How To Market Your Business – Without Social Media. Social media is a powerful way to promote yourself as an entrepreneur, but I see far too many people who are overly reliant on it. I vividly remember the panic so many people experienced when Instagram went down a couple of years ago, and it struck home how risky it is to rely on the “rented land” that is social media.
Downtime, algorithms, shadow bans – there’s always a danger your content won’t be seen by the right people (or anyone at all, for that matter).
So how can you market your business without putting all your eggs in the social media basket?
This isn’t about shunning socials completely, but I wanted to share four types of self-promotion that open up your options and free you from the neverending post, engage, repeat cycle.
Networking, but your way
If you think networking’s not your bag, it may be time to think again. The world of networking has changed, and it’s no longer a room of suits perfecting their pitch. Nowadays, there’s something for everyone, from netwalking events to virtual meet-ups.
Who says you can’t do business your way?
For ages, I had a preconceived idea of what networking would be like but after trying a few groups and working out which style is best for my personality and business, I’ve had some great referrals and it’s helped me develop my confidence and public speaking skills too.
Build an engaged email databaseÂ
I don’t know about you, but I keep hearing rumours that “email is dead”, and I couldn’t disagree more. In fact, last year research by Salecycle revealed 50% of us buy from marketing emails at least once a month.Â
Your website and email database are two of the only places to market yourself that are truly yours. Cultivating an engaged email mailing list is a wise move in my book. It feels like a more personal and intimate way to keep in touch with your audience, and frankly, it works.
Join a communityÂ
Being part of a community of like-minded business owners is a phenomenal (and non-icky) way to stay front of mind with relevant people. There are so many online and in-person communities and memberships to be part of nowadays, it’s a case of finding the one that’s right for you.
That could be within your industry (e.g. fellow creatives, professional services), relating to a skill you’re keen to develop (e.g. a public speaking club or a marketing masterclass), or connected to something more personal to you (e.g. Gay Professional Network, Black Business Network, Doing It For The Kids, or a women-only community like Good Business).
In a way it’s another form of networking, but much more natural and relaxed, with a host of added benefits thrown in for good measure, which is a win-win to me.
Blog regularly
Did you know companies that publish regular blogs on their website get 55% more traffic and 67% more enquiries?
Maybe I’m biased as a copywriter, but I’m a firm believer in the power of blog posts to market yourself and your business.
Not only is it great for your SEO – getting you found on Google when people search for what you offer – but it also builds trust and creates a bank of reusable content you can copy and paste over to your emails, social media captions, and more (saving you time and headspace).
Be bold, share your spin on relevant topics in your industry, and write in your distinct tone of voice so it attracts your crowd. The good thing about doing this is that it attracts and repels the right people in equal measures!
Ultimately, it pays to be strategic about how and where you appear, because trying to do everything will overwhelm you, zap your headspace, and likely see you spread too thinly to get any real outcomes.
There is no magic solution when it comes to self-promoting, but if you get the right advice and support you can hit upon a marketing mix that creates the results you want for your business.
