A World Without Social Media: Exploring Marketing Alternatives.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared that I was putting together a long-term plan to end my relationship with social media. I’ve cold-quit it. Deleted the apps. Put on those time limits. But there’s something I’ve never done—laid out an intentional plan.
To my surprise, I received so many encouraging responses, most sounding like this: “Let me know if it works, I’ve been wanting to do this too.” It got me thinking about what a long-term plan for marketing without social media looks like. Instagram, or any other platform, is no longer part of my vision. So, if that’s true, what does growing my work without social media mean
Image from Daniel Farò on Death to Stock
“Is it even feasible?
That’s what I’m learning.”
Image from Daniel Farò on Death to Stock
What I’ll Miss About Social Media
I won’t lie—there’s a part of me that feels a little nervous about this. I’ve made some great friends through social media, and as an adult, making friends can be really hard. Social media made it easier to connect with people I might never have met otherwise. That’s something I’m not sure how to replace yet.
What I’m Planning Instead
I think this will be a season of refocusing on the friendships I already have. Maybe it’s about committing to fewer, deeper connections. Less is more, right? I’ll focus on nurturing these relationships with more intentionality, using other tools like email or even a good old-fashioned phone call. I’m still figuring this part out, but I think it’s possible.
The Tools I Have
I also started asking myself: What do I have to work with?
Here’s what came up:
Time – With the hours I’d typically spend on social media, I now have more time to experiment and dive deeper into other areas.
Desire to experiment – This is a new territory, but I feel excited to try out different strategies and see what works.
Financial support – I’m fortunate to have a partner who supports me financially, which gives me the flexibility to step back and approach this transition thoughtfully.
Website and organic traffic – I already have a website with a solid amount of organic traffic through my blog. That’s one of the big reasons I feel this shift is possible.
This reminds me of a principle in Yin Yoga: Identify what is, commit to the shape, then stay in stillness. It’s how responding is different from reacting. For me, this plan feels like the stillness—choosing to respond to the direction my work is naturally moving, rather than reacting out of fear of missing out on social media.
Exploring Alternatives
I’m learning that marketing without social media means looking for other ways to build community and share my work. A few ideas I’m considering:
Email marketing – Newsletters offer a direct, personal way to connect with people. I’ve been working on crafting more thoughtful emails, offering value in a way that feels more sustainable.
SEO and content marketing – Since my blog already gets organic traffic, I’ll lean more into creating content that reaches people who are genuinely searching for it.
Collaborations – Building relationships with other like-minded businesses or individuals can create opportunities to grow in ways that feel more authentic than scrolling through a feed.
It’s a bit of an experiment, and I’m learning as I go. If anything, it feels more aligned with how I want to show up in the world—less noise, more depth.
So, is a world without social media possible? I think so. It might be slower, but I’m okay with that. What I’m learning is that growth doesn’t have to be tied to a platform; it can happen when you respond with intention and let things unfold in their own time.
