Do You Really Need a Social Media Presence to Build Your Business?

Do you really need a social media presence to build your business?

This was a question I saw from a health coach recently. It’s such a great topic that I wanted to write a post about it in case you may be wondering the same thing.

First, let’s take a little trip back in time…

Think back a few years before Facebook (2004), and before Instagram or Twitter. Before the Internet! Before we had smartphones that were attached to us 24/7. 

Wow – it seems like it’s been ages, but it wasn’t all that long ago.

People were able to build successful businesses before the Internet and social media, so the short answer is yes, it is possible to build your business without a big social media presence. 

BUT… here’s the thing. Social media can expedite the process and allow you to reach a lot more people. Having a social media presence can allow you to make connections and get new clients way beyond your geographic area.

Social media marketing takes Time, Effort, and Consistency though, and not everyone has the patience or time to learn the ins and outs of it. 

For some health coaches, the thought of having to figure out what to post, when to post it, and how to make the most out of social media feels way too daunting. They get stuck in analysis paralysis, or they’re spending time on the wrong things, then wonder why it’s not working. 

Having a social media presence is great, but there also needs to be a system in place for how you use it. You don’t just want to share health tips and information, and nothing else.

For example, use your social media platform(s) to allow people to become familiar with you. Think “like, know, trust” – your followers need to know the real person behind the social media handle. One way to do this is to post a bit about yourself from a personal standpoint, what you’ve been up to, what new discoveries you’ve made that may help them too, what struggles you’ve had and what helped you. Share your personality and have fun with it.

It’s also critical that you invite your followers to be on your email list. Offering an enticing freebie is key to building your email list, and you do this by promoting in on social media.

Most people won’t be ready to work with you right away so it is important to be able to stay in contact with them on a regular basis (each week) and let them know of your program offerings from time to time. For tips on the right way to use social media to build your business, check out this post HERE.

If you are new to the social media scene (we ALL start out as newbies) focus on one or two platforms at the most when you begin. Do not try to be everywhere because you will spend way too much time trying to figure out the nuances that are unique to each platform (and drive yourself crazy in the process). Pick one social media site to tackle at a time and build from there.

Right now, Facebook has the most options for targeting ads and reaching your niche (as long as your target audience is over the age of 25) so if you had to pick just one, I recommend Facebook. That doesn’t mean you can’t dabble on other sites, but Facebook is a great starting point. 

It’s possible to build your business with little to no social media presence but it will mean getting out there and doing things like workshops, classes, networking, and getting referral partners (doctors, chiropractors) on a regular basis. I know of coaches that receive a decent stream of steady referrals from doctors and chiropractors. This takes planning and consistency, but some people enjoy the face-to-face interaction a lot more. If that’s you – start there, then add the social media element when you can.

Decide on a schedule for delivering workshops and classes (2-4 per month is a number good if you want to really get a jump start). Reach out to people in the community that are well-connected to find businesses that can promote your workshop and give you a space to hold your event. Collect email addresses at each event so you can stay in touch with the attendees (via your weekly emails), and offer great tips, recipes, and share a bit about your life and your journey so people can get to know you.

Most people will not be ready to work with you right away. Staying in touch with them (through emails and/or social media) and letting them know how they can work with you means that there’s a good chance you will be the person they come to when they need help. If they only see you one time at your event, they’ll forget about you within a couple of weeks (and not remember how to contact you).

As a business owner, you get to pick and choose how you spend your time, so do what makes the most sense to you at this moment. Find people that can help you if the social media piece is too much for you right now.

When used properly, social media can elevate your brand and your business, but it takes time to find your groove. If you prefer to get out in your community, network, and find referral partners, focus on that for now, and add other marketing strategies as you can.