Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

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Overview

Michael Hyatt, one of the top business bloggers in the world, provides down-to-earth guidance for building and expanding a powerful platform. To be successful in the market today, you must possess two strategic assets: a compelling product and a meaningful platform. In this step-by-step guide, Michael Hyatt, former CEO and current Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, takes readers behind the scenes, into the new world of social media success. He shows you what best-selling authors, public speakers, ...

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More About This Book

Overview

Michael Hyatt, one of the top business bloggers in the world, provides down-to-earth guidance for building and expanding a powerful platform. To be successful in the market today, you must possess two strategic assets: a compelling product and a meaningful platform. In this step-by-step guide, Michael Hyatt, former CEO and current Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, takes readers behind the scenes, into the new world of social media success. He shows you what best-selling authors, public speakers, entrepreneurs, musicians, and other creatives are doing differently to win customers in today's crowded marketplace. Hyatt speaks from experience. He writes one of the top 800 blogs in the world and has more than 100,000 followers on Twitter. His large and growing platform serves as the foundation for his successful writing, speaking, and consulting practice. In Platform, Hyatt will teach readers not only how to extend their influence, but also how to monetize it and build a sustainable career. The key? By building a platform. It has never been easier, less expensive, or more possible than right now. . . . The book includes:

• Proven strategies
• Easy-to-replicate formulas
• Practical tips

Social media technologies have changed everything. Now, for the first time in history, non-celebrities can get noticed—and win big!—in an increasingly noisy world.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"I've known Michael Hyatt for more than a decade, and during that time I've seen him master just about every social media platform that's hit the scene. He's used blogging, Facebook, Twitter, and more to expand his personal platform from a successful book publisher to a leading national brand of his own. Trust me, this guy knows what he's talking about—so pay attention!"
—Dave Ramsey, host of The Dave Ramsey Show and New York Times best-selling author

"If you'd like to expand your influence, read Platform and then read it again."
—Donald Miller, best-selling author of Blue Like Jazz

"Platform is absolutely essential to delivering value. As a big fan of Michael Hyatt, I'm excited he's sharing this with you. Your job? Learn about this and implement it. Your success depends on it."
—Chris Brogan, President, Human Business Works, and New York Times best-selling author

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781595555038
  • Publisher: Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
  • Publication date: 5/22/2012
  • Pages: 288
  • Sales rank: 39,795
  • Product dimensions: 5.80 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 1.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Michael Hyatt was CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers for eight years and now serves as its chairman. He is a professional blogger, author, and speaker whose blog is consistently ranked in the top three for Productivity, Leadership, Publishing, and Social Media Marketing. Hyatt and his wife, Gail, live outside of Nashville, Tennessee.
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Read an Excerpt

PLATFORM

GET NOTICED IN A NOISY WORLD
By MICHAEL HYATT

Thomas Nelson

Copyright © 2012 Michael Hyatt
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-59555-503-8

Chapter One

Create a Compelling Product

Now you know there are two critical parts of the success equation: a compelling product (the what) and a significant platform (the who). In this book you will find a wealth of information on the second element in the equation, but if you don't slam-dunk the first element—the compelling product—you won't win the game.

There is no sense in wasting your valuable time and resources trying to build a buzz about a ho-hum product. As one of my favorite marketing gurus, David Ogilvy, once wrote, "Great marketing only makes a bad product fail faster." How true.

For years I have argued, "It's the product, stupid." The secret to success in any business is to deliver a great, compelling product. And when I say product, I mean anything you are trying to say or sell. It may be yourself, if you're a speaker or entertainer. It might be a stellar service you provide for profit or nonprofit. Perhaps it's a cause you are championing, a message you are passionate about. Or it could be an actual physical product, like a book. Regardless of the form your product takes, no amount of marketing savvy, salesmanship, or operational excellence can overcome a weak product.

The purpose of marketing is to prime the pump. But if people don't want to use your product and—more importantly—if they won't recommend it to their friends, you're hosed. You can't spend enough money or be clever enough to overcome a lack of word-of-mouth marketing. It just won't work.

In light of this, it was fascinating to watch how Apple first introduced the iPhone. Like millions of other Mac fans, I read all the articles and even worked my way through Apple's slick, interactive website. I thought to myself, Very cool. I definitely want one of these. But I also thought, I can wait until the second generation. Let them work out the bugs first.

But then I watched Steve Job's 2007 keynote presentation from MacWorld. If you are involved in any aspect of product development, this is a must-watch video.

