Why I’m Building My Business Without Social Media (And What I’m Doing Instead)

I don’t know if it’s the recovering perfectionist in me… or the people pleaser… or the overthinking introvert… (yeah, it’s a lot over here),  but the thought of showing up on social media makes me sick to my stomach.

I’ve tried it.

Last summer, I committed to a 30-day content challenge: Instagram reels, stories, in-feed posts, the whole thing.

And here’s what I learned:

1. A lot goes into creating content.

2. Most of it didn’t feel authentic to me.

3. I was forcing it.

Filming b-roll of me playing with my son? I just wanted to play, not worry about where the tripod was or whether I had the right angle.

Recording recipe videos for TikTok? Fun in theory… but spending 30 extra minutes repositioning my phone every five minutes? Not it.

Even when I tried to be “real” and “show up messy,” it still felt like a performance.

What I Realized

I don’t want my business to be built on content I hate creating.

I don’t want to shout on Instagram just to be seen.

I don’t want to spend my days optimizing trending audio when I could be spending time with my family or serving a client I care about.

And even though I know visibility is important,  I’m not convinced that social media is the only way to build a successful business.

So… I deleted the apps.

No more Instagram. No more TikTok. No more doom-scrolling, overthinking, or putting pressure on myself to “just post something.”

But Wait — Doesn’t Every Online Business Need Social?

That’s what I thought too.

In fact, I even asked ChatGPT (thanks to a Jenna Kutcher prompt) to be brutally honest about my business roadblocks.

The response? “Lack of visibility”,  followed by a social media action plan that involved posting every single day.

Um. No.

This blog post might age horribly. Maybe I’ll eat my words and come running back to reels and reach and comments.

But maybe not.

Maybe this will be proof that you don’t have to do business like everyone else to grow something that works.

So What Am I Doing Instead?

I’m not going dark. I’m just doing visibility differently — in a way that feels aligned with my personality, my values, and my life.

Here’s what I am doing to grow my business right now (without social):

• Tapping into referrals. Past clients, biz friends, and trusted contacts who know my work - these are the people I’m reconnecting with and reaching out to.
  

• Creating content I actually enjoy. Like this blog. I love writing. I love sharing real-life metaphors. I love helping people understand the backend of their business in a way that makes sense.
  

• Showing up in value-based spaces. Think networking groups, digital bundles, referral directories -  not random algorithm-driven platforms.
  

• Building strong foundations. Offers that solve real problems. Systems that are sustainable. Visibility that doesn’t require constant output to work.
  

• Letting people find me -  the right people. Through word of mouth, search, conversations, and partnerships. Not through a feed they’re mindlessly scrolling.

Final Thoughts

If you love social media - amazing. Keep doing what works for you.

But if you’re burned out, anxious, or just over it… I want this post to be proof that there are other ways.

Yes, visibility matters.

But it should never come at the cost of authenticity, joy, or peace.

So if you’ve been feeling like you “have to” post to grow - consider this your permission slip to build a business that works without it.

Let’s see how this goes. I’ll keep you posted!