The Value of Self Promotion
Last week, I was asked to sit on a panel at the AIGA Designer Business Roundtable for a discussion on the value of self promotion. The AIGA discussion was specific to the design industry, but to be fair, self promotion is something I think a lot of us struggle with. We’re taught not to brag. We’re told that’s narcissistic. And a lot of times, it can be.
So, how do you talk about yourself and your work without coming off, well, completely arrogant?
First, you have to be genuinely proud of the work that you do. You can’t outsource your passion. And you can’t fake it. Having genuine pride in the work that you do will help your self promotion come off as passion for your work, instead of pointless bragging.
Then, you have to tell people about it. Because, as A Tribe Called Quest once said, “If I don’t say I’m the best, tell me who the hell will?” Other people might support and compliment you, but at the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to tell the world about your work.
Personally, I believe writing about your work and your passion is one of the best things you can do for yourself. For a business, maybe it’s through regular emailed or printed newsletters, or sending out press releases. For an individual, maybe it’s as simple as a tweet, a Facebook post or a quick personal email to a client. Everyone can write a blog.
And, as powerful as the internet is, you have to take it offline. You have to be comfortable talking about your work in front of people. We’re wired to answer the “How are you?” question with “Good.” Period. We leave it at that. Why don’t we say, “I’m great. Just finished an awesome project for a great client and I’m really proud of it.”?
The real trick to self promotion is making the time to do it. When you’re working on deadlines, answering phone calls and emails, trying to get through your ‘to do’ list each day, sometimes that tweet, or that blog post gets put off. Remember that self promotion takes time and effort. You have to make it a priority.
Is it worth it? In my experience, self promotion can get you a job, it can get you new clients, heck, it can get you on MTV. Regardless of what industry you’re in, there’s always a competitor. And self promotion is your chance to help people choose you over your competitor.