I garnered three insights:

1. Create products you would personally use. Watching Steve, you get the sense he loves the product. He is so familiar with it, because he has been using it. He thinks it is "way cool," and he's not afraid to say so. He sprinkles words like awesome, incredible, and even magical throughout his speech. He exhibits the wonder of a five-year-old on Christmas morning. You really believe him. He's not trying to sell you something. He's simply sharing the experience.

What about the products you create? If you're speaking about business, do you deliver exciting and powerful messages that you know can make a difference in people's lives? If you're in sales, do you even use the items you sell? Would you recommend them enthusiastically to a friend? Do you really love these products or are you only trying to meet some arbitrary quota or generate revenue?

2. Create products that solve problems in unexpected ways. It was interesting to watch some of the biggest cell phone manufacturers get hammered in the press the week before the iPhone was announced. They essentially said, "We've saturated the market. There's nothing compelling left to build. Investors need to get used to the idea of slower revenue growth and tighter margins. From this point forward, competition is going to be brutal."

Then Steve announced a new phone that essentially reinvented the category. Not surprisingly, Apple's stock soared. Motorola's, Nokia's, and Samsung's took a nosedive.

Apple wasn't content to create a phone that just had additional features. It completely rethought the solution—from the ground up. Apple's engineers put themselves in the user's place and refused to be constrained by the past. They didn't start with the technology. They started with the dream and then went in search of technology. This is a completely different way of doing business.

What about you? We too often think inside the box. We let the past constrain us. We don't get in the consumers' shoes and ask, "What would make this really cool? What would take this to a whole new level? What would we create if the limits of current technology weren't an issue?" You have to get outside the box and learn to dream again.

3. Create products that exceed your customers' expectations. As I watched Steve's presentation, I couldn't help but notice the crowd. It was like they were watching a master magician. As Steve demonstrated each new feature, the crowd erupted in applause. To my surprise, I found myself laughing with glee. I felt like a kid again. Most of all, I wanted one of those phones!

Part of the charm is that Apple seems to execute its product vision with such amazing simplicity and elegance. Every icon on the phone is understated but beautiful. Every feature is easy to use but not complex. Everything seems not only as good as Apple could make it but as good as Apple could imagine it.

What about your products or services? How often have you rushed something to market with a sigh and a collective, "Well, I guess that will have to do. It's not great, but it's good enough"?

Sadly, we don't start with a lofty vision. I'm afraid we have become content with mediocrity; we aim low and execute even lower.

If you want to build a platform, it's time to get the passion back. Push one another and yourself to deliver great products that you are delighted—yes, delighted!—to offer. If you don't, then your attempt to build a platform is doomed to failure.

If you create outstanding products, everything else becomes much easier. Apple spends a fortune on product development. But relatively speaking, it doesn't spend much on marketing. Nevertheless, when it introduced the iPhone, Apple got more press coverage than the entire Consumer Electronics Show that was going on simultaneously in Las Vegas. Apple has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that "it's the product, stupid."

Let's take a lesson from the Apple playbook and get the first part of the success equation right: start with a wow product.

Chapter Two

Bake in the Wow

Now I want to tell you about Blake Mycoskie, who creates wows of a different, but no less magical, kind than the late Steve Jobs.

In 2006, Mycoskie was traveling in Argentina and saw that many children there had no shoes. So when he returned home to America, he created a new company, TOMS Shoes. For every pair sold, TOMS matches it—one for one—with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. When he returned to Argentina with reinforcements the next year, they placed ten thousand pairs on little feet. And by September 2010, TOMS and its affiliated partners such as Feed The Children had given more than one million pairs to kids in need around the world.

Now, you may not think a pair of shoes is a wow product, but for many of these kids, TOMS shoes will be their very first pair. Without shoes they cannot go to school, and they are susceptible to soil-transmitted diseases that penetrate the skin. One child in Kenya said, "I'm excited because when I woke up in the morning, I did not know when I'll have something like this." And a teacher said, "I can tell you, these children will not sleep today. They will be talking about those shoes the whole night!" Now that's wow.

If you, like Steve Jobs or Blake Mycoskie, have a message to share, or a product or service to sell, I have significant news for you. We don't need more messages or products or services. Instead, we need better messages, products, and services. Specifically, we need those that wow. This is the "compelling product" part of the success equation. But what is wow and how can we develop it? How can we make sure our message, product, or service creates a wow experience?

