5 Ways to Build Your Business Away from Social Media

Social media, in general, is not your website.

Where were you when Facebook and Instagram malfunctioned for 14 hours? Were you up in arms because your business lost money because of the outage? Were you pulling out your hair because you couldn’t connect with your clients? Did life just end due to the shutdown?

If so, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone.

Social media, specifically Instagram, has become a vital part of our social interactions. I’ll admit: one of the first things I do in the morning is go to Instagram. If nothing but to see my comments, likes, followers, and DMs. I’m solely on social media for my business. However, my business doesn’t depend on social media.

If yours does, you see how much your business and livelihood can be compromised by the mishaps of Big Business. Truth: Facebook and Instagram are businesses that only care about their business. They don’t care about your business. #ijs

After both platforms went down, I’m sure you were looking for a way out, a way to continue business outside of social media. While my business wasn’t affected, I do want your business to be as unbothered as Gayle, so here are 5 Ways to Build Your Business Away from Social Media:

1. HAVE A FUNCTIONING WEBSITE AND EMAIL

It might seem self-explanatory, especially in the “Google Age”, that every emerging or current business owner should have a functioning website and email address, but sadly, that’s not the case. No matter if you’re thinking about starting a business or have been in business for years, you need a website (or landing page) to house your content. It’s important that your website is professionally made with no errors or glitches. It’s nothing worse for a site visitor to click on a link and receive an error.

Besides having a website, you should have a professional email address that you check frequently. Even if you don’t respond right away, set up an auto responder to “respond” in your absence.

Your social media profile doesn’t take the place of your website. Your website is the hub of activity for your business. Social media is a place where you can conduct business, but having a website legitimizes your business.

2. USE THE SAME BUSINESS NAME (OR SOMETHING SIMILAR) ON ALL PLATFORMS

On Instagram and YouTube, I’m @skyemediagroup.

On Facebook, I’m /skyemediagroupdesign.

On Twitter, I’m @iamskyemedia.

IRL, I’m Toni Brown, formerly Toni Patterson.

You can Google any of my business names and find me. You can also Google my clients to find me through them. In the beginning, I made sure that I snatched up my business name on every platform, so SMG would be easy to Google.

For brand visibility, your business name, domain name, social media profile handles, etc. should be the same. Even if Instagram or Facebook are down, when someone Googles your name or business name, they’ll still be able to find you (Hopefully, via your website or email address).

3. USE A CLIENT RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Ever heard of Accuity? Or my CRM of choice, Dubsado? These easy-to-use tools help you organize, track, and manage your clients and potential clients. While it’s important that you have a newlstter list (I use Mailchimp), it’s just as important to have a CRM.

I manage all client communications, contracts, invoices, and presentations through Dubsado. This 3rd-party program makes it easier and more efficient to manage my current and potential client, so if social media goes down again, I’ll be able to reach all prospects regardless.

4. COME FROM BEHIND YOUR PHONE (OR COMPUTER) AND MEET NEW PEOPLE

It’s easy to create a world where only your business and online friends exist. Hey, I’ve done it, and sometimes still get caught up in my own business that I forget to mingle with humans.

Make a concerted effort to attend 2-3 networking events per month. People will draw closer to and remember you when they’ve actually met you. If you can’t get out for whatever reason, schedule Google Hangouts, Facetime, or Skype calls with your online connections. The point is to put a face and voice behind a name. Remember, people connect with people.

5. BE SO GOOD THEY DON’T FORGET YOU AND REFER YOU

Imagine getting referrals from people you’ve never met.

Imagine making such an impression that you remain in their minds when someone is looking for that special something only you have.

Relationship marketing is vital to the success of your business. More personal than traditional and digital marketing, relationship marketing builds on who you are as a person and how you show up and forges that memory in your audience. When you build great relationships with others (whether they’ve met you or not) you’re building your business away from social media successfully.

I hope you integrate these suggestions in your business. It’s vital that grow your business away from social media. It’s a helpful tool, but invest your energy in other effective ways. You don’t want to be left high & dry should Instagram and Facebook glitch again.