Occasionally, I come across something online that sparks my curiosity. Or it reminds me of something I think I already know but decide to do a bit more investigating. Today, I came across a wellness post with quite a number of interactions. 97% of which were female. The following is the outcome.
Understanding Gender Gaps in Positive Psychology Workshops.
If you’ve ever attended a personal development workshop, a familiar pattern stands out like a sore thumb: women tend to showup. Whether it’s a mindfulness retreat, a resilience seminar, or a positive psychology course, female attendees consistently outnumber their male counterparts.
Butwhyisthat? And what’s more important—what can we do about it?
Why the Gap?
The following ten paragraphs outline the basic reasons behind the absence of men from wellness programmes. If you don’t have the time to read them, then the short answer is that the majority of men are not women.
I rarely write about this topic these days. However, yesterday, I came across someone on Instagram who appeared to be famous, so I Googled their name and couldn’t find them. Based on that simple search, I made a number of assumptions that may or may not be true. Those assumptions are not important from an individual’s perspective, but if people are making the same assumptions about a business, then the business is in trouble.
Brand loyalty needs online visibility
When it comes to business today, the idea that “if you’re not on the first page of Google, you’re not famous” really rings true. For a company, especially, being easily found online is critical. Please allow me to elaborate:
1. Visibility and SEO
Getting on the first page of Google is vital. The majority of people don’t scroll past that first page. If your company or products aren’t showing up there, you’re essentially invisible to a large chunk of potential customers. This is where SEO comes in—optimizing your website with the right keywords, quality content, and the right technical tweaks will help boost your Google rankings. It’s a must-have for staying competitive online.
2. Trust and Authority
Think of it like this: people associate first-page results with trust and authority. If your business doesn’t show up, it can make you seem less established or credible, even if your products or services are great. Being visible helps build trust and signals that you’re a legitimate player in your industry.
3. Outpacing Competition
Your competitors are probably vying for those top spots, too. If you’re not there, you’re losing out on potential leads and sales. SEO helps you stay ahead of the competition. Without it, no matter how good your offering is, you’ll struggle to compete with businesses that are more easily found. (There’s no direct link between quality and Google ranking.)
4. Online Presence = Reputation
Your online visibility is, in many ways, a reflection of your reputation. Today, people judge businesses not just by what they sell but also by how accessible they are. Being on that first page gives the impression that your business is not just operational but thriving. (If people can’t find you when they need your service, then they will worry about finding you should something go wrong.)
5. Niche Fame
Now, if you’re targeting a niche market, you may not need to be famous to everyone, just to the right people. A smaller, specialised business might not hit the first page on broad searches, but it could dominate in its niche with targeted SEO efforts. So, it’s about knowing where and how you want to be “famous.” For example, if you Google “Brendan Dunne,” then you may find me. If you Google “Brendan Dunne mindfulness & positivity,” you will find me.
Bottom Line
Yes, everything you do in business affects your bottom line.
Not being on the first page of Google can hurt your growth and visibility, especially when customers are searching for what you offer. Investing in SEO and your digital presence is key to staying relevant and competitive, both in the short term and long term. Without it, even the best products can get lost in the crowd.
P.S. If you’re not going to invest in good SEO, then you can give yourmoneyto Google in the form of paid advertising.
It’s only a matter of time before the algorithms that determine what people see in their newsreels will bring about the end of social media platforms. The reason is that people want to be entertained, not bored, by social media platforms. The algorithms, by design, bring information that’s similar to information that people have previously interacted with to their attention.
That’s great in the short term, but after a while, it gets very tedious. For example, unless you’re an ardent Trump supporter, there are only so many Donald Trump speeches you can listen to before realising that he says the same thing every time. “I’m right, they’re wrong. They’re victimising me.” It might win him the presidency in America, but that’s America for you.
A few years ago, the whole world was talking about the novelty that was Donald Trump in politics. Nowadays, the world is turning a deaf ear to the man. That’s the same path the social media platforms are following. People are slowly but surely turning away from social media platforms.
Of course, it won’t be people who bring about the end of social media platforms. It will be businesses. When people stop using social media platforms, the businesses that keep the platforms viable by paying for sponsored posts on the platforms will stop advertising. When that happens, and it will happen sooner than you’d think, it will spark the end of social media platforms as we know them today.
The interesting question is, what’s going to replace social media platforms?
Unfortunately, implied value is always worth more than real value.
Businesses have been using that concept for years to get people to pay more for their products and services. However, it’s not just a business thing. It’s a relationship between people thing too. Both male and female dress up and act in such a manner to attract attention. It’s only when the marketing stops that they show the real person behind the facade. It’s at that point the following question is asked.
What happened to you?
The truth is, nothing happened to them. They just stopped pretending to be someone they’re not. They stopped marketing themselves. It’s at that point that their personality and yours will be put under the microscope. You will need to determine if reality is enough or if you need more?
The truth is that when you remove marketing from people, the differences between everything they have are negligible. For example.
People’s physical bodies are remarkably like everyone else’s. It’s designed to help them live.
Any kind of transport will get a person from a to b.
All foods will quieten a rumbling tummy.
Water will quench everyone’s thirst.
Any roof over your head will keep you dry.
Warm clothing will keep you warm.
However, there’s very few people in the modern world who can live real life. They will always want more than they really need. In today’s world, that’s normal. That’s why there are so many businesses trying to differentiate through implied value. They’re targeting your ego, not your reality.
The things that don’t change when marketing is removed are.
Being a good friend will ensure you have good friends.
Your real personality is the only thing about you that will not change.
They’re the important stuff. That’s a reality everyone should focus on. I’ll leave you with one final thought.
In reality, you need very little to have a successful life.