The first step is learning to recognize it. Most of us have experienced wow moments. We just haven't taken time to think deeply about them.

For example, a few summers ago, I took my wife and youngest daughter to Scotland. It was our first visit. We rented a car and spent a week touring the western Highlands. We started in Edinburgh and drove north to Inverness. We then drove down the west side of Loch Ness to Fort Augusta and then headed west across the Highlands to the Isle of Skye. We took our time and savored every moment.

As we neared the town of Portree, the capital of Skye, we saw the Sound of Raasay for the first time and let out a collective, "Wow!" It was gorgeous. My eyes welled up with tears. It was a transcendent moment—something none of us had expected.

We experienced numerous wow moments on this trip—Edinburgh Castle, the Caledonian Canal, Eilean Donan Castle, the ancient Dun Telve Broch, Glenelg Bay, Kilt Rock, the church of St. Mary and St. Finnan near Glenfinnan, and the endless fields of Scottish lupines.

Sometime after that trip, I met with my executive team for an all-day planning meeting. As we began the afternoon session, I asked them to think of one of the most powerful wow moments they had experienced in their lives. Then I asked each person to share the experience. One person spoke about the birth of a child. Another told of the first time he kissed his wife. Still another shared his experience of seeing Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe for the first time. It was so inspiring. We all could see each person's face light up as he or she spoke. The rest of us vicariously entered into the joy.

Next I asked the group to try to identify the common attributes in each of these experiences. Here's the list we created. Every wow experience has some combination of the following ten elements:

1. Surprise. A wow experience always exceeds our expectations. It creates delight, amazement, wonder, or awe. For Christmas one year, one of my friends bought me a copy of the illustrated edition of 1776 by David McCullough. Honestly, it blew my socks off. I have never seen a more beautiful book. As the advertising copy says, "Packed with striking replicas of letters, maps, and portraits, this updated version of David McCullough's 2005 best seller provides readers with unedited firsthand accounts of America's initial steps toward sovereignty." This product definitely created a wow experience.

2. Anticipation. Anticipating a wow experience is almost as good as the experience itself. As you think about it, you begin to live it in advance. For example, as I am writing this, Gail and I are planning a trip to the beach. We are beginning to think about it daily. I am making a mental list of the things I want to do. I can almost feel the breeze blowing in from the ocean. With each new day, the anticipation builds.

3. Resonance. A wow experience touches the heart. It resonates at a deep level. It sometimes causes goose bumps or even tears. I remember watching my two granddaughters play on the beach for the first time. They were joy personified as they chased the waves and the waves chased them. I thought to myself, Oh, to be that young!

4. Transcendence. A wow experience connects you to something transcendent. In that moment, you experience purpose, meaning, or even God. Years ago when I was an artist manager, one of my clients sat down at a piano to play some new songs for my business partner and me. As she began to sing, I was caught up in the music. I knew her talent was coming directly from some other place. I was overwhelmed at the beauty.

5. Clarity. A wow experience creates a moment when you see things with more clarity than ever before. You suddenly "get it" in a new way. Not long ago, I was reading Chasing Daylight by Eugene O'Kelly. The story was so powerful I could not put it down. I read it in one long airplane ride to the West Coast. In those few hours, I had more clarity about life than I had had in a long time.

6. Presence. A wow experience creates timelessness. You aren't thinking about the past. You're not even thinking about the future. Instead, you are fully present in what is happening now. One such perfect moment happened when I enjoyed an evening on the porch with my daughter, Mary, and her husband, Chris. We spent several hours talking and enjoying a bottle of wine together. It seemed like time stood still.

7. Universality. A true wow experience is nearly universal. Almost everyone will experience it in a similar way. This is why Cirque du Soleil and the Grand Canyon are so popular. They are so compelling that they appeal to people of all ages and ethnicities.

8. Evangelism. A wow experience has to be shared. You can't contain it. You immediately begin thinking of all the people you wish were with you. After the experience, you recommend it unconditionally. You become an unpaid evangelist. I have done this with all the books I recommend to my friends and on my blog. And as you might know, "Apple evangelists" are a phenomenon of their own.

9. Longevity. The shine never wears off a wow experience. You can experience it again and again without growing tired of it. It endures. In 1973 I attended a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert at Texas Stadium in Dallas, Texas. I was on the field, about ten yards from the stage. It was incredible. In 2000, for my birthday, Gail bought tickets to the CSN&Y concert in Nashville. Twenty-seven years later, they still blew me away.

