Shameless Self-Promotion (That I’m Actually a Bit Ashamed Of) - Tips for Self-Promotion

My Book 'The Pundamentals' - Available now on Amazon

Confession: I hate self-promotion.

I hate it in that deeply British, please-don’t-make-a-fuss kind of way. I’d rather sit in a puddle than draw attention to myself. And yet… I’ve also written a book. A book I’m really proud of.

It’s called The Pundamentals - From the Improv Stage to the Page, and if I don’t tell anyone about it, who will?

When I first published it, I naively thought I could just release it into the wild and trust that word of mouth would do its thing. But books don’t magically fly off digital shelves. They need a nudge. Or rather, a full-on shove.

And so began my reluctant journey into the world of shameless self-promotion—a phrase that still makes me wince.

Finding My Voice (And Not Just in the Book)

In person, I cope by turning promotion into a bit of a joke. I play the awkward author card, and people seem to respond to that. But online, you don’t get that tone. Facebook doesn’t let you do an apologetic shrug or ironic eyebrow raise. So I had to get creative.

I started experimenting with how I posted in groups. I didn’t want to spam, so I tried to offer value or humour or context—something that might interest people even if they didn’t know me or hadn’t heard of the book. I shared behind-the-scenes bits, or odd facts that related to the themes. I kept it conversational and genuine. And to my surprise… it actually worked.

People responded. Some even bought the book. Some read it. Some messaged me to say they loved it. And that was when it really clicked:

Shameless self-promotion isn’t about ego. It’s about connection.

It’s not saying “I’m amazing, buy my stuff.” It’s saying “I made something I care about. Maybe you’ll care too.”

So What’s the Lesson?

Honestly, I’m still learning. I still feel weird every time I hit “post.” But I’ve realised that being proud of your work and wanting to share it isn’t a betrayal of your values. It’s an act of courage.

So here’s my advice, for whatever it’s worth:

• Don’t be afraid to be a little cringey. Most people are too busy worrying about their own stuff to judge you.

• Let your personality come through. If you’re funny, be funny. If you’re nerdy, be nerdy.

• Remember that not everyone will care, and that’s okay. But someone will. And you might just make their day better.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and… casually mention that The Pundamentals is available on Amazon. (See what I did there?)

Have you struggled with self-promotion too? Got any tips for making it feel less icky? I’d love to hear from you.

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