December 11, 2024 • 13 mins
In this episode of Solve It With Tech, we’re diving into a critical question: What would you do if social media fired you? Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are powerful tools, but they’re rented space that can disappear in an instant.
I share real-life stories (including one from 2008!) of businesses losing everything because they relied solely on social media, and I’ll show you how to avoid that fate.
Learn how to protect your business with practical steps, including:
• Creating a website that acts as your digital HQ.
• Building a mailing list to stay connected with your audience.
• Developing a business continuity plan for any disruption.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, start building your business’s digital independence today. Tune in for actionable insights, strategies, and find out how to access my checklist to future-proof your success!
Resources Mentioned:
What To Do If Social Media Fires You eBook (checklist included): https://thefirsttimeadult.gumroad.com/l/whattodoifsocialmediafiresyou
Book a Consultation: www.sioconsultinggroup.com
Let’s simplify your tech and amplify your impact!
Ready to simplify your operations and amplify your impact? Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how we can simplify your operations, save you time, and set you up for sustainable growth.
Let's tackle your challenges together--your next breakthrough starts here!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/solve-it-with-tech--6427811/support
I share real-life stories (including one from 2008!) of businesses losing everything because they relied solely on social media, and I’ll show you how to avoid that fate.
Learn how to protect your business with practical steps, including:
• Creating a website that acts as your digital HQ.
• Building a mailing list to stay connected with your audience.
• Developing a business continuity plan for any disruption.
Don’t wait until it’s too late, start building your business’s digital independence today. Tune in for actionable insights, strategies, and find out how to access my checklist to future-proof your success!
Resources Mentioned:
What To Do If Social Media Fires You eBook (checklist included): https://thefirsttimeadult.gumroad.com/l/whattodoifsocialmediafiresyou
Book a Consultation: www.sioconsultinggroup.com
Let’s simplify your tech and amplify your impact!
Ready to simplify your operations and amplify your impact? Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how we can simplify your operations, save you time, and set you up for sustainable growth.
Let's tackle your challenges together--your next breakthrough starts here!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/solve-it-with-tech--6427811/support
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey, y'all, welcome back to Solve It with Tech, the
podcast where we simplify tech and amplify your impact. I'm Lakeisha,
and today we're diving into a topic I've been passionate
about for a long time. What to do if social
media fires you. Now, I've been talking about this since
two thousand and eight Round two thousand and eight. Yeah.
I had a client back then who lost his entire
(00:22):
business because he built it solely on Facebook. His content
was salacious, it broke a lot of platform rules, and
I was constantly advising him to create a website, starting
mailing list, pay all his content, basically to diversify his
digital presence. By this time, I'd been consulting entrepreneurs and
helping them develop their operations for nearly ten years, so
(00:45):
I knew what I was talking about. But he was confident, y'all.
He felt that because of his large following, he was untouchable.
And then one day he went to lock into his
Facebook account and poof, it was gone. Deactive made it
fired in an instant. His entire business vanished. He had
(01:07):
no way to reach his audience, no way to download
his content, and no way to let his customers know
what had happened. It was a devastating lesson, but unfortunately
it wasn't the only time I've seen this happen to
entrepreneurs and small businesses, and that's why I've been preaching
this for years. Yes, social media is important. It's a
(01:30):
powerful tool for visibility and engagement, but it should never
be the cornerstone of your business. Think of social media
like rented space. You don't own it. At any time,
the landlord, whether it's Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or another platform,
can lock you out. So today we're going to talk
about how to protect yourself, your content, and your audience
(01:52):
from the unpredictability of social media. We'll cover the risk
of relying too heavily on social media platforms to use
them as tools rather than foundations, while your website and
mailing lists are the most important digital assets and actionable
steps to make sure your business can thrive even if
social media fires you. So let's start with the reality
(02:15):
check that you may have heard time and time again,
So what's another time social media platforms don't belong to you? Now?
Here are a few common reasons you could get literally
fired by social media. Number one terms of service violations,
even unintentional violations, can result in your accounting your account
(02:37):
being banned or suspended. Number two algorithm changes. Platforms constantly
tweak their algorithms, which can drastically affect your visibility. One
day you're trending, the next day you're literally invisible. Number
three platform bands. Right now, as many of you know,
TikTok is on the verge of being banned in a
matter of weeks right here in the US. If that's
(03:00):
where eighty percent of your audience is, well, that's actually
reality from many business owners. And Number four account hacking.
If someone gains access to your account and locks you out,
it's not always easy or even possible to recover it.
