Promote Your Business With Less Social Media

Back in the day, businesses thrived without social media.

Yes, before Facebook and YouTube, people were selling and buying.

I attended many Chamber of Commerce events, advertised in local magazines, hosted trade shows, and more.

Building relationships was the “name of the game.”

So, where does that leave us in a virtual world?

Our Love/Hate Relationship with Social Media

Has social media made it easier to promote a business?

Small business owners can quickly become small fish in a big pond.

Popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok persuade us to do more and spend more to grow engagement and a viral presence.

But here’s the problem.

Promotional ads are spendy, the algorithms change, and social has a relentless and insatiable hunger for more.

Sure, you can outsource the process, but that increases your cost.

There is, however, a way to leverage free promotion strategies beyond social media. But let me be honest.

FREE is Seldom Free

If you don’t spend money to promote your business, you’ll pay with something more valuable–time.

Our time is limited. For many of us, our work follows us everywhere because of that little device in our pockets.

There’s no escaping a ping, ding, or ring.

The digital age didn’t simplify our lives; it complicated our lives.

But we can use social media strategically. while promoting ourselves in other ways.

The Pre-Promotion Checklist

Before you promote anything, you must have clarity about your current market.

We can agree that priorities change, seasons change, and the economy changes. Similarly, so does your market.

That’s why realtors use terms like buyer’s or seller’s markets—the market changes.

As a copywriter, I know this too well. That’s why research is a big part of my copywriting process.

5 Areas to Consider Before You Promote

1. Clarify Your Market – This includes demographic and psychographic data—customer interests, struggles, and desires.
2. Uncover the Desired Transformation – What does your potential customer ultimately want or desire?
3. Craft Your Big Idea, Promise, or Solution – How does your offer solve your prospect’s problem effectively and uniquely?
4. Prepare Value Proposition – This brief statement or elevator pitch explains your offer and the transformation your customer can expect.
5. Create Your Offer and Bonuses: This is the product or service you provide with features and bonuses.

Now, you’re ready to promote.

5 Ways to Promote Your Business Without Social Media

Public Speaking

• Become a workshop guest, summit speaker, or podcast guest.
• Contact an event planner or conference coordinator.
• Research out-of-state events and see if they need a speaker. Tell them you’re available if they have a last-minute cancellation and become their hero.

Guest Publishing

• Find local business magazines that would gladly publish your articles.
• Request to guest post on someone’s blog. If the content is helpful and relevant to their audience, they may gladly publish it.
• Publish Kindle Short Reads on Amazon and use the book to generate new leads and grow your email list.

Host or Facilitate a Small Event

• Local events or a “Meet and Greet” are great ways to connect with potential clients. Collaborate with a local business owner, restaurant, or hotel to find a venue.
• Research organizations or associations that may be a good fit for you.
• Use online tools like MeetUp to host a virtual or local in-person gathering.

Networking Opportunities

• Find a local or out-of-state small business expo to expand your network.
• Find partners who would collaborate with you and help you promote a project.
• Create affiliate opportunities, so others promote your paid offers. You pay a commission (20-50%) when there’s a completed transaction.

Leverage Your Email Marketing Campaigns

• Create a strategic welcome series for new subscribers with value and helpful information.
• Segment your list using tags to customize your automation and campaigns.
• Create systems using a CRM (customer relations management) pipeline that seamlessly helps you follow up with inquiries. A tool I recommend is Active Campaign.

Make the Most Of Promotional Opportunities

Before you pitch your article or speaking request, ask yourself this question.

How can I add value to their audience?

Podcast Guesting:

• If you want to be a podcast guest, listen to it, rate it, and review it.
• Show that you enjoy the host’s content in a comment.
• Provide three topic ideas that complement or align with their audience.

Written Publications:

• If it’s a blog, visit the website and become familiar with its message and audience.
• If you’re writing for a local magazine, look at the ads and photos to understand the magazine’s readers.
• If you want to try a national or global publication, search for their Writer’s Guidelines online.

I suggest you pick one idea and make it your goal to serve well.

Then, you can monetize momentum.

Stay resilient!

Marisa Shadrick

Online Marketing Coach and Certified Copywriter

Disclosure: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I wholeheartedly endorse this product or service.