The question I received today, the one I'm going to share with you here in a moment, is

one that I receive on a pretty regular basis. Whenever I do Q&A calls from time to time,

I do these calls from like if anybody has a question or wants to explore a scenario

and idea, let's talk it out. I often hear some variation of this question, which is,

do you have to be active on social media? Do you have to be really into social media?

Do you have to be posting all the time, be promoting all the time to be successful?

If you've got a small business idea, do you need to use social media?

Well, today's listener hates the idea of using her Twitter or Instagram account to share

anything at all about her business. Again, I hear this question all the time, at least

variations of it. The answer is no. We'll talk about it some more in a moment, but the

answer is no. It depends on what you're selling. Maybe that's a better way to put it. In my

detailed answer, we're going to look at three examples of people who have largely avoided

social media. I've largely avoided social media, yet have been very, very successful. Maybe

the follow-up is how are you successful without social media? We'll talk about all that

stuff. You have to use social to be successful. We just said no, but what are some examples,

perhaps, of people who have avoided it or have just chosen a different path? Because you

know what? Businesses were actually around before Facebook and Instagram and Twitter, etc.

But there is a way. Let's talk it out after this quick message from our sponsor.

Hi, Chris. This is Charlie, and I've been following your projects since the art of non-conformity.

Thanks for all the helpful advice over the years. Most people I've seen with successful, small

businesses are really committed to social media, and that's just not me. Don't get me wrong,

I like using Facebook and Instagram, but I'm mostly a lurker who doesn't post much.

...