How Brand Visibility Changed My Year (and My Mindset)

I didn’t set out to focus on brand visibility this year. In fact, it started with frustration. The kind that builds quietly when you’ve done “all the right things” online but the results don’t match the effort. I was showing up on my own platforms, creating content, tweaking, refining, and still feeling stuck.

Then I started seeing Jenn Wint’s content pop up in my feed. Friends and people in my network were sharing her posts about PR and communications, and something about it caught my attention. Maybe it was timing. Maybe it was that I was tired of shouting into my own echo chamber. But the idea of showing up somewhere new, of being featured instead of constantly self-promoting, felt like a breath of fresh air.

So I booked a PR Power Hour with Jenn, not really sure what to expect.

After our hour together, I was buzzing with ideas. It was the most energizing, generous session I’d had in a long time. I left feeling like PR could be the missing piece, a new way to be seen without burning out on social media.

A few weeks later, I joined Jenn’s membership and started intentionally seeking visibility opportunities. At first, it was curiosity. Then, it became something deeper.

Why PR Felt Like a Relief (and a Risk)

I’ve always loved podcasts. Long before I launched my business, they were where I learned and discovered what was possible for someone like me. So when I started exploring PR, podcast features felt like a natural fit.

There’s something intimate about them. The storytelling, the conversations, the feeling of being invited in. I still remember as a kid, sitting at the top of the stairs after my aunt held one of her elegant dinner parties, eavesdropping on the grown-ups talking about their lives. I loved hearing about the things I didn’t yet understand but somehow knew mattered. That’s what podcasts feel like to me now, a chance to sit in on something meaningful.

But as soon as the opportunities started happening, I realized PR wasn’t just about exposure. It was about letting go.

As a designer, I like control. I like clean lines, thoughtful visuals, and details that line up just right. Visibility through PR is the opposite of that. You can’t control how you’re edited, what angle the photo catches, or how you sound when you say “like” one too many times.

Still, each feature — like my interview on The Best of White Rock, my spotlight on Authority Magazine, or my first Instagram live with Jenn — reminded me that showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all.

It’s uncomfortable, vulnerable, and somehow, exactly what I needed.

Learning to Be Seen (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

The more visible I became, the more I realized how much of this work is emotional. Landing a feature or an interview feels exciting at first, but sharing it publicly is another story. There were moments I caught myself hesitating before posting about a podcast episode or article. I’d think, Do people really want to see this? Am I being too self-promotional?

I had to remind myself that visibility isn’t vanity. It’s connection.

One of my favourite moments this year was my interview with Leah Yard on the Voted Least Likely podcast. It was such an honest, heart-centered conversation about building a creative business, and I left feeling both vulnerable and proud. It reminded me of why I started in the first place – to help people build brands that feel true to who they are, and to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

That conversation made me realize something else too. PR isn’t about getting attention. It’s about contribution. Every time you show up, you’re adding to the larger conversation in your industry. You’re helping someone else see what’s possible.

What Brand Visibility Has Given Me

The truth is, you can’t always measure the results of PR in numbers. My social following grew, but the biggest return has been in relationships. I’ve met incredible people through podcast interviews, features, and collaborations.

It’s also shifted how I think about marketing altogether. I’ve started seeing it less as promotion and more as participation. When you show up in new spaces, you build credibility, but you also build community.

Being seen is a practice. It’s a muscle I’m still working. And the more I strengthen it, the more natural it feels.

Redefining What It Means to Be Seen

Working on brand visibility this year has changed the way I think about my own business.

As a designer, I spend so much time helping clients present themselves beautifully online. I help them tell their story, build trust, and attract the right people. But somewhere in the process, I realized that I wasn’t giving myself the same permission.

It’s easier to stay behind the work. To let the visuals speak for you. But to grow a brand that’s trusted and recognizable, people have to see you.

For me, that means owning my story and showing up in ways that feel right for who I am. I don’t want to chase trends or visibility for the sake of attention. I want to create a body of work, and a brand, that people feel connected to.

That’s what PR has taught me. You don’t need to be everywhere, but you do need to be somewhere that matters. And when you show up there with authenticity, consistency, and heart, people remember.

Looking Ahead

While I can’t measure the impact of every interview or feature, I know this work is building something long term. It’s helping me grow not just as a designer, but as a communicator, collaborator, and creative business owner.

Being seen isn’t just about brand visibility. It’s about ownership. It’s about believing in your work enough to share it with the world, even when it feels uncomfortable.

And if you’ve been thinking about stepping into that space yourself, I hope this is your reminder that it’s worth it.

Jenn has been such a big part of this chapter for me. If you’d like to learn more about how PR, your website, and branding all work together to build visibility, you can read our collaborative post on her blog here. It’s the perfect companion to this reflection.

Key Takeaways

• Brand visibility doesn’t happen overnight. It begins with curiosity and the willingness to show up in new ways.
• PR creates connection and credibility beyond what social media can offer. It’s not about the spotlight, it’s about contribution.
• Letting go of perfection is part of the process. The goal isn’t to control every detail, but to show up with honesty and intention.
• The results you can’t measure, such as confidence, clarity, and collaboration, are often the ones that matter most.
• Being seen is a practice. Keep finding ways to share your story that feel true to who you are.

Recommended Resources

• Read my guest post on Jenn Wint’s blog to explore how your website, PR, and branding work together to build visibility and trust.
• Book a PR Power Hour with Jenn – the session that helped me rethink how I show up and start saying yes to new opportunities.
• Listen to my interview with Leah Yard on the Voted Least Likely podcast for an open conversation about building a creative business with honesty and heart.
• Visit my Resources page for helpful tools that support your own brand visibility journey.
• Browse the Showit website templates in my shop to create a polished, strategic website that helps you be seen with confidence.