|
You have to Show Off !!
I think this article is a good one,sort of along the lines of the last few threads.
***
C.J. Hayden, MCC---
Recently, a client of mine complained, "I'm really good at what I do. I
shouldn't have to market myself." In fact, he is quite good at his
profession, but the problem is that not enough prospective clients know
about him. Like many professionals, he is reluctant to talk about his
accomplishments. "It feels like bragging," he says. "Doesn't it make me
seem unprofessional?"
If thoughts like these often cross your mind, ask yourself this -- who
are the biggest names in your profession? In your line of work, who
might be considered unquestioned experts, those with maximum credibility?
Now, how did you get to know about those people's work? Did you read an
article or book they had written, hear them interviewed, learn about
them on the web? Or perhaps you were told about them by others who had
heard them speak or read their words.
The point is that these well-known people became well-known because
they showcased themselves, usually in multiple ways. They shared stories,
examples, and ideas about the work they had been doing with a wider
audience than just their friends and family. You know about their work
because they showed it off. And I'll bet it never occurred to you to call
them unprofessional for doing it.
Showing off your work doesn't have to sound like, "Ta da! Aren't I
great?" It doesn't have to contain even a hint of bragging. There are a
host of very dignified and appropriate ways to let a wider audience know
how good you are without ever saying so. Here are a few you might try.
1. Writing articles - Putting your expertise in writing and sharing it
with publications your target audience reads is a powerful -- and very
professional -- way to let more people know about your unique talents.
Submit your articles to both print publications and web sites that
serve your niche and watch your visibility grow.
2. Public speaking - Appearing as a speaker allows you to broadcast
your expertise with three different audiences -- the people who attend
your talk, the people who are invited by the sponsoring organization but
can't attend, and the people you tell about it before and after. If
standing in front of a room makes you too nervous, serve on a panel of
experts instead. You'll get to sit behind a table and speak from notes.
3. Media interviews - Being interviewed by magazines, newspapers, or on
radio and television can spread the word quickly about your
capabilities. Landing interviews is not that hard to do if you remember to start
small. Begin by approaching easy targets like association newsletters,
neighborhood newspapers, and local cable programs or talk radio.
4. Telling stories - One of the secrets to effective articles, talks,
and interviews is to tell stories about your clients. When you describe
their challenges and accomplishments, you reveal the value of your role
in helping them without having to boast about it. You can use the same
technique in a client presentation to boost your credibility without
being arrogant.
5. Testimonials - Whenever you do a good job for a client, ask them to
write you a simple thank you note describing what you did to make them
happy. Then make their words available on your web site, brochure, or
other marketing materials. Let them tell others about your value, and
you won't have to say it yourself.
6. Building a portfolio - It's not just artists that should capture
their best work to show off in a portfolio. You can collect photos,
examples, and other evidence of your accomplishments and display them on your
web site, in a marketing kit, or with a PowerPoint presentation. You
don't have to sell people on your abilities when they are seeing for
themselves what you can do.
7. Creating products - Packaging your work into merchandise that
prospective clients can take home and sample gives them a compelling way to
discover your real value. Products like ebooks, white papers, and audio
recordings allow you to showcase your expertise and increase your
credibility. They can often be advertised more widely than your services
can, giving you another avenue for getting your name known.
Pick just one of these ideas to pursue and make a plan to showcase what
you can do for a wider audience. If you truly want to spend less effort
on marketing yourself, start letting your prospective clients know how
good you really are.
-----
It gives us a few good starts, hope you enjoyed it.
Leanne Busby
Join my new safelist
http://www.safelistbuilder.com/LeanneBusby
|