How many of you have read Chris Brogan and Julien Smith’s Trust Agents? Or Mitch Joel’s Six Pixels of Separation ? Or Now is Gone by Geoff Livingston and Brian Solis? Or [insert title here] by [insert renowned blogger here]?
Here’s another question.
How many of you that have read (or plan to read) these books also read the aforementioned authors’ blogs? Now ask yourself one more question.
If you read the blog long before the book, did you learn anything truly new?
I ask not from a disrespectful view – I admire each and every one of these guys for different reasons, and for how they’ve helped move PR, marketing and the digital space forward via their thinking. Every one of them has a (usually) outstanding blog where you can find great information and maps on how to move you and your business forward.
But reading their books, I couldn’t help but feel that I’d already read the content over at their blogs. Even though I enjoyed the printed text, it felt like the digital version had been there first.
Which makes me wonder two things.
Are the authors looking for a new audience from their regular blog readers? And if not, if the audience is a mix of existing and new, do bloggers make good authors?
Again, that’s not from a disrespectful view – more a curiosity. If you have a popular blog with a high readership and regular content, what happens when it comes to writing a book expanding on the very topics you’ve been sharing for a few years? Have active bloggers already written and shared so much that it appears there’s nothing new in-between the pages of a newly released book?
I’m curious about your take on this.
photo credit: Pulpolux !!!
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It did cross my mind as I read Trust Agents, but I didnt necessarily see it as a bad thing. At least authors/bloggers like Chris and Julien went through the effort of creating new versions of the content for a book format. Plenty of bloggers just create books or ebooks from the existing posts.
I tend to expect that bloggers books will be a “lets review and expand a bit” rather than a “if you liked my blog you will LOVE my book”. Holding back the best golden nuggets for the book would just detract from solid blogging.
As you said, we are avid readers of blogs and may not be the entire target audience. While Trust Agents is mostly likely being read by bloggers at the moment, I would assume the goal is to eventually cross over to those who do not read the posts online and are seeing a lot of this for the first time.
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It did cross my mind as I read Trust Agents, but I didnt necessarily see it as a bad thing. At least authors/bloggers like Chris and Julien went through the effort of creating new versions of the content for a book format. Plenty of bloggers just create books or ebooks from the existing posts.
I tend to expect that bloggers books will be a “lets review and expand a bit” rather than a “if you liked my blog you will LOVE my book”. Holding back the best golden nuggets for the book would just detract from solid blogging.
As you said, we are avid readers of blogs and may not be the entire target audience. While Trust Agents is mostly likely being read by bloggers at the moment, I would assume the goal is to eventually cross over to those who do not read the posts online and are seeing a lot of this for the first time.
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RT @DannyBrown Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk A question I have pondered…
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RT @DannyBrown Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk A question I have pondered…
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://bit.ly/12Bykm
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It did cross my mind as I read Trust Agents, but I didnt necessarily see it as a bad thing. At least authors/bloggers like Chris and Julien went through the effort of creating new versions of the content for a book format. Plenty of bloggers just create books or ebooks from the existing posts.
I tend to expect that bloggers books will be a “lets review and expand a bit” rather than a “if you liked my blog you will LOVE my book”. Holding back the best golden nuggets for the book would just detract from solid blogging.
As you said, we are avid readers of blogs and may not be the entire target audience. While Trust Agents is mostly likely being read by bloggers at the moment, I would assume the goal is to eventually cross over to those who do not read the posts online and are seeing a lot of this for the first time.
Fun topic DB. I had a blog eons ago with a readership of 3900 before I tore it down (I don't actually know what a big readership is now but it was an early blog, at least 5 years ago so I think it was big for the time). I've published loads of stuff and believe it or not, I have a journal and I write in it with a pen…like so retro.
You might find it interesting to check out what John Maxwell is doing, every week he's releasing one chapter of his new yet to be published book. I read chapter two tonight, and twittered with him and others about it. John Maxwell is about 60, maybe a tad more, so I applaud him for even knowing how to spell twitter. But here he (and his administrator) are blogging, tweeting, facebooking and speaking publicly about his latest book. I love it.
Not only will I log in to read each chapter, but I'll spend ten minutes afterward commenting and forwarding it to some friends, clients, colleague who I think will find it interesting. I'll share feedback with John and I'll probably find myself contemplating the worth of his words in my life.
And I've already ordered a pre sales copy of it.
