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Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller-now in a new, updated paperback edition Today's online influencers are Web natives who trade in trust, reputation, and relationships, using social media to accrue the influence that builds up or brings down businesses online. In Trust Agents, two social media veterans show you how to tap into the power of social networks to build your brand's influence, reputation, and, of course, profits.
In this revised paperback version, learn how businesses are using the latest online social tools to build networks of influence and how you can use those networks to positively impact your business. Combining high-level theory and practical actions, this guide delivers actionable steps and case studies that show how social media can positively impact your business.
New edition features specific first moves for entering social media for small businesses, educators, travel and hospitality enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and corporations Authors both have a major presence on the social Web as well as years of online marketing and new media experience If you want your business to succeed, don't sit on the sidelines while new markets and channels grow. Instead, use the Web to build trust with your consumers using Trust Agents.
In this revised paperback version, learn how businesses are using the latest online social tools to build networks of influence and how you can use those networks to positively impact your business. Combining high-level theory and practical actions, this guide delivers actionable steps and case studies that show how social media can positively impact your business.
New edition features specific first moves for entering social media for small businesses, educators, travel and hospitality enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and corporations Authors both have a major presence on the social Web as well as years of online marketing and new media experience If you want your business to succeed, don't sit on the sidelines while new markets and channels grow. Instead, use the Web to build trust with your consumers using Trust Agents.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2009
About the author
Chris Brogan
40 books88 followersChris Brogan consults and speaks professionally with Fortune 100 and 500 companies like PepsiCo, General Motors, Microsoft, and more, on the future of business communications, and social software technologies. He is a New York Times bestselling co-author of
Trust Agents
, and a featured monthly columnist at Entrepreneur Magazine. Chris’s blog (http://www.chrisbrogan.com) is in the Top 5 of the Advertising Age Power150. He has over 11 years experience in online community, social media, and related technologies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
June 5, 2009
I'm the author. I can't really review this, can I? I think it's pretty darned awesome. It's coming out at the end of August. I'd love to talk with you about it if you read it and/or like it. Heck, if you hate it, let's talk about that, too.
October 27, 2010
Social media superstar Chris Brogan and digital media maven Julien Smith take a stab at the very complex issue of 'Trust' in this widely-lauded book. Unfortunately, it failed to resonate with me.
Usually if a book doesn't impress me, I don't write about it. You'll notice that most books I bother to review, I rate them at 4 and above.They've made a difference to me, and I want to share them with others. Scathing reviews are best left to professionals, my time is better spent writing about books that I love and learn from.
However, the incredible popularity of Trust Agents, especially in my own industry, is a little disturbing to me. The ideas in this book make a lot of sense, and if applied, will help bring about positive change. There's no denying that. But what worries me is that this book could have been a list, or a blog post, and been far more effective. It doesn't read like a book. There's no excitement, resonance, or in-depth exploration of themes. The writing is stiff and pulpit-esque. Deeply personal flashes of insight are absent.
Clifford Geetz said "man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun." We need to ensure that our webs are made of spider silk, strong and rich with meaning. Trust Agents is a step in the opposite direction.
Usually if a book doesn't impress me, I don't write about it. You'll notice that most books I bother to review, I rate them at 4 and above.They've made a difference to me, and I want to share them with others. Scathing reviews are best left to professionals, my time is better spent writing about books that I love and learn from.
However, the incredible popularity of Trust Agents, especially in my own industry, is a little disturbing to me. The ideas in this book make a lot of sense, and if applied, will help bring about positive change. There's no denying that. But what worries me is that this book could have been a list, or a blog post, and been far more effective. It doesn't read like a book. There's no excitement, resonance, or in-depth exploration of themes. The writing is stiff and pulpit-esque. Deeply personal flashes of insight are absent.
Clifford Geetz said "man is an animal suspended in webs of significance he himself has spun." We need to ensure that our webs are made of spider silk, strong and rich with meaning. Trust Agents is a step in the opposite direction.
January 30, 2017
Even 8 years down the road, the advice in this book applies. The tools have changed, but it will always be important to focus on helping others on the path to influence and prosperity. It was a bit vague and could have used some more supporting case studies, but was fairly solid information. I listened to the audio book and took a while to get through it because the authors' voices were a bit dry, forced and rushed. A good read, especially if you're stuck in old patterns and need a different way of looking at the world.
January 28, 2024
Renomowany adres sprzedaży odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
I. Wprowadzenie do odzieży zimowej i jej rola w modzie
A. Definicja i opis odzieży zimowej
B. Wprowadzenie do roli i znaczenia odzieży zimowej dla utrzymania ciepła i mody
II. O Wólce Kosowskiej i jej miejscu w branży modowej
A. Adres i położenie Wólce Kosowskiej
B. Wólce Kosowskiej w dostarczaniu renomowanej odzieży zimowej
III. Zalety zakupu odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
A. Opis udogodnień i usług dostępnych w Wólce Kosowskiej
B. Różnorodność i bogactwo wzorów, stylów i materiałów odzieży zimowej
IV. Jakość i niezawodność odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
A. Ocena jakości i trwałości odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
B. Wólce Kosowskiej w dostarczaniu wysokiej jakości odzieży zimowej
I. Wprowadzenie do odzieży zimowej i jej rola w modzie
A. Definicja i opis odzieży zimowej
Odzież zimowa to odzież zaprojektowana specjalnie w celu ochrony przed zimnem i niekorzystnymi warunkami pogodowymi. Często są wykonane z materiałów izolacyjnych i wiatroszczelnych oraz mają specjalne konstrukcje i konstrukcje, które chronią ciało przed zimnem i utrzymują ciepło.
Odzież zimowa obejmuje różnorodne płaszcze, swetry, polary, grube spodnie, ocieplane rękawiczki i wiele innych akcesoriów. Zostały zaprojektowane tak, aby spełniać specjalne potrzeby użytkowników pracujących w zimnych środowiskach.
B. Wprowadzenie do roli i znaczenia odzieży zimowej dla utrzymania ciepła i mody
Trzymaj się ciepło: Odzież zimowa ma przede wszystkim zapewniać ciepło w chłodne dni. Używają materiałów izolacyjnych, takich jak pióra, futro lub syntetyczne materiały izolacyjne, aby zatrzymać ciepło ciała.
Ochrona przed trudnymi warunkami pogodowymi: Płaszcze, ciepłe buty i inne akcesoria zimowe pomagają chronić użytkownika przed zimnym wiatrem, śniegiem i marznącym deszczem, tworząc warstwę ochronną przed trudnymi warunkami pogodowymi.
