A lot of people ask me what the trick is to do doing well in the YOBI.tv talent contests. My answer is always the same: there is no trick. But I can say that the artists who do well in our contests usually all have one thing in common — and that is, they are all very good at self-promotion.
I know what you’re thinking. “Thanks, Jen. Thanks a lot.” *eyeroll* But really, that is the key. And it’s not only the key to doing well in the YOBI contests. Self promotion is the key for any up and coming artist who is trying to break into their field.
The idea of self-promotion can be pretty intimidating. I’ll give you that. Maybe it makes you uncomfortable. Maybe you’re trying to do it and the only thing that seems to be happening is you’re bugging your friends. Or maybe you actually don’t even know what self-promotion really means. Googling “self-promotion” or “how to promote yourself” gets you a billion hits. So where do you start?
Now here’s someplace I can help. These are certainly not the only resources on self-promotion, but they are a good place to start.
How to Get Motivated for Self-Promotion by Alex Mathers on 99u.com offers “a step-by step-approach for getting fired up and getting organized to market yourself in the short-term and the long-term.”
The Cure for People Who Hate to Self-Promote by Kristi Hedges on Forbes.com offers three steps as to how you can “self-promote more comfortably, with grace and confidence.”
How to Brand and Promote Yourself Online Part 1 by Jessica Holbrook on ZCorum.com explains how “by taking charge of your image and branding yourself online, you will stand out and be remembered, stay relevant, and have more opportunities in your field.”
How to Gracefully Promote Yourself Online by Andrea Bartz and Brenna Erhlich on CNN.com explains that “self-promotion is an art, not a science, because it takes a bit of instinct and talent to tiptoe across the tightrope between tooting your own horn and sprinting down the street at 6 a.m. with an air horn blaring.”
How to Promote Yourself (Without Being Sleazy) by Alan Henry at lifehacker.com offers advice on how you can “promote yourself without coming off as a sleazy pest.”
10 Self-Promotion Tips That Aren’t Sleazy by James Clear at PassivePanda.com offers “10 ways to self–promote that will always work and will never come across as sleazy.”
Social Minefield: How to Self-Promote Without Being a Jerk by Anna North at jezebel.com offers tips on how to self-promote “without being That Person Who Sends All The Annoying Emails.”
Hopefully you’ll find these resources helpful. If you find another one that belongs on this list, leave it in a comment or tweet it @yobitv
Best wishes and good luck to all!
