Spoiler alert: It wasn't about the Reels.
By Dee Marsh and Dana Mihaly, Marsh & Mihaly Marketing
When we boarded a plane for Social Media Marketing World in April, we were excited, inspired...and maybe just a little overwhelmed.
Thousands of marketers.
Hundreds of sessions.
Pages and pages of notes.
Everywhere we turned, the message was the same:
Video matters. Reels matter. Show up consistently.
As marketing professionals, we could not exactly tell our clients, "You should try this..." without putting ourselves to the test first.
So, we made a pact.
Quick Answer: What Did 30 Reels in 30 Days Teach Us?
Posting 30 Reels in 30 days more than tripled our Facebook reach, increased our video views by 672%, helped our Instagram Reels reach nearly 6,500 people, and improved engagement across our social channels. But the biggest lesson was not an algorithm trick or a perfect content formula. Our strongest results came when we stopped trying to look polished and let people see the real humans behind the business.
Challenge Accepted
30 Reels. 30 Days.
No excuses.
No backing out.
No waiting until we looked perfect, sounded perfect, or had the perfect idea.
Just hit record.
Simple, right?
Well...not exactly.
There were days we stared at each other wondering, "Okay...what are we talking about today?"
Some days we had brilliant ideas.
Some days our best idea was coffee.
Some days Todd wandered into the frame.
Some days the dogs thought they were the stars of the show.
And one memorable day, our internet decided to completely revolt.
Honestly? Those turned out to be some of our favorite videos.
We Thought We Would Learn How to Create Better Reels
Boy, were we wrong.
We thought this 30-day Reels challenge would teach us how to write stronger hooks, edit faster, master the algorithm, and discover the magic formula.
Instead, it reminded us why we started Marsh & Mihaly Marketing in the first place.
"We kept thinking we needed to craft the perfect marketing message. Turns out, people connected with the conversations we were already having every day."
Somewhere around the middle of the challenge, something shifted.
Without even realizing it, we stopped trying to create marketing. We simply started having conversations.
The same conversations we have had for years.
- About business.
- About clients.
- About community.
- About life.
- About the funny things that happen when you own a marketing agency.
And that is when everything changed.
We Stopped Trying to Impress People
And started inviting them in.
Instead of asking, "What is the perfect thing to say?" we started asking, "What would we naturally be talking about if the camera was not rolling?"
That one small change made all the difference.
The polished scripts became conversations. The planned content became stories. The marketing became...well...more human.
"The funny thing is, the more we stopped trying to create the perfect marketing message, the more people connected with us. Turns out, authenticity is not a tactic. It is the foundation."
Then the Numbers Started Talking
As marketers, we love data.
As storytellers, we love people.
This challenge reminded us that the best marketing happens when those two things work together.
And while we never started this challenge chasing numbers, the numbers definitely noticed.
More Than 8,500 People Saw Our Facebook Content
Our Facebook reach more than tripled compared to the previous month. The timing gave us a strong indication that showing up consistently and authentically helped us connect with far more people than before.
Our Video Views Increased by 672%
Our videos were not just watched. They were watched more than seven times as often as the month before.
Thousands of New People Discovered Who We Are
On Instagram alone, our profile reached 5,734 people, and our Reels reached nearly 6,500 people, making short-form video our strongest tool for getting in front of new audiences during the challenge.
Our Community Kept Growing
Nearly 80 new followers joined us on Facebook during the challenge, while Instagram engagement more than tripled as people liked, commented, shared, and saved our content.
Even LinkedIn Responded
Our professional audience became more engaged, page clicks nearly tripled, and more business owners took the time to learn about Marsh & Mihaly Marketing.
That result also fits a broader shift toward video on professional platforms. Reuters reported that LinkedIn video uploads rose more than 20% and video views increased 36% year over year. Our experience was smaller and local, but it reinforced the same idea: people are increasingly willing to discover businesses through video.
But Here Is the Part We Loved Most
When we looked back at the month's top-performing content, we noticed something.
It was not the polished marketing tips. It was not the perfectly edited videos. It was not the carefully crafted promotional posts.
It was:
- A router that chose chaos.
- Todd and his endless supply of puns.
- Behind-the-scenes moments.
- Celebrating our clients.
