I’ve tried the ‘gram, done the 30 reels in 30 days challenge, and grown a new account from 0 to 4k in two weeks. 😪

Yet, I always come back to what matters. 🤭

If posting a reel every day gives you the ick, but you still want to grow your cozy online business without having to show up on the socials all the freaking time, this guide was oh-so-specifically designed for you⎯  so keep reading/watching! 👀

 

 

 

What You’ll Learn

In this post, you’ll discover the go-to alternatives to market and grow your cozy online business WITHOUT relying on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

 

Meet Mia: Your Cozy Business Coach

Hello! Tis Mia! Your friend, business coach, and fellow introvert who’s into four major things in life:

1. Coffee
2. Chocolate
3. Comfort Shows á la Friends and Grey’s Anatomy (seriously, must have re-watched from the beginning a bazillion times, no joke)
4. Cozy Pajama Lifestyle where I get to be me, create for a living, and help others, but do it all from my cozy nook, in my PJs while indulging in all of the above activities simultaneously (I promise, it’s possible).

If you’re into any of those things, I’m going to be as bold as to say that you’ve found your new haven on the interwebs – your safe place, your go-to spot for learning how to build a cozy online business the introvert way.

Welcome! You fit in just perfectly! 💖 

 

1. Messaging is on Fleek with an SEO and Niche-Optimized Website

When people first find you, what’s in it for them? Are the words on your website speaking directly to them? Are the visuals appealing to them? Is it a match made in heaven?

For your cutie website to show up in search results, aka making it SEO-friendly, it must be a breeze to use and navigate. People’s attention spans are close to zero seconds, so the words, visuals, flow, and ease of use of your website are crucial.

Tips for Optimizing Your Website:

1. Crystal Clear Messaging:
   • Clearly state what you do (the problem you solve).
   • Specify who you help (whose problem you solve).
   • Explain how you do it (how you solve this problem).
2. SEO Best Practices:
   • Keyword your content correctly (blogs, headings, meta tags, and URLs).
   • Ensure your website is easy to navigate.
   • Make sure the menu is clear and accessible.
   • Include a link to your freebie and your about page above the scroll.
   • Ensure mobile-friendliness.
   • Optimize site speed (CSS, images, design).

I use Showit for my setup combined with WordPress.

Let me know in the comments if you’d like to see more in-depth content about website optimization.

 

2. SEO and Content Marketing

We’re not entirely done with SEO just yet. To grow your cozy online business, you still need to put value out there, but it does not have to be reels, carousels, or short-form video. Thank the lordy lord!

The Power of Long-Form Content:

• Blogs: How-tos, case studies, educational posts, or podcast transcripts.
• YouTube Videos: Owned by Google and operates as a search engine.

Creating high-quality long-form content attracts organic traffic from Google and Pinterest. Blogging is still one of the best ways to build authority, show people that you are someone worth paying attention to, and ultimately, someone worth buying from.

SEO, Google, and Pinterest are more of a long-term game, but by taking this slow-growth approach, you’ll be planting evergreen trees all over the webiverse (in fact, a whole forest of them). Evergreen content means content that people are always searching for (e.g., how to be more productive working from home).

 

3. Email Marketing

I swear, I will die on this hill …

Building an email list is THE best way to build an audience in true introvert style.

People always say that the money is in the list, but I tend to say…the DREAM is in the list.

Steps to Start Email Marketing:

1. Sign up for ConvertKit (email marketing software)
2. Create a Freebie: A free gift or download to attract subscribers.
3. Promote Your Sign-Up Form: Place it everywhere (website, menu, blogs).
4. Set Up Your Welcome Sequence: A series of automated emails to nurture new subscribers.

Cool facts to keep in mind →

• Email marketing has an average ROI of $42 for every $1 spent
• 99% of email users check their inbox every day
• 58% of adults check their email first thing in the morning

If you’re wondering where to start, download my free roadmap, “The Dream List Roadmap,” to guide you through building a list of dreamy subscribers.

 

5. Online Communities

Expand your digital social circle by joining cozy communities and making authentic connections in an introvert-friendly way.

How to Make Connections Online:

1. Join Communities: Start with a few (Facebook groups, free or paid communities).
2. Lurk and Observe: Get a feel for the community.
3. Reach Out: Connect with people you vibe with.

Making connections online is invaluable – even as an introvert. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey, but connections can lead to genuine friendships and collaborations that grow your cozy online business. Schedule time to make pure and honest connections on your calendar to ensure you take this step.

 

5. Referral Systems

Set up referral systems in your business. Preferably, these systems will be automated so you don’t even have to think about them.

Examples of Referral Systems:

• Newsletter Freebies: On the thank you page when new subscribers join or in the welcome sequence, include a PS section where people have the option to share the freebie with a friend.
• Affiliate Programs: Set up an affiliate program for one of your courses or offers.

These systems help grow your audience and business behind the scenes.

 

6. Paid Ads

Paid ads are not an organic way to grow your biz, but they are a surefire way to get the right eyeballs on your content, website, and email list.

Ads to play with:

• Meta (Facebook + Instagram) Ads
• Pinterest Ads
• Google Ads

I’ve run Meta ads to my free blogging course and other freebies I’ve offered in the past, and they have converted well.

The key is to send people to something worthwhile, like a freebie page where they get something valuable for free and you get their email.

 

Let’s sum it up bay bay

Now you have six non-social media strategies to grow your online business and audience:

1. Optimize Your Messaging and Website: Ensure it resonates with your audience.
2. Leverage SEO and Content Marketing: Create valuable, long-form content.
3. Build an Email List: Utilize email marketing to nurture and grow your audience.
4. Join Online Communities: Make genuine connections with like-minded individuals.
5. Implement Referral Systems: Automate and encourage word-of-mouth growth.
6. Consider Paid Ads: Invest in targeted ads to boost your reach.

Which strategy will you try first? Let me know in the comments because I genuinely want to know. 💖 

If you found this guide helpful, please give it a thumbs up, subscribe, and share it with others.

Now that you know you can build a business without social media, I suggest you watch this video all about email marketing.

Tootles and cozy vibes!

 

ADD THESE EPS TO YOUR QUEUE: 

• Should you start a YouTube channel for your cozy business?
• Being multi-passionate and navigating the niche 🫣
• Finding your ✨spark✨ again after time away – 4 things that’ll definitely help

 

Cozy things to check out next:

• FREE value-stuffed weekly newsletter “Cozy Biz Bites”
• FREE email marketing roadmap
• FREE Start Your Dream Blog Mini Course
• FREE Business Hub ClickUp Template
• FREE *SHINE* masterclass (build an audience introvert style)
• FREE Create Your Dreamy Online Course Masterclass