It’s not uncommon to think that you’re really good at what you do, but to rarely getting a chance to show people your skills. Although you may be experienced, highly skilled, and you may have written dozens of manuals and how-to guides, you may not be getting enough exposure to use this knowledge to maximize your profits.

Most people will say “I don’t like to talk about myself, it feels like bragging to say I am terrific at something”. And this can often be the case as many businesses (and people) don’t know how to express their capabilities to potential clients without sounding boastful and pretentious.

Many professionals are hesitant or even fearful to speak out about how good they are. You may feel that others will criticise you, or simply believe it’s unprofessional to boast. But, there are ways you can let people know what you’re capable of without ever having to brag.

Use Your Clients’ Words Instead of Your Own

Testimonial quotes and endorsement letters from satisfied clients are one of the most powerful tools that you can use to help communicate your value. When clients describe what you did for them in their own words, potential clients gain a reliable perspective on your skills that can often be very persuasive.

To get convincing testimonials from your clients, pick a time when they have recently expressed their appreciation for what you do.
Ask them, “How would you describe my work to someone who could benefit from it?” Remember to use these testimonial quotes on your website and in your marketing strategy.

Endorsement letters can also help tell the story of your worth. Ask your clients to write a letter addressed directly to you describing their experience of working with you and the value they gained from it. Then once again, use them on your website, or in direct marketing to new and existing clients.

Let Stories Show What You Can Do

Testimonials and endorsements can help with written communications, but when you need to speak with prospective clients verbally about your capabilities, be prepared with two or three client success stories. Instead of boasting about your qualifications, you can simply relate what happened, and how your skills improved a clients’ business.

Begin by briefly describing your clients’ situation when you began working together, then outline what you did for him, and conclude with the client’s reaction and results. Again, use your client’s words to tell the story instead of using your words.

For example, instead of saying, “I wrote a manual that was easy to use and completed it well in advance of the deadline,” you could say, “My client was very pleased with how easy it was to use the manual, and he appreciated my completing it well before his deadline.”

This subtle shift can make all the difference in your comfort level because instead of relating your own perspective on what you did, you are sharing the client’s view of it. This is often much more convincing than speaking in the first person.

This storytelling approach can also help to get across the tangible results of an intangible process without having to focus purely on your qualifications.

Let Your Achievements Speak for You

If you don’t have a lot of testimonials, how do you provide evidence of your skills? If you’re in this situation, make sure your CV, LinkedIn profile (or other professional bio) includes all the affiliations, awards, and accomplishments you have.

Another solution for this problem is to create a portfolio of your most successful projects. If you show a potential client a portfolio full of notable achievements, it will allow you to present your skills properly instead of merely claiming you are good at something.

If you don’t let people know how you can help them, you will never get a chance to do so. When you show people what you can do, you’re letting them know how your work can make their lives or jobs easier. Their businesses grow, and their profits increase!

So, choose one of these ideas to show off without bragging! Don’t forget to plan how these stories can fit into your marketing strategy: read our content marketing blog post to learn more.