Get Visible...Now

I've been writing about this and teaching this on teleseminars for quite some time: you have to be visible online if you want to have a viable business AND be findable by your ideal clients.

My colleague, Dave Lakhani, just published a fantastic book called How to Sell When Nobody's Buying (And How to Sell Even More When They Are). I've been going through the book and I had to laugh when I got to Chapter Two: Get Visible -You Have to Be Seen to Sell. I've heard Dave say that many times and for some reason I always thought he meant you have to be seen in person. I guess because when I hear him say it, it's usually at an offline conference.

And while that's true - you need offline face time with people - Dave Lakhani is also referring to being seen online. I think I could have written the chapter for him!

Briefly, here are the steps Dave outlines for building your personal brand online, so you can be seen AND sell.

1. Buy your name as a domain name, i.e. yourname.com (like denisewakeman.com). If your name is taken, get therealyourname.com.

2. Set up a simple website. Dave recommends www.weebly.com which I had never heard of. This is a site that enables you to set up a very simple website with no tech skills. I've looked at it and it's basic. You can also set up a blog through weebly.com.

I would make a slightly different recommendation, though it may be a little more work. I would say set up your site on a blog platform. TypePad.com is pretty darn simple and you can create an entire site that looks like any other "traditional" website using the Pages feature and include your blog. It's a more professional and feature-rich system than Weebly.

3. Did you notice the part about setting up a blog? Blogging is one of the most powerful ways you can build your online visibility. Dave's advice: for the next 90 days write at least 3 blog posts per week using key words for your industry.

I say, don't stop at 90 days. Maintain a consistent, constant schedule of blog posts, a minimum of 2-3 times per week, and you're going to see massive results when people do searches on your name and industry. (For tons of tips on business blogging read Build A Better Blog.)

These are your first steps in creating an online presence and establishing your personal brand on the web. Of course there's more. Dave goes on to suggest:

Get video testimonials that you put on your blog (don't stop at testimonials, mix up your blog posts with video posts)
Be a resource to your industry by teaching teleclasses and webinars
Develop your persona - show up as the person your prospect/client expects - pay attention to how you dress (in videos too!) and how you speak.
Use video conferencing (skype) to create more intimacy in your meetings
Continually demonstrate your expertise by publishing articles, white papers ... and ... blogging about what you know and how you serve.

This reflects just one chapter in How to Sell When Nobody's Buying. At about $15 on Amazon, you cannot go wrong with this book. Dave Lakhani is a master sales trainer and whether you are a sales rep or an entrepreneur/business owner, you need to know the ins and outs of selling in today's environment in order to stay ahead of the game. I know I've got a lot to learn.

What are your recommendations for establishing visibility online? What does "you've got to be seen to sell" mean to you and your business?