Shameless self promotion?

It's a tough call. As a maker I know that if people don't know about my work, then they sure won't be able to buy anything. So I try and make potential customers aware of who I am and what I make. That's why I have maintained a website for years now. I also stick to the truth when talking about my work. No Magic or Great Spirits are (directly) involved involved in making my knives. Just a lot of hours of hard work. And some luck. :D

As Mr. Garson noted, postings where friends are obviously jumping into posts and talking about how fantastic a very average knife is are, well, cheezy and I think damage a maker in most folk's eyes.

On the other hand it's also important not to be too damning as there are guys just starting out who's skills are less then those of makers who have been making knives for 30 years. I think the criticism should be in relation to the situation.

Tough call... :o
 
Tough question for me. I sell knives but it not why I make them. As a part-time maker, each knife is a process and is unique. What can sometimes come across as self promotion for me might often simply be excitement over creating something with your hands, and the desire to show it to a group of people who appreciate similar things. I post all my pics in the knifemakers area because i feel like thats where they belong. If i customer wants to post a pic in the custom section, thats their choice!

I enjoy every single work in progess pics ive ever seen, as well as any maker of any level who wants to display what they are working on. I think there is a fine line between plastering advertisements for yourself with the intent to make money and posting pics whenever you can simply because you know you'd love it if others did the same.

I think this is more of an issue for peple who frequent the boards all the time, as well. The average person surfing around does indeed benefit from cross threads and such since an average thread might be off the first page in a matter of hours....

Ill probably always stick to the knifemakers area, but your question is a good one!
 
Lets not forget in all this that if a maker is so humble that they don't allow themself to be a salesman, they need to accept that they aren't going to sell as much as a saleseman.

Dont be the guy who sits at the bar avoiding eye contact and looking shy who then goes home and tries to figure out why he didnt get any phone numbers.
 
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