We have another awesome giveaway! For December 2012, you get a chance to win The Fine Art of Shameless Self-Promotion, an e-book recently written and published by Margot Potter, TV/Web personality, author of seven jewelry books, and Swarovski ambassador. You can read all about her new marketing e-book at this page on her website, but the nut-shell version is that she has researched and reflected on her own experience in self-promotion when it comes to her crafting career and recorded all of it in her new book.
The hardest part of any business – no matter if it is craft related or not – is marketing. You can’t sell your goods or skills if no one knows you exist. However, trying to figure out how exactly to promote yourself can be confusing and frustrating. On that note, here is the question you need to answer in the comments in order to get a chance to win:
What do you find to be the most frustrating when you attempt to market your yourself and/or your business?
Post your comment only once in this blog entry and you will get a chance to win. The deadline for entry is December 31th midnight ET. Then during the first few days of the next month, I will randomly pick one winner. Make sure to include your email address when commenting. I will email the winner who will have 5 days after the drawing to reply back with a mailing address. Anyone who does not reply after 5 days will no longer be eligible to win, and I will draw a new winner.
December 2, 2012 at 6:00 pm
I lurv Margot Potter! And her post on FB lead me here to your sweet blog..so now I lurv her even more.
December 2, 2012 at 6:47 pm
I love Margot Potter!
I find the most frustrating thing is being seen among all the people who short change themselves and charge far less than they should. How can I expect someone to pay $40 for a hat when someone else has one for $10?
Redd
redd.hynes@gmail.com
December 2, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Ooh, I’d love to get my hands on this one! My biggest marketing problem is actually taking the time to do it. 😉
December 3, 2012 at 9:14 am
I think marketing requires some investment of time every day. Finding that time, however, can be a real challenge!
December 3, 2012 at 9:46 am
Thanks for the give-away opportunity! The most frustrating part for me is being consistent. I’ll post & interact for a time, then the rest of life becomes more distracting (squirrel!) & I’m quiet on the marketing front for too long.
December 3, 2012 at 3:15 pm
I am by nature a bit shy and not comfortable tooting my own horn. I struggle with that line between promoting my designs and coming off as self-obsessed.
December 5, 2012 at 7:17 pm
I haven’t made a huge attempt to market stuff yet, though I have some items in my friend’s LYS. I think I need to work on better presentation mostly.
December 7, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Madge is da bomb! The most frustrating thing to me about marketing is that I just plain do NOT enjoy it. I appreciate that Madge always has some humor to interject into everything she does 🙂
December 9, 2012 at 8:56 am
I already have ( and love!) the book, but I just want to say that’s it’s social media marketing for me. I just don’t know how. Margot’s book is quite helpful there – in terms I can grasp.
December 9, 2012 at 10:05 am
The most frustrating thing regarding marketing is how to actively promote yourself without looking conceited.
December 9, 2012 at 12:30 pm
My greatest frustration is not feeling like I have enough time to promote myself. I’d rather be creating! When I’m creating, I feel like I should be promoting, when I’m promoting, I feel like I should be creating! Ugh!
Perhaps it’s because I don’t feel effective or feel like I know how to promote myself without seeming boring, mundane or too ‘in your face’ and I just really don’t keep up on all of the latest ways to promote myself. I used to joke about having an assistant, but truly, it’s no joke! I wish someone would just do that part for me. Sigh, it’s a catch 22, isn’t it?
Anyway, I keep trying and I’ll continue to do so, the best I can!
Thanks,
Cherie
December 9, 2012 at 10:18 pm
This is exactly what I need! I just moved across the country and need to let people here know who I am and what I do! Thanks for the chance to win the book.
December 13, 2012 at 9:14 am
For me the most frustrating thing is shyness/lack of self confidence. I always feel like I’m gloating or being pushy when I try to market my crafts and end up selling them for way less than they are worth. Thanks for the contest… very generous! 🙂
December 15, 2012 at 11:37 pm
i think one big frustration would be to not feel weird or embarrassed when marketing. somehow it feels sleazy to tell people about what i’ve made or done that’s new and wonderful, even if it’s relevant or called for!
December 28, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Pricing is the biggest frustration, everyone wants something for nothing no matter how much time and money has been invested.
December 28, 2012 at 1:40 pm
This looks like a book with valuable information I sure could use! I always sell myself short!!!! Thank you for this opportunity!
brat58 on Ravelry
December 29, 2012 at 7:53 am
Thank you for a lovely giveaway! My biggest problem is how to promote myself effectively without spamming my creations all over the net 🙂
December 29, 2012 at 10:54 am
Nifty giveaway!! I could really use some help in the marketing area!
December 30, 2012 at 9:41 am
Any tips appreciated! This is a great way to start 2013!
December 30, 2012 at 4:55 pm
I have trouble identifying what will sell and what will remain in my stash
December 30, 2012 at 5:13 pm
The hardest thing is to overcome my natural inability to trumpet my own horn and show my true worth.