5 Visibility Tips to Help you Show the Face Behind Your Small Business
We know that there’s a face behind every business. But not every business shows its face.
We get it. Putting yourself ‘out there’ as a small business owner can be incredibly daunting. You might have turned your side hustle into a full-time job or flipped that passion project into a profitable business but if you want to see your company go from strength to strength you’ve got to get visible. Being ‘seen’ means building your personal vibe into your brand. Whether it’s showing your face on your socials or creating a killer about me page, there is a huge value to being visible to your consumers.
As scary as it might feel to become the face of your business, great personal visibility weaves through your business like a magic golden thread. It connects you and your business to your consumers AND it strengthens your brand, helping people understand who you are, what you do and why your business is the right choice for them.
If you’re missing some visibility vibes in your marketing, do not fret. Not only do we have a helping hand to guide you, but we’ve also got all the buzz on how to show-up in style.
1. Add Authenticity with Imagery
You know the saying people buy from people?
Showing the name and face behind your brand is one of the most powerful things you can do to boost your business. Consumers are increasingly turning their backs to generic, over edited messages and are looking to engage with businesses they can connect with in a genuine way. When you show your face on your site or socials it automatically helps consumers relate to the human-y part of your brand. It builds trust, confidence and credibility.
We know that getting your photo taken for promotional purposes can feel a bit scary but there’s lots of easy (and gentle) ways to add authenticity to your arsenal, no matter how camera shy you are. Let your audience into the true story behind the brand. Let them know how the business started from an idea scribbled on a napkin to the roaring success it is today. Tell them what ignited your passion and why you really care about what you do. Real, honest, authentic communications full to the brim with personality are the best way to boost your business vibe.
Whether you show up on your socials with a big smile or choose to showcase your product at work with a few story selfies, there are oodles of creative ways to bring your authentic real self to your marketing.
2. Showcase (& Share) your Expertise
You’re a successful business owner, you’ve overcome many hurdles to get to where you are so don’t be afraid to share your hard-earned expertise! Many small business owners shy away from sharing their views and are reluctant to offer advice, feeling too self-conscious or worried they look like they are showing-off. Sharing knowledge isn’t about trying to be famous or showy, it’s about helping your business to stand out!
Social media is a great place to participate in discussions and deep dive into your niche so get involved! Think about spreading your wings beyond your own site and socials. Participate in webinars, write some brilliant blog posts and share valuable insights that’ll help your consumers’ pain points or help them navigate your products. The more you share your knowledge the more it will 100% boost your brand.
3. Go Live and Maximise the Moment
Taking the chance to connect with your audience in real time is not only a fab way to reach a wider audience (the algorithm Gods love a live stream) but it also leverages stronger consumer relationships in a jiffy! Perfectly worded posts and irresistible imagery can help stop the scroll and garner you some likes but leveraging live video will get your audience to fall in love with you.
Interacting with your audience in the moment is marketing magic not to be ignored. They hear your voice, see your body language and can feel your genuineness. Why not take your audience behind the scenes to a real-time event or delight them with a mini walk-through video. Engage users in a live Q&A session that goes waaay beyond a standard FAQ page and is brimming with doubt-busting, sales savvy content. Going live on platforms like Insta or FB is free and easy to do. You don’t need any special equipment and the process is user-friendly – simply click ‘go live’ and off you go! Promise the first is always the hardest…it gets easier.
4. Personalise your Interactions
Sometimes it’s the simple things that are the most effective. Personalising your consumers experience is guaranteed to give you a visibility leg-up. As consumers shift their loyalty from faceless corporates to brands that celebrate their softer human side, they certainly don’t want to be treated as a faceless undefined audience in return.
Tailored, targeted messaging with your own personalised style is key. It makes your business feel real and that’s important when you consider how much consumers are bombarded with billions of messages daily. People naturally want to connect with brands that cultivate relationships – not companies just trying to sell stuff. So go beyond merely using your consumers name in emails and cultivate the kind of conversations where they feel you are speaking directly to them. From welcome emails to birthday discounts, engaging with social media comments and responding to messages quickly. If you want a long-lasting relationship with your consumers, then show-up and say hi!
5. Collaborate and Network with Like-Minded Peeps
We love hive mind mentality. Collaborating with like-minded businesses is a super way to add some extra oomph to your offering. Whether you decide to collaborate with a totally on-trend influencer that shares the same passion as you do or create a partnership with another similar business, you’re opening yourself up to new opportunities that can expand your network and help you reach new consumers and clients.
Attending industry events and conferences is another wonderful way to build connections that can help your business grow. Being the face and voice of your business means building strong meaningful relationships. So, whether you’re networking with confidence at industry events and mingling like a pro or stepping into the spotlight by taking up that offer of being a guest speaker at an event or podcast, being visible allows you to really demonstrate your skills and boost your professional authenticity. It might get you some extra business too.
Owning your business buzz starts with being visible. Building relationships and letting your passion and drive for your business shine through is without a doubt one of the best things you can do to help your business grow. If you want more helpful tips on how you can increase your personal visibility and get your name and face out there, take a look at our tips and tricks over on Instagram!