Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs, Senior Business Leaders, Managers, Sales Professionals, Female Leaders, and R&D, Innovation, DEI, and Other Critical Teams
How to Grow an Audience Organically Online
Darlene Hawley
If you want to grow your coaching, consulting or service based business and attract your ideal audience organically online, then this video is for you.
I went LIVE on YouTube for the first time! But get this...
I finally found time in my week with a quiet moment to record my first live youtube video and guess what happens. Yep, you guessed it the door bell rang as soon as I hit the live button. (watch the video to see my face ...haha)
Believe it or not my kids came in the room to tell me there was someone at the door but saw that I was recording and quietly went back to their virtual school break and ignored the guy at the door (mom win).
Is running your business feeling hard right now?
I get it, every dang day seems to be a new challenge but I know that we can do this... Remember my manta...I do hard (scary) things!
One foot in front of the other, one baby step at a time.
OH back to my first LIVE YouTube Video....head over and watch it now. It's broken down into 8 easy steps to grow your business.
If you want to grow your coaching, consulting, or service-based business and attract your ideal audience organically online, then this video is for you.
Subscribe while you're there so you get notified when I go LIVE next and leave a comment.If you want to grow your coaching, consulting or service based business and attract your ideal audience organically online, then this video is for you.
While working with thousands of clients over the past 13 years I’ve learned how to organically build, grow and scale your online business. Today I want to share with you my top tips with you.
- Know who your audience is. who do you want to work with, be clear on what your niche is and then know your audience what keeps them up at 2am.
- Create content that attracts your audience. Every modern business needs to create content to build brand recognition. Now that you know who your ideal audience is. It's important that you create content that speaks directly to them. What do they struggle with, what are their pain points, create content that solves their problem and shows your expertise. Share stories in every piece of content you create as your audience is 22x more likely to remember what you share when you wrap storytelling into your content. Use graphic and brand photos with your content to build brand recognition too.
- Create a lead magnet/freebie.
What can you give to them to help them solve a problem that is step zero to what you teach. Attract them into you by helping them get a quick win. Once they’re on your email list then you can nurture them. Create a set of emails called a nurture sequence so that you can build on the know like and trust factor.
- Let them know you have something to buy, offer and share it. Don’t be afraid to sell to them. Remember if you only add value they won’t know that you can help them further. You have to let them know how they can work with you. This is the difference between having a hobby vs. a revenue-generating business.
- How to work with you. send them to your work with me page so they can learn more about how you work and what results they’ll achieve when working with you.
- Lead them to schedule a clarity call so you can determine if you’re a good fit.
Your interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you. Remember this is your business and you get to choose who you work with and the types of projects and clients you support.
- Follow-up is the secret sauce.
50% of sales are closed in follow-up. Create a system that works for you to keep in touch with alliance partners, potential clients, current clients & past clients and stay in touch, so they keep you top of mind when they’re ready to work with you or if they meet someone who they can refer to you. 70% of my business comes from referrals because of having a strong follow-up system in place.
- Be consistent-keep showing up. No matter what is happening keep showing up, be consistent and never get up. Growing a business and making consistent money is hard work and it’s important that you keep going no matter what. Break throughs happen when you least expect it and happen just after most people give up on themselves. Give yourself permission to do hard things and to push through no matter what.
I believe in you.
You’re allowed to stand out.
You’re allowed to shine.
You’re allowed to be YOU!
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Hi I'm Darlene Hawley, a mother, wife, connector, storyteller and dream builder. I'm also a Brand & Online Business Coach, the founder of www.DarleneHawley.com and host of the Attract & Stand Ou Podcast.
I coach ambitious, heart-centered online entrepreneurs who are struggling with building a successful personal brand and business. They’re afraid to share their unique life story but know they need to stand out if they want to build an authentic and profitable online business. I help them build a solid brand foundation so they can share their message with the world, attract dream clients and have the impact, freedom, and flexibility they desire.
Free Gift~
Ready to Create a Profitable Service-Based Personal Brand & Business?
Download the workbook and you'll learn:
* My signature 6 step process to create a successful business with less hustle and more ease.
* Easy action steps to implement immediately so you can start taking action and have more clarity on where you're headed.
