Why your clients need to see YOU in your marketing

Why You Follow Me (And Why Your Clients Need to See You Too)

Let’s use me as an example. The reason you follow me on socials, allow me into your email inbox, and trust what I say is simple: you know me.

How do you know me? Because I show up.

• You see my face in my marketing, on my website, and on my socials and emails. 
• You know the sound of my voice and even the words I struggle to pronounce.
• You watch me succeed and fail in real time.
• You see me work hard, but you also see me exhausted.

I am real to you. And because of that, you trust me. You relate to me. You feel like you know me. That’s why you’re still here, reading this blog.

Your potential clients need that same experience. They need to see the human behind your brand so they can trust that you are the real deal.

It’s Not About You—It’s About Your Customer

One of the biggest reasons business owners hesitate to show up is fear of judgment.

“What if I look silly?”

“What if people think I’m not professional enough?”

“What if I mess up?”

But here’s the thing—it’s not about you. It’s about your customer.

Think about the kind of content you actually enjoy. How nice is it to see someone who is real—someone like you, who you can actually relate to? Not some picture-perfect, unrealistic version that doesn’t exist in real life.

The content you all seem to love the most from me? It’s not the polished posts or scripted videos. It’s the raw, unfiltered moments—the morning coffee chats in my PJs, with my hair a mess. That’s when I’m being my real, imperfect, perfect self. And that’s what connects us.

Your customers don’t need perfection. They need authenticity. They need to see themselves in you, so they can trust that you actually understand them.

10 Ways to Show Up and Build Trust with Your Audience

If you’re still hiding behind your laptop and hoping people will buy from a faceless business, it’s time to change that. Here are 10 ways to show up and let your potential customers see the real you:

1️ – Social Media
Stop relying on generic product posts. Show your face! Share behind-the-scenes moments, talk on Stories, and use photos with you in it.

2️ – Emails
People don’t just want promotions—they want you. Share personal insights, business wins and struggles, and even funny or relatable stories that let them connect with you on a human level and yes, I will say it again, add a photo of you to your emails. 

3️ – Brand Photos
Invest in professional (but natural) brand photography. No more stock photos! People want to see YOU, not a polished, unrealistic version of business life.

4️ – Email Signature with a Photo
This is so simple yet so effective. Adding a photo to your email signature instantly makes every email more personal and builds familiarity over time.

5️ – Website “About” Section
This is not a place to hide behind corporate language. Tell me something about you. Why did you start your business? What lights you up? What’s something random about you? Make it personal and real.

6️ – Videos (Even If They’re Imperfect!)
People don’t expect Hollywood-level production; they just want to see the real you. Start with short videos sharing insights, answering FAQs, or even just saying hi.

7️ – Use Your Voice
Your voice is powerful. Whether it’s through a podcast, voice over a video, reel, audio messages in your emails, or voice notes in your DMs, letting people hear your voice builds a deeper connection.

8️ – Customer Interactions & Testimonials
Share your customer interactions—whether it’s screenshots of conversations, video testimonials, or case studies where you show how you’ve helped others.

9 – Networking & Speaking Events
Attend or speak at events, go to networking meetups, and be visible in your industry. The more people see you, the more trust you build.

10 – Behind-the-Scenes Content
Share your messy desk, your late-night work sessions, or even a day-in-the-life video. People love seeing what goes on behind closed doors—it makes you more relatable.

The Hard Truth: You Can No Longer Hide

The days of hiding behind a logo or a faceless brand are over. AI and technology have made everything look polished, but people don’t trust polish anymore. They trust people.

If you want to stand out, attract the right clients, and build a business that thrives, you need to be seen. Not just your work, not just your products—but YOU.

So, ask yourself: Where can I start showing up more? Because your customers aren’t just buying your product or service—they’re buying you.

Here is your mission for this week: take the list of 10 above and pick 2 for this week and make it happen! Send me an Instagram DM, tag me on Instagram, or reply to this email when you have made the 2 happen, and I will be here to cheer you on.

Wait! One more action I want you to take… send this email to another business friend to share this knowledge. Our Lala community is about supporting and encouraging each other!

Your personal small business mentor – Lala
Because you don’t have to do it alone.