How to market yourself in a loud world

Who else hates marketing? What about posting on social media like a self-absorbed and inconsiderate jerk? Self-promotion is a necessary part of work, but it feels unnatural to many of us. A lot of people grew up with an old-school work ethic: Put your head down, do good work, stay modest, and don’t draw attention to yourself. You learn to fly under the radar and hope your results speak for you. But if you’re an artist, writer, freelancer, or entrepreneur, people first need to know that your work exists. And that’s where the discomfort starts. You want to share your work without becoming someone who turns every conversation into a sales pitch. I’ve been writing online since 2015, and I’m still not interested in becoming an internet personality. But I’ve learned how to promote my work in a way that fits me. Here are five things that helped me. 1. Accept marketing as part of the work The first step is accepting that marketing belongs to the work. To be honest, I don’t love the commercial…