50 Ways To Promote Yourself Without Social Media

I deleted my social media accounts almost one year ago, to the horror of some of my agents, clients, and friends.

“How will you promote yourself?” they asked, as if there was no other marketing option except to be on every social media account.

The truth is, since deleting social media I have had more work than any previous year of the past decade, not to mention I’ve been happier, calmer, less anxious, and had far more spare time to be creative, write, read, and enjoy my life.

If you choose to delete your social media accounts, too, just know that there are plenty of other options. Not everything happens online and you don’t have to rely on those networks to keep busy. I’m living proof that there’s another way forward and, just in case you don’t believe me, here are 1010 Ways To Promote Yourself Without Social Media so you can follow in my footsteps.

1. Your Personal Website - Use Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress, etc. to design a stylish website. Search for design inspiration online so it will really stand out. Remember: everything matters.
2. Search Engine Optimization - Spend time to get your site to rank high for relevant search results. Or, hire an expert to do it for you.
3. Paid Search Advertising - Set a budget aside to run online search ads and drive people to your site.
4. Start A YouTube Channel - Create topical, engaging video content to educate and entertain potential fans and clients. (I don’t think of YouTube like other social media platforms and still need videos to help promote my services.)
5. Write A Blog - Some people say blogging is dead but you’re reading mine, aren’t you?
6. Networking Events - Try an in-person or virtual meet-up event to meet other professionals.
7. Direct Mail - It may seem old school, but try sending a well-designed postcard to potential clients. It’ll stand out from the usual barrage of tweets and facebook notifications.
8. Carry Business Cards - Design an eye-catching business card and carry them everywhere. You never know when you’ll need it. (I really like Moo.com’s designs.)
9. Personal Letters - I love this one. Send a handwritten (or typewritten) note to everyone you meet. If you traded business cards like I mentioned for #8 you’ll always have someone’s contact info. They’ll be blown away when a personal note arrives at their desk.
10. Word Of Mouth - This is the number 1 way I get booked for events. When people see my show they start to imagine me at their event, too. The same goes for virtual events — online attendees can imagine how great the entertainment would be for their event and often reach out to hire me for a future date.
11. Be Consistent - Share content on a regular schedule. Whether it’s a daily blog or weekly YouTube videos your followers will come to expect a certain schedule from you. If it seems like it’s not getting anywhere that’s not the time to let up. Double down and stay consistent, it will pay off in the long run.
12. Direct E-Mails - I try to stay out of people’s inboxes as much as possible, but often the best way to get booked for a show is to contact the promoter directly. Keep those e-mails short and simple and you’ll often get a positive response.
13. Attend Trade Shows - Consider attending an expo to promote your services. I go to booking conferences to demo my services for potential audiences, so these events exist for all disciplines. Display your art proudly and be prepared with your elevator pitch so people can sense your enthusiasm for what you do.
14. Build A Mailing List - Build a list of e-mail addresses from former projects, clients, expos, networking events, and more. Be sure you have permission to e-mail those people. When you have a big project coming up you can send out an announcement. Or, you can do it more regularly:
15. Send Out E-Mail Newsletters - If you have exciting monthly updates for your work, consider sending a newsletter out each month to all of the people on your list. Give the readers something of value (a discount code, special early access, bonus content, etc.) and they’ll be your fans for life.
16. Send Thank You Notes - Along the same lines as #9, remember to always send a thank you note to clients you work for. Not an e-mail, not a text — a handwritten or typewritten note to the client with your business card enclosed. This is a great way to get future work from someone who already knows how great you are.
17. Pre-Made Graphics - Just because you aren’t on social media doesn’t mean everyone else won’t be, too. Chances are many of the people you work for will still promote your work there. If so, great! Let them do it. If you have some graphics pre-made for them, it’ll make their life a whole lot easier. I have various promo images, posters, and videos correctly sized and ready to go for my clients. They can pick which ones they want to use to promote the event on their website or social media accounts. (For images I like to use Canva, a super easy way to quickly design beautiful graphics.)
18. Create an EPK - EPK stands for Electronic Press Kit. You can have a separate page on your website for it OR create a downloadable folder that clients can access when needed. Your EPK should include the best highlights from your work: press credits, media appearances, your best videos, photos, testimonials, etc. When a client contacts you, send them to your EPK so they can have all of your important information in one place.
19. Create A Demo Reel - Hire someone to film and edit a demo reel for your services. Or do it yourself, if that’s something you’re into. Remember: you only want to cry once.
20. Have Good Quality Photos - I’m married to a phenomenal photographer. Sounds like a great business decision, right? Not true! She taught herself photography to help with my branding, then turned it into a career. We’ve invested countless hours and dollars into good photos for my website and promo. Want to stand out in your field? Find a local photographer and pay them to help you updated your current portfolio.
21. Collect Testimonials - If people can’t see you in action (Demo, #19) or see an image of your work (Photo, #20), then they’ll want to hear what other people think about your work. When a project goes well ask that client for a testimonial. Create a page on your website for testimonials and update it often. (Don’t forget to add those to your EPK, too!)
22. Request References - Another idea is to ask some of your favorite clients to be a reference for future opportunities. When someone else requests your information give them a short list (3-4) of references so they can reach out to your former clients and get an idea of what to expect.
23. Produce Your Own Event - Every year since 2012 I’ve been producing my own events across the US, both in Chicago and at numerous Fringe Festivals. Consider doing the same for your work — an art exhibition, a weekly show, a virtual event, or more. It’ll give you something to mention in your newsletter (#15). Partnering with a venue that wants you to succeed will help to get the word out, too.
