What does business visibility mean to you?

Question

That is the question! I am writing an article on visibility in business. What does it mean to you? Why is it important? What obstacles have you encountered? Please share for an opportunity to be quoted and have your business featured (if you would like)

Jackie Ruka · Answer

There is visibility in business and then there is visibility as a company culture. The two are very different. Visibility is transparency. Organizations with a matrix management approach instill an open dialogue amongst the divisions so all are on the same page. Visibility in business with a mentoring/ leadership paradigm is an exceptional approach for any company willing to operate from a “we hope” to a “we will” team and organizational approach.

Kimberly Mc · Answer

To me, personal visibility means being present and making sure people know you're present. sit at the table, not in the back row of chairs when at a meeting. keep track of your accomplishments and make sure your boss/reviewer knows them at rating/raise/review time. Speak up during those impomptu hallway discussions, don't just walk by.  Engage and make sure your co-workers and bosses know you're engaging.

Lorene De Souza · Answer

Visibility to me means putting oneself in front of the ideal customer through ads, publications, media, etc. It is important to have exposure so that people can see your product/service. Some may not know of you or know that the service you provide can help them if you don't. The obstacles I am currently facing is lack of engagement. I get followers and likes, but no feedback or follow through. I am constantly learning new techniques and skills to help with this pitfall.

Lucinda Jackson · Answer

It means you have to show up at company events even if you don't feel like it!

Natalie Dunbar · Answer

I've had the opportunity to stand up content strategy practices at an ad agency with an-house digital services and design group, and also at a large healthcare company where we constantly had to differentiate our user experience-focused content strategists from marcomm focused content strategists.

In both instances, visibility meant that our teams were consistent about educating our colleagues and business partners about what it is that we do (we aren't all writers), why it is important, and how we complemented other strategy groups.

On the flip side, as a yoga teacher who specializes in teaching accessible yoga to differently-abled bodies (all shapes, sizes and abilities) - and as a yogi of color - I have to maintain visibility through digital touch points like social media, my website and so on.

Most of the mainstream studios in my area (Greater Los Angeles) don't employ teachers that look like me or teach like me.  I find it is a double-edged sword, in that I've found a niche for my teaching, but I haven't found a studio that wants to add me to their roster. As a solution, I teach on a private basis in my home studio.  Most of my clients find me online - hat tip to my content and SEO colleagues who have helped me learn how to be findable, and therefore, visible.

Crystal Rhineberger · Answer

The bff and I are actually currently dealing with this. Oddly enough we are dealing with both literal business visibility, been on the location for 23yrs, still have people (who have lived in our town for their whole lives) “just finding “ the place.
We are also dealing with business visibility that we can do more than just watch services and repair (we are a custom jewelry store and always have been) and are working on how to get people to notice us instead of driving so far to the competition.
We have also faced budgeting woes and forecasting as well to help fix this.
While this is the bff’s family who owns the store (dad owns and runs, mom is silent partner) we are only children who adopted each other shall we say. So even though I am not on the payroll I am still happy to be a support and sounding board (I also live in a different state)
We opted that revamping the website with fresh information could make us standout in a large picture of jewelry stores.  We will have a conference call with each other over the feedback I have collected on the website.

Anonymous · Answer

teamwork and edifying others.

Emily L Derr · Answer

Here is the article: https://medium.com/@EmilyLauraDerr/business-visibility-you-dont-have-to-shout-to-be-heard-6f183ec4c529?sk=99fbad436ef9e06b55c13b2d8383221e

Helen Hanison · Answer

Such an interesting question! Thought provoking too.

My past (professional) life was a 20 year tour in global public relations companies and with my old 'hat' on, I would have interpreted business visibility in terms of media metrics - column inches, brand mentions - all about achieving targets around key message outreach that amplifies whatever business offering or product my client(s) were touting to attract their customer base.

But I left that PR mission behind and today I help seasoned professionals who feel stuck at some sort of career crossroads to make a plan realigning work they love with the life they wish they were living. Then act on it.

And with that pivot of my own, and a 2nd degree in psychology that shaped it, comes a whole new perspective about visibility in business. Now, for me, everything I do is driven by a different mission. It feels like using my superpowers for good! I still call on my first career, and actually I love it when my commercial edges and marketing savvy are brought out in service of my clients' needs and wants - but the purpose of my visibility as an executive coach is dramatically different than it was when I operated safely behind the scenes.

Today my business is entwined with my story. The brand of thought partnership and accountability support I offer my client base feels more of a calling than a career and the metrics are around Mattering not media.

Obstacles? I have had to overcome and make friends with the boundary I had lived by for nearly 20 years - to stay firmly behind the camera - if I was going to let the careerists I could help, know how to find me. It was as uncomfortable to me as showing up at University all over again as the very mature, mature student I was!

But without that visibility, I wouldn't find the people I know I can help and I know how much value I bring when I do. The 'why' of business visibility is everything and it's this: how many people will I get to help?

I have a full client rosta at the time of writing. I feel alive and aligned doing work I love, which hasn't always been my narrative.  I am always engaging with new routes to visibility - I have recently set up a group here on FGB called Career Crossroads - but I call it engagement with 'my people' and my markers of success are the incredible client stories experience tells me evolve and grow when I have the opportunity to help someone shape their exit from the tough career crossroads we all must face from time to time.

I am happy to be quoted or talk further but would appreciate knowing where the piece will feature as and when - and can help co-promote.  Warmly, Helen

What does business visibility mean to you?

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