When social media strategist Hanna Rauch launched a second business that had nothing to do with marketing, she didn’t expect it to explode the way it did.
But Busy With Books - her introvert-friendly reading retreats and online book club - struck a chord with hundreds of book lovers craving connection without the pressure.
In this episode, Hanna gets real about the early days: from posting to zero followers, to going viral with nothing but a mood board and a dream.
She shares exactly how she built momentum, what content moved the needle, and the surprising backlash she wasn’t prepared for (and how she handled it).
This isn’t just a story about retreats and reading - it’s a masterclass in community-building, storytelling, and staying true to your values when the internet comes knocking.
What’s Inside This Episode:
- The moment Hanna knew she wanted a second business that had nothing to do with marketing
- Why reading retreats were the “obvious” answer (even though no one else was doing them in NZ)
- What she did in the first 30 days to grow from zero followers to 450 people on the waitlist
- Why she didn’t wait until everything was ready before she started posting
- How she made content without having any real retreat footage yet
- The surprisingly effective TikTok-to-Instagram strategy she used to grow both audiences
- What went down when she announced her paid book club - and why it did shake her confidence
- The exact PR strategy that landed her in Women’s Day, Stuff, NZ Herald + more
- One media feature she thought would pop… but didn’t-
- The best user-generated content campaign she’s ever run (and how she pulled it off)
- Her perspective on “authenticity” — and the difference between being real and being raw
- Why she’ll gladly post her screen time report but draw the line at mid-cry selfies
To find out more about Busy with Books and connect with Hanna:
- Visit Busy with Books: https://www.busywithbooks.com
- Follow on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusywithBooks
- Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busywithbooksnz
- Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@busywithbooksnz
Looking for advice to help you confidently show up on social media?
Connect with Jodine:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/socialsmarty.co
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/socialsmarty.co
- YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/SocialSmartyJodineMcIntyre
- Website: www.socialsmarty.co
