The New Influencers by Paul Gillin

I had the distinct pleasure of reading Paul Gillin's new book, The New Influencers, recently. I wrote about it on my blog at Lip-sticking, and thought I'd share some of my thoughts here, too.

As a blogging professional - someone who blogs for pay, and for pleasure - I was pretty eager to read this new book about how social media is changing the way we do business today. I've read a whole lot of books on this subject, and even worked on some, but this one is different. It stands out from the others because it doesn't preach. Gillin isn't out to change your mind about social media and blogging. He's out to show you what it is, how some smart people have used it, and how you might consider using it, also.

One of the best things about this book is the way Gillin writes. He's conversational. It almost feels as if you're reading a blog! Because social media is so proactive and transparent, it attracts a lot of people. That's what this book is about. The people. Some bloggers are good writers and reporters, some aren't. Some are in it for the fun...some for profit. All of them count - and Gillin explains why.

But...some count more than others, and that's the key.

Today's technological advances have created what is being touted as citizen journalists and user-generated content (UGC), like we need more acronyms! Because of this, it's easier for businesses to connect. Using social media and blogs enables us, the people, to use our influence ... within our small group or network. The power lies in the fact that my network is connected to your network, and your network is connected to hundreds of other networks, and... on and on.

Gillin describes this phenomenon well. He explains, with examples and detail, what his title means, and who some of the "new influencers" are... and also how they got to be that way.

If you're venturing into social media and blogs, this is a book you should read. Then, visit Gillin's blog... and continue to conversation. Don't just take my word for it, read what others are saying, here, and here, and here.