When you’re starting out on your own and you know you’re good at your job, confidently not arrogantly, how do you tell people and spread the word when you’re not a natural sales person?

I have worked for someone else my whole career so deciding to ‘go it alone’ was a huge decision. I’ve never had a problem ‘selling’ in an environment where I am selling ‘something’; my working persona is so different to me.

You can sell someone else’s product but what if the product you’re selling is you? That’s the dilemma.

My friends and former colleagues try to leave me with no doubt that I CAN do the job that I have set out to do but I still struggle to persuade myself that I do know what I am doing and can really help others achieve their marketing goals. Even though I now have evidence (through my clients) to prove it!

I love my ‘job’ – it’s the best thing I ever did – I’m sure many entrepreneurs and self-employed people would say the same thing. Having said that, most of the work I have been doing over the past 9 months has been through word of mouth, which I know is still the best (and cheapest *smiling*) form of marketing and is not a bad way to do business but I still struggle to seriously increase my customer base through other channels. Don’t get me wrong, I have made and established new contacts and have gained some work through alternative routes however I know I should be doing more to get my name out there (for want of a better expression).

So, I know I should be doing more, but doing more of what?

• Networking – wow, now that’s definitely a challenge for me?
• Cold Calling – definitely not for me. I think there is an art to cold calling which I don’t possess.
• Social Media – engaging more with my followers?
• Blogging – that I definitely want to do more of. After all I can hide behind my Mac to do that 😉 Note to self: set aside the time to write more blogs.
• Coaching, to grow my confidence – does this work? During my employed career I attended many a coaching session none of which inspired me. Maybe they weren’t the right people for the environment I was in at the time? I’m open to persuasion.

Whatever it is I’m supposed to be doing I’m sure I’ll get there sooner rather than later (well here’s hoping). Answers on a postcard (or a comment please).

Here’s a thought, is it as easy as…