As always Chris, you are right on the money. This post reinforces the "relationship priority" in any business. Thanks for the great insight.
startabuzz
· 6 months ago
Chris, I've gotta say that I look forward to hearing what you've got to say each morning. Your posts (and I have no intention of blowing sunshine in your face) have a way of stoking my fire each day, so I thank you for that. As someone who's just getting back into the game, I am busting my hump and *think* that I've got a solid base in at least a few areas that you've covered here and strive to strengthen that each day. Hoping to learn a lot, do right by my clients and contribute something of value. And I'm *really* looking forward to reading the book. Good morning!
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
That's the whole goal, getting you moving. I already know what I know. I share because I'm building an army of you. : )
lesleylambert
· 6 months ago
The new way around business is engagement, interaction and sharing. I believe I am a Trust Agent....would love to meet you soon!
Alan Hammond
· 6 months ago
Thanks for a great post, Chris! You're right on the money, again. It's difficult to write a brief comment here because each of the secrets is equally important in my book. As a relatively new blogger, I've seen the importance of connecting and I'm learning to make it a priority for me.
Fortunately, I've built upon what I've done before since I've been writing. Now, I feel like I have at least a modicum of success to leverage. Gives me hope for the projects on which I'm working and for the future.
Thanks again, Alan
paramendra
· 6 months ago
"As a relatively new blogger, I've seen the importance of connecting...."
Blogging is a social activity. Got to visit the comments sections of other bloggers.
JamieLee
· 6 months ago
Like startabuzz, I don't want to be blowing any sunshine where it shouldn't be, but I have to echo her gratitude for the thoughts and ideas you share. I am unapologetically excited about what I'm reading here because it is helping me to define something I've been doing (and aspiring to do) for a while, but was unable to name. Everything I've read about pirates and trust agents makes me say, "Oh! Of course." ... but in a way that is completely enlightening. ;)
I know I'm dating myself, but scenes from that oldie-but-goodie "Working Girl" keep popping into my head. It's been a while since I've seen that "classic," but I have a sense that some the trust agent elements come into play as Real Person Melanie Griffith works insights (gleaned from careful listening) and relationships into an introduction that is ultimately a win for all parties involved (except, of course, for evil Sigourney Weaver - the fully-fledged antithesis of Griffith's authentic personality).
Looking forward to meeting you at tonight's event.
zoewesthof
· 6 months ago
Well if I'm not quite there yet, I've certainly got my sights set on it :).
You sure know how to rally the troops. Nearly every post I read of yours makes me excited to get back to work on all of the above.
Julian
· 6 months ago
Hi Chris,
I just saw @seerysm's post on Facebook about your work with Julien Smith on Trust Agents and came over to see what you had cooking.
I enjoyed your post and how you've defined trust agents and just wanted to share my literal reaction to 'trust agent' before I read your description.
To me building trust is about saying what you mean and doing what you say. Whether you are online or not doesn't change that but it sure does change the size of your bullhorn.
Because we're all human there are times we fail to act in a trustworthy way. For example, as parents we find ourselves questioning our own actions when we realize we're telling our kids to do something rather than showing them with our own behavior.
When we do things in a manner consistent with trustworthy behavior and then leverage that with communication tools like blogs or Twitter, we create entirely new fields of influence and interaction. So, yeah I know I'm preaching to the choir. :-) Just wanted to get in on what you had started here. Looking forward to the book.
I love your perspective there. I always like your point of view, Julian, and I'm glad you shared it here. Very different and yet it angles nicely with ours.
Janie Graziani
· 6 months ago
Very insightful and thought-provoking piece, Chris. Thanks so much. If this is anything like what the book has to say, sign me up! I'm a trust agent in a couple of areas, much more so than the others, so it looks like I've got some work to do. Part of the fun is learning from others, so thanks again for sharing your knowledge. I'd like to meet you if you come to Florida.
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
I'll be in Florida a few times in the coming months. Orlando next, at IzeaFest. See you there?
Rick Mahn
· 6 months ago
Excellent post Chris. I'm finding many more folks who fit this description, as I'm sure you are too. The trick is for these folks to find their voice inside orgs and help teach & raise awareness of why relationships are important in place of traditional practices.