This is why I always tell my clients social media
is a tool, not your foundation. So how do you
(03:24):
use social media without depending on it? Here's the key.
You treat it as your satellite office, not your headquarters.
Your website is your headquarters, the place where your brand lives,
your audience gathers, and your business operates. Social media is
simply an extension of that. For example, use TikTok to
drive traffic to your blog or product pages. Use Instagram
(03:47):
stories to promote your lead magnets and build up your
email list. Use Facebook to create events that lead back
to your website, and so forth and so on. Your
goal is always to redirect your audience to your owned platforms,
the ones you control. Now, let's talk about why your
website should be your main priority. Number One, you own it.
(04:09):
Unlike social media, your website is yours. No one can
take it from you unless you stop paying the hosting bill.
Number two, it's your digital archive. Your content, blog, posts, videos,
product information all lives here forever. It's not subject to
algorithms or sudden policy changes. And number three, it builds trust.
(04:31):
A professional website always establishes credibility. People take you more
seriously when you have a well maintained site and don't
forget to back it up. Typically, your website hosting provider
has built in tools that allow you to back up
your site, but if those tool if you don't have
that kind of feature, setup tools like updraft plus, code
(04:53):
Guard or backup Buddy can automatically save your website's content,
so if anything happens, you're covered. Now. Next up, why
mailing lists are still essential. Yes, email marketing is not dead.
If anything is more important than ever. And here's why
direct access. You're not relying on an algorithm to reach
(05:15):
your audience. When you send an email, it lands in
their inbox and it's personal. Email allows you to speak
directly to your audience in a way social media just doesn't.
And then finally, it has a high ROI studies consistently
show email marketing has one of the highest returns on
investments compared to other channels. If you don't have an
(05:37):
email marketing email mailing list yet, I advise you to
start one. Now. Use platforms like Mailchimp or convert hit
and offer something valuable like a resource, checklist or exclusive
content to get people to sign up. Now here's the
golden rule. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
(05:57):
You want to explore multiple platforms, diverse. Find your presence
with platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and your own blog. Build
private communities. Consider creating a private group on Slack or
discorder mighty networks where you can connect with your audience directly,
and always always keep driving people back to your website
(06:17):
and mailing list. Now, I'm not going to leave you
hanging without giving you some actionable ways that you can
engage with your audience beyond social media. From a nonprofits
and social media social enterprises, it's essential for you, guys
to build meaningful connections through various channels and ones that
you control and that create a deeper sense of community
(06:38):
and bring awareness to your programs. So let's explore some
creative and cost effective and possibly free ways to connect
you with your audience beyond social media. Number one, you
can host virtual events or webinars. So these are You
can organize these as free or low cost virtual events
like workshops or panel discussions, or behind the scenes to
(07:00):
of your organization. These events create an opportunity for real
time interaction and foster a stronger connection with your audience.
You can use free tools like Zoom's Basic Plan which
gives you a forty minute limit, or a Google Meet
if you have smaller groups. So for example, a nonprofit
focused on youth empowerment could host a webinar entitled five
(07:22):
ways you can support the next generation of leaders and
share impactful stories or volunteer opportunities. Right Number two, you
can launch a monthly email newsletter. Send an engaging newsletter
with update stories, upcoming events, and calls to action. Email
is direct and personal, and it offers a consistent way
for you to stay connected. You can use a free
(07:44):
email marketing platform like mailchip, which gives you about up
to five hundred contacts, or Cender so a couple ideas.
You can share a day in the life, which are
stories from your team or the beneficiaries of your programs.
You can highlight community impact stats or donor spotlights. You
can include a fine or interactive poll, like what should
we name our new initiative? Right? Number three, you can
(08:06):
create an exclusive community I kind of hit it on
back just a few minutes ago. Building a private online
space for your supporters using tools like Slack, Discorder, Facebook groups.
These platforms foster deeper conversations and give supporters a sense
of belonging. Start small and grow organically by inviting your
most engaged donors, volunteers, or advocates. So, for example, social
(08:29):
enterprise focused on sustainability could create a Slack group where
members share tips on reducing wastes and celebrate collective progress.