10. Privilege. A wow experience makes you proud in a good way. You're glad to be associated with it. You feel privileged, as if you are in an elite group, but at the same time humbled that you have had the experience. "Sandra" had a wow experience following her cochlear implant surgery. She had become profoundly deaf by the time she had the implants. On Activation Day, she was able to hear her granddaughter's first words to her: "Can you hear me, Grandma?" Within months her hearing was clear, and "the magic began. I heard grandchildren's voices for the first time, and my children, family and friends sounded just as I remembered. Does life get any better than this?" Clearly Sandra feels both privileged and humbled.

Being successful means becoming the expert in recognizing wow when it shows up. More importantly, it means being able to recognize it when it is absent—and insisting that you ask yourself to deliver it. Don't settle for something less, because, in doing so, you are depriving your customers of the wow experience they seek—and deserve. It is the foundation to building a significant platform.

Chapter Three

Exceed Market Expectations

On November 28, 2010, the highly anticipated Broadway rock musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark had its preview showing. Audiences were excited to see the sold-out show, since it was directed by Julie Taymor, who had also directed the spectacular musical adaptation of The Lion King. And the score would be outstanding too; the music and lyrics were written by Bono and the Edge, half of U2. At a cost of sixty-five million dollars, the production was to be one of visually stunning special effects.

It was, however, an utter disaster. The four-hour mess started late, had a hopelessly muddled plot, and was "stopped repeatedly as equipment fell from the rafters and actors were left hanging in the air."

The lead actor, Reeve Carney, was "caught in an aerial harness at one point, while also being dangled several feet in the air above the audience at the end of act one."

Of the eighteen hundred or so people in the audience that night, some walked out. Here are some of their comments:

• "OK, I have no idea what I just witnessed. It was a total incoherent mess. Taymor seems to have gotten so caught up in the symbolism and fx that she forgot to include a story. Innovative at times, but soulless always."

• "The show was stopped 5–6 times. During one of those times in the second act, a woman in the audience screamed out ... 'I don't know about anybody else, but I feel like a guinea pig and I want my money back!' We should all get refunds."

• "Oh. Plot. Right.... Act I was understandable. Act II was bizarre. It was completely lost. The show is meant to be meaningful, I guess?"

Spider-Man's audience that night was expecting a wow experience, and what Taymor delivered was, to put it mildly, disappointing. That is something we all wish to avoid, even if on a smaller and less public scale.

Here's the bottom line: you must exceed the customer's current expectations. That doesn't sound all that profound. But I think it has big implications for those of us who are committed to creating wow experiences—and building significant platforms.

First of all, each person brings a specific set of expectations to each experience. Those expectations may be conscious or unconscious. They may be general or specific. They may be vague or clearly defined. Regardless, no customer comes to any experience without some kind of expectation. It's just the way the human mind works.

(Continues...)


Excerpted from PLATFORM by MICHAEL HYATT Copyright © 2012 by Michael Hyatt. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
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Table of Contents

