Producers can make certain that the right people see them, hear about them, read about them, and buy their products or services through self-promotion.
Self-promotion means finding audiences to showcase yourself, your business skills, products, and services.
Self-promoters are people whose top goals are to reach decision-makers who can buy from them, recommend that their products and services be purchased, or introduce them to people who can help reach the decision-makers.
Self-promotion means finding opportunities for others to hear you (at conventions, seminars, or other speaking events), read about you (in the newspaper, magazine, newsletter, or trade publication), or give you referrals.
Successful self-promotion requires a combination of the following activities:
- Deciding to become a self-promoter. This is no time to be shy about saying how good you are at what you do.
- Developing the message. Practice the 'elevator drill' - an exercise in which you tell someone what you do in the length of time it takes for an elevator door to close. Usually that means discussing yourself, your services, and products in 25 words or less.
- Discovering the special 'how-to' topic. Translate the problem solved for your company or clients today into a story idea of interest to the business or consumer media.
- Contacting the media. Develop a media kit.
- Using your network. Every day, enlist someone who can help you.
- Self-promotion starts by believing you have something to say. Remember, no one else will do it for you.
- Decide to become a self-promoter, define your message, discover the special 'how-to' interview and speech topics, contact the media, and use a network. No one can do it for you.