How to Show (Not Just Tell) the Value of Your Work
- LEVEN MEDIA GROUP LTD
- May 2
- 4 min read
A blog by The Ocean Agency
In today’s saturated market, saying you’re valuable isn’t enough. Everyone claims to be expert, passionate, different, but audiences have heard it all before. The question is: Are you showing your value, or just talking about it?
At The Ocean Agency, we believe value is something people feel, not something they’re told to believe. Whether you’re building a brand, launching a campaign, or creating content, the challenge is to turn words into proof.
Why Telling Isn’t Enough
Modern audiences are savvy.
They’ve grown immune to sales language filled with words like innovative, premium, or bespoke. These terms have become so overused that they risk being meaningless.
If you want your brand to be trusted, remembered, and respected, you need to move from assertion to demonstration.
The Power of Showing: Proof Over Prose
When you show value, it becomes real. It’s not just about what’s on your homepage, it’s how your audience experiences you across every channel.
Here’s what demonstrating value looks like:
• A thoughtful blog post that genuinely informs
• A case study breaking down the strategy behind results
• A testimonial that tells a real transformation story
• A content series that shares your thought process, not just your offer
We call this proof over prose, a mindset rooted in clarity, consistency, and credibility.
Storytelling as a Strategic Tool
“The best way to capture someone’s attention and create a bond is through storytelling.”
— Charlie Carlyle, Digital Growth Specialist at TOA
Storytelling connects quickly and emotionally. Whether through video, blogs, email, or social content, the key is to embed your voice and values in the message.
How to Make Your Value Visible
1. Document the Process
Show how you work. Share your decisions, your thinking, your journey — not just the polished outcome.
2. Use Your Channels as Portfolios
Every blog, newsletter or Instagram story is a chance to prove quality through consistency.
3. Think in Stories, Not Assets
What problem did you solve? What was the client’s experience? What changed?
4. Be Seen in the Right Places
Visibility on trusted platforms, from industry titles to regional names like Cornwall Living or DRIFT, adds credibility that PPC alone can’t buy.
Explore TOA’s Discoverability Services
Making It Relatable: Let Clients Speak for You
The most powerful form of proof is social, in the words, actions, and results of your clients.
Ask yourself:
• What does success look like to them?
• Can their results become a living reflection of your value?
• How can you weave their story into yours?
At TOA, we’ve seen that a well-timed video testimonial, or a post-campaign breakdown blog, does more than showcase outcomes, it builds trust.
Value is a Feeling
Ultimately, value isn’t a bullet point. It’s a feeling.
It’s felt when someone lands on your website and instantly understands who you are.
It’s felt when your visuals, messaging, and delivery all align.
It’s felt when someone reads your blog and thinks, “These people get it.”
That’s why we advocate for a multi-platform strategy. When your website, social, email, and content all reinforce the same story, that’s when you move beyond awareness to affinity.
In Closing: What Are You Showing?
Telling people your values is easy.
Showing them? That’s where the real magic happens.
So ask yourself:
• What parts of your brand show your impact today?
• Where could you make your thinking more visible?
• How are you inviting others to experience your value?
If you’re ready to turn your voice, content, and strategy into a consistent expression of value, The Ocean Agency is here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it really mean to show the value of what you do?
It’s one thing to say you're good at your job. But in truth, people rarely take your word for it these days. Showing value is about offering something more tangible, real outcomes, client feedback, or stories that highlight your expertise in action. It’s less about self-promotion and more about helping people see the difference you make.
So, why doesn’t telling people work anymore?
Because most people are tired of being told. "Innovative", "passionate", "industry-leading", these words show up everywhere. But audiences are savvy. They want something they can connect with or verify themselves. They trust what they can observe, not just what they’re told.
What counts as ‘showing’ value?
It doesn’t need to be flashy. A case study with honest results. A blog that helps someone solve a problem. A short video from a happy client. Even just showing up consistently online with something useful to say. These things build trust. Over time, they speak louder than any tagline.
And what about storytelling, how does that help?
Stories help people care. When you share something real, a challenge you overcame with a client, or a lesson you learned along the way, it turns abstract claims into something human. It helps your audience feel your value, not just hear about it.
How do you help clients do this at The Ocean Agency?
We help brands turn what they already do well into content that’s thoughtful, relevant, and engaging, on the platforms where their audience spends time. Whether it’s writing, strategy, video or email, we help them communicate with purpose and clarity, so that trust builds naturally over time.