Why? I happen to like the feel of the weight of a book in my hand (except perhaps Martha's latest 4 pounder) and I like the sound of the page turning. I like feeling the pages pile up on the left side of the book as a physical reminder of the time I have invested in the author.
New audience, old audience, high tech, low tech. Words in a row baby, that's where its at.
I just bought Chris Brogan and Julien Smith's Trust Agents and though I love reading blogs, I can't keep up anymore with even my favorite bloggers. I think a book is a different thing. I still like the feel of a book in my hands. This afternoon I was sitting on the deck reading part of Jonathan Field's Career Renegade. Though I followed him on Twitter before, I decided to read the book because when Joe Jacobi was here, he talked highly of Jonathan (who he met on Twitter). I am fascinated by the relationships that have grown on Twitter and you'll laugh at me again, Danny, but I value getting to know people so much that reading their books becomes a part of the relationship. Think how unique of a world we live in, now we can actually interact with authors. A generation ago, that was impossible except maybe for an elite few.
I've thought the same myself! Do they want a new/expanded audience? You bet…who wouldn't? Once someone makes the NYT Bestseller list and is available on bookstore shelves all over the place, it changes the game I think. I can be a popular blogger but when I burst out of that bubble, I start to realize there's a whole other world out there, other frontiers to roam.
I liked Chris Penn's post about Trust Agents http://tinyurl.com/opnt64 – he said “The people who need Trust Agents the most are the least likely to read it.” Someone who doesn't get this space and maybe should, is not likely to pick up any of these books of their own accord. They're even less likely to get excited about what's going on on these authors' blogs. But…
As as a professional in this space and as a teacher, I have to be able to explain these concepts to others in ways that make sense. It falls squarely on my shoulders to understand this stuff. In all its forms.
I read all of these guys online and have for years. I'm going to support them in their endeavours, and I'm also going to listen very closely to what they have to say. They haven't steered me wrong to this point. I have no reason to think that the information they are handing out, no matter what format, isn't relevant.
Thing is, I have to decide…am I going to try to make others read it, or am I just going to have to smack them over the head with the book and move on?
That's probably one of the key dividers – the audience. In Chris and Julien's case, they obviously used their reach online to try and affect offline. It'll be interesting to see how this translates to new eyes through recommendations by social media-aware readers sharing with their non-social media friends.
That's a pretty respectable number in any “age”, Sherri – interested to see what it was about.
The John Maxwell experiment sounds interesting. It's educational looking at the various ways that authors are trying to reach new audiences – I think the traditional publishing model still has its place, but its clear that this is no longer the golden ticket.
I agree that books are completely different beasts – I'm just wondering how different the content can be for prolific bloggers. I look at some of my favourite authors whose publications reach double figures and see many similarities in titles. Do long-term bloggers face the same difficulties?
I wonder if that's why some of the content feels familiar, Julie? The fact that we read the blogs and connect with the authors – perhaps the familiarity of writer and content makes the mix feel less different?
And I'd never laugh at valuing people or relationships – heck, it's part of my mantra so it's be damned remiss of me to think otherwise!
I was thinking of Suze (below) and hummus again when I wrote that you would laugh… Someday, I'll re-explain that in a blog post but I think the whole social media thing has made reading come back to life and I like what Suze says, there is a whole larger audience out there who are not on board yet and maybe they never will be. My Amazon wish list is filled with books by authors I have met or gotten to know better through social media. Isn't that the purpose of it all, to build relationships, grow in knowledge, and expand our horizons with people who lead us to ideas and thoughts we might not have had on our own?
Interesting take (as always), Suze.
It's a salient point by Chris Penn, as is yours about the relevancy. And there's definitely the new markets for bloggers like Chris, Mitch and others to go after (and I use the term bloggers loosely – I know they wear many other shoes).
It's interesting to watch bloggers make the transition – some are doing it really well, some not so much. I'm just wondering if relevancy can play back negatively (or less effectively) if long-time readers possibly feel that there's a chance of repetition? Will that put them off recommending the book(s) to non-blog readers?
Or, if we've been recommending these guys for years, and we haven't encouraged many to read the blogs, will a book be seen as more authoritative (and therefore likely to get the newer eyeballs)?
Can't argue with that, Julie
One great thing about this space is that it is making it easier to connect and find hidden gems that often we'd bypass. There's still way too much to take in all of it, but at least now we're being put in the right direction to let us choose if we partake. Before, we didn't even have that. And it's always good to have choice.