Moda zimowa: Ubrania zimowe nie tylko zapewniają ciepło, ale są także ważną częścią mody. Ich projekty i style są często odświeżane w każdym sezonie, aby sprostać trendom mody i odzwierciedlać osobisty styl.
Zwiększone bezpieczeństwo: Odzież zimowa często ma odblaskowe detale lub kontrastujące kolory, aby zwiększyć widoczność i poprawić bezpieczeństwo podczas poruszania się w warunkach słabego oświetlenia.
Zróżnicowany styl: Wraz z rozwojem branży modowej dzisiejsze ubrania zimowe nie tylko utrzymują ciepło, ale także różnią się stylem i kolorem, od stylu casual po modę codzienną, a nawet kostiumy sceniczne.
Podsumowując, odzież zimowa to nie tylko sposób na ochronę przed zimnem, ale także symbol stylu i kreatywności w świecie mody.
II. O Wólce Kosowskiej i jej miejscu w branży modowej
A. Adres i położenie Wólce Kosowskiej
Wólce Kosowskiej to adres znaczący w branży modowej, mieszczący się pod adresem [konkretny adres]. Zbudowane w oparciu o jakość i różnorodność produktów, ➡️➡️ Wólka Kosowska przyciągają klientów z całej Polski dogodną lokalizacją i profesjonalną obsługą.
B. Wólce Kosowskiej w dostarczaniu renomowanej odzieży zimowej
Wólce Kosowskiej odgrywają ważną rolę w dostarczaniu klientom prestiżowej odzieży zimowej. Poniżej znajdują się ważne cechy i role tego sklepu:
Różnorodność i styl: Wólce Kosowskiej słyną z różnorodności wzorów i stylów w swoich kolekcjach odzieży zimowej. Klienci mogą z łatwością wybierać spośród różnorodnych strojów, odpowiadających ich potrzebom i osobistym upodobaniom.
Jakość materiału i projekt: Produkty Wólce Kosowskiej są starannie wykonane, z wyselekcjonowanych materiałów, wysokiej jakości tkanin i nowoczesnych wzorów. Dzięki temu klienci otrzymują nie tylko ciepło, ale także wygodę i modę.
Oferty i promocje: Wólce Kosowskiej regularnie oferują specjalne oferty i promocje, tworząc korzystne warunki dla klientów przy zakupach odzieży zimowej. Zasady te często dodają wartość kupującym i zapewniają satysfakcję.
Obsługa klienta: Dysponując zespołem profesjonalnych pracowników obsługi klienta, Wólce Kosowskiej dokłada wszelkich starań, aby sprostać wszelkim potrzebom klientów. Dedykowana obsługa klienta pomaga stworzyć pozytywne doświadczenia zakupowe.
Kredyt i reputacja: Reputacja Wólce Kosowskiej zbudowana jest na fundamencie jakości i niezawodności. Dzięki temu klienci zyskali zaufanie i stali się zaufanym miejscem zakupów odzieży zimowej.
III. Zalety zakupu odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
A. Opis udogodnień i usług dostępnych w Wólce Kosowskiej
Profesjonalna obsługa klienta: Wólce Kosowskiej zapewnia dedykowaną obsługę klienta, dysponując zespołem profesjonalnych pracowników, którzy chętnie odpowiedzą na wszystkie pytania i pomogą klientom podczas procesu zakupowego.
Szybka i elastyczna dostawa: Klienci mają do dyspozycji szybkie i elastyczne opcje dostawy w Wólce Kosowskiej, dzięki czemu mogą otrzymać upragnione produkty bez straty czasu.
Elastyczna polityka zwrotów: Wólce Kosowskiej stosuje elastyczną politykę zwrotów, dzięki czemu klienci mogą czuć się bezpiecznie podczas zakupów, a jednocześnie stwarzają korzystne warunki w przypadku konieczności dopasowania rozmiaru lub wyboru innego produktu.
Promocje i oferty specjalne: W sklepie regularnie organizowane są promocje i oferty specjalne dla klientów, od rabatów po gratisy, podnoszące wartość każdego zamówienia.
B. Różnorodność i bogactwo wzorów, stylów i materiałów odzieży zimowej
Różnorodne projekty i modele: Wólce Kosowskiej oferują szeroką gamę fasonów i wzorów odzieży zimowej, od fasonów sportowych po modę uliczną, wychodząc naprzeciw różnorodnym potrzebom i upodobaniom klientów.
Wybrane materiały i najwyższa jakość: Odzież zimowa w Wólce Kosowskiej wykonana jest z wyselekcjonowanych materiałów, zapewniających jakość i trwałość. Kreatywność w wykorzystaniu materiałów pomaga zoptymalizować ciepło i komfort.
Odzwierciedlenie trendów w modzie: Sklep na bieżąco aktualizuje najnowsze trendy w modzie, zapewniając klientom możliwość wyboru mody zimowej zgodnie z każdą porą roku i osobistymi preferencjami.
Nowoczesny i kreatywny projekt: Wólce Kosowskiej szczyci się dostarczaniem odzieży zimowej o nowoczesnych i kreatywnych wzorach, pomagając klientom błyszczeć przy każdej okazji.
IV. Jakość i niezawodność odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
A. Ocena jakości i trwałości odzieży zimowej w Wólce Kosowskiej
Jakość tkaniny i szycia: Odzież zimowa w Wólce Kosowskiej charakteryzuje się wysoką jakością tkanin i starannym krojem. Zapewnia to nie tylko ciepło, ale także trwałość i wytrzymałość w każdych warunkach użytkowania.
Technologia wodoodporna i wiatroszczelna: Integracja technologii wodoodpornej i wiatroszczelnej w odzieży zimowej Wólce Kosowskiej zwiększa odporność na zimno i chroni przed działaniem trudnych warunków atmosferycznych.
Jakość akcesoriów i szczegóły konstrukcyjne: Dodatki takie jak zamki, guziki czy paski dobrane są z zachowaniem wysokiej jakości, co pomaga zoptymalizować wygodę i trwałość produktu. Zwrócono także uwagę na detale konstrukcyjne, takie jak kieszenie, kaptury i podszewki.
B. Wólce Kosowskiej w dostarczaniu wysokiej jakości odzieży zimowej
Pozytywne recenzje klientów: Pozytywne opinie klientów są solidnym potwierdzeniem jakości i niezawodności odzieży zimowej Wólce Kosowskiej. Ta recenzja zazwyczaj koncentruje się na komforcie, wodoodporności i nowoczesnym designie.
