Quitting Social Media: A Business Owner's Perspective
This is a bit more personal than I usually get on the blog because it was a very personal decision to leave social media for my business. Quitting social media isn't something I take lightly. A lot of people build very successful businesses organically thanks to social platforms like Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. But for me, it's never felt like a good fit and finally, it's time for me to let it go and make space for other marketing strategies that fit me and my real life better.
So in this blog post, I'll explain why I've made this choice and how it has positively impacted both my well-being and my business.
Why I quit social media
I've been half-heartedly posting on Instagram and Facebook for almost 4 years but it's never been a big driver of traffic to my website or a great way to grow my email list. It's mostly been a sort of billboard I was putting out to make my business look "legitimate" and "professional"... but I'm less and less convinced that my sporadic posts were doing that.
I'm in a season of life and business where my time matters A LOT. Not just the time it takes to create the content but the time I was spending in the comments section, checking out my followers or accidentally doom-scrolling... It was far too much time for a marketing platform that wasn't giving me great results!
So after my latest launch where my social efforts were anything but fruitful, I decided to quit!
Surprising mental health impacts of leaving social media
While the decision to leave social media was largely a strategic one for my business based off of the results and data from over 4 years of efforts, there was also a mental health component to this decision too...
I'm neurodivergent, a parent and have fluctuating energy levels that can make showing up for certain parts of my business challenging at times. And after a particularly challenging year personally, showing up on social media felt like one thing too many for me to manage. I also noticed I was spending more time than I liked to admit aimlessly scrolling on social media even when not working... and it wasn't great for my mental health.
So removing the social media apps from my phone became a top priority.
Marketing without social media
Now, my business won't stop now I'm off social media! I'll still need ways to market and grow my business, so here's where I'll be focusing my efforts now I've freed up the time I was spending on social:
Email marketing
Email marketing has always been my #1 best marketing and sales platform and will continue to be the focus of my marketing. There's just something special about being able to reach people directly in their inboxes when they've invited you to be there, and will likely never be beaten!
My SEO-focused blog
My blog has always been the focus of my forward-facing marketing and the most robust, in-depth content I've created for most of my years in business. These days I'm creating more on creating SEO-focused blog content with strategic articles that meet people with helpful, clear and compelling answers to their searches!
A newer marketing platform for me but a perfect pair for my blogging, Pinterest is another search-focused platform that uses visuals instead of words. While it can be intimidating to create a ton of content for Pinterest, I'm keen to put more effort into creating pretty Pins to drive extra traffic to my blog, freebies and digital products.
YouTube
I'm starting a YouTube channel to complete my content marketing strategy! I've always enjoyed video content (I did work in film, remember!) and am quite comfortable in front of a camera, so it's exciting to dabble in a new medium and a new platform!
Collaborations
To round out my marketing efforts, I'll be complementing my content marketing with more collaborative stragies like speaking in summits and participating in bundles. Over the past 2 years I've participated in at least 50+ of these collaborative events and they've grown my email list by thousands! And for me, they are some of the fastest, easiest ways to get in front of lots of the right fit people.
What are some strategies for successfully quitting social media?
You could simply just delete your social apps and ghost your followers if you wanted, but I'd recommend a little more of a strategic approach if you decide to take your business off social.
First, make srue you have some other marketing platforms in place to pick up the slack. If you've only ever grown a social following and haven't build up your email list, perhaps it's worth sticking it out a little longer on social and putting all your efforts on encouraging your followers to join your list. If you do have other marketing in place, you might want to make plans for how you'll pour into them a bit more now you won't have social media in the mix.
Then, I think it's worth make sure your social footprint is still serving your business. Spend a little time updating your profiles, make sure you have working links to your website and lead magnets where you can and maybe even a farewell post saying you won't be hanging out on social media anymore but your audience can find you elsewhere.
If you're also eager to ease off of using social media for your business I'd love to invite you to come along with me on my Social Sabbatical! I'm documenting my thoughts, results and new marketing ideas as I move my business off of social for (at least!) 90 days.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, quitting social media for my business has been one of the best decisions I've made for both my mental health and my business growth! It has allowed me to escape the comparison game, reclaim my time, build authentic connections, prioritize my mental well-being, focus on what truly matters, and embrace a newfound sense of freedom.
Now, I'm not suggesting that quitting social media is the right choice for everyone. Each entrepreneur's journey is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. However, I encourage you to reflect on your relationship with social media and consider whether it's truly serving you and your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I quit social media too?
As you consider quitting social media, it's essential to have alternative marketing strategies in place to maintain your business's visibility and engagement. Updating your social footprint with working links and a farewell post can help redirect your audience to other platforms or channels. If you're looking to transition away from social media, make sure to check out my Social Sabbatical private podcast with regular reports from the frontline as I step away from social.
How did your life change after leaving social media?
After leaving social media, I didn't suddenly become a different person of business owner. But I did have one huge distraction and time-suck out of the way!
Personally, leaving social media has given me more time, focus and confidence in my marketing and been a really great boost for my mental health too.