Number four. Start a podcast, my personal Favorite or a
block series. Share your mission success stories and industry insights
through audio or written content. This builds thought leadership and
(08:50):
provides a platform for storytelling. You can use platforms like
anchor for podcasting, or speaker or a medium for blogging. So,
for example, a nonprofit that maybe fighting hunger could launch
a podcast series called from the ground Up featuring stories
from food bank workers and recipients. Number five host in
person community activities. These you can organize small local meetups
(09:15):
or events that align with your mission. These are face
to face interactions that literally can create lasting impressions in
deeper relationships. You want to keep it simple and low
costs by collaborating with other local businesses or even libraries
to secure space. For example, a social enterprise promoting literacy
could host a free community reading hour where volunteers read
(09:36):
to kids. Number six. Send personalized thank you notes mail
or email, handwritten or digital thank you notes to your supporters. Right,
personal touches like this show appreciation and it strengthens those relationships.
You can use Canva to design free thank you, thank
you templates or print notes in bulk. So here's a
(09:57):
creative twist. Include a small token of appreciation like a
printable certificate or a bookmark featuring your mission's values. Number
seven develop an advocacy or ambassador program. So empower your
biggest supporters to help spread the word about your calls.
People trust recommendations from their peers, and this can amplify
your reach without relying on social media. So you can
(10:19):
provide ambassadors with the free toolkit including talking points, downloadable flyers,
and email templates. So, for example, a nonprofit focused on
clean water could create a water Warrior program where ambassadors
host small fundraisers in their communities. Number eight use text
messaging campaigns, so you can use this by sending updates,
(10:42):
donation appeals, or reminders via SMS. Texts literally have high
open rates and are a direct line of communication, so
tools like Twilio or Simple Texting offer free or affordable
plans for nonprofits. Here's a creative tip. Make it interactive
by asking supporters to re apply to polls or surveys.
For example, what new projects should we fund first? Text
(11:05):
a for education, be for healthcare for an example. Right
Number nine partner with local media. This is great. You
want to collaborate with local radio stations, newspapers, or blocks
to share your message. Local media outlets are often looking
for those feel good stories and this can build awareness
for your calls, so you can reach out to them
(11:25):
with a press release or offer to write like guest columns. So,
for example, a nonprofit focused on mental health could publish
an op ad about how community support saves lives. And finally,
number ten, send impact reports or infographics. You can share
detailed and visually appealing reports about the difference your organization
(11:46):
is making. This helped supporter see the tangible results of
their contributions. You can again use free tools like Canva
or pickt a chart to create infographics or reports. Here's
a creative twist. You can add a QR code that
leads to a short video of testimonials or a thank
you message from your team. So by using these strategies,
(12:07):
you can build deeper, more meaningful connections with your audience
without relying solely on social media. The key again is consistency, authenticity,
and always bringing the focus back to your mission. So
what's the takeaway here? Build your business on a solid foundation,
(12:27):
treat social media like a tool like a tool it is,
but make your website and mailing list the center of
your strategy. Now, if you're ready to future proof your
digital presence, grab my ebook what to do if social
media fires you. You'll find actionable steps to protect your
business and make sure you're never at the mercy of
someone else's platform. Need hands on help, Book a consultation
(12:50):
with me, and together we'll create a strategy tailored to
your business so you can thrive no matter what happens.
You can find the link to the book took to
book with me in the show notes, or head to
my website at Miss Lakisha Williams dot com. Thanks for
tuning in to Solving with Tech. If you found this
episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.
(13:11):
It helps more people find the show. Until next time,
keep simplifying your tech and amplifying your impact.
Hey, y'all, welcome back to Solve It with Tech, the
podcast where we simplify tech and amplify your impact. I'm Lakeisha,
and today we're diving into a topic I've been passionate
about for a long time. What to do if social
media fires you. Now, I've been talking about this since
two thousand and eight Round two thousand and eight. Yeah.
I had a client back then who lost his entire
(00:22):
business because he built it solely on Facebook. His content
was salacious, it broke a lot of platform rules, and
I was constantly advising him to create a website, starting
mailing list, pay all his content, basically to diversify his
digital presence. By this time, I'd been consulting entrepreneurs and
helping them develop their operations for nearly ten years, so
(00:45):
I knew what I was talking about. But he was confident, y'all.
He felt that because of his large following, he was untouchable.