* Create a road map and make a change in how you do business so that you can finally feel like you know what to do each day.
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/attractandstandoutonline
Connect with me~
http://www.darlenehawley.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlenehawley/
✨Ready to Own Your Story and Attract Your Dream Clients?✨
If you’re ready to stop second-guessing your message and start using storytelling as a powerful tool to connect, inspire, and sell—then I’d love to invite you to my It’s Time to Own Your Story: Mini-Course.
In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to:
✔️ Identify the key moments in your story that captivate your audience.
✔️ Share your story in a way that builds trust and positions you as the go-to expert.
✔️ Use storytelling across your website, social media, and sales conversations to attract and convert more clients.
Plus, you’ll get a
step-by-step workbook and
personal feedback on your brand story—so you can start sharing with confidence.
Hey There!
I'm Darlene
As a mother, wife, connector, and dream builder, I’m Darlene Hawley, the founder of DarleneHawley.com and an Executive Leadership & Businesss Coach dedicated to empowering leaders like you.
My passion lies in helping ambitious professionals cultivate their unique leadership style while crafting an authentic and impactful personal brand. Through my coaching, we’ll work together to build a solid foundation that not only inspires your team but also drives results and growth within your organization.
Since 2007, I have been committed to guiding leaders and entrepreneurs in launching and scaling their businesses with confidence and clarity.
Today, I focus on supporting women in reaching their leadership goals and living their dream lives—all while balancing the joys of raising my family and creating meaningful memories each day.
Together, we’ll transform your challenges into opportunities, allowing you to lead with authenticity and inspire those around you.
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How Embracing Vulnerability and Living Boldly Transforms Lives
How being seen in your full humanity transforms your leadership, your visibility—and your business
Celebrating 19 years in business! Discover 19 hard-earned lessons on leadership, visibility, and growth—plus a special $190 coaching offer.
Small rituals lead to big visibility. Learn how leaders and entrepreneurs can use intentional practices to create connection, clarity, and confidence.
I was facilitating a one-day Speak Up & Influence team-building experiential training when I noticed her sitting quietly in the back of the room. She participated, but never fully spoke her mind, staying just under the radar, what I like to call "playing it safe". After one of the vocal empowerment activities, I walked over and said, “You know, the way you just helped your group reframe that challenge? That’s leadership. And I don’t think anyone’s told you lately... but you have a really powerful presence when you speak.” She blinked, stunned. Then smiled...a BIG cheesy grin. “Wow. I… don’t think anyone’s ever said that to me,” she said. “I thought I was just rambling.” That moment changed her energy and how she showed up the rest of the day. She spoke up more. She leaned in. She took more space. By the end of the day, she was laughing with her colleagues and, dare I say, being Bold and having FUN. That’s the power of being seen. Not liked. Not evaluated. Not coached. Witnessed. Witnessing Is Deeper Than Praise Recognition isn’t just about saying “good job.” It’s about creating space for people to feel seen in the room. And as an executive leadership coach, trainer, and speaker, I believe this is one of the most powerful tools we have. It’s part of why I teach the Step into Your Moxie® Vocal Empowerment Framework to help people speak with confidence and presence, And to help them feel safe enough to show up as unapologetically as themselves. The framework includes: Naming the Inner Critic Creating Psychological Safety Clarifying the Message Owning Presence Moving People to Take Action But none of that sticks if we don’t feel witnessed. The Real Role of Recognition in Leadership Recognition is not limited to annual performance reviews. It’s being in the moment with someone. It’s telling the truth of what you see... and helping them see it too. When we recognize someone for who they are, not just what they do, it creates: Trust Confidence Belonging Momentum It tells them, “You matter. Right now. Just as you are.” And for many people, that’s enough to shift everything. How Vocal Empowerment Starts with Being Seen I’ve worked with countless leaders who don’t need help with strategy... they need to be reminded they have a voice worth sharing. Their ideas aren’t the problem. Their presence is stifled by years of not being heard. And when someone finally says, “I see you. I hear you. I believe you have something valuable to say,”... they rise to the occasion. That’s what witnessing does. That’s what coaching is. And that’s what powerful leadership should include. My Truth About Leadership + Visibility I believe every single person deserves to be put in a position where they are the leader. But leadership is not one-size-fits-all. It’s not about being the loudest or most polished. It’s about being thoughtful about the right kind of visibility... and showing up unapologetically as yourself. We need more leaders who understand this. Who witness others without fixing them. Who show people what’s possible by being real, not rehearsed. How does it feel when someone truly witnesses you... not just your performance, but your presence? And who in your world could use that kind of recognition right now? Say it. Share it. Watch them light up. Try This: A Visibility Icebreaker That Builds Trust Here’s a simple, powerful exercise I love using to open workshops, team meetings, or small groups: Two Truths and a Lie: Leadership Edition Each person shares: Two true things about how they lead, speak, or show up One “lie” they used to believe about themselves Example: ✔ I’m a clear communicator ✔ I make people feel safe when I lead ✖ I’m not good at public speaking (← the old lie) This twist brings visibility and vulnerability together... without putting anyone on the spot. It allows people to own their growth and shift their inner critic by speaking it out loud. Try it. Let me know how it goes with your next team meeting. Coming Next in Part 4: Crafting Connection: Simple Rituals to Help You and Your Team Feel Seen Because being witnessed isn’t a one-time act. It’s a culture. It’s a practice. And it starts with you.
