Conquering Digital Stage Fright to Amplify Your Online Impact

Digital stage fright is the anxiety we feel at the thought of putting ourselves and our opinions out into the digital world, whether that be through our social posts, blogs, videos, or live presentations.

Studies show that up to 75% of people experience some degree of stage fright when called upon to speak publicly in the physical world. So it’s not surprising that many business owners face similar fears about showing up online to promote their business more effectively.

But with digital communication playing an increasingly important role in marketing and lead generation, business owners need to find a way to conquer their digital stage fright if they want to remain in business over the long term.

Causes of Digital Stage Fright

The online world can be harsh. Online trolling from individuals who don’t agree with what you’re posting can be both hurtful and embarrassing. Even the odd negative comment or two on our posts can sometimes be enough to trigger internal self-doubt and cause us to question our competency.

After all, I believe most of us are our own worst critics. We place a lot of internal pressure on ourselves to perform to our expectations, which often borders on unreasonable in that we strive towards perfectionism rather than effectiveness.

Further, we have a tendency to negatively compare ourselves to others, particularly those we consider to be more successful than us. We overlook the fact that these individuals have been working to build their online presence longer than we have and therefore it makes perfect sense they would be further along in the process. We conveniently forget that everyone starts at the bottom and that those who’ve had a head start didn’t necessarily do a better job than we’re doing right now.

It doesn’t help that most online communication is impersonal, meaning there is a lack of immediate feedback, such as body language or facial expressions, to let us know how well we are connecting with our audience. In addition, there is always the potential for a post to be taken out of context. Not knowing how our message is being received can also chip away at our self-confidence, causing us to second guess whether our post is appropriate.

When we’re first starting out online, navigating the various digital platforms can be intimidating, to say the least. No one wants to be seen as incompetent or out of touch with modern communication methods and technologies. So it’s often tempting to hide our insecurities by avoiding one or more platforms, even when we know our audience can be found there.

Overcoming Digital Stage Fright

Without a doubt, there are experts much more qualified than I who can provide some solid advice on this subject.

However, I’ve found that the best way for me to overcome my own stage fright, whether digital or physical, is by being super-confident in the content I’m sharing.

This starts with understanding my target audience. What are their biggest problems and concerns? What are their wants and needs from their perspective? What roadblocks and mindset issues are they facing?

Once I’m confident I understand what my audience is struggling with, I can draw upon my expertise to provide content that helps them develop the right knowledge and skills to solve their problems and achieve their goals. I can also identify the benefits of my program that will be most meaningful to my audience and explain it in ways that will be most relevant and helpful to them.

And then knowing that my content has the potential to help even just one person gives me the courage to post it.

So my recommended first step to conquering digital stage fright is to learn what’s important to your audience in order to figure out the type of content that’s relevant and valuable to them.

Once you’ve done that, here are three quick tips for creating content you’re comfortable posting.

1. Keep it simple – There’s no need to prove how smart you are by using fancy terms and multi-syllable words that complicate your message. In fact, the simpler and more direct you can be, the better your content will be received, understood and appreciated by your target audience.

2. Listen to your gut – Does what you’re sharing feel natural and right? Are they truly your thoughts and opinions, as opposed to a regurgitation of what other people are saying? When your content rings true in your gut and in your heart, you’ll naturally feel more passionate about it. This, in turn, will make you come across as more authentic and credible to your audience.

3. Above all, believe in yourself – You don’t need to have the absolute best product or be a recognized industry expert to be successful in business. When promoting a product, focus on the value it provides. Those individuals who perceive the value of your product is worth its price will buy. And if you’re a service provider, you only need to be one or two steps ahead of someone in order to deliver significant value to them.

Never forget that for the right target audience, your product and/or knowledge and experience are exactly what they’re looking for. Once they understand the true value of your offer for them in their specific situation, they will be motivated to buy.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

It’s normal and natural to feel nervous about sharing your thoughts and opinions publicly where there is potential for criticism. Opening yourself up to the world exposes you to the possibility of being discounted, disregarded, rejected or ridiculed.

But while you may encounter detractors, particularly if your thoughts are considered controversial by some, keep in mind that someone stating their opinion does not make it a fact. Your opinions are just as valid as anyone else’s, and you have every right to voice them.

Rather than dwell on the possibility of being trolled, it’s more important to recognize that sharing what you truly think and feel will attract like-minded individuals who appreciate your authenticity and want to do business with you. They’re the people whose opinions truly matter. After all, the reason you’re developing an online presence is to attract and nurture a following you can do business with.

If you’re like most people, the first few posts are usually the scariest, and it gets easier over time as you become more comfortable with the process.

The Bottom Line…

Conquering digital stage fright is critical for developing an online presence that attracts and nurtures an online audience who wants to buy from you.

Understanding what’s important to your target audience will help you develop and post content that you’re confident is relevant and valuable to them. That confidence will go a long way towards alleviating your fears. It will also help you find the courage to speak with an authority and authenticity that amplifies your online influence and impact.

You’ve got this!