You know you have to do it - but it doesn't make showing up online any easier.
Since starting my business, I've learned how valuable it is to show up online; that means showing my face, staying active, engaging, posting content EVEN when the inspiration is low. Sometimes, even sharing your challenges is a part of showing up.
Your audience wants to know the person behind the business, they want to see your face, and they LOVE knowing that you're a real life person just like them. It helps people feel connected to your brand, and more likely to be willing to support your business because they can see that behind it, there's someone really passionate about what they do.
So, what are some ways that you can start showing up online now?
1. update your profile pic to a photo of yourself
Something I tell everyone - if you're a customer-facing, one women team, you should absolutely have a photo of yourself as your profile picture. Your logo is cute and all, but it's nice knowing who to expect when you're engaging with someone online or when you'll likely meet them in person.
2. Get active on linkedin
I've learned the value of this recently, and yes, I need to practice what I preach, but LinkedIn is an incredible way to build your networks beyond anything that Instagram or Facebook could ever give you. LinkedIn is a way to engage with people who aren't necessarily your target client, but other local businesspeople which may lead to opportunities you couldn't find elsewhere. Getting active on LinkedIn is a bit of a culture-shock in comparison to Instagram, but I'd suggest just starting with building your network by connecting with people you already know, or following those who inspire you, and engaging with content on a regular basis.
3. Introduce Yourself again
How many times is too many times to introduce yourself? If you've built a bit more of a following since your last Intro post, or things have changed for you and you'd like to update your audience, now is a great time to do it! I personally love reading these. If you don't have an Introduction post pinned to your feed already - STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING - I give you permission to ditch this blog and get onto it! It's always cool to include some fun facts about yourself and some business updates, and people love to know the why behind your business. Pair this with a cute classic or personality headshot (see my other blog post about these here).
4. Use your Instagram stories to share behind the scenes
The best thing about an Instagram Story is that they don't have to be perfected posts, they disappear after 24 hours and anyone who saw you talking to the camera would have forgotten about it after it's gone! If talking to the camera feels really uncomfortable for you, ease into it. There's a few ways you can engage - share something you're doing that day (even if it's not biz related), pop up your agenda for the week or any exciting projects coming up. Don't be afraid to share a raw selfie of you going about your day!
5. engage with your community
Posting is only one tiny piece of the puzzle, it's also important that you engage in the comments and interact with posts. If someone leaves a comment on your post, make your best effort to reply with something meaningful (which can sometimes be hard if they've just left you an emoji). For example, direct a question back at them, or tell them something a little extra that wasn't included in the post. As well as this, you should identify anyone in your following that you'd like to either work with or collaborate with, and ensure that you engage with their content on a regular basis. Keep yourself at the forefront of their mind!
Showing up online doesn't have to be hard, and it certainly doesn't have to be perfect.
The longer you sit there thinking about how to do it the "right" way, the more opportunities to engage and build connection, you'll lose. I know this because I've done it myself in the past - perfectionism paralysis girlfriend! Don't let it stop you.
Bonus tip - create a content schedule, choose a regular posting time/day that you can commit to (even if you start off small), schedule posts if you can, and build an ideas list in your notes and add to it ANYTIME you think of something - even if you're about to go to bed and it pops into your head, or you're in the car driving, use Siri or Alexa to get that sh*t written down! Once I started doing this, I pooled a huge amount of content ideas in my notes. Some didn't resonate any more once I went back to it, but there's always a few goodies in there that will, at the very least, spark a new idea that feels good for you. I've found that writing these down actually keeps the creativity flowing, and when it comes to needing ideas for something to post, you've got a little bank of ideas to fall back on or build your content schedule around.
If you need more help showing up confidently online, or don't feel you've got imagery or content that reflects you, then my Content Subscription may be just what you need. Designed to keep your content fresh, and you accountable. Find out more here.
Thanks for reading!
Shan ✨
Personal Branding Photographer based in Hamilton, New Zealand
Giving you the confidence to show up online
