Shine Online – Should I?
Think of the last few times you wanted to find something new—a product you hadn’t bought before or a service you needed.
What did you do?
Did you call someone for a recommendation? Or did you instinctively pull out your phone and Google it?
That’s where the world has arrived!
It’s not just local anymore; it’s global and digital. Audiences are scattered across the globe, and even local businesses rely heavily on the internet for word of mouth. Publicity and visibility now happen online—whether it’s a small bakery around the corner or a community event a few streets away.
But here’s the thing—you could be the absolute star of your friend circle, a well-known name in your community, or the go-to person in your local business network. Yet, someone just a few suburbs over might not even know you exist.
The Laundry Story
Here's a little story about an experience of mine.
A couple of months after moving into my current suburb, I needed to get my kids’ school blazers dry-cleaned. Instead of walking over to my neighbour’s house to ask for a recommendation, I did what most of us would; I Googled.
A few popped up, all with decent ratings—at least 4 out of 5 stars.
But one stood out.
All their ratings were five-star ratings. They did not have a single rating below five stars; hard to believe, right?
And that’s where I still go to even though they are the furthest out of 4-5 similar services in my area.
When a prospective client was searching, they were shining online!
Do You Need to Shine Online?
People often ask, “Do I really have to bother with all this?
Do I need to shine online?”
The answer is simple: it depends.
- Do you have something to sell or share with the world?
- Do you want people searching for what you offer to find you?
If the answer to either of those is yes, then you need to put yourself out there.
The Smart Way to Shine
There's a catch though—as always; no one can shine everywhere, even online!
Trying to be everywhere, all at once, is impossible.
And don’t fall for those “we’ll get you to the top of Google” gimmicks.
Instead, focus on being smart. Shine where it matters. Be visible where it’s relevant, when people are actively looking for what you offer. Show them how you, your product, or your service can meet their needs and help them achieve what they want.
This is where strategy comes in. In the posts that follow, we’ll explore exactly how to position yourself online, build an authentic presence, and make sure you shine in the right places.
Because, in today’s world, if you’re not online, you’re invisible to the major portion of your audience. And shining online doesn’t just mean being seen; it means being chosen!