Testowanie i kontrola jakości: Wólce Kosowskiej regularnie przeprowadzają specjalne testy i kontrole jakości, aby mieć pewność, że każdy produkt spełnia lub przewyższa międzynarodowe standardy jakości.
Reputacja w branży modowej: Wólce Kosowskiej zbudowały silną reputację w branży modowej, dając klientom pewność jakości i wyjątkowości oferowanych przez siebie produktów.
Polityka gwarancyjna i obsługa klienta: Elastyczne zasady gwarancji i obsługi klienta zwiększają niezawodność Wólce Kosowskiej. Klienci mogą być pewni szybkiego wsparcia w przypadku problemów z produktem.
Wólce Kosowskiej to nie tylko adres zakupów odzieży zimowej, ale także renomowana i godna zaufania destynacja w branży modowej. Dzięki swoim wyjątkowym funkcjom i wysokiej jakości usługom Wólce Kosowskiej ugruntowała swoją pozycję wiodącego sklepu z odzieżą zimową.
August 23, 2009
Trust Agents fascinated me from the beginning, not just for the subject matter but the community that the authors were busy building around it months before it came out.
I was so charmed by the book's Facebook fan page -- in which Chris and Julien asked questions, sparked off conversations and made the dialogue about other people as much if not more than their product -- that I ended up buying a second copy just because I liked and trusted them.
So the marketing for the book became a demonstration and natural extension of the book: by the time I picked up Trust Agents, I was picking up the next part of an already ongoing conversation.
The interesting thing about Trust Agents is how...old-fashioned...it seems even as it discusses the new technology that is changing the very concept of what advertising/marketing is and should be.
The book tells you to be yourself (the best, most savvy, authentic original 'you' you can be), make your own game, be real, treat people well, give more than you get, talk less and listen more, etc.: this is how you win friends and influence people (and, as a happy benefit of that, spread your message).
Brogan and Smith map all this onto the ever-shifting face of social media that is killing off mass advertising and the idea of the "controlled message".
In an online world where there's no place to hide, and where your digital footprint will trail you forever, the message is no longer just what you say it is, but who you are and how you treat people.
Broadcasting is out; connecting and community-building are in.
Those who learn to use the tools of social media as a means to that end -- an end that remains the same even as the tools themselves continue to evolve -- will become Trust Agents, flourishing in the new economy that is measured through attention and influence; others will find themselves a vanishing point in the distance, insisting that Twitter is a 'fad' and wondering just what the hell happened.
Trust Agents is engaging, informative, and, in the end, a very human look at a whole new kind of game. Highly recommended.
I was so charmed by the book's Facebook fan page -- in which Chris and Julien asked questions, sparked off conversations and made the dialogue about other people as much if not more than their product -- that I ended up buying a second copy just because I liked and trusted them.
So the marketing for the book became a demonstration and natural extension of the book: by the time I picked up Trust Agents, I was picking up the next part of an already ongoing conversation.
The interesting thing about Trust Agents is how...old-fashioned...it seems even as it discusses the new technology that is changing the very concept of what advertising/marketing is and should be.
The book tells you to be yourself (the best, most savvy, authentic original 'you' you can be), make your own game, be real, treat people well, give more than you get, talk less and listen more, etc.: this is how you win friends and influence people (and, as a happy benefit of that, spread your message).
Brogan and Smith map all this onto the ever-shifting face of social media that is killing off mass advertising and the idea of the "controlled message".
In an online world where there's no place to hide, and where your digital footprint will trail you forever, the message is no longer just what you say it is, but who you are and how you treat people.
Broadcasting is out; connecting and community-building are in.
Those who learn to use the tools of social media as a means to that end -- an end that remains the same even as the tools themselves continue to evolve -- will become Trust Agents, flourishing in the new economy that is measured through attention and influence; others will find themselves a vanishing point in the distance, insisting that Twitter is a 'fad' and wondering just what the hell happened.
Trust Agents is engaging, informative, and, in the end, a very human look at a whole new kind of game. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2014
Chris Brogan and Julien Smith are trust agents in their bestseller, Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust. The purpose of this book is to help, especially new authors or new businesses build a likeable brand and expand their online platform using techniques that might astound (some) businesses or brands already working on their online profiles: Be yourself. Be Genuine. Groundbreaking. No, really.
A few months ago I absolutely hated being online. I felt that the internet was saturated and that there was no way you could express yourself realistically behind a screen to possibly two or three visitors on your blog. Every person could be every other person. My literary agent recommended this book to me and I purchased it on my IBooks app—expecting to be thwarted with tight-knit chapters filled with business talk. Man, was I wrong. Not only did the book open up with Donnie Brasco, Kubrick’s imposter, and the Arctic Monkeys, but it offered the soundest most comforting advice I never could have expected. Be totally real. Be a trust agent: a person who is approachable, communicative, and truthful. A person who’s not looking to gain fame but friends in a virtual world that is, indeed, saturated.
With a breezy writing style, helpful charts to highlight certain aspects of the chapter, and relevant anecdotes, Brogan and Julien send a clear message that it is possible to find success by changing our attitude about social media.
A few months ago I absolutely hated being online. I felt that the internet was saturated and that there was no way you could express yourself realistically behind a screen to possibly two or three visitors on your blog. Every person could be every other person. My literary agent recommended this book to me and I purchased it on my IBooks app—expecting to be thwarted with tight-knit chapters filled with business talk. Man, was I wrong. Not only did the book open up with Donnie Brasco, Kubrick’s imposter, and the Arctic Monkeys, but it offered the soundest most comforting advice I never could have expected. Be totally real. Be a trust agent: a person who is approachable, communicative, and truthful. A person who’s not looking to gain fame but friends in a virtual world that is, indeed, saturated.
With a breezy writing style, helpful charts to highlight certain aspects of the chapter, and relevant anecdotes, Brogan and Julien send a clear message that it is possible to find success by changing our attitude about social media.
October 10, 2009
This book is a how-to/handbook for getting traction online. I'm not sure I want to be so popular, but I guess the thinking behind why I should read this book is to get ideas for how to make my employer popular online.
Of course the "real" reason I bought (!) and read the book is because I like Chris Brogan, his blog and his attitude, which is the point of the book (be nice and people will like you and spread your message).
Page 190 "Words comprise only 7% of what is being communicated. Thus, those who don't know how to handle the omission of 93% of all human signals (38% vocal tones and 55% body movement) either stay away or make dreadful mistakes."
