chrisbrogan.com - Latest Comments in Am I Too Naked

Re: Am I Too Naked

Computer Repair Sacramento — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:26:29 -0000

Love this concept... "
Information is, and will continue to be, free. If you don't serve it, people will find it elsewhere. The true value is in the relationship, the experience, the consulting, etc." Give too little and they won't come back, we learned this early on in our company
http://www.callnerds.com/po... now we try to give our customers the opportunity to be our biggest advertiser

Re: Am I Too Naked

youtube downloader — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:26:42 -0000

Re: Am I Too Naked

evden eve nakliyat — Tue, 25 May 2010 11:36:41 -0000

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Re: Am I Too Naked

Leif Hansen — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:28:47 -0000

Generally, I think your strategy is spot on.

Information is, and will continue to be, free. If you don't serve it, people will find it elsewhere. The true value is in the relationship, the experience, the consulting, etc.

However, interesting coincidence was this quote I read the same day from Gibson's new book "Spook Country".

"
"Secrets," said the Bigend beside her, "are the very root of cool." P.108

Or, as Sting says in "Nothing bout me":

"Lay my head on the surgeon's table
Take me fingerprints if you are able
Pick my brains, pick my pockets
Steal my eyeballs and come back for the sockets
Run every kind of test from A to Z
And you'll still know nothing 'bout me

Run my name through your computer
Mention me in passing to your college tutor
Check my records, check my facts
Check if I paid my income tax
Pore over everything in my C.V.
But you'll still know nothing 'bout me
You'll still know nothing 'bout me

You don't need to read no books on my history
I'm a simple man, it's no big mystery
In the cold weather, a hand needs a glove
At times like this, a lonely man like me needs love

Search my house with a fine tooth comb
Turn over everything 'cause I won't be at home
Set up your microscope and tell me what you see
You'll still know nothing 'bout me "

Re: Am I Too Naked

Stefan Deak — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:37:45 -0000

No matter how much information you publish fingerspitzgefühl can't be taught. It comes from experience and intuition and the ability to be able to tell good from bad.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Carlos Araya — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:06:53 -0000

Chris:

Sharing is one thing, knowing how to apply what you've shared and build upon it are very different things. As wilson commented, development and implementation are very different than what you post

Re: Am I Too Naked

wilson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:54:33 -0000

It's a balance. The general knowledge I get from sites like these helps me inform management and prep my thinking and planning to use these techniques for marketing campaigns.

However, implementation is a very tricky point. As someone who piloted early web and e-mail campaigns, I know the pitfalls of thinking this stuff is simple and DIY. Expertise at a specific client level is critical.

Re: Am I Too Naked

mark ivey — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:39:07 -0000

Long before social media, there was always a fear about giving out too much info and having potential clients walk away with freebies-one sales trainer called it "spilling too much candy on the floor." There is some balance--you don't want to give away 100%. But on the whole, I think you're better off being transparent, providing good info and perspective, and conveying your knowledge and expertise. I agree with the other poster: what you share you get back in return x times. In the end, you're building a personal brand--and the more people know about you,the more they're likely to hire you.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Matt — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:25:25 -0000

If you shared less, I wouldn't be here to post this comment. To play off the tired movie quote: If you only build half of it, they won't come.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Jeremiah — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:09:23 -0000

I think there is a definitely a line that needs to be held (although *finding* that line is an art).

As someone who does get paid for his consultancy in online marketing, the reality is that companies will gladly interview you and try to get all the information they can out of you... for free. Their priority, after all, is their bottom line.

And then not call you back - they'll lead you up to the point where you think they're ready to do a deal, then walk away, so they can milk every bit of knowledge out of you.

So I believe this person did you a favor in telling you what they did.

Here's my experience: Almost every time I was completely open I didn't get the work. Almost every time I gave away SOME candy, but not all, I got money to put food on the table.

When it comes to my professional efforts, I'd rather have 100 people who paid me than 10,000 people who I didn't get nary a dime from.

