How to Advertise Yourself

Know your "merchandise" (yourself):

1. Be a tough critic of you! Keep your personal advertising honest, dependable, and back by a "moral- money" back guarantee.
2. Accept your limitations - but don't knock yourself.
3. You alone, can act today as the molder of the future you.
4. To make the most of a welcome disposition try to analyze your own--and see what kind of advertising you have been doing for yourself!
5. Solicit the help of others.
   

Seven deadly advertising mistakes:

1. To give the reader a reason for not reading an ad!
2. Using headlines that are dead lines, that "whisper sweet nothings," headlines that do not arouse the slightest interest.
3. Do not be a "picture that does not talk!"
4. Don't try to be clever; beware of the curse of cleverness.
5. Avoid longwinded stories; don't go around robin hood's barn to get to your paint.
6. Don't "leave 'em dangling" after you've sold 'em!
7. Don't use "yackety-yak" talk; don't talk too much.

Attract favorable attention:

1. Your "headline" is your appearance, the first sentence of your letter or talk, your facial expression, your gestures.
2. Be honest in everything you say or write.
3. Take pride in yourself.
4. Show interest and concern for other people.
5. Be enthusiastic--but not overly so--in expressing your ideas and opinions.

Keep 'em interested:

1. Say or write what is of interest to your audience.
2. Make yourself understood.
3. Sell yourself by listening.
4. Be courteous, prompt, and tolerant in advertising yourself.
5. Be sincere and friendly.
6. Break the "you know" habit.
7. Use simple language anyone can understand.
8. Be yourself. Don't imitate.
9. When you get an idea, write it down. Be critical later.
10. Write at least one letter a day.
11. Use your voice, but give the other person an opportunity to use his, too.
12. Practice speaking alone.
13. Avoid arguments. Let the other person "win."
14. Be a "giver."

Be convincing:

1. Convince yourself first.
2. Be honest and sincere.
3. Don't exaggerate.
4. Inspire confidence for respect.
5. Relate to the other person. Be understanding.
6. Don't brag.
7. Speak moderately. Whispers can do more than shouts.
8. Practice reading aloud.
9. Don't parade your knowledge.
10. Be aggressive but not obnoxious.
11. Accept blame.
12. Improve your good qualities.
13. Consider the other person's feelings.
14. Know yourself to sell yourself.

Get action!

1. Do something about "it." Action is necessary!
2. Don't bury your ideas.
3. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Analyze and learn from them.
4. Don't be one of the mob.
5. Practice self-confidence.
6. Indifference and inertia are obstacles. Overcome them.
7. Take a chance. It's a way of learning.
8. Don't leave things in midair. Make a decision.
9. Nothing ventured, nothing gained; so try!

The late Bernard Baruch "recipe for success":

1. Be polite.
2. Prepare yourself for whatever you are asked to do.
3. Keep yourself tidy.
4. Be careful.
5. Don't be envious.
6. Be honest with yourself so you will be honest with others.
7. Be helpful.
8. Interest yourself in your job.
9. Don't pity yourself.
10. Be quick to praise.
11. Be loyal to your friends.
12. Avoid prejudices.
13. Be independent.
14. Interest yourself in politics.
15. Read the newspapers.

Source: How to Advertise Yourself: Five Basic Steps to Selling Your Appearance, Your Thoughts, Your Words, and Your Experience to Any Individual Or Group (1978) by Maxwell Sackheim.