Introduction: All the World's a Stage xv

Part 1 Start With Wow

1 Create a Compelling Product 3

2 Bake in the Wow 7

3 Exceed Market Expectations 11

4 Beware of the Obstacles 17

5 Don't Settle for Less than Great 19

6 Give Your Product a Memorable Name 22

7 Wrap the Wow in Style 26

Part 2 Prepare to Launch

8 Accept Personal Responsibility 33

9 Think Bigger... No, Bigger 36

10 Define Your Platform Goals 39

11 Create an Elevator Pitch 41

12 Set Up Your Branding Tools 45

13 Assemble Your Pit Crew 48

14 Secure Raving Endorsements 52

15 Get a Great Head Shot 56

16 Develop an Online Media Kit 59

Part 3 Build Your Home Base

17 Understand the Model 69

18 Focus Your Efforts Online 71

19 Beware of Self-Proclaimed Social Media Experts 73

20 Start a Blog (or Restart One) 75

21 Create the Content Yourself 81

22 Use a Blog Post Template 83

23 Maintain a List of Post Ideas 85

24 Write Posts Faster 88

25 Create Video Interviews 91

26 Don't Hire a Proofreader 94

27 Protect Your Intellectual Property 96

28 Avoid Common Blogging Mistakes 99

29 Create a Better About Page 102

30 Develop Your Landing Pages 110

31 Build a Speaking Page 114

32 Forget About Metrics (for Now) 123

Part 4 Expand Your Reach

33 Kiss Marketing Good-Bye 127

34 Understand What's Not Important 130

35 Generate More blog Traffic 133

36 Build Your Subscriber List 137

37 Promote Your Older Posts 141

38 Write Guest Posts 144

39 Give Stuff Away 147

40 Stop Losing Readers 150

41 Watch These Metrics 152

42 Embrace Twitter 154

43 Understand Twitter Basics 157

44 Don't Write Off Twitter! 164

45 Devote Thirty Minutes a Day 167

46 Get More Twitter Followers 169

47 Keep from Getting Unfollowed 173

48 Use Twitter to Promote Your Product 176

49 Set Up a Facebook Fan Page 180

50 Employ Consistent Branding 184

51 Be Prepared for Traditional Media 186

Part 5 Engage Your Tribe

52 Get More Blog Comments 193

53 Don't Respond to Every Comment 195

54 Keep the Conversations Civil 197

55 Develop a Comments Policy 199

56 Practice the 20-to-1 Rule 202

57 Monitor Your Brand 204

58 Defend Your Brand 206

59 Don't Feed the Trolls 212

60 Monetize Your Blog 214

Conclusion: Take the First Step 217

Appendix A Comply with the FTC Guidelines 219

Appendix B Post Ideas for Novelists 225

Resources 229

Notes 233

Acknowledgments 249

About the Author 251

Index 253

Contact Michael 261

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Customer Reviews

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 65 Customer Reviews

  • Posted May 12, 2012

    Michael Hyatt has stepped up to the plate and literally knocked


    Michael Hyatt has stepped up to the plate and literally knocked this latest project, “Platform, Get Noticed in a Noisy World”, out of the ballpark! This book is not only entertaining, but it is a loaded “tool belt” of resources and ideas to help every person in building a successful platform to be viewed by the entire world.
    I can not only use this in the business world at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, but also in my ministry at my church and finally in my personal life. Hyatt has taken detailed efforts in the 60 chapters of this book to not only give ideas to increase your audience, but step by step instructions with resources included.
    Every business person, blogger, Facebook user and twitter user can receive an extra boost to their arsenal by reading, highlighting, underlining and implementing the proven steps detailed in this 280 page masterpiece.
    Are you living in a world where no one seems to be able to hear you scream? Then buy this book and start building your Platform today and before long even E.F. Hutton will be leaning in wanting to hear you whisper.

    6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted May 11, 2012

    Platform. It's not about diving into a swimming pool or even of

    Platform. It's not about diving into a swimming pool or even off a 1,000 foot cliff, but having a solid platform is crucial for both. The same goes for anyone who has something valuable to say.

    What Michael Hyatt provides in this book is, I believe, just as valuable. When you look across the landscape of social media, marketing, and advertising, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you there's a lot of noise out there. Everyone seems to have a message, a blog, a product, a book that's soon to be released, and everyone's busy cramming their message down our throats. So the question of the day is: Is there a better way to get your voice heard? Michael's book answers that call with a soft, subtle, but ever so distinct voice that makes you want to listen up.

    Did I enjoy this book? Yes, I did. Did this book cause me to rethink my current focus for marketing? Yes, it did. Is Platform the sort of book that will be outdated in a year or so as technology and the social media world advance by leaps and bounds? No, it isn't. You will find no gimmicks here, just sound advice that is both timeless and hasn't been packaged before.

    There are so many practical tips in this book that I wouldn't know where to begin while sharing them. The chapters are short but concise, containing more information on each topic than most people even know is available. I will not doubt refer back to this book time and time again.

    Building a platform is critical to getting your message out to those who need to hear it, and I believe Platform is the book you need to quiet the noise and focus your efforts.

    4 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 12, 2012

    Michael Hyatt’s book “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noi

    Michael Hyatt’s book “Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World” is an instant classic! As former CEO and Chairman of a leading book publisher, he has seen the previous “evolutionary” old-school ways of building a platform available only to a select few dramatically transform into a “revolutionary” way of building a platform that is available to almost anyone today. He has taken that experience and created a masterpiece that provides the precise steps so that anyone can now build their own platform for success. And thankfully, he has put the content in an extremely digestible format with all the references anyone needs to get started. With compelling stories and insights, Michael’s head and heart are completely transparent as he provides everything that is needed for success in today’s world. Thank you so much, Michael, for putting this together! Keep up the God Work! ~Tom Schulte, Executive Director of Linked 2 Leadership and CEO of Recalibrate Professional Development

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 12, 2012

    Michael Hyatt is an inspiration. He writes on leadership and lif

    Michael Hyatt is an inspiration. He writes on leadership and life at his blog. He is always sharing great ideas and suggestions for leading a better life. He openly shares with his readers.

