Trust Agents, the new book on social media marketing by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, should be on your immediate purchase list. It’s a stand-out piece of work among the great wash of “gee, isn’t social media great” books that say nothing new or original.
Of course, since Chris and Julien are friends of mine, you might think I’m biased… and you’re right. But the book rocks regardless.
So, to put your mind at ease, I went to the Amazon reviews page for Trust Agents and selected a review at random to provide some objectivity:
This one’s a keeper. If you do business online (or do business with people who have ever been online) or know someone who once used a computer, I strongly suggest you get smart about the ideas in this book. ~Seth Godin
There you have it… one totally random guy’s unbiased opinion of Trust Agents. You can’t go wrong.
Seriously folks… it’s a great book.
About the Author: Brian Clark is founder of Copyblogger and co-founder of Scribe. Get more from Brian on Twitter.
Reader Comments (25)
Well… I’m getting it, since it’s cost only 16 buck… Hmm… wonder if social media is going to take over the search engine in the near future?
Thanks for the recommendation! Seth Godin says you should buy then YOU SHOULD BUY! In my opinion for whatever that is worth…. Thanks again, Bill Saint
Are there pictures in it? I need something to break up the monotony of moving my lips while I read.
Is it vastly superior to Tara Hunt’s book?
Is there a Kindle edition available or must I risk the possibility of a paper cut?
I am pretty sure Trust Agents is would be a great read because I have followed up with Chris’s ideas on his blog.
I already bought mine. 16 dollars is not much if you the book can teach one something about this issue.
What’s the chances of that random guy being Seth Godin, eh? 🙂
Anyway, I was hoping you’d tell us more. Mind you, it shows the power of word of mouth… I just heard of an offer involving 200 copies of a book, and now I come here and put 2 and 2 together.
So are you gonna tell us more? Or do we have to … sigh… actually buy the book 🙂
Who is this “Seth Godin” you speak of?
In all seriousness (and Heaven knows I’m ALWAYS serious), regardless of what the esteemed random stranger noted above might say about Trust Agents (which is a book that makes a much better read than a paperweight), you should get a copy. Get TEN copies. Read them all yourself, or give them to friends. Or friends of friends. You’ll be glad you did.
I’m actually glad this isn’t a full review. Amber has a great summary on Altitude Branding. To me it’s about trust (coincidence, huh?). I trust the writers and those endorsing it. Purchased my copy this morning. Trust.
DJ Waldow
Director of Community, Blue Sky Factory
@djwaldow
@Melissa, OK… but WHY? What are the benefits (other than it’s better than a paperweight, I’m already using Unleashing The Ideavirus for that), the features, the Unique Selling Propositions?
It may have the bald dude’s stamp of approval, but if I bought every book with his stamp of approval, I’d have to buy, like, 7 books! 🙂
Why do I get the feeling I’m participating in some giant Authority experiment here, with Brian as Stanley Milgram…?
Why do I feel I’m probably going to end up buying this darned book I know very little about? 🙂
Paul, for $16, I’d hope you’d trust me (and maybe the bald guy). If it were $1,600, I’d elaborate at length. 😉
I love the fact that Seth Godin is just a totally random guy reading the book.
OK, Paul. Here’s why (and this is just what I think, so take that for what it’s worth): Chris & Julien are pretty darned smart. They know what they’re talking about. They don’t profess to have all the answers, but they’re asking some interesting questions. If you haven’t had a chance to take a look at the discussions that are in progress on the Trust Agents page on Facebook, I encourage you to do so. The concepts are simple, but very thought-provoking. The ways that they’re talking about employing trust can, and should, change the way we’re doing business. It’s passionate. Funny. Well-written. And it has the bald dude’s stamp of approval. 😉
PS: You don’t know me from Adam, so my little missive mightn’t be worth much to you, Brian’s endorsement is worth WAY more than $16 in my book. He’s wicked smaaaht.
Nice recommendation. Just checked out 11 recommendations on Amazon and all 5 on 5 thats coooooool !!!
Won’t buy from Amazon until they stop selling dog and cock fighting magazines. Is it available anywere else?
Susan, it’s available pretty much everywhere. Follow the link in the post to Brogan’s blog for more choices.
Not gettin’ it till it’s on Kindle
Added to my Amazon Shopping Cart, so many books there already, I have no idea when I am going to read all of those.
Igor
Agreed. if the SETH GODIN tells you it’s a keeper, there’s absolutely no point for you not to have it 🙂
Ok…so I would hardly call Seth Godin a “random guy”, but if he is recommending it as well the book needs to go on my to be read list.
HAHA! Seth Godin is not just some random guy.
Seriously though. I review products for a living. Get me a copy of the book and I will review it. Then you will have a truly random review.
Although, considering my past experience with book by these authors I would give it unnaturally high marks anyway.
Looking forward to the new book.
I just saw another review for this over at ProBlogger and will be purchasing this book very soon. Thanks for the review here though as well!
I have to agree that compared to other books about social media this has something new to say (like an opinion!).
Get this and any other generic book and you have the complete collection!
It’s a great read, check this out if you don’t believe me: http://www.thesearchagents.com/2009/09/trust-agents-book-review/
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