You have an advantage as you have a "name brand" in being Chris Brogan, which allows you more flexibility and leverage. You're in the catbird seat.

However, you need to clearer about your value proposition. Heck, I never knew from looking at your site that you even offered services yourself.. and I've met you (very very briefly) but I still didn't know you did anything but work on putting together events and speaking.

A friend of mine puts it perfectly - Your product - your "milk" - is knowledge - if you give it ALL away for free, no one will buy the cow.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Brandy Nagel — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:34:08 -0000

I think it's OK if you give away ideas - you have an endless supply.

Re: Am I Too Naked

lishevita — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:17:47 -0000

I perceive it a different way. It seems to me that if you have so much to give away on your site then you must have much, much more that you can give in person or in direct connection.

It seems to me that you don't want to be spending your time answering the same questions for your customers all the time. You want to empower them to do all sorts of things better for themselves and then to come to you for the really hard stuff, or the really specialized stuff. That way you don't have a boring job, constantly rehashing the same 10 points everyday. Instead you get a dream job where you get to dig in deep and explore only the most delicious challenges.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Eric Rice — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:44:54 -0000

Heh, the more you give away for free, the less I need to pay you. And not to get into that whol blogosphere echo chamber issue, however, a lot of people in this 'social media' chamber give away plenty of valuable information. Annnnd that can all be taken out of the Chamber of Echoes, taken to clients and corporations that know nothing of you, and charged top dollar.

No one is the wiser. (doesn't make it right, but it does make money for someone... else)

Re: Am I Too Naked

Connie Crosby — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:54:55 -0000

I thought about this a fair bit when I first started blogging. I agree with Whitney Hoffman that people can read what you write, but only some will take what you write and apply it themselves.

There are so many others who for whatever reason--too little time, inclination, skill--will not apply it themselves and will come calling because they know you are the expert.

Yes, if you develop some proprietary thinking around a client's project, you don't want to share, but otherwise this really is the signature of what you are doing in the collaborative, open community spaces you are working in. The book Wikinomics by Don Tapscott and Anthony Williams is all about opening things up and sharing. You will get more back in return.

Without this openness you would not have created such a strong network around you. And, that is one of your greatest "secret" weapons.

Cheers,
Connie

Re: Am I Too Naked

LeanneHeller — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:55:22 -0000

Okay, trying to be unbiased here.

I think that you have a good balance between offering advice and giving too much information. This is why:

1) When our company interviews consultants, we pay more attention to the ones who are open with their knowledge. Their transparency proves their interest in working with us and their expertise in their field.

2) Reading a consultant's blog does not make you an expert. This isn't to say that you won't learn, or that you should stop reading blogs. But there's no substitution for the experience that a seasoned consultant will bring to the table. Our company has found that doing things in-house is definitely possible, but may cost more in time and mistakes. So, reading your blog might help to educate her staff, but hiring you directly could save her company time and money.

3) Your generosity in giving advice builds your credibility and your reputation.

4) In line w/ your tweet the other day - form follows function. Like you said, your blog provides the bigger pieces. If she reads your content and formulates a strategy based on general information, it may not fit her company's goals.

5) Blogging is an investment of effort. You couldn't write (well) about it every day unless you have a pool of knowledge to draw on, or you'd just end up repeating yourself or other people. There is a reason people are listening to you. For my part, it is because this is where I can come for practical, current information on social media and related technology. Your posts contain original thought. Original thought comes from (shocker here) the person who is thinking it. Remind her that your blog is valuable, but can't problem solve for her.

If this person feels that you are too transparent, which admittedly can be an issue, I'd wonder where she is coming from. Maybe she's in an industry where confidentiality is stressed, and she's uncomfortable with that level of transparency that a blog suggests.

In any case, she doesn't seem to really understand what you're offering when you consult. Maybe sit down with her (if you have the time) and explain some of the process that you would go through when partnering with her business to accomplish her goals.

