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Apr 06, 2026 Lexy Ware

Blog Recap: The Courage to Be Seen: Why Authenticity Cuts Through Social Media Noise

Past Event: The Courage to Be Seen: Why Authenticity Cuts Through Social Media Noise

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On March 18th, 2026, Social Media Breakfast Madison welcomed Laura Marie Keiser of Engage Social Media to share her expertise in authentic social media presence and engagement. 

Attendees networked over shared pastries and coffee.  The event was sponsored by Period Products Pantry and the wonderful breakfast spread was provided by Bloom Bake Shop. Check out Bloom Bake Shop and if you can, donate to the Period Products Pantry!

The SMB team gave away another Facebook Portal! Register next month for Push and Pull Advertising: Prioritizing Your Digital Ads Budget in 2026 for your chance to win a Facebook Portal TV. 

Key Event Takeaways

Laura shared that things like divorce, parenting, pet birthdays, personal health issues, and job hunting all cut through the noise on social media and allow people to connect with your posts.

“What is the likelihood that the people you want to see the content you post will actually see it? So, reframe it, post it another way, or tag the people you want to see it.” Laura shared that this is how you cut through the noise on social media. 

Click here for presenter slides.

Why Real Beats Polished

  • Polished does not equal memorable.
  • Memorable content feels human, polished content is safe, controlled, and predictable.
  • Relatability is a great strategy.
  • User-generated behind-the-scenes personality-driven content outperforms overly produced brand content in trust and engagement metrics.
  • Perfection does not build connection, recognition does. 

How Authenticity Builds Trust (without oversharing)

  • Authentic means aligned
  • Trust is built through consistency, not confession.
  • Humans engage with what they trust.
  • Conversation is better than broadcasting.
  • Spend 50 percent of your time engaging, not lurking on social media.

Why Courage and Consistency Matter More Than Trends

  • Trends expire, reputation compounds.
  • Trends spike attention, consistency builds authority.
  • Courage is posting again, even when the first post did not do well. Consistency is doing it again tomorrow.

SPONSORS:

DreamBank
Period Product Pantry
Live Well Video | Faith Dey 🎥
VEDUB Media | Bryant Vander Weerd
Melissa Carlson Creative
John Molina III Designs
Suttle-Straus
Serendipity Labs
Talent CPA

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT: Latino Academy of Workforce Development

For more than a decade, the Latino Academy of Workforce Development has delivered culturally responsive education and workforce training that helps adults gain credentials, secure employment, and move into family-sustaining careers.

Serving more than 2,500 residents annually across Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, and Rock counties, LAWD offers ESL, GED preparation, digital literacy, CDL training, construction pre-apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship development — pairing every program with hands-on mentoring and coaching to ensure long-term success.

This spring, LAWD is launching a $1 million campaign to expand access to education and career pathways for Latino and immigrant adults, while growing its Digital Pathways initiative to close critical technology skill gaps.

As workforce demands rise across Wisconsin, LAWD is building inclusive solutions that strengthen families, employers, and communities statewide.

Connect with them at:

What’s Next?

April 15th, 2026 (7:30-9) Push and Pull Advertising: How to Prioritize Your Digital Advertising Budget. American Family Insurance DreamBank.