Acupuncture Marketing School Podcast Episode 50: Consistency and Authenticity on Instagram with Acupuncturist Godfrey Fayne. Includes professional photo of Godfrey outdoors.

Today I’m talking with acupuncturist Godfrey Fayne all about Instagram.

Godfrey recently graduated from the Pacific College of Health Sciences in California with his doctorate (congrats!) and in the last year of school, he decided to really lean into content creation for his Instagram account (@gtheapprentice), which is how I discovered his account.

He shares fun and helpful Reels about Chinese medicine that resonate with patients and practitioners alike.

Godfrey really shines in his ability to create video content consistently and to show up as himself in his videos, and I’m excited to talk to him about that today.

Before we dive into Godfrey’s interview:

A Year of Email Templates for Acupuncturists is on sale this week.

If you’re on my email list, you know it was on sale last week BUT it’s honestly been a rough few weeks and I’m behind in producing Godfrey’s episode. So for my podcast listeners, I’m extending the discount code for one more week.

The discount code is EMAILMAGIC and you’ll save $40 on email templates.

These are real remails that I send to my patients. You can literally copy and paste them, make a few edits for your own practice, and either hit send or schedule them for the future.

My goal with these is to make your email marketing MUCH easier.

The emails are focused on pain, anxiety, and digestion, primarily, so if you like treating those things, they are likely a pretty good fit for your practice.

>> Check out the templates here.

The discount expires Monday, January 30th, 2023. As always, if you have questions, send me an email at michelle@michellegrasek.com

In this episode, Godfrey and I talk about:

  • How you can use your audience (aka, your community) as inspiration to show up consistently
  • Leaning into what your audience likes and letting them guide your content
  • The fact that it’s difficult for everyone, even extroverts, to get used to seeing themselves on camera and/or hearing their own voice
  • How social media can lend wisdom to make us better practitioners
  • And much more

Without further ado, let’s talk about Instagram with Godfrey Fayne!

🎙️Episode #50: Consistency and Authenticity on Instagram with Godfrey Fayne

Show Notes:

Subscribe to the Acupuncture Marketing School podcast on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify

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Transcript:

