Remember when you could post on Instagram and actually reach your followers? Yeah, me neither. That frustration led me to try something that seemed completely unhinged: treating my email list like my Instagram feed.

I called it my “Email Like It’s Social” experiment, and honestly, I thought it might flop spectacularly.

The Social Media Struggle Is Real

Here’s what sparked this whole thing: I was tired of creating content for 15,000 followers and watching only 800 people see it. The algorithm was essentially holding my content hostage unless I paid to play. Sound familiar?

So I decided to flip the script. Instead of putting my best content on social media and hoping it would reach people, I started treating my email list as my primary platform.

The Response Blew My Mind

Within hours of sending my first “social-style” email, replies started flooding in. People were saying “I approve this message!” and “I’m gonna do this too!” But here’s where it gets interesting – I posted about the experiment on Threads, and it exploded.

2.4K views. Dozens of comments. Other business owners started planning their own versions.

One email marketing specialist said she “loves this so much.” Another person mentioned they’d been feeling the same pull. But my favorite response came from someone who’s been doing this for years:

“I’ve leaned more on my email list than social media for years. People ask why I don’t post often or how my sales stay strong. I tell them it’s because I connect directly with interested people, without the noise of other brands or algorithms. This direct connection has been a gold mine for me.”

A. Gold. Mine.

Why Email Marketing vs Social Media Isn’t Even Close

This whole experience made me realize something huge: we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in how smart business owners connect with their audiences.

When comparing email marketing vs social media, the difference is stark:

• Social media followers might just be casually interested (they double-tap and keep scrolling)
• Email subscribers actively want to hear from you (they literally gave you their contact info)

There’s no algorithm playing games with your email marketing reach. No mysterious changes that tank your visibility overnight. Just you, directly connecting with people who chose to be there.

The Strategy That’s Actually Working

I’m not abandoning social media completely – that would be silly. I’m still running ads and showing up in Stories. But I’ve flipped the priority completely.

Email marketing is now the main show. Social media is the supporting act.

This approach recognizes a simple truth: the person who shares their email address is much closer to becoming a paying customer than someone who follows you on Instagram.

Your Turn to Experiment

If you’re feeling frustrated with social media reach, maybe it’s time for your own experiment. What would happen if you stopped chasing algorithms and started nurturing the relationships you already have?

Instead of constantly trying to gain new followers who might never see your content, what if you focused on the people already in your world?

The response to my “crazy” experiment proves that business owners everywhere are ready for something different. We’re tired of social media platforms making it harder to reach our own audiences. We want direct connections that actually convert.

Sometimes the best marketing moves are the ones that seem unconventional – until they work.

Ready to prioritize real relationships over algorithm games? You can join my email list here!