Let me know if you want to stop in Minneapolis/St. Paul during the book tour. We'll be happy to host you both and meet with the local social media community here.
Kind Regards, Rick
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
Stay tuned, Rick. We came up with the perfect Trust Agents way to do it. : )
Chanty Lang-Vermaas
· 6 months ago
I believe people buy people; before they buy your product. Our income is a bi-product of that. I thought this was a great read and spot one Chris, however you already know that so I'm not saying anything out of left field here. Well done! I think I cross two of these descriptions,so it is best to ask someone who sees me differently then I see myself for verification. Look forward to the book guys. I am sure it will be a great read! Chanty
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
Well said, Chanty. I agree with the premise. : )
zitagustin
· 6 months ago
This is a thought provoking post, Chris. I think that Trust Agents have a Vision and act consistently on that vision with integrity and passion. For them, action is everything and self description or self applause are wasted efforts. Trust Agents don't need bullhorns - their armies do that for them.
Thanks for the insight, I'm looking forward to reading your book!
socialnerdia
· 6 months ago
Hey Chris, the book sounds very good. I like the idea behind it and I'm sure the writing is awesome. If you're ever in Dallas, it'd be fun to meet you and talk more about Trust Agents. I'd also love to interview you for The Social Nerdia Show! sometime. Best of luck with the book!
Karl Staib - Work Happy Now
· 6 months ago
I'm looking forward to this book. I need to incorporate these ideas into what I'm doing with my blog. I'm also terrible at leveraging my base that I already have. I guess that's why I'll buy this book.
Do you do advance review copies for bloggers who love your message?
Nate @ thewaythatyouwander
· 6 months ago
Great post here.
I'm just pissed because I have to wait 'til August 24th to get the book!
Since your doing some traveling... if you feel like going way out of your way then make a visit to the great state of Maine. I'll buy you some lobster.
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
You know I'm from Maine, right Nate?
Born in Waterville, raised in Augusta, lived in Bangor and Pittsfield, too. : )
Nate
· 6 months ago
No way I had absolutely no idea! I live in Winthrop that is so funny. I live 10 minutes from where you grew up and had no clue!
ChrisDonaldson
· 6 months ago
I think I aspire to be a trust agent, as I wasn't able to give a resounding 'YES!' to any of the secrets except maybe Human Artist.
I might add that the the trick is to pick a few of these strengths and ride the hell out of them, rather than necessarily be good at all six. At least in the immediate.
Jesse
· 6 months ago
Are you kidding me? Now retailers are going to start calling their managers 'Trust Agents'. What comedy!
Danny Brown
· 6 months ago
"It takes all kind of people to make a menagerie." Can't remember who said it (it may even have been my old grandad!) but it kinda makes sense more and more as I get older.
Everyone has strengths, either as a given or ones they stumble onto by mistake. The trick is in recognizing that something inherently different is about to happen, or has already happened.
Some great examples here (and I say that modestly from your kind mention of me, Chris - I'm a voice, the 12for12k'ers are the speechmakers).
Speaking of which, would you like to wear a nice shiny 12for12k avatar for 24 hours on Monday? Big video streaming and tweetathon event - all hands welcome :-)
MikeSchinkel
· 6 months ago
If you plan to make it to Atlanta, be sure to let me know. We might be able to get you an audience in addition to the Atlanta Social Media Club including from the group I organize (http://atlantawebentrepreneurs.org) and maybe more.
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
Atlanta would be a great stop. Stay tuned to the Facebook group. We've got a plan there. : )
MikeSchinkel
· 6 months ago
Look forward to it. Just give me some advance notice. ;-)
paramendra
· 6 months ago
Trust agents, the top currency in the social media world, trust agents small and big.
Jody Gnant
· 6 months ago
<3's
Awesome. As always.
Bill Cammack
· 6 months ago
I'm still not clear on exactly what a "Trust Agent" is, but I'm sure I'm one of them.
I get to know a lot of people.. I get to put my personal seal of approval on both parties that I introduce to each other IRL, because I've gotten to know each one of them and feel that the two of them knowing each other or at least recognizing each other in a crowd at a party would be beneficial to all three of us... In life, not just in business.
