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In today’s world, it’s tempting to rely on social media to build and engage with your audience. But let’s be real—social media is a volatile game. Algorithms change, accounts get banned, and the platforms you’ve poured time and energy into could disappear overnight. The political and regulatory landscape is shifting, and it’s not always in favor of content creators.

The solution? Divest from social media. Build your own platform: a website, a blog, and an email newsletter that give you the control and stability you need for long-term business success. In this post, I’ll share why these three pillars are crucial and how you can get started, with my personal recommendations for the tools I love: Showit, WordPress, and Flodesk.

Why Social Media is a Risky Business

Let’s face it: social media is unpredictable. As content creators, we’ve all experienced the frustrations of algorithm changes that make our posts harder to find. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. With the ever-evolving political landscape, platforms often become arenas for debates over censorship and privacy, which can leave creators like you and me in the lurch.

Consider this: you don’t technically own your audience on social media. Yes, you have followers, but you’re subject to the whims of the platform. An unexpected algorithm shift can mean your content is buried—and you have no control over it. Add in the possibility of a sudden ban or the closure of a platform (remember Vine? Google+?), and it becomes clear that building your business on borrowed ground is a risky move.

That’s why I’m an advocate for creating your own digital home. Owning your website, blog, and email list ensures that you can reach your audience no matter what happens with the next social media craze or algorithm update.

Solution #1: Have a Website

Why it’s important: Your website is your online home. It’s the place where you have full control over your content, branding, and how your audience interacts with your business. Unlike social media, where you’re constrained by others’ rules and designs, your website can be as unique as you are. You can design it to showcase your work, sell your products or services, and create a professional online presence.

Benefits:

• Control: You own the design, the content, and your data.
• Professionalism: A sleek, well-designed website makes you look like the expert you are.
• Flexibility: Showcase your work, create landing pages, offer downloadable content, and even set up e-commerce.

Why I recommend Showit: I use Showit because it gives you the flexibility to create a stunning, custom website without needing to know how to code. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned designer, Showit’s drag-and-drop interface lets you build a site that reflects your personality and business needs. And the best part? Showit integrates seamlessly with WordPress, so you can use it to host your blog as well.

Special Offer: If you sign up for Showit through my affiliate link, you’ll get 1 month free to start building your dream website!

Actionable tip: Start by creating a basic website with a homepage, an About page, and a contact form. Use Showit’s templates to get started, and customize them to match your brand. Don’t forget to include an opt-in form so visitors can subscribe to your email list—more on that soon.

Solution #2: Start a Blog

Why it’s important: A blog is more than just a collection of posts—it’s a way to build authority, connect with your audience, and drive organic traffic to your site. While social media posts have short lifespans, a blog post can continue to attract visitors for months or even years. This makes it an essential tool for creating long-term value for your business.

Benefits:

• SEO-friendly: Blogs are an excellent way to improve your search engine rankings and get discovered by new people.
• Authority: Sharing helpful, valuable content helps establish you as an expert in your field.
• Engagement: Blogs allow for deeper engagement with your audience—they can comment, share, and learn more about you.

Why I recommend Showit + WordPress for blogging: If you use Showit for your website, it integrates effortlessly with WordPress for blogging. This combo gives you the best of both worlds: Showit’s design flexibility with WordPress’s robust blogging platform. You get the ease of use and professional design from Showit while benefiting from WordPress’s SEO capabilities and blog management tools.

Actionable tip: Start by publishing one or two posts a month on topics that resonate with your audience. Be sure to optimize your posts for SEO (Yoast SEO is great for this) by including relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt text for images. Remember, blog posts are your chance to shine—give readers something valuable and informative.

Solution #3: Start an Email Newsletter

Why it’s important: While social media is unpredictable, email marketing has stood the test of time. By starting an email newsletter, you’re building a direct connection with your audience—bypassing algorithms and creating a more personal relationship with them. You own your email list, which means you have total control over your communication.

Benefits:

• Direct access: Emails go straight to your subscribers’ inboxes, so you don’t have to rely on an algorithm to get seen.
• Measurable results: Track open rates, click-through rates, and engagement to improve your strategy.
• Relationship-building: Regularly connecting with your audience via email builds trust and loyalty.

Why I recommend Flodesk: I use Flodesk for my email marketing because it’s intuitive, beautifully designed, and affordable. Unlike other platforms that charge based on the number of subscribers, Flodesk has a flat fee that lets you scale your business without breaking the bank. The templates are gorgeous and easy to customize, making it simple to create emails that stand out in your subscribers’ inboxes.

Special Offer: If you’re ready to give Flodesk a try, you can get 50% off your first year by signing up through my affiliate link. This is a great way to save while you start building your email list!

Actionable tip: Start building your email list by offering a lead magnet (freebie) on your website. It could be a free guide, checklist, or resource that provides value to your audience. Then, use Flodesk to create a welcome sequence for new subscribers that builds a relationship and offers more value.

Building a Platform That Lasts

Let’s recap: Social media is unstable. Relying solely on it to build your audience is a risky move. Instead, take the time to build a platform that you own and can control—a website, a blog, and an email newsletter.

By using Showit for your website, WordPress for your blog, and Flodesk for your email marketing, you’re creating something that will stand the test of time—no matter what happens with algorithms, platform policies, or political changes.

The key to long-term success is creating something that’s sustainable and independent of social media platforms. So, take the leap today. Build your website, start your blog, and create an email newsletter that will allow you to connect with your audience in a meaningful way, without relying on social media to dictate your success.

Are you ready to start building your own platform? Explore Showit for your website design (and get 1 month free when you sign up through my affiliate link), get your blog up and running with Showit + WordPress, and begin creating an email list with Flodesk (with 50% off your first year through my affiliate link). Let’s take your business beyond social media and create something that lasts.