This book on marketing and self-promotion has one of the longest subtitles I think I have ever seen: “The Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even if You Hate Marketing and Selling.”

Since I hate selling, I just had to see if the author, Michael Port, could finally make selling palatable to me. After all, so many others have tried and failed. Immediately, upon opening the book, I found solid marketing and branding information bound to be helpful to me and to other consultants in the service industry.

Micheal personifies the ethical marketer. The reason I bought the book is not because he taught me how to sell, but because he encourages his readers to follow their dreams. So many books are written by marketers with a get-rich-quick scheme that is based upon an unauthentic foundation. Michael is an inspirational coach who advises his clients to live their passions and make money at the same time. Here’s an excerpt:

“Often when I’m working with clients, I discover they’ve chosen a target market based on what they think is logical or most lucrative. The end result is that they’re bored, frustrated, and struggling to book themselves solid. Don’t make that mistake…When you choose a target market you’re passionate about, growing your business will feel like passionate play and will bring you joy.” (See excerpts from my book Parallel Mind about the importance of play in our lives.)

The techniques he outlines will help the reader do more than market or sell ; they will aid him or her to define and refine who they are, and what benefits they bring to their client. When you are clear on what you provide, the client will then be able to perceive the value of your services. You will be “booked solid” as a natural consequence of the love that you have for your work, and the ethics that you personify.

For more on marketing and design, please see my blog http://freshasylum.wordpress.com/

Copyright 2008 Aliyah Marr, author of Parallel Mind, the art of creativity