So many of us have been taught that it’s immodest to “toot our own horn” or that talking about our own accomplishments is bad. When promoting yourself on social media, it’s common to see the phrase “humble brag” associated with anything remotely connected to publicizing achievement or rolling out an offering (e.g. a new book, webinar, speaking engagement or job promotion).
October is National Self-Promotion Month, so today we’re going to focus on a few ways that you can begin letting people know what you’re up to.
The most elemental aspect is that you must believe that what you have to say is important and valuable. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
I’ve made mention in earlier posts the need for writers especially to become familiar and comfortable with the marketing aspects of book publishing. These activities go beyond traditional things like attending book signings. You’ll be more successful if you are able to add networking to your skill set. Here are a few basic things that can help you get started:
1. Have a presence on social media. You don’t necessarily have to be on all of the platforms. However, your presence must be consistent and it must place you in the digital path of your preferred or intended audience. In addition to established channels like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, you can also consider options like TikTok, SnapChat or YouTube (which isn’t a social media channel, per se, but is an amazing space for community building and cultivating fans/followers).
2. Be sure to have a basic media kit that contains your bio, two or three headshots, a few samples of your work (“sizzle” reels, chapters, articles or posts, audio or video clips), contact information (including your website and social media profiles) and hourly rates.
3. Be familiar with the public relations outlets in your field or industry. You may also have a public relations agent or agency. If you don’t have an agent, but think you’d benefit from their expertise, conduct a Google search on how to get one. Understand and honor any outlet’s submission guidelines and deadlines.
4. Curate your communities. I use private Twitter lists as a means to curate contacts, including people, news organizations, trade journals and publications and other media intersection points. Identify people who know people—it is an extremely efficient way of letting other people help you amplify your message. NOTE: do not spam these people. Learn how and when to contact them about your work. Also take the time to reciprocate and amplify their projects when and where appropriate.
This is just the beginning of what it takes to promote your own work. If you’re already comfortable with these ideas, today’s content is more of a refresher than anything. I’d love to hear your ideas or insights in the comments.
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