Book review: Market Yourself by Tara Swiger
Market Yourself by Tara Swiger (A Marketing System for Smart and Creative Business Owners) – this is a book review by me, iHanna. Enjoy!
Tara Swiger is a blogger and yarn maker that has now dived into writing a whole book, and she does it well with a knowledge of marketing for personal and small business. Market yourself is almost brand new (I got it a while back) and I’ve read parts of it several times already. I enjoy it but have a hard time concentrating on the words because I just want to spring into action when I read the how-to of this book. The business woman in me roars with delight and can’t stay put!
If you have any kind of dream about selling what you do, weather or not it’s starting a business or just listing a few items on Etsy every now or then, this book is for you. It has tons of great information on how to define who you are, what you do, who would be interested in buying what you do and how you should go about finding these “Right People” in your local town and online. In core it’s almost a self-help book, but then again maybe having a business is a lot about that. Finding what makes you happy is essential to many of those who start small businesses, right?
As I read this book I had the same feeling I got when I read Alyson Stanfield’s book I’d rather be in the studio a few years back. I wanted to stop reading, jump up and get into action mode with making stuff, writing blog posts and newsletters and… Just marketing what I do to The Right People (defined as those of you who like what I do AND also will buy from me). I think that feeling of wanting to follow the advice right away is a good review in of itself. It should tell you that Tara has a way with words, has advice that feels right and a tone that really inspires.
It’s set up as a work book with lots of space to write, answer questions and draw mind maps. And you should really take the time to do the exercises as they will help you think better (at least for me writing is the best tool to help me focus).
Tara’s book is focused a lot on building a business online, using online tools, social media and defining your message. To me that’s the “right road” and I love exercises like how to write a douche-free bio and defining the amazingness of you!
If you would like to win a copy of this book…
To win all you have to dois share the link to this blog post in some nice way – and let me know below (do this before next Sunday 16th of December when comments will close and I will pick a random winner). You can tweet it, share it in an appropriate place on facebook, link to it from your blog or mention it in your newsletter etc.
Please also feel free to share your own business secrets/advice with us! How do you do it? I’m a novice in concentrating on business (though not on blogging), so I’d love to know if you have any ideas to share!
The thought behind “mention this post” giveaway is of course always to market your own blog in some way… I usually don’t do this, but as this book is about marketing I’m hoping new people who come here will stick around for more than a second to enter the giveaway (I’ve got two books but I’m keeping mine!). If this is your first visit here I strongly recommend you to check out the extensive blog archive or any of the categories in the sidebar that you fancy. If you’re like me, into books, check out previous book reviews for some more recommendations both on marketing and creativity!
And, matter of fact is, I do have an Etsy Shop of my own – where I try to SELL stuff (and not just any stuff, but awesome handmade journals, original collages and cute kitties)! Feel to browse through at your leisure.
Thanks for visiting!
Further exploring:
* Market Yourself – buy the book
* Tara Swiger – author blog and site
* Video discussion about the book with Tara and Sister Diane
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23 Responses
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I tweeted. :) I’d love to figure out what I want to do with my life, HA!
I tweeted (link to the tweet below). Cool giveaway. Crossing my fingers :-)
https://twitter.com/SpiritedShannon/status/276447792027799554
Any book that gets me motivated on the business end of things definitely is worth a read. I posted about your giveaway on twitter.
I tweeted it, Hanna! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Interesting! I’m so curious as to what is a douche-free bio?! Or I guess, what comprises a douchey bio?
I shared your link in the Norwegian Epla forum and suggested all the other sellers to take part in your giveaway. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Thanks for this review. I read the book “I’d rather be in the studio” and would like to read “Market Yourself” too!
By the way, I put a link toward this post on my facebook page ;-)
I have linked to you blog on mine SiffesPlanet … and it will show on Facebook via Networked blog . I really would like to read and DO that book ;-)
This sounds like an awesome book! I could really use it right now in my life; I’m trying to establish myself as a writer, and I’m also interested in one day selling prints of my photos and artwork online as well.
I shared a link to your post on my blog here.
Gave you a plug on my blog.
I tweeted, my tweeter name is @Kelley23 and I also shared link on my facebook page Daisy Jane..plus I added your blog to my “must read” blogs bookmark on my computer..thanks for a chance to win this awesome book, I could really use this books help right now as I’m hoping for the new year to finally step out and begin showing and marketing my work for the (gasp) first time..Happy Holidays!
I have been coveting this book for months and would love a chance to win it! I tweeted at Julie Dumas@glasstation coveted book. Thanks!
Sounds like a fantastic book. Would love to win it. Here’s my tweet:
Darlene Koppel @koppelstudio
Book Giveaway – Market Yourself – on ihanna blog -http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/2012/12/book-review-market-yourself/ …
A business tip that I follow: I’m continually experimenting with different art media to help me come up with new products.
I tweeted it https://twitter.com/pulguinhasbeads
Allways look for a way to expand my horizon
Kiss
Helena
Hi there! Thanks for the giveaway. Love Tara Swiger’s info and the way she shares it. :) I shared your giveaway with a FB group of Etsians I belong to. Can’t wait to go take a look at your blog now!
I’d really love to have a copy of this book. Having followed also Tara’s blog for quite some time it is easy to believe in your recommendation & hope starting to make a move towards a con amore business, mlise
I just opened an Etsy shop – would love this book.
I just opened an Etsy shop – this would be a fun one to win.
I was able to copy the web address and then paste it on Facebook. A first for me since I’m still learning how to use my iPad. Thank you for the great book review.
Marrianna in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
I’ve included your blog and the link to the giveaway in my Kaleidoscope post this morning:
http://sas-does.blogspot.ca/2012/12/kaleidoscope.html
Here’s the comment I left on my business facebook page:
Tara Swiger is this really cool, fun lady I met several years ago through Etsy. She spins and dyes yarn, teaches folks about marketing and has become an author in the past year. This blog article, by iHanna, is a review of Tara’s book “Market Yourself”. Check it out.
Maybe this book would help me figure out what I want to be/do when I grow up?
I’m still trying to figure it out!