Overcome the fear of marketing yourself

Marketing yourself can be extremely daunting but it’s an essential part of advancing yourself and growing your career or company.

It’s normal to experience feelings of fear, inadequacy or unfamiliarity when it comes to personal branding. But you have a choice – you can let these roadblocks stop you, or you can learn to overcome them.
One of the top reasons that people don’t market themselves or their businesses is out of fear, which means they miss out on opportunities to advance. Here are a few ideas for getting around your fear of marketing yourself:

Identify the fear. What are you scared will happen if you take the risk of “putting yourself out there”? I often ask myself “what is the worst that can happen”? Then I think about how I would handle the situation if it did arise. A sense of being prepared for whatever may come will often help you to overcome your fear of getting started.

Talk to a professional. Sometimes getting an alternative perspective can help you move forward, see where your gaps are and identify the strengths you can play to. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or part of a large business, you can benefit from an external perspective on your personal brand and your company brand from a marketing professional.
Create a positivity pinboard. Include compliments you’ve received, thank you notes, a list of your strengths and so on. Reflecting on your good work can help encourage your marketing activities and boost your self-confidence.

Partner up. Just as many people find it easier to stick to an exercise routine with a gym buddy, finding a partner to help you with your marketing can assist in keeping you accountable. By having someone else to talk to about your marketing initiatives, you provide yourself a means of support. You give each other fresh perspective and new ideas.

About Donna Rachelson
Donna is a branding and marketing specialist who uses her passion and 25 years of experience in strategy, marketing and change management to empower people and teams to achieve breakthrough results.

She is the founder of Branding & Marketing YOU. The company offers keynote presentations, workshops, strategic marketing consulting, coaching and support services. She is also author of the best-selling book Branding & Marketing YOU, the first South African based personal branding and marketing book.

For more information on Donna or Branding & Marketing YOU, visit www.brandingandmarketingyou.com.