    His new book, Platform, is no different. He shares incredibly helpful tips for developing a platform for your product, service, or blog. These are all proven strategies that have worked for him. His writing style is very organized and easy to follow. He not only provides the inspiration behind why to do these things, he helps tell you exactly how.

    This book is a reference guide for anyone who wants to build a tribe of followers. It doesn't matter where you are in the process. He will help guide you through it effectively. It is applicable for your business, personal and professional life. You would pay ten times the cost to hear this information at a conference. But Michael gives it to you in a simple, easy to use format that can be referenced for years to come. Then it's up to you to do the work and make it happen.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 11, 2012

    Start here...if you have something to sell, whether it is yours


    Start here...if you have something to sell, whether it is yourself or a product read this first. Start by reading Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt. You will save yourself time, energy, and money by reading this book first.

    In this day and age, even the most incredible creators with the best creationss (such as books, music, products, or ideas) need a platform on which to stand to be noticed. Without such, the creator and the creation get lost in the noise of the so many promoting so much.

    Michael has a gift of taking the brilliant and making it simple to follow. Without "dumbing down" his knowledge or insulting his reader's intelligence, Michael Hyatt has written a book virtually anyone can pick up and begin building their "platform." His chapters are concise with detail instruction. He encourages, he teaches, and he shares his personal experiences in an easy to read, easy to understand, easy to go back to time and time again, book.

    I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking to build a platform for their product or is in the process of building. You won't regret adding this book to your toolbox as you build.

    3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 10, 2012

    Help Your Audience Find You!!!

    The old saying used to be that if you simply built a better (insert product or service)the world would beat a path to your door.

    That was probably never true - it's even less true today.

    The reality is that audiences are fragmented and bombarded with a blizzard of messages, which makes it even harder for your voice or ideas to be heard.

    That's where Michael Hyatt's insightful new book can help.

    The premise of Hyatt's book is that not only do you need to have a product, service or message that makes your target audience say "wow" - you need to let them know about it via a platform.

    The author describes the platform as a virtual network or tribe who's willing share your message, product or service to others who may want to hear, consume or purchase it.

    Toward that end, he clearly outlines the "5 planks" necessary to build your own platform as well as the actual steps it'll take leading up to your launch.

    Hyatt has not only helped launch hundreds of bestselling books during his more than 30 year career in the publishing industry - he has successfully done it for his own brand - building a platform toward a second career as a New York Times best-selling author, leadership consultant and national speaker.

    The bottom line is that you can either learn the lessons on your own by costly trial-and-error or follow Hyatt's sage advice, proven steps and help your audience find you!

    *Disclosure, I received a free copy of this book to read and review, which had no affect on my opinions shared here.

    3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 16, 2012

    Building a platform is essential. As a writer, I've heard that a

    Building a platform is essential. As a writer, I've heard that a million times. Maybe more. The exhortation usually comes with a few specifics: blog, engage on Facebook and Twitter. Until now I've been following that advice blindly, doing what is required to participate in a changing industry.

    But, now I have a secret weapon--A platform-building coach in the form of Michael Hyatt's book, Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World.

    Platform took me beyond the bullet points and provided a blueprint for building a platform that will help me engage others on the topics close to my heart. I'm excited to implement the action points Michael Hyatt so generously provides.

    I've been reading his blog for years and have watched his platform grow exponentially. I never imagined he would take all he learned from his successes and failures and make those lessons available to me (and you).

    Michael Hyatt's expertise--and ability to put the cookies on the bottom shelf--combine to make Platform a book any writer could use to create opportunities to get noticed in a noisy world.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 14, 2012

    Build a platform, yes, AND...