The book reinforced a lot of what I already knew and believed, and there was a lot of "duh, big red truck" advice, although that was also the point.
I was surprised by the lack of sources in the book - no citations or footnotes to speak of, although they definitely did research. They also never defined "content marketing blog" ... which is a little jargony. I get what they mean, but kind of broke their own rules about clarity.
Of course the "real" reason I bought (!) and read the book is because I like Chris Brogan, his blog and his attitude, which is the point of the book (be nice and people will like you and spread your message).
Page 190 "Words comprise only 7% of what is being communicated. Thus, those who don't know how to handle the omission of 93% of all human signals (38% vocal tones and 55% body movement) either stay away or make dreadful mistakes."
The book reinforced a lot of what I already knew and believed, and there was a lot of "duh, big red truck" advice, although that was also the point.
I was surprised by the lack of sources in the book - no citations or footnotes to speak of, although they definitely did research. They also never defined "content marketing blog" ... which is a little jargony. I get what they mean, but kind of broke their own rules about clarity.
September 27, 2009
Wow. The weird thing is that "The Matrix" (the first one) was on today. Then when I picked up the book later, I was thinking: Weird, it's almost like The Matrix. And, wouldn't you know it (foreshadowing) Brogan refers to the Matrix. I think our world's about to change. Again.
Got to hear Chris in person last week and was awed by a guy some may think of as a mere blogger. Mere bloggers don't generate the kind of following that Chris does - well maybe the "kind of following" but definitely not the number of followers - he's in the tens of thousands. He's maxed out his Facebook friends two or three times now (that's a 5K max). He's looked at as a guru of the new media and it's easy to understand why. This book, co-written with Julien Smith, was a longer version of his three-hour presentation with much more depth and a great guide both for the web novices and for those who want a deeper application understanding.
Got to hear Chris in person last week and was awed by a guy some may think of as a mere blogger. Mere bloggers don't generate the kind of following that Chris does - well maybe the "kind of following" but definitely not the number of followers - he's in the tens of thousands. He's maxed out his Facebook friends two or three times now (that's a 5K max). He's looked at as a guru of the new media and it's easy to understand why. This book, co-written with Julien Smith, was a longer version of his three-hour presentation with much more depth and a great guide both for the web novices and for those who want a deeper application understanding.
Want to Read
June 14, 2009I had the good fortune of seeing the authors, Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, at the "Trust Agents" presentation at BookExpo America 2009, and I was immediately taken with that most valuable asset, which they both possess: "real-ness," by which I mean that they are approachable, human, down-to-earth. They seem to be the perfect duo to write a book called "Trust Agents"--I'd trust them in a heartbeat, in part because of this exhortation to the group assembled: "Be helpful. Be humble. Share." It might be a sad statement that we need so badly to be reminded of these basic social rules (that are essential for business, too), but it's a happy thing that we have agents like Chris and Julian to point the way. I'm looking forward to reading their book.
December 11, 2009
A great book for a narrow audience. It is not basic enough for those just starting to get their head around the net and too basic for those who have been living in it, but is PERFECT for those who have been sitting around in the shallow end. This book may not show you step by step what do on the social web, but it really helps you refine who you want to be.
My only real "complaint" about the book is that I happen to be a regular reader of Chris' blog and am familiar with his voice, so it was occasionally jarring when you could figure out who was doing the writing. I almost wish they had embraced the two voice thing a big more and had actually tacked different sections in their own voices.
Really solid book and helped me refine my approach to my online persona.
My only real "complaint" about the book is that I happen to be a regular reader of Chris' blog and am familiar with his voice, so it was occasionally jarring when you could figure out who was doing the writing. I almost wish they had embraced the two voice thing a big more and had actually tacked different sections in their own voices.
Really solid book and helped me refine my approach to my online persona.
August 18, 2009
Excellent read for those wanting to jump into this space but are a little hesitant. Chris and Julien do a nice job relating examples to the points they want to make. TRUST: This space is about creating trust whether it's between friends, new friends, potential clients, etc. Trust is the underlying factor that lets realtionships flourish. It's not about soliciting your service 24/7, it's about engagement and sharing value in which your audience can utilize. The sales will then follow because of the brand identity you have created for yourself through developing trust. The book discusses six steps in becoming a trust agent.
September 5, 2016
Trust Agents taught me things I don't think I'll learn anywhere else. For example, I didn't realize that comments actually make a difference in building relationships on other people's blogs. It completely makes sense, but I needed someone to spell it out for me.
As of today I'm halfway through the book, but it's due back to the library soon. I'm going to have to buy it and mark up all the important sections about building honest relationships before pitching products. It will be a worthwhile purchase, for sure.
As of today I'm halfway through the book, but it's due back to the library soon. I'm going to have to buy it and mark up all the important sections about building honest relationships before pitching products. It will be a worthwhile purchase, for sure.
March 5, 2010
Trust Agents is one of the 3 best books on the new social media, the other 2 being "Groundswell" and "The New Rules of Marketing and PR." If you're wondering whether or not to dip your toes into social media, this book will give you the orientation you need to proceed with aplomb.
June 23, 2013
Excellent book to help you get in the mindset of becoming a "trust agent" << someone who is a trailblazer, game changer, pioneer, navigator into new waters.
Great book on getting started on personal branding, or at least starting on your journey to define what makes you stand out.
Great book on getting started on personal branding, or at least starting on your journey to define what makes you stand out.
November 21, 2009
Interesting and worthwhile. I confess I was hoping for more,but maybe that's all there is to blogs and Social media. Well done!
April 14, 2010
Trust had to be earned.
This book is too long. Some of the points are repeatedly emphasized.
This book is too long. Some of the points are repeatedly emphasized.
June 7, 2025
(The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)
По какой-то неведомой причине я записал эту книгу в группу бизнес-литературы, но как оказалось, это было ошибкой. Эта книга не является бизнес-литературой, а является совершенно типичной книгой по самопомощи, коих каждый год издаётся десятки. Это первое что нужно знать об этой книге. Но ведь есть книги по самопомощи, которые ориентированы на бизнес-окружение, разве нет? Теоретически, можно сказать об этой книге и такое, однако в книге авторы больше пишут про самопомощь, нежели о её применении в бизнес-среде. Хотя да, намёк на это в книге присутствует.
Второй момент. Я постоянно терял нить повествование, т.е. я постоянно отвлекался от книги. Такое со мной бывает не так часто и происходит, если я читаю либо книгу по самопомощи, либо если это популярная книга по менеджменту, которая часто мало отличимая от тех же книг по самопомощи (нет, эту книгу вряд ли можно причислить к популярным книгам по менеджменту). Это был явный для меня сигнал, что нужно бросить дальнейшее чтения (что я вскоре и сделал).
