Safelists are crowded. Every day, your ad is competing with hundreds—sometimes thousands—of others for attention. Most of them look the same: stock photos, generic headlines, and the same overused copy.
If you want to stand out, you have to make your ads yours. For me, that means personal branding — putting my name and face on the page.
My First Attempt (And Why It Was Terrible)
I didn’t start out putting my photo on my ads. In fact, I only did it because people in my peer group encouraged me to. They told me it built trust.
So I took a selfie.
It was… not great.
I tried to make it look “different” by turning it black and white. Instead, it just looked bad.
Over time, I’ve had much better photos taken — and I’ve learned that it’s okay to update your image while still keeping a consistent brand. Stick with what people recognize, but don’t be afraid to upgrade when you have something better.
Why a Photo Works
People want to do business with people, not faceless ads.
When they see your photo repeatedly across different safelists, something clicks. They start to feel like they know you. And if they feel like they know you, they’re more likely to like and trust you.
That trust translates into better engagement, more opt-ins, and higher conversions.
It’s also brand recognition in action. The more people see your photo on your ads, the more they remember you — even if they don’t click right away.
What to Include on a Branded Splash Page
If you’re going to brand your safelist ads, keep it simple. At minimum, I recommend:
- Your photo — clear, friendly, and professional-looking if possible.
- Your name — don’t hide behind “admin” or a nickname.
- An opt-in form — this is where the real magic happens. Build your list so you can follow up long after they’ve left the safelist.
Everything else is optional, but these three elements create a solid foundation for a personal brand.
What If You’re Nervous About Putting Yourself Out There?
Here’s my take: If you don’t believe in what you’re promoting enough to put your face on it, maybe you shouldn’t be promoting it.
Being yourself is the easiest brand you’ll ever build. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be real. Stand behind what you promote — and let people see who they’re dealing with.
Final Thoughts
Safelist marketing isn’t just about sending emails and getting clicks. It’s about standing out in a crowd where almost everyone blends in.
Your photo, your name, and your unique voice are your biggest differentiators. Use them.
If you want more tips on creating ads that actually get noticed, check out my post on Email Subject Lines That Stand Out.
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