Of all the skills you need to start your own business, one of the most important is self-promotion and selling yourself as an entrepreneur. After all, you don’t want to spend all your time working on a great product or service only to have no one buy it! Whether you are trying to attract investors or looking for new employees, self-promotion can be just as critical to your success as the products and services you sell. With that in mind, here are some steps you can take to boost your self-promotion skills:
1) Professionalism
Because, when all is said and done, you’re going to have to work with other people—and they need to be able to trust you. In order for that level of trust and respect, you need not only be good at what you do (which we’ll discuss later), but also be organized and on-time.
2) Proof
Many people believe that entrepreneurs are born, not made. But there is a lot of truth in the saying that you have to be self-made if you want your business to succeed. Once you put your idea into action, it becomes crucial for others to take notice of your efforts and support your vision. You need proof—in financial statements, surveys, testimonials from customers or stakeholders—that demonstrates that you’re worth investing in and have what it takes to deliver on what you promise.
3) People
Who will your potential customers be? What do they need, want, and like? Who should you be marketing yourself to? It’s important to have a clear idea of who your target market is. Include a few demographic details (age, gender, marital status) but remember not to make assumptions based on these traits alone; every individual has unique needs that might be better met by someone outside of their typical demographic.
4) Perseverance
Without perseverance, there’s little chance of succeeding in business. It takes a lot of time and energy—not to mention elbow grease and dedication—to launch your own business. If you’re just starting out, you may have very few clients or customers, so things might seem really slow at first. Keep going! It’s important not to give up when things get rough or take longer than you expect them to.
5) Preparation
Before you can sell yourself, you have to be ready. Being prepared is crucial, and there are five pre-selling steps that will put you in a position to succeed. Be prepared for questions your potential employer might ask and take time to consider your responses. It’s also important that you dress for success, not just for yourself but for your interviewer.
