version of my reinvented self (and my umpteenth pivot that actually feels aligned), I want to build my audience right.

So as I experiment, explore, and create—thank you for being here, opening these emails, and coming along for the ride.

It’s going to be messy. And that’s fine.

What I learned from my first podcast?

It’s better to start before you’re ready than to wait and never learn.

So stay tuned… I’m rolling this out next week as a private podcast—just for my people.
Another cool AF thing about voice content in 2025.

Now tell me—do you feel the same way about social? Or are you all good with it?

Tracy

P.S. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own podcast—or just figuring out how to grow an audience online without feeling like a content machine—I help people do exactly that, 1:1.