I often speak to business owners who tell me some version of the same thing: “I know I need to be authentic on social media, but I’m not sure how much of myself to share.”
They know they should be “showing up and being real,” but they worry about crossing boundaries, saying the wrong thing, or sounding too personal in a professional space.
The truth is, being authentic doesn’t mean revealing every part of yourself or sharing deeply personal details. It simply means showing up online as you would in real life – talking like you, acting like you, using real photos, and writing in your own voice (not a version you think sounds more “professional”).
Because when your content feels like you, people recognise it, and they trust it.
Why authenticity cuts through the noise
You already know your posts are constantly competing for attention. So how do you get your followers to stop scrolling?
They stop, not because something is perfectly polished, but because something feels real.
When you talk about your values, your lessons, or the moments that have shaped your business, you make your content memorable. You give people a reason to care.
I’ve seen this time and time again. When I worked for a global consultancy, the posts that performed best weren’t the corporate updates – they were the personal stories. The moments that showed the people behind the brand. Those were the posts that resonated, got shared, and sparked conversation.
And in 2025, this matters more than ever.
The first step: finding your story
Authentic storytelling starts with knowing your story – understanding who you are, what you stand for, and who you want to reach.
When I work with clients, we start by mapping out:
The Why – Why does your business exist, and what’s its mission?
The Who – Who are you trying to reach? What do you want them to know, feel, and do? What’s your unique value – and who’s the main character in your story: your brand or your customers?
The What – What problems are you solving for those people? How does your product or service help?
From there, we explore the How and When – using a storytelling framework to identify the stories and ideas that feel true to you and connect with the people you want to reach.
Because being authentic doesn’t mean posting everything. It means posting what matters.
Your stories are your biggest marketing tools
If there’s one thing I want every business owner to take away, it’s this:
Your stories are your biggest marketing tools.
They’re what make your brand human.
They’re what help people remember you.
And they’re what build trust long before anyone clicks “buy.”
So if you’ve been holding back from showing up online because you’re not sure what to say – start small.
Share one real moment.
A client story.
A lesson you’ve learned.
A behind-the-scenes glimpse that reflects your values.
Your story doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be yours.
If you’d like to talk about how I can help you show up more confidently and have more impact on social media, get in touch.
I’d love to help you tell your story.
