Does Marketing Yourself Have to Be Painful?

"I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty." - Georgia O'Keeffe

I've been blessed with many readers who are interested in famous women in history. I've been encouraged by your comments and the number of people who enjoy reading what I write. I never could have imagined this opportunity a year ago.

Just last year I began sharing my writing online. At first I was so nervous about sharing that I used a psuedonym. Then I was trying to attract an agent for my upcoming novel, A Portrait of Josephine. I wanted to let the agent know I had a "platform" (to use the industry lingo) but most of my online writing was in my psuedonym. I quickly changed that. Boldly I slapped my name on everything. I have to admit, I felt awkward about doing so.

But then I looked at successful women around me. They were promoting their name or brand unabashidly. Vera Wang has created an empire - a far cry from wedding gowns. Georgia O'Keeffe was a shy woman and not terribly social but she still took active measures to make her name well known.

After talking with other writers and artists, I learned that I wasn't the only one who struggled to promote myself. I've spent years promoting other artists and companies, but myself? Isn't that a bit vain? What if others think I am vain? What if they steal my ideas? Worse yet, what if they ignore me?

Following my female role models, I took a chance and what a great reward I've recieved. I've had a chance to correspond with many of my readers and they've given me so much insight and encouragement. I truly feel brave because of them.

I decided that it was time I start doing one of my other favorite things (besides writing) -helping people. I designed an online marketing service to help creative women get the confidence and the tools they need to promote their business, non-profit, writing, or art online.

I've worked with other companies with their Web 2.0 promotions in the past but I decided that I wanted to work with creative women because they inspire me and because I hate to see them struggle when their marketing isn't bringing them the customers they need.

My new site http://www.famisswomen.com/, has free online marketing tools to help you understand Web 2.0 marketing and how it can help you get top search engine results. I also offer affordable marketing consulting services with a no risk guarantee. On FaMissWomen.com you'll learn how to join our network of 95 women (at the time of this writing) who share their own inspirational stories about other women. Their stories are very encouraging.

I offer marketing ideas with integrity. You will not find heavy selling, over promise/under deliver shoddy products. But there are perks.
Thank you for your continued support. Together we can get our messages out there. Allison

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Follow the lead of successful women like Georgia O’Keeffe, Vera Wang, Elizabeth Arden, and J.K. Rowling. Our network on FaMissWomen.com not only shares their success stories but also teaches how to use free online marketing techniques using Web 2.0 to promote your business, non-profit, or art or writing career because if it wasn’t for promotion, we wouldn’t know about these women and their wonderful products and art.