3 Marketing Alternatives to Social Media for Small Businesses with Low Followers

For many small businesses, social media has become the default marketing strategy.

But the reality is that organic reach has plummeted, and engagement is harder to earn than ever before. Facebook now shows posts to only 1-2% of followers, meaning that if you have 1,000 followers, only 10-20 people might actually see your content.

So, is social media still worth the effort? For businesses with a large and engaged audience, absolutely. But for many smaller businesses struggling to gain traction, it can become a time sink with little return.

Instead of spinning your wheels trying to make social media work, it’s time to focus on smarter, more sustainable marketing alternatives. In this article, we’ll break down three highly effective ways to market your business without relying on social media algorithms. These methods will help you connect with your audience, build trust, and drive real results—without constantly chasing likes and shares.

Jake Mooney, founder of Green Light Studio, breaks this down in our latest YouTube video:

“Social media often becomes a crutch. It’s easy to dump content onto a page and feel like you did marketing. But is it actually growing your business? For most small businesses, the answer is no.”

If you're tired of social media not delivering results, watch the full video to learn what to do instead.

1. Focus on Problem-Solving Content

Most businesses approach social media backward—they start by thinking, "What should we post?" instead of asking, "What does our audience need help with?"

Instead of prioritizing what you want to share, focus on solving the problems your audience is actively searching for. When you help people, they’ll naturally gravitate toward your business.

“One of our clients was struggling to attract the right audience on social media. We helped them shift focus to content that answered their customers' most common questions. Instead of random posts, we created useful guides, case studies, and instructional videos. The result? A steady increase in inbound leads—without relying on social media.”

How to Get Started:

✅ Identify Key Problems: What are the biggest challenges your audience faces? Look at FAQs, customer feedback, and online discussions.
✅ Choose the Right Format: Would this topic work best as a video tutorial, blog post, or downloadable guide? Start with what makes sense.
✅ Distribute It Strategically: Once created, share your content via email, industry forums, partnerships, and search-optimized blog posts—not just on social media.

The key is to create evergreen content that keeps working for you over time. Unlike a social media post that disappears in hours, a well-written blog post or video can generate traffic for months or years.

💡 Need help identifying content topics? Our free marketing audit helps businesses uncover their biggest marketing opportunities.

2. Leverage Other People’s Audiences

If your business doesn’t have a large social media following, it makes far more sense to tap into an audience that already exists rather than trying to build one from scratch.

Think about it: Would you rather spend months growing your Facebook page from 500 to 1,000 followers—or get in front of 50,000 highly engaged people by partnering with someone who already has their attention?

Jake explains: “We worked with a CNC manufacturing client whose Facebook page had 5,000 followers but almost no engagement. Instead of wasting time on posts, we created a Facebook group specific to their niche. Within six months, they had over 17,000 members—without spending a dime on ads.”

Actionable Ways to Leverage Existing Audiences:

✔ Collaborate with Industry Influencers – Partner with a podcast, YouTube channel, or blog that already serves your audience. Offer guest appearances, sponsorships, or co-created content.
✔ Write Guest Blog Posts – Many industry websites welcome guest contributors. This builds credibility and exposes you to a larger, targeted audience.
✔ Engage in Niche Communities – Instead of trying to grow a business page, participate in Facebook groups, LinkedIn discussions, and industry forums where potential customers are already active.

💡 Struggling to find the right partnerships? Connect with Jake on LinkedIn to explore collaboration opportunities.

3. Build Your Personal Brand (Instead of Relying on a Business Page)

One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is putting all their marketing efforts into a faceless corporate page instead of leveraging the power of personal branding.

“People connect with people—not logos,” Jake says. “One of our clients transitioned into business coaching and was hesitant to build a personal brand. But once he started sharing insights and engaging authentically, he built credibility and attracted clients without spending a dime on traditional advertising.”

How to Build Your Personal Brand (Without Becoming an Influencer)

✔ Show Up Authentically – Share your journey, insights, and expertise via blog posts, LinkedIn updates, or YouTube videos.
✔ Engage in Conversations – Participate in relevant discussions, answer industry questions, and provide value before pitching your services.
✔ Provide Consistent Value – Share behind-the-scenes content, expert opinions, and useful resources.

This doesn’t mean you need to post selfies every day. It simply means positioning yourself as a trusted authority in your space.

💡 Need a personal branding strategy that feels right for you? Schedule a strategy call and we’ll help you build a plan that fits your expertise and comfort level.

Why Rethink Social Media as Your Primary Marketing Channel?

Social media should be one part of a marketing strategy—not the whole plan. For many businesses, there are better uses of time and resources that yield stronger results.

Instead of sinking hours into low-engagement posts, focus on creating valuable content, leveraging partnerships, and building trust through personal branding.

These strategies don’t just generate short-term attention—they build long-term, sustainable growth.

Jake summarizes it best in our YouTube video: “If social media is working for you, keep doing it. But if it’s draining time and money with no return, it’s time to rethink your approach. The best marketing isn’t about chasing the latest trend—it’s about building something that actually works for your business.”

Want a smarter marketing approach?

✅ Get clarity with our free marketing audit
✅ Watch more insights on our YouTube channel
✅ Need help restructuring your marketing? Book a strategy session