A Mistake I See People Make Online (And a Better Way of Handling It)


Let me tell you a quick story.

When I started posting my work online, my designs, little wins, and even behind-the-scenes content, I used to think, “If my work is good, people will just notice me.” That was the mindset. I’d post and disappear. I wouldn’t engage, I wouldn’t explain, I wouldn’t show up again until I had something new to post. I thought showing up once in a while was enough.

But it wasn’t.

One of the biggest mistakes I made, and I still see many creatives make online, is posting without connection. Just dropping a design or video without a caption that connects, no story behind it, no engaging with people in the comments, no follow-up. Just drop and ghost.

The truth? That approach doesn’t help you grow. People don’t just connect with the work, they connect with you, the human behind the work. They want to know why you made it, what inspired it, how it helps someone.

I learned this the slow way.
One day, a friend told me, “Francis, your designs are beautiful, but you never talk to us. We just see nice graphics. We don’t know you.”

That hit me.

Since then, I started making changes. I now talk about my process in simple terms. I share why I designed a certain thing. I even ask questions like, “Which version would you pick?” or “What does this make you feel?” I started showing up more like a human, not just a creator.

And you know what happened?

People started talking back. People started saying, “Wow, I love the way you think.” Or “Thanks for breaking this down.” Or “This inspired me.”

So here’s the better way I’d suggest:
Don’t just post to impress. Post to connect.
Even if it’s just 1–2 lines of honest thoughts or a simple story behind your work, let people hear your voice through your content. And when they comment, reply. Say thank you. Ask them what they think.

That’s how you build community.
That’s how you grow trust.
That’s how you stand out, not just by your skill, but by your personality.

I’m still learning. I still make mistakes. But this one change, posting to connect, not just to impress, has helped me grow more than anything else.

Try it. You’ll see the difference.

📷 - One of my recent book cover design..

#day18
#brandevocreatorsquestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

THIS IS WHO I AM (RIGHT NOW)


Hi, my name is Akah Francis.
Right now, I’m not perfect. I’m not at the top. But I’m showing up, growing, learning, and building something meaningful.

If I were to describe who I am today in simple words, I’d say I’m a creative, a visual storyteller who uses design, videos, and words to help brands stand out in a noisy market.

I started as a graphic designer. That’s where my creative journey began. I still remember how confused I was when I opened my first design app. I didn’t know anything about layout, fonts, or colors, I just had this strong desire to create. Over time, with consistent practice and a hunger to improve, I became better. Today, my designs are clean, sharp, and most importantly, impactful.

But I didn’t stop there.
I realized that design alone wasn’t enough. So I started learning video editing. Why? Because videos speak louder. They capture attention, tell stories, and connect with people emotionally. And I wanted to be that kind of creator, one who doesn’t just make things look good, but makes people feel something.

Now, I combine both skills. I design visuals that are scroll-stopping and edit videos that are engaging. I tell stories that matter, stories that help brands connect with their audience. That’s why I now call myself a visual storyteller. Whether it’s a simple flyer, a social media post, or a short-form video, I don’t just create, I communicate.

I’ve also started writing. Not novels or long essays, but sales-focused captions, relatable content, and creative scripts. Writing that sells. Writing that teaches. Writing that inspires. I believe words still matter, even in a visual world.

I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.

This is me right now: A creative guy named Akah Francis, helping brands stand out through design, video, and storytelling.

And I’m just getting started.

#day17
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

THIS IS WHO I AM (RIGHT NOW)


Hi, my name is Akah Francis.
Right now, I’m not perfect. I’m not at the top. But I’m showing up, growing, learning, and building something meaningful.

If I were to describe who I am today in simple words, I’d say I’m a creative, a visual storyteller who uses design, videos, and words to help brands stand out in a noisy market.

I started as a graphic designer. That’s where my creative journey began. I still remember how confused I was when I opened my first design app. I didn’t know anything about layout, fonts, or colors, I just had this strong desire to create. Over time, with consistent practice and a hunger to improve, I became better. Today, my designs are clean, sharp, and most importantly, impactful.

But I didn’t stop there.
I realized that design alone wasn’t enough. So I started learning video editing. Why? Because videos speak louder. They capture attention, tell stories, and connect with people emotionally. And I wanted to be that kind of creator, one who doesn’t just make things look good, but makes people feel something.

Now, I combine both skills. I design visuals that are scroll-stopping and edit videos that are engaging. I tell stories that matter, stories that help brands connect with their audience. That’s why I now call myself a visual storyteller. Whether it’s a simple flyer, a social media post, or a short-form video, I don’t just create, I communicate.