MICHELLE GRASEK
Welcome to the Acupuncture Marketing School Podcast. I’m your host, Michelle Grasek, and I’m here to help you get visible in your community, take marketing action with confidence and get more patients in your practice and more money in your pocket every week. We both know you’re a talented, passionate acupuncturist and that acupuncture has the power to change lives. So let’s dive right into this episode and talk about how you can reach more patients.
(00:28)
Hello and welcome. Today, I’m so looking forward to interviewing Acupuncturist Godfrey Fayne, and talking about Instagram marketing. Godfrey recently graduated from the Pacific College of Health Sciences in California with his doctorate, congrats, and in the last year of school, he decided to really lean into content creation for Instagram, which is how I discovered his account. His account is G The Apprentice (@gtheapprentice), if you want to look him up. He shares fun and helpful reels about Chinese medicine that resonate with patients and practitioners alike. I think you’re going to really like his account. Again, it’s G The Apprentice, and Godfrey really shines in his ability to create video content consistently and to show up as himself in his videos. I’m excited to talk to him about both of those things today and much more.
(01:31)
Before we dive into Godfrey’s interview, I want to let you know that my Year of Email Templates for Acupuncturist is on sale this week. If you’re on my email list you know that technically it was on sale last week, but it’s honestly been a rough few weeks, and I am behind in producing Godfrey’s episode. So this episode was meant to air last week so for my podcast listeners, I am extending the discount code for one more week. The code is [EMAIL MAGIC], and that saves you $40 on the email templates. These are real emails that I send to my patients. If you’ve listened to my previous episodes all about email marketing you know I recommend sending two emails a month to stay top of mind with your patients and your potential patients.
(02:20)
This is not too often, don’t worry, but I know it’s also not feasible for everyone to write two emails a month, and that’s why I wanted to share these templates with you. You can literally copy and paste them, make a couple edits so that they match your practice, and either hit send right away, or you can schedule a bunch of them out to auto-send in the future. My goal here is to just make your email marketing much easier because all of the content is written for you. And these emails are focused on pain, anxiety, and digestion primarily so if you like treating those things, they’re probably a pretty good fit for your practice. I’ll put the link and the discount code in the show notes for you. The code expires on midnight Monday, January 30th. And as always, if you have questions, send me an email, michelle@michellegrasek.com.
MICHELLE
Without further ado, I bring you Godfrey Fayne. Welcome. How are you?
GODFREY FAYNE
I’m doing wonderful. Thank you for having me.
MICHELLE
Absolutely. Thank you so much for being here. I absolutely love your Instagram account. I think you have some of the most entertaining and also educational reels out there for acupuncture and Chinese medicine. So I’m excited to talk with you today a little bit about Instagram and what inspires you.
GODFREY
Wow. Well, yeah, thank you. You’re too kind. You’re too kind. It was just something I simply started this time last year, so I’m glad you’re taking a like to it. So yeah, I’m ready to dive into it.
MICHELLE
Awesome. It’s been a long time since I interviewed a student and I think you actually just graduated and passed board. So you’re not a student anymore, you’re officially a doctor of acupuncture?
GODFREY
Yes, I am officially a doctor after the last four and a half years.
MICHELLE
Amazing, amazing. So, one thing that I love about your Instagram account is that you produce content really, really regularly, and I’m so curious how you come up with content and how you stay inspired to keep creating content regularly.
GODFREY
Well, the ideas for me, it’s based on, I was inspired by my culture, my communities. I was born outside of a small town in Mississippi, all the people that inspired me there to make me who I am from there to the people Memphis, Tennessee, San Diego, California, even the Instagram community. I get my ideas from everyone, but in particularly, I pay attention to my timeline feed on what is commonly being showed. The algorithm likes to show specific things that your community likes and I notice also as well what my audience likes by just tapping on that little button down, or you actually see people’s names to see, hey, this is somebody that that liked this post. So I will see those regularly and follow that trend and replicate that.
MICHELLE
I absolutely love that.
GODFREY
Yeah, thanks, thanks. Yeah, it’s hard to come up with things like from scratch, but if you see the people that you know that always keep you on your Instagram feed and like scrolling through, hey, I like this, I like this. It’s kind of, it’s more easier to replicate those. And as I tend more towards the animated acting choreography, all of those things,.
MICHELLE
Yes, I love it.
GODFREY
Yeah, that was just from me, like in my my early days back in middle school, high school, I used to be in the drama club, so I did starred in a few plays and I was in a few musicals. So yeah, I do more animated content because I was inspired earlier on to produce that type of content.
MICHELLE
And so, do you feel like it’s important for people to lean into their natural personality when they’re creating reels? Because it sounds like that’s really what you’re doing. You are focusing on creating these short videos that really represent who you are, and at the same time trying to connect with your community and what they like, but you’re always showing up as yourself.
GODFREY
Yeah. That’s the best thing about it. Even when it comes down to us treating patients and stuff, they want to see the whole you the fool you. People can tell that that’s not the real you or that’s not your true spirit. When you’re trying to be somebody that you’re not, it drains you, it drains your t because you’re expending this type of t trying to be somebody else.
MICHELLE
Yes, absolutely. I find that when I am working with people on their social media and people are feeling burnt out, it can be from a couple different things, for example, trying to produce too much brand-new content in like a short amount of time. But the other thing that I notice really leads to burnout is what you’re describing, when people are sort of like, they feel like they have to show up a certain way online that is maybe a little more effort than they would expend in real life and it just becomes exhausting, and it becomes a barrier to their wanting to show up at all, which is really a shame beccause I think you’re so right, patients want to know the real you that helps them decide like, wow, this person has a lot to share or can teach me so much. I want to see them in person as my acupuncturist.
