Running a business without social media: A Conscious, sustainable choice
In a world that measures success by likes and follows, choosing to run a business without social media can feel radical. For many creatives and feminine entrepreneurs, it’s a deliberate move towards sanity and spaciousness.
Why Step Away From Social Media?
Women have a deep seated desire for connection.
What I’ve noticed from women over the past few years is a trend of OVERSHARING as a business transaction.
Social platforms were built to capture attention, not to nurture deep connection. For many business owners, this leads to:
Constant comparison
Burnout from the hamster wheel of content production
Distraction from the things that move the needle forward
Pressure to overshare private life
Building Connection Without Oversharing
Women have been subtly convinced to share every intimate detail of our lives with strangers on social media in order to sell our work.
And while I whole-heartedly believe that it’s (almost) always rooted in a genuine desire for CONNECTION and being of service, it enmeshes life and business in a way that can feel unhealthy, and sets a very weird precedent.
I see too many women who believe that they HAVE to be vulnerable and share their lives openly on the inter-webs if they want success.
I cannot even begin to count the number of times that I've heard women say that they despise social media, yet feel it’s a necessary evil when it comes to running a business.
I’ve said this myself. I’ve tried to play the game, but it just didn't sit well.
For me, sharing myself for the good of my business on social media felt ISOLATING rather than connecting.
Sharing myself in private spaces just feels safer. And more authentic.
Choosing to step away is about prioritizing what matters and honoring creative cycles.
________
And also…
I have formed beautiful friendships through social media. I have connected with other women on a soul level through their stories. I have been introduced to businesses that I absolutely ADORE, and will support for life.
I have also seen social media accounts that focus on the actual product being sold rather than the person doing the selling, and find them to be quite refreshing amongst a sea of selfies.
As feminine beings, we thrive when we can base our business on connection, but what does it mean to REALLY connect?
For me, when I thought about sharing on social media, it was always “I SHOULD do this,” and I believe THAT should be the litmus test.
We shouldn't do things simply because other people are doing them (I can literally hear my mom's voice saying -- “if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?”).
When running a business rooted in the feminine, we need to drop into the wisdom of our bodies before taking action.
Alternatives to Social Media Marketing
If you stop relying on the ‘gram, what do you do instead?
Email newsletters— Your most important owned channel IMHO. Cultivate relationships, not clicks.
Blog and SEO— Write useful posts relevant to your dream clients
Local & in-person events— Workshops, farmer’s markets, bizarres, pop-ups and talks build trust quickly [Ted from Marketing for Hippies has built an entire business around this]
Partnerships & collaborations— Guest blog posts, joint workshops and referral swaps with like minded businesses
Referral programs— Incentivize happy clients to refer their friends— or just ask them
Mastermind Groups— A mastermind group is a space to consistently get together to discuss goals, get support, and build a network of accountability. [Check out Northstar Mastermind]
A simple weekly routine
Monday— Publish one blog post
Wednesday— Send a helpful email to your clients
Friday— 30 minutes of outreach & connection: email a collaborator, pitch a podcast or ask for referral
Next steps
If you’re curious about building a business with less hustle and fewer algorithms, Id love to support you. Explore coaching options on the Start Here page sign up for my weekly newsletter, where I share my thoughts and ramblings on running a sustainable, anti-capitalist, anti-hustle business