How I am intentionally pivoting my business away from social media (And why I’m splitting TSH into 4 different websites)
Precursor: Social Media for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: Is it Worth It?
If you read my last post, you’ll know that I’ve been way deep in the rabbit hole of leaving social media in an intentional way. I’ve seen massive influencers with huge number of followers do it, and I have considered the fact that they already built their following so why would it matter. What I haven’t seen is someone with a small or average size following (who is still growing their business), like me, leave social media and live to tell about it. I’m here to take that experiment and share it with you all along the way.
Will I fail?
Will I succeed?
Who knows and who cares. I’m just having fun! Haha
The past 12 months have been tough for me personally. I’ve been navigating grief and it’s been a bugger. That of course, has influenced my business. What worked in 2021, isn’t an option in 2022. I dont have the energy to go live 5 days a week and connect with every one of my 5000 friends on Facebook daily. So I have to switch it up.
One of the gifts of grief is that it forces you to slow down and to hyper-examine every area of your life. I call this year the year I Marie Kondo-ed my life. Everything is out in the open, on the floor and examined so it can either go in the keep or give away pile.
With each piece i Pick up i ask myself, “does this bring me joy?” My business has been put through this process as well. It turns out A LOT of what I’ve been doing in my business does not bring me joy. In fact, I’m just doing these thigns because some guru told me to. So, I’m going back to the basics. I’m cleaning out my business and keepign only what I love!
Because my energy has been low this year, my marketing efforts have lacked. Because my marketing efforst have lacked, I have booked only one client this year. That’s not enough to pay the bills. Not hardly. An honest look at my business finances and I am comfortably and confidently walking back into a 9-5 job. I’ve been so grateful to have eight months to mourn, rest, roujevante and grieve. I’m thankful that my business has given me the ability to do so. But now it’s time to get up, make some consistent income and allow my business to transform into something more sustainable. I’m actually relieved and excited to transfer my business to a more passive model.
A year ago I would have shamed anyone who was going back to work for the man. There’s definitely a real shame-culture in the entrepreneurial space around people who aren’t in their business full time. We need to let that go. Myself included. There are lots of false positives being shared – especially in the coaching industry – and I’m not going to keep contributing to the problem.
One of those problems is social media.
>>More tips on intuitive marketing over here.
I’ve taken courses. I’ve worked with experts. Hell, I went to college and basically got a degree in social media. I’ve used it professionally for a half dozen companies from small to large. I know all about it. But girl, it ain’t working for my business.
It’s fun. I use it to express myself.
I’ve had reels go over 10k views. In fact, my boyfriend and I had a viral hit with a few million views.
But guess what. No increase in income happened because of it.
Sure, sure I could do some tweaks and be better at this or that.
But hell. I’m tired. I’m tired of spending SO MUCH time on social media.
I used to have my IG grid planned out 6 months in advance. It was IMMACULATE! Top notch design and content too.
That didn’t work.
So then I switched to only posting when I’m inspired - because energy! But that didn’t create any more clients for me either.
Bottom line: I’m spending time and energy there and ain’t gettin’ nothing back.
In fact, I don’t even enjoy it personally, so why am I using it professionally?
Ever felt this way?
When I watched The Social Dilemma, that was the icing on the cake. (You can read my full thoughts here.) Now I am intentionally slowing down my business and getting back to what I actually enjoy doing.
As part of my larger plan to slow down and passive-fy my business, I’m focusing more on what I do love and less on what I don't love and don't see results from.
Side-note: I’m nicknaming this experience “smexit” for Social Media Exit. #smexit lets make it a thing!
Here is my 5 Step Plan for Leaving Social Media:
Releasing daily social media posting as a business practice. Because, let’s be honest, it feels productive to post, but it doesn't actually accomplish anything for me and my business beyond staying connected with other business owners and creepy friends of friends who watch all my stories but say nothing and are not ideal clients. (Goodbye creepers!)
Replacing daily posting with 20-60 minutes of intentional blog writing focused on SEO and answering ICA questions. I have been a blogger since 2010 and truthfully it’s what I started this whole business for. I love to write and I feel GOOD during and after a focused writing session. PLUS I actually see my SEO strategy working for my business, so why not keep doing it? Fun + Effective? Duh.
These blog articles will then be used as email newsletters that point back to the blog. After the fresh send, they’ll be added to an evergreen email automation sequence. Ahh that feels so relieving. I’ll no longer be a slave to fresh email content for new subscribers! Yasss queen!!In the efforts of increasing clear SEO strategies and results, I’ll be splitting my website into three different websites, each with a clear focus.
Original Art
Self Publishing
Business Coaching (this one still pending under construction. RN I need a break from all coaching. It’s not feeling like joy, but more like an insane push uphill to pay the bills, which it’s not doing either.) A l i g n m e n t coming soon. :)
With each new website break off, I plan to do a 9-grid option for my IG accounts. Set it and forget it, sis!
PR + Backlinks will be focused on during short sprints for each website. This again increases SEO by increasing page authority. Plus it builds credibility with my audience and edifies a successful image without being manipulative.
And truly truly, I have nothing to lose. My business is back at square one anyway, so why not try what feels good and fun too? I’m more excited about focusing on art and writing again. Even if sales continue to plummet to zero and I never sell anything again, I really don’t care because I’m doing what I love – not what some guru told me to do, nor what the algorithm or latest social media app or addition urged me into. In essence, I’m just chillfully doin’ me, and you can’t fail if it feels good.