Key Business Partners, LLC

When you are promoting your business online or offline, it doesn’t have to be difficult or a frightful task to accomplish.

I have talked with other people about their promotional efforts and I hear things like, “Well, I don’t like to talk about myself”, or “I don’t know how to promote myself” or “there are so many others who offer the same thing I do”.

Ok–let’s break down each of these phrases and discuss how you can turn them around to promote yourself and your business in a way to get more clients.

How do I promote my business, when I don’t like to talk about myself?
Well, it is a good thing in promoting yourself and your business not to talk about yourself. At least at first. It isn’t about YOU.
It is about your potential client, their needs and their wants.
For example:You don’t want to go up to someone and blurt out, “Hi, my name is Teresa and I have this business that will just send people flocking to you if you do what I say”. NO, NO, NO!

A better way: Approach someone and say, Hi, my name is Teresa. I don’t believe we have met. So, please tell me about yourself. And why did you choose to come to this event today? What is your biggest challenge for your business right now? Remember, it is about them NOT you!

How do I promote my business when I don’t know how to promote?
This goes along with the same thing I mentioned above. When you are promoting your business, whether you are writing your newsletter, at a networking event or on the phone…remember that is about creating and building a solid relationship. Find a way to connect with another person about something not business related and don’t be thinking constantly about how to promote and SELL.
For instance, if you are selling purses, you necessarily wouldn’t go to a sports bar would you? Instead you may go to a nail or hair salon with your purse on your arm.

Take the opportunity to create connections with others and allow the connection to be the focus when meeting others, not promoting. Another thing is knowing who your target market is so you are in front of those who are looking for your services.

“There are so many people who do what I do, how do I promote my business?”
Well, you know the saying, there is only one of YOU.
Embrace your uniqueness and even if there are many other people who do what you do, they can’t express, display, showcase your business better than you. And while you are worrying about all the other “ones”, you are filling the time with these thoughts instead of how you can be there for your potential clients. Also, can you possibly take on all the possibly clients that are out there for your target market? Most likely not. Don’t fear your competition…I would even go so far as to befriend them. It makes for great joint ventures—wonderful win-win situations!

Do you have some more promotional questions that come to mind? Please share.