How to Promote Your Academic Career: Step-by-Step Guide

This updated guide explains how to Promote Your Academic Career through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 3:

Marketing in Academia

Learn some marketing terms to help you get understand how to market yourself. In this marketing plan, you are the product, so think of how you appear to your potential customer, whether it be a professor, employer or a potential research partner.
- A campaign. Not all promotion is done in a constant, consistent way. When you are in the act of publishing an article, receiving a degree or being honored, you have the ability to promote yourself in order to highlight this particular accomplishment. Consider some academic honors time-sensitive and do a self-promotion campaign in the 3 months surrounding that event.
- Marketing materials. While you won't be paying for print ads and TV commercials, you still have marketing materials to give to potential employers or publishers. Continually update your curriculum vitae, so that you can send it to new contacts as you get them. Also, print business cards and think about having a portfolio website that contains biographical information and links to published work.
- Professionalism and presentation. The academic world is susceptible to the same notions of first impressions as any other field. When you go to work, go to school or network at an event, think of yourself as the product you are marketing, and put extra time into the packaging and message you may need to send.

Method 2 of 3:

Promoting with Published Work

Use citations to your advantage. Citing the premier leaders in your academic field is a great way to get noticed by them. Cite anyone who has been influential in your work, in order to create a connection.
Send a hard copy of your published work to everyone that you cited. Include a handwritten note telling them how valuable you have found their research.
Ask for advice after publication. Get in touch with people you have cited to encourage discussion about your work. Ask for their valuable advice as a junior person in the field.
- Although this will not work with every occurrence, flattery can help to start a relationship. Ultimately, it is your goal to foster a relationship with premier academics in your field.
Add links to a publication wherever you can. Add a link on your personal website, faculty website, guest blog posts, author bios and at the end of your emails. The more people who read your work, the more likely you are to make a connection.
Ask academic bloggers to review your publication. Send them a copy with an email or hand written note saying that you value their opinion and you hope they will consider adding a review post to their blog.
Ask the publication source if the article can be available for free. This will depend on the policies of the journal; however, it never hurts to ask. Ask if you can post a copy on your blog or on your institution's website.
Ask if you can publish the article on CiteULike. This website is a combination of social media and scholarly research. Once a journal is listed, it will be in a database that helps students cite scholarly work.

Method 3 of 3:

Additional Academic Promotion Methods

Sign up to give talks at conferences. This is an excellent place to promote your expertise and network with people in your field. Apply and take offers to speak individually or on panels.
Apply for grants. The committees that decide research grants are often influential people in academia. Applying for many grants will get your name circulating and it will increase your chances of getting funding.
Update your personal website regularly. Every time you publish something, go to a conference or receive an award, it should be listed on your personal website. Include a way for people to contact you about research or other professional interests.
Ensure you are listed on faculty websites. A detailed listing on a university website will appear whenever someone uses a search engine to find you. Ask that the listing be updated regularly.
Introduce your work to people inside and outside the research community. When sending a description of your work, write a page, similar to a cover letter, that puts the research in their terms. Change this cover letter for non-academic circles, academic circles, committees, grants and private research companies.
Become part of professional organizations. Being a member of a field-specific organization will keep you in touch with peers and other scholars. You may need to pay dues and attend meetings to take advantage of this networking resource.
Follow up after speaking with a professor, employer or influential person. Send a letter or email saying it was nice to meet the person. If you had an especially good conversation, suggest an additional meeting in the future to discuss a mutual interest.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Promote Your Academic Career?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.