Learning how to stay top of mind in business usually leads to conversations about visibility.
Post regularly.
Email your list.
Attend events.
Follow up.
Keep showing up.
You know I believe in visibility. People need to know who you are and understand how you can help them.
I’ve been to a few events recently where I’ve reconnected with old acquaintances, including people I hadn’t seen for years.
We hadn’t been diligently keeping in touch. We’d simply met all those years ago and remembered each other.
Within minutes, we were chatting as though we’d seen each other yesterday.
Those conversations got me thinking about what helps someone stay in our memory for years.
Visibility keeps you in front of people. The experience people have with you gives them something worth remembering.
Give people an experience worth remembering
I reckon it comes down to impact.
- How did you make someone feel?
- Did you make a generous introduction?
- Did you have a conversation where they felt heard?
- Did you make them laugh?
- Did you remember their name?
- Did you help them feel as though they belonged in the room?
- Did you help them freely, without immediately wondering what you were going to receive in return?
These interactions can feel small at the time. Years later, they may be exactly what someone remembers about you.
This is particularly relevant for women running service businesses because so much of what we sell is built on trust.
Prospective clients need to trust your expertise. They also need to trust that you’ll listen, follow through and treat them well.
Every interaction contributes to that trust.
Your reputation grows between the sales
People may need your services next month, in five years or even 14 years. That’s a long time to keep someone moving through a carefully planned marketing funnel!
A positive human interaction can have a remarkably long shelf life. People remember the conversations that made them feel welcome, encouraged, understood or energised.
Those moments compound over time.
Someone remembers the introduction you made and recommends you to a colleague. A person you met at an event follows your work and reaches out when the timing is right. An old acquaintance sees your name and remembers exactly how they felt in your company.
This is how a reputation grows.
Your website, offers and job title may change. Your relationships continue to carry the experience you created.
Visibility gives your reputation somewhere to go
Consistent visibility creates more opportunities for these interactions to happen.
Keep showing up.
Write the emails.
Make the calls.
Go to the events.
Have the coffees.
Do the business development.
Turn the tap on.
Each action helps more people discover you, reconnect with you or remember that you’re there.
Then pay attention to what they experience when they spend time with you.
Take an interest in their work. Remember the details they share. Introduce them to someone useful. Follow up when you said you would. Offer support generously.
These simple actions help you become known for the way you work and the way you treat people.
Make your visibility meaningful
If you want to stay top of mind in business, consider these questions:
- Where am I consistently visible?
- What do I want people to remember about me?
- How do people feel after spending time with me?
- Am I creating genuine relationships through my business development?
- Where could I be more generous, thoughtful or useful?
Choose one action you can take this week.
Send the email you’ve been putting off. Follow up with someone you met at an event. Invite an old acquaintance for coffee. Make an introduction between two people who should know each other.
Your visibility helps people see you. Your impact gives them a reason to remember you.
I’d rather be remembered for 14 years than be “top of mind” for 14 minutes.