The social media oligarchs want you comfortably trapped in their digital worlds.
At least that’s my take on things.
Cynical, maybe. But any savvy business owner knows the most dangerous number in business is… one.
Pinning all your hopes and dreams on building an audience on one social media platform is a recipe for misery when the inevitable squeeze comes.
Probably through unreasonable terms and conditions. Deplatforming. Or some other business-emasculating thing you can’t control.
Displaying competitor ads to your private Facebook group members, comes to mind.
I don’t want to experience social media-induced heartbreak in my business.
So my simple policy is…
All social media roads lead to my email list Rome.
In other words… the point of social media in my business is for people to find and join my email list.
From links in my Facebook bio. Featured items and articles on LinkedIn. Links in my YouTube video descriptions.
When they come to me through social media, I am free to build a relationship with them using a platform I can control.
One that I can’t be locked out of.
And where I can choose whatever email service provider suits me for delivering content to them.
It’s true, I use social media to meet other business owners I can partner with. And connect with clients I can help.
But I have zero interest in building a community group on social media.
Sure, it’s good for plenty of people doing this. And they’ve had enormous wins.
Risky, though.
But I can guarantee… if and when I create any sort of community…
I’ll die before I host it on Facebook. Or LinkedIn. Or wherever.
Fighting words?
Yeah… well, I’m in a fighting mood today…
Fighting for small businesses like mine to have the freedom to build their own engaged audience of fans…
Free from the slimy tentacles of corporate behemoths.
And… if you’re worried I’m robbing Daddy Facebook of his rightful dues… don’t be…
Because any content I publish, or time spent engaging with people on the platform…
Gives Facebook ample opportunity to collect its pound of flesh…
In terms of our attention. And data collected.
But I get my “money’s worth” too.
Because I take even more ruthless advantage of social media for the benefit of my business. And that’s by…
Never letting a good post or reply I’ve made sit unrepurposed.
I stash away any meaty-enough replies to people’s questions. Or any posts I’ve made that have suitably good content in them.
I guess you could call it may rainy-day pile of content…
Ready to be repurposed as emails. And then into blog posts. Or articles after that.
Not all the steps for the process I follow are “Obvious Adams” stuff.
But I’ve written them all down in my ebook…
The Lazybones Method of Easy Content Creation.
(Cool name, right? Heh… I can enjoy it… even if it’s not your thing. Doesn’t take away from the awesomeness it contains. 😁)
And… if you’re ready to build your email list… go here…
EmailForTheWin.com
Chris Milham