Social media marketing on its own is neither a winnable, or sustainable strategy.
You can quote me on that. If you’ve seen me posting on social, I can understand why you might be looking at your screen inquisitively.
And the truth is that yes, I am on LinkedIn. (Come find me over there!)
Social media is a great tool for finding collaborators and connectors, but email is my true love language. It’s what allows me to live my life off of social media.
In fact, my ultimate goal for social media is to use it as a tool to grow my email community. So it has a role in my business—a significant one—but Joyful Business Revolution’s success doesn’t hinge on social media.
If marketing without social media became a necessity, I’d need to make a few shifts. But because over the last decade-plus, I’ve found alternative marketing approaches that work, my business would still succeed.
Ultimately, most of my programs center on teaching our clients sustainable marketing methods that work. And that’s what I want for you, too.
There’s nothing better than knowing you have tools in place to grow your business and nurture your target audience without feeling like you have to be on social media 24/7/365.
So let’s dive in…
Why social media marketing isn’t the opportunity it once was
Let me be very clear — I do not hate social media.
From a business standpoint, social media has always been problematic at best, and for a few reasons.
First, people are tired of the empty, overblown promises.
“Just do this one thing, and you’ll start raking in cash.” or “I made $11 gazillion with one post.”
Yes, I know people who have built 7-figure businesses on social media. And yes, there’s still potential for you on social media if that’s your end goal.
But, it’s never as simple as one action or one post—people who made a lot of money put in the effort in countless ways. While one post might have brought in all that cash, it had a solid foundation of audience building, nurturing, and social proof (and most likely was backed by years of testing their message and growing an email community).
Second, the content creation hamster wheel is exhausting.
For every huge success story, there are hundreds of other people who can’t figure out how to make social media work for them.
Most of us are not cut out to be always-on influencers — and most of our audiences aren’t looking for that either.
It’s demoralizing to feel like your posts are going out into the void—no engagement, no reactions, no nothing.
Third, people are leaving social media.
Pick your reason.
Fake or extremely biased news.
Echo chambers.
Keyboard warriors.
Distrust of owners or company leadership.
Wanting greater presence and less doom scrolling.
Regardless of why your audience is leaving, the fact is that it’s no longer a reliable or sustainable all-in strategy.
More and more people are distancing themselves from the 24/7 cycle of constant promotion and toxicity. And that means you’ve got to figure out how to get coaching and consulting clients without social media.
Fourth, algorithms, ads, and bots are standing in your way.
Facebook and X used to send a significant amount of traffic to the open web—now they don’t. I recently read a stat that most platforms show about 7 out of every 100 people your content. Posts with links off-platform get less reach.
So if you’ve been using these platforms to get more traffic to your website, it’s no longer a viable strategy—though people are having more success by putting a link in the first comment.
To that end, other platforms — like Instagram and TikTok — limit the number of links shared at all.
What’s more, robots don’t buy. While that’s not groundbreaking, AI is. And these days, it’s never clear if you’re marketing to a human or marketing to a robot.
Lastly, lots of reach on all kinds of platforms is pay to play these days.
If you’re not paying for ads — and I don’t — you’re not going to get the algorithm love that you crave.
Sadly, I don’t see this trend of less effective social media changing anytime soon. Plenty of people I know who’ve had great success with social media just aren’t getting the ROI from organic social media anymore.
I say all this not to paint a picture of doom and gloom, but to illustrate why it’s important to figure out how to grow your business without social media.
The Alternatives: 19 Marketing Strategies that Aren’t Social Media Marketing
So what can you do? First, I’d recommend doing some soul searching to find out how you actually enjoy communicating about your business. If you’ve never taken my Content Personality® quiz, take a moment to do so now — it might just surprise you.
My results did — I thought for sure my content personality type would be written, but it turns out I convert best when I show up live and in person. (You can learn more about that by listening to this 20-minute podcast episode.)
From there, peruse this list of strategies to promote your business without social media and see what resonates with you.
