I’m so excited to be participating in Margot Potter’s Shameless Self Promotion Blog Hop!
Not only is this a fun event to celebrate an e-book for crafty entrepreneurs, but everyone participating in the hop is taking some time out to practice that fine art of shameless self promotion. Easier said than done, because it can be a little difficult to toot your own horn. But, I’m going to give it my best shot with the tips I’ve learned from Margot’s e-Book.
One of my favorite parts about the creative business is how generous other crafters are. Whether it’s the willingness to teach a new technique or let you in on their business savvy, I’m consistently impressed with the helpful attitude of creative individuals.
When I visit crafting events, conferences or trade shows, it’s such a bonus to connect with other crafters in person, and to have an actual conversation. I’m sure you agree that face-to-face is often much more rich than “speaking” with your blogging friends via comments or even instagram (although that can be great, too!). I’ve decided that I absolutely have to connect with more crafters on a regular basis, and decided that if face-to-face isn’t an option, I’d focus on the next best thing.
Introducing . . .
I’m excited to bring you a new Video Chats at Craft Buds, a fun new video series where we’ll join some of your favorite craft designers, bloggers and business pros on Google Hangouts! It is going to be so much fun, and I can’t wait to share more. In the coming weeks, we’ll be posting video chats with some fabulous, inspirational people!
– Meet a Fabric Designer (Who would YOU like to chat with?)
– Better Blogging: Tips from Your Fave Craft Bloggers
– Getting Published in Craft Magazines and Books
– How to Start a Quilt Guild or Sewing Circle
– How to Design Sewing Patterns
– Advanced Social Media: Growing An Online Presence
– Photography Tips for Bloggers: DIY on a Budget
– How to Sell Your Crafts Online and in Stores
Everything that you love about Craft Buds is still going to be here, at the same place. We’re just adding video chats to our normal format, which will range from free tutorials to handmade business advice! With our new weekly video features, I hope you’ll join us and get to know some truly great people.
About The Book
Now that I’ve let that cat out of the bag and got you thinking, let’s chat about this great new book!
The Fine Art of Shameless Self Promotion is workbook geared toward creative entrepreneurs of all types, from craft bloggers to TV personalities. Author Margot Potter shares how she very smartly developed her brand, The Impatient Crafter (TM), and learned to promote herself, including her many books and the products she’s aligned herself with. Along the way, she shares sage advice about time management, dressing for success, online marketing and being your own cheerleader.
The book is filled with exercises so you can get out a pen and paper and journal your own thoughts, fears and plans on the spot. It’s an excellent way to capture your own creative journey and help reign it in. Some of my favorite quotes from the book are just chock full of wisdom:
It’s so easy to start giving away little pieces of your freedom, and before you know it, you feel like you owe everyone so much, there’s nothing left for you. It’s okay to say, ‘No.’
Who can’t relate to this advice? And then there’s the inevitable comparison game. I know from talking to many craft bloggers that they struggle, as do I, with feeling guilty when they compare themselves to other creatives who make more, blog more, and do more than they are able. Margot has an answer for that, too:
“Competition is a myth. Let it go. It’s a big one to which most people fall victim…. What if we all woke up and realized that the only person we are in competition with is us?”
Book Excerpt
The book gets very hands-on, such as this workshop in logo design. Margot asks some great, pointed questions to get you thinking about your logo, how it represents your brand, and more! Check out this free book excerpt, about your logo and branding.
Giveaway!
One lucky Craft Buds reader will get a chance to win this new e-book. To enter to win a copy (open worldwide):
Just leave a comment on this post telling me which of these video chats you’d be most interested in! I’d love to hear who YOU would like to me interview as a special guest in our video series. Think big! If I select your idea, I just might contact you to see if you’d like to video chat with us and ask your own questions!
We’ll choose a random winner on Friday, 12/7!
Congrats to commenter #24 Domenica, who said: “All of them sound great. I would especially like to see the video on creating your own patterns as I am in the process of starting up my own website. I would love for you to interview Pauline from Funky Friends Factory. She creates some fantastic patterns!”
Margot also has a mega giveaway of $150 worth of craft supplies, so head over for details on how to win!
46 comments
I think your video chats are going to be a huge success! I would love to see how to design sewing patterns but I also love hearing about how designers got their start and what they’re up to now. Anything you do will be great.
Carol, the sewing patterns chat will be one of our first ones! What question(s) would you ask our sewing pattern designers?
Love the video idea. Blog tips including photography sounds good.
This sounds exciting! I would love to learn more about getting published, designing sewing patterns, and photography. I will look forward to seeing the videos!
Wow! All the topics sound great! Personal fav’s are better blogging and photography tips… Although getting published and how to sell your crafts sound good…heck I’ll be watching them ALL. Thanks for always offering such great advice! Truly appreciated!
I would LOVE photography tips for Bloggers as I am an avid photographer but I need more information on how to be good at it, not just avid! 😉
Lovely post! jean xox
Oh! I would love love love to chat with Tula Pink! She is my hero!
Oh how great! I’d love to get to know some designers and would like to learn more about getting published! The whole series sounds great!