Twitter: timepass
Interesting point – ive read a couple of Seth Godin's books,Robert Scoble's book and a few others – and you are right some of the content does seem rehashed. It seems that me they are trying to reach out to a new audience – however a guyl like me who follows them online may end up buying the book and end up being disappointed that there is nothing really new….
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Actually, my approach to a book based on one of my blogs (or one of my novels, once I get them finished and start posting them) would be more like “here's the hardcopy edition so you can have a permanent copy at your fingertips”. I'd be reaching out to new readers too, of course…
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://bit.ly/Ttdzb Great questions and excellent conversation over at this post @DannyBrown
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://bit.ly/Ttdzb Great questions and excellent conversation over at this post @DannyBrown
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@dannybrown: Do Bloggers Make Good Authors- Wrestling with same points as I http://bit.ly/2jXcqO (1 sugg: give the books away)
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What do you think, do bloggers make good authors? Thought provoking question from @DannyBrown: http://bit.ly/m65VF
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I think the answer to your question is: 'no'.
But you could also ask, does a great Journalist make a great Blogger? Does a great Blogger make for an interesting person on Twitter?
They are each their own, unique media/channel and the content creator has to not only have an understanding of the channel but be able to deliver on it.
In my instance, I had been a Journalist and writer for over a decade before Blogging, but those two are very different. My columns in both newspaper and magazine are vastly different (from content and voice to the Blog). Same goes with my first book. In fact, I wrote it from the perspective of an Entrepreneur (as opposed to my Blog, which I write from the perspective of a Marketer or my columns, which I write from the perspective of a Journalist).
In the end, if there's nothing original in the book, either no one will buy it, or it will be bought and get bad reviews… why would anyone want that?
Also, writing individual brain bursts like a Blog is very different than formulating how an entire book is going to come together. Let's agree to not be fooled by publishers who are simply re-publishing a Bloggers posts in book format
Hiya, Danny! Building on what @SuzeMuse said, I don't think that, ultimately, WE are the intended audience for a book like Trust Agents. Sure, Chris & Julien are psyched that we've all bought it and are spreading the word, but that's kind of their point. They trust us to do that and to take the message to an entirely new audience.
I love the comment about us spending so much time reading each others' blogs and engaging in discourse across so many channels that, perhaps, when one of us releases a book, it feels as though we know the material, even if it is truly new.
An interesting analogy for this might be that this is like a TV sitcom (or cartoon, SNL bit … whatever) being turned into a full-length feature film. Such a venture can produce something of real banality, something that has us checking our watches after about 35 minutes. If, though, the screenwriters are creative and can expand on what made the show interesting in the first place, or perhaps, think of an entirely new twist on it, then the new product can be truly great and even surpass what'd come before it.
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Danny,
I'm currently reading 'Trust Agents' and I do find a lot of similarities between what is in the book and what is in Chris' blog especially. Two things though. First, it is nice to have a lot of the best content in a book that I can mark up, highlight, and put on the shelf. But 2nd, I've gotten a LOT of great content, ideas, and things to think about from people like Chris and Gary V for free through their blogs. Content that has an enormous amount of value to me. Buying their books are also a way to 'say thanks' and help them monetize the great free stuff they've been giving me for the past few years.
Maybe it's like bands that I really like. Even though their music may be available via BitTorrent, I'll always buy their wares to show support and support their work.
Just my .02
@ryancmiller
That's a great point, Mitch. What I'm wondering is, how different are your audiences in each of these spaces? There's obviously some crossover, but does the audience you're writing for impact the way you communicate in each of these spaces?
You are somewhat unique in that you are tackling things from all of these different perspectives. The average blogger isn't a professional journalist or a published author. Given that you're spread across all these spaces, there's likely to be a certain amount of repetition (at least in the conversations your work generates). But is that a bad thing, really?
If they simply string blog posts together I think the book is likely to be a disappointment. But if they weave the ideas posed in their blogs into a coherent stream of thought on a specific topic I think a book can have tremendous value even if some of the concepts aren't new to the reader.
In my opinion the specific context chosen and way the content is put together in service of that context can enable us to gain new insights form potentially “old” material. As readers I think we can shortchange the value of any book when we read something thinking “we know this”. Perhaps when we are reading a bloggers book we need to remind ourselves to bring a beginners mind so we really can mind for the gold. Some will pull it off and some won't. Yet when you have two guys that are as insightful as Julian and Chris I imagine there is something new for us to discover no matter how familiar the content may seem.
