Is Instagram working for you? (If not, read this)
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Hi Reader! I wasn't sure what to expect when Louder Than Likes: How to Amplify Your Expertise and Make Media Work for You finally launched. You spend a long time writing something, pouring everything you know into it, and then the day comes when it's done and it's out there. But it was when the comments and reviews started coming in, that I was genuinely moved. One reader wrote that the book gave her “insider secrets you can only get from someone with tons of real-world media experience.” Another, just starting out in the field, called it a "game changer" and said the examples made her feel like she could put ideas into practice immediately. If you’ve ever written a book you know that comments like that say it all. Thank you. To everyone who bought a copy, who shared it, who passed it along to a colleague who needed it. It means more than I know how to say. If you haven't gotten your copy yet and you'd like the free companion workbook along with it, just grab it on Amazon, send your proof of purchase to mediasavvybtd@gmail.com, and I'll send it straight to you. In this issue: a media tip about the moment everything shifts when you’re standing in front of an audience, a Q&A about Instagram fatigue and where your message might actually belong, my latest articles, episode 50 of the Media Savvy podcast, and a few things I’ve been reading. Grab something delicious and read on. With so much warmth, Bon P.S. Forward this newsletter or send them to bonnietaubdix.kit.com/d4132ece48 to join this community. They’ll thank you. 😊 Bonnie’s Bites: The Room Is Already Rooting for You Last week I stood at the front of a room full of dietitians at the Today’s Dietitian Symposium in Orlando to moderate the opening session of the conference. And as I looked out at that audience, I was reminded of something I’ve believed for a long time but don’t say often enough: The audience is not your opponents. They are your allies. People talk about public speaking like it’s a battle -- like you have to command a room, conquer your nerves, overpower the silence. But that framing gets it exactly backwards. When someone sits down in front of a speaker, they are not hoping you’ll fail. They are hoping you’ll be wonderful. They want to learn something. They want to feel something. They want the next hour of their lives to mean something. And they are quietly, genuinely rooting for you to deliver. That is not a small thing to know when you’re standing at a microphone. So much of the advice around public speaking focuses on technique -- where to put your hands, how to pace, when to pause. And yes, those things matter. But the shift that changes everything is internal. It’s the moment you stop thinking “I hope I don’t mess this up” and start thinking “these people actually want to hear what I have to say.” Whether your stage is a conference hall, a TV studio, a podcast mic, or a single journalist on the other end of a phone call, the principle is the same. They invited you because they want you to succeed. Start there. You Asked: I have a message I genuinely believe in and expertise I’ve spent years building. But Instagram feels completely saturated to me -- every scroll is another dietitian saying the same things with better graphics. Am I missing something or do I just need to find a different way to get my voice out there? I Answered: You’re not missing something. You’re paying attention. Instagram is a valuable platform, and I’m not going to tell you to abandon it entirely. But the idea that it’s the only place a health professional can build visibility, is one of the most limiting beliefs I see in this community right now. And it’s keeping a lot of talented people either paralyzed or performing in ways that doesn’t feel like them. Here’s what I want you to consider: where are the people you most want to reach actually spending their time? If your audience is other health professionals, colleagues, brands, or corporate wellness decision-makers, LinkedIn may give you more traction than Instagram ever could. A thoughtful post on LinkedIn that demonstrates your talents and skills can reach people with real referral power -- people who are actively looking for credentialed experts, not just engaging content. If your audience is a specific community, like parents of young children, older adults, people managing chronic disease, then Facebook groups are still remarkably active and deeply engaged. And if you have a perspective that goes deeper than a caption can hold, a newsletter or a podcast puts your thinking in front of people who have specifically opted in to hear from you. That is a different kind of attention than a scroll. (And again -- thank you so much for being here!) The platform that works for you is the one where your specific audience already is, where you can show up consistently without feeling like you’re wearing a costume, and where the format actually lets you say what you want to say. That might be Instagram. It might not be. But the answer is worth finding, because your message deserves a real home, and that’s not necessarily the most crowded one. The Surprising Truth About Sweet Potatoes and Vitamin A Sweet potatoes have a well-earned reputation as a nutrition powerhouse, but there’s a nuance to the vitamin A story that most people miss, including how to cook them and what you need to eat alongside them to actually absorb what they’re offering. (My story got picked up by AOL, too!) Read the story on EatingWell 5 Surprising Signs of Heart Disease In Women, According to Experts Symptoms of heart disease may appear differently in women than they do for me. Subtle signs like fatigue and jaw pain may not seem like an alert to cardiovascular risk but subtle signs can be a warning before it's too late. Women also tend to put their own health issues on back burners while they put others' needs up front and center. Don't wait until it's too late. This story will tell you what to look for to prevent a serious illness. Read my interview on EatingWell A Recent Episode of the Media Savvy Podcast: Episode 50 -- Why Louder Than Likes is YOUR Roadmap I remember one of my early interviews: flower pattern on my blouse, big dangling earrings and soundbites that were solid…but not sticky (aka memorable). I made lots of media ‘mistakes’ and I want to help you avoid them! For this episode, I’m talking about Louder Than Likes: How to Amplify Your Expertise and Make Media Work for You -- what’s inside it, why I wrote it for you, and what I hope it does for the future path of your career. If you’ve been curious but want a taste before you dive in, start here. 👉 Listen to Media Savvy with Bonnie Taub-Dix on your favorite podcast channel 🎬 Watch on YouTube What I’m Reading: Super Bowls; Why This Healthier Food Trend Is Here to Stay 5 Procrastination-Busting Habits to Never Get Stuck Again Eating After 9PM? Stress and Late-Night Snacking May Multiply Gut Health Risks One More Thing: Standing at the front of that room in Orlando, looking out at hundreds of dietitians who had shown up and leaned in. I think about that a lot. About how much expertise never makes it into the world because the person carrying it decided the moment wasn’t quite right, the platform wasn’t quite ready, the confidence wasn’t quite there yet. My book is my attempt to do something about that. So is this newsletter, and the podcast, and every question I answer. Because I really do believe that when you find your voice and stop waiting until you feel ready … something shifts. For you and for everyone you reach. I’m glad you’re here. 💥 If we haven’t personally connected -- let’s change that! Send me a DM at @bonnietaubdix or @BTDmedia on Instagram, or just hit reply to this email. I read everything. Are you enjoying this newsletter? Please forward it to a friend! 🙏 Podcast Links: www.mediasavvybtd.com Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-savvy-with-bonnie-taub-dix/id1741232979 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LzVBmZXY29Cd0Y1xU66jh YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BonnieTaub-Dix Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c70ddb7d-fb38-4d7b-a10a-2bffe9048a19/media-savvy-with-bonnie-taub-dix ____________________________________________ |