The United Nations has declared Friday, March 8, 2024, as International Women’s Day, and this year they are celebrating with a theme of “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.”

I love recognizing the achievements of fellow women in business. When I began my career in sales, men dominated the field. Through hard work and with the guidance of God, I was able to break through that glass ceiling. Nowadays, it is truly a joy for me to coach many fantastic female and male entrepreneurs, and see them achieve levels of success they’d only dreamed of before.

I am excited to discuss the topic “Invest in women: Accelerate progress” on two occasions next week, and I hope you will join me and two panels of talented, barrier-breaking women. First, I will host Carol Dockum, Anne Gudger, and Rebecca Victor on my podcast with WCEG on Tuesday, March 12, at 5:00PM ET. You can tune in live at wcegtalkradio.com or visit my YouTube channel.

Second, I will have a conversation with Cally D’Angelo, Amita Ghosh, and Sara Poe for our monthly Women of Community Impact virtual networking group. This free Coffee & Connections event is on Wednesday, March 13, from 10-11AM ET, and you can register to join us online.

Our monthly Coffee & Connections events are a great example of one thing I tell every client they must do to accelerate progress in their business: You must be visible.

 

What does it mean to be visible?

Being visible in business is more than just being noticed. It means being acknowledged and valued by your colleagues, existing clients, and potential customers. It is being consistently and frequently in the public view.

Increasing your visibility establishes credibility and expertise in your community. For instance, if you accept an invitation to speak on a panel about taxes, your accounting firm will be front of mind when an attendee needs someone to prepare their return. If you volunteer for the school fashion show, your image consulting business will be remembered for both its skilled stylists and its commitment to local students.

Last month, I wrote about the importance of your personal brand. Building brand awareness for yourself and your business is critical to your success. From a robust presence on social media to regular attendance at community events, your visibility is a direct link to increased personal and brand awareness, which is the path to your success.

 

Why does visibility lead to success?

The importance of your business’s visibility boils down to one thing: the more visible you are, the more leads you generate.

To be specific, there is a clear path from visibility to success:

Increased visibility → increased lead generation → more opportunities and sales calls → sales → money

If you are willing to put in the time and effort to increase your visibility, you will very quickly see the positive effects in lead generation. With some more hard work following up on all those leads, utilizing your confident sales pitch, and knowing how to respond to questions and concerns, your increased visibility has become a straight line to building the legacy business of your dreams!

 

So how do you become more visible?

There are several ways to increase your visibility. Begin by considering your industry and which avenues are most important to your potential clients.

For example, visibility on social media is a must for any entrepreneur. But which platforms you use may vary by industry. Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Tik Tok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube can all generate leads when posting regular, quality content.

It is better to start with a consistent presence on one or two social media platforms than spread yourself thinly over many. The key is to engage regularly with your followers, through interesting posts, responses to comments, and comments on posts of other people in your industry. The more visible your name and handle become in industry conversations, the more credibility you gain.

Conferences and conventions are another excellent way to increase visibility. Accept invitations to speak on panels and lead break-out sessions. Log in to virtual sessions with your camera on so people can connect a face to your name. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to fellow attendees.

I just attended the NRB International Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. While I was there primarily in support of my clients, I also made sure to meet many new colleagues. The potential for collaboration was everywhere! It was so rewarding to both see my clients succeeding at the highest levels, and also to identify new opportunities for my own growth.

Perhaps the most important way you can gain visibility is by simply making yourself a fixture in the community you serve. Service organizations like Rotary International and Kiwanis Club have many local branches that meet regularly. Becoming a member not only introduces you and your business to new people, but also demonstrates your commitment to your neighbors.

Not every business has the budget to sponsor a town event or a youth sports team, but putting your logo on a team’s jersey or event promotional materials is a great way to get your company’s name in the eyes of potential clients. If sponsorship isn’t right for you, volunteer your time and expertise on a local board or committee. Raising your hand and offering to help is a simple but highly effective way to establish yourself and your business as valued members of your community.

 

Invest in visibility and accelerate your success!

All of these ideas require the same commitment: to put yourself and your business out there, consistently and confidently. It may require you to step outside your comfort zone initially, but ultimately, the rewards are great.

At Celeste Giordano Consulting, we help clients identify the best ways to increase visibility and build the legacy business of their dreams. Are you ready to invest in yourself and accelerate your progress? Contact me today!

 

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Celeste Giordano’s mission is to help business owners develop the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary to “DoublePlus™” their income and become effective and inspirational leaders in their fields. Whether it’s taking your successful business to the next level or starting a new venture, she will teach you the exact skills and strategies you need to enroll more quality prospects, build a rock-solid team, and break through obstacles to achieve real profit and lasting success. Celeste is a professional business growth specialist, a master sales strategist, and dynamic speaker with more than 40 years experience in direct sales and managing high-performing teams.

To learn more about Celeste, click here.

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