Each week, I hear from writers with questions related to self promotion.
Should they do it? How often?
Isn’t talking about yourself egotistical?
Will I come off as pushy?
Stop, take a breath and reflect for a moment.
Whether you write one article per month, or per hour, what you offer is a service. As a small business owner, you need to promote what you do to keep a steady variety of projects popping up.
When my calendar is booked several weeks out, I still take time each day to promote what I do. Why? I’m planting seeds that will grow into future conversations, and ripe work opportunities. The moment you stop letting clients know you’re available to work, they’ll stop thinking about you — especially if you identify yourself as a freelancer.
Let that sink in.
The tricky part is here is to not be so overt with your self promotion that it sounds like you’re constantly begging people to hire you. Think of self-promotion as a soft, gradual sell. You’re simply tending to the garden of your business.
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How to Gain Attention as a Writer (Or, Really, With Any Small Business)
Since I work in content marketing, it’s not surprising that I use that type of strategy to bolster my own business. I offer helpful blog posts both on the Web Writing Advice website and on my lifestyle blog, Cupcakes and Yoga Pants. Both of these publications generate writing opportunities, help potential clients learn more about who I am, and solidify my presence as a full-time writer to those who only know me via a profile page. (Ahem, I am real!)
Do you have a blog you can start posting to consistently to generate attention around the type of content or services you offer? In addition to maintaining a blog for marketing purposes, let the online world know about your business.
- Share recent work you’ve completed on social media and your website. Don’t drop a link and run. Instead, give a little inside scoop. What was interesting about writing the piece? Did you learn a cool fact? Share it!
- Update your About Page from your website, then share it on social media. Tell readers what’s new or why you did the update. Have you added a new service or niche to your roster?
- Tell readers on LinkedIn what type of work you’re seeking at the moment. This is the best way to get the projects you crave. Be specific and shout it from the rooftops. Publishers are listening!
- Engage online with the publications you want to write for. Leave thoughtful comments on their Facebook posts and re-tweet the articles they post with a note about why you love them.
- Send article ideas to publications that post pitching guidelines. Again, this gets your name in front of the right eyes. Get known by the publications you want to see your byline in by sending them thoughtful, well-crafted pitches.
- Join Twitter chats in your niche where you can intro yourself and contribute relevant, helpful advice to the conversation. This is the online equivalent to classic water cooler talk at the office or hanging out at an industry conference. Put yourself out there!
- Support other writers, editors, publishers and what they’re creating. Being kind and graceful will always make you memorable. As they say, treat others the way you’d like to be treated!
All of these efforts revolve softly around self-promotion. It gets your name, ideas and services in front of people who can lead you to more work. What’s holding you back from telling the world about the products or services you offer?
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