I don’t know about you, but self-promotion does not come easy for me. And I think it’s the same for a lot of people.

Many people worry that self-promotion is the same as bragging just to get an ego boost. But the truth is, self-promotion isn’t about that at all; it’s about sharing what you can do for others and how it will help them.

The thing we all need to remember is that every single human being has worth in the world, including you. But, if you’re not going to talk about your own self-worth and what you’ve done to reach your goals and succeed, no one else will.

It’s kind of sad, really, that so many people are very uncomfortable saying positive things about themselves at all, even if they’re true. This is, in part, because meanings become twisted. Self-promotion done right is not bragging. Rather, it’s simply being proud enough of yourself when you’ve done something well to let others know that you can do the same for them. You can still be humble and very honestly state that right now, you’re the best at whatever it is that you’re best at.

Here are 4 ways you can overcome the fear of self-promotion:

1. Get over the fear of failure

A lot of people are afraid to promote themselves and things they can do well, because they’re also afraid of future expectations. Fear of failure is a very real thing, and it’s stopped more than one person in their tracks. Yes, there will be people out there who don’t want you to succeed, but that’s their problem, not yours.

2. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you’re good at

The truth is, self-promotion is a must if you want to succeed in business and life. You need to be brave and let yourself stand out for what you’re good at doing. How much of a shame will it be if you hide your talents from those who need them due to your fear? Is that fair to them?

3. Recognize that sharing what you’re doing is normal

Sharing what you’re doing and the successful journey you’re on is a normal thing to do, especially if your business relies on you telling people about your work.

I read an analogy once that you should treat your business days like sporting events. When you win at a game, people are happy to praise you because they understand winning. Other aspects of your business deserve to be treated like that too.

So, if you create something beautiful that people want to buy, treat that as a win. If you get a new client for your coaching program, treat that as a win. And don’t be afraid to share with your community that you’ve had these wins. Celebrating yourself and your wins is just another piece of the self-promotion puzzle.

Let go of imposter syndrome

We’re going to talk more about this in an upcoming series, because this is something I know I struggle with, and I think a lot of other people do too.

But here’s the thing… you know more than you think you do. So you’re not really an imposter. You’re just not as confident about sharing it as you should be. What happens is that we take what we know for granted, and thing that everyone else knows what we know too. And that is definitely not true.

Once you accept that you do know things that others don’t, it becomes much easier let go of imposter syndrome and embrace self-promotion. Doing anything else, like hiding what you know because you’re afraid to share, is doing a disservice to both you and your audience.

Final Thoughts

Your story is just as important as everyone else’s. Your hard work deserves attention, and you’re the best qualified person to share your journey in your products, your programs, and your branding stories.

As long as you’re telling the truth when you’re promoting yourself, it’s not bragging. It’s simply stating facts, and giving your audience the information they need to make an educated decision on whether or not they want to do business with you. Stick to the facts and deliver your story with confidence, and you’ll see that self-promotion isn’t nearly as hard as we make it out to be.