Visibility. It’s a word thrown around on the internet a lot these days. What it means for business owners is advertising and putting your business out in front of potential customers. Businesses need visibility to grow – especially if you’re in a fairly saturated industry like I am. As a graphic designer and visual marketing specialist, I get asked a lot about how a small business can get the visibility it needs to thrive. While there are many many ways to get the necessary visibility, I’ve searched high and low to bring you a few easier tips that anyone can master:
Build Trust by building relationships with your current clients
Believe it or not, your current clients are probably the best source for you to get your next client. They’ve worked with you, know your strengths, and can explain to their like-minded friends what you do and why they like you. This is why it’s so vital to take really excellent care of your existing clients even if you only have two or three. Build trust with them by checking in on them long after the work is done. I have a tendency to randomly call and email my past clients just to say hello and see how their business is going, which is less about sales for me, and more because I’m curious as to how they’re doing. However, I know businesses that keep track of milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries and then send a branded card to their clients on their special day. I also know businesses that send out postcards with specials to past clients for a product or service they bought once before
Use your talents to showcase your business
Everyone I’ve met has an extra talent hidden away that they don’t think about when it comes to advertising their business. If you’re a great storyteller or love people then make a podcast or create a video! Videos are a great way to showcase your business. Even if you don’t think you could be on camera, you could do a product demonstration showing only your hands. Maybe you’re a talented singer, write a song about a positive experience a past client had with your company, and perform it. Love to write? Guess what…you can write a blog to educate your audience! Use those hidden drawing skills to doodle up a comic about your product and share it online! Whatever special talent you have, you can use that to showcase your business, you just have to be a little creative!
Show the human side to your business
Have you seen “Meet the Team” posts on social media recently? This is why. Same reason you see people sharing their offices. Thanks to kids and pets crashing video calls we’ve all gotten to learn a lot more about the people we work with or the people we want to work with! People want to do business with people. They want to know about you, so don’t keep it a secret! It will help you attract clients who not only need your products or services but also have something in common with you. For example, I collect teddy bears and I kept it a secret for a really long time because I was embarrassed about being an adult who collects toys. Well one day, I accidentally shared that I love plush toys and collect them to a few people at an event I was at and guess what…turns out one of them also collects plush toys and another one collects comic books. I had known these people for years and had no clue. We were all too embarrassed to share our “geeky” hobbies until I slipped up. It was the best conversation I’d had with them in months and completely changed my relationship with each of them. Whenever I see them, we now chat about our collections, and because of this connection we refer business back and forth! What makes your business unique is you and can lead you to all the right clients!
Host and Co-Host Events
When you host or co-host an event, whether it’s in person or online, you get a lot of extra visibility because your name or business name gets mentioned everywhere. This means that rather than you going over to people, people come up to you and that can be easier for an introvert to handle. The type of event can be anything from a client appreciation event to a panel discussion to a facility tour. Put together a great flyer or social media graphic to advertise this event out in the community and online!
Appear as an expert or volunteer your time
I’ve seen even the quietest person light up when they start talking about their business. If you don’t have the time or really aren’t interested in hosting, co-hosting, or sponsoring an event then get involved in an event in a smaller way. Appear in an on-line panel discussion, do a “live” in someone else’s online group, emcee a fundraiser. When you appear as an expert or volunteer your time in some way, you and your business will get mentioned and that boosts your visibility as well.
These are but a few ways that you can get some much-needed visibility for your business. The bottom line is to get your name and logo out in front of as many of your ideal customers (and their friends) as possible. Drop me a quick email, I’d love to know what is your favorite way to get visibility for your business?
By the way, if you need a fresh perspective on your current visual marketing materials or are still trying to figure out how to best use visual marketing materials in your business — I can help. Check out my branding and design courses and consulting services and let’s chat soon! I look forward to helping you grow your business!