Alright, so running a private small business often feels like you’re putting everything out there – your name, your brand, and your time. Honestly, there’s an expectation for all of it, too, especially when it comes to social media (and yes, that does include LinkedIn). Now, posting everything about yourself isn’t for everyone, and that’s entirely understandable, too.
So, what if you want to stay a bit more private? Plenty of women professionals are wondering if they can still grow a successful business without sharing every detail of their lives. So, the answer? Absolutely. In fact, setting boundaries can make your business feel even more polished and professional.
Here are five tips for maintaining a private small business:
1. Keep Your Personal and Business Worlds Separate
One key to privacy is creating clear lines between your personal life and your business. Ideally, you’re going to want to use a separate business email, social media pages, and maybe even a unique website domain.
When you keep things compartmentalised, you make it easy for customers to recognise your brand while also keeping your personal details under wraps. This setup makes your business look more polished, too, by keeping all communications professional and focused on your brand.
2. Manage Your Online Presence Carefully
People expect a business to have an online presence, but that doesn’t mean you have to share everything. While sure, some business owners do that, in the name of parasocial relationships, you actually don’t need to. Actually, you should think about which platforms and pages are essential for your brand and keep them strictly business-focused. If you decide to use social media, stick to professional updates and relevant content about your business.
But why? Well, this way, customers get what they need without a deep dive into your personal life, which keeps the relationship professional and balanced.
3. Use Privacy-Friendly Tools to Protect Your Info
Honeslty, when it comes to data, everyone has target on their back, but it’s usually business owners (and the private small business themselves) that have the biggest targets of all. So, it’s best to do what you can to prevent anything to happen to your data. Actually, with the right tools can keep your details safe and still let you run your business smoothly.
For example, when signing up for online services that ask for a phone number, consider using SMS-Bus to get a virtual number rather than using your personal number or business number (it’s ideal for avoiding unwanted ads, spam, and even future issues down the line.
4. Find Smart Ways to Engage with Customers
You don’t have to share personal information to make customers feel valued. Instead of personal chats, you can use email templates, FAQs, or even chatbots to handle many of their questions and concerns. This way, your business still feels responsive and friendly without needing direct personal contact. Overall, just setting these boundaries shows customers what they can expect, making it easier to keep work and personal life separate.
5. Let the Brand’s Story Shine, Not Yours
You really have to keep in mind while running a private small business that marketing often relies on storytelling, but it doesn’t have to be your own personal story. Sure, people do it, but it doesn’t mean you have to. Instead, just focus on what your brand stands for – its mission, values, and unique selling points.
You just need to keep in mind that people connect with a brand’s purpose just as much as the person behind it. This way, you’re building a business that customers love, but the focus stays on the brand, allowing you to stay private while still forming genuine connections.