Twitter: timjahn
Great topic Danny, especially in times when everybody thinks they can be a blogger or an author.
If you asked me this question a year and a half ago, I'd probably say no. But after blogging daily (minus the occasional missed day) for a little over a year, I'd say yes. Because good writers who write consistently (like bloggers do) will become better at writing. They will develop a voice, a unique style of writing, and improve over time.
Many of the bloggers who have a book this year have been blogging for a good amount of time. Chances are there's a huge difference between the writing in their book and their very first blog post way back when.
Great questions start interesting conversations. I have enjoyed reading the comments as much as your post. I agree that if you have been reading a blog for a while, reading that blogger's new book may not reveal many new gems or “aha” moments, but that doesn't mean you won't find value and enjoyment in it.
Also, I find new blogs all the time. Some with small audiences but some with monster ones. It is not often that I will go back through the archives panning for gold. I just enter the conversation at that moment and move forward. A book can be a great way for new readers to “catch up.”
I have a lot of friends (and clients) that don't read any blogs, don't twitter, and use facebook to keep up with friends and family and share pics of the kids. It is also a lot easier to recommend a book to these people.
The answer to your question is it depends. Good author is in the eyes of the reader. Whether that blogger makes a good author to you, will depend on your previous experience with their blog, level of previous engagement with them, but most importantly I think, whether they are good writers.
Great question, Danny. I love Startabuzz's analogy — relating blogging then book writing to cartoons then animated films. She's right in that if the authors can manage to expand upon the original premise in a creative and new way, even though the content won't necessarily be new, it'll be interesting and people will be captivated.
To answer your question, no, I don't think bloggers make the best authors, but there are other types out there who aren't great authors either, i.e., businessmen, spiritual leaders, etc. Those in their circle would probably say the same about potentially repetitive content, but the goal is to reach a larger audience, not just colleagues and acquaintances at hand. You have to start with the audience you have and can touch, and grow from there, right?
Another thought: if the bloggers who've written books decided to release a book with totally new content…would they receive the same response as they have with these books? In the blogging/social media world, buzz is created by opening up discussions about topics addressed in a book, letting people in and giving them a glimpse of what's inside via blog posts and other communications channels. Do you think any of these authors would've had the same success if they'd kept the content of their books under wraps to such a degree that it seemed completely fresh to us when we heard of the book release? Do you think their current readership would feel betrayed or left out if they'd only heard about the concepts discussed when the book came out?
Interesting discussion topic. I'm so glad I stopped by!
It's like printing Stuff White People Like or LolCatz, as far as I see it. The book is meant for a new, more mainstream audience.
Or:
We both know who Chris Brogan or Gary V is, but when I tell my wife about them, she doesn't think about their blog or video blog, she recognizes the names from the local Barnes and Noble.
I do think (most) bloggers make good authors. I've encountered a few I wasn't overwhelmed by, but if you have a successful blog, in most cases, you're good at telling a story, which would make the author a good writer for a book.
Danny,
I have been wrestling with the same questions (http://doughaslam.com/2009/08/20/what-good-are-...), so this is a great and timely post.
I think what we can do to help– if we really think a book is great and helpful- and not for us– is to give it to someone else.
PS– I actually got more out of Trust Agents than I thought, though my thinking is probably not the same as “outside” people's would be. Hope to post a short one on that soon.
Interesting conversation here, Danny.
My answer is 'yes' – but for a different reason. They make perfect authors because of the work they've put into this space. They've built robust communities that follow their every word and blog posts (rightfully so) and they've converted many of those people into customers because we believe in the bloggers/authors, we've built a relationship with them and we support them in their endeavors.
They've leveraged their online community BUT that doesn't mean their focus is to only attract them. They're looking to reach different audiences and new faces that would find their writings beneficial. But we, who follow their blogs and have connected with them, help create that initial wave of promotion, sales and reviews that gets these great authors noticed that much more.
So for that, they most certainly make good authors.
I think this is a fair criticism. I would agree that my blog readers already got the book, and that the book is for those business wonks who don't read “those blogs.”
Great article.
Good questions, Mitch, and I guess it's something that could transfer itself to other vocations. Does a great doctor make a great surgeon? Does a great slalom skier make a great cross-country skier?
As SuzeMuse mentions, it's an interesting abgle that you have – with the three industries, it could be said that there are three different types of audience that could be attracted. Does that mean you have to adapt some points that may have been individual to be more group specific, or do (would) you find that you could discuss certian niche audiences and still attract a wider readership?
