Posts Tagged ‘speaking’

When your starting it out in business it can be really frustrating if you don’t know what marketing activities you should be focused on.

Here are four simple ways to market yourself:

1.  Speak

Find as many speaking engagements as you can. Speak for free if you must, but get out there regularly and speak at places where your ideal clients would be.

There are plenty of organizations out there that are always looking for people to speak at one of their meetings.

When you do speaking engagements make sure that you get the biggest bang for your effort by ensuring you:

• Record it
• Collect the names of the attendees
• Provide a handout
• Mingle about before and after your talk or speech

2.  Network

…like crazy.

When I say network I don’t mean just going around and collecting business cards.  It does mean spending time at networking events where you’re  going to meet your ideal clients and critical buyers.

3.  Publish

Don’t have a blog?  Start one.

Write for your local community newspaper or on line magazine where you’re clients would be looking for information.

If you’re a women entrepreneur there are some great free on line communities where you can post your articles for free and gain valuable exposure.  The Diva Toolbox is one that comes to mind.

Get out there by spreading your message.

4.  Internet

Again start a blog.  Blogs are great because they add valuable content to your website regularly and the search engines love them.

Start a newsletter so that you can stay in touch with your clients and potential clients.

Check out HARO (Help A Reporter Out) to search for queries by reporters who are looking for people to be interviewed or other opportunities to expose yourself to the masses.

One of these marketing efforts is good, but use all of them as part of a comprehensive marketing plan and your efforts will really pay off.

Anyone who is member of my DARE To Be Phenomenal Fan Page knows that every Friday I encourage my fans to shamelessly promote themselves and their business.  Sometimes I ask them to promote something very specific, like a link to their website or blog and other times I ask them to promote someone else.

What I love about this idea is that people really step up to the plate and promote themselves; proudly describing the value behind what they have to offer to their potential clients.  But what I am stunned by is why more people don’t take the opportunity get themselves out there and promote away.

If you are uncomfortable with the idea of promoting yourself, then you’ll enjoy my post today which will give you three tips on how to promote yourself with greater ease.

1.  Promote Yourself with Articles

It doesn’t matter what you do, almost anyone can write an article that engages the reader and provides valuable content that will make you memorable.  Once the article is written it can be promoted through several venues: on a blog, in the newspaper, on your website under an “Free Article” section, in a local publication and on article submission sites.

2.  Promote Yourself by Speaking

There is almost no better way to promote yourself than through speaking engagements. Look for opportunities in your local area to speak at clubs and organizations.  You can find these opportunities by doing a Google search.  I usually devote a portion of my week to looking for speaking opportunities where I can promote myself to the audience.  And even if you are asked not to do a hard sell, which frankly I hate too, your energy, enthusiasm and your great content will have people wanting to work with you.

3.  Promote Yourself When Asked

If you are prompted to promote yourself will you be ready to tell the world what value you provide to your clients?  Remember, it’s not about telling people what you do.  It is about telling people how you can solve their most difficult problems.  It’s about being the solution.

So if you haven’t figured out the best way to express how you are the solution,  get cracking on coming up with a great pitch so that people understand how you can really help them.

Ultimately, that is all they really care about.

In the end, if you don’t promote yourself no one else will.