It’s difficult for many of us to promote our creative efforts effectively because it feels like bragging. After all, how are ew suppose to extoll the virtues of our own work without sounding conceited? I have a strategy for you that works every time — and makes your outreach a lot less ham-handed. Instead of talking about how great your comic is, talk about your “Pride & Joy” instead.

Let’s face it. A social-media message like “Hey! My comics is the greatest, and you should read it right now!” is a little egotistical — and might even be abrasive to some folks. That’s why I recommend phrasing your self-promotion in terms of either Pride or Joy.

Pride

Instead of talking about how wonderful your comic is, try talking about how proud you are instead. No one can argue with someone who feels a genuine sense of accomplishment over the work they’ve put into something. More to the point, people gravitate towards creators who are passionate about their efforts. saying your comic is the greatest achievement in its genre is going to generate pushback from people eager to defend their favorites. But expressing your sincere sense of accomplishment is a warm emotion that people appreciate.

Joy

Like pride, sharing your sense of joy over the creation of a project is equally effective. Instead of making an objective statement of quality, for example, you can talk about the joy you felt in creating it. Talk about the happiness this creative process brought to you. Even if you’re talking about a specific part of the craft — like your coloring or your character design — focusing on your joy creates an effective and attractive marketing message to prospective readers.

You don’t need to force yourself to become an egotistical loudmouth to do well-targeted promotion for your comic. If you focus on messages like Pride and Joy, you can convey nearly the exact same talking points in a way that will draw new readers to you.

If you try this in your next few social-media messages, be sure to come back and share your results!