Do you find it hard to sell yourself? Read on...

Posted: May 19th, 2011 | No Comments »

A recent networking event centred on the topic of ‘Confidence’ has got me thinking. We all know that confidence in business is vital. After all, if you don’t believe in your skills, talent and business prowess then how do you expect to convince your clients that you are worthy of their hard earned cash?

How confident are you in business matters? Are you the best in your field? And more importantly do you tell your customers how much you rock?

I have a sneaky suspicion that we Brits do not lack confidence, but rather suffer from an ingrained reluctance to blow our own trumpets. In this country self confidence and blatant self-promotion are often mistaken for arrogance. While we supposedly live in an egalitarian and increasingly classless society, we do love to hate anyone who we perceive as having ‘ideas above their station’. How often have you thought that you’d like to bring the insufferably smug Simon Cowell down a peg or two? I wonder if Mr Cowell is received somewhat more warmly across the pond where, in my experience at least, success is cheered and encouraged.

There is of course a fine line between confidence and arrogance and you do need the talent to back it up. Unfortunately I have met a good many talented people who hesitate in talking themselves up precisely to avoid seeming arrogant.

One of my clients is a good example. Articulate, intelligent and remarkably talented in her field, she is extremely confident in her business abilities. Yet, when it came to writing her website, she choked. She just couldn’t sell herself. She admitted that it felt completely unnatural to be so blatant in shouting about how fantastic she is!

Luckily that’s where I came in – she told me about her business, her skills and her qualifications and I did the hard bit. Since she couldn’t blow her own trumpet, I did it for her and she was thrilled with the results.

How’s that for a bit of shameless self-promotion! I hope you don’t think I’m being arrogant.…

So if you find it hard to sell yourself, drop me a line and I’ll help you out — a little bit of effective copy-writing can go a long way: clare@word-play.org.uk