The holidays are over, the leftovers are long gone, the resolutions have been made.

Or not.

Are you unnerved at the thought of either starting a marketing plan, or chewing your nails about polishing your existing image? It can be overwhelming if you look at where you want to be compared with where you are now.

It’s not a big deal. Just start at the beginning.

What’s your first impression?

What’s your initial point of contact with your customers? Is it your website? A studio, storefront or office? A Facebook page? Start with that, and work both inward and outward.

Working outward is obvious: you take an objective look at your public face, so to speak.

Looking inward is no less important. What you tell yourself about your business or professional practice shapes the way you make every decision.

What you tell yourself can also stop you dead in your tracks.

Kiss your objections goodbye

“I can’t do marketing. It feels fake, like I’m bragging.” So don’t brag. Talk about what you do. Dispense with the flowery words and use plain language instead. You can embellish later, once the jitters settle.

“I can’t keep up with the bigshots. They’re famous and I’m not.” A lot of bigshots started out like the rest of us and worked their way to the top. Stop making comparisons.

“I don’t have a big marketing budget.” That excuse might work if you’re trying to take on the Ford Motor Company. You’re not. Connecting with your customers doesn’t cost a fortune.

“But I suck at networking!” Me too. I’m no good at small talk. But I love ideas. Sharing ideas on Twitter is a blast. (And it’s free.)

“I can’t make cold calls.” Most of us hate making cold calls. So don’t. There’s almost always more than one way to do something. The alternative might take longer and mean more work, but if it keeps you moving in the right direction, you just walked around a roadblock.

Respect your work

This is your profession. It’s your job. Your livelihood. Even if you’re just starting out and made your first fifty bucks, you have to treat your business like a business. Even if you’re scared out of your mind that you’ll fail miserably. Treating your work with the same gravitas as if you were a surgeon or an engineer helps keep your focus where it needs to be.

What if the nasty chicken voices won’t shut up?

Sometimes all the positive self-talk in the world won’t get you going. Sometimes you just have to pretend you aren’t terrified. There’s no single method that will work for everyone. If you’re the type who needs some concrete action before you can do the mental work, stay tuned for part two, for the hands-on stuff.

Any nasty chicken voices to share? What’s your biggest stumbling block? What’s your favourite objection to promoting your work?

Related posts:

1. The ins and outs of your first impression (part 2 – look outward)