5 Tips to Help Solopreneurs Talk About Themselves (Without Feeling Phony)
As a solopreneur, your personal brand is central to your business. But for many, talking about themselves — their expertise, accomplishments and impact — can feel uncomfortable and inauthentic. It’s natural to worry about sounding boastful, insecure or just plain corny. We get it. Yet, being able to speak confidently about your work is essential to building credibility, fostering trust and establishing yourself as an expert in your field.
One of the top questions we get around here is about how can you navigate self-promotion without it feeling forced. Let’s dive into why it’s critical for your business, and some thoughtful ways to share your story authentically.
Why Talking About Yourself Matters
Your audience, whether they’re clients, partners or potential collaborators, wants to understand not just what you do, but why you do it and how it benefits them. When you share your expertise and accomplishments, you're:
Building Credibility and Expertise: You need to demonstrate that you know what you’re doing. Thoughtfully telling people about your background and achievements in a way that highlights your impact helps position you as an authority in your field.
Fostering Transparency and Trust: Being open about your journey — including especially the challenges you’ve faced — humanizes you. People connect with real stories, not perfection. Vulnerability builds trust and makes you relatable. Sharing more than just the highlight reel makes you authentic.
Attracting the Right Clients: When you share your unique perspectives, values and experiences, you attract clients and partners who resonate with your approach and trust that you’re the right fit for their needs. This makes business better for all parties.
Staying Top of Mind: People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are. (This is a good thing, promise!) Showing up in your audience’s feed or inbox on the regular with content that lets people in on who you are and what you do puts you in front of them when they have a need you can serve.
How to Talk About Yourself Thoughtfully and Authentically
Here are some ways to talk about yourself that feel natural and compelling without coming across as egotistical:
1. Talk About the Results, Not Just What You Did
Instead of simply listing the tasks you’ve completed or services you offer, focus on the outcomes you’ve delivered. For example: Share a big client win, discuss a pattern you see in your work that helps or hinders your clients, or celebrate a milestone you’re really proud of.
2. Share Your Mistakes
Talking about mistakes or obstacles you’ve faced, and how you overcame them, shows that you’re human. It makes your story relatable and it makes you likable. You might discuss a business problem you experienced and overcame or open up about a less-than habit you’re working to change.
3. Give Your Opinion on a Topic
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to talk about your expertise. Sharing your perspective on industry trends, business practices or a specific topic within your niche is a subtle way to showcase your knowledge. This not only provides value to your audience but also positions you as someone with a unique point of view.
4. Showcase Client Success Stories
Rather than talking directly about yourself, share stories of how you’ve helped clients succeed. Frame the story around your client’s challenge, how you worked together and the results they achieved with your help. It’s an indirect yet powerful way to highlight your skills and impact.
5. Be Honest and Sincere
Authenticity shines through when you’re being honest about what you do, why you do it and what you believe in. Avoid overhyping your accomplishments or embellishing stories to seem more impressive. Instead, focus on being genuine. When you stray from you — your story, your thoughts, your impact — people can tell.
Practical Tips for Finding Your Voice
Start Small: If talking about yourself feels overwhelming, start by sharing small wins or personal insights. Gradually, you’ll become more comfortable highlighting bigger successes and deeper lessons.
Write How You Speak: Use conversational language that feels natural to you. Avoid industry jargon or overly formal language unless it suits your brand.
Focus on the Audience: Always keep your audience in mind. Frame your experiences and accomplishments in a way that answers, “How does this help them?” This keeps your message relevant and valuable.
Just be You: At the end of the day, when you show up from a place of humbleness, vulnerability and authenticity, you can’t go wrong. Let your heart and good intentions shine through.
Conclusion
For solopreneurs, talking about yourself isn’t about bragging — it’s about sharing your story in a way that highlights your expertise, builds trust and cultivates meaningful relationships. By focusing on results, embracing vulnerability and truly leaning into you and what makes you uniquely you, you can build an authentic, positive and true brand.
Still cringe at the idea of developing your own brand content? We can help. From the Foundation Framework, which is an exercise in defining your story, to executive social media management and content development for all the areas you show up, we’re here to help you show up authentically and in a way that feels right for you. Schedule a conversation with our crew today.