    Michael Hyatt's latest book is a practical and detailed guide to helping any author, speaker, organization or person who has a message to share. This book will help to establish an effective platform from which to launch and share any product, service or message. Michael's book is all of this AND: 1. A proven formula to accomplish ANY project you may have. 2. A take you by the hand guide that walks you through what types of thoughts you should be having in the beginning or dream stage of that product. 3. How to move those thoughts and dreams into goals; not just lofty goals, but one's you can and will accomplish. 4. How to overcome the speed bumps that will occur. 5. How to prevent the common problem of drift, a slow move from your original dream. 6. Tools and strategies to measure along the way. One thing I appreciate about Michael's writing is that he is well read himself. The writers I enjoy reading the most usually are. He quotes from a wide range of authors and disciplines and this lends to an excellent book; not limited to building a platform, which it does very effectively, but also a good read for the average person.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 14, 2012

    A "Wow" Experience

    Ever read a book that completely changes your perspective? A paradigm shift of sorts? Platform by Michael Hyatt did just that for me. This book is jam-packed with relevant information on how to build your platform. Michael Hyatt generously provides you with step by step instructions and lists on how to start a blog, build a following, use social media properly (i.e., Twitter) and much more. Platform equips the novice to the seasoned professional. This book is a guide by which you can go back and refer to at any point or phase in your platform building. You will find nuggets on every page of this book. Michael Hyatt creates a masterpiece and a "wow" experience for his readers. There has never been a book written like this one. If you are serious about building your platform, I highly recommend this book.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 13, 2012

    I recently received an advanced copy of Michael Hyatt's book Pla

    I recently received an advanced copy of Michael Hyatt's book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy Word. As a published author myself I kept saying, "I wish I had read Michael's book 5 years ago." He fills the book with practical insight on how to build your platform, no matter your message or the size of your current platform. If you apply the principles he suggests, your platform will grow. It's not out of reach for anyone. And he backs up the book's credibility because he himself has used the principles he suggests and has amazing results to show for it.

    Its 60 short, pithy chapters make it easy to read with its bullets, suggested next steps, and further resources.

    When you read it, prepare yourself to face one problem: you won't be able to put it down but you will have to put it down because it motivates you to stop and list all the simple ways you can effectively expand the reach of your message.
    -Charles Stone, StoneWell Ministries

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 13, 2012

    When Michael Hyatt Writes, I Listens

    As a writer and speaker there are certain people I glean from and Michael Hyatt is one of them. Hyatt sets the example for successful platform building. I’ve been an avid reader of his blog for years and he has taught me so much along the way. This book takes what Michael already does so well online to the next level.

    Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World gets my five stars for:

    * short, digestible chapters
    * a variety of stories that help readers relate
    * personal examples of Michael’s success and failure
    * a reminder to create that wow factor
    * practical, do-able advice (I found myself stopping to fix things on my website)
    * samples of Michael’s landing pages - so helpful to see
    * great tips on social media
    * a challenge to think differently about marketing (Yes, I’m a creative who rebels)

    Michael writes, “If you want to build a platform, it’s time to get the passion back.”

    I agree.

    Platform is a MUST READ for anyone who wants to make some noise, or better yet, some music with their product, ministry or business.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 13, 2012

    Save yourself time and money: Buy this book.

    At the time of writing this review of "Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World" everybody has left a 5-star review. I almost left a 1-star review, just so I could get noticed...

    But that would be extremely unfair to Michael Hyatt, who has written the best book on developing your digital platform that I have ever read. If I could give it 6 stars, I would have.

    I have read many other books on developing your platform, and most of them focus on developing interpersonal relationship with your friends, neighbors, and coworkers, so that you can market yourself or sell your product. This is all vitally important, but most of these books had only a chapter or two on developing your online platform. At most, they have a chapter or two about having a website. In the digital age, this is just not going to cut it.

    It seems that many people approach their website and online presence in the same way Kevin Costner approached baseball in his movie, "Field of Dreams." We think, "If you build it, they will come." So we build our website, and nobody shows up.

    Michael Hyatt speaks from experience in this. When he was the CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, they went gangbusters on building websites for every book and author, only to find that nobody ever visited all these thousands of pages. Something more was needed than just a website.

    Now, after eight years of blogging and turning his blog into one of the most widely read and commented-upon websites in the world today, he shares with us all of his tips and tricks that he learned over the years.

    The great thing about developing your platform online is that it is open to everyone. The things that Michael shares can be done by anyone with a little bit of creativity and discipline. You no longer have to be a politician, a TV personality, or a megachurch pastor in order to gain a following and land a book deal.

    You just have to develop your online platform.

    And in this book, Michael Hyatt tells you how.