That's why I'm a "Trust Agent". People rely on my assessments to make valuable connections with other people.
Christine taylor
· 6 months ago
I ALWAYS learn something from your posts. Thanks!
Allen L. Kelly
· 6 months ago
Great post! (my favorite so far)
I consider myself a trust agent, defined by you as "people who use the web in a very human way to build influence, reputation, awareness, and who can translate that into some kind of business value."
I have been pushing the social media effort at VeriSign Inc. for almost a year now - trying to establish our brand presence on social media platforms like Twitter.
I build this presence by listening (with the help of TweetBeeps) and responding to everything VeriSign-related. I do marketing, sales, customer support, evangelism, customer outreach, partnering, and PR.
I am not a VeriSign bullhorn; I prefer to be seen as Allen Kelly, an online VeriSign dude that you can talk to (or at) about VeriSign and online security in general. If you want to complain, I am all ears. If you want support, I will expedite it. If you want info/data/stats, I will research it.
As a trust agent, you can count on me to provide a genuine (human) response to the best of my availability.
Coincidentally, VeriSign's message is "Bringing TRUST to the Internet."
My goal is to do just that.
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
Very cool, actually. I think it's really cool to try and be the human face of a company who embodies trust.
wendy soucie
· 6 months ago
Chris, I have been a long time networker but only recent blogger. You are on my blog roll. In every presentation I have given on the subject of social media mentioned your site as one of the required visits to begin to understand the dynamics of where social media is going.
Thanks for your authenticity (which you didn't mention here). I hope to be a trust agent and have set my bar high to work towards it. I have searched out Social Media Academy as one place to learn and be joined by like minded people all over the country to move strategically in the right direction. My most enjoyable moments have been working on projects with people in US Canada and France.
I hope in your travels you come to Madison WI. I would love to meet you in person.
Wendy
Chris Brogan
· 6 months ago
Madison. Now that's not *as* likely as Milwaukie, but then, what do I know? You might prove me wrong in a week when we set up our schedule.
Suzanne Vara
· 6 months ago
Chris, as always an inspiring post that makes you think about your self. Am I a trust agent or that guy/gal? I would like to think that I am a trust agent but know it is a process you build upon with every interaction. As a small company the way to keep afloat is to build solid relationships with people by sharing knowledge but also listening to them very closely.
I recently had a great friend visit and we sat outside for hours talking about just on how we relate to people through social media, resources around us to reach out to and shared so much information. We joked that when you are in a rut and need a pick me up watch a garyvee show and when you need that inspiration, go to chris brogan.
Thanks so much all that you do and canot wait to read the book. Any chance you will be coming to Vegas?
Lvadgal/Suzanne Vara
Ben Huynh
· 6 months ago
Good information. Thank you! “ADV.” Think REALTOR ® Think Ben! Houston, TX www.har.com/benhuynh 281 561 5386 Champions R.E. “Open Doors, Closing Deals” Referral is appreciated.
Alan Hammond
· 6 months ago
Exactly. That's one of the list of things that is difficult to do when under time constraints, especially since a meaningful comment of substance is required, but something that is essential. It is also rewarding and fun. Like anything else, to be consistent it must be worked into a daily schedule.
All Comments
Fortunately, I've built upon what I've done before since I've been writing. Now, I feel like I have at least a modicum of success to leverage. Gives me hope for the projects on which I'm working and for the future.
Thanks again,
Alan
Blogging is a social activity. Got to visit the comments sections of other bloggers.
I am unapologetically excited about what I'm reading here because it is helping me to define something I've been doing (and aspiring to do) for a while, but was unable to name. Everything I've read about pirates and trust agents makes me say, "Oh! Of course." ... but in a way that is completely enlightening. ;)
I know I'm dating myself, but scenes from that oldie-but-goodie "Working Girl" keep popping into my head. It's been a while since I've seen that "classic," but I have a sense that some the trust agent elements come into play as Real Person Melanie Griffith works insights (gleaned from careful listening) and relationships into an introduction that is ultimately a win for all parties involved (except, of course, for evil Sigourney Weaver - the fully-fledged antithesis of Griffith's authentic personality).
Looking forward to meeting you at tonight's event.
You sure know how to rally the troops. Nearly every post I read of yours makes me excited to get back to work on all of the above.