- Winning Best of Dripping Springs for Best Social Media Marketing.
- Us laughing.
- Us figuring things out.
- Us simply being ourselves.
Turns out, people do not connect with perfection. They connect with people.
What the 30 Reels in 30 Days Challenge Taught Us
Social Media Marketing World Conference 2026 gave us incredible strategies. The 30 Reels in 30 Days challenge gave us proof.
Yes, strategy matters. Planning matters. Consistency matters.
But none of those things matter nearly as much if people do not feel like they know you.
Your audience does not want another perfectly polished commercial. They want to know who is behind the business. They want to laugh with you, learn from you, celebrate with you, and trust you.
And trust does not happen because your transitions are flawless. It happens because you are willing to show up as yourself.
There is an AI search lesson here, too. Google's guidance for AI search emphasizes unique, people-first content and encourages publishers to support useful text with high-quality images and video. Each Reel gave us another piece of original, first-hand content that showed who we are, what we know, and how we work.
Would We Do It Again?
In a heartbeat.
Not because we posted 30 Reels.
Not because the numbers grew.
Not because we figured out a few tricks.
We would do it again because this challenge reminded us that the best marketing has never been about algorithms.
It is about relationships.
It is about stories.
It is about showing people the real humans behind the logo.
And if you take nothing else away from our little experiment, let it be this:
- Stop waiting for perfect.
- Hit record.
- Tell your story.
- Laugh at the bloopers.
- Share the behind-the-scenes.
- Let people get to know the real you.
You might be surprised what happens next.
Want the Full Story?
Follow Marsh & Mihaly Marketing on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile for behind-the-scenes moments, client success stories, creative brainstorming, marketing tips, bloopers, community adventures, and yes...probably another Todd pun.
Because the best stories usually happen just before someone says, "Wait...are we recording?"
Thinking about taking on your own content challenge? Whether you need a social media marketing strategy, a sounding board, or someone to remind you that "perfect" is overrated, contact Marsh & Mihaly Marketing. Let us start a conversation.
FAQ's About a 30 Reels in 30 Days Challenge
What is a 30 Reels in 30 Days challenge?
A 30 Reels in 30 Days challenge is a commitment to publish one short-form video each day for 30 consecutive days. The goal is not simply volume. It is to build a repeatable content habit, test ideas, learn what resonates, and become more comfortable appearing on camera.
Did posting 30 Reels in 30 days increase your reach?
Yes. During our challenge, Facebook reach more than tripled, video views increased 672%, Instagram Reels reached nearly 6,500 people, and LinkedIn page clicks nearly tripled. Those results reflect our specific accounts and month, so other businesses should treat them as a case study, not a guaranteed benchmark.
Do business Reels need to be professionally produced?
No. Our most popular videos were often informal behind-the-scenes moments, client celebrations, jokes, and real-life mishaps. Clear audio, understandable visuals, and a useful or relatable idea mattered more than perfect production.
What should a small business post during a 30-day Reels challenge?
Start with real conversations already happening in your business: common customer questions, quick tips, team introductions, behind-the-scenes moments, client wins, community involvement, and lessons learned. Choose topics you can speak about naturally instead of trying to invent a polished commercial every day.
How can a business stay consistent enough to post a Reel every day?
Make the process simple: keep a running topic list, batch-record when possible, use repeatable formats, and set realistic editing limits. Consistency becomes easier when the goal is to be useful and human, not flawless.
Can Reels support SEO and AI search visibility?
Reels can support a broader visibility strategy by creating original, first-hand multimedia content that can be embedded on web pages, transcribed, repurposed, and distributed across platforms. Video alone does not guarantee search visibility, but it gives people and search systems more useful evidence about a brand's expertise, personality, and real-world experience.
About Marsh & Mihaly Marketing
Marsh & Mihaly Marketing is an award-winning boutique marketing, public relations, and branding agency serving businesses, nonprofits, and organizations throughout Central Texas. Proudly named Best Social Media Marketing Business in the Best of Dripping Springs awards, the agency specializes in strategic social media marketing, branding, website content, SEO, public relations, video storytelling, and creative campaigns that help businesses build genuine relationships with their audiences. We believe the best marketing does not interrupt conversations. It starts them.
Read more marketing stories and insights from the Marsh & Mihaly team.
