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How to get yourself noticed in a crowded market

Submitted by Simon Lewis on December 17, 2009 – 1:13 amOne Comment

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Tired of being overlooked for the marketing jobs you know you’re right for? You need to stand out from the crowd.

The way you look, how you communicate and the subliminal signals you transmit leave an indelible impression on the world’s perception of you. Managing this impression can mean the difference between success and failure.

If you are being overlooked for promotion or are not receiving the call-backs you think you deserve, chances are it has something to do with your image. And before you reach for the phone and call your hair stylist, there’s more to your professional demeanour than a manicured mane:

Professional player or hardcore hedonist?

If you haven’t already done it, type your name into Google and click search. What comes up? Hopefully you’ll get your [LinkedIn] professional profile; brilliant scribes from your blog pages; and a couple of client commendations from recent work. If, however, you see Facebook images of your recent night out clubbing, you need to start worrying. For as funny as it might have been then, your drunken escapades could cost you your career.

It’s not a game of hide and seek

Transparency and authenticity are the buzz-word of social interaction. If you’re looking for a job in marketing you need to ensure your online profile reflects this. You should be loading up your recommendations and dropping personal blog posts into your pages. Don’t be afraid to stick your head above the parapet. Join relevant discussion groups and participate. As a marketer you’re supposed to have an opinion, so don’t be afraid to voice it!

Snazzy suit, Sir!

How you dress can mean the difference between acceptance and failure. In business circles, particularly, image is everything. Builders are expected to wear scruffy clothes. Marketing professionals are not. Teachers can get away with beige slacks and button-down shirts. Marketing professionals cannot. Back-office techies wear unnecessarily long trousers and ill-fitting shoes. Marketing professionals shouldn’t.

Since we all judge a book by its cover it is important to get our image right from the start. How we look is essential. Yes, it’s superficial and no it’s not strictly PC. But it’s the way it is.

Is it time you had a shifty through your wardrobe?

Shake hands like a wet fish?

Nobody likes a limp, clammy handshake. It’s the same feeling you get when you imagine stuffing your mouth with cotton wool, or scratching your nails down a chalk-board. It’s just not pleasant. A firm grip, on the other hand (excuse the pun), evokes trust and authority.

However, clasping someone’s hand as you shake it is a sign of insincerity. Could this be why your boss ignores your promotional advances?

What makes you so different?

(Almost) everyone has a key differentiator, one main attribute that sets them apart from their peers. Identifying this and maximising its virtues will make you more influential. Developing growth in your visibility through differentiation is essential in order to maximise potential.

Why are you different from your competitors?

Who are you looking at?

Improving communication increases the impact you make on others, and this is not just about the way you speak. Non-verbal communication is important, too – often more so. Retaining good eye contact, knowing when to fold your arms, cross your legs and showing you are listening are important relationship-development tools. Getting them right shows you care and this helps build trust and authenticity.

You’re not as perfect as you think you are…

…and that goes for everyone. Whether you’re looking to develop your career, make more friends or optimise existing relationships you need to be on your game consistently and at all levels, online and offline.

Without guidance it can be difficult to see things objectivity. And when trying to work out why people aren’t buying into your personal brand you need some home-truths. As marketers you’re used to criticism, so deal with it.