And then one day he went to lock into his
Facebook account and poof, it was gone. Deactive made it
fired in an instant. His entire business vanished. He had
(01:07):
no way to reach his audience, no way to download
his content, and no way to let his customers know
what had happened. It was a devastating lesson, but unfortunately
it wasn't the only time I've seen this happen to
entrepreneurs and small businesses, and that's why I've been preaching
this for years. Yes, social media is important. It's a
(01:30):
powerful tool for visibility and engagement, but it should never
be the cornerstone of your business. Think of social media
like rented space. You don't own it. At any time,
the landlord, whether it's Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or another platform,
can lock you out. So today we're going to talk
about how to protect yourself, your content, and your audience
(01:52):
from the unpredictability of social media. We'll cover the risk
of relying too heavily on social media platforms to use
them as tools rather than foundations, while your website and
mailing lists are the most important digital assets and actionable
steps to make sure your business can thrive even if
social media fires you. So let's start with the reality
(02:15):
check that you may have heard time and time again,
So what's another time social media platforms don't belong to you? Now?
Here are a few common reasons you could get literally
fired by social media. Number one terms of service violations,
even unintentional violations, can result in your accounting your account
(02:37):
being banned or suspended. Number two algorithm changes. Platforms constantly
tweak their algorithms, which can drastically affect your visibility. One
day you're trending, the next day you're literally invisible. Number
three platform bands. Right now, as many of you know,
TikTok is on the verge of being banned in a
matter of weeks right here in the US. If that's
(03:00):
where eighty percent of your audience is, well, that's actually
reality from many business owners. And Number four account hacking.
If someone gains access to your account and locks you out,
it's not always easy or even possible to recover it.
This is why I always tell my clients social media
is a tool, not your foundation. So how do you
(03:24):
use social media without depending on it? Here's the key.
You treat it as your satellite office, not your headquarters.
Your website is your headquarters, the place where your brand lives,
your audience gathers, and your business operates. Social media is
simply an extension of that. For example, use TikTok to
drive traffic to your blog or product pages. Use Instagram
(03:47):
stories to promote your lead magnets and build up your
email list. Use Facebook to create events that lead back
to your website, and so forth and so on. Your
goal is always to redirect your audience to your owned platforms,
the ones you control. Now, let's talk about why your
website should be your main priority. Number One, you own it.
(04:09):
Unlike social media, your website is yours. No one can
take it from you unless you stop paying the hosting bill.
Number two, it's your digital archive. Your content, blog, posts, videos,
product information all lives here forever. It's not subject to
algorithms or sudden policy changes. And number three, it builds trust.
(04:31):
A professional website always establishes credibility. People take you more
seriously when you have a well maintained site and don't
forget to back it up. Typically, your website hosting provider
has built in tools that allow you to back up
your site, but if those tool if you don't have
that kind of feature, setup tools like updraft plus, code
(04:53):
Guard or backup Buddy can automatically save your website's content,
so if anything happens, you're covered. Now. Next up, why
mailing lists are still essential. Yes, email marketing is not dead.
If anything is more important than ever. And here's why
direct access. You're not relying on an algorithm to reach
(05:15):
your audience. When you send an email, it lands in
their inbox and it's personal. Email allows you to speak
directly to your audience in a way social media just doesn't.
And then finally, it has a high ROI studies consistently
show email marketing has one of the highest returns on
investments compared to other channels. If you don't have an
(05:37):
email marketing email mailing list yet, I advise you to
start one. Now. Use platforms like Mailchimp or convert hit
and offer something valuable like a resource, checklist or exclusive
content to get people to sign up. Now here's the
golden rule. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.
(05:57):
You want to explore multiple platforms, diverse. Find your presence
with platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and your own blog. Build
private communities. Consider creating a private group on Slack or
discorder mighty networks where you can connect with your audience directly,
and always always keep driving people back to your website
(06:17):
and mailing list. Now, I'm not going to leave you
hanging without giving you some actionable ways that you can
engage with your audience beyond social media. From a nonprofits
and social media social enterprises, it's essential for you, guys
to build meaningful connections through various channels and ones that
you control and that create a deeper sense of community
(06:38):
and bring awareness to your programs. So let's explore some
creative and cost effective and possibly free ways to connect
you with your audience beyond social media. Number one, you
can host virtual events or webinars. So these are You
can organize these as free or low cost virtual events
like workshops or panel discussions, or behind the scenes to
(07:00):
of your organization. These events create an opportunity for real
time interaction and foster a stronger connection with your audience.
You can use free tools like Zoom's Basic Plan which
gives you a forty minute limit, or a Google Meet
if you have smaller groups. So for example, a nonprofit
focused on youth empowerment could host a webinar entitled five
(07:22):
ways you can support the next generation of leaders and
share impactful stories or volunteer opportunities. Right Number two, you
can launch a monthly email newsletter. Send an engaging newsletter
with update stories, upcoming events, and calls to action. Email
is direct and personal, and it offers a consistent way
for you to stay connected. You can use a free
(07:44):
email marketing platform like mailchip, which gives you about up
to five hundred contacts, or Cender so a couple ideas.
