I learned to market myself when I was a professional beach volleyball player, and my bikini was a billboard. I moved into the Fortune 500 and learned to market software (pays way better than volleyball) and then I founded two of my own companies. Today I am a journalist and author, and at this point, 50% of my life is marketing myself in some way or another. I really believe, though, that the best way to market yourself -- if you are not wearing a bikini --  is to be genuinely nice, and good things will follow.