Over the weekend, I hosted a small business retreat.

And there was a moment during that retreat that really stuck with me.

Not because it was complicated…
But because it was so simple—and so eye-opening.

The “Rule of Seven” (And Why It Matters Today)

You may have heard of this before:

The idea that someone needs to see your business—or your message—multiple times before they decide to work with you.

It’s often called the “rule of seven.”

But if we’re being honest?

It’s probably a lot more than seven now.

We live in a world where people are constantly scrolling, constantly consuming, constantly being marketed to.

Which means one thing:

People are forming opinions about your business long before they ever reach out. 

A Moment That Made Me Pause

At the retreat, I met someone I had heard amazing things about.

People spoke highly of her.
They trusted her.
They recommended her.

So naturally, I looked her up beforehand.

Her website was nice.
Her social media looked fine.

But it didn’t match what I had heard about her. 

Then, in person, she showed me her actual work.

And I was blown away.

It was incredible. Beautiful. High-level.

And it made me realize something immediately:

What she was putting out into the world didn’t reflect what she was truly capable of.

What This Means for Your Business (or Even Your Family Photos)

Whether you’re a business owner or someone looking to hire one…

This matters.

Because when someone looks you up, they’re asking:

• Is this person active?

• Do they still do this?

• Is this the quality I can expect?

• Do I connect with them?

And if what they see is:

• Outdated

• Inconsistent

• Or unclear

They’re going to make a decision based on that.

Even if it doesn’t reflect the full picture.

The Real Takeaway: You Have to Keep Showing Up

This was the biggest takeaway from the weekend:

You can’t expect people to understand what you do… if you’re not showing them.

Not once.
Not occasionally.

But consistently.

Through:

• Social media

• Your website

• Emails

• Conversations

• Even things like podcasts

Because every place someone finds you?

That’s part of the story they’re building about you.

And Here’s the Hard Truth

If someone lands on your page and your last post was a month ago…

They might wonder:

Are they still doing this? 

And that one small moment of doubt?

Can be the difference between someone reaching out—or moving on.

A Gentle Reminder (Not Pressure)

This isn’t about being perfect.

It’s not about posting every single day or having everything perfectly polished.

It’s about alignment.

Making sure what you’re showing the world actually reflects:

• Who you are

• What you do

• And what you’re capable of

Because You Deserve to Be Seen Accurately

That was the biggest thing I took away from that weekend.

Sometimes it’s not about becoming better…

It’s about making sure people can actually see how good you already are.

Want More Real Conversations Like This?

If you enjoy these kinds of behind-the-scenes thoughts on business, life, and showing up intentionally, I share more like this on my podcast.

🎙️ Listen to more episodes of The Photographer’s Couch here:
https://rss.com/podcasts/the-photographers-couch

Megan Gioeli of M.Gioeli Photography is a family, senior, and branding photographer based in Mocksville, NC, serving Clemmons, Winston-Salem, and surrounding areas. She works with families and business owners to capture authentic, meaningful images while helping them feel confident and seen—both in front of the camera and beyond.