How to Market Yourself as a Product

In marketing a product, a service or even a person, the same principles apply to each of them.

To market yourself is just the same as marketing a product or a service to a customer – you also promote and sell yourself to an employer.

Imagine that you are selling a product. There are many types of products already available at the market right now. So the question is… how are you going to make your product rise up and excel among its competitors?

The first step is to know your product deeper. The more you know your product the more you will understand its benefits and weakness. This in turn will be a favorable edge in your campaign in selling the product.

After doing research and study on your product, you have to develop a promotional campaign that targets how your product will meet the needs of your prospect buyers. It is very important that you make sure that you package your product to attract them. There’s nothing better than a good package and presentation in hitting a successful transaction or sale.

Next is to determine your prospect buyers. Who will buy your product? Also, you will have to research for a good location where you want to sell your product and determine who will buy the most of it. Who and what kind of people will be willing to buy your product?

Once your product hits the market, you must constantly evaluate your marketing approach. Be prepared to make changes if you find that you are not hitting your targets.

Here are some important tips to market yourself as the product in your job search. The steps are the same as marketing a usual product or service to customers.

1) Assess yourself carefully.
– Evaluate yourself, such as your education, skills, values, habits and other professional qualities.
– Consider what you can do to help the business achieve success and accomplish its objectives.
– Be specific and be clear on how you will do those things.

2) Develop an advertising program that will establish your target market.
– Research your targeted employers, which may involve determining factors, such as location, working environment, and other important things you should consider when finding the right employer.
– Submit your resume, cover letter, application, and other required documents to the right employers.
– If necessary, you can acquire more training and education to align your professional background and experience to the employer and to the job you are seeking.

4) Determine the trends of your prospective companies
– You’ve got to know if these companies are expanding, downsizing, innovating or introducing new products to the market.
– You also have to learn the legal, social and political impacts affecting these companies.

5) Evaluate and reevaluate your strategies.
– Track your performance and check if you are meeting your goals. Are you getting invitations for interview? Are you getting job offers? Are you getting positive response from employers?
– Don’t stop learning, acquiring new skills, and improving your professional and personal market value.

There are many ways to improve your chance of success. One important way to boost your marketability is networking. You’ve got to practice networking online and offline. Online networking includes joining professional networking sites, like Linkedin.com or Facebook groups for certain professionals. You can also join Internet forums for specific professions. For example, business professionals can join business forums or Internet marketing professionals can join SEO or other online marketing communities online. By interacting online professionals and company executives, and by meeting different people with the same interest, you will be able to expand your network.

Offline networking should not also be taken for granted. Your offline networking strategies may include joining association and organizations that are aligned to your specific profession. For example, if you are a Certified Public Accountant, you can join the association of CPAs in your country or region. Being habitually helpful to people is also a great form of networking. It makes your relationship with people stronger and more lasting. And although they may not have a direct interest on your profession, they can spread a good word-of-mouth that can make your network expand more and positively.

 

Photo credit: Three Business Men by Kosta Kostov