tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14674935.post113110988277403493..comments2008-11-19T00:03:30.101-05:00Kathleen Valentinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15964712984479525970noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14674935.post-1132610340749057742005-11-21T16:59:00.000-05:002005-11-21T16:59:00.000-05:00Marketing is really difficult--especially for the individual. You sharpen your craft (painting, graphic arts, engineering) but spending time on marketing seems...self promoting. Well, that's what it is, and the sooner you get over the reluctance to "toot your own horn" the better.<BR/><BR/>I use my blog <A HREF="http://lanecove.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">On the Cove</A> as a thinly veiled marketing piece for my vacation rental apartment. I figure it is like those desk calendars that oil companies used to give out. The person who accepts it gets something of value (in this case information about Lanes Cove) in exchange for the opportunity to check out my apartment. Hey, that's how Google works, why not <I>On the Cove</I>?Stanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14432100012134536721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14674935.post-1131214991948063672005-11-05T13:23:00.000-05:002005-11-05T13:23:00.000-05:00Thanks for your suggestions on how to market my writing, Kathleen. I'm glad you are sticking with this blog. It helps a lot of people. Don't let the bad guys discourage you.Scribenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14674935.post-1131125672296022582005-11-04T12:34:00.000-05:002005-11-04T12:34:00.000-05:00As soon as I saw the word "marketing" in this entry, I cringed. I did freelance for Crown Petroleum 15 years ago and it was the cleanest, easiest way to work in marketing. They gave me the assignments and I did them. Period. BUT THEN....<BR/><BR/>When I wanted to sell a few paintings, marketing was a different ball game. Before anyone had even seen them, I was informed that I had to belong to a guild to even show my work at, say, the public library and the local community college. I chafe at local politics, so I found other, less formal markets. Sometimes, a local auction house that sells general merchandise on Saturday night can net you a windfall beyond your intended asking price. It's chancy, but there's no red tape, no politics and in my neighborhood, the auctioneer's fee is 20-25%. Plus, it only takes one or two banner sales fueled by "bidders frenzy" to make up for the disappointing ones.<BR/><BR/>Of course, this isn't applicable to the written word, but as you pointed out, finding alternative markets is essential.Sharonnoreply@blogger.com