Self-Promotion: How to Make the Most in a Down Economy

The idea--or the practice of self-promotion has never come easily to me. Mostly it is idea of it that is the hard part. Doing it is more a job, and I am try to be good at "doing my job."

This got me thinking about other people in similar situations who need to self-promote to gain the success they are seeking. It is not always comfortable to talk about yourself. And we all know people who do--and do it a little too much, making it distasteful. Yet if you are in the process of looking for a job, or trying to get a promotion, or selling a service--you have to be able to promote you.

Here are some strategies for self-promotion:

1) Use online social networking to your advantage - Blogger, LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook are all great ways to share with your contacts what you are up to. Stay active - keep things professional, but casual.

2) Network - Make a point of attending one networking event or meeting each week. This could be a one-on-one meeting with a contact or a bigger organized meeting. If it helps, block of a particular time each week that is dedicated just to networking.

3) Practice, practice, practice - The more you are able to speak comfortably and intelligently about yourself and what you do, the easier it will become.

4) Know what you want to say - What are the important points you would like to share with someone once you meet them? What makes you different from another candidate for a job? Why are you unique or better or more interesting?

5) Think of promoting yourself as your job - Sometimes looking at self-promotion as a "duty" will get you to just do it. It is after all something that has to be done. So go for it.


Self-promotion is not something to be shameful of -- You are worth the recognition! You can show modesty and humility while making others aware of your greatness.


Do you have any self-promotion tips? Feel free to share them here.
-Meghan Wier


Meghan Wier
Author Writer Web Consultant