Not long ago, I ran into the real-estate agent who once sold me my apartment. We had viewed it in winter, when it was already dark, with the previous owners still living there. You don’t really get a clear impression that way. We knew it was simple and that it would need some work, but when I finally got the key, I was still shocked. There was far more to fix than I had expected.
And I thought: I could never sell such an apartment to anyone myself.
That’s the difference. The agent had, of course, made it sound wonderful — they’re good at that, those smooth talkers. But me? I’m not a great salesperson. I’m probably too honest. If something isn’t possible, I’ll just say so. And even after more than 25 years as a web designer, selling is still not my strongest side.
I still remember someone once saying: “When you talk about websites, just say you can get people to the top of Google.”
But I can’t do that. I don’t want to. Because I simply can’t guarantee it. It depends on so many factors — content, competition, the client’s own effort. You can’t just promise something like that, can you?
Still, it’s tricky: how do you sell yourself when you don’t like selling? How do you express your value without pretending to be bigger than you are? How do you stay true to yourself and still attract the right clients?
It’s an ongoing search. But I’m starting to believe the answer lies in being visible as you truly are. No shouting, no exaggeration. Just showing what you do, what you stand for, and who you love working with. And yes, that can feel scary. But it’s real.
Maybe that’s the most powerful way to sell:
by showing yourself as you are — honest, genuine, and with love for your craft.