How to Grow Your Business Without Going Viral on Instagram or TikTok
You Don’t Need to Go Viral to Grow a Profitable Business
We see it everywhere: viral videos, trending sounds, reels hitting a million views overnight. And while that might look like the dream, here’s the truth:
Viral doesn’t always mean profitable. I can assure you this. I am a content marketing expert with over 100K Instagram followers and I never go viral. But that has not kept me from making $2.5M in digital sales in the past 4 years.
Let’s be honest, going viral can bring visibility—but visibility doesn’t always lead to sales. Especially if you don’t have a viral physical product you sell.
In fact, for most small business owners, service providers, and creators, chasing your big “viral moment” day after day is draining, disappointing and bad for your mental health.
While social media is amazing, and will help you build community, and even sell if you are in fact posting promotional content often, I want you to get some of that “I want to go viral” energy and put it in a different part of your content marketing: your Email Newsletters.
What Actually Moves the Needle? Warm Leads, Not Random Viewers
It’s tempting to think your business would explode if only you had more reach. But in reality, you don’t need more eyeballs—you need more action.
That action almost always comes from your warmest audience: people who already know you, trust you, and are on your email list.
Because let’s be honest:
That person who never heard of you before and saw your Reel for 6 seconds? They’re not ready to buy.
But your email subscriber who’s clicked on 3 of your last emails? They’re hot and interested.🔥
👉 Not sure how to start building or nurturing your email list? Grab our Free Email Marketing Guide here — it walks you through it, step by step.
Email Marketing: The Underrated Growth Strategy That Actually Converts
Social media is designed to keep people scrolling. Email is designed to get people to take action. That makes email one of the most powerful tools for:
Getting bookings
Launching offers
Selling products
Nurturing long-term client relationships
In fact, some of the most profitable creators and small business owners you follow? They’re not just showing up on Instagram. They’re closing sales in the inbox.
And they’re doing it consistently—even with lists under 500 people.
Why Small Lists Are Often More Powerful Than Large Followings
Here’s a spicy truth:
💡 An engaged email list of 300 people can bring in more sales than a social following of 10,000.
That’s because:
Email subscribers see more of what you send (no algorithm interference).
Email lets you get personal, build trust, and offer value over time.
The people on your list chose to hear from you—they’re already warmer than 99% of your social followers.
So instead of stressing over reach or trending audio, you could be spending 15 minutes a week sending one solid email—and growing your business the smart way.
Currently Ghosting Your Email List? Start With This Free Re-Engagement Email
If it’s been a while since you emailed your list (or you’ve ghosted them completely 😅), it’s easier than you think to bounce back.
🎁 Use this free re-engagement email template (no opt-in required!) to send a short, warm message that gets you back in their inbox without awkwardness.
This single email has helped hundreds of small business owners reignite their lists and start selling again—without writing from scratch or overthinking every word.
Here’s What to Say in Your Weekly Emails (We Even Give You the Templates)
Consistency is where the magic happens. One weekly email can:
Keep your list engaged
Promote your offers without being pushy
Bring in leads or sales (yes, every week!)
Build long-term loyalty that social media can’t touch
But most people quit because they don’t know what to say.
That’s where we come in. 💌
With Your Inbox Team, you get done-for-you weekly email templates already written, already designed, and delivered inside Canva. You just tweak and send.
The best part: if making it work for your specific business, don’t worry: we already did the AI work for you. With our custom AI, which you can even use just on the free ChatGPT plan, you just answer a couple of questions specific to your business and it will customize for you!
It’s like having a copywriter and designer on your team—for a tiny fraction of the price.
Real Talk: Virality Is a Bonus. Strategy Is What Builds Your Business.
If something goes viral? Great.
But if it doesn’t? That should never stop your business from growing.
You don’t need to chase trends, dance on camera, or “get discovered.”
You just need a way to connect with your audience consistently—and guide them toward the next step.
Email does that. And it works every single time you hit send.
TL;DR: How to Grow Without Going Viral
🔥 Focus on your warmest leads (your email list)
🔥 Use a re-engagement email to bounce back if you’ve ghosted them
🔥 Send one weekly email—done is better than perfect
🔥 Skip the blank page struggle with Your Inbox Team’s email marketing templates
🔥 Stop waiting on the algorithm, and start building on your terms
📌 Or start here, for free:
Need an email marketing platform for your small business?
We love and recommend Flodesk.
Flodesk is a great company, offers beautiful emails, easy to set up, have transparent pricing, allow you to segment your list, share templates (for those creating emails for clients) and more.
📌 Want help getting your emails out every week in 4 hours or less per month*? Join Your Inbox Team for only $27/mo 🔥
— our email templates can be customized for any business and niche, we even did all the AI work for you, and you’ll get a Custom GPT and AI Prompt that already gives AI all it needs to know about how to make it work the best for you. You just need to answer its questions about your business.
*This is an average result. Real amount of time it takes you customizing and sending your emails will depend on your own skills and speed.
**This page contain affiliate links