{"id":566,"date":"2014-08-11T13:40:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-11T18:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/?p=566"},"modified":"2014-08-11T13:42:14","modified_gmt":"2014-08-11T18:42:14","slug":"self-promotion-baby-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ellismorning.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/self-promotion-baby-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Promotion: Baby Steps for Total Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"nature017\"<\/a>No one said this would be an easy climb.\u00a0 Let’s get started!\u00a0 (Image credit: imagebase.net<\/a>)<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n

When one works Tech Support, one tends to develop a dim view of salespeople.\u00a0 Many of them are the former jocks who gave you hell in high school, now sporting fake tans, classy suits, and leased BMWs.\u00a0 They care more about meeting their quotas than actually assisting people.\u00a0 When their customers call Tech Support to complain that what they bought isn’t appropriate for their needs, they’re thousands of miles away on another Tahitian vacation, paid for by the company.<\/p>\n

Overly pushy sales-beasts in other realms- cars, retail- only add to one’s negative image.\u00a0 One tends to prefer e-commerce, where one can better ignore these pitches.<\/p>\n

And then one decides to focus on writing- and realizes she has to be come her own salesperson.<\/p>\n

I’m starting out as poorly equipped for this as one can be.\u00a0 I’m a shy, soft-spoken introvert whose anxiety issues flare up in social situations.\u00a0 Hell, I’m still at the stage where just sharing my writing with other people<\/a> requires deep breaths and a big leap over an emotional hurdle.<\/p>\n

But, I’m determined to get better.\u00a0 A few things that make it easier:<\/p>\n