I don’t write here to make money. I don’t write here in hopes of one day becoming a “famous blogger” or to get free stuff from companies.

I do it for the likes.

I work for social currency.

Many of today’s creators are “doing it for the likes”.

The thing is, people don’t want to pay money for content. The internet has taught us that content should be free. Facebook accounts are free, Flickr photo hosting is free, Gmail’s email service is free, Skype is free, WordPress blogs are free to create and free to read, Instagram is free, and tons of the other services and things we interact with online are free. We watch YouTube videos for free, browse Google Images for free or read news on the Huffington Post for free.

It’s an epidemic of free.

The current common consensus is that content is king and content is free.

So as creators, we have no choice, but to do it for the likes. All we ask is that you repay us with some form of engagement. We’re in it for the retweets, comments, linkbacks and “social amplification” that your likes cause.

If you stop participating, we stop creating.

We need reaction. We crave engagement. We desire emotion. We inspire connection.

Support creators by providing one of the above.

And don’t be stingy with your likes, after all, they’re free.

Follow me on Twitter here.

This is a guest post that was originally written and published on the Spin Sucks blog back in August. I’m reposting it here because I want to make sure that you guys see it! Enjoy.

Something odd is happening in the land of the web these days; we’re becoming weary of self-promotion.

(Some) Business people are afraid to “toot their own horns” because on the Internet, it’s so easy to sound like a braggadocio (and even if you don’t sound like one, chances are @humblebrag will find you).

Social media is inherently a narcissist’s tool, so we’re all in good company. But lately, we’ve been calling out others in our own networks for being “shady salesmen.”

The Internet has a bad habit of eating its young and we (as a collective group of social media users) are responsible for that. We create or position someone as an “influencer” or “thought leader” and as soon as they start selling us on something, feelings of distrust, jealousy, and deceit start to develop.

Interestingly enough, there are industries out there, where self-promotion is not only accepted, but is the necessary standard.

If you’re friends with a musician or band member on Facebook, I’m sure you’ve seen similar posts:

• “Make sure you ‘LIKE’ [insert band name here] on Facebook! We rock!”
• “Hey, we need your help, vote for [insert band name here] in this contest. Thanks! If we win, you’ll get to watch us rock out LIVE!”
• “[insert band name here] is having a show tonight at the venue, make sure you come and bring a friend. It’s only $10.”
• “We just released our album! Swing by our record release party and buy the album online. Also, watch our videos on YouTube, we just hit 50,000 views!”

Are bands and musicians and artists exempt from self-promotion?

No, they are not.

They just do it in a way that’s so authentic, so pure, and so genuine that you can’t help but to support them. Artists are the ultimate entrepreneurs and we as business people can learn a lot from them.

So, it’s time to recognize that we’re all here for ulterior motives. We all have something to “sell.”  It’s OK to self-promote and there are ways to do it without sounding or looking like you’re full of yourself.

First and foremost, get rid of your cheesy avatar and slip into something a bit more comfortable.

Five Ways to Self Promote and Keep it Real

1. If you’re going to talk about an accomplishment, give props to others. It’s not possible to do it alone. Give the people who helped you along the way credit. Not only will it help you spread you’re message, but it allows you to be self-promotional without sounding self-absorbed. Invest in yourself by investing in others.
2. Believe in yourself. Believe in what you’re saying and believe in what you’re doing. Stand for something and don’t be afraid to argue your point. If you don’t believe in your cause, no one else will.
3. Honesty is the best policy. Unfortunately, many marketers tend to “extend the truth a bit.” People are already skeptical of us, and our industry. Earn the trust, reap the reward.
4. Everyone makes mistakes. One of the biggest faults committed by big names in the industry is that they hardly admit fault. They never say sorry. They never seem as vulnerable as we do. Being human is our biggest selling point.
5. Be Likeable Remember that kid in gym class who was always the best at everything? Remember how much you disliked him? Don’t be him. Stay humble, remain respectful and  make it easy for people to like you. Always remember where you came from/how you got where you are.
6. Just Say It. If you have something to say, just say it.

Do you have any other tips on how to not come off as an “online braggadocio”? Share them with us in the comments!

For this episode of Livin’ The Dream, I had the great pleasure of interviewing Tyler Tervooren of Advanced Riskology.

I’ve been following Tyler’s journey for the past year or so and man, is he an impressive fella. Tyler just got back to the US from climbing some mountains and running a marathon in Africa (he plans to run one in every continent).

Watch the video below and learn from the Professor of Riskology himself!

“This, in two words, is the secret of the new marketing. Find ten people. Ten people who trust you/respect you/need you/listen to you…Those ten people need what you have to sell, or want it. And if they love it, you win. If they love it, they’ll each find you ten more people (or a hundred or a thousand or, perhaps, just three). Repeat.” – Seth Godin