Третий момент. Суть книги отыскивается в самом названии - Trust Agents. В книге авторы объясняют, как завоёвывать доверие со стороны других людей, преимущественно в Интернете. В книге мы встречаем постоянные ссылки на продуманное ведение социальных сетей, блогов и так далее. Так как эта тема меня не сильно увлекает, а даваемые автором советы являются самоочевидными и давно озвученными другими спикерами (к примеру, видеоролики на подобные темы часто появляются на сайте YouTube), я быстро потерял интерес.
Однако одна тема – перенос практики игры в компьютерные игры на практику реальной жизни – мне показалась интересной. Однако как это автор сделал, мне не понравилось. Как мне показалось, у авторов отсутствует общая концепция видения того что они предлагают, в том смысле что всё что они говорят, напоминает небольшие посты в полстраницы.
For some unknown reason, I put this book in the business literature group, but, as it turns out, that was a mistake. This book is not business literature; it is a completely typical self-help book of which there are dozens published every year. That's the first thing to know about this book. But there are self-help books that are geared toward the business environment, aren't there? Theoretically, you could say that about this book, but in the book, the authors write more about self-help than about its application in a business environment. Although, yes, there is a hint of that in the book.
Second point. I kept losing the thread of the narrative, i.e., I kept getting distracted from the book. This doesn't happen to me very often and happens if I am reading either a self-help book or a popular management book, which is often not very different from the same self-help books (no, this book is hardly a popular management book). This was a clear signal to me to quit further reading (which I soon did).
Third point. The essence of the book is found in the title itself - "Trust Agents." In the book, the authors explain how to gain the trust of others, mostly on the Internet. Throughout the book, we find constant references to thoughtful social networking, blogging, and so on. Since I am not very interested in this topic, and the advice given by the author is self-evident and has long been voiced by other speakers (for example, videos on similar topics often appear on YouTube), I quickly lost interest.
However, one theme, the transfer of the practice of playing computer games to the practice of real life, I found interesting. However, I did not like the way the author did it. It seemed to me that the authors lack a general concept of vision of what they are proposing, in the sense that everything they say resembles small posts of half a page.
По какой-то неведомой причине я записал эту книгу в группу бизнес-литературы, но как оказалось, это было ошибкой. Эта книга не является бизнес-литературой, а является совершенно типичной книгой по самопомощи, коих каждый год издаётся десятки. Это первое что нужно знать об этой книге. Но ведь есть книги по самопомощи, которые ориентированы на бизнес-окружение, разве нет? Теоретически, можно сказать об этой книге и такое, однако в книге авторы больше пишут про самопомощь, нежели о её применении в бизнес-среде. Хотя да, намёк на это в книге присутствует.
Второй момент. Я постоянно терял нить повествование, т.е. я постоянно отвлекался от книги. Такое со мной бывает не так часто и происходит, если я читаю либо книгу по самопомощи, либо если это популярная книга по менеджменту, которая часто мало отличимая от тех же книг по самопомощи (нет, эту книгу вряд ли можно причислить к популярным книгам по менеджменту). Это был явный для меня сигнал, что нужно бросить дальнейшее чтения (что я вскоре и сделал).
Третий момент. Суть книги отыскивается в самом названии - Trust Agents. В книге авторы объясняют, как завоёвывать доверие со стороны других людей, преимущественно в Интернете. В книге мы встречаем постоянные ссылки на продуманное ведение социальных сетей, блогов и так далее. Так как эта тема меня не сильно увлекает, а даваемые автором советы являются самоочевидными и давно озвученными другими спикерами (к примеру, видеоролики на подобные темы часто появляются на сайте YouTube), я быстро потерял интерес.
Однако одна тема – перенос практики игры в компьютерные игры на практику реальной жизни – мне показалась интересной. Однако как это автор сделал, мне не понравилось. Как мне показалось, у авторов отсутствует общая концепция видения того что они предлагают, в том смысле что всё что они говорят, напоминает небольшие посты в полстраницы.
For some unknown reason, I put this book in the business literature group, but, as it turns out, that was a mistake. This book is not business literature; it is a completely typical self-help book of which there are dozens published every year. That's the first thing to know about this book. But there are self-help books that are geared toward the business environment, aren't there? Theoretically, you could say that about this book, but in the book, the authors write more about self-help than about its application in a business environment. Although, yes, there is a hint of that in the book.
Second point. I kept losing the thread of the narrative, i.e., I kept getting distracted from the book. This doesn't happen to me very often and happens if I am reading either a self-help book or a popular management book, which is often not very different from the same self-help books (no, this book is hardly a popular management book). This was a clear signal to me to quit further reading (which I soon did).
Third point. The essence of the book is found in the title itself - "Trust Agents." In the book, the authors explain how to gain the trust of others, mostly on the Internet. Throughout the book, we find constant references to thoughtful social networking, blogging, and so on. Since I am not very interested in this topic, and the advice given by the author is self-evident and has long been voiced by other speakers (for example, videos on similar topics often appear on YouTube), I quickly lost interest.
However, one theme, the transfer of the practice of playing computer games to the practice of real life, I found interesting. However, I did not like the way the author did it. It seemed to me that the authors lack a general concept of vision of what they are proposing, in the sense that everything they say resembles small posts of half a page.
Read
July 14, 2017So, the issues presenting in the introduction, p45, p70, p73, p98, p110, p190, p193, p229 and p245 can be addressed at,in an appropriate time, setting.
#aphids -p57, p58, p59, p60, p63, p64, p65, p66, p75, p76, p79, p81, p82, p85, p87, p89, p91, p93, p96, p97, p99, p100, p101, p102, p104, p105, p108, p110, p112, p113, p114, p115, p117, p118, p121, p122, p126, p129, p130, p183, p184, p186, p187, p188, p189, p192, p193, p194, p195, p196, p197, p198, p204, p205, p206, p210, p213, p219, p221, p222, p225, p226, p233, p242, p247, p248, p250
#thethingoverthere - p65, p75, p97, p100, p101, p110, p112, p115, p117, p118, p122, p126, p183, p192, p204, p206, p213, p233
#dude - p103, p113
On p90, to what extent might each of the trust agents, consumer advocates and brand evangelists in turn be anticipated more or less to practise the bait and switch? And on p127, considering "If you're thinking somewhere in your head that you need permission to learn how to start building the ability to leverage the resources for your corporation, hand this book to someone else." to what extent are the arguments related to privilege disregarded?
