Comments on: The End of The Trust Agent? http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/ Marketing. Social Media. Humanity. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Kat Jaibur (@katjaib) http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-4391 Kat Jaibur (@katjaib) Fri, 04 Jun 2010 03:54:09 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-4391 So wait a minute. That morning that Chris met me for coffee... even though I knew diddly about social media, had been on Twitter for about 10 minutes, never commented on his blog and was a complete stranger... that morning that he spent 2 hours with me and offered me tons of free one-to-one advice... That was worth ($22,000 / 8 = $2750)...$5,500?! Hot damn! Thanks again, Chris! So wait a minute.

That morning that Chris met me for coffee… even though I knew diddly about social media, had been on Twitter for about 10 minutes, never commented on his blog and was a complete stranger… that morning that he spent 2 hours with me and offered me tons of free one-to-one advice… That was worth ($22,000 / 8 = $2750)…$5,500?! Hot damn!
Thanks again, Chris!

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2820 Mark Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:32:59 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2820 @Mike It's the funniest thing. People always seem to connect this blog to rock music in some way. Must be my shimmering long hair and penchant for tall boots. Any way, I appreciate the analogy, the contribution, and also the dissent. I try to strike a balance with my tone while also writing in a way that is interesting and entertaining. I try to focus on behavioral observations, and in this case, with numbers to back it up. I understand why this kind of article makes people uncomfortable but in the midst of discomfort the best insight and innovation usually occur. My intent was not to create an article with an overall tone that was critical, but I respect your opinion and take your comments to heart. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Mike! @Mike It’s the funniest thing. People always seem to connect this blog to rock music in some way. Must be my shimmering long hair and penchant for tall boots.

Any way, I appreciate the analogy, the contribution, and also the dissent. I try to strike a balance with my tone while also writing in a way that is interesting and entertaining. I try to focus on behavioral observations, and in this case, with numbers to back it up.

I understand why this kind of article makes people uncomfortable but in the midst of discomfort the best insight and innovation usually occur.

My intent was not to create an article with an overall tone that was critical, but I respect your opinion and take your comments to heart. Thanks for taking the time to stop by, Mike!

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]]> By: Mike Campbell http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2817 Mike Campbell Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:42:23 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2817 Mark, I couldn't help but think about Green Day as I read your post. When they expanded their music to a larger audience, their loyal early adopters turned on them. I think it is a natural progression to reach out to a larger audience. It is a shame that loyal fans can be insecure purists that don't want the family to grow. I find it ironic that earlier you criticized Trust Agents and their social media country club. Now I get the impression that you are criticizing the country club because one of its esteemed members is opening the doors to the likes of Happy Gilmore and his fans. I think Chris is going to be just fine losing some or most of his core followers. The rewards are far greater than the risks. The percentage of loyal early adopters pales in comparison to the general population. Finally, you hit the nail on the head. Corporate folks don't know or care about Chris' early fan-base. Mark, I couldn’t help but think about Green Day as I read your post. When they expanded their music to a larger audience, their loyal early adopters turned on them. I think it is a natural progression to reach out to a larger audience. It is a shame that loyal fans can be insecure purists that don’t want the family to grow.

I find it ironic that earlier you criticized Trust Agents and their social media country club. Now I get the impression that you are criticizing the country club because one of its esteemed members is opening the doors to the likes of Happy Gilmore and his fans.

I think Chris is going to be just fine losing some or most of his core followers. The rewards are far greater than the risks. The percentage of loyal early adopters pales in comparison to the general population.

Finally, you hit the nail on the head. Corporate folks don’t know or care about Chris’ early fan-base.

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]]> By: Mark http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2814 Mark Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:52 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2814 Thanks for weighing in everyone. Especially wanted to call out ... @Alex Agree that theory is different in practice. Does this mean Chris needs to re-write Trust Agents and add "well, forget about that don;t sell part" based on the lessons he has learned and the practices he has implemented? BTW, I never agreed with the "no sell" schtick. Everybody sells. Just don't be annoying : ) @Jim -- Thanks for this great anecdote. Chris is authentically helpful and that has become an important part of his "brand" as well. Thanks for weighing in everyone. Especially wanted to call out …

@Alex Agree that theory is different in practice. Does this mean Chris needs to re-write Trust Agents and add “well, forget about that don;t sell part” based on the lessons he has learned and the practices he has implemented? BTW, I never agreed with the “no sell” schtick. Everybody sells. Just don’t be annoying : )

@Jim — Thanks for this great anecdote. Chris is authentically helpful and that has become an important part of his “brand” as well.