And yes, repackaged blog posts are a very different beast to “genuine” books.
Speaking of which, enjoying yours at the moment – thanks for dropping by and sharing your thoughts, appreciate it.
Excellent comparison – and, flipping that on its side, it could (should?) be the door opener to a new audience. I think of South Park here – hate the show, but loved the movie. Mind you, it never turned me onto the show, so maybe not quite such a good example…
What's the saying? Familiarity breeds contempt? Though contempt is the completely wrong word here, but maybe that's the “issue” here?
Hey there Ryan,
Completely agree there – Chris, Mitch and others have given (and continue to give) great content, so support is the least regular readers can offer. And as you say, you can't PostIt a blog
I'm just wondering if some long-time readers may feel that they've seen most of the information already (if the content is similar). Perhaps an approach may be, “This isn't really for you – but we'd love your support to help get to the people it's for”? I know Chris and Julien kind of took this approach with pre-launch posts, etc – maybe it's something that could be taken wider?
I like that mindset, Susan – perhaps we (as in long-time readers) can miss the real value of a book because we're not looking at it from a beginner's eye. It's not something we do deliberatley, but perhaps we need to say, “Okay, if I knew nothing about this stuff, what can I take from this?”
That would also separate the great books from the good and then the rest of that equation.
Thanks for popping by, always a pleasure!
Would the content affect this? As you say (and I agree), bloggers can be some of the best authors around purely from the sheer amount of content and news they're referring to on a regular basis. Yet if the content is just rehashed (which I'm not saying the writers referenced in the post have done), would it matter how great the blogger is?
That's an interesting point there, Ian – I wonder if some bloggers actually make better authors? Perhaps (for whatever reason), the blog isn't something that interests you – it may be too widespread as far as topics go, or too conversational, or not conversational enough, etc.
But, if the blogger then decides to concentrate on a particular topic for a book, and that then comes out as one of the most influential books ever…
That's a great question Teresa! Because we “know” the people mentioned here, perhaps we would be more excited to see what could be different from the content that we already subscribe to. Take Chris, for example – his newsletter is separate from his blog, so it becomes twice as valuable.
Would Trust Agents work the same if it had been more “secretive”? Perhaps little teasers here and there to say, “This is a new approach”? It'd be interesting to go back and run a parallel approach.
One thing's for sure – it's interesting to watch how the transition is being made from the short, punchy 500 word pieces to the several thousand per chapter versions. I wonder how we'll be looking at book promotions, writing, etc, in a year from now?
That's probably one of the best things we can do, Doug. I know I've loaned Trust Agents to a few folk I know would really benefit from the road maps in it, and I can think of about twenty people right now that Mitch's book would be perfect for.
And yes, I agree – there are always tidbits that even the most “hardcore subscribrer” to these guys can learn.
So would it possibly be that bloggers may make great promotional authors (while not necessarily being great authors, per se)? Again, not counting the guys in the post – but say there's an awesome blogger who hasn't transferred well to print. Does his/her community outreach and promotional skills/leverage then turn that into a big seller, regardless of quality? Which then makes them appear a great author?
Love the fact you used “wonks”, Geoff
How did you find the audience you're after? As you mention, it's maybe not for your regular guys – did you find they helped reach the folks you thought would benefit more, or did you find you had to change tact altogether?
I think there's a possibility that there's a blogger out there that doesn't translate well into an author but had the support of his/her community, which helped gain recognition for the book. And though I don't know the ins and outs of this industry, I'm assuming that on the flip, even with the help of their community, an 'ok' book would get touted as such in the long-run – regardless of that community's help.
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I find a lot of people who say they read the book, who actually didn't. That's pretty funny when you bust them in a conversation, but you have to let it slide and not bring it up.
Have to agree with you Mich, I don't believe a good blogger necessarily makes a good author. They are all their own media. I'm a journalist as well. When I first became a blogger it was hard to make that different than the way I wrote for news. Then I became a columnist, then tried blogging again but with the attitude of “I'm going to be me in my blog” and that went over well. So then I was asked by my editors why don't you write like that in the publication?
I have a feeling the same goes if you started out as a blogger, there might be some difficulty translating that into an entire book, unless you are republishing blog posts, which is different and thereby really not offering much new than what's been on your blog.
There is some cross-over, but not much. You would be surprised.
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There is some cross-over, but not much. You would be surprised.
