I gave a talk about how to start getting visible and how to start doing your own PR, and interestingly a few things came up that I thought would be a great subject to discuss.
One of the main points that came up was around how we are told as business owners that it is all about the client, their problems and their needs and how we can help them – it is not about us as the business owners.
Yet in PR we are told to share OUR story and our expertise.
There is a British cultural habit around being modest and not ‘showing off’ and that combined with the business message of focusing on your ideal client being drilled into us – no wonder we find talking about ourselves and sharing our story so difficult!
But as business owners, we need to promote ourselves in order for people know we exist, otherwise how are you going to build a relationship with potential clients? You will have heard me say multiple times that business is all about relationships – just like PR is.
By sharing your story and your expertise, building relationships will become soooo much easier.
Your story is valuable, important and interesting – so why not share it more?
So today I wanted to talk to you about why you need to talk about yourself more and the benefits in doing so.
YOU ARE YOUR OWN BEST ASSET IN YOUR BUSINESS
If you own your own business and you are the face of the brand, then you are your own best asset.
YOU ARE UNIQUE.
The thing that makes us different? Our story. This is your competitive advantage.
How did we get to where we are? How did we become who we are? Why do we do what we do? The ins and outs of those stories are so important, interesting and unique to us – and interesting to other people.
By putting this out there, you are encouraging people to not only buy into your business but also buy into you as a person.
Leverage this!
PEOPLE BUY FROM PEOPLE
In most areas of business, people don’t tend to want to buy from massive faceless operations. By buying into your small business, they are buying into you. So they have to know about you in order to build that relationship with you. By getting clear on your story and your expertise and sharing them on a wider scale – your website, your socials, speaking opportunities etc. People need to know more about you in order to have an interest in you.
You don’t have to share anything you are not comfortable with, but sharing little snippets of what you are happy to share alongside some behind the scenes action on your Instagram stories for example, goes a long way in building those connections and relationships.
HUMAN BEINGS LOVE STORIES
As humans we interact via stories and we share stories with each other to get to know one another – this goes back to the cave days when people would gather around the fire to share stories. Stories are how we make sense of the world, they are how we share reality, our inspiration, our ups and downs.
The crucial thing when it comes to PR is that the media also trades in stories. The media won’t just share about your business without a reason. What stories do you have within your business? What are your highs and lows? What have you learned? Why is this story relevant right now? How does your story/business connect to the wider world? This is how you interest the media in your story/business. They want stories that will interest their audience, and resonate with them.
By getting used to sharing about yourself, you open so many doors. People are really interested in what you have to say.
Getting the courage to share your story will really build your relationships, opportunities and increase your visibility and confidence!
You are allowed to tell your story and take up that space. Share your reality and your journey and don’t stay hidden. From someone who has hidden away in the past and now shares her story frequently, I can tell you it is worth it!
Are you looking to get more visible in 2023? Then sign up for a 2-hour Cheerleader PR Strategy Session with me 📣.
Book now here.
To see my live video talking about ‘Why You Need To Talk About Yourself More’, click here.
