• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

PlanningShop

Plan. Start. Grow.

  • Our Products
  • Instructors
  • Entrepreneurs
  • BizGear
  • Rhonda’s Blog
  • Book Rhonda
  • About PlanningShop
  • Search
  •  
  • Our Products
  • Instructors
  • Entrepreneurs
  • BizGear
  • Rhonda’s Blog
  • Book Rhonda
  • About PlanningShop
  • Search
  •  
Confidence

10 Sure-Fire Self-Promotion Tips for Women Small Biz Owners

October 11, 2017 //  by Rhonda Abrams

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and as a gift to themselves, I want female small business owners and entrepreneurs to give themselves a gift: greater confidence. I want you to give yourself more credit for your accomplishments and learn a critical business skill. I want you to learn how to toot your own horn.

Years ago, my friend Tammy was a human resources consultant. Companies hired her to screen job applicants for them. She’d run the help wanted ads, review resumes, interview some applicants and present a final selection to her client. After many years of experience, Tammy recognized the pattern. “If help wanted ad lists 10 qualifications for a job, a man will apply if he possesses even one. A woman won’t apply if she’s missing even one.”

Each time I repeat this story to business owners, everyone agrees it’s true, whether they’re male or female. In other words, women often do not give themselves the credit they deserve. They judge themselves harsher than is often necessary. They feel they have to be perfect to be competitive.

Now, some of this is based on the reality that women often have to be better than men to be judged equally. But some comes from women not knowing how to recognize and promote themselves. Women are slow to “toot their own horn.” But it’s a business skill that female entrepreneurs must master.

Women have been taught it’s unladylike to brag. A woman is often seen as cocky and unlikeable if she is successful, especially if she appears aware and proud of her own success. And women are often uncomfortable with self-promotion. So there’s a skill to learning how to promote yourself without being off-putting, on learning how to make the uncomfortable comfortable.

Some ways to toot your own horn:

  1. Make promoting and supporting yourself a priority

    Working women typically put others first: their clients, employees, family, friends. But you need to commit to the fact that promoting and supporting you as a capable, successful entrepreneur is a business priority.

  2. Hire a professional

    It’s a whole lot easier, and expected, for your public relations agent, your marketing director, or your salesperson to boast of your skills and successes than to do it yourself.

  3. Bring a “bragging buddy”

    If you don’t have a professional, make friends with another woman business owner and become “bragging buddies.” Bring each other to networking events, or perhaps even to sales calls, and have them sing your praises.

  4. Build up your website and LinkedIn profiles

    It’s a whole lot easier to list your full range of accomplishments on your website and on LinkedIn than in person, and prospects expect to see your past accomplishments and expertise listed there.

  5. Name drop

    Find ways to work past accomplishments into your casual conversations with prospects or at networking events. Practice this so it’s not so awkward.

  6. Apply for awards, lots of them

    Most industry associations, publications, and community entrepreneur groups present a number of award opportunities. Apply for lots of them and when you win some (and you will) list those awards on your website and LinkedIn profile, perhaps even print them on your business card.

  7. Convert yourself into a product

    It’s a whole lot more comfortable to sing the praises of your product than of your person. For example, a lawyer offering an “estate package” can more easily list the advantages of that package than she can tout her own outstanding skills as a lawyer. (But work the fact that you’re an expert in estate law into the conversation…)

  8. Stop using the word “just”

    I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard a woman business owner say something like: “I just have 10 employees.” “I’ve just been in business five years.” Don’t downgrade your accomplishments.

  9. Support other successful women

    Women need role models. Let’s make it more comfortable for all women to highlight their successes by being supportive, rather than critical, of women who are forthright about their accomplishments.

  10. Support politicians and companies that support women

    Women need confidence, but they also need child care, maternity leave, good pay, good health care, non-discrimination laws. Help women gain the skills and earn the successes by supporting and voting for those who support policies and programs that enable women to succeed.


Copyright, Rhonda Abrams, 2017

This article originally ran in USA Today on October 11, 2017

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Category: Solution Center, USA TodayTag: confidence, entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, National Women's Small Business Month, rhonda abrams, small business, small business tips, success, women

Previous Post: «Willows Grocery The Best Little Grocery Store in Silicon Valley
Next Post: Time to Get Ready for Small Business Saturday Small Business Saturday»

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Rhonda's Blog via Email

Instagram @rhondaabrams

Another weekend is upon us. Here’s to making the Another weekend is upon us. Here’s to making the most of it, small business owners! 
.
.
#smallbiz #weekend #entrepreneur #fridayfeeling
6 tips to win in your small biz negotiation, in my 6 tips to win in your small biz negotiation, in my latest @usatoday column! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbiztips #smallbiz #negotiation #entrepreneurship
#smallbiz #inspirationalquotes #mondaymotivation # #smallbiz #inspirationalquotes #mondaymotivation #smallbizguru
Wherever you are, whatever your weather, I wish yo Wherever you are, whatever your weather, I wish you a safe & productive weekend. I’m pulling for you, small business owners!
.
.
#smallbiz #weekend #smallbusinessowner #fridayfeeling
#smallbiz #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquotes #l #smallbiz #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquotes #lunarnewyear2021
#presidentsday #presidentsday
Enjoy your Valentine's Day, whatever form it takes Enjoy your Valentine's Day, whatever form it takes and whoever you're able to spend it with~
.
.
#happyvalentinesday❤️
According to Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol o According to Chinese culture, the ox is a symbol of wealth, prosperity, diligence, and perseverance. Here's to The Year of the Ox, small business owners! Happy Lunar New Year~
.
.
#lunarnewyear #yearoftheox🐂 #smallbusiness #entrepreneurship
#smallbiz #thursdaythoughts #smallbizguru #smallbiz #thursdaythoughts #smallbizguru
My Tweets
  • Another weekend is upon us. Here’s to making the Another weekend is upon us. Here’s to making the most of it, small business owners! 
.
.
#smallbiz #weekend #entrepreneur #fridayfeeling
    6 tips to win in your small biz negotiation, in my 6 tips to win in your small biz negotiation, in my latest @usatoday column! Link in profile~
.
.
#smallbiztips #smallbiz #negotiation #entrepreneurship
    #smallbiz #inspirationalquotes #mondaymotivation # #smallbiz #inspirationalquotes #mondaymotivation #smallbizguru
    Wherever you are, whatever your weather, I wish yo Wherever you are, whatever your weather, I wish you a safe & productive weekend. I’m pulling for you, small business owners!
.
.
#smallbiz #weekend #smallbusinessowner #fridayfeeling
    #smallbiz #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquotes #l #smallbiz #tuesdaythoughts #inspirationalquotes #lunarnewyear2021
    #presidentsday #presidentsday
    Enjoy your Valentine's Day, whatever form it takes Enjoy your Valentine's Day, whatever form it takes and whoever you're able to spend it with~
.
.
#happyvalentinesday❤️
  • Footer

    Our Products
    Instructor Central

    Privacy Policy
    Contact Us

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Copyright © 2021 PlanningShop · All Rights Reserved · Site design by paulinaart

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

    SAVE & ACCEPT
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.