I’ve also started writing. Not novels or long essays, but sales-focused captions, relatable content, and creative scripts. Writing that sells. Writing that teaches. Writing that inspires. I believe words still matter, even in a visual world.

I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday.

This is me right now: A creative guy named Akah Francis, helping brands stand out through design, video, and storytelling.

And I’m just getting started.

#day17
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

Something That I Was Afraid of That I Finally Did.

I still remember the day I made my very first sale. Not just because of the money, but because of the courage it took to get there.

At the time, I had just started putting myself out as a graphic designer. I was learning and trying my best, but I was still very unsure of myself. I had designed a few things here and there, for fun, for practice, sometimes for friends, but I hadn’t made anything that someone actually paid me for.

That’s where the fear was.
“How do I charge someone?”
“Will they even value my work?”
“What if they don’t like what I deliver?”
I had all these questions. Fear and doubt kept following me around like shadows.

But I kept showing up online.
Even though it scared me, I kept posting my designs.
One day, someone reached out.
It was a small business owner who saw one of my posts and said, “Hey, I like this. Can you make something similar for me?”

My heart skipped. I was excited, but also nervous.
This wasn’t a friend doing me a favour, this was an actual client.
I remember replying with shaky hands. We talked, and then he asked, “How much will you charge?”
Another wave of doubt hit me. I didn’t want to overcharge and scare him off, and I didn’t want to undercharge and regret it. I finally gave a price, very fair, and he said, “Alright, send your account details.”

Just like that, I got my first sale.

When I received that alert, it felt like more than money. It felt like confidence.
Someone believed in my work enough to pay for it.

I put my all into that project. I made sure it was clean, professional, and exactly what he wanted. And when I delivered it, he was genuinely happy. He even thanked me and said, “You’re really good at this.”

That one experience did something huge for me.
It made me believe in myself more.
It showed me that even as a beginner, I had value to offer.

Since then, I’ve worked with more people. I’ve grown. I’ve learned more. But I never forget that first sale, because it wasn’t just about business. It was about courage. It was about showing up, even while scared. It was about starting, even when I didn’t feel ready.

So if you’re still waiting for “the right time”, maybe you’re scared to post, scared to talk about your skill, or scared to charge for your work, I want you to know this:
You’re more ready than you think.
Your courage will open the doors.

Just show up. Someone out there is waiting for what you can do.

📷 - (My first design gig)

#day16
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest

2 - 3 Things I Did That Helped Me Show Up More Online.


To be honest, showing up online wasn’t something that came naturally to me.

I always thought I had to be “ready” first. My design style had to be perfect, my confidence had to be intact, and everything I posted had to look like what the big designers were posting. I kept waiting for the day I’d feel 100% sure of myself. But that day never really came.

It wasn’t until my design mentor sat me down and said something that shook me a little. He said,
"If nobody knows what you can do, how do you expect to get clients?"

At first, I wanted to defend myself, talk about how I was still improving, how I didn’t want to embarrass myself with “half-baked” work, how I didn’t have the right tools yet. But deep down, I knew he was right.

That single sentence shifted something in me.

He wasn’t saying I should start posting perfect work. He was saying I should start showing up Consistently. With what I had. That it’s better to be visible and improving than to be invisible and waiting.
So the first real thing that helped me show up more online? It was his push. That direct, honest advice made me realize that I was holding myself back.

The second thing he did that really helped? He held me accountable. Every week, he’d check in:
“Did you post anything this week?”
“Have you shared that design you showed me?”
“Why is your page still quiet?”

He didn’t let me hide behind perfectionism. And honestly, at first, it was uncomfortable. I didn’t like feeling pressured. But with time, I started seeing it differently. He wasn’t nagging, he believed in my work more than I did. And that belief? It started rubbing off on me.

I began posting my designs, even the ones I felt weren’t “there” yet. I started talking about my process. Sharing tips. Even telling short stories behind my creative journey.

And guess what?

People started noticing.

Friends reached out with encouragement. A few clients messaged me, saying they loved my style. Some people even said, “I’ve been watching your growth.” And each time I got a comment or message like that, I’d remember what my mentor said:
"Nobody can know what you do if you stay silent."

Lastly, he taught me how to simplify the process. He told me to create content in batches, repurpose old work, and even reuse captions. “You don’t have to be creative every day. Just be consistent,” he said.

That changed the game for me.

So yeah, if you’ve ever struggled with showing up online, I get it. But sometimes, all it takes is that one person who sees your potential, and doesn’t let you shrink.

For me, that was my mentor.
And I’ll forever be grateful he pushed me when I didn’t feel ready.

📷 - Sir Tobechukwu Nwachukwu (My design Mentor)

#day15
#brandevocreator’squestchallenge25
#thecreatorsquest