Do you show up online in a real way?

Or does the idea of talking to camera make you cringe?

Sometimes as online business owners, we can hide behind our products, services, or logos and hope that we’ll never have to show our faces. But it just doesn’t work that way. People want to know YOU and what you’re all about.

In this episode, I speak to the wonderful Jenn Donovan, social media marketing consultant, small business expert and host of the Small Business Made Simple podcast. As the founder of Social Media and Marketing, Jenn acts as her client’s marketing BFF and empowers them to go from invisible to invincible.

Jenn and I talk about human to human marketing, what it is, why it matters and how we go about doing it. We talk about how to stand out in the crowded online marketplace by having the courage to show up as ourselves and let our values shine through. It’s about creating a community, not just followers.

A lot of people are afraid to show their face on camera but Jenn shares some tips to get started and how doing this has impacted her business in an amazing way. Yes, it takes courage and a little practice, but the reward will be worth it. Just go for it and let the world know who you are!

Topics we discussed:

[2:50]: Jenn talks about what her day looks like as a social media and marketing coach and mentor and her side hustle, Spend With Us for rural and regional small businesses

[4:00]: Jenn lives on a farm and is passionate about rural Australia but she used to feel like she had to live in the city to be successful. She discovered that people weren’t judging her, it was her own self-judgment. 

[6:45]: You will attract people who are attracted to you but you’ll never do that if you hide behind your products or services. Human to human marketing is about showing up but you don’t have to show everything. 

[8:30]: Jenn talks about small business owners always chasing the next sale because they haven’t built the relationship with customers who have previously bought from them. Human to human marketing and community go hand in hand. 

[9:45]: There has been a shift in people wanting to know who’s behind the business. The pandemic has brought this forward because we’re shopping online a lot more. 

[12:00]: Instagram is a good place to see if you’re showing up to your audience. A lot of people don’t want to show up on video but we need to get over this. 

[14:15]: Get used to being on camera by doing a time lapse, boomerang or just pressing record and talking to camera. People who take the risk are astounded by the results because the algorithm really does respond to video.

[16:00]: The more Jenn showed up, the more her community encouraged her to show up. People will do business with people who align with their values. 

[18:00]: Emily talks about her friend who sells candles and carries through her personality into the brand by swearing. What makes our products unique is how we bring ourselves into them and have the courage to do it. 

[20:30]: Some people take it too far and show up so much that you forget what they’re selling. It comes down to strategy and showing up with purpose. 

[22:00]: If your values are embodied in you and your business, they show up anyway. You can also choose which values you want to share via your business. There’s a blurry line between the business and you as the owner. 

[24:25]: Where to find Jenn

LINKS:

• Websites: https://socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/
• https://www.spendwithus.com.au/
• Instagram: @jenndonovan_
• LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/jenn-donovan
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/socialmediaandmarketing.au
• Podcast: Small Business Made Simple