Don't get me wrong, I love Instagram. The community I've built on the platform over the past 3 years has held me in some of my best and worst times. I've worked with the most incredible souls and been introduced to work I may not have otherwise found. I also find it a wonderfully inspiring place for me to develop content ideas, find out more ways to be of service and just delve into the inspiring souls who I follow. But, as with most things, there's a caveat to that.
And it's why I decided to explore Marketing Without Instagram.
Instagram is an epic tool to share your creations, but it's impossible to ignore some of the downsides too. It's highly saturated, has a very inconsistent and hard to predict algorithm and just generally maintains a fairly fast pace. For those of you who prefer a softer approach in all that you do, Instagram marketing may feel like a treadmill set too fast. Or, a space where you are fighting to be seen and still feel invisible. A notion that can be disheartening when so much of your marketing is rooted in the app. There's no need to feat though because Instagram is just one marketing modality and there are plenty of other avenues to explore.
Pinterest Marketing
I don't mind admitting that my Pinterest obsession is out of hand. The first thing I do when I sit at my desk each day is scroll the feed as I sip my matcha... yep, I'm that girl. People always ask me why I love it so much and my answer is simple: it feels slow, nourishing and actually expands my creative energy instead of zapping it. It's also a far more passive form of marketing in that you post a pin and it can continue to be found a long time after you posted it (unlike Instagram where it feels like it gets lost in the abyss). Plus, the link function is *chefs kiss!* - none of this "link in my bio", just one tap takes them to the desired destination. Have a search of people in similar industries to see what is landing, explore some Canva Pinterest graphics and just give it a go! You can also apply the techniques below to boost your posts too.
SEO Marketing
If you have a website, it's a good idea to consider optimising it. This means it can be found organically, which is a huge marketing bonus because you end up reaching the people searching for what you do instead of having to seek them out yourself. It also can be happening whilst you sleep! So its an excellent way you to slow down on your marketing. SEO is a huge topic, but if you are completely new to it, I have a few tips to help you.
Use SEM Rush to find the key words in your industry
Search the keywords on Google to explore what already exists
Type some of the words into Answer The Public to see what people are searching
Use that exact language throughout your website
Create a blog that answers some of the common questions asked
Build an Email List
Easily one of the most effective ways to practice marketing without using Instagram, email marketing is an essential part of any marketing strategy. There's a reason email marketing is often referred to as "nurturing". It presents people with ample opportunity to find out more about what you do, how it serves and if it's for them when they are in a place to receive it (key part of marketing). Setting up workflows means you can take people on customer journeys that really help paint a clear picture of what you do, whilst people giving ample space to decide if it aligns for them. It's incredibly impactful as it lands directly in front of people and emails are proven to have a much higher conversion rate than most other platforms. You can begin to explore setting up workflows in Flodesk - with 50% off if you click here.
Threads
If you have a lot to say, but feel like trying to get it all out there in a way that is curated puts you off posting on Instagram, then Threads is for you. A much easier way to create, Threads is an excellent way to help you express more freely, without overthinking or consuming too much of your time. The unfiltered energy is also great for building your personal brand. When people get to know you as a human, they build a stronger resonance and you become far more memorable. What opinions are burning on the tip of your tongue? What is everyone talking about that you disagree with? What's something that you've witnessed that has got you excited? What's your "die on this hill" viewpoint of the work that you do? The more you can express yourself, the more magnetic your marketing becomes.
Communities
So much of modern day marketing strategies focus on reaching the masses (aka "going viral"). In one of my favourite marketing books The Tipping Point, Malcom Gladwell speaks on the power of a "cascade of influence", referring to ripple effects that happen in small communities. The smaller the community, the higher levels of trust and the more likely people are to take action. Think of where your clients are hanging out. Are they in Facebook groups? Is there a Telegram community? Do they have online meet ups? If not, can you be the one to create one? Not to sell to people, but to showcase your expertise/genius/passion in a way that connects with people first.
Want to create a marketing plan that feels totally aligned to you?
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