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]]> By: Donna Maria Coles Johnson http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2813 Donna Maria Coles Johnson Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:30 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2813 Kudos to everyone generating an honest profit on the strength of their talents, gifts and experiences. To me, it's kind of simple. Kudos to everyone generating an honest profit on the strength of their talents, gifts and experiences. To me, it’s kind of simple.

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]]> By: Jim http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2812 Jim Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:21:12 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2812 Great discussion. I think what Chris is doing is the perfect next step. Do I think he's somehow flipped on his core promise-of-value? Are you kidding? The information he provides for free is more valuable than any seminar I've paid to attended. Last week I DM'd Chris about a blog post I wrote regarding a new client project that utilizes social media as the ONLY marketing tactic. Chris sent my post out into his stream. Within an hour my client received a call from a prospective client in Asia. What did Chris charge me for this? Zero. And no, I didn't ask him to promote it, but rather to let me know what he thought of it. My point is that this new way of doing things is in constant flux. None of us have any reference point on how to monetize it yet. Brogan's a pioneer. At least he's trying. I have to keep clothes on my kids' backs and need to figure out how to do it too. Great discussion. I think what Chris is doing is the perfect next step. Do I think he’s somehow flipped on his core promise-of-value? Are you kidding? The information he provides for free is more valuable than any seminar I’ve paid to attended.

Last week I DM’d Chris about a blog post I wrote regarding a new client project that utilizes social media as the ONLY marketing tactic. Chris sent my post out into his stream. Within an hour my client received a call from a prospective client in Asia. What did Chris charge me for this? Zero. And no, I didn’t ask him to promote it, but rather to let me know what he thought of it.

My point is that this new way of doing things is in constant flux. None of us have any reference point on how to monetize it yet. Brogan’s a pioneer. At least he’s trying. I have to keep clothes on my kids’ backs and need to figure out how to do it too.

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]]> By: Alex http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2811 Alex Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:08:02 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2811 I'll take the info Chris gives out and understand that he has as much right as the next person to profit from his knowledge and experience. Yes, I see a disconnect from his admonitions in 'Trust Agents' about blatant selling when/if Chris goes into 'sell' mode, but in my view the most pristine theory becomes a tad muddy in real world practice. I’ll take the info Chris gives out and understand that he has as much right as the next person to profit from his knowledge and experience. Yes, I see a disconnect from his admonitions in ‘Trust Agents’ about blatant selling when/if Chris goes into ‘sell’ mode, but in my view the most pristine theory becomes a tad muddy in real world practice.

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]]> By: Jeremy Victor http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2810 Jeremy Victor Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:03:51 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2810 Quite frankly, my favorite part of this post is the picture of Chris. My second favorite, the engagement. (This is a great community) And the third, Mark the statistics you pulled out demonstrates the depth of research and thinking you applied to this and all your posts. Maybe blogging will kill trade publications after all! Quite frankly, my favorite part of this post is the picture of Chris.

My second favorite, the engagement. (This is a great community)

And the third, Mark the statistics you pulled out demonstrates the depth of research and thinking you applied to this and all your posts.

Maybe blogging will kill trade publications after all!

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]]> By: Amy Howell http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2809 Amy Howell Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:24:19 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2809 I KNEW I liked Billy Mitchell!! Great conversations by all. Congrats Mark for asking good questions and "powering" the conversation. Wish you could be with the CMO crew coming to hear Brogan in Memphis May 6th! #BroganMemphis Looking forward to meeting Billy (and Brogan of course). Rock on! I KNEW I liked Billy Mitchell!! Great conversations by all. Congrats Mark for asking good questions and “powering” the conversation. Wish you could be with the CMO crew coming to hear Brogan in Memphis May 6th! #BroganMemphis Looking forward to meeting Billy (and Brogan of course). Rock on!

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]]> By: Jim LeBlanc http://www.businessesgrow.com/2010/03/08/the-end-of-the-trust-agent/#comment-2807 Jim LeBlanc Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:48:44 +0000 http://businessesgrow.com/?p=1970#comment-2807 I just started reading Chris Brogan's blog. Yes, he seems to sell a lot but he has a lot of good ideas too. As long as I actually KNOW when he's selling, I'm Ok. When he's selling, I stop reading. Isn't that part of the issue here? People tune out TV commercials. Why won't they just tune out blog commercials too? This has been one of the most interesting blogs so far this year. I appreciate all the comments. THANKS Mark! I just started reading Chris Brogan’s blog. Yes, he seems to sell a lot but he has a lot of good ideas too. As long as I actually KNOW when he’s selling, I’m Ok. When he’s selling, I stop reading.

Isn’t that part of the issue here? People tune out TV commercials. Why won’t they just tune out blog commercials too?

This has been one of the most interesting blogs so far this year. I appreciate all the comments. THANKS Mark!

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