#aphids -p57, p58, p59, p60, p63, p64, p65, p66, p75, p76, p79, p81, p82, p85, p87, p89, p91, p93, p96, p97, p99, p100, p101, p102, p104, p105, p108, p110, p112, p113, p114, p115, p117, p118, p121, p122, p126, p129, p130, p183, p184, p186, p187, p188, p189, p192, p193, p194, p195, p196, p197, p198, p204, p205, p206, p210, p213, p219, p221, p222, p225, p226, p233, p242, p247, p248, p250
#thethingoverthere - p65, p75, p97, p100, p101, p110, p112, p115, p117, p118, p122, p126, p183, p192, p204, p206, p213, p233
#dude - p103, p113
On p90, to what extent might each of the trust agents, consumer advocates and brand evangelists in turn be anticipated more or less to practise the bait and switch? And on p127, considering "If you're thinking somewhere in your head that you need permission to learn how to start building the ability to leverage the resources for your corporation, hand this book to someone else." to what extent are the arguments related to privilege disregarded?
October 7, 2020
Building trust on the internet. A medium of social interaction that isn’t going away anytime soon. The authors suggest that as readers, the book is about action and the reader shouldn’t simply “collect recipes”, but must learn to “run the restaurant”. The irony is that online use, feeds narcissism and depression. We only digest what we are craving. Online is like an all you can eat buffet with no concern for who is at your table while you eat, but rather how many random people you can get to like you through the window. More clarity is needed in what is meant by “action” when comparing it to experiences offline.
April 29, 2026
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith is a practical and insightful guide to building real influence online through trust and relationships.
What makes this book stand out is its focus on authenticity over shortcuts. Instead of chasing quick marketing tricks, it explains how long-term credibility is built through value, consistency, and genuine engagement.
Even though it was written in the early days of social media, the core ideas still feel relevant today. A solid and thought-provoking read for anyone serious about online presence and reputation.
What makes this book stand out is its focus on authenticity over shortcuts. Instead of chasing quick marketing tricks, it explains how long-term credibility is built through value, consistency, and genuine engagement.
Even though it was written in the early days of social media, the core ideas still feel relevant today. A solid and thought-provoking read for anyone serious about online presence and reputation.
July 16, 2019
Trust Agents taught me things I don't think I'll learn anywhere else. For example, I didn't realize that comments actually make a difference in building relationships on other people's blogs. It completely makes sense, but I needed someone to spell it out for me.
As of today I'm halfway through the book, but it's due back to the library soon. I'm going to have to buy it and mark up all the important sections about building honest relationships before pitching products. It will be a worthwhile purchase, for sure
As of today I'm halfway through the book, but it's due back to the library soon. I'm going to have to buy it and mark up all the important sections about building honest relationships before pitching products. It will be a worthwhile purchase, for sure
September 22, 2023
"Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust" is a fantastic book that explores how to leverage the power of the internet to build trust and credibility. It provides valuable insights and strategies for individuals and businesses looking to establish themselves as trusted authorities in their respective fields. If you're interested in harnessing the potential of the digital world to build meaningful connections and grow your influence, this book is a must-read! 📚🌐👥
October 7, 2023
Every year, Time magazine selects a `person of the year', who remained as the most influential human icon for the year being. Often, they are from diverse field but there is always one common to be found; They are creative.
Chris Brogan from Trust Agents is also a believer in the value of creativity. In his words, the trust agents - who stand out among others with high level of trusts built around them, is required to fulfill seven elements, whist one of them being the ability to `Make Your Own Game' (refer to Chapter2)
Make Your Own Game
According to Chris, there are three methods which trust agents can benefit themselves by observing the pattern of the system. First of all, trust agents shall figure out the structure of the system by `Playing'smart in the given pattern. Then, they shall look for ways of modifying existing structure, which is defined as `Hacking'. Finally, trust agents would create their own rules by `Programming' their own game.
Playing
Playing a game would involve understanding existing rules and discovering perfect situation to maximize productivity. In other words, `playing' is a learning stage for players and it may include simple settings such as stating a goal or discovering the most comfortable space for the game. (e.g. Café instead of office)
Hacking
Unlike the negative nature of the word, `hacking' involves improvement of the game by adjusting the given settings. If you have played SIMS by EA Games while being a member of their online community, you would understand how much more engaging the game could be with millions of items which are created by global users who are not the original developers.
Programming
Once players find themselves familiar enough to the game setting and also skilled enough to modify the settings, it is time to create an ultimate game that has new rules. Though this stage, the player would now be in charge of active role from their existing passive role.
From this chapter, the author used the term, `Player' and `Game'. Nonetheless, you, as a bright reader realize that the Game is only a metaphor for the real world we live in and the smart players are the faces that end up on the front cover of Time magazine.
So what would be the lesson to be learned here?
Unlike `Innovation for Dummies' (if there was such book for Dummy Series), `Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan do not tell readers the final step to success. While being deeply inspirational for its readers by suggesting a rule of successful people, the author also address the importance for readers to be active and thus leaves room for readers to create their own source of success (i.e. a chance to be a trust agent).
In other words, it is the reader who should discover their Gatejumping opportunities in the end and the book does not explicitly mention life-changing opportunities for them. Nevertheless, there is strong lesson to be learned from the book, which also comes from the quote of the Ralph Waldo Emerson. `Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail`.
Who are the real life trust agents? - Relation of concept to the reality
Mark Zuckerberg who marked the front page for the person of the year 2010, is a clear and well known example of a trust agent. From the concept of socialization, he created a virtual networking space and challenged the original setting by successfully inviting users to the whole new concept. Unlike traditional CEOs, he appealed himself as an endorser of the brand, and through the movie `The Social Networking' - which was also highly successful with its appeal to humanity issues over corporate values- he now is truly trusted by 3.6 million fans on Facebook. It is hard to comment if Mark has read the book Trust Agents or not, but the fact is, he is an marketer who has successfully created his own trail and now his trail would be thoroughly monitored with supports from people's trust.
(Disclaimer; within this article, Mark Zuckerburg is described as marketer as I personally believe that marketers can be anyone who understand value of brand and knows how to move strategically)
Question to the author and seven rules feedback
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan was an interesting and also engaging guide on `How to be better-heard by others'. It has identified keys to success and the commons of all time beloved social icons in seven details. However, if I was to apply seven rules to the real world, there are two areas of the concept that shall be questioned to the author; Start-up Connection and Timing issues.
