I’ve been seeing a lot of grumbling lately on Instagram about, well, Instagram. Between algorithm changes and site outages, it seems like no one is happy.
And even though I’ve been a huge defender of Instagram in the past (as a visual platform, it seemed like a godsend to artists and makers after the text based days of Twitter), lately I’ve found myself ranting more and more about the platform and it’s flaws. (Especially after reading Cal Newport’s new book, Digital Minimalism.)
And don’t even get me started on Facebook! (I’ve never been a big FB user to begin with, basically only using it by pushing my Instagram posts there.)
It was during one of these rants on our Artists and Profit Makers call this week that I hit on what might be my biggest pet peeve with Facebook and Instagram:
They’ve made us lazy marketers.
Basically, we’ve reached a point where many creatives feel like, once they’ve posted to Facebook and Instagram, their marketing work is done.
Yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. (Especially if you aren’t seeing the sales you want from these platforms.)
As someone who started her business in the days before Facebook and Instagram, I’m well aware that there are plenty of other ways to market your business that have nothing to do with Facebook or Instagram.
So in the interest of making us all more well-rounded marketers again, I’m sharing this list I made of ways to market your business that aren’t Facebook or Instagram.
I’ve talked about a few of these before, but I wanted to give you even more ideas to get your wheels turning. You certainly don’t have to do all of them (that would be overwhelming), and some of them may work better for your business than others, but I’d encourage you to give at least a few of them a try. (Especially if you’re feeling fed up with FB and IG.)
I’ve also tried to link as many of these ideas as possible to more detailed resources (like classes or blog posts) in case you want a little more help getting started! (And of course, if you need even more help, I answer questions and provide coaching inside Artists and Profit Makers.)
2. Blogging
3. Pinterest
4. Guest blogging
5. Press outreach (product features, interviews, studio tours, etc.)
6. Being a guest on a podcast
9. Retail shows
11. Trade shows
12. SEO
13. Word of mouth & referrals
14. Networking
15. Speaking & teaching
16. Influencer marketing & collaborations
17. Advertising (online and print)
18. Other social media platforms (Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, etc.)
This list isn’t definitive, but it’s a starting place to help make you a more well-rounded marketer! (And you also don’t need to do all of them – pick and choose what works best for you – though I do consider email marketing a non-negotiable!)
And don’t forget the key component to making many of these marketing strategies work – consistency! (Something I talk about in the second video of this post.) So even if you’ve tried a few of these in the past with lackluster results, it may be time to try again, with renewed commitment.
Of course, if FB and IG are still working for your business, there’s no need to abandon ship. But if you’re feeling like it’s time to make a change, give one (or more) of these activities a try.
Because it is possible (even in this day and age) to market your business without using Facebook or Instagram!
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Tired of one sized fits all business advice that doesn’t really apply to artists and makers? Click here to get my exclusive Free Training: Market Like an Artist (or Maker)
