Self-Promotion Month, which is during the month of October, was founded by Debbie Allen, speaker and author of the book Confessions of Shameless Self-Promoters. Her inspiration for the event was her discovery that most people do not feel comfortable actively promoting themselves because they feel that they will appear boastful or pushy.

Not promoting yourself goes against the grain of all marketing and sales concepts! Doesn’t it? If you don’t promote, how will others know what you have to offer? And how can you ever be truly successful?

Promotional products are one of the most effective self-promotion tools. Their unique ability to touch all of the senses gives them incredible sticking power and low cost per impression. Here are three ways to make sure that you are getting the most out of the Promotional Products that you use for self-promotion.

Distribution

One of the biggest mistakes using promotional product is the assumption that you just give them to anyone. That is rarely the best approach. When considering how to distribute your self-promotion pieces, ask yourself “who?” and “why?” Select a specific target audience that is or could be in the market for your product or service and build your self-promotion around them. Next, don’t just give your promotional products away for free, get something in return for the item like contact information for further self-promotion opportunities.

Location

You want to have your self-promotion item in a place where it will receive maximum exposure, so choose items that will find themselves in a highly visible spot in the recipient’s daily routine. Several industry studies have shown that people keep promotional products that they find useful. So target a specific location in your target audience member’s day like their car, desktop, kitchen, purse or mobile device and choose an item that will be useful in that space.

Wow Factor

While the number one reason people keep promotional product is usefulness, the number two reason is attractiveness. With thousands of cool products out there, you and your promotional consultant are sure to find a promotional product that will “wow” your audience. With an increasing number of promotional products available with a full color imprint, some of the most basic promotional items are now creative canvases to display your personal or business brand. Look for additional value added or customization options to create a unique self-promotion piece that grabs, and holds, your audience’s attention.

While self-promotion can be one of the more difficult tasks as a professional, promotional products can make it easier to spread the word. Remember, if you don’t brag about yourself, no one else will.