Stop the Scroll: A social Media podcast with Heidi Schmidt - Social Media and Content Marketing Advice for small business owners and solopreneurs looking to win online

Scrambling to pull together holiday promotions at the last minute? Let’s fix that.

Marketing during this time of year can feel incredibly overwhelming, but with the right plan in place, it can also be your most profitable season. 

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re walking you through a practical approach to small business marketing strategy for the final 90 days of the year. From tying your revenue goals directly to your mark...

What really happens when you commit to 30 days of Reels?

I tested it for myself, and while I didn’t hit all 30, I still walked away with higher reach, more engagement, and some surprising takeaways about what actually works on Instagram.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, I’m talking about my 30-day Reels experiment – from what I posted, what the analytics showed, and the lessons I’ll carry into my strategy moving forward....

If your answer to “Who’s your audience?” is something broad like “women” or “business owners,” it’s time to dig deeper. If you’re marketing to everyone generally, you’re really marketing to no one. 

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re breaking down the questions you need to ask yourself to get clear on who you really serve; and how that clarity can transform your content, messaging, and offers.

Clarity isn’t limiting…...

What’s really holding you back from showing up online? For most business owners, it isn’t lack of strategy—it’s mindset. 

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re getting real about the fear of rejection, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to “look perfect” that keeps so many of us from sharing our stories.

We’re talking about how authenticity and resilience go hand-in-hand, and why letting go of perfection is the key to ...

Instagram just dropped a wave of new updates, and if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed (or wondering which ones are actually worth your time), this episode is for you.

From three-minute Reels to reposting, new editing tools, location tracking (yikes), and DM upgrades, you’ll walk away knowing exactly which features to test, which to skip, and how to use them strategically without burning out.

As always, we’re breaking dow...

Running a local business means your marketing needs to do more than just “look good” online. It has to bring real people through the door.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re sharing strategies that actually work for small, local businesses that want to stand out in their communities, connect with the right audience, and turn online followers into loyal, in-person customers.

Whether you’re a boutique owner, a cof...

Feel like content batching is supposed to save time, but instead, it just leaves you overwhelmed, uninspired, and burned out?

You’re not alone.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, I’m challenging the traditional advice around batching your content and sharing my alternative: idea batching.

I’ll walk you through how this more flexible and sustainable system works for my energy and creative flow, how I use Notion and Airt...

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not posting on Instagram every single day, this episode is your permission slip to let that go.

In this solo episode, I’m breaking down what actually moves the needle on Instagram in 2025—and surprise: it’s not posting daily. From building real relationships to creating a simple engagement routine that takes 15–30 minutes a day, I’m sharing the exact methods I use (and recommend to clients) to gro...

Wait, Instagram posts can show up on Google now?

Yep. And if you’re not optimizing your content for search, you could be missing out on serious visibility. In this episode of Stop the Scroll, we’re unpacking a big shift that’s changing how your Instagram content gets discovered, and why a keyword strategy matters now more than ever.

Whether you’ve seen that new pop-up on your app or not, this episode breaks down what i...

Feeling overwhelmed by all the advice about what to post, when to post it, or how to manage your content when life gets busy? 

You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re keeping it real with a laid-back Q&A session, answering frequently asked questions straight from clients, DMs, and conversations with fellow business owners.

From choosing the right scheduler and navigating TikTok vs. Instagram, to how much is too much co...

Everyone wants to go viral, but what actually happens when you do? And more importantly, does it move the needle for your business?

In this episode, we’re sharing a real client case study where a short, unplanned Reel unexpectedly racked up over 250,000 views. It was shared thousands of times, saved by hundreds, and sparked major engagement…but the results might surprise you. 

Spoiler: more views doesn’t always mean more cl...

It’s July friends! How’s business?

Now that we’re either midway through 2025, we’re all either coasting, growing, or drowning in overwhelm. 

This week, we’re hitting pause and asking the questions every business owner needs to answer mid-year: What’s working? What’s draining you? And how do you shift now so you’re not scrambling come Q4?

In this honest, behind-the-scenes episode, Heidi shares some personal updates, less...

Feel like you’re throwing content at the wall and hoping something sticks? 

You’re not alone. This quarter’s social media updates might explain why. 

In this episode, we’re discussing what actually changed across Meta, Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok in Q2 and how those shifts affect your strategy, your reach, and your sanity. 

From Meta’s all-video strategy to Instagram’s new “Trial Reels,” improved analytics on Linked...

Let’s be real, if you’ve ever opened Instagram, stared at the caption box, and closed the app without posting, OR if you have half a dozen unposted drafts of reels that you’re not sure you love enough to post. You, my friend, are not alone. And you’re definitely not lazy.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what’s really going on when we feel stuck or inconsistent with our content. From decision fatigue to burnout ...

Ever feel like your Instagram Stories are just... there? No engagement, no leads, and definitely no conversions? It’s time to change that.

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, Heidi breaks down a simple, actionable Instagram Stories strategy that goes beyond mindless posting and into true connection-building. If you’ve ever wondered how to actually use Stories to generate leads or promote your services (without being a pushy sal...

Think LinkedIn is just for job seekers? Think again.

In this episode, I’m chatting with digital marketing leader and corporate storyteller Lara Ziobro to talk about why LinkedIn is the platform for employee-driven brand awareness, B2B storytelling, and executive visibility.

Lara brings over two decades of marketing and communications experience at major companies like Citigroup and Weber Shandwick. She shares how she transi...

Feel like you're playing small, even when you know you’re capable of more?

This episode is your reminder (and your permission slip) to stop second-guessing your big ideas and start showing up with the boldness your business deserves.

Whether you’re afraid to raise your prices, hesitant to launch that new offer, or stuck in the weeds of client work, wondering, “Is this all there is?” I’ve been there. And I’m walking you...

What do you do when you’re fully booked and burned out, but still want to grow your business?

In this episode of Stop the Scroll, I’m joined by strategist and Kajabi expert Jen Howat to talk about what it really looks like to scale your business with purpose. Whether you’re building a course, considering a membership, or testing out a group program, Jen breaks down the real strategy behind turning your 1:1 expertise into a scal...

If Instagram disappeared tomorrow, how would you connect with your audience? 😬

It’s a question more business owners need to ask themselves — because relying solely on rented platforms like social media is risky. In this episode of Stop the Scroll, I’m diving into the one platform you actually own — and the one that consistently delivers the highest ROI in marketing: your email list.

I’m breaking down why email is not dead ...