Create an Online Presence – Be Seen Out There

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Paul Colligan (someone you may want to follow if you’re serious about getting your blog/website found online) talks about the ISYOT (“I’ve Seen You Out There”) effect. The ISYOT effect is a lot like the marketing term top-of-mind-awareness but it applies to being seen online – to the point that you’re being recognized on the Internet. Somewhat the same way you would be recognized if you were networking face to face in the brick-and-mortar world. So how do you do that? How do you build confidence, trust and name/face-recognition online? Paul recommends being seen everywhere using social networking sites, podcasting and media channels like YouTube. Participating on Facebook and LinkedIn, Tweeting, posting videos on YouTube…. all things that we know we need to be doing but if you’re a one-person-shop (or even 1 and ½ or 2)…. How do you get started? How do you make the ISYOT effect work for you?

I first heard about the ISYOT (“I’ve Seen You Out There”) effect when I was reading David Risley’s (free when you sign up) report “Six Figure Blogger Blueprint”. The term ISYOT stuck in my mind and I think about it a lot. Every time I see someone commenting on a blog without really adding to the conversation, I think about it. Every time I see a commenter with that generic grey avatar, I think about it. David’s report is at a much higher level strategically than I’ve achieved. I’m still relatively new to the world of blogging but I do understand building your brand whether it’s online or face-to-face. In the end, that is a key part of being seen out there. If you read enough blogs on making money online and making money blogging, you’ll soon learn that being seen as an “authority” site is an effective approach to building a strong and loyal readership. A big part of being seen as an authority comes from building your online presence.

Here are my top 3 tips on how to get started being “seen out there” and why it’s important to your business.

  1. Build Your Brand.

    Don’t be a chameleon. Name recognition is not enough. Your brand encompasses your image, your logo, your colors, the URL of your website and your user-ID (whether it be your Twitter name, your ID on Facebook or YouTube or your user name on forums). Wherever you contribute or are seen online, be recognizable. Use Gravatar for your globally recognized avatar. Use an email address that advertises your domain name and be sure to include a signature line in your emails (and online groups when you can) that contains the URL of your website. If you tweet, include your Twitter name.

  2. Participate. Be where I am.

    Just like with any business, if I don’t know you’re out there, if you don’t have that top-of-mind awareness, you may as well not exist. So, answer questions, participate and help either me or others. Comment on blogs and message boards. Contribute to the conversation.  It counts. Seeing your name/user-ID and your avatar helps me to recognize you, the same way networking and showing up at those Chamber of Commerce or  association meetings in the face-to-face world gives me a sense that I know you.

  3. Be recognized as an authority.

    Whether your blog motivates, informs, inspires or makes me laugh, it doesn’t matter. If I trust you and your blog meets my needs (I get the answer. I get a laugh. I get motivated.) – I’ll follow you. I’ll comment on your posts. I’ll Tweet about you. I’ll Digg you, Stumbleupon you and I’ll promote you. If your blog helps me, I’ll be loyal.

How do you stand out in the crowd? Do people online recognize you? Do they know what you do? Have you been seen-out-there?

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Author: Sherryl Perry

Welcome! If you're looking for help building an Internet presence that fits your needs and works for you, you're in the right place. I blog common sense articles about WordPress, social media and SEO. My goal is to help small business owners and entrepreneurs understand their core business. Together, we can develop and implement business strategies that make sense to you.

61 thoughts on “Create an Online Presence – Be Seen Out There”

  1. Even though I don’t have a generic grey avatar, I think many of the experts have already established their claim (their authority) on many niches. It will be pretty difficult for newbies to stake their claim on a new niche.

    (funny how I placed the wrong email in my previous post and posted with a generic grey avatar 🙂 )

    1. Hi Rex,
      I think there’s still room in many niches for people to become perceived as experts but it will take a lot of hard work. I believe the key is to find your own voice and offer something a little different from the others.