I just saw @seerysm's post on Facebook about your work with Julien Smith on Trust Agents and came over to see what you had cooking.
I enjoyed your post and how you've defined trust agents and just wanted to share my literal reaction to 'trust agent' before I read your description.
To me building trust is about saying what you mean and doing what you say. Whether you are online or not doesn't change that but it sure does change the size of your bullhorn.
Because we're all human there are times we fail to act in a trustworthy way. For example, as parents we find ourselves questioning our own actions when we realize we're telling our kids to do something rather than showing them with our own behavior.
When we do things in a manner consistent with trustworthy behavior and then leverage that with communication tools like blogs or Twitter, we create entirely new fields of influence and interaction. So, yeah I know I'm preaching to the choir. :-) Just wanted to get in on what you had started here. Looking forward to the book.
Julian
http://www.google.com/profiles/JulianSeeryGude
Let me know if you want to stop in Minneapolis/St. Paul during the book tour. We'll be happy to host you both and meet with the local social media community here.
Kind Regards,
Rick
Chanty
Thanks for the insight, I'm looking forward to reading your book!
Do you do advance review copies for bloggers who love your message?
I'm just pissed because I have to wait 'til August 24th to get the book!
Since your doing some traveling... if you feel like going way out of your way then make a visit to the great state of Maine. I'll buy you some lobster.
Born in Waterville, raised in Augusta, lived in Bangor and Pittsfield, too. : )
I might add that the the trick is to pick a few of these strengths and ride the hell out of them, rather than necessarily be good at all six. At least in the immediate.
Everyone has strengths, either as a given or ones they stumble onto by mistake. The trick is in recognizing that something inherently different is about to happen, or has already happened.
Some great examples here (and I say that modestly from your kind mention of me, Chris - I'm a voice, the 12for12k'ers are the speechmakers).
Speaking of which, would you like to wear a nice shiny 12for12k avatar for 24 hours on Monday? Big video streaming and tweetathon event - all hands welcome :-)
Awesome. As always.
I get to know a lot of people.. I get to put my personal seal of approval on both parties that I introduce to each other IRL, because I've gotten to know each one of them and feel that the two of them knowing each other or at least recognizing each other in a crowd at a party would be beneficial to all three of us... In life, not just in business.
That's why I'm a "Trust Agent". People rely on my assessments to make valuable connections with other people.
I consider myself a trust agent, defined by you as "people who use the web in a very human way to build influence, reputation, awareness, and who can translate that into some kind of business value."
I have been pushing the social media effort at VeriSign Inc. for almost a year now - trying to establish our brand presence on social media platforms like Twitter.
I build this presence by listening (with the help of TweetBeeps) and responding to everything VeriSign-related. I do marketing, sales, customer support, evangelism, customer outreach, partnering, and PR.
I am not a VeriSign bullhorn; I prefer to be seen as Allen Kelly, an online VeriSign dude that you can talk to (or at) about VeriSign and online security in general. If you want to complain, I am all ears. If you want support, I will expedite it. If you want info/data/stats, I will research it.
As a trust agent, you can count on me to provide a genuine (human) response to the best of my availability.
Coincidentally, VeriSign's message is "Bringing TRUST to the Internet."
My goal is to do just that.
Thanks for your authenticity (which you didn't mention here). I hope to be a trust agent and have set my bar high to work towards it. I have searched out Social Media Academy as one place to learn and be joined by like minded people all over the country to move strategically in the right direction. My most enjoyable moments have been working on projects with people in US Canada and France.
I hope in your travels you come to Madison WI. I would love to meet you in person.
Wendy
I recently had a great friend visit and we sat outside for hours talking about just on how we relate to people through social media, resources around us to reach out to and shared so much information. We joked that when you are in a rut and need a pick me up watch a garyvee show and when you need that inspiration, go to chris brogan.
Thanks so much all that you do and canot wait to read the book. Any chance you will be coming to Vegas?
Lvadgal/Suzanne Vara
“ADV.” Think REALTOR ® Think Ben! Houston, TX www.har.com/benhuynh
281 561 5386 Champions R.E. “Open Doors, Closing Deals” Referral is appreciated.
Hugh.