GODFREY
Exactly, exactly. When you mentioned about being burnt out to try to produce so much content in a given amount of time, yeah, that is true. With my New Year’s resolution, actually a fun fact, last year on yesterday was my New Year’s resolution of, “Hey Godfrey, we are going to produce at least one piece of content or one Instagram reel, and at least five to 10 different pieces of content that can go on my story. That sounds doable. So I started on that day, and as I started to go, people started to get more engaged into it. I knew at that point in time, I had to get something going, because that was the last term before I was about to graduate. So I had to do something different, do something that made me, that will make me grow.
(09:43)
So my mission for my Instagram is to spread the word about this amazing medicine and the best way I can do it is, hey, doing it through crazy, silly ways and so it can show them how they can help themselves and how they can be helped. You have to have both of those. So it’s melding of, hey, this medicine can actually help you, but hey, when I’m not around, you can actually help yourself. Because I think the patients themselves are the true healers and that’s why I think more people are starting to gear more towards my content because, hey, I can do that at home. Just move around a little bit today, or, hey, let’s make sure we keep our feet warm and people just found it to be entertaining and relatable.
MICHELLE
I love that, yeah, the idea that you need to be able to help yourself and to ask for help. So you mentioned that your, was it your 2022 resolution was to do one reel and five pieces of content for your story? Was that a day, a week? How often was that?
GODFREY
So for the TikTok I just wanted to post one TikTok or one Instagram reel per week and then for the five to 10 pieces on my story, I just wanted to do that during the week. I didn’t have to do that during, throughout the day because that will also burn me out too, because in 2021, a few days before that, I wasn’t posting anything. So it was just like, all right, let’s start taking little small bites.
MICHELLE
So it was successful. It sounds like you committed to a resolution, you went through with it, and I mean, I definitely discovered you in this past year, I think a lot of other people did as well. So you could say that your efforts were definitely successful, but do you feel like moving forward in 2023, you want to maintain that level of content creation or are you changing it up a little bit? What do you think is going to work for you this year?
GODFREY
Well, this year after the commitment, the consistency that I’ve had through 2022, I think I can actually able to take on bigger load, not too much. It’ll come down to, hey, let’s see if I can, produce at least two, throughout the, throughout each week, two TikTok reels or two Instagram reels throughout the week and then, hey, let’s do the same five to 10 pieces. It’s the, as long as people see your consistency, they’re going to get the message. You just have to consistently show up at the same time that people are going to expect you. So don’t do too much and don’t do too little.
MICHELLE
I feel like that is one of the most important parts of marketing, and I always try to teach it to my students that consistency is really essential, because one, it builds trust in the fact that you are going to show up when they’re expecting you to. So if you’re producing content once a week for a couple of months, and then you just disappear, people don’t know what happened to you, but if you keep going, it builds trust. And I think that is sort of a subconscious thing for our audience and every time you show up and share your message, it’s consistently reinforcing the perspective that you have on the medicine and how you can help people. And people are absorbing that and learning it over time until they get to that place where they’re like, and again, I think this is subconscious, but they feel like I trust this person enough to make an appointment with them and to meet them in person and to share my health journey with them. But that takes time and consistency, like you said.
GODFREY
Yeah, exactly. And just like you said, if we’re going to show up consistently on social media, your doctor is going to persistently show up for you and be present at every moment. So not only is this helping me in the social media world, but it’s actually improving my clinical skills of being present, being able to listen to my audience, knowing what they like, knowing what, the things that they don’t like in order for me to give them the best treatment plan. So throughout this Instagram journey, I’m taking everything that I’m applying and learning from Instagram and putting into my clinical setting. I noticed that, I actually watched you, who’s that? Clara and TCM strength Kenton, and to see how you guys move within that space of being able to show up every week, at least every week, being able to give out your message and hey, apply to your clinical setting.
MICHELLE
So it’s sort of like assessing the data on your Instagram account has helped you become more aware of feedback from others in clinic or, and probably other aspects of life as well. I just love the idea that it’s really about paying attention to the needs and the wants of our audience, whether that is in the digital world or in person. And I think you’re right, I think that is such a strong clinical skill. And no one has ever brought up that social media has made them better as a clinician, so I’m happy to hear you say that. I think a lot of people have difficult relationship with social media, and they probably never considered, that it’s about where you put your attention and your intention on social media, and that can teach you lessons in real life too. So thank you for that. I love that perspective.
GODFREY
Yeah, no problem. When it comes down to the medicine that we practice, you can connect about anything. Once you know that generating cycle of fire going to earth, metal, water to wood, and then the controlling cycle of going to wood, earth and then down the water, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, anything can be connected. You just have to see the picture and see how you can prioritize your ideas, your time to be able to help your overall vision.
MICHELLE
I’m a big believer that everything is connected as long as we are paying attention. I’m really curious. So I’m such an introvert, and a lot of my audience and my listeners are introverts as well, and one of the things that they bring up all the time for social media and digital marketing in general is how hard it can be to feel comfortable getting visible. Is that something that you struggled with at all in the beginning? It sounds like probably not since you were on stage quite a bit in the past, but I’m curious, how does that ever come up for you, like consistently showing up in being visible?