While the book has cleverly answered to the most of the questions to be asked in being active, there has been less attention drawn on selection of right timing and emphasis on influence of start-up connection. For instance, recent increase in engagement towards smart phone was definitely one reason to Facebook's success and Sean Parker's helping hand for Mark Zuckerburg was definitely an asset for Mark to be a trust agent. If I was personally to start building my position as a trust agent, I would be in need of advices for a start-up which the book can be improved for.
Overall, the book was an excellent example of an accelerator to get reader motivated and moving. Through this book, I came to realize how my passive behavior can be improved and therefore I highly recommend this book to risk adverse people who has feared trying newer way of approaching themselves.
Chris Brogan from Trust Agents is also a believer in the value of creativity. In his words, the trust agents - who stand out among others with high level of trusts built around them, is required to fulfill seven elements, whist one of them being the ability to `Make Your Own Game' (refer to Chapter2)
Make Your Own Game
According to Chris, there are three methods which trust agents can benefit themselves by observing the pattern of the system. First of all, trust agents shall figure out the structure of the system by `Playing'smart in the given pattern. Then, they shall look for ways of modifying existing structure, which is defined as `Hacking'. Finally, trust agents would create their own rules by `Programming' their own game.
Playing
Playing a game would involve understanding existing rules and discovering perfect situation to maximize productivity. In other words, `playing' is a learning stage for players and it may include simple settings such as stating a goal or discovering the most comfortable space for the game. (e.g. Café instead of office)
Hacking
Unlike the negative nature of the word, `hacking' involves improvement of the game by adjusting the given settings. If you have played SIMS by EA Games while being a member of their online community, you would understand how much more engaging the game could be with millions of items which are created by global users who are not the original developers.
Programming
Once players find themselves familiar enough to the game setting and also skilled enough to modify the settings, it is time to create an ultimate game that has new rules. Though this stage, the player would now be in charge of active role from their existing passive role.
From this chapter, the author used the term, `Player' and `Game'. Nonetheless, you, as a bright reader realize that the Game is only a metaphor for the real world we live in and the smart players are the faces that end up on the front cover of Time magazine.
So what would be the lesson to be learned here?
Unlike `Innovation for Dummies' (if there was such book for Dummy Series), `Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan do not tell readers the final step to success. While being deeply inspirational for its readers by suggesting a rule of successful people, the author also address the importance for readers to be active and thus leaves room for readers to create their own source of success (i.e. a chance to be a trust agent).
In other words, it is the reader who should discover their Gatejumping opportunities in the end and the book does not explicitly mention life-changing opportunities for them. Nevertheless, there is strong lesson to be learned from the book, which also comes from the quote of the Ralph Waldo Emerson. `Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail`.
Who are the real life trust agents? - Relation of concept to the reality
Mark Zuckerberg who marked the front page for the person of the year 2010, is a clear and well known example of a trust agent. From the concept of socialization, he created a virtual networking space and challenged the original setting by successfully inviting users to the whole new concept. Unlike traditional CEOs, he appealed himself as an endorser of the brand, and through the movie `The Social Networking' - which was also highly successful with its appeal to humanity issues over corporate values- he now is truly trusted by 3.6 million fans on Facebook. It is hard to comment if Mark has read the book Trust Agents or not, but the fact is, he is an marketer who has successfully created his own trail and now his trail would be thoroughly monitored with supports from people's trust.
(Disclaimer; within this article, Mark Zuckerburg is described as marketer as I personally believe that marketers can be anyone who understand value of brand and knows how to move strategically)
Question to the author and seven rules feedback
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan was an interesting and also engaging guide on `How to be better-heard by others'. It has identified keys to success and the commons of all time beloved social icons in seven details. However, if I was to apply seven rules to the real world, there are two areas of the concept that shall be questioned to the author; Start-up Connection and Timing issues.
While the book has cleverly answered to the most of the questions to be asked in being active, there has been less attention drawn on selection of right timing and emphasis on influence of start-up connection. For instance, recent increase in engagement towards smart phone was definitely one reason to Facebook's success and Sean Parker's helping hand for Mark Zuckerburg was definitely an asset for Mark to be a trust agent. If I was personally to start building my position as a trust agent, I would be in need of advices for a start-up which the book can be improved for.
Overall, the book was an excellent example of an accelerator to get reader motivated and moving. Through this book, I came to realize how my passive behavior can be improved and therefore I highly recommend this book to risk adverse people who has feared trying newer way of approaching themselves.
October 11, 2023
Every year, Time magazine selects a `person of the year', who remained as the most influential human icon for the year being. Often, they are from diverse field but there is always one common to be found; They are creative.
Chris Brogan from Trust Agents is also a believer in the value of creativity. In his words, the trust agents - who stand out among others with high level of trusts built around them, is required to fulfill seven elements, whist one of them being the ability to `Make Your Own Game' (refer to Chapter2)
Make Your Own Game
According to Chris, there are three methods which trust agents can benefit themselves by observing the pattern of the system. First of all, trust agents shall figure out the structure of the system by `Playing'smart in the given pattern. Then, they shall look for ways of modifying existing structure, which is defined as `Hacking'. Finally, trust agents would create their own rules by `Programming' their own game.
Playing
Playing a game would involve understanding existing rules and discovering perfect situation to maximize productivity. In other words, `playing' is a learning stage for players and it may include simple settings such as stating a goal or discovering the most comfortable space for the game. (e.g. Café instead of office)
Hacking
Unlike the negative nature of the word, `hacking' involves improvement of the game by adjusting the given settings. If you have played SIMS by EA Games while being a member of their online community, you would understand how much more engaging the game could be with millions of items which are created by global users who are not the original developers.
Programming
Once players find themselves familiar enough to the game setting and also skilled enough to modify the settings, it is time to create an ultimate game that has new rules. Though this stage, the player would now be in charge of active role from their existing passive role.
From this chapter, the author used the term, `Player' and `Game'. Nonetheless, you, as a bright reader realize that the Game is only a metaphor for the real world we live in and the smart players are the faces that end up on the front cover of Time magazine.
So what would be the lesson to be learned here?
Unlike `Innovation for Dummies' (if there was such book for Dummy Series), `Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan do not tell readers the final step to success. While being deeply inspirational for its readers by suggesting a rule of successful people, the author also address the importance for readers to be active and thus leaves room for readers to create their own source of success (i.e. a chance to be a trust agent).
In other words, it is the reader who should discover their Gatejumping opportunities in the end and the book does not explicitly mention life-changing opportunities for them. Nevertheless, there is strong lesson to be learned from the book, which also comes from the quote of the Ralph Waldo Emerson. `Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail`.
