How Do You Do Self Promotion?
Ed. Note: Earlier in the week we looked at articles around the web on promotion and marketing strategies. Today, we’ll be exploring tips from our very own Patrik Larsson.
Self promotion is something we all do in one way or another, some of us do it by blogging (like me), some do it via communities and some even do it while walking down the street. But is there a good way to self-promote or is it harder than it looks? To promote yourself is one of the easiest and most difficult things you can do. Promotion tends to cost money but there are ways we can do it affordably yet effectively.
1. Make a print on an old t-shirt with your company name and what you do. People tend to try and read what it says, just keep in mind that you should keep it short. A lot of text is annoying to read on something that moves.
2. Hand out your business cards at a seminar, gathering, school event, or even at church. This way you get your name out there, though it may feel awkward at first.
3. Order a bunch of cheap pencils with your logo and service printed on them and give them out for free. People love free stuff.
4. Write for a blog! A tactic that I and so many others take advantage of. If your articles or posts are interesting enough, people will visit your site. Most of the blogs even pay you for writing for them.
5. Join a community and be active within the forums, if you’re active enough, people may visit your profile and check out your work.
There are so many ways you can market yourself easily and affordably. All you need to do is being a tad creative and make it simple. From my experience, people who read something on an object such as a pen or t-shirt, tends to actually visit the site to get an idea of what it is. Curiousity is something everyone has; you just need to make something that’s interesting enough.
For more tips and resources, check out my previous post highlighting five great blog posts on self promotion.
How do you do self promotion? Do you even bother to self promote, or are you one of the people spending a small fortune on advertising?
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Great tips Patrik.
Out of those, I do No.5 Forum Marketing. Besides your profile, signatures can also be used to promote yourself/your business.
You should first read the rules specially about signatures there and then start giving value to the forum. Participate, ask questions etc.
You will see that by giving value, people will begin to notice you. And you will get clicks to your website.
Nabeel
+ Is this a direct response to Steve Bjorck’s comment in the other post? lol
Of course can signatures be used for this – but I’d be careful with forum signatures, a lot of people tend to over use them so it should only contain vital information. Otherwise, great tip
Haha! Nope, I actually wrote this article before he commented.
Ohk..
Just saw your tweet.
Well have a GREAT Vacation Patrik! Hope to see you after a week!
Nabeel
There’s no articles like this one everywhere, is clear, short, precise and without unnecessary Sh** =)
I’ve found that being a good tweeter helps with promotion as well. Tweeting interesting articles and opinions has attracted a lot of clients.
I’ve done all of these except for the pencil idea. I also created a monthly email newsletter so that readers and potential clients can stay up to date on my projects, book readings, classes, etc. As several people have mentioned, Twitter can also be helpful for self-promotion if used correctly.
Great tips! I use #1, 2, 4, and #5 a lot.
Another way is; if you are capable of doing it or have a friend that will lend a hand, is a digital version of your portfolio done in a video slide show or animation to give out with your business cards. This is great for people that wont visit your website right away, but will stick it in anything that will play it ASAP. It also shows how much are willing to put into your companies promotion.
Also, if you are a great talker, you can use your blog experience to get press credentials to invents in your local area. This way, you can cover the event from whatever aspects that you want to, and also network and hand out plenty of cards. Works for me
Go out and meet people. And when they ask you what you do – here it is. The more people you meet – the better chance you have.
All good tips, and as someone else commented – tweeting interesting articles and opinions helps a lot too. You have to be careful with the pencil/pen idea though: you can’t be too cheap. People like free stuff, but they like free stuff that works. At the organization I currently design for, we often joke about the dependability [or lack there of] of the law firm who’s name is on our pens. We appreciate having pens, and we haven’t had any dealings with the firm [that I know of anyway], but man do those pens SUCK.
well i do most of my marketing by telling stories of my freelancing to friends….
A real easy one, is to put a sticker on your car!
I think the most important thing is missing – meet in person. Not just when you want a job, but to talk, have a drink, hell, maybe watch a game or two. That’s how I find most of my clients
frank chimero would said “be better”.
I have found that public speaking is a great way to build your identity with potential clients. I realize that its not for everyone. But if you can bring yourself to get up in front of a group of people and deliver some valuable education on a subject you are expert in…….the results can be dramatic.
A good way to find out if public speaking is right for you, is to attend a local meetup group that interests you. You may find an opportunity to address the group on a topic.
I’d also say, approach local businesses, speak to them and see if they want a web site doing or their current site re-designed…
Yes. A stiker on your care will be seen by many people. But the one with the t-shirt is very attractive.
Patrik,
I found this article to be really inspiring. In fact, I thought that a lot of my opera singer friends would appreciate this type of information – so I riffed on your post over at my blog http://wp.me/pSHNU-2D. I like the short list of ideas you had here, I will definitely be using them in the future.
Thanks Again!
I’ve had a lot of success having contests: Giving away design work. Depending on how you set it up you can get a lot of people to check out your work by letting them know you’re going to be giving away your services to a lucky winner.
Nice article to read. Order a bunch of pencils…hmm, sounds interesting.
what about twitter, or posting comments??
or offering incentives like cookies
Eh, pretty light article.
Thanks everyone! Glad to see all the great tips and experiences you’ve all had
@GUS the gamer – I wouldn’t recommend offering incentives, the client might interpret that as a bribe. Just as @Amber Weinberg said, Tweeting a lot of interesting articles/posts helps a great deal.
@robotplague – Contests are a great way to gain exposure, if you’re just careful enough you will gain more than a few clients.
@Sybaritic Singer – Thanks a lot! Glad you liked it
@Scott Miller – Public speaking is a great way, I’ve tried it a couple of times myself. Gained a few clients from it as well.
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