Why do we act like it’s some kind of shady business to promote our services? We’ve got all these ideas for offers and content but we’re worried we’ll come off as a pushy salesperson. If we talk specifically about our services or client results — we’re afraid of the unsubscribes and unfollows or worse… the quiet judgement of our audience, friends, and family. 😧

We worry about what people will think, so we stay quiet. We don’t send that email campaign or post about our availability. Or we communicate in such an abstract, indirect whisper that people don’t really understand that there’s a service in there somewhere that they can avail of.

“You’re doing it all wrong”

There ARE people online who use shady tactics and I reckon that’s what stops us. They tend to be the loudest voices too. They’re the ones with the really fear-mongering, shouty content and “magic bullet” solutions.

They’re the ones telling you “You’re doing it all wrong”.

• You’re eating wrong.
• You’re working out wrong.
• You’re breathing wrong.
• You’re making all the wrong business decisions.
• You’re raising your children wrong.

🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

But because they cite incredible results – “I earn $100K per month while working from the beach” (eye roll), we’re tempted to do what they do, or to buy their courses, in the hopes of getting similar results.

This kind of promotion has messed with my head for years! It seems that the shouty, fear-mongering marketing formula is everywhere and it gets us thinking that this is what marketing is. This is how to get clients. This is what we’re supposed to be doing, otherwise “we’re doing it wrong”.

This marketing style is designed to trigger us and make us feel like crap. I don’t know about you but I respect my audience, and prefer not to tell them they’re idiots!

Showing us as an act of service

There are other ways to promote your services.

I reckon that self-promotion is only sleazy if it’s inauthentic. I really believe that showing up can be like an act of service. This is the backbone of the visibility strategies that I use for myself and my clients.

• Chances are you truly DO want to be helpful and provide value to your audience.
• And your services could be exactly what someone needs right now.

But if you’re copying people who market in a pushy way, a way that deliberately triggers people’s fears and makes them feel inadequate, your marketing will feel all out of whack. If it gives you a bad feeling, your audience will probably feel the same way.

But you know what’s not sleazy? Providing value. If you focus on that, you’ll avoid coming off like one of those sleaze-ball people who are in it to make a quick sale.

The foundation of this – showing up as an act of service – is truly believing in the value of your offering. When you do – promotion feels good to you, to your clients, and you’ll be able to show up often and in a way that gets you clients.

If you’d like to know more about creating content that gets you clients without being a sleazy-bag, grab a free strategy session with me 🙂