1. Email Marketing
What it is: You already know that email marketing is my love language. It’s the single best way to grow and nurture relationships with your audience. Where social media gets your content in front of 7% of your audience, email open rates can be 30-50%. And it’s especially effective when you see email marketing as a two-way communication tool. I teach people how to double their revenue with one email a week — you can learn more here.
Pros:
- You own the marketing channel and your list.
- Direct access to your audience—they’ve invited you in.
- High ROI
- Performance is easy to track.
Cons:
- Can be tough to get out of “promotions” folder.
- Requires consistency.
See it in action: Want to see how I use email to keep social media to a minimum? Be sure to hop on my list here.
2. Live Video
What it is: Live video is all about real-time connections with people in your audience. Whether you’ve invited them to a workshop, for a networking conversation, or you’re streaming live to an audience, live video is fantastic because it requires very little production. When done well, it’s the next best thing to a live in-person event.
Pros:
- High engagement.
- Helps people get to know you.
- Builds authority.
- Encourages interaction.
- Can be repurposed in other formats and platforms.
- Can be simulcast to other platforms as well.
Cons:
- Requires the right tech and promotion strategies.
See it in action: My friend Nina Froriep and I recently hosted a three-part LinkedIn Live series. Yes, it took place on social media, but you can get a sense of how we used video to build authority and apply it to your use case.
- Part 1 – LinkedIn vs Other Social Media Platforms
- Part 2 – How to Make the LinkedIn Algorithm Love You
- Part 3 – Elevating Your Thought Leadership
3. Podcasts
What it is: You know what podcasts are. In the context of non-social media marketing strategies, it’s a strategy to reach new audiences without social based on similar content. If you are an audio Content Personality®, podcasts are probably your jam, as you use them to inspire, educate, or entertain your audience (and maybe all three)!
Pros:
- Builds connection and trust over time.
- Great for long-form storytelling.
- Fantastic content strategy for sharing your ideas.
Cons:
- Extremely time intensive.
- Requires editing and promotion.
- Takes time to grow your audience.
See it in action: Amy and I host the Grow Your Business for Good podcast. Each season is themed and features 6-8 episodes to help you expand your business while keeping joy front and center.
4. Connection Table Dinners
What it is: As an introvert, I thrive in intimate, small groups that go deep, fast. My connection table dinners are one of my favorite marketing strategies. They’re intimate, in-person dinners designed to cultivate real relationships through shared meals, deep conversation, and meaningful learning moments. These dinners are intentionally created as welcoming spaces—especially for introverts—to network without the overwhelm of large, noisy events.
Pros:
- Builds high-trust, high-conversion relationships
- Especially effective for introverts who prefer smaller gatherings
- Creates memorable experiences that foster connection
- Easy to repurpose into email follow-ups
Cons:
- Time and resource intensive to host.
- Limited reach per dinner.
- Requires thoughtful planning.
See it in action: The best way to learn more about these dinners and other marketing strategies for introverts is to head to this blog post.
5. Recorded Video
What it is: Whether these are recorded live workshops or videos that you pre-recorded and decide to repurpose or repackage, recorded video is a great way to get in front of new audiences. You can take snippets and turn them into short-form videos for Reels and TikToks, share longer-form content on platforms like YouTube, or even create lead magnets and digital content.
Pros:
- Can be great for SEO – did you know that YouTube has SEO too?
- Can be repurposed in myriad ways.
- Showcases expertise and helps people get a sense of who you are.
Cons:
- Takes time to create and edit.
- Less flexible than live video.
- Less engaging than short-form content.
A word to the wise: In fact, this is one of my #1 rules for digital marketing —with or without social media. Don’t promote a video as live if it’s really pre-recorded, like many people do with limited time webinar offers with a few different time slots. Fine to do it, just be transparent that it’s pre-recorded.
