We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michael Miles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michael below.

Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

When I started creating video content for social media back in 2018, I knew I wanted to fuse two interests/passions of mine: Marvel moves and the Bible. The idea was to use the films to create an intersection between faith and culture via a common interest I share with my audience. I had the idea and the content, but it needed a name. Initially, I did some personal brainstorming and came up with a few movie-related names (many of which I’m glad to have forgotten!). Then, I did what I normally do when making key decisions: I reached out to friends of mine for suggestions who are creatives in their own right. After explaining the concept, I put the names in a group chat and got some feedback.

Someone suggested The Plot Twist, which I didn’t initially like. However, it resonated with others in the group. That’s when I decided to trust them and began to see the correlation for myself. A plot twist is defined as, “an unexpected development in a book, film, television program, etc.” The name characterized my content in that it gave audiences an unexpected connection between some aspect of a Marvel film (e.g. one of the characters, a scene, etc.) and a timeless truth of scripture and the words of Christ.

When I went to convert my Instagram page to a business page, I attempted to rename it The Plot Twist. However, the name was already taken. So, I added “215” at the end which is the area code for Philadelphia, my hometown, and where I currently live. From time to time I’d insert a Philadelphia reference into the videos, but plan to incorporate more of the city into my future content to make it a mainstay of my brand.

What started as the name of my Instagram later became the name of my YouTube channel, podcast, and a stage name I’d use for my spoken word poetry. As I reflect on the naming process and my personal experience, I’d say that having people in my corner that I trust was a major help in bringing my brand to life.

Michael , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I love to connect with people and create intersections between faith and culture using common interests I share with my audience. I place a special emphasis on quality, creativity, and content that is useful for them.

The Plot Twist 215 brand was birthed out of a realization that God loves and desires to connect people to Him, and will use whatever medium He needs to to reach them. Though the primary means is the Bible, I believe He can use a variety of methods to communicate with us and get our attention. The content I create has a special emphasis on Marvel Studios (I’m a fan!), current events, and the arts. What sets my brand apart from others is my ability to connect with my audience through a shared interest that millions of us have via the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while making the Christian worldview relevant to them.

The main thing I want followers to know is that they can always expect creativity and quality from me, regardless of what they believe, and someone who is open to dialogue. The problem I solve for them is helping them stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the Marvel world, while also encouraging them and bringing thought-provoking topics to the forefront.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that you have to have everything figured out BEFORE you start posting on social media. One of the things that hindered me from posting video content was intimidation and insecurity. I enjoy writing and believe my ideas are best conveyed through the written medium. However, I also knew video content was what I needed to be doing more of. Figuring out how to edit a video was something I thought was beyond me, so I ask someone else do it. When that was no longer an option, I had to face the reality that I needed to upskill and learn how to do it myself if I was going to continue posting. So, I put in the work and began learning.

Over the years and after having to face multiple challenges along the way, I’ve realized that the best learning takes place as you go. Getting started is truly half the battle. Getting educated and facing he challenges that come is the other half. Get going! Everything else you can learn along the way!

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

Three things I’ve noticed that help with this are: consistency, leaving the door open for engagement, and supporting others.

Concerning social media, as with most things in life, consistency is key! Having some type of cadence through which you provide your audience with quality content keeps them engaged and looking forward to what you post next. I haven’t always gotten this right and am still a work in progress, but I always see the rewards when I’m consistent.

By “leaving the door open for engagement,” I mean making yourself accessible. For example, I never turn my comments off nor do I block people from being able to DM me on social. There is one influencer I follow who doesn’t see your comments when responding to their stories on IG. I’m sure they have a reason for setting things up this way but, honestly, it makes me not want to engage the page because I can’t engage the person. On the flip side of that, I’ve had great engagement with followers who’ve reached out and they remain faithful followers to this day. In fact, one conversation has led to a series I’m currently doing on my Instagram page about my thoughts on upcoming Marvel films. People want to be able to access the folks they follow. Boundaries are needed, of course, but on an as needed basis.

Lastly, supporting your followers whom you know are also content creators is a great way to foster brand loyalty. The more reciprocal you can make the support, the better off everyone will be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_plot_twist215/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.a.miles
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-d-miles/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePlotTwis215
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/69gvREdzhmoh8K08fzmq9z?si=a7f4d3141ea04357