Why Social Media Isn’t Enough: Text Marketing & Newsletters for Direct Sales Success
If your business lives and dies by the algorithm, you’re playing a game you can’t control. One week—likes and comments for days. The next—crickets. It’s not you; it’s the platform.
Social media is a helpful starting point, but it can’t be your entire plan. The smartest direct sellers use multi-channel connection—a simple blend of social + texting + a monthly customer newsletter—so customers actually see your messages and take action.
Carol, a From Chaos to Clarity student, was hesitant to try text marketing. She was afraid her customers would find it intrusive. But the silence on social media had become deafening. When she started texting customers she was pleasantly surprised to not just get responses but to have customers thank her for reaching out. When's the last time someone thanked you for posting on social?
Why Social Alone Stalls (Even When You’re Doing “All the Things”)
- Your posts get buried. You can share the perfect graphic at the perfect time and still reach only a sliver of your audience—on Facebook, the average reach is barely 4–5%.
- Groups go quiet. And you know as well as I do that some of your favorite reads vanish from your feed without warning. We are not in control of what shows up in our scroll, so even loyal customers can miss you for weeks.
- Promotional burnout is real. When every post asks for a purchase, people tune out. They need value and personal connection.
Translation: If the only way you talk to customers is through social, you’re building on borrowed land. The solution isn’t to post more; it’s to diversify how you connect—without making your life complicated.
What “Multi-Channel Connection” Looks Like (Kept Simple, Promise)
Multi-channel simply means you have more than one way to reach people:
- Social for visibility and community.
- Texting for quick, personal reminders your customers actually read.
- A monthly customer newsletter to deliver value, highlight what’s new, and invite conversation.
Think of it like this: social is the billboard alongside the highway—it catches attention in passing. Texts are the personal conversations that happen once someone pulls off the exit ramp and actually talks to you. Your newsletter? That’s the friendly note you send afterward, keeping the relationship warm and inviting them back again.
Where Texting Fits (Fast, Personal, and Permission-Based)
Texting is your most reliable tap-on-the-shoulder when you have something genuinely helpful to share:
- A quick “Your order arrived—any questions?” builds trust.
- A birthday club text makes people feel seen (and gives them a reason to treat themselves).
- A short “new customer tip” reduces returns and increases repeat orders.
You don’t need to text daily. You need to text with intention.
Where a Newsletter Fits (Simple, Helpful, and Repeatable)
A monthly customer newsletter is your steady drumbeat. It’s not long. It’s not fancy. It’s simply consistent. A winning outline:
- Value: a recipe, organization tip, cleaning hack, or how-to using a product they already love.
- Promotional with personality: a spotlight on this month’s special or a customer favorite, but share it as a story or a customer testimonial, not just a "buy my stuff" graphic.
- Personality: a quick note in your voice—give them a behind-the-scenes peek at your life or business. Let them get to know you.
Pro tip: You could use a Project Broadcast landing page for those who opt in for text messages or a newsletter created in Kit for those who opt in for email.
Quick Win Tip: Launch a Birthday Club (Text Opt-In)
If you only do one thing this week, do this. A birthday club is easy to set up and fun for your customers.
How to set it up in five steps:
- Create a keyword in your texting platform (e.g., Project Broadcast) like BDAY.
- Write a friendly auto-reply: “🎉 You’re in! I love to celebrate birthdays and I can't wait to celebrate yours! What’s your birth month and day?”
- Decide your birthday treat: a free sample, small gift with purchase, or a one-time discount—whatever fits your budget.
- Create a birthday campaign to be delivered automatically on the contacts birthday.
- Promote it on social, in your group, and in your email signature. (Copy-paste caption below!)
Copy-Paste Social Caption:
It’s time to celebrate YOU! 🎉 Join the Birthday Club for a little treat to celebrate your big day. Text BDAY to (your number) to join in on the fun.
“But I Don’t Have Time for All This…” (You Do—Here’s the Plan)
You don’t need a brand new system—just one simple habit in each channel:
- Social: 3 posts per week that rotate: helpful tip, conversation starter, promotional post.
- Text: 1 thoughtful text per week max (or less!). Prioritize new customer follow-up and your birthday club.
- Newsletter: 1 email per month using the outline above. Set a reminder. Keep it short.
Do this for 30 days and watch your engagement shift from “I hope someone sees this” to “People are replying.”
How to Put This Into Action
Step 1: Audit at a glance (5 minutes). Scroll through your last 10 posts. How many were value-based vs. promos? Did they invite conversation? Jot down one small improvement.
Step 2: Pick your off-social path. Choose one this week: start your Birthday Club or send your first monthly newsletter. Don’t do both—yet.
Step 3: Post your invite. Use the birthday caption above or post: “I’m starting a monthly ‘Customer Favorites’ email. Want in? Drop a 🎉 and I’ll send the link.”
Step 4: Track results. Write down two numbers this week: new birthday club members and newsletter signups. Small numbers count. Celebrate momentum.
FAQs You Might Be Thinking
Do I need a giant list first? No. You need a reachable list. Ten people who see your message beats 1,000 who never do.
What if I’m nervous to text people? Keep it friendly and helpful. Ask a question. Make it easy to reply. (Keep it to one text a week max; choose quality over quantity.)
Is this compliant? Always ask for permission (opt-in) and make it easy to opt-out. For extra peace of mind, you can check out my free resource Mastering Text Marketing Regulations.
You’ve Got This!
You don’t have to abandon social—you just can’t depend on it alone. Add one off-social channel so more of your people actually hear from you and feel connected to you.
Next Steps: Pick one way this week to reach customers off social. Start the Birthday Club or send your first simple newsletter. Then tell me how it went so I can cheer you on.