6. Online Networking Groups
What it is: Virtual spaces to connect with peers, collaborators, and clients. Now that people are moving away from social media, Facebook groups may be less popular. But this isn’t all new. Engagement in groups has been decreasing over the last few years. Where I am seeing a resurgence is groups that host regular Zoom events, and even groups moving to Slack. Now, I’m not a big fan of Slack, but lots of people love it. Regardless of your platform, these in-person groups are a great way to market without social media.
Pros:
- You can find new colleagues and collaborators.
- These networking groups are often easy to access.
Cons:
- Many groups are paid, so you may need to be selective.
7. Guest Appearances in Groups, Videos, and Podcasts
What it is: Guest appearances in groups, videos, or podcasts are a great way to connect with prospective clients and referral partners without having to go out and find them yourself. By borrowing other people’s audiences, you can simply show up. Plus, the marketing is often shared, with the host taking the lead and you sharing in the promotion. This means the burden isn’t entirely on you.
Pros:
- Expands your audience.
- Helps you build credibility quickly.
- Allows you to share ideas without expending all your energy to find your audience.
Cons:
- Dependent on others’ schedules and platforms.
8. Collaborations on Your Own Stage
What it is: Creating your own stage means that you aren’t competing for space on other people’s stages. And when you collaborate with others, you can create some really fun experiences — whether online or in-person. This could be a one-time panel, workshop, pop-up event, or a recurring partnership. It allows you to merge audiences, share expertise, and create fresh, engaging experiences under your brand umbrella.
Pros:
- Expands your audience through cross-promotion.
- Builds community and credibility.
- Allows for creative expression and flexibility.
- You’re in control of the format, tone, and vibe.
Cons:
- Requires a strong promotion strategy.
- Requires coordination and clear expectations with collaborators.
- Must be clearly scoped.
- Audience engagement depends on the relevance and chemistry of the collaboration.
See it in action: I recently partnered with award-winning fashion stylist Toi Sweeney and leadership coach Kristi Straw for a fun wardrobe and branding event that sold out–without needing broad social media coverage. Great for brand awareness and filling up everyone’s proverbial cup.
9. Attending In-Person Events
What it is: Nurturing relationships through face-to-face events, workshops, and small gatherings.
Pros:
- Personal high-trust connections.
- Extremely memorable.
- Less “competition” than online.
Cons:
- Outside of the energy needed to be in-person, difficult to scale.
- Time & travel costs.
10. Speaking at Conferences
What it is: Teaching or sharing expertise at professional or industry events, is one of the best marketing strategies off of social media because you have a captive audience who wants to learn from you. You can reach an entire room all at once.
Pros:
- Gain instant authority.
- Grow your list quickly.
- Ability to potential clients directly.
- Possible sales at the event if you have a book or small offer.
Cons:
- Not always easy to land.
- Can be highly competitive.
- Travel time.
See it in action: I recently did what I called a 4-city speaking tour. It was fun and put me in front of lots of new people! And since I usually have every audience take my Content Personality® quiz, I’m able to quickly grow my email list. In fact, if you’re looking for ideas on how to build an email list without social media, speaking is my top advice.
11. AEO/SEO Blogging
What it is: If you’re wondering how to get traffic to your website without social media, this is it. AEO/SEO blogging involves writing blog posts optimized for search engines and AI-enabled answer engines. Instead of focusing exclusively on SEO/AEO, these posts should share your perspective and thought leadership. The goal is to drive traffic to your site, which should be optimized to get leads.
Pros:
- Builds long-term traffic.
- Highlights your expertise and authority.
- Grows your email list and sells products.
- Can be repurposed in multiple ways.
- Strong content marketing strategy for most businesses.
Cons:
- SEO can be a long game.
- Can take time to create.
- Needs a solid SEO informed content strategy.
- Requires consistency.
See it in action: You can check out my blog to see some of my content that’s designed to share my expertise, answer people’s questions, and rank high on search engines.
12. Guest Blogging
What it is: Guest blogging is simply publishing your content on other people’s blogs or websites. While it’s similar to other types of guest appearances, it can also be an SEO strategy. Keep in mind, if you’re republishing your existing content, it should be about 30% different from what appears on your site to avoid duplicate content dings.