24. Online Listings - A great way to promote your own event (#23) is to add it to as many local directories as possible. Most newspapers have a calendar of upcoming events, so search for those and spend part of your day adding your event to the list. Most cities usually have other options, too, so search for “Things To Do In (insert your city here)” and see what pops up. The more listings you get added to, the better.
25. Press Releases - Write a press release to announce your event (#15). Send it to as many places as possible. (PRWeb is one of many places that can help with press release distribution.)
26. Get Interviewed On A Podcast - Being a guest on a podcast is a great way to improve your credibility within your field. (Join Matchmaker so you podcast creators can find you and invite you on their shows.)
27. Start Your Own Podcast - Starting your own podcast could be really useful if you have a unique point of view that people might be interested in. It’s easy to record interviews virtually now, so there’s no excuse not to have guests on your show anytime. (It can be a bit of an investment for gear and a bit of a learning curve for promotion but start here.)
28. Get On The Radio - I’ve been on the radio 20+ times in Chicago and something great always comes out of it. If nothing else, you get a great soundbite that you can add to a demo reel (#19) or type up for your testimonials page (21).
29. Get On TV - A spot on the local news can work wonders for you. It gives you credibility and visibility in ways that you might not be able to get on your own. And, it gives you a clip that you can use to promote your services for years to come.
30. Hire A Publicist - Getting on the radio or TV on your own is possible - I’ve done it multiple times! But, sometimes it’s easier to work with an expert. Find a publicist and tell them you want some media appearances. It’ll cost you, but the exposure is well worth it.
31. Write A Book - Some of my friends do motivational speaking and have written self-help books to promote their services. It gives you something to sell on your website (#1), something to give to clients as a thank you (16), and something to talk about during a TV appearance (29). You can self-publish books easily on Amazon or even just offer a free e-book to people who sign up for your mailing list (14).
32. Work With Agents - Agents have tons of connections and can save you the trouble of finding those clients on your own. If you’re good at what you do (#50) and keep their clients happy, they’ll want to work with you for years.
33. Giveaways - At your events (#23) consider having some sort of giveaway. I’ve experimented with posters, stickers, t-shirts, buttons, and more. Giving people a memento of the experience with you will serve as a reminder when they’re searching for what you offer in the future.
34. Posters - Speaking of posters, they can be incredibly handy when used correctly. I had massive success at Fringe Festivals after I hired a designer to create a stunning graphic for my tour. If you’re promoting an event (#10).
35. Find Your True Fans - All of the things in this list so far are ways to locate your 1,000 True Fans. If you can do that, then those people will sing your praises and promote you for free everywhere you go.
36. Partner With Other Entrepreneurs - Find other like-minded people to work with. You could split the cost of an expo booth (#13), have a join podcast (27), hold events together (23), or more.
37. Hold A Virtual Event - Online events are here to stay. Put together a virtual show, seminar, workshop, class, etc. and send it to your newsletter (#15).
38. Get Creative - Sometimes the best marketing ideas are really random ideas. Think viral videos, skywriters, pop-up shops, etc. Even if you’re on a small budget, you can still find ways to get the word out.
39. Hold A Contest - Entice your followers to spread the word by holding a giveaway. (A lot of creators seem to use Gleam for their giveaways, although I don’t have any personal experience.) Just make sure the prizes you’re giving away are worth it!
40. Do A Livestream - Go live on YouTube to show off a new product, host a trivia night, give a tour of your new studio, or more.
41. Publicity Stunts - Do something extreme or exciting to promote yourself. In the past I’ve predicted the outcome of March Madness, guessed the headlines of The Chicago Tribune, and even rode a bicycle through the streets of Chicago completely blindfolded. All of those stunts landed me multiple press appearances and gig requests. It’s all about getting creative.
42. Share Your Knowledge - Nothing bad ever comes out of helping others, so always be prepared to share what you’ve learned. You could do a free online workshop, write a helpful blog posts, or make video tutorials and post the to your YouTube Channel (#4).
43. Use Pinterest - Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social platform. If your audience uses Pinterest then it can be a great way for people to discover your content.
44. Donate Your Services - I don’t think you should work for free often, but if you find a cause you believe in or a large-scale event that you can be part of then it may be worth it. Always barter for inclusion in any promotional materials, the ability to promote yourself on-site, etc.
45. Online Reviews - Honestly, I’m not a fan of online reviews. I don’t like giving random people so much control over my business. But, sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, Google Places, and others can be an important way for some businesses to be found by potential customers, so it might be worth looking into for your specific work. Just be cautious because once you join those sites it’s often impossible to remove your listing.
46. Tell Everyone You Know - Practice talking about your brand by telling everyone you know. Your family and friends can often be the best promoters when it comes to spreading the word.
47. Join A Club - Find a local club or organization to join. It could be a speaker’s bureau, an entrepreneurial group, a small business association, or more. Attend meetings and contribute so other members will remember you and want to utilize your services when the moment arises.
48. Chamber of Commerce - Get involved with your local chamber of commerce so people can put a face to your brand.
49. Traditional Advertising - There are dozens of other ways to advertise your services than just social media: TV, Radio, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, etc. Don’t be annoying and don’t go crazy, just concentrate on your niche and give people a valuable product and/or service.
50. Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You - If your product is terrible, social media can’t do anything to save you. But, if you have a great product then people will notice. Work hard to stand out in your field and keep your clients happy. The referrals will start pouring in — I promise.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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