How To Increase Your Brand Visibility And Get To Number #1 On Google
By Doug Bennett with special guest Natasha Britton
Do you find that no matter how hard you try, your business just seems to get drowned out by your competitors? You might know who your ideal customers are, but have you stopped to consider the fact that they may not have even heard about you?
Let’s be honest: visibility is one of the biggest problems many entrepreneurs face. You’re huddled in a crowd with other businesses, jostling for the attention of potential customers. And if you run a small startup (like many of us do) in a world where the “loudest” often wins, how do you compete with bigger, louder brands?
I recently chatted with Natasha Britton, a multi-award-winning voice in the world of business strategy and transformation. She helps business owners build proven systems and strategies to pay themselves a decent wage and ensure their personal wellbeing.
You can hear our full conversation on the Goals Do Come True podcast (click here to listen).
In this blog, I’m going to share some of Natasha’s top tips for increasing your business and brand visibility.
Increasing your Google visibility
You’ll notice in the heading of this article that I talk about getting to number #1 on Google. That’s because Google ranking is one of the most important factors for your business. Most businesses that rank high on Google reap the benefits of increased traffic and leads.
What’s more, it increases your business’s credibility, as web visitors tend to associate high-ranking search engine pages with authenticity (I know because I do this, too!). Part of Natasha’s job involves helping entrepreneurs optimise their Google Business Listings to get to the top of the results page and attract more of their ideal clients, using a strategic cheat sheet she has created.
Part of Natasha’s job involves helping entrepreneurs optimise their Google Business Listings to get to the top of the results page and attract more of their ideal clients, using a strategic cheat sheet she has created.
Natasha: “One of the ways I attract new clients to my business, and other people’s businesses, is by leveraging Google My Business. Google is the biggest search engine on the planet, and if you’re not on there, you’re not doing something right. Being on Google gives you that trust factor. If you’re showing up at the top of the results, it indicates that you’re an expert at what you do. Consequently, you’ll get more clients and more eyes on your business.”
Seeing as Google is always evolving, I wanted to find out Natasha’s recommendations for staying ahead of the curve and actually seeing tangible results.
1. Plug the holes in your business and begin with a clear vision
As entrepreneurs, we’re often guilty of chasing after the next big thing. It’s in our nature to chase after shiny, new objects. But I believe that if you already have a leaky bucket – holes in your business – there’s no point cramming more things in only for them to fall out.
If you’ve read any of my previous blogs, you’ll notice that the word “vision” crops up a lot. That’s because I believe that to achieve any positive result at all, you must first begin with a clear picture of what you want.
This logic also applies to brand and business visibility. If your goal is to increase your visibility, what would that look like for you? What existing resources can you harness to reach your goal? What blindspots are currently holding you back?
When it comes to achieving business visibility, Natasha agrees with me that starting from the basics is often the best course of action.
Natasha: “I’m always about setting that big goal or vision for yourself, utilising the Law of Attraction, and essentially having a strategy for your business. A lot of people think that they need a big shiny object or the next new thing to start seeing business results. But we actually need to get back to the basics.”
There’s no point pouring hundreds of pounds into Google ads if you’ve not already made the most of the assets you currently have. Start with organic promotion and then work your way up.
2. Build your personal brand by being human
When it comes to wider business visibility (not just on Google), one question many entrepreneurs often get stuck on is, How do I differentiate myself from competitors?
Natasha has a simple solution: strip the stoic nature that’s so common among business owners and embrace and share your human side with your audience.
Natasha: “I find that nine times out of ten, we are our ideal clients ourselves. So, the more we openly share our stories – who we are, what we do and how we do things – the more people are going to buy into us.
I believe that’s how I really achieved most of my success. I was a teenage mum who grew up on a council estate with the odds stacked against me. I share that story a lot with my audience, and they connect with it. Some of them may not have been raised on a council estate like I was. But perhaps they can see the struggle and the process that I went through, and they relate to it.
So, I believe that the more human you can be with your audience, the more they’re going to connect with you.”
I love Natasha’s idea because far too many entrepreneurs feel like branding is solely about showcasing the polished, carefully scripted side of your business. But more often than not, people want to see the bad, the ugly and the downright dirty.
They want to know that you’ve been in their shoes before or that you’ve faced similar struggles.
Once you’re able to show potential clients this human side – the vulnerability and authenticity that they’re after – they’ll connect with you, and this will, in turn, boost your visibility.
I hope you’ve found this article insightful.
If you’d like further help with your business and financial goals, why not click here to book a complimentary discovery session with me or grab a copy of my guide to Work Optional Lifestyle Financial Planning®?
I’d love to hear from you!