# 003 - Offline Business Isn’t Dead - It’s Quietly Thriving
Let’s talk about offline marketing for holistic entrepreneurs and wellness businesses.
I know the tug-of-war with Instagram — one scroll to “stay visible,” and suddenly you’re performing for an invisible room, watching numbers instead of listening to your work.
I’ve taken long stretches off social this year.
No reels. No daily posting.
And I’ve created the most revenue I’ve ever made in my business.
Here’s what that taught me:
Social media is a tool — not my foundation.
My business breathes better when it’s rooted in real connection, steady reputation, and simple systems that don’t borrow my nervous system for growth.
The Myth That Keeps So Many Stuck
We’ve been conditioned to believe, “If you’re not on IG, your business won’t work.”
I disagree.
Instagram can support, yes. But it can also swallow the soul of your message — especially when you’re measuring your magic in likes and views.
What your business actually needs is you:
Present. Grounded. Willing to be seen in rooms where recognition happens face-to-face.
A Gentle Reframe on Social Media
For local, in-person services, treat social as a living extension of your website — not the foundation. Use it like a dynamic brochure:
Photos of your treatment space and environment
Posts that reflect your philosophy and approach
Clear notes on the problems you solve and how sessions feel
You don’t need daily reels or thousands of views.
Once or twice a week is enough — if it’s honest and consistent.
And if you’d rather not use IG at all? Great. Own it.
Then commit to the other avenues.
Offline Marketing Is Not Old-Fashioned. It’s Effective.
Traditional business isn’t dead — it’s underused.
Especially for practitioners who thrive in intimacy, face to face connection and depth.
Here’s what still works beautifully:
Networking & Referrals
Join a local networking group (think industry-specific or wellness-oriented hubs).
Create a simple referral bonus for existing clients and trusted peers.
Develop relationships with GPs and allied health professionals who can refer to you.
Collaboration
Co-create workshops with yoga studios, Pilates spaces, and gyms.
Pair complementary services (e.g., nutritionist + exercise physiologist) and build shared programs.
Speaking & Community
Pitch short talks to workplaces, studios, libraries, and community events.
Host your own education sessions or mini-retreats with aligned businesses.
Visibility That Endures
Exhibit at local fairs and wellness events.
Start (or reboot) your newsletter — it compounds trust.
Lean into SEO basics so Google can actually send you people who are searching.
These aren’t glamorous.
They are reliable.
The Part No One Wants to Hear (But Needs)
Marketing has a cost: either time or money.
Expect to invest in ads, design, professional support, or memberships. Create a budget. Be in integrity about it. It’s not about risk, it’s about strategy.
If you won’t (can’t) invest money, you’ll have to invest time — learning SEO, improving your site, writing blogs, emailing your list, building partnerships.
It’s ok to be where you at, it’s ok to ‘not have a budget’ when you’re just starting out. But you can either dwell on it and make it the reason to not progress, or you accept it and make the time, OR you find someone who has what you need and initiate a service exchange.
If neither feels possible, it’s not a marketing problem.
It’s mindset. And that’s a different conversation (one I’m here for, if you’re ready).
What Actually Moves the Needle
It’s not the platform. It’s your willingness to be seen.
Can you talk clearly about what you do and who you help — anywhere, with anyone?
Can you initiate connection — not from pressure, but from clarity?
Can you get out of your own way and choose one strategy to do consistently?
Pick a lane and do the work.
Online or offline — both can work. But choose, and commit long enough to see results.
A Simple 90-Day Offline Marketing Plan (Steady + Doable)
Month 1 — Foundations
Clarify your core message: Who you help, what problems they walk in with, the results they get
Use your friends to practice your spiel
Create one-page PDFs or flyer for referrals (GPs, studios, peers).
Month 2 — Connection
Reach out to 5 local partners for coffee (studios, gyms, clinics).
Ask if you can put your flyer out
Offer a complimentary session to the person you have coffee with
Ask if they have any space for collaboration or events you could host for their members
Offer a joint event or “intro session” for their members.
Start your monthly (or fortnightly) newsletter. (AI is your best friend)
Month 3 — Visibility
Connect with a few workplaces or community groups.
Pitch your offering in alignment with the ISO 45003:2021 Occupational health and safety management — Psychological health and safety at work — Guidelines for managing psychosocial risks. You’ll have to spin the results of your work into the right business context, be honest of course, but take advantage that this document exists
Book one local market/expo and show up with simple demos and a clear offer.
Publish 3 SEO-friendly blog posts answering your clients’ most common questions.
Repeat. Refine. Let the compounding begin.
If Social Is Your Support Act (Not the Lead)
Post once or twice per week, max.
Share client patterns (confidentially), your philosophy, common FAQs, upcoming events.
Treat IG like a window into your world, not the walls that hold it up.
The Direction We’re Moving
We don’t need louder feeds.
We need cleaner foundations, braver conversations, and marketing that honours our energy.
Offline business isn’t dead. It’s quietly thriving — with practitioners who are willing to be seen in real rooms, build real trust, and let their work speak for itself.
If you’re stuck, I’m here.
Bring your resistance. Bring your ideas. We’ll build a plan that fits your nervous system and your goals — online, offline, or a grounded blend of both.