The Digital Rug Pull: How Social Media Can Destroy Your Business Overnight

Let’s get something out of the way before the avocado-toast crowd starts waving their phones at me.

Social media is useful. There, I said it. It can be brilliant for visibility, engagement, and the occasional ego boost when someone shares your latest “special offer” with a thumbs up and a heart emoji.

But – and this is a big but – if you’re relying solely on social media to drive people to your business, you’re basically building your empire on someone else’s land. And that land is owned by Silicon Valley behemoths who wouldn’t notice if you vanished into the digital abyss tomorrow.

You’re Not the Customer. You’re the Product.

Let’s talk Meta. Or Facebook, as it used to be called before it tried to sound like a villain from a Marvel movie. You’ve probably got a business page there, and maybe even an Instagram account with carefully curated photos of your handmade soy candles or your artisan beef jerky.

But here’s the thing – you don’t own any of it.

Your page? That’s just a squatter’s tent on Zuckerberg’s lawn. And he can kick you off any time he pleases. No warning. No explanation. One day you’re posting about your new stock, and the next? “Your account has been suspended for violating community guidelines.” What guidelines? Who knows. They won’t tell you. They won’t talk to you. They won’t even acknowledge your existence.

Need help? Tough. Meta doesn’t have customer service. It has forums. You know, the place where desperate people shout into the void hoping someone with a keyboard and a caffeine addiction might offer a clue.

Google? Same Circus, Different Clowns.

Google is just as bad. You could have a slick Google Business listing, glowing reviews, and even show up on Maps. But again – it’s not yours. If they decide to change the algorithm or roll out some update with a name like “Possum” or “Moose” or “Giraffe in a Hat,” your visibility could vanish overnight.

And again, there’s no one to call. No email. No human. Just forms, AI bots, and a lovely message that says, “Thank you for your feedback” – which, translated, means “bugger off – we don’t care.”

Take the Reins: Get a Website.

This is why, if you’ve got any sense whatsoever, you need your own website. Your domain. Your hosting. Your rules.

A website is your digital home – not a tent in someone else’s garden. You control the content, the branding, the messaging, and most importantly, the customer journey. It’s where people can buy your stuff, book your services, or just find out what you actually do, without being distracted by dancing cats and someone’s lunch.

Better yet, it’s where you can build credibility. Nothing says “I’m a proper business” like a well-built site with a clear call to action and contact details that don’t involve sending a DM into the abyss.

Social Media Should Support – Not Replace – Your Website.

Use Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – whatever – but use them to feed people into your website. That’s the mothership. That’s where the sales happen. That’s where you build trust, answer questions, and own the experience.

Social media is a tool, not a foundation. Rely on it alone, and you’re one algorithm tweak away from digital oblivion.

Final Thought

If you wouldn’t run a shop without owning the building, don’t run your business without owning your digital space.

Because when the social media giants change the rules – and they will – the only safe bet is to have a place of your own.

And no, Zuckerberg isn’t invited.

Want help building that rock-solid digital base? Let’s talk websites – the kind you own.