How I'm marketing without Instagram

You don’t need Instagram to grow your business. In fact, I’m here to tell you that stepping away from Instagram was one of the best decisions I made for my sanity and success. I stopped using Instagram to market my business in 2022, and January 2024 I deleted Instagram from my devices. 

I’m here to tell you that if you are Internet Intolerant and Instagram leaves you more depleted than invigorated - you can and you should let it go.

I know what you're thinking: "But I've always used Instagram for marketing. I get clients from there. Isn't it essential?" or “I worked so hard to get XX,000 followers. I can’t just throw it all away.”

I was like many of you: in a toxic relationship with a platform that was no longer serving me. I was stuck on the good ol’ days and scared to shut it down, because I hadn’t seen anyone else who had successfully done it. Then I got around 8 and 9-figure business owners who don’t have social media accounts and realized I was in a bubble. 

Big business still happens regardless of Instagram.

Yes, Instagram can help you get clients, but at what cost? Are you getting them as quickly as you used to years ago? I’ll be honest: the ROI on Instagram for me was no longer worth the time and effort I was putting into it. 

In less than a year, I built a software platform with 500 users and launched a new agency service for small businesses. 

How to grow a business without Instagram or social media

Here's how I pivoted—and how you can, too:

1. In-Person Connections > Social Media Overload

While my digital brand has been around for over 12 years, my IRL brand needed some work.The network I built in Atlanta over 5 years ago had gone flat, and I needed to become strategic by attending events and speaking at conferences in order to position myself as a thought leader. I gained over 100 software users and 3 retainer clients from 2 in-person events.

2. Paying for Leads, Not Content

I’ve always said I can’t stand creating reels. But I also know the power of short-form video. Instead of spending hours creating content myself, I turned to Instagram ads with UGC (User-Generated Content) creators as the face of my ads. This allowed me to acquire 300 new software users without having to be on Instagram, show my face, or create my own content.  I also paid for leads by sponsoring newsletters to drive traffic to my offers. And, these cost me far less time, money and effort than hiring a social media manager, VA or content editor.

3. Leveraging Other Platforms

I also explored other platforms such as Substack and Threads to ensure I maintained my thought leadership and still had an ear to the internet streets. Great marketing requires you to keep up with your ideal clients and their pain points. Threads has been a goldmine for engaging with my ideal clients, and I converted a few dozen into users — even without direct calls to action.

Other marketing strategies and platforms that help you get visible are:

• Referrals

• Email and SMS Marketing

• SEO on Pinterest, Youtube, Podcasts or Search Engines

• Speaking Engagements

• Google Business Listing

• Directories like Yelp

• Collaborations with adjacent businesses

• Ads

• Networking Events

• Direct Mail

• Billboards

4. CEO-Free Marketing

Here’s the big one: Marketing doesn’t have to fall on your shoulders. I know seeing the list above can feel overwhelming. As a business owner, it’s easy to feel like nobody can market your business better than you. But that’s a lie I had to unlearn. This year, I hired someone to manage my marketing strategy and leveraged my agency team to execute it.

As a result, I freed up my time to focus on scaling, exit strategies, and growth—all while maintaining a strategic marketing presence without being the one constantly creating, posting, or reviewing content.

The Bottom Line:

You don’t need to spend all your time on Instagram, and you don’t need to constantly create content to get results. There are smarter, more effective ways to build your business—and it’s not about showing up on social media every day.

Yes, you need to get leads daily, but do they necessarily have to come from Instagram?

I want to help you run a profitable, sustainable business, without getting caught up in the noise of Instagram, TikTok, or whatever new platform is trending. I believe great marketing shouldn’t be limited to the people who have the largest budgets, most time, or most information. Great marketing and profitable businesses are for everyone - even the ones who don’t want to be on Instagram.

Marketing doesn’t have to be exhausting—it just needs to be strategic.

Hoping you give yourself a little breathing room from social media,
Emmelie

P.S. My team can handle your marketing so you don’t have to spend another minute on Instagram. Let’s talk about how we can take this off your plate for good.

Learn more here.