It’s not easy to market your business to other people. How do you tell a potential investor or client about what you do without sounding like you are pushing a hard sell? How do you explain to someone you admire or look up to about your business without feeling like an impostor?
First of all, you aren’t alone. Nearly everyone I’ve ever met has had to market their business – or been included in an exclusive group (business, class or clique) and felt like they didn’t belong there or that they didn’t know what they were doing.
Here is the thing, that feeling is all in your head. Feeling like you aren’t worthy or that you are an imposter is only something YOU feel. The client, customer or instructor doesn’t feel that way about you.
The downside though, is that how YOU feel about YOU reflects in your behavior, body language and verbal language. The fact that you don’t feel confident is something that other people CAN see. It’s hard for other people to take you seriously if you don’t feel confident.
But what can you do?
- Perfect your elevator pitch. If you are in a group and you are feeling less than confident having your elevator pitch memorized and ready-to-go will take some of the pressure off. When someone asks you, “What do you do?” you will be ready with an answer. Practice your elevator pitch until you have it down pat. Repeat it to yourself often. Then when that question comes you will be able to tell people exactly what you do without hesitation. With confidence.
- If you have a meeting with a person you really want to work with and you are feeling a little unsure switch the conversation over to them. Put the focus on their problem and how you can help solve their problem. Taking the attention off of you for a minute while you hear about the potential client’s problem will help you re-focus and formulate a way you can help them. When it is your turn to speak again you will feel more confident.
- Save the praise. Save up all of the positive feedback you receive about your work. Write it down in a journal or print it out and put it in an easy to reach place. Just before you have a big meeting or when you are feeling less confident read over the praise you’ve gathered up. Use that praise to boost your self confidence and go into your meeting feeling “on top of the world”. That confidence boost will pay off and others will see it in you.
By: Vicki O’Dell, The Creative Goddess
How do you currently market your creative business?
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