GODFREY
Well, actually for the plays that I starred in, you can’t see the crow. Of course, you can’t see the crowd when you’re talking into the camera, but one thing I shied away from being in front of the camera is because I can like actually record it and see myself. It’s just like something about me being seen on the camera. It was like, ah. And even with my voice, I don’t know, it is like, I don’t know, it just sounds like something is cringing or something. But as I started to get into my community and being able to have conversations with people, it was like, oh my gosh, that was inspiring. I was like, really? So I started to actually do like a, this was back in 2021, I actually did at least one content, and people actually liked that one. I was like, oh, okay. I didn’t think it was okay, but I went along with it and I started to get more talkative, especially in my community at school and people were like, “Oh, my gosh, you should actually start to speak more. You should consider public speaking.”
(18:58)
I was like, “Public speaking, ah? Well, I’ll take consideration of it.” I really started to become more into leadership roles. People were starting to like that more. So it was like a gradual build up to where I am now. I didn’t just start right off the bat of wanting to be in front of the camera. It didn’t happen like that. It was, it’s still nauseating sometimes. It’s like, ah, I don’t want to do it, but people are liking it. It’s helping people out. So once I actually focused more on what I was actually doing and how it was helping me or helping my community and audience, I was like, all right, let’s put myself to the side for just these 60 seconds, and let’s get this message out there. When it comes down to introvert, you don’t necessarily have to show your face. We do have TikTok ribs where you can do voiceovers. People are actually even moved by people words.
MICHELLE
I love like every part of what you just said, because first of all, I think it is really important for the introverts out there to hear that someone who, I mean, you sound like you might be an extrovert, possibly not. Are you an extrovert? How do you identify?
GODFREY
Oh my gosh, I think I am on the extrovert side, but during the pandemic I became more introverted.
MICHELLE
Ah, okay.
GODFREY
Being isolated, yeah, being isolated from the rest of the world and stuff, I enjoyed doing that because I had more time to think to myself being able to, learn how to deliver a message to someone because I didn’t have a lot of people to talk to unless I was like talking to them over the phone. So it gave me a time to think a little bit more. When I’m on the extroverted side, I’m just constantly talking, talking, talking, talking, and not realizing what’s coming out of my mouth. So when it comes down to the introvert side, I think you can be, we do have an advantage of being able to be more critical thinkers. You are actually able to listen to somebody.
MICHELLE
I love that. It sounds like a nice balance then between the extroverted and the introverted. I think it is so important for people to hear that. Even people on the extroverted side may still have some things to work through in being comfortable in front of the camera. Without a doubt, I don’t know why this is part of our psychological makeup for so many people, it feels weird to see yourself on camera, and your voice never sounds right. It’s always cringey in the beginning. I think your 100%. I remember the first time I recorded acupuncture marketing school, the online course, I dreaded editing those videos because I had to listen to myself talk, and I just did not want to, I was so uncomfortable. But the big message that I took away from what you said earlier is that even though it is uncomfortable, what’s more important is how it impacts your community. And you really just picked up that feedback from your people who were saying, hey, that was inspiring or I was so glad to see you and hear your message. And you said, okay, it’s cringey for me personally, but nobody else notices that and I’m just going to keep moving forward because they’re getting so much value. And I think that’s what we need to focus on in social media.
GODFREY
Yeah, exactly. And along with adding one more TikTok or, I keep saying TikTok because I make my content from TikTok and post it on Instagram, so that’s why I keep saying TikTok, but, adding more, one more real, getting out of my comfort zone is actually speaking more. So now I’m on the comfortable side of showing my charismatic energy of doing songs, certain voiceovers and stuff like that. This year my resolution is to actually speak a little bit more. If y’all go and look down my timeline, I’m talking very minimum. I talk on a few, but I don’t talk on all of them, but this year is going to change to where I speak a little bit more. It’s going to be cringey, but hey, new year, new me.
MICHELLE
I can’t wait. I think it’s going to be amazing. I think your audience is really going to appreciate learning from you in that way and seeing that side of you and getting more, a better picture of your thought process and that sort of thing. So I think that is a wonderful risk to take. I have a question for you that I ask everybody at towards the end of the interview, and that is, what is your definition of success?
GODFREY
Success for me is about how you interact with the world and what overall vision you’re trying to get to. When you have a vision that you want to get to. Life is going to be crazy and throw all types of things at you, all kinds of hurdles. When you are determined to get to where you want to go, nothing is going to stop you from getting there. That’s when you start to add on these characteristics of passion, persistence, perseverance to get there. And as you add those different characteristics to your wellbeing, you become successful. You start to not only inspire yourself to be like, oh man, look where I’ve came from, look who I used to be and look where I’m at now and where I’m going, you inspire yourself, but then you inspire others. So success for me ensures being able to not only inspire yourself, but to inspire others to inspire themselves. Did that make sense?
MICHELLE
Yeah, absolutely. I love that. Thank you so much for being here with me today. Where can we follow you on Instagram, because everybody wants to
GODFREY
Thank you, thank you, thank you. You can follow me on Instagram @gtheapprentice, that’s going to be G THE APPRENTICE, @gtheapprentice.
MICHELLE
Thank you again. I really appreciate your insight. I look forward to continuing to follow your Instagram account. I can’t wait to see what you produce in 2023. Thank you so much.
GODFREY
Thank you, thank you, thank you.