We’ve never been more connected... and never felt so unseen. With a few taps, we can join a Zoom room, drop into a DM, or post something vulnerable for hundreds of people to witness. But there's a disconnect. And in a tech-driven world where everything moves fast and engagement is measured in emoji reactions… are we truly connecting... or just being consumed? “To be recognised, you have to be seen, you have to be heard – and that requires a witnessing that can’t happen in two-second increments.” —— Allison J Pugh in her article The Unseen in Aeon Magazine You can post every day and still feel invisible. You can be in a dozen Slack channels and still feel isolated. You can have 10k followers and feel like no one is really paying attention. Because we’ve built a world where connection is constant... but deep roots are rare. The Pace of Tech vs. the Slowness of Being Seen We scroll fast. We skim emails. We record meetings and never rewatch them. But being seen takes time. It requires presence. Stillness. The very things today’s digital culture works against. And when you’re constantly “on”, but rarely witnessed... it’s easy to feel like you’re disappearing in plain sight. This is especially true for entrepreneurs and leaders. We’re told to post, share, create, show up, stay visible… and yet, we’re rewarded for comments, not true connection. That’s the tension we’re living in... and the one we need to name. Why I Don’t Create for Social (and What I Do Instead) Let’s get honest, social media isn’t the main event... it’s the after-party. The first time someone finds me isn’t on LinkedIn. It’s at a speaking event, on a podcast, or through a referral. Then they follow me on social. Then they join my newsletter. Social media isn’t where I get discovered. It’s where I nurture relationships that already exist. That’s why I don’t create for the algorithm... I write for my community. I share my heart through emails and long-form blog or video content. Then I repurpose it on social... not to “go viral,” but to stay connected. And here’s the magic part: Some of my clients? They’ve been on my list for 6+ years. Never replied to a post. Never commented. And one day... they book a call. Because they’ve been listening the whole time. They were waiting for the right moment.... not the right reel. When Tech Makes You Feel Small But even with that perspective, I still feel it. That sting when you pour your heart into a post and it gets 3 likes. That feeling after a Zoom room full of “great people!”… but the coffee chat that follows doesn't convert to referrals or business. That’s what the fast pace of our digital world does. It makes us visible... but not witnessed. It makes us accessible... but nothing deeper becomes of it. You can have the right lighting, captions, camera angle... and still feel like no one’s really seeing the person behind the post. The Shift: From Performance to Presence The solution isn’t more hustle or noise. It’s more presence. So, if you're feeling invisible right now, even while showing up “everywhere,” hit pause and take a breath. Ask yourself: Am I sharing because I have to, or from a place of inspiration? Am I connecting, or just posting to stay in the feed? Who am I hoping will really see me? Then, choose one way to show up differently this week. Call someone instead of commenting. Write the post that feels inspiring, not strategic. Or close the laptop and go be with real people, even when it feels uncomfortable. Because yes, people are watching... even if they’re silent. But more importantly, you deserve to feel connected, even when tech feels like it's sucking your soul.
