Today, we’ll talk about shameless self-promotion. When you want to grow your business, you can’t be afraid of self-promotion. Self-promotion takes various forms, and you can use different tactics to increase your visibility. Consider politicians as an example. They often engage in self-promotion, sometimes in not-so-discreet ways. But seriously, think about some major superstars we all know, like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Donald Trump, Will Smith, and Michelle Obama, to name just a few.
We all engage in self-promotion. Did you ever raise your hand in class to show the teacher that you knew the answer? Of course, you did! That’s a form of self-promotion. This is the type of self-promotion we’re discussing—self-promotion done with dignity, class, and the knowledge to back it up. If you self-promote only to prove that you don’t really know what you’re talking about, you’re likely to lose business.
I want to tell you about the three major traits that natural self-promoters possess and use to build themselves and their businesses.
- The First is Position.
Position yourself around people who can make a difference in your life. Do this frequently. Wake up every morning and ask yourself, ‘Who can I meet today to impact my success?’ Better yet, write it in big, bold letters and tape it on your bathroom mirror.
Also consider:
Who can help me meet my goals?
Is it a prospective customer or client? A colleague with contacts? An association with key members who may become prospects?
Don’t settle for interacting with the easiest-to-access people. Reach beyond your comfort zone to discover a wealth of new connections that can lead to great success.
- Now, let’s talk about Style.
No, this doesn’t mean you need an Armani suit to attract more business (though, let’s be honest, it wouldn’t hurt). 😊 What it really means is how you differentiate yourself from your competitors and others in your industry. What makes you memorable to customers?
If you meet many people, and they don’t remember you after you leave the room, you have a serious problem. This presents an opportunity to present yourself in a more memorable way.
There are lots of little subtle changes you can make. Reassess your:
- Business Cards
- Company Message
- Your Picture
- Your Wording
Maybe even your hairstyle (of course, now we’re back to the expensive suit, but it really works!)
You get the idea. There are many small ways you can enhance your image and make your business more successful. Also, consider how you sound on the phone and how you greet people at meetings or other events. Reflect on your 30-second elevator speech.
- The third trait of natural promoters is Repetition.
You can’t say it once and leave it at that. Successful self-promoters repeat their message as many times as necessary to elicit a response. Would you remember a Coca-Cola commercial if you only saw it once? No! You see it over and over until you eventually head out to the store.
You also have to make multiple impressions on those with whom you are networking in order to build brand awareness. Repetition is directly connected with positioning. Once you find people to network with, reach out and connect with hundreds more who can contribute to your success.
