Do You Suffer from High Online Visibility and Low Profitability?


Social media and internet marketing give entrepreneurs the online visibility they need to get traffic that turns into clients.

But lurking under the constant stream of Tweets and the large followings are some very frustrated business owners.

Why are they frustrated?

Because on the outside they look like they have it all together (big numbers to show the world, a bit of niche fame) yet on the inside they’re falling apart because they aren’t making enough money.

It’s hard to share this secret with just anyone, because nobody wants word to get out that they aren’t profitable. And if you’re highly visible, it’s painful to ‘fess up that your visibility isn’t paying off.

I see this happening a lot and I want to share tips on how to turn things around.

Here are 3 tips I’ve gleaned from the highs and the lows of turning visibility into profitability:

1. You need a great offer. If you don’t have one, you’re in trouble.

In 2006, I had a big slump after getting a huge amount of visibility. One reason why  is that my offers weren’t great, ie, it was hard for people to buy from me. I limited the way I worked with people and didn’t have enough options to give my prospects.  Reworking my offers has made all the difference in the world in my business. People can say “yes” to me on a variety of levels and it’s much more profitable!

2. You must be able to speak “sales”, even if you hate selling.

Money coming in keeps you in business. The word we use for getting people to put money in your business is “selling”. Sorry, it’s such a loaded word but it’s what makes a payday.

Your visibility is the entryway for the sale and you must focus on how you want your visibility to convert. Mastering the art of listening to people’s needs and providing a solution is what selling really is. Don’t let it frighten you. Go ahead and ask for the sale! If you need help, get coaching on it because this is the lifeblood of your business.

3. Take your social media conversations offline

Social media is amazing for building visibility, but people still want to connect personally with others. Look at your social media contacts and pick out people you think would be great matches for your offers. Schedule phone calls and take the conversations offline! It’s still the most effective way of getting people to say yes to you, and social media provides the world’s greatest lead generator. When you combine Tip 1 (Great Offers), with Tip 2 (Selling), you’ll see your social media contacts in a whole new light and start making the money you deserve.

These 3 tips can be what saves your business. Your online visibility needs to do more than just make you everybody’s favorite #FollowFriday pal. If you’re in a money crunch, prioritize revenue by moving towards a profitable visibility strategy.

What are your thoughts? How do you balance out being seen everywhere and monetizing the exposure? Or what are your challenges?

Leave a comment below.


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About Nancy Marmolejo

I'm a soul-driven strategist who teaches entrepreneurs how to turn followers into fans and fans into clients using social media and heart based marketing. My approach integrates proven strategies and intuitive hits so each client finds her special way to stand out and sizzle in the spotlight.

  • http://bobfirestone.us/ BobFirestone

    Nancy,As usual fantastic stuff.I am curious to find out what you think about the idea that the biggest problem most people have with selling is they don't believe in what they are selling.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Hi Bob:Not believing in what you're selling bites, doesn't it? So here's my analysis:People who are selling their services and don't believe in what they're selling have a self esteem issue. Many people don't value who they are and the expertise they carry. I do a lot of work with clients to reflect back to them how amazing they really are. It's heartbreaking to see how great leaders are in the shadows simply because of lack of confidence.Now, if you have a product you don't believe in that is easier. You just sell something else! Some people are really good at pimping out their sales skills whether they believe in the product or not. I think there's a name for them, but oh, looks like I said "pimping" so maybe that's a clue!

  • Ninathewriter

    Great post. I have been feeling like this for a long time, and I have tried everything. I have a mentor and I network, however, I attract people who want to trade services. I recently lost my job, and I get so frustrated, even though I like to help people in need, providing services on trade doesn't keep a roof over my head. Thanks for this blog post, I have the tenacity to succeed and your blogs are always reassuring me to not give up.

  • http://www.VivaVisibilityBlog.com NancyMarmolejo

    Hi Nina!Thanks so much for sharing what you wrote and for bringing up the subject of trades. When someone wants to trade, it's usually a bad sign. They're not valuing your services enough to pay you what you're worth. Occasionally a mutually beneficial trade comes in and that's cool- you both have to be at the same level and see it as an even trade. But it's a really bad cycle to get caught in. You aren't receiving any money so you don't have funds to hire people… and from there the cycle persists.What's keeping you from asking for the person's business? From investing in themselves by hiring you? I'm rooting for you over here!

  • http://www.deliciouspath.com/ Barbora Knobova

    Nancy, thank you for this post! According to research, our brain is able to focus only on about 150 social connections and relationships, which makes sense in the world of social networking too. I have thousands of followers on Twitter, which probably makes me look like a star but it's pretty overwhelming. I'm thinking of creating a new account and starting from scratch with people who are really interested in my message. It's much better to have 100 followers interested in what you have to say and in your products, than an anonymous crowd.