156. The Candy Crush Rule for Social Media Success with Kate Gilbert

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Social media has never been my favorite part of business. Like many of you, I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit spiraling over what to post and how it might be received. But this episode with Kate Gilbert flipped my mindset entirely. Kate is a business coach with a unique blend of tough love and grace, and she’s on a mission to help entrepreneurs ditch the pressure and show up online with authenticity.

Kate isn’t here for hustle culture or the pressure to post daily. Instead, she brings a refreshingly compassionate perspective—one that treats social media more like a casual kitchen party than a constant performance. Her signature “Candy Crush rule” helped me reframe the algorithm not as a judge, but as just a system. What really matters is showing up with intention, on your own terms.

In a world where AI-generated everything is the norm, Kate reminds us that being real is actually our greatest asset. She shares powerful stories of entrepreneurs who built trust and connection by showing up as their imperfect selves—moldy fridges and all. If social media has ever made you doubt yourself, this episode will help you see it as a tool for connection, not perfection!

03:30 - Overcoming feelings of social media anxiety

11:10 - What is the candy crush rule for social media success?

16:49 - Vanity metrics don’t equal business success (and what we SHOULD be focusing on instead)

21:46 - Social media as an important touchpoint, even for introverts

24:51 - Authenticity trumps perfection in our current low-trust environment

Links & Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram @kristendoyle.co
• Kate's Free "YIKES! I Should Post!" Guide
• Check out my Everything Page: a one-stop shop for savvy selling!
• The Savvy Seller Collective
• Join my private Facebook community: Savvy Teacher Sellers
• More resources for growing your TPT business
• Rate & review The Savvy Teacher Seller on Apple Podcasts

Connect With Kate:

• Instagram: @kategi
• Website
• LinkedIn

Show Notes: https://kristendoyle.co/episode156

Feeling overwhelmed by all the things you think you need to do to grow your digital product business? Take the Savvy Seller Quiz and find out exactly what to focus on right now to actually move your business forward.

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Check out my Everything Page at https://kristendoyle.co/everything