Self-promotion: If you don't, who will? [Part Two]

Earlier this week, we brought you our interview with Annie Weinert of Vaudezilla Productions. She gave us her insight into self-promotion, we enjoyed it and decided to share it with you!

If you haven't already, check out part one.

With the increasing popularity of blogs, is a website still important?

Websites are the ultimate resource. A well-designed website will give any person all of the relevant information they need regarding a business in a matter of of several clicks. Most blogs aren’t designed that way, yet. To make the best use of a blog, point it back to your website or integrate it into your website. I am not a fan of blogs as websites – I think it makes the company look like small potatoes.

What site have you found the most beneficial in your own self-promotion?

My website is my number one most beneficial website. I get the vast majority of my work via email inquiries through my website. A close second is Facebook (especially if you regularly visit and update), and my blog.

What's the biggest mistake you have made or you have seen others make during self-promotion?

The biggest mistake people make when they are attempting self-promotion is to bogart information or try to climb on other people to get to the top. There’s room for everyone, and the most successful people in this industry are the ones that play well with others. Got a job inquiry you can’t use? Send it to someone who can! Found a cheap printer? Share the info with your colleagues.

I’ve personally been burnt out on more than one occasion by people who don’t reciprocate my good will, be it through referrals, networking opportunities, or even just name-dropping in interviews. It’s much more fun to pay it forward to people who are courteous and thoughtful. Remember, it’s important to surround yourself with people you want to succeed who also want you to succeed!

What advice can you offer for someone just starting out?

My all-time favorite piece of advise for newbies is this: find a supportive mentor or group of people who can help you develop your self-promotion skills. It’s really important to find someone who will teach you things, but still allow you personal freedom to make mistakes. Depending on how successful you’d like your product to be, you may want to find a mentor who is very secure – a mentor who is threatened by your success is no mentor at all.

We'd like to thank Annie for providing us with a few tricks of the self-promotion trade. You can learn more about Vaudezilla Productions by visiting their website.