business promotionIn a perfect world, customers would be beating a path to your door. In the real world, though, those of is in business have to clear the path and invite clients and customers to our door. I work with many clients who will say, “I hate ‘shameless self promotion’.” To that I say, “If you don’t toot your own horn, who will?” Let me add a caveat to that, though. Promoting yourself doesn’t mean that every social media post you write or every interaction you have on line is a sales pitch — no one wants to be constantly sold to, am I right?
What you can do is smoothly promote yourself on your social media. If you’ve written a book, offer tips from it. If you have a pet product or pet service here are some ways to smoothly promote:

  1. Mention its benefits
  2. Mention clients with whom you have worked
  3. Share a story of a happy customer
  4. A picture of a pet enjoying your product
  5. Answer questions relevant to your ideal client

Be a useful resource to your followers.
Here are some other ways that you can promote your pet business.

  1. Blog about it
  2. Share information on social media
  3. Use your inclusion in the WIPIN Top Women In The Pet Industry Magazine in your press kit
  4. Embed your profile on your website
  5. Link back to your member profile on the WIPIN site
  6. Send a press release to your local newspaper either if your business is celebrating an anniversary or has received kudos
  7. If there is a holiday coming up that you can provide valuable insight on, contact a local paper about that. What do I mean? Let’s say it’s summer and you’re traveling with your pets, offer yourself as a resource to a reporter who is writing a story on “traveling with pets.” Approach a news outlet with that idea and offer yourself as a source for the article.
  8. Get yourself known as an expert in your particular niche by writing about it, answering questions and even joining groups on LinkedIn

Know that you can “sell” yourself and your business without always “selling.”
What pain points do you have when it comes to blogging, social media or self promotion? Let me know. You can comment here or write to me at Robbi AT WomenInThePetIndustry DOT.com

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