Want to Sell More Products or Services? Market Yourself First

Everyone in business sells something. It might be a product a service, a solution, or even a dream. But if you own a business, you obviously want and need people to purchase what you offer. your natural response to this need might be, "Okay, then it's time to work on my marketing." But instead of simply throwing the spotlight on your products or services, maybe it's time you focused on marketing yourself.

What do I mean by "yourself?" Well, if you're a solopreneur or the public face of your company, you take my suggestion literally. A personality-driven company needs to market that personality first and foremost, because people are buying from you because of how they feel about you an an individual. You may therefore need to take a look at how you've represented yourself in your marketing content. Does your website's About Us page include a compelling bio about your accomplishments, vision, mission, and values? Do your blog and email articles read like they come directly from you, no matter who's actually writing them? Does your call to action invite your audience to connect with you one to one? These and other strategic choices can help people see you and your business as one and the same, offering them a direct line to the boss.

What if you're not the chief cook and bottle washer for your company? Your business still has a public face -- your brand. This brand has its own personality, one crafted by your marketing team to convey your company's overall message. Does your marketing tell that story in a consistent manner across every tool and platform it employs, from the high-profile stuff such as your website and blog down to every last press release, sales letter, and direct mail offer? If not, then it's time to put a professional copywriter and other seasoned marketing pros on the job of creating a more united picture of what you're all about.

Why emphasize yourself or brand before your products or services? Think about how many other businesses, including your direct competitors, are selling similar or even identical things to the same general target market. A commodity is a commodity, no matter how compellingly you market it, unless it's got something about it that makes it uniquely yours -- in which case, we still come back to marketing you or your brand again, don't we?

I've seen this issue come up time and time again with business owners who sell products and services through national or worldwide franchises. These business owners tell me that the franchise already has all the publicity it could ever use; what the need is marketing content that pushes people to choose them over the umptillion others associated with the same franchise. That's when we start creating a personal brand in which the business takes priority over the product or service line. If those business owners later decide to add new offerings or even switch to a completely different source, the personal brand they've established remains rock solid.

Do you need some help marketing yourself or your brand? If so, contact me and put my professional copywriting skills and expertise on the case. Remember, people aren't just buying what you sell -- they're buying you!

Tips and Tricks for Writing About Yourself

 I've posted before about the nuts and bolts of writing bios and "About Us" content for marketing purposes. But for many of the business owners I've encountered in my 25 years as a professional copywriter, the real challenge lies elsewhere than in the mechanics of the writing itself. 

I've known many brilliant professionals who could write marketing content with ease and skill -- until they had to write about themselves. Some feel uncomfortable "blowing their own horn," while others simply can't distance themselves from the subject at hand (which is understandable, since they are the subject at hand). If you're struggling to create that much-needed website, brochure, or social media bio content due to some sort of psychological barrier, the following tips and tricks may help you move forward.

Pretend you're writing about somebody else. You might feel weird trumpeting your achievements to the world -- but would you have similar trouble bragging about an employee or colleague? Try creating a fictional person in your mind who has accomplished all those admirable things -- someone who also happens to have the same passions, interests, and background as yourself. Now write that person's bio. It's a lot easier, isn't it?

Keep the content other-directed. Yes, you're writing about yourself, but who are you writing for? Any kind of marketing content you create, including bio content, must be aimed at a specific audience to make them respond in a way that benefits your business. Keep your mission, vision, and values top of mind as you write your bio. Take every opportunity to turn the information toward the reader: "I've spent X number of years helping area residents just like you overcome Y challenge." The more you occupy your mind with how your work helps others, the less self-conscious you'll feel about the words you're putting down.

Experiment with different points of view. Some people find it awkward to write about themselves in the third person because it feels pretentious or unnatural to them. Others have trouble with the first-person direct address to the audience because it strikes them as too familiar or casual. Of course, the choice of point of view will depend partly on the voice and tone you've chosen for your brand persona. But if you feel intimidated, uncomfortable, or just plain stuck, try switching from one point of view to the other. The results might surprise you -- and you can always switch back again after you've got the meat of the content drafted.

Even if you find these tips and tricks helpful, you still might prefer to have an outsider write your bio for you, preferably a skilled, experienced copywriter. In that case, contact me today so you can shine like the star you really are!