Elena Prokopets
It’s been quite a few years since you started at your job, and you have some solid chops. You know that, and perhaps some of your colleagues and your boss, too. But otherwise, there are few public clues to how well you’re fairing professionally.
Many very talented people are often too modest to toot their own horn publicly or they don’t quite see the value of self-promotion. After all, not all of us want to be influencers. But as research has found, people with prominent personal brands have better chances in career advancements.
In this post, we’ll debunk some false beliefs you may harbour about self-promotion and help you become a ‘natural’ in this with several quick strategies.
What Is Self-Promotion, Really?
Self-promotion is the art of confidently speaking about your skills, accomplishments, and strengths. It’s not empty bragging — it’s claiming the space your hard work deserves. Or in the words of Austin Kleon, a New York Times bestselling author: “It’s not enough to be good. In order to be found, you have to be findable.”
Because let’s be real: Good opportunities come to people who’re proactive and visible. Having a strong reputation at work and online means you’re more likely to be considered for promotion (because you’re known to be a pro in X, Y, Z) and you’ll have an easier time negotiating a raise (for the same reasons).
Having a public professional brand, in turn, opens doors to new hidden job market opportunities — direct headhunting, fractional or consulting gigs, public speaking engagements, teaching positions, and more.
In other words: if you want to grow professionally, you’ll need to learn self-marketing — and it’s not as hard as you think!
How to Promote Yourself Without the “Ick”
Effective self-PR isn’t brazen bragging round the clock to anyone in your vicinity. It’s a more subtle and creative approach to telling your story online and in person. Think of it as inviting people into your world, not forcing them to watch a one-person show.
Below are our top four self-promotion tips anyone can strategically use to build an authentic, relatable personal brand.
Nurture the Right Skills
Self-promotion is a skill like loads of others, meaning you can strengthen it with a bit of practice by practicing:
- Emotional intelligence. Great networkers can read the room. They know when (and how) to start the conversation without coming off as arrogant or insensitive. Listen to others first. Learn about their interests and needs, and then “plug” yourself in when the setting feels right (e.g., when the conversation goes into your area of expertise).
- Storytelling. Successful self-promoters don’t boast about their accomplishments. In their stories, they highlight challenges, lessons, and outcomes in a relatable way. Rather than dropping facts, they invite people into their experience, making it easier for others to remember (and root for) them.
- Networking. Effective self-promotion is based on genuine, meaningful relationships, not ephemeral “hype”. To cultivate those, you need to give first — offer help, insights, or support before asking for anything in return. When you focus on building relationships first (and showing your personality and expertise as part of that), new connections become easy, and the entire experience never feels salesy.
Lastly, stow away any feeling of insecurity you have at work. To inspire and persuade others, you need to trust in your own value. That trust fuels your confidence and helps you get comfortable talking about all the great qualities you have!
Come up with a Creative Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is a short, punchy intro that sells who you are and what you do. Think of it as a more succinct version of your LinkedIn profile summary. Having one is essential for networking and all sorts of online personal branding campaigns.
Having a strong understanding of what makes you unique makes it easier to frame your online storytelling to connect with others. So it gets easier to come up with LinkedIn post ideas, portfolio highlights, or just talking points for connecting with different people.
Take it from Marta Puerto, a product marketing manager, who used her professional brand to create a virtual LinkedIn video. After being laid off, Marta posted a humorous promo video where she marketed herself as a “product”, showcasing her professional chops. It got massive traction on social media, and within a week, she was talking to multiple companies about new job opportunities.
Share the Journey, Not Just the Outcomes
Content creation is a huge part of self-promotion. But coming up with good ideas to share isn’t always easy, especially when you don’t want to appear self-centered.
Our best tip? Focus on the behind-the-scenes moments — the challenges you faced, the lessons you learned, and small wins that helped you get ahead. Sharing your process, not just your accomplishments, makes you relatable and genuine. Plus, it keeps your audience engaged because they get to root for you along the way.
Recent graduate Lohanny Santos had a really hard time finding a job (as many freshers do these days), despite having a dual degree in communications and acting. Rather than playing the “fake it till you make it” card, Lohanny poured his soul out in an emotional TikTok video. It gained thousands of views and tripled her follower count overnight. Lohanny’s inbox was also chock-full with job referrals, interview invites, freelance, and brand partnership opportunities.
Become a Mentor
While it may be tempting to just chase the social clout (e.g., more followers or LinkedIn connections), the strongest reputation is earned through doing. When you genuinely help people grow, your influence expands naturally, no flashy self-promotion needed.
There are plenty of online platforms where you can register as a mentor and consult others for free or for a small fee:
If your goal is to advance your standing in the office, ask HR about internal mentorship or training programs that you could contribute to. If there isn’t one yet, pitch in to start one! This will demonstrate both your leadership skills and help you develop a stronger personal network.
Conclusion
When done right, self-promotion doesn’t leave you feeling like you need a shower, nor makes people believe that you’re a show-off. On the contrary, it helps you build more meaningful connections with people who share the same interests, passions, and ambitions as you do. So don’t be afraid to get started!
