Promoting Your Biz ‘Organically’
Wise businesspeople understand that there is a respectful and tasteful way to talk about themselves and their businesses.
Today the word “organic” is everywhere. It means “natural,” but according to dictionary.com it also means “developing in a manner analogous to the natural growth and evolutionary characteristic of living organisms; arising as a natural outgrowth.”
Just as organic foods are healthier for bodies, a promotional strategy that “arises as a natural outgrowth” of who you are and what you do makes for a healthier business.
If you take a look at your life, you will find the natural places to begin promoting yourself authentically. Begin with these questions:
• Where do you naturally go? The ball field? Classes or workshops? Places of worship? Barbecues or school functions? Do you talk to others at your hair salon, your doctor’s office or local café?
• What is your most comfortable way of communicating with others? Do you enjoy making conversation with new people or spending time with people you know? Do you like writing letters or e-mails? What about face to face in intimate groups or big parties? What about the Internet?
• What causes do you support, and how can you donate your time and energy? Can you offer your services or products to help raise funds? Can you serve on boards or communities to meet others?
Once you have answered these questions, you may discover some organic ways to promote yourself and your business that grow out of who you are. A few examples:
• If you e-mail, write a description of you and your business, and attach it to the bottom of both personal and professional emails.
• If you get a lot of calls, add a message to your voice mail telling people what you do.
• Wear a T-shirt or ball cap with your logo or Web site address on it.
• Like the Internet? If so, create a My Space page or used LinkedIn to connect with your network and make new contacts.
• If you are a writer, create articles and place them in both print and online publications.
Promotion must often be more than print ads, but it does not have to be in-your-face and offensive. Find the small ways that feel natural to you and build on the life you already have.
Photo by ajmac.
Ina @ Open Season on May 21st, 2008 8:28 am
This post really hits home. I am the Director of a business & networking group in my local community, and a member of several others. It is amazing to me how forced the promotion of a business is with some people.
I am a small business & entrepreneurship advocate, so I generally love to learn about other businesses and ventures. So I ask lots of questions, I relate the answers to things going on in my own life, and what I do eventually flows out in conversation. But I’ve met so many who are so eager to get out what they do, that it can be like talking to a brick wall.
If you don’t mind, I’m going to blog about your post (and link right back to you), so that those who have started to follow my home business blog can understand how to promote their ventures properly! Thanks for the great information!
-Ina
Open Season: Choosing the RIGHT Home Business!
theKimsta on May 25th, 2008 4:57 am
Sounds like a low cost, and effective way to grow a small business.
Cheers,
theKimsta
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