      Thanks for taking the time to join the conversation.
      Sherryl Perry recently posted..Can Your Small Business Compete with the Big-Box Stores?My Profile

  2. I would like to thank first for the details about ‘ISYOT’. To run a business is not so easy and the virtual trade is tougher to do because it’s a more competitive zone to boost the business. Thanks for some excellent tips.

  4. Thanks Sherryl for the 3 tips you’ve provided us on how to get “seen out there”. Indeed a helpful post. People will not recognize you unless you make some noise. Yes, to be recognized online you must shout to the world that you really exist. Create your own strategy that you think would work!

    Thanks again Sherryl!

  5. If you have got a unique style of presenting your ideas then that’s it. People will start recognizing you on that above anything else. ISYOT effect doesn’t come naturally. It may take years to build an online presence.

  6. Hi Sherryl
    “Participate. Be where I am.”

    Looks as though I’m taking your advice.
    After months of saying I’d never do it… I’ve signed up with Twitter.

    Already following you.
    See you over there.

  7. The quantity of responses you have received from this post seems to be evident that you have certainly opened the door here, to on line communication. Congratulations!!

    To be known…you must be seen….a simple enough statement, which requires much tenacity, time and passion to “be seen”.

    It’ sort of like going “door to door” except today it’s more like jumping from URL to URL. 🙂

    Or something like that!

    Great post! Informative, well written, easy to read.

  8. Sound advice Sherryl. Standing apart means being creative and taking risks. Many who enter the blog scene are afraid to be original, take risks, or make enemies and so they are forever a backdrop to those who are fearless.

  9. Thanks for the tips. I agree it’s important to brand yourself. That’s why I try to use my blog’s name as a handle as much as possible. I think eventually people will recognize the name and associate it with my blog.

    1. Name and brand recognition is a critical part of building awareness. People do start to recognize you after a while and we begin to feel we know each other. Since, people like to do business with people they like, it’s another way of gaining customers and clients. Thanks for dropping by Richard.

  10. Frankly many people don’t know why they are online. With the power of blogs and social networking it’s really amazing that many bloggers waste their time posting comments that will never see the light of day. Whenever I see such comments awaiting moderation I simply send them to the trash. I think if you must make a comment do something that will add value to the post.

    And on using a gravatar, I did a post on how to do it something ago on my blog after observing that many of the commenters do not have a gravatar. But despite the good response in comments by these bloggers only a handful took the time to get themselves one. It’s funny!

    Any way thanks for the post.

    1. Thanks for commenting Chadrack. I can’t imagine leaving a comment that I didn’t think added value somehow. Sure it takes longer but hopefully, I’m only commenting on posts that have brought value to me in the first place. Therefore, I owe it the author to try to contribute if I can.

      I hope you check out some more of my articles. I think you can really add to the conversation. I’m on my way over to check out your blog now and I’m already following you on Twitter. – Sherryl
      Sherryl Perry recently posted..Are Buyers or Window Shoppers Clicking on Your Pay-Per-Click AdsMy Profile

  11. Thanks Sherryl, very helpful. I’ve just checked out Gravitar.com – I’d never heard of it before. As someone relatively new to the blogging world, it seems the ISYOT status is a fair way off for me at the moment. Perhaps one day!

    1. You’re already well on your way to “being-seen-out-there” Faraz. I recognize your name and blog from LinkedIn and you already have a profile pic. Just take the leap and set it up on Gravatar and keep commenting on blogs that you’re interested in. Not only will you be able to pick up some tips, you’ll be able to share your experiences and meet some great people.

      I hope you come back to visit and the next time, post a link to one of your articles. I enjoyed reading your post on touring France and others will too!
      Sherryl Perry recently posted..Can You Run Pay-Per-Click Ads Without Breaking the Piggy BankMy Profile

      1. Thanks! Maybe I will next time I’ve done a write-up on a trip. Off to Gravitar.com now to set it up…

  12. I also found out about this from David Risley, but I think Jeff Johnson was the first to bring the web presence issue out there. Anyway, this is a must for each one of us owning a blog, website or any other form of online business. The easiest way to make money online is to present yourself and eventually establish yourself as an authority in the field, from there you can build up a successful business.

