I think there is a difference between promoting yourself and promoting what it is you stand for. What is the cause?(this being the rhetorical question we should ponder) If it is gaining popularity for popularity's sake, then I think people catch on to that, and then the labels of arrogance/claims of one being “full of themselves” come forth. I think it's because insightful people see through the shallow motives and notice the insipid behavior. There is nothing wrong with self-promotion, as a means to bootstrap your marketing efforts and get your projects rolling, but be prepared to defend your efforts with a “why”. Why are you promoting your own project/work and why should others care about what you are promoting?
Let Your Freak Flag Fly
I advocate self-promotion for those who are trying to become established in their passion. If you don't speak/share what it is you're passion about, then how are you going to be defined in comparison to anybody else? It's not like we are all born into a position of privilege, where our reputations precede us, so if you aren’t being loud and proud about what you stand for as an individual, then don’t expect anybody to know who you are or what you stand for. I encourage start-up entrepreneurs to "let their freak flag fly" in this context, but it's also best practice to have a "pay it forward" policy when it comes to anybody helping you reach the next level. If you network with like-minded people who are willing to lend you a hand to increase your reach, influence, credibility, then you should be reciprocating anyway you can for that individual’s cause or paying it forward to another who could use it. In business, the more you give, the more you receive. This is why those who give often, and support others regularly, should never feel ashamed for promoting what they stand for.
Damned If You Do Damned If You Don’t Complex
Some may think getting fame first is the way to go, because the catch twenty two is that once you have a following you can essentially sell any idea, and an idea without fame makes no sales. This is shameful in my opinion, because there is nothing more annoying than someone who demands attention but offers no value in return that would be worthy of recognition. This type of behavior is evident all over social media. It feels like this “empty celebrity syndrome” has gone rampant over the past decade.
It is true, that with fame there is an accompanying influence that gives the individual the ability to sell virtually any idea. Empty celebrities are branded all the time in the United States, and most fade just as fast as they come-up, but not before using their new found fame to push random products like fragrances, clothing lines, sneakers, and anything else third party companies can slap the trending xyz celebrity’s name on. As a business man I cannot blame these self-promoters for taking advantage of the opportunities gained from their forced fame, but you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning before your own (you specifically reading this article) self-promoting efforts will work like this. What will most likely happen is that people will get tired of you after the nine hundredth selfie post of the day with accompanying cliché generic inspirational quote, and will unfollow you/your efforts of gaining empty fame.
Know Your Role, Keep Grinding, and Continue to Level Up
If you are trying to create a following for what it is you stand for, whether it’s a cause/movement/business, then know your role, keep grinding, and continue to level up. As a start-up or a micro business entrepreneur, self-promotion is a necessity to get the show on the road. You won’t build your following overnight, so just keep your nose to the grindstone. Lastly, don’t get stuck in routine, continue to evolve your marketing strategies as your business/movement/cause gains momentum, and develop to a new level. There will come a time where you will reach a level where people will begin talking about you, and if you stand for something or your “why” is backed with substance, then that is when you can back off the self-promotion and just let your work/services/products speak for itself. That’s using self-promotion to build fame through recognition.
I advocate self-promotion for those who are trying to become established in their passion. If you don't speak/share what it is you're passion about, then how are you going to be defined in comparison to anybody else? It's not like we are all born into a position of privilege, where our reputations precede us, so if you aren’t being loud and proud about what you stand for as an individual, then don’t expect anybody to know who you are or what you stand for. I encourage start-up entrepreneurs to "let their freak flag fly" in this context, but it's also best practice to have a "pay it forward" policy when it comes to anybody helping you reach the next level. If you network with like-minded people who are willing to lend you a hand to increase your reach, influence, credibility, then you should be reciprocating anyway you can for that individual’s cause or paying it forward to another who could use it. In business, the more you give, the more you receive. This is why those who give often, and support others regularly, should never feel ashamed for promoting what they stand for.
Damned If You Do Damned If You Don’t Complex
Some may think getting fame first is the way to go, because the catch twenty two is that once you have a following you can essentially sell any idea, and an idea without fame makes no sales. This is shameful in my opinion, because there is nothing more annoying than someone who demands attention but offers no value in return that would be worthy of recognition. This type of behavior is evident all over social media. It feels like this “empty celebrity syndrome” has gone rampant over the past decade.
It is true, that with fame there is an accompanying influence that gives the individual the ability to sell virtually any idea. Empty celebrities are branded all the time in the United States, and most fade just as fast as they come-up, but not before using their new found fame to push random products like fragrances, clothing lines, sneakers, and anything else third party companies can slap the trending xyz celebrity’s name on. As a business man I cannot blame these self-promoters for taking advantage of the opportunities gained from their forced fame, but you have a better chance of getting struck by lightning before your own (you specifically reading this article) self-promoting efforts will work like this. What will most likely happen is that people will get tired of you after the nine hundredth selfie post of the day with accompanying cliché generic inspirational quote, and will unfollow you/your efforts of gaining empty fame.
Know Your Role, Keep Grinding, and Continue to Level Up
If you are trying to create a following for what it is you stand for, whether it’s a cause/movement/business, then know your role, keep grinding, and continue to level up. As a start-up or a micro business entrepreneur, self-promotion is a necessity to get the show on the road. You won’t build your following overnight, so just keep your nose to the grindstone. Lastly, don’t get stuck in routine, continue to evolve your marketing strategies as your business/movement/cause gains momentum, and develop to a new level. There will come a time where you will reach a level where people will begin talking about you, and if you stand for something or your “why” is backed with substance, then that is when you can back off the self-promotion and just let your work/services/products speak for itself. That’s using self-promotion to build fame through recognition.
