Our Founder’s Thoughts
I’ve always felt anxious about being on camera. I would overthink what I looked like, what I sounded like, what I was going to say and whether anybody actually wanted to hear it.
And there’s a strange contradiction there when you run a business.
You know visibility matters. You know people buy from people. You know that showing your face and sharing your thoughts can help people understand who you are and what you stand for.
But knowing something is good for your business doesn’t magically make it comfortable.
Last year I gave myself no option but to show up … and it taught me a few things.
Big Love For Small Business
When I launched Big Love For Small Business, I committed to showing up online every single day to showcase some of my brilliant members; independent businesses and the women behind them.
This kind of visibility felt different.
I was showing up because I had something I genuinely wanted people to see.
Our members. Their businesses. Their stories. Their expertise. The brilliant things they were creating.
I had a real purpose for being there and that made being on camera so much easier for me.
Was I suddenly completely comfortable with it? No, definitely not. But I did it.
Then I did it again. And again.
And somewhere along the way, the thing I’d spent so much time avoiding started to feel a little more normal.
So if you’re eager to show up online more often but don’t know where to start, maybe start by finding your purpose for doing so, besides promoting your business.
“Being seen” … gives me the ick
There’s a version of online business visibility that I don’t particularly like.
The idea that we should constantly be posting online. Constantly creating content of ourselves, filming every single movement of our day. Constantly trying to grab people’s attention. I mean, who actually has time for all that?!
That’s not what I mean when I talk about being seen.
Being seen means allowing the right people to find you, understand what you do and gradually learn to trust you.
That’s it.
And there are lots of ways to do that without feeling pressured to film your every move for social media
- Attend a networking meeting and introduce yourself to somebody new
- Put yourself forward for guest speaking opportunities
- Send that email that you’ve been putting off
- Apply for an award
- Attend a large event
- Take time to engage in conversation on social media
- Do such a great job that others send people your way
I’m not saying that being visible on social media doesn’t work, it absolutely does, but if you’re anything like me and you find it all a bit icky, you have other options. Don’t be fooled in thinking that you won’t be successful.
Visibility isn’t one thing, and it doesn’t have to look the same for everybody.
4 ways to be more visible this month
1. Show up consistently (this may only be once or twice a week)
Choose the places where the people you want to reach actually spend their time. Online and offline and make yourself present there consistently.
2. Talk clearly about what you do
Don’t leave people guessing. Get to the point. Tell them who you help, what you help them with and why it matters.
3. Share more of the person behind the business
Your experiences and stories help people understand who they’re potentially choosing to work with or buy from.
4. Engage rather than simply broadcast
Visibility isn’t just about being noticed. Talk to people. Ask questions. Comment. Listen. Build relationships.
You don’t have to become somebody who loves the spotlight. I certainly haven’t.
But if you’re asking people to buy from you, recommend you, invite you into rooms, trust your expertise or remember your business when somebody needs what you offer, at some point you have to give them the opportunity to know that you’re there.
So this October, we’re saying Yes To Being Seen in whatever way feels comfortable;
Yes to stepping out from behind the scenes a little more.
Yes to talking about what you’re brilliant at.
Yes to sharing what matters to you.
Yes to taking up a little more space.
Find a reason to show up that’s bigger than the reason you’ve been hiding.
Lisa Lloyd
Founder & Managing Director – The Women Who Business Community
Blog
This section offers a summary of the blog, presenting a range of articles, perspectives, and materials to educate and motivate readers.
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Say Yes To Being Seen
Our Founder’s Thoughts I’ve always felt anxious about being on camera. I would overthink what…
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Say Yes To Strategy
There’s definitely something to be said for winging it. When you first start a business,…
