How to Gain Visibility for Your Business, Even if You’re an Introvert

If you’re not visible, you’re not going to be in business very long. Putting yourself out there is what helps people to get to know and trust you. And, frankly, it’s what tells people that you even have a business in the first place.

But I’m an introvert. It’s so hard for me to put myself out there.

Sister, it’s time to get past that. And I say that with plenty of hugs, love and understanding. Owning a business isn’t for the faint of heart. But you need to remember that your business isn’t going to promote itself.

Luckily, there are a lot of options out there for both introverts and extroverts. For those of you who shudder at the thought of jumping on a Facebook Live, there are plenty of things you can do that don’t involve video. In fact, you may just find that once you put yourself out there a bit, you’re ready for more. Stranger things have happened.

Hitting the visibility train isn’t as difficult as you think. Here are some of the top ways to gain visibility for your business.

Be active in Facebook groups

First, you need to be in the right Facebook groups, the ones where your ideal client hangs out. Once you’re there, you’ll want to get involved! Interact in some of the threads, ask questions, pose questions of your own and generally just be active. The more you put yourself out there in groups, the more others will recognize your name and remember what it is that you do. So when they’re ready for your product or service, they’ll know where to turn!

Schedule coffee chats

It’s hard for introverts to get out to local events. I may be exactly the opposite of introverted, but I still get that. Instead, schedule 1:1 virtual coffee chats with people who you’re interacting with online. This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate–just two gals talking about life, kids, business and goals. The key here is to go into these calls looking to get to know someone else. This isn’t about pitching or closing a sale.

Go to live events

What better way to gain visibility and connect with others than to get out to live events? Not only can you meet in person the people you’ve been connecting with online, but you can also soak up new knowledge while meeting face-to-face with mentors, clients and colleagues. Go there with a goal for connecting with a certain number of new people, then follow up with them after the event to continue the conversation.

Pitch to podcasts

Podcasts are the window to your audience’s ears, as long as you’re aiming for the right ones. Find out which podcasts your audience is listening to and listen to a few episodes to get the vibe and flow of each. Decide if the podcast and its host resonate with you and then determine what value you can provide to the podcast audience.

When pitching, remember that it’s about the audience, not the podcaster–and certainly not about you. I mean, of course it’s about you and your visibility. That’s why you’re pitching in the first place. But you need to have something of value to offer the audience because the podcaster will only feature guests who do.

Write guest blog posts

Guest blogging isn’t as popular as it once was, and often it doesn’t give you the results you want. However, having your name out on someone else’s website can still be good social proof that you have something of value to offer–especially if you’re able to get on a high-visibility business website. Look for prominent business owners who have a business that’s complementary to yours, offering services or products that serve a similar audience. Just like when pitching a podcast, know what value you can offer the business owner’s audience when you pitch–and what you might write about.

Participate in online summits

Online summits may have run their course, but there are still a few good, high-visibility or very niche summits that are making the rounds and getting attention. Whether you seek one out and pitch to the organizer or someone invites you to participate, it’s important to make sure that your message aligns with the goals of the summit.

And when you present or record your presentation, have a landing page ready with a freebie that builds on what you taught so you can capture participants’ email addresses right away. That will help you gain visibility for your business, with the option to connect with new followers right away through targeted emails.

Connect on Instagram

I personally don’t use Instagram for marketing my business, but I’m still there connecting with others on a more personal level. And you better believe that I interact with fellow entrepreneurs there. The easiest way to do this is to like and comment on posts. But Instagram Stories let you see a more personal side of the business owner, as they talk on video about life and business. You can respond directly to stories via text OR video (and only the one person will receive the video).

So even if your clients aren’t on Instagram, it’s a good way to connect with other business owners who may refer you in the future. Of course, if Instagram is part of your overall marketing and content strategy, get yourself on Instagram Stories too!

Content, content, content

I can’t emphasize enough the power of content. Offering free value to your audience through quality, timely and consistent content is a huge step in the direction of establishing trust with your community.

Content can come in the form of blog posts on your website, videos on YouTube and Facebook Live, regular emails to your list, downloadable freebies that live on your website and a host of other options. Do what feels right to you and what your audience is asking for. If your target audience is business executives, chances are they’re not going to read a blog but they will likely receive and read your emails.

(Pro tip: If you don’t have time to create this content on your own, hire it out!)

Be active on social media

Just because you build it, doesn’t mean the clients and followers will come. You have to be active! Have a social media strategy in place, one that ties in your content from other platforms (your blog, YouTube channel, etc.). Post on your Facebook page, on your LinkedIn profile and on other platforms where your audience hangs out. And don’t just post your own content either. Show that you’re a thought leader and stay up on your craft by including content from other relevant content creators.

Write articles for outside publications

Similar to guest blogging, writing articles for other websites and publications helps to get your name out to new audiences. Plus, they also show your audience that others find value in what you have to say. These articles should be on-brand for you and deliver a similar message that you’re putting out to other places. Websites to consider include publishing articles on Medium, LinkedIn, Huffington Post, Thrive Global and more industry-specific online (and print!) publications.

Join a mastermind

Masterminds are small groups of fellow business owners who are at about the same place in business and who are all motivated to grow personally and professionally. Even though you’re interacting with a much smaller group, the opportunities for visibility are huge.

Because it’s a small group, you’re able to get to know each member on a much more intimate level. Masterminds can last six months to a year and you’re able to really learn about one another’s businesses. Your mastermind friends are the ones who will hire you, refer you and generally support you and your business for years to come.

Okay, so now you have more ideas than you ever thought possible for how to gain more visibility. What’s next? Well, first you need to understand that not all visibility is created equal. And just because you’re on a podcast or join a mastermind doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re on the right track. You need to take the time to set visibility goals and then evaluate how those goals are helping you to meet your business goals. Then tweak and repeat!