When I first meet to consult with somebody, the conversation usually follows the same cadence: They introduce themselves and immediately tell me, "I hate social media."
And they are usually very emotional when they tell me that.
But what I hear when they say that is, "I don't want to be seen."
There is just so much resistance in that one statement, "I hate social media."
Resistance to being fully seen.
I understand the resistance because there's a level of vulnerability when you show up and put yourself out there. We all have many feelings about being vulnerable, especially during this time of society, because, in the times that we are living in right now, people are concerned that anything that they say can and will be taken the wrong way. Clips can be broken out of context and put out there independently. Some feel that there's always an underlying possibility of being canceled or, even worse, someone not liking you.
If any of that resonates with you, then you need to keep reading.
I'm a recovering people-pleaser who has worked long and hard to become OK with people not liking me. If you're an entrepreneur or a business owner, you've absolutely got to get to a point where you are OK with not being liked. Because, spoiler alert, not everyone will like you, just like you do not like everyone you come across.
Don't deny it; there are some people that you do not like.
You can tell yourself every day how you hate social media and how your business can survive and thrive without it, but you're lying to yourself.
Social media isn't going anywhere.
No matter how much you resist it- it's here to stay.
Social Media is one of the greatest tools for reaching the masses, but you want to blend in with them.
I'm not sorry to be the one to tell you that if you want to grow something, this business, or this idea that popped into your head, you've got to figure out how to stand out and show up from the masses. Some days, you might be met with pushback, negative comments, or challenging your idea comments. But the beautiful thing is that there is an entirely opposite side of the negative, and that's positive.
So.
Let's flip the script for a moment. When you say, "I hate social media," you're probably picturing an endless stream of selfies and humble brags. But what if we looked at it differently—How can you do social media things differently?
Whenever you share your expertise on social media, you're serving someone who needs your help. Think about it - that quick tip you shared about your area of expertise might be exactly what someone needed to hear when they saw it. Your knowledge, earned through years of experience, could solve someone's problem they've been struggling with for months.
Over here, we're now refocusing from constantly selling to helping and being of service to anyone who comes in contact with our content.
Here's what service-focused social media actually looks like:
When you share your behind-the-scenes process, you're demystifying your industry for someone who's feeling overwhelmed.
That "simple" insight you almost didn't post because it felt "too basic"? It might be the breakthrough moment for someone just starting out.
Your story about overcoming a business challenge could give someone else the courage to keep going.
And here's the beautiful irony—when you focus on serving rather than selling, sales often follow naturally. People aren't just buying your product or service; they're buying into your approach, your values, and your way of solving problems.
Let's be real about authenticity. We're all SO over the perfectly curated feeds and the "everything is awesome" narrative. Your audience isn't looking for perfection; they're looking for someone who gets them. Your vulnerability isn't a weakness—it's your superpower.
When you show up as yourself:
You attract the right people - the ones who resonate with your real personality and values
You build genuine trust because people can sense when someone is being real
You save energy because you're not maintaining a manufactured image
You create deeper connections because people relate to human experiences, not polished performances
Remember that post that made you nervous to share because it felt too personal? Those are often the posts that get the most meaningful engagement. Why? Because they show others that they are not alone in their struggles or experiences.
And here's something nobody tells you about authenticity - it's actually a filter. When you show up as yourself, you naturally repel the clients who wouldn't be a good fit anyway. That's not a bug; it's a feature. It's better to attract the right people than to weakly attract everyone strongly.
So instead of asking, "What will people think if I post this?" try asking:
"Who might this help today?"
"What problem could this solve for someone?"
"What would I have needed to hear when starting?"
"How can my experience make someone else's journey easier?"
Think of social media as your digital mentorship platform. Every post is an opportunity to extend a helping hand to someone who's where you once were. That's not self-promotion - that's service.
Since we are in business to make money, throw in a selling post occasionally, like subscribe to my email for more insider tips, or book a 30-minute session, whatever the call to action you want to achieve.
And here's how we're going to do that. Now that we've talked about why visibility matters, let's get practical. I'm going to give you a gentle on-ramp to showing up online—no dancing or viral challenges required because we're also over those.
🎯 The 5-Day Visibility Starter Challenge
Day 1: Introduction Post
Share your professional "origin story" - what led you to this work?
Include a recent photo of you in your workspace or with a client (with permission)
End with a question inviting others to share their story
Day 2: Behind-the-Scenes
Show a glimpse of your daily routine or process
Could be as simple as your morning coffee and planning routine
Share one tool or technique that makes your work possible
Day 3: Client Win (anonymized)
Share a success story (with permission)
Focus on the transformation or solution
Include the lesson you learned from this experience
Day 4: Quick Tip
Share your most basic but valuable piece of advice
Something you do automatically, but others might not know
Make it actionable in 5 minutes or less
Day 5: Personal Value
Share one belief you have about your industry
Explain why this matters to you and your clients
Invite discussion about different perspectives
Look, I get it. The resistance to being visible isn't going to disappear overnight magically. But here's what I know for sure: on the other side of that resistance is everything you want for your business.
Every successful business owner I've worked with has had to face this same fear. The difference isn't that they're fearless – it's that they chose to take action despite the fear. They started small, stayed consistent, and built their confidence one post at a time.
You don't have to become a social media influencer or create viral content. You just need to be visible enough that the right people can find you. Think of it this way: every time you don't show up, someone who needs your expertise misses out on finding you.
Here's your permission slip to:
Start messy
Be imperfect
Share what you know
Take up space
Help people find you
At the end of the day, "I hate social media" is just another way of saying, "I'm afraid to be seen." And you, with all your expertise, experience, and ability to help others, deserve to be seen.
Your first step doesn't have to be big. It just has to be a step.
Pick one platform. Choose one template from above. Make one post this week.
That's it. That's how it starts.
If you need support along the way, I'm here to help you navigate this journey. The world needs what only you can offer—but first, they need to know you exist.
Ready to take that first step? Let me know which platform you're choosing to focus on, or reach out if you need help crafting your visibility strategy.
Remember: Your business exists to serve others. Don't let your fear of being seen keep you from serving the people who need you most.