Selling Yourself: Part I

We are all in sales. Whether you think you are or not, you are. Even if you don’t have a professional title that includes sales, you are in sales, my friend! Marketing is also sales, just in a different way than going door to door asking people if they need a fax machine. But even beyond that, we’re always trying to sell ourselves… the clothing we buy, the image we create, the tone of voice we use, it’s all to get other people to like us, to take us seriously, to hire us, to make them fall in love with us, and so on.

We want to make sure that we’re selling our full selves, but also our best selves. Know your strongest and best qualities and play to them. Be a unicorn. What can you bring to the table that’s fresh and original?

Network and show the best side of yourself through the social channels you use to connect. That said, ensure your social channels are presenting a side of you that you want future employers to see. Be consistent and persistent in your networking and ongoing communication to make sure that you’re top of mind to people who are looking to fill positions, recommend to you to a friend looking to fill a position, or a possible future employer.

In conclusion, whether you think so or not, remember that you’re in sales. Whether you’re representing your company, your family, your own personal brand, or yourself… people are watching and you want to ensure they’re seeing the best you. Look for a blog post coming soon about the rules to social media and why making certain things public can damage your public image.