The thought of marketing ourselves and our businesses makes some of us cringe. Why is this?
Isn’t the marketing of our business essential to its survival?
If people don’t know we exist, how are they supposed to know about our products and services?
The reasons behind the uncomfortable feelings we have towards marketing our businesses are PLENTY and they can be different for all of us.
We should definitely find out what makes us feel this way, but we should also take ACTION on strategies that align with ourselves and feel good.
Most people describe the feeling that arises when they are going to post about a product, sale or any other business-related promotion as “icky.”
When this happens, we have to be brutally honest and ask ourselves, why do I feel this way?
The first answer will be “I feel uncomfortable doing this.”
The second question should be, but why?
If we have a business that helps someone with something, isn’t that a good thing?
If someone is looking for a solution and we have it, isn’t that a good thing?
If our work is honest, high-quality, and solution-driven, isn’t that what business is all about?
Some of us relate this part of the business – marketing and sales – to bad experiences, disappointments, scams, etc.
Let’s shift our mindsets and associate them with good experiences we have had in the past. Think about any good sales/marketing experiences that have made you feel good, appreciated, excited, and inspired. Some people really focus on providing their customers with a pleasant experience and they do. We can do the same!
But how? How can we create these feelings and experiences?
By being authentic. By feeling good about what we have to offer and by choosing strategies that align with our values.
Get clear on the problem or necessity people have and think about the solution you are providing. Think about an honest way to approach this issue and have honest conversations.
In the end, you are there to help them improve their life. Even if you have a product/service that is not a necessity – maybe it’s more of a treat or luxury – you can still improve someone’s life. Remember that feeling good about ourselves is a necessity as well!
Now if thoughts like these arise… Is this product/service good enough? Will people like it? Will they pay for this? Who am I to offer this? Know that this is all fear and that’s okay. It’s normal to feel fear, nervousness, confusion, etc. We are putting ourselves out there, we are learning how to run a business, we are stretching ourselves every second of the day. That’s what entrepreneurs do!
Change your mindset. Recognize that these feelings are normal and that EVERYONE has them. Even the King of Rock N’ Roll, Elvis Presley, felt like throwing up every time he was about to perform. Elvis felt nervous every single time and as you may know already, he was considered the King, he had fans everywhere and he was on top of the world. How much more validation does a person need right? But we are all human. We all have those feelings. Even the King 😉
Now that you understand this, let’s talk about the next step: Taking ACTION.
Don’t let the feeling stop you. Take action! The more you do it, the better you will feel and the more effective you will be!
Trust me. You can do this!!! Just keep trying 🙂
If you ever need guidance and support, you are always invited to our free online community, the Fashion Entrepreneur Club. A Facebook group where we provide you with inspiration, support, and knowledge to build a successful fashion business. To join, click here.
Have you checked out the Fashion Business Printable Bundle? It’s a set of 8 printable products that’ll help you organize and plan everything in your fashion business. We sell each product individually in our store, but you can get them in this bundle for the incredible price of $35.99 (or less) 😉 All printables included are instant downloads in US Letter size. Check them out here!