Pros:
- Gets you in front of other audiences.
- Increases your visibility.
- Helps you build backlinks and domain authority.
Cons:
- Requires more writing of your content.
- May involve significant pitching.
- Content must work for the partner’s audience.
13. Newsletter Takeovers
What it is: Newsletter takeovers often involve writing or being featured in someone else’s newsletter to promote your offer or expertise. People are far more likely to trust you if someone they trust recommends you, so this can be a great way to reach a warm audience.
Pros:
- Can net you a lot of trust.
- Gets you in front of someone else’s audience.
- Can help you grow your mailing list quickly.
Cons:
- Not always an option.
- If they don’t have high engagement or trust, can backfire.
- Must carefully tailor your message.
14. Volunteering
What it is: You already know what volunteering is, but using it as a marketing strategy requires a careful touch. The idea here is not to go into this strategy in promotion mode. Instead, your goal should be to connect organically with others — I often get business from volunteering, even if it’s just doing neighborhood clean-ups. And when I don’t, it feels good no matter what.
Finding volunteer opportunities is easy, whether in person or online. And if you see a need, you can always create your own!
Pros:
- Feels good.
- Allows you to give back or pay it forward.
- Builds goodwill.
- Allows you to grow mission-aligned relationships.
Cons:
- I had to struggle to find a downside here, but outside of a slow burn for lead gen, there really isn’t one.
See it in action: A waterfront clean-up I did led to two parties for my book, Practical Joy (see the next item).
Wondering where to find volunteer opportunities? Once you start looking, you’ll find them everywhere, a few places to start:
- Eventbrite
- Facebook Events
- Community Newspaper
- Book Clubs
- Local Libraries and Bookstores
- Community Cultural Organizations and Museums
15. Write a Book
What it is: Publishing a book can be your ticket to speak at other events. It’s a slow-burn marketing strategy that can be a lot of fun while also sharing your philosophy, framework, or story.
Pros:
- Builds credibility.
- Provides a long-term asset.
- Adds emphasis to your suite of offerings.
Cons:
- Time-intensive to create.
- Can be costly to produce.
- Requires marketing.
See it in Action: I wrote a book that I lovingly refer to as the Joy book. It’s gotten me into so many rooms that might not have been as easy to join, which nearly always leads to speaking engagements, parties (and book sales), and new clients. You can learn about it here.
16. Say Yes
What it is: Saying yes to things out of your comfort zone may be an introvert’s nightmare, but it’s one of the best strategies — and one that allows you to truly market yourself without social media. Yes, it requires being open to unexpected invites, new opportunities, and trying new things. And, while it can be scary, I can promise you that it’s incredibly rewarding as well.
Pros:
- Leads to serendipitous connections.
- Helps you uncover new experiences.
- Can open the door to new opportunities and hobbies.
Cons:
- Can be scary.
- Stretches your bandwidth.
- Not all invitations align with your mission or goals.
What this looks like: This can be anything. Volunteering with your kid’s sports team, showing up to a community event, joining a book club where you don’t know everyone—consider the possibilities!
A word of caution — please don’t equate saying YES to things to not being able to say no. If you’re a people pleaser who says yes often and regrets it later because you’re out of energy, it’s okay to say no. At a minimum, it’s okay to be selective about what you say yes, to.
I often talk about the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO), which is allowing yourself to feel joy in not having to do something. In the case of this article, this is all about feeling the joy of “missing out” on social marketing — or figuring out how to make money without social media.
17. Step Away
What it is: Are you thinking, “Shannon, I’m here to learn how to market without social media — how is stepping away possibly a strategy?” I totally get it. Taking a step back feels counterintuitive when you feel obligated to keep working on your business.
But rest is productive. Creating space for creativity by unplugging and doing non-work activities might just be one of the best things you can do. Whether you choose to go for a walk, hike the Camino in Spain, or join me for a culinary retreat in Mexico, just know that stepping away is a valid and valuable marketing strategy.
