Our Expectations of Small Business. And continuing to build community beyond social media. 
Many small businesses like mine, rely on social media to remain relevant and top of mind. They do this by nourishing relationships with commenters and creating content that’s engaging.
With more and more people leaving social media or shifting their focus, it’s going to be imperative that all of us realize the content creators may not be nurturing those connections to the same level they once were and they may just be announcing their offerings.
That’s what I plan to do.
I’ve since lessened my complete abandon of social media but my time away showed me I can be with myself and my clients more deeply when I’m hearing my own thoughts.
There will be online spaces where I spend more dedicated time. But what I realized is that so many of us have all of our connections and people on these 3rd party platforms that can simply go away at anytime. (We saw that with the brief TikTok ban) I created a community Rolodex as a way to keep connected with people. Even my newsletter service, Constant Contact, houses the way I connect with you. I want to have a way to keep our connections, so I created an old school(ish) Rolodex in efforts to hold dear the people who want to stay connected. I don’t plan to do anything with these contacts unless the need arises but you may find yourself thinking deeply while putting in your info. This possibility was energizing. What if I snail mailed something meaningful to this group of people? I don’t even know what that would be but it’s fun to consider. What if it wasn’t to sell you something but simply to stay connected?
Connection.
Because I have young kids navigating the virtual world, I see more and more the distinction between connection and false connection for the sake of selling something. It’s so obvious to me that my children definitely don’t understand that but I would go to say that many adults struggle to see the differences as well. Media Literacy is needed. Yes, I’m selling services like massage therapy, classes, and education but my hope is that you can feel my deep reverence for your experience and moving you toward more understanding of your body. It’s hard to see that same reverence in an online connection. I know it’s definitely felt in-person. I ask myself often, but how do I get people in the room? The changes in social media are going to change that question and answer—again.
However, I have been in some amazing virtual rooms that led to more healing than years in therapy. I know it’s possible and should be considered a powerful option.
But that’s the great unfolding, right? We should be spending time understanding our relationships in-person and online. We can’t throw our virtual spaces out the door but we have to look at them carefully.
I don’t think we need to go back in time. But I think it could be fun to explore previous ways of connecting. Like physical mail and phone calls. Maybe I’m feeling nostalgic or maybe my creativity is calling.
Either way, if you feel my words are engaging, I’d love to stay connected in various forms.
My first bodywork love is massage but my offerings are expanding beyond the treatment room and I want to see you there. I am already seeing art and creation as a way to navigate the current times. Let’s connect and create together.
Written solely by Sara Newberry.
