How to Use The Power of Storytelling to Create an Irresistible Brand Identity with Monique Lombardo
In this post, I’m talking about my conversation with Instagram coach and social media expert Monique Lombardo. Monique shared so much of her expertise in relation to Instagram Reels and the importance of storytelling to allow our audience to relate to us.
Social media is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up! Monique’s tips can help you up your social game to appeal to the right people and to – ultimately – make more sales.

Get to Know Monique
Monique is known as @thesocialista_ on Instagram. Based in Australia, she is a content creator that pays close attention to her audience. She went full time with her social media company in 2020, right before the pandemic hit. She unfortunately lost almost all of her clients due to COVID, but this gave her a unique and useful perspective on her business.
Business soon picked back up, and for good reason! Monique’s social media skills are off the charts, and she’s had much success with her Instagram Reels, which do an amazing job showcasing her personality.
The Importance of Storytelling on Social Media
It’s no secret that it’s hard to stand out on Instagram right now. People’s attention spans are shorter than ever, so it’s time to get creative and see what works.
As Monique explained in our conversation, she has learned that people crave storytelling on social media. They’re looking for a journey that they can relate to and come along on. This is why vloggers are so popular in our culture – people love the storytelling aspect of their community.
Don’t assume that your life is boring and that your audience won’t want to come along on your journey. Sharing even what you consider to be mundane aspects of your life can make you more relatable, helping your audience connect better with your content.

What Makes a Powerful Reel?
Reels are a popular social media tool. They allow for original content that showcases the personality of their creator. Right now, Monique explained that entertaining skits in Reels are popular and powerful.
Above all, the content in a Reel needs to be entertaining and relatable. Those two things will NEVER go out of style, as much as trends on the platform come and go. More original content is what’s in store for Reels, and interestingly enough people don’t want imperfections or awkwardness to be hidden in these videos.
So create something that allows your audience to sit back, relax, and enjoy the content you created. And remember that content consumers LOVE when creators think outside the box.

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Tips for Successful Reels
So you’re probably wondering what tips Monique has for creating your own awesome Reels that truly tell a story. Here are some tricks she conveyed to aid in your success:
- Create your Reels in batches – pick one day of the week and film a bunch!
- Make Reels 5-7 seconds and no longer than 20 seconds maximum
- Give your audience information without overwhelming them – turn longer Reels into two parts to make them more digestible
- The more you practice filming Reels, the more comfortable you’ll be doing it!
- Record and edit your Reels at the same time to help them flow better
- Show up and create your Reels in alignment with who you are
- Diversify your content – Reels are important, but also create other content, too!
- Detach yourself from the outcome of how many views or likes you get and focus on WHY you’re doing it
- Remember that no matter how many or few views your Reels get, you’re creating a community of your ideal clients
- Be intentional about consuming other content to detect trends, then figure out how you can put your own spin on them

Posting with a Purpose: The Bottom Line
Through my conversation with Monique, it’s apparent that it’s so important to post with a purpose. You want to create content that works for your specific audience so that they can relate to you, follow along on your journey, and feel compelled to buy from you.
Push the boundaries with your Reels to do something different and tell a story that your ideal clients will love!
Thanks so much for reading! To sign up for my courses and coaching and explore all the resources I have to offer, check out the links below. And don’t forget to tune into The #PrettyAwkward Entrepreneur Podcast, wherever you love to stream content!
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