Pros:
- Leads to new ideas.
- Provides much-needed clarity.
- Boosts well-being.
- Prevents burnout.
Cons:
- Very few cons come to mind.
See it in action: I have so many examples here, but here are my top two:
One of my best marketing strategies is paying for and attending retreats. When I go to Bali, I’m with people who have a common interest… and those are relationships I can follow up on.
Recently, I shifted my business from quarters to seasons to create a more intuitive alignment with natural rhythms. While I was hiking the Camino, one of the hotels I stayed in had images of Spain’s first farmer’s almanac and it got me thinking… as I walked, I was able to get the clarity I needed to make the shift.
18. Set the Phone Down
What it is: Intentionally stepping away from your phone—especially social media—to reclaim your attention, be present, and use that time for meaningful actions. This could look like creating instead of consuming, making real phone calls, or pursuing passion projects that fuel joy and connection.
Pros:
- Reconnects you with your creativity and purpose.
- Reduces stress and comparison.
- Increases presence and intentionality in both life and business.
- Makes space for more restorative or strategic activities.
Cons:
- Can feel uncomfortable or “unproductive” at first.
- Requires discipline to break default habits (scrolling, reacting).
- You may miss fast-moving updates or trends.
See it in action: Instead of endlessly scrolling Pinterest and Instagram for art inspiration, I started putting my phone down, inviting friends over, and actually painting (then sharing on Instagram). That shift—to creating rather than consuming—has been entirely positive.
19. Choose Joy
What it is: Choosing joy doesn’t always come easily at first. However, I’ve seen how leading with joy as a marketing strategy—as a business strategy—shifts something vital. Most importantly, it becomes easier to make decisions that align with your life and stay true to your convictions.
Pros:
- Builds resonance with joy in your life
- Allows you to nurture sustainable energy.
- Helps you form authentic connections within your business.
- Attracts your perfect-fit clients to you.
Cons:
- There is absolutely no con whatsoever to choosing joy.
Can you be successful without social media?
Short answer — absolutely.
Longer answer — it might take some unlearning.
If you’ve been focused heavily on social media marketing, I expect it will take time to shift your mindset and marketing away from it. However, as big a role as it still plays in my business, the non-social media connections I’ve made have created even more joy in my life.
Here are a few:
Adult Summer Camp at Harmony House
I signed up as a treat for myself — it was art-based and soul-filling. Even better were the friendships — including Sam from Propagate Studio — a NJ thrift store for art supplies. We connected over a shared passion for creativity and a commitment to make the world a better place. When she opened an Art B&B on the property, I was so in love with the mission that I volunteered to write her email campaign. We raised over $10k in 8 weeks.
My Trip on the Camino
You may have read my note above about how stepping away helped me gain clarity on how to better run my business in line with the seasons. There’s even more to it. Friendships from the trail led to unexpected opportunities, including a connection with Sam Lee at IndeCollective— which led to me teaching a course on email marketing and being hired as a Fractional CMO.
Thoughtful Leaders Lunch
I also said yes to a quarterly Thoughtful Leaders Lunch in NYC after someone I didn’t even know—Mindy—messaged me on LinkedIn with a personal invite. That one lunch led to meeting Casey Carpenter, who introduced me to two incredible communities— the National Speakers Association and the United Way of New Jersey. From there, I’ve joined the NJ Women’s Leadership Team and have been invited to teach a Joy workshop for 55,000 women across the country. Every time I show up at NSA events, I walk away with clients—not because I push my business, but because I connect with people who align with my message.
None of this happened because I posted the perfect carousel.
It happened because I trusted that marketing could be a conversation, not a performance for vanity metrics. More importantly, I chose a strategy rooted in joy, not exhaustion.
So if you’re ready to build a marketing plan that grows your business without relying on the scroll…we can help.
Set up a call with Amy to see how we can work together to build a plan that works — joyfully and sustainably— without social media.
