You’re Posting. But Are You Actually Being Seen?
Most professionals today are chasing visibility. They think that more posts mean more impressions, which they think means more reach. And that that reach means value.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Visibility does NOT equal Value, Credibility, Trust or Consideration. Visibility without value is just more noise.
There’s a difference between showing up in someone’s feed… and showing up in their mind when they think of certain topics.
That difference is where credibility, trust, and professional reputation live. I call it being seen. That is, being seen is when you are recognized as someone to be trusted around a particular professional topic.
Being Seen has to be earned.
Visibility Lives at the Top of the Funnel
In marketing terms, visibility equals Awareness. It’s top-of-funnel. It’s volume. It’s exposure.
You can buy it. Boost it. Automate it. AI can generate it.
But awareness without substance produces:
- Noise
- Scroll-by content
- Fleeting attention
- A growing pile of forgotten posts
In other words: People may notice you. But they don’t yet trust you.
Awareness is a starting line – not the finish.
Being Seen Lives in Consideration
Being seen happens further down the funnel – in Consideration.
This is the moment someone thinks:
- “They consistently add value.”
- “I trust how they think.”
- “This person understands my problem.”
This is where credibility is formed. Where trust compounds. Where professional social proof takes shape.
And here’s the key: Consideration isn’t built through single posts. It’s built through patterns. It’s earned through engagement.
It is earned by providing consistent value on specific topics over time through both posting and more importantly, engaging (i.e., commenting on other people’s posts).
That pattern builds your digital footprint and is what turns visibility into reputation.
The Broadcasting Trap
Most people stop at posting. They broadcast. They publish. They move on.
But broadcasting is one-way communication. It’s talking at an audience, not with it.
And that’s a problem – because social media was never designed to be one-way communication. It was built for two-way conversation. Connection. Dialogue. Community.
Which leads to one of my favorite truths: Social media is just media if you’re not having conversations. And media is easy to ignore.
Posting without engaging is like shouting in an auditorium … and leaving before anyone can respond.
Engagement is where the real work happens:
- Commenting
- Replying
- Asking questions
- Continuing the conversation
This is where:
Visibility → Credibility
Credibility → Trust
Trust → Opportunity
Digital Validation: The Pattern of Proof
This is the heart of Digital Validation. Not personal branding. Not chasing likes. Not looking for vanity metrics.
But building a verifiable digital pattern that confirms:
- Who you are
- What you know
- How you think
- The value you deliver
So when someone Googles you – your reputation answers before you do.
That’s professional social proof. Not claimed. Not declared.
Instead, it’s demonstrated consistently and it is earned.
Why This Matters More in 2026
We are experience a flood of AI-written posts, auto-generated newsletters and programmed engagement.
Visibility seems to be everywhere.
But being seen – truly seen – will be rare. And rare is valuable.
The professionals who win won’t be the loudest. Instead, they’ll be the ones who:
- Show up consistently
- Add meaningful value
- Engage in real conversation
- Build trust over time
That’s how you move through the sales funnel, from
Awareness → Consideration → Opportunity
That’s how you stop chasing attention… and start attracting opportunity.
The Question That Matters
So the question isn’t: “How do I become more visible?”
The real question is: “How do I get consistently seen by the right people – for the right reasons?”
That’s the work. That’s Digital Validation. And it’s exactly what I’ll be unpacking further in my upcoming book: Validated: Add Value. Build Trust. Be Seen.
➡️ e-book pre-orders are available now on Amazon: www.tinyurl.com/validatedbyknox and we are targeting March 15, 2026 for the pre-orders of hardcover version to be available.