If none of this works (in addition to the many helpful comments above), she truly might just not be ready for a consultant, and your time would be better spent working with a company that is. Later, if she is still interested, and has a greater understanding of what you would bring to her company (or just of the gaps in her company that you could help with), you could reconnect.

* Just noticed your comment - I think 3 have appeared since I started thinking about this, so it's time to wrap it up! I think this still applies to clients in general, although I wrote it towards the specific client you mentioned.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Sophware — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:48:08 -0000

Two great consulting companies have been my home, one for 9 years and one for 4. Both companies have a wide-open policy about sharing and teaching everything we have with our clients. We have never yet shared our way out of a good client in spite of practically trying to do so. In our experience, if what you have to offer continues to evolve (or even if it just your approach that adds value), you'll actually get a tighter, more profitable, and more symbiotic relationship the more you share. Key words: "good" and "symbiotic."

Re: Am I Too Naked

@Stephen Productivity in Cont — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:39:34 -0000

No you do not give too much away. What a dumba$$ thing to say. You give context and a view of the forest here on this blog. In order to get a map through the forest and a list of the trees, your client needs **you**.

Reminds me of the expression, "Sometimes you need to fire your clients."

Re: Am I Too Naked

chrisbrogan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:31:14 -0000

I should defend a little bit. She had a valid point related to the business conversation.

My hand-wringing and further thoughts and worries are more from the perspective of whether the overall premise: do I give too much away, was accurate.

You all seem to say no. But then, you're my friends. : )

Re: Am I Too Naked

Daniel, the Real Estate Zebra — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:17:00 -0000

I look at it like this:

Michael Jordan, while he was at the top of his game, could have written a book called, "How to Play Basketball the Michael Jordan Way." He could have given the book away to every coach, player, and GM in the league. It probably could have improved the overall play in the NBA, but would any of those Coaches or GM's have refused the chance to have Michael Jordan on their team because he wrote everything in a book for free? Would his talent have been worth any less as a member of a team?

Gimme a break.

Are you sure your caller doesn't work for the Knicks?

Re: Am I Too Naked

Whitney — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:26:31 -0000

And in the end- it's what Kat says. Your talent is abundant; everyone can read a book, but not everyone will take those words and apply them - change them from adjectives into verbs- turning description into action.

In this life, we reward action. Many people need help getting those balls rolling, and there's plenty of work available for people like you who help make that happen.

Re: Am I Too Naked

kat brogan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:12:06 -0000

it's scarcity mentality
vs.
abundance mentality

you;ve gotten back 3 fold what you've "given away"
you're right on track :)

Re: Am I Too Naked

Cheryl Allin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:58:46 -0000

Hmm, the social networking equivalent to Ron Jeremy? Nah, I don't think so.

You're just a big ol' Purple Cow - how can anyone implement the knowledge you share verbatim and end up with results greater ( or even equal to ) yours?

You mentor, you inspire creative thought, you help your proselytes avoid the most common pitfalls while engaging them in meaningful dialog.

Being online most of the time generates an occasional self-doubt - ignore it! I think it's pretty safe to say you're on the right track.

Re: Am I Too Naked

Mitch Joel — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:48:59 -0000

Hey Chris,

I'm not sure if you have trackbacks enabled, but (as always) you have inspired me to Blog on the topic.

In short, you can never be too naked... and that's because I think this potential client is looking at this channel as if it's traditional. This is not a scarcity model.

More here: http://www.twistimage.com/b...

Re: Am I Too Naked

Jeremiah Owyang — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:41:52 -0000

The key is to give away the appetizers, but charge for the entrees!

Re: Am I Too Naked

mousewords — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:26:10 -0000

As to the question of whether you're giving too much, I think only you can answer that. You clarified your perception in the post--your customization, execution, network, and knowledge are your product, not the ideas by themselves. So if you're okay with that, then no problem!

Personally, I think that the information you share on your website builds credibility, so that those who need more will feel confident in seeking you out to provide it. Do *you* feel that you are getting a good return on that investment in your readers?