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful idea! I’d love to see a video on selling my products on-line. I’ve designed & made a box full items, yet when it comes to actually selling on-line I get intimidated, there are so many beautiful and talented people out there selling that I begin to question myself!!! Think I need to go out & buy this book. thank you so much for adding these new videos, they just may be the “push” I need to jump into this community of talented , caring, creative people!!!!!! I had a chance to meet a few people in person when I attended the sewing summit, however my budget doesn’t always allow me to travel to these events, so a videos are an awesome idea, thanks again!!!!
I would love to learn how to get a better presence on the web. Plus since I’m in the process of starting an Etsy shop it would be great to get ideas on what I should and shouldn’t be doing to get customers to visit (and buy) my items. I also would love more advice on writing articles. I’ve written a few long ago for a doll makers magazine, but need some tips on what beading or fabric oriented magazines are looking for and how to promote myself to write for them.
The video chat series sounds great! I am especially interested in the one on getting published. Can’t wait to see them all! Thanks for being part of the blog hop and have a fun time!
Great concept you’ve got going on here! I hope to join some of your chats! Thanks for the chance to win!
would love to do video chat series sounds great
You have some amazing things on here.
love the video added you on fb
You should interview Mark Montano, if you haven’t already 😉
The video chats sound exciting!
My biggest PR and Marketing hurdle is that I’m not sure what I’m selling, lol!
The video idea is awesomme. Blog tips including photography sounds great.
You video chats all sound wonderful. My weakness is photography. I would be very interested in the DIY on a budget.
I’d love to have you interview Heather from Dollar Store Crafts.
Wow! I’d love the chat on getting published & the one for DIY photography. I think both are integral steps to that elusive self-promotion!
Off to the next blog!
I guess I would be interested in Better Blogging as I am trying to start a blog and am overwhelmed. Lindsay, besides video chats, do you have another way of connecting to other crafters IRL? I got the chance to meet Margot briefly, she is so sweet!
I want to listen to the Photography Tips for Bloggers: DIY on a Budget
I would like to listen to the Advanced Social Media. I’m working on just what that entails!
The most interestig for me is “How to Design Sewing Patterns”- I’d love to see it! Thanks for the great givawya!
Hi Dana! This will be one of our first videos in the series! Do you have any questions for our experts? What specifically would be good to know? We can include your questions during the chat. 🙂
Hi. This is my first time on your blog and it’s a very nice one. I liked you on facebook, so I guess this blog hop is working. I would love to win a copy of Margot’s book. I could use a lesson in shameless self-promotion. I would also like the webinar Photography Tips for Bloggers: DIY on a Budget. It sounds like something I could use now.
Thanks for hosting this.
Wow! I am interested in the video on publishing, and the designing sewing patterns…these are going to be fabulous! Happy holidays!
Lots of great topics. I would like to watch/participate in getting published!
All of them sound great. I would especially like to see the video on creating your own patterns as I am in the process of starting up my own website. I would love for you to interview Pauline from Funky Friends Factory. She creates some fantastic patterns!
Hi Domenica! Do you have any specific questions we can cover during our sewing pattens chat? What would be good to know?
Hi, it would be great to know what their process is when designing a pattern? How do they decide on the pattern to work on next? Do they use computer software? If so, what do they use? How do they test the effectiveness of the instructions of the pattern?
I love the idea of chatting with fabric designers, especially ones who have been doing it for some time. I would love to hear from Laurie Wisbrun and also from someone who designs with a partner or family, like the Sweetwater girls or Bonnie and Camille. This is pretty exciting!
Glad to be in the blog hop with you Lindsay!! Craft Buds sounds really fun!! can’t wait to watch!
Blog Hopping and Chatting! When will I have time to craft??? LOL
I’m always interested in more photography tips for bloggers. I’m finally beyond “totally lame photos”, but I still need all the help I can get!
What a great resource you’ve created! Before the blog hop, I didn’t even know about it. Of course, I didn’t know what a blog hop was, either. Perhaps that’s why I should win her book. Either way, I am glad to find your site!
I like the “How to Sell Your Crafts Online and in Stores” video chat the most.
I’d love to hear more about getting published and what to expect in the submission process. I’d also love to see interviews with designers like Sarah Jane and Melody Miller! This book sounds absolutely marvelous!!
Video Chats………….Yaaaaay! So glad ur a part of the Blog Hop!
Video chatting sounds great! I am especially interested in the one on getting published.
This is fab! A cool new (to me) place to visit. So glad Margot set me on the right track!
I’m so excited you guys are going to start doing videos! I really love this quote you put up from the book
“Competition is a myth. Let it go. It’s a big one to which most people fall victim…. What if we all woke up and realized that the only person we are in competition with is us?”
I think everyone could just relax and be nicer if they didn’t feel the need to duke it out!
I’m so happy to have been directed to your blog. I’ll be back!
Videos are a great idea. Photography tips are always welcome.
Great idea with the video chats!
I agree with you, Lindsay. On eof the fave sayings is “Crafters are just the nicest people!”