You can share a day in the life, which are
stories from your team or the beneficiaries of your programs.
You can highlight community impact stats or donor spotlights. You
can include a fine or interactive poll, like what should
we name our new initiative? Right? Number three, you can
(08:06):
create an exclusive community I kind of hit it on
back just a few minutes ago. Building a private online
space for your supporters using tools like Slack, Discorder, Facebook groups.
These platforms foster deeper conversations and give supporters a sense
of belonging. Start small and grow organically by inviting your
most engaged donors, volunteers, or advocates. So, for example, social
(08:29):
enterprise focused on sustainability could create a Slack group where
members share tips on reducing wastes and celebrate collective progress.
Number four. Start a podcast, my personal Favorite or a
block series. Share your mission success stories and industry insights
through audio or written content. This builds thought leadership and
(08:50):
provides a platform for storytelling. You can use platforms like
anchor for podcasting, or speaker or a medium for blogging. So,
for example, a nonprofit that maybe fighting hunger could launch
a podcast series called from the ground Up featuring stories
from food bank workers and recipients. Number five host in
person community activities. These you can organize small local meetups
(09:15):
or events that align with your mission. These are face
to face interactions that literally can create lasting impressions in
deeper relationships. You want to keep it simple and low
costs by collaborating with other local businesses or even libraries
to secure space. For example, a social enterprise promoting literacy
could host a free community reading hour where volunteers read
(09:36):
to kids. Number six. Send personalized thank you notes mail
or email, handwritten or digital thank you notes to your supporters. Right,
personal touches like this show appreciation and it strengthens those relationships.
You can use Canva to design free thank you, thank
you templates or print notes in bulk. So here's a
(09:57):
creative twist. Include a small token of appreciation like a
printable certificate or a bookmark featuring your mission's values. Number
seven develop an advocacy or ambassador program. So empower your
biggest supporters to help spread the word about your calls.
People trust recommendations from their peers, and this can amplify
your reach without relying on social media. So you can
(10:19):
provide ambassadors with the free toolkit including talking points, downloadable flyers,
and email templates. So, for example, a nonprofit focused on
clean water could create a water Warrior program where ambassadors
host small fundraisers in their communities. Number eight use text
messaging campaigns, so you can use this by sending updates,
(10:42):
donation appeals, or reminders via SMS. Texts literally have high
open rates and are a direct line of communication, so
tools like Twilio or Simple Texting offer free or affordable
plans for nonprofits. Here's a creative tip. Make it interactive
by asking supporters to re apply to polls or surveys.
For example, what new projects should we fund first? Text
(11:05):
a for education, be for healthcare for an example. Right
Number nine partner with local media. This is great. You
want to collaborate with local radio stations, newspapers, or blocks
to share your message. Local media outlets are often looking
for those feel good stories and this can build awareness
for your calls, so you can reach out to them
(11:25):
with a press release or offer to write like guest columns. So,
for example, a nonprofit focused on mental health could publish
an op ad about how community support saves lives. And finally,
number ten, send impact reports or infographics. You can share
detailed and visually appealing reports about the difference your organization
(11:46):
is making. This helped supporter see the tangible results of
their contributions. You can again use free tools like Canva
or pickt a chart to create infographics or reports. Here's
a creative twist. You can add a QR code that
leads to a short video of testimonials or a thank
you message from your team. So by using these strategies,
(12:07):
you can build deeper, more meaningful connections with your audience
without relying solely on social media. The key again is consistency, authenticity,
and always bringing the focus back to your mission. So
what's the takeaway here? Build your business on a solid foundation,
(12:27):
treat social media like a tool like a tool it is,
but make your website and mailing list the center of
your strategy. Now, if you're ready to future proof your
digital presence, grab my ebook what to do if social
media fires you. You'll find actionable steps to protect your
business and make sure you're never at the mercy of
someone else's platform. Need hands on help, Book a consultation
(12:50):
with me, and together we'll create a strategy tailored to
your business so you can thrive no matter what happens.
You can find the link to the book took to
book with me in the show notes, or head to
my website at Miss Lakisha Williams dot com. Thanks for
tuning in to Solving with Tech. If you found this
episode helpful, don't forget to subscribe and leave a review.
(13:11):
It helps more people find the show. Until next time,
keep simplifying your tech and amplifying your impact.
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