  13. I love your post. It’s an opener to those who are doing online business. I like the third tip “Be recognized as an authority”. I really believe in that concept because when you post great stuffs that would really help a lot of people, inspiring them, a form of entertainment and all, they would follow you. It is really important that you are providing great stuffs to all to gain respect from others.

  14. Hi Sherryl – I think the biggest hurdle is being present. You’re right that it is about participating, helping people, being part of the conversation, etc. So many people think their presence starts and stops at just putting up a profile. Becoming active in the community is by far the best way to see any success in business online, whether it’s on a forum, or commenting on several blogs, or being a social butterfly on Twitter or Facebook. Those are just some examples; there are soooo many more!

    1. One of the biggest benefits to me is that by joining the conversation, I’m learning so much more than I could possibly learn on my own. Maybe I’ve been very fortunate but most of the people I’m meeting online are so eager to share their knowledge.

  15. Sherryl, thanks for the great post and the info about ISYOT – I will be checking it out. I particularly agree with your third point. I have had a difference of opinion with some other professionals who ask me why I am sharing other peoples’ work. My answer and reason is because I want to be of value to my readers. If there is someone else – and there are plenty, including you 🙂 that offer tremendous insights and helpful information – then I have accomplished my goal of being valuable.
    Julie Weishaar recently posted..If Operating Rooms Were Run Like a Small Business…My Profile

    1. You’re so right with adding value. There’s so much to learn from each other. Why not share information and help each other? I think we can all learn something from each other.

  16. Sherryl — re your response to my comment. Yes, the client is introducing a new term to distinguish their offering from what is commonly searched and because they feel they have added something new. However, I believe you need to reference what people are searching as well as your new term — linking them until your new term catches on. I think FedEx Office has done a pretty good job with keeping the old Kinko brand in its signage and advertising until they finally have dropped it as people made the connection that FedEx Office offers the same services.
    Jeannette Paladino recently posted..If you register your site for free at My Profile

    1. I hope they listen to you for their sake. It’s so difficult to introduce a new term or build a new brand. You’re right about FedEx and the Kinko brand. Excellent example Jeanette. Thanks for replying. I was curious what they were up to.

  17. Your second point about participating is key. When I read a post and I think it’s great, but that’s all I have to say, I don’t comment. If I have something valuable to say, I type it. I also like to ask questions in my participation because I don’t feel like I have all the answers. In the end, participation must be meaningful.

    1. I agree that commenting for the sake of commenting can be annoying. Occasionally, someone will drop a comment here just for the backlink. Good participation adds to the conversation. I love when someone leaves a comment and I learn something new or they get me thinking. Next thing you know, I have fodder for another post.

  18. Love the ISYOT abreviation. It’s true, but only on the sites that are important to your image/brand. You are so rigth, we have to be seen at the sites that are imporant to us/our brand.

  19. Have an established logo and plaster it everywhere.

    Agree with Susan that it is much more than just being seen everywhere.

    Establishing a presence is important, but what they remember you for is more important. You’ll get a lot more mileage out of solving someones problem, introducing someone to a useful contact, teaching people how to work with popular trends, than you will just showing up everywhere.

    1. Julia, I so wish I had a way to keep up with the conversations! Maybe someone else will have some suggestions. The best I’ve come up with is using the preview pane in Outlook and click-thru or delete and many as I can without opening them. I also use Outlook’s follow-up flag if it’s something I want to go back to after the conversation has settled down a little. When it’s a thread that I think will add value down the road to either me or a reader, I make a quick entry (with the link) into a spreadsheet. Any suggestions? Anyone?

  21. Thanks for sharing the link to ISYOT (“I’ve Seen You Out There”). I watched the entire video and he makes a valid point. You have to be out there to be seen. I have a client who wants to use a key word that no one is searching. If you’re not being searched, you don’t exist! A scary thought.

    1. That is scary. Even for pay-per-click ads, you need keywords. I’m curious. Does he have a product/service that other people are marketing or is this something brand new?

