Having a bit of an epiphany about social media & audience growth today. And I think it primarily benefits folks with a small audience (1000 or less people), who don't have ginormous social budgets, and know they need to grow in visibility.

This email is also a podcast episode over at Million Dollar Grit!

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I’ve always offered coaching and consulting around social media within the context of offers, copy, and funnels. That’s where my strength is. Yet, I never labeled myself a “social media strategist” for two main reasons:

1. Respect for Experts: I know some amazing strategists who specialize deeply in one platform.
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2. No Direct Services Sold: My focus has been on funnels and overall marketing, not purely on Instagram growth or a specific channel.
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But I’ve realized that a major imperative for me and for my clients this year is audience growth.

Even if I’m not dedicating myself to one channel or selling this as a direct service, it’s a skill set I use every single day, and I want to help others do it, too.

If you have fewer than 1,000 people on your email list, this is for you. You have a visibility problem.

Now, for some of you- especially if you sell high-ticket offers and rely mostly on word-of-mouth- this may not be an urgent issue.

But eventually, lead flow dries up, and that’s when you realize how crucial a solid audience really is.

When you're bootstrapping, you need to do BOTH inbound and outbound marketing.

Inbound Marketing means people are coming to you. Think of this like people knocking on your front door. It includes everything from posting on social platforms to setting up funnels and even paid ads that bring potential clients and customers directly to you.

Outbound Marketing is you going to other people’s “houses.” It involves actively reaching out on DMs on LinkedIn, commenting on other people’s posts, engaging in relevant Facebook groups, or asking for introductions.

Most people prefer inbound to outbound because there's a lot less rejection involved.

The big idea though? Make your inbound marketing as efficient & effective as possible, so that you can spend time doing outbound.

It can feel more intimidating because rejection rates are higher, but it’s also more likely to generate faster growth.

The key is to do both.

When you're running a business on your own, you're juggling everything. If you take this approach, you’ll have more time and energy for engaging in real conversations, building relationships, and connecting where it counts.

Now, historically, I advised focusing on one platform to grow.

But things are changing.

With the rise of AI and varied user behavior, it’s smart to be on multiple platforms: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, X, and also, search based like YouTube and blogging.

The truth is, you never know where your next customer will find you. That’s why I’m experimenting with posting on more platforms than ever, while still running two successful companies.

I've been doing it ALL myself... zero help (outside of AI). Proving it's possible to do.

You might wonder how I manage to show up on so many channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok) plus send regular emails, all while leading two businesses. It comes down to:

• Abundant Idea Generation
• Clear Ideal Client
• Strong Copywriting
• Efficiency with AI
• Lack of Perfectionism

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Nailing these five will do two things: Make your inbound & outbound marketing more efficient and effective.

I believe there’s only a small window of time before AI avatars flood social platforms, making it incredibly hard to stand out.

Building a real audience now is crucial. In the next five years, trust and human connection will be more valuable than ever.

Even though I’ve never called myself a social media strategist, I’m leaning into that work because I know I can help.

If you need support with audience building or general marketing strategy, just reply to this email.

I’m here to help you balance inbound and outbound, resist perfection, leverage AI, and work on flexing your idea muscle.

xx Julie