I once knew a coach who took marketing course after marketing course. Writing your offer. Building your list. Launching your program. Honing your message. Telling your story.

All of them.

She took them all because each one promised to teach her something she felt she didn’t know. Something she needed to know for her coaching business to finally take off. Some secret formula to success.

Well, she took all those courses. She spent all that money. And had her hopes raised, and then dashed, time and time again as the course would finish up and a few months later she found herself not implementing what she’d learned, or her business wasn’t moving forward as much as she’d hoped.

Do you know why?

On being seen

Because the real issue wasn’t learning how to run a successful launch or create a passive income product. The real issue she struggled with was being seen.

That’s the thing about marketing for your soul-led business. You can't untangle the mechanics of marketing from the aspect of being seen.

You can take all the courses you want in how to market. For example, how to use story to convey your message, write an effective website, create appealing courses, design a killer launch....all of those may (or may not) teach you really good strategies and techniques for getting your business out there.

But none of that will matter if you aren't comfortable being seen. If you tend to hide, only showing up for your business and marketing in small safe arenas, then knowing all the marketing tools won't help you.

Because even if you have all this marketing know-how, you'll find a way to keep hiding and avoid showing up.

The deceptive power of busy-ness

Mind you, it won't look like you're hiding on the surface, not really.

If you look at your work week, you'll see yourself working tirelessly on your blog post or planning out a series of Instagram posts. You'll see yourself mostly sitting at your desk focused. You'll be answering emails. Diligently following up on a query or two.

But you'll know.

Deep down, you'll have a sense you need to be braver in your marketing, to show up more courageously. To be reaching your hand out to potential clients, talking about your business and what it is that you do. How you can help.

Do you really need another course?

So how can you tell if you really do need another marketing course or if you’re struggling with something deeper, something another course won’t help you address?

Take a minute to get quiet and then and ask yourself the following questions:

1)      Are you freely sharing with people what you do in your business and who you really are?

For example, you tell almost everyone you know and people you meet that you read energy or do sound healing. You tell your favorite barista or your Aunt Lori. You freely update your Facebook profile with your latest business related insight, update or change.

2)      Are you writing, talking, recording or teaching about things that are really, deeply meaningful to you?

For example, you’ve been studying and advocating for social justice your whole life and you find yourself constantly writing and talking about this topic because it means so, so much to you.  Or you care deeply about young girls and how they’re being negatively impacted by manipulative marketing tactics, and you can’t seem to stop recording teachings on this and sharing with people.

3)      Are you freely talking about and telling people about your business’ programs, offers, upcoming courses, etc.?

For example, you’re thrilled to tell people about your latest offer. This includes your friends, family, former business colleagues, etc. You put together a full marketing plan that leverages all channels you have available, including personal connections and writing individual emails.

If you answered yes to all these questions, chances are you have no issues with hiding who you really are and what your business is here to do. If you answered no to some, or even have a few kinda-sorta half-yesses, visibility might be something you struggle with in your business.

If this is the case, I suggest before signing up for another marketing class, you pause and consider.

Yes, there are valuable skills and things to learn about marketing. But perhaps what you really need is to get comfortable being seen. Being seen and celebrated for who you really are and what you’re really here to do in this world.

And that’s something I want everyone to sign up for more of.    

Do you want to feel braver?

If you know you need to become more visible marketing your business but aren’t sure how to do that in a way that feels good, I’m inviting you to have a free assessment conversation with me.

We’ll spend time talking about your business and what’s emerging for you now. I’ll let you know what I think is going on and where you can focus to help your business get the attention it deserves.

I know I’m asking you to trust me on this, but it’s true. There’s zero pressure during the call - just lots of clarity, witnessing and affirmation that you can do this.

For more information, click here.

Photo by Sugar Bee on Unsplash