Heidi Hapanowicz, Personal Branding & Visibility

Heidi Hapanowicz is a digital branding and AI visibility strategist who helps entrepreneurs become discoverable online through a powerful blend of website design, messaging, and personal brand development. After more than a decade as one of the original pioneers of personal branding photography, Heidi now uses her deep understanding of online perception to help small business owners build brands that AI can recognize, trust, and recommend.

Her work focuses on helping experts and founders upgrade their online presence so they are easily found by modern search tools, including ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s new AI experiences. Heidi specializes in guiding non-techie entrepreneurs through the shift from traditional SEO to AIO (AI Optimization) using simple, accessible frameworks that elevate visibility across websites, social platforms, and long-form content.

As an early leader in the personal branding industry, Heidi created the world’s first online course for branding photographers in 2015 and has since taught students across more than a dozen countries. Today, she brings that same trailblazing approach to the rapidly evolving landscape of AI search, empowering small business owners to future proof their brands and stand out in an overcrowded digital world.

Her work has been featured in Forbes, The NY Times, Penguin Random House Authors, TED, Glamour Magazine, Travel & Lifestyle Magazine and more. Though based in New York City, Heidi continues to travel widely while helping entrepreneurs build online identities that get noticed.