Steal This! A 3-Step Plan for Confidently Putting Yourself Out There And Conquering Your Fears Around Marketing

Last week I talked about how, in order to get clients, you have to put yourself out there and tell the world about your business.

What does putting yourself out there really mean?

It means you have to boldly proclaim your passion, offer your services to those you think you can help, and work your butt off – through the highs, lows, and inevitable screw-ups – until you reach your goals.

Easier said than done, right?

After years working with all sorts of businesswomen, I know as well as anybody how intimidating and downright scary it can be for you to reach out to potential clients.

But I also know that if you don’t overcome this fear, it can totally prevent you from achieving your dreams.

Today, I’m giving you a practical, three-step plan for conquering your dread and anxiety so that you can get to work – and make money – pursuing your passion.

If you’re ready to get clients, keep reading!

Putting Yourself Out There Takes Guts

When it comes to companies that sell products, the most important thing is believing in that product and marketing its features and value to potential buyers. Pretty straightforward, right?

Well, with service-based businesses you (via the service you offer) are the product, so marketing these businesses kind of feels like you’re presenting yourself to the wide world and making a case for your value.

That sounds terrifying! It’s no wonder so many businesswomen get cold feet when it comes to putting themselves out there!

Whether it’s embarrassment or shame around asking for money, a fear of rejection, anxiety about ultimately failing, or an overall lack of confidence in yourself or your abilities that’s holding you back, I can assure you are not alone.

I guarantee that you have what it takes to move beyond all of this, approach prospects with shining confidence, and ultimately fill your client roster.

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Steal This! Conquer Your Fears in Three Steps

If you don’t currently have the kind of courage it takes to put yourself and your business out there, don’t worry: I have a plan for you!

Step 1. Get really clear on the mission that’s driving you

When you think about your business, are you clear on what you want to accomplish and how you hope to do it?

When you talk about your business, are you projecting excitement, confidence, and a sense of purpose?

If you answered “no” to either of these questions, then this may be the root of why you have a hard time approaching clients confidently.

Start by getting crystal clear on why you started your business, what you really want to achieve, and what success looks like to you. This is why virtually every organization has a mission statement – they matter!

Then tap into the passion that first propelled you to go down this road and demonstrate it whenever and however you can. Expressing the joy and excitement you feel for your business will compound your own enthusiasm, breed the confidence you need to go after clients, and inspire people to hire you.

Step 2. Identify the right people to approach

A big part of having the guts to put yourself and your business out there is doing everything in your power to set yourself up for success. One tried and true way of doing that is by ensuring you’re approaching the right prospects with your message.

The advice I always give my clients is to think about whom, exactly, you want to help and speak directly to them. That’s likely going to be the source of your passion (see above!), and it’s going to give you the clearest idea of your ideal market segment.

The most important thing, though, is that when you approach prospective clients from a perspective of helping, you automatically sidestep any debilitating fears or shame about being overly pushy, desperate, or slimy-salesy (a technical term!).

As my brilliant friend Kendrick Shope teaches, “selling is helping.” By telling people who we think might have the problem we solve about what we do, we’re letting them know that we’re eager and able to help them. Regardless of whether they become a client, we’ve put ourselves out there in a spirit of service – not profit.

Step 3. Know and communicate your value

Once you’re clear on what drives you and know exactly who you want to help, you can tailor your message to speak directly to them.

In crafting your message, you’ll want to use the language of your prospects in describing the problem and how you can solve it. This is your value proposition, and it is so, so important.

Knowing the value you offer via your services and being able to communicate that value clearly, enthusiastically, and sincerely is the last piece of the confidence puzzle. It might take some time and practice to get there, but I know you can do it!

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It’s Time to Really OWN Your Business!

If you’re ready to shake off the fear and doubt that’s keeping you from shouting proudly about your business from every damn rooftop, the value of the above strategy really cannot be overstated.

Following these steps will not only give you the confidence you need to market your business and approach prospects, but will also put you in the mindset to charge what you’re worth when it comes time to close sales.

However, if you feel for some reason like you’re not really ready to put yourself and/or your business out there, or if you’ve been trying so hard to get clients but nothing is working, you may need a bit more guidance.

And that’s okay!

I want to help you get past whatever is holding you back so that you can get your work out into the world.

Over to You!

Are you ready to OWN your business? First, tweet it!

Then, tell me in the comments…

Are you as excited about your business today as you were when you first started out?

How do you cultivate enthusiasm for what you do?

What are your tips for really connecting with your target market?

What next big marketing push do you have planned for your business?

I can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!