  22. I forget where I heard this but I was once told that if you have no work today, think back to what you were doing 6-months ago. (If anyone has heard that or a version of it, I’d love to have my memory jogged on that!)

  23. You make really good points Sherryl and I also agree with Susan about consistency. I know when I’m being a bit lazy and not being out there as much, I definitely see the effects. I think coming up with a schedule for yourself can help with this.

    1. I forget where I heard this but I was once told that if you have no work today, think back to what you were doing 6-months ago. (If anyone has heard that or a version of it, I’d love to have my memory jogged on that.)

  24. You bring up some good points! I think the concept of becoming an authority is key. I am working on writing a book that will help me a lot in this direction. I have a special niche and there are few experts in that area. I think the key is finding your niche and then sharing your knowledge with others. Thanks for your article!
    Laura Sheman recently posted..Did You Write TodayMy Profile

    1. To me “everywhere” means those places that I’ve decided to concentrate on. For example, I don’t spend any time on MySpace because I don’t feel it’s really my niche customer or people who know or target my niche customer. (You can bet I have my username reserved there though.) Maybe I should have put point #2 before point #1. 🙂

        1. I expressed it beter than Paul? Thanks! As for reserving usernames, I read somewhere that if you don’t reserve your username, a competitor could reserve it and prevent you from getting it. Can’t say that I ever expect to be that well known but I can dream.

  26. Thanks for taking that time and then sharing all that insight Sherryl. I’ll talk things over with my webmaster and go from there.

  27. Sherryl,
    What I love about this post is the value you give the reader. It’s always nice to walk away with more knowledge or more endorphins circulating through the brain! Thank you for the practical tips and Paul’s link.

  28. That video you referenced makes me feel soooo good. Like I am on the fast track. Many people say to me, “You are everywhere,” Or “I see you everywhere,” and “You keep showing up on my radar screen.” I guess I just shrugged that off and laughed. But NOW woohoo! Can I say I am ISYOT?

    I modified my brand to a degree about 4 years ago. Then I’ve noticed in the last 18 months more and more focus on introverts. I’ve claimed and kept, America’s #1 Business Coach for Introverts but it may be time to rebrand because of all the newcomers on the scene. Your thoughts on rebranding?

    1. Pat, That’s wonderful that people already know you. You probably don’t want to do any rebranding that would make those followers not recognize you. Who else are you noticing that is now focusing on introverts? Could you guest post for any of them? I’ve read a lot lately about how effective guest-blogging can be in driving traffic to your site.

      I’ve been to your website before but I checked it out with fresh eyes today (since you asked about rebranding). It did get me thinking. Your domain name is prostrategies.com but from looking at your site, I don’t really recognize that as a brand. I don’t see the words “pro” or “strategies’ in your banner graphic and the pic of the car with the “Accelerate” license plate doesn’t really tell me about your brand. Do you have a logo that you use on your business cards? Maybe you could add a logo/graphic promoting “Pro-Strategies” to your site and keep the “Business Sales Coach for Introverts” as your tagline. – Just a thought.

  29. Love the term ISYOT (“I’ve Seen You Out There”). Still building my reputation so that people go ISYOT (“I’ve Seen You Out There”) with my profile. I know lots of people but now I need them to know me. Have joined for the recommended paper too.
    I note that some not so good brands because of the constant exposure have a great presence in the market.

    1. Roberta, I hope you get as much out of David Risley’s report as I do. I took notes from it on my first read and I find myself going back to it every once in a while. David’s report goes way beyond ISYOT and talks about treating your blog like a business not a hobby. The reason I mentioned his report in this article is that was the first place I ever heard about Paul and the ISYOT effect.

  30. Hi Sherryl, excellent post, thanks for the tips. As you suggested, the next step is putting the tips into practice.

    1. Glad you liked the article Kathryn. It comes down to building your brand. Check out Gravatar when you get a chance. If you already have a pic, you can crop it, upload it, add the url to your site and you’ll be in business. It shouldn’t take you long. I think that would be a good place for you to start.

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