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There is some cross-over, but not much. You would be surprised.
Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://ff.im/-8gGjN
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://ff.im/-8gGjN
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://ff.im/-8i10D
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? http://ff.im/-8i10D
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Do bloggers make good authors? http://bit.ly/Ttdzb via @DannyBrown
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Do bloggers make good authors? http://bit.ly/Ttdzb via @DannyBrown
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http://dannybrown.me/2009... ::: http://www.WhatTheyDontTeachYo... :::
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http://dannybrown.me/2009... ::: http://www.WhatTheyDontTeachYo... :::
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There's really no point in buying any how-to books anymore, because the Web's got all the info you need. However, for the InterNewbs, a bounded blueprint on how to do something suits them best.
RT @DannyBrown Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk. Good points.
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RT @DannyBrown Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? | danny brown http://bit.ly/17RnFk. Good points.
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Danny,
I think this is a great question. I'm a quarter through Trust Agents and just received Brian Solis' latest book in the mail. Considering I don't get the time to read even half of the content they post of their blogs, I'm confident I'll come away with some great information I wouldn't proactively think to search their archives for. My fingers are crossed, and I'll let you know!
Rachel Kay
David Meerman Scott is another author who had a blog long before the book. I know the way the book is put together it is easy to use and to look things up. I haven't read World Wide Rave yet but I do enjoy the way he put this together.
I haven't been reading blogs nearly long enough to notice the difference. I think the conversation style is great. I am getting Trust Agents in the mail and I am a huge supporter of Chris Brogan. I will find out if it is just like his blog.
Books are great for reference and even if you do subscribe to the blog. Having a book at your finger tips is a great resource.
Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? via @dannybrown http://chilp.it/?3e7296
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Do Bloggers Make Good Authors? via @dannybrown http://chilp.it/?3e7296
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Danny:
Good question and few would dare to ask. I read Trust Agents. There is some truly useful information in it, and just like Chris, it's authentic, honest and from the heart. Is he a good writer? He's no Malcolm Gladwell. But then, who is. Much of it was rehashed, but what's wrong with that? For some people, especially those new to the space, this is still fresh, or in its very best cases, nuggets of wisdom. It's easy to pass on to people you want to educate if they aren't blog readers. So it has value to some. There are many better book on similar subjects out there: Friedman, Shirky, even Garfield. All three of them are real writers, not simply bloggers. Then again, they're not Chris Brogan. Of course the real story here is the value of community in marketing your book or product. This book is doing as well as it's doing not just because of the content, but because of Chris's knowledge and expertise at building and mobilizing his community. Kudos for that, too.
I can't help but think of the cat when you mention Garfield, Edward.
That's one of Chris's strengths, the community loyalty and support. And the great thing about Trust Agents is that it shows how to foster that support and loyalty. Has Chris's readers already learned about that? Quite possibly. Is there more to learn from the book? More than likely (I know there were a couple moments in it that related to a new mindset for me).
It'll be interesting to see what the follow-up will be like. When we chatted on BlogTalk Radio, Chris mentioned that the next one will aim to get people running their own business using (and building on) the early promise of Trust Agents – should be a worthwhile read.
Thanks for sharing some great views, and nice collection of authors name-checked there.
I first read Trust Agents (via @csmbookclub) and then read Chris' blog, so I may not be the right person to speak, but I liked the blog better because of the conversation. But if challenged to comment on the “newness” of the message, I'd say that following Chris' writing is very similar to let's say following Suze Orman. She has been broadcasting the same set of financial wisdom messages since 1997. She had 6 consecutive NYT Best Sellers' List books despite the fairly repetitive messages. She stays relevant and engaging regardless of channel or point in time.
So I have to agree with @edwardboches that it's Chris and Julien's ability to “mobilize” that's attractive here, regardless of whether it's a new or old message via book or blog. The book is just part of their larger conversation IMO.
A rather patronizing attitude to have
<John Maxwell is about 60 so I applaud him for even knowing how to spell twitter
which doesn't reflect very well on you.
Hi Folks,
Chris Brogan is developing a 360 degree social media strategy.
He’s very good and, for me, raises the bar.
< the goal is to cross over to those who do not read the posts online
Agreed. He’s one of the few bloggers whose articles I print out and re-read.
If I can get my hands on any book of his, I’d buy it. Unfortunately, you can’t get in here in Beijing. Have to wait a little bit longer…
Regards,
Ivan,
Beijing, China
http://www.ivanwalsh.com