Creative Self-Promotion
One of the most difficult things for any creative person to do is promote themselves--it's also the most important. Being good at promoting yourself does NOT make you a sell out. It simply means you are smart enough to find people who want and need what you have to offer and you let them know how to find you. Promoting yourself does not have to be hard, either. When you embrace what you like to do and do well, it's so much easier. For example, if you enjoy spending time online, that could be the way you get the word out about who you are and what you do. Maybe you prefer to give presentations or teach. That's also a great way to promote yourself. It's critical that you embrace the idea of self-promotion if you want to have a successful career. If you look at it as another way to express your creativity, it doesn't seem so intimidating. Many, many others have had fun (yes, fun) promoting themselves.
Here are a few of the most creative examples of self-promotion I have come across. I hope they get you excited about your own promotional efforts. Good luck and go for it!
1. An author decided to make her book proposal smaller than most so that editors would have to continually move it to the top of the pile or else risk the entire stack falling over.
2. A freelance writer was so frustrated by a lack of response from an editor she sent a stuffed dog with the note, —Sorry to hound you, but I would love to write for you.—
3. One obscure sculptor started doing wood carvings with a chainsaw to garner more attention from the media.
4. One resourceful artist displayed her art in vacant storefronts along a busy street in a tourist town. She left brochures and directions in a display outside the windows.
5. A self-publisher made his trade show booth interactive. He started a story and allowed attendees to add to it. The final version was read at the industry dinner to the delight of all.
6. A make-up artist who donates her time at burn centers touched the doctors so deeply they bankrolled her own line of cosmetics.
7. An painter teamed up with a Realtor who buys her paintings for full price and then gives them as a gift to new home buyers.
8. One designer painted his website address on his roof which happens to be under the flight path of a busy airport.
9. A hairstylist created flyers that included examples of what kind of cut goes with what shape of face and what the latest trends are. It also included a blank face where you could draw in what kind of cut you wanted.
10. To be more memorable, one small business owner hands out flowers at networking meetings. Another brings her tiny dog as an ice-breaker.
11. One dry cleaner has their best customers’ pictures printed on the paper that covers the hanger.
12. A struggling sculptor working as a street sweeper made elaborate carvings on the handles on his brooms. A gallery owner noticed this and offered him a chance to show his art.
13. A band performed in the parking lots of large companies as workers got off and sold CDs and promoted their club dates.
14. One consultant sent blank paper and crayons and asked customers to write, draw, and color what they thought of his work.
15. A graphic artist sends back poorly designed forms along with her brochure and a rough sketch of how she could improve it.
16. A struggling wedding photographer began looking up birth announcements in the paper and approached new parents about portraits. Business is booming.
17. An aspiring filmmaker showed his documentary about sharks at night in hotel pools. The media loved it.
18. A psychologist’s business card also includes a stress test.
19. One author includes recipes in her mysteries and was able to attract the attention of food editors who gave her books more attention than book reviewers.
20. When this author visits bookstores he inserts postcards featuring his book into competing titles.
21. One consultant answers help-wanted ads to get freelance work. He convinces corporations that it’s cheaper to hire him than it is to bring in a full-time employee with benefits.
22. A struggling sculptor working as a street sweeper made elaborate carvings on the handles on his brooms. A gallery owner noticed this and offered him a chance to show his art.
23. A clever glassblower had his workshop included in the tourist information handed out by hotel concierges.
24. A couple of actors in an off-Broadway play got on the subway and performed part of the play. They left off with a cliff-hanger and then handed out flyers for the play.
25. A clothing company in the lifestyle industry bough a bunch of die-cast metallic VW vans, put a sticker on the door of each van, and gave them away as a gimmick.
Want more tips? Okay, you got it.
26. The owner of a small business sent Valentine's Day cards to all of her clients that said, "I love working with you, thanks for your business." She figured everyone sends Christmas cards, but nobody sends Valentine's Day cards.
27. Here are a couple of creative mailings I have seen. One said, "No more accounting headaches with Berger Accounting" and included a mini pack of Tylenol. Others have included candy like Hot Tamales, Lifesavers, Good and Plenty and Runts. They tied these in with their message and it worked, too!
28. One consultant calls into radio talk shows and writes letters to the editor to get his name (and message) out there. He is usually able to weave what he does into what he has to say.
29. A massage therapist got a company to pay ten dollars per employee for a ten minute messaage. Some of these employees became regular customers.
30. How about you? Do you have a self-promotional success story you would like to share? If so, send it to me at leesilber@earthlink.net.
____________________
Lee Silber is the author of ten books including the award-winning Self-Promotion For The Creative Person.