Who are the real life trust agents? - Relation of concept to the reality
Mark Zuckerberg who marked the front page for the person of the year 2010, is a clear and well known example of a trust agent. From the concept of socialization, he created a virtual networking space and challenged the original setting by successfully inviting users to the whole new concept. Unlike traditional CEOs, he appealed himself as an endorser of the brand, and through the movie `The Social Networking' - which was also highly successful with its appeal to humanity issues over corporate values- he now is truly trusted by 3.6 million fans on Facebook. It is hard to comment if Mark has read the book Trust Agents or not, but the fact is, he is an marketer who has successfully created his own trail and now his trail would be thoroughly monitored with supports from people's trust.
(Disclaimer; within this article, Mark Zuckerburg is described as marketer as I personally believe that marketers can be anyone who understand value of brand and knows how to move strategically)
Question to the author and seven rules feedback
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan was an interesting and also engaging guide on `How to be better-heard by others'. It has identified keys to success and the commons of all time beloved social icons in seven details. However, if I was to apply seven rules to the real world, there are two areas of the concept that shall be questioned to the author; Start-up Connection and Timing issues.
While the book has cleverly answered to the most of the questions to be asked in being active, there has been less attention drawn on selection of right timing and emphasis on influence of start-up connection. For instance, recent increase in engagement towards smart phone was definitely one reason to Facebook's success and Sean Parker's helping hand for Mark Zuckerburg was definitely an asset for Mark to be a trust agent. If I was personally to start building my position as a trust agent, I would be in need of advices for a start-up which the book can be improved for.
Overall, the book was an excellent example of an accelerator to get reader motivated and moving. Through this book, I came to realize how my passive behavior can be improved and therefore I highly recommend this book to risk adverse people who has feared trying newer way of approaching themselves.
Chris Brogan from Trust Agents is also a believer in the value of creativity. In his words, the trust agents - who stand out among others with high level of trusts built around them, is required to fulfill seven elements, whist one of them being the ability to `Make Your Own Game' (refer to Chapter2)
Make Your Own Game
According to Chris, there are three methods which trust agents can benefit themselves by observing the pattern of the system. First of all, trust agents shall figure out the structure of the system by `Playing'smart in the given pattern. Then, they shall look for ways of modifying existing structure, which is defined as `Hacking'. Finally, trust agents would create their own rules by `Programming' their own game.
Playing
Playing a game would involve understanding existing rules and discovering perfect situation to maximize productivity. In other words, `playing' is a learning stage for players and it may include simple settings such as stating a goal or discovering the most comfortable space for the game. (e.g. Café instead of office)
Hacking
Unlike the negative nature of the word, `hacking' involves improvement of the game by adjusting the given settings. If you have played SIMS by EA Games while being a member of their online community, you would understand how much more engaging the game could be with millions of items which are created by global users who are not the original developers.
Programming
Once players find themselves familiar enough to the game setting and also skilled enough to modify the settings, it is time to create an ultimate game that has new rules. Though this stage, the player would now be in charge of active role from their existing passive role.
From this chapter, the author used the term, `Player' and `Game'. Nonetheless, you, as a bright reader realize that the Game is only a metaphor for the real world we live in and the smart players are the faces that end up on the front cover of Time magazine.
So what would be the lesson to be learned here?
Unlike `Innovation for Dummies' (if there was such book for Dummy Series), `Trust Agents' by Chris Brogan do not tell readers the final step to success. While being deeply inspirational for its readers by suggesting a rule of successful people, the author also address the importance for readers to be active and thus leaves room for readers to create their own source of success (i.e. a chance to be a trust agent).
In other words, it is the reader who should discover their Gatejumping opportunities in the end and the book does not explicitly mention life-changing opportunities for them. Nevertheless, there is strong lesson to be learned from the book, which also comes from the quote of the Ralph Waldo Emerson. `Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail`.
Who are the real life trust agents? - Relation of concept to the reality
Mark Zuckerberg who marked the front page for the person of the year 2010, is a clear and well known example of a trust agent. From the concept of socialization, he created a virtual networking space and challenged the original setting by successfully inviting users to the whole new concept. Unlike traditional CEOs, he appealed himself as an endorser of the brand, and through the movie `The Social Networking' - which was also highly successful with its appeal to humanity issues over corporate values- he now is truly trusted by 3.6 million fans on Facebook. It is hard to comment if Mark has read the book Trust Agents or not, but the fact is, he is an marketer who has successfully created his own trail and now his trail would be thoroughly monitored with supports from people's trust.
(Disclaimer; within this article, Mark Zuckerburg is described as marketer as I personally believe that marketers can be anyone who understand value of brand and knows how to move strategically)
Question to the author and seven rules feedback
Trust Agents by Chris Brogan was an interesting and also engaging guide on `How to be better-heard by others'. It has identified keys to success and the commons of all time beloved social icons in seven details. However, if I was to apply seven rules to the real world, there are two areas of the concept that shall be questioned to the author; Start-up Connection and Timing issues.
While the book has cleverly answered to the most of the questions to be asked in being active, there has been less attention drawn on selection of right timing and emphasis on influence of start-up connection. For instance, recent increase in engagement towards smart phone was definitely one reason to Facebook's success and Sean Parker's helping hand for Mark Zuckerburg was definitely an asset for Mark to be a trust agent. If I was personally to start building my position as a trust agent, I would be in need of advices for a start-up which the book can be improved for.
Overall, the book was an excellent example of an accelerator to get reader motivated and moving. Through this book, I came to realize how my passive behavior can be improved and therefore I highly recommend this book to risk adverse people who has feared trying newer way of approaching themselves.
August 12, 2026
Some good examples are provided in “Trust Agents,” along with being highly descriptive on how one can become a trust agent. I thought that the book was quite useful, and I would recommend it to somebody who wants to learn to become an active user in social media, but maybe even a student who wants to market himself to a potential employer.
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January 24, 2026Recommended by Joanna Penn on her book marketing podcast. Some of the concepts are applicable to Christian fiction authors. Stop screaming “look at me” on social media and start working on building genuine connections and trust.
April 23, 2018
Read it previously and again recently. It has held up surprisingly well.
December 16, 2018
Strugled to finish it as the book sometimes lacks clear structure and jumps from one idea onto another. My favourite chapter was the one about leverage and arbitrage (the Archimedes effect).
October 24, 2020
Best early book on social media marketing.
October 9, 2021
Boring!
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