    The best thing about the book is how he shows that there are no magic bullets or secret handshakes to developing your platform success. Most of what he writes about in the book you can learn on the internet by scouring websites and performing endless searches on Google. By why waste time and spend countless hours sifting through thousands of potentially pointless blog posts when Michael Hyatt has done all the work for you, and written each chapter in concise, bite-size pieces which can be easily understood and implemented right away? Save yourself time and headache. Buy this book, and begin building your online platform today.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 12, 2012

    Are you waiting to be discovered? Whether you have a product or

    Are you waiting to be discovered? Whether you have a product or service to sell, a business to start, or even a ministry to launch, Platform is the book that will help you “Get Noticed in a Noisy World.”

    Whether you are a business person, author or speaker, Platform will explain not only why you need a platform to get noticed, but how to build one including these steps:

    Start With Wow – Creating a compelling product
    Prepare to Launch – Setting up branding tools and media kits
    Building Your Home Base – Building a website for yourself
    Expand Your Reach – The how-to’s of social media
    Engage Your Tribe – Monitor your brand and engage your audience

    The book is written in such a way that you can read it straight through, or pick the topics that interest you and dive right in. Clearly laid out, the book format offers easy to follow steps to start building, or expand your reach.

    For everyone hoping to be discovered, trying to step ahead of the crowd, or get noticed…Platform is the book for you.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 12, 2012

    more from this reviewer

    When I teach at writers conferences, the word "platform&quo

    When I teach at writers conferences, the word "platform" reverberates off the walls, and would-be authors tremble under the weight of it. What I love about this book is how practical and simple it is. You will learn:

    1. What is a platform
    2. Why you need one
    3. How to build one
    4. How not to be obnoxious in the process
    5. How to find joy in the platform journey

    Michael Hyatt makes it easy. He gives you action steps, and he explains social media platforms in an understandable way.

    If you have a product (it certainly doesn't have to be a book), this book will prove to be a goldmine of practical, applicable information.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 11, 2012

    All You Need To Build Your Platform

    Michael Hyatt recently released his newest book, Platform, and it's a smash hit.

    Having been the CEO and, now, the current Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishing Michael knows a thing or two about getting noticed. One of those is platform building, something that many creatives lacked when pitching their products.

    Platform is the culmination of seeing the need and finding a way to show these creatives how to create a following. And Michael knocks it out of the park.

    In his book, he will show you how to:

    1. Start With WOW
    2. Prepare To Launch
    3. Build Your Home Base
    4. Expand Your Reach
    5. Engage Your Tribe

    Michael takes you through the steps of WHY you need a platform, WHAT a platform will do for you, and HOW you can build a platform. I've used his information on platform building and have seen tremendous growth in my blog traffic. This is how I know it works.

    You'll find yourself taking notes, re-reading sections, and discovering why you need to have a platform. Once you're finished, you'll be inspired and equipped to build your platform.

    If you're a creative who has had troubles getting recognized, this book is for you. Grab it today. You won't be disappointed!

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 9, 2012

    Now you can raise your Platform! As a new follower of Michael


    Now you can raise your Platform! As a new follower of Michael Hyatt, I couldn’t have come on at a better time. Michael’s new book is just what I needed and I am sure many others will also. If you are aspiring to become a writer, artist, or other creative type, you need a “platform” just to get noticed. Michael teaches you the steps you need in a way that you can understand and apply. He provides the exact tools and resources that you will need to build your brand. If you have a message to get out, this is the book you need.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 8, 2012

    Simply the best book on building an engaging platform I've read.

    Simply the best book on building an engaging platform I've read. It's clear, inspiring, and practical. A must-read for any blogger, writer, leader, pastor, or creative. This book well exceeds its worth ten times over. If you're building a platform or producing content in some form, this book should be on your desk at all times.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 24, 2012

    This is an EXCELLENT BOOK! Very easy to follow & the steps

    This is an EXCELLENT BOOK! Very easy to follow & the steps aer laid out right there for you to follow.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 24, 2012

    Must read for (YOUR NAME HERE) !

    This has to be one of the best books I have read in the last twelve months! It is filled with invaluable information for anyone. From author to casual blogger to job seeker. For those who haven't heard, your platform will do more for you to get a job than your resume. You got it. I believe your platform is crucial to your success in your career. The resume is dead! With that said, this book by Michael Hyatt should be a fixture on everyone's bookshelf. First off, I struggled getting through this book. I didn't struggle for the reasons people often struggle with books. The reason I struggled in getting through this book is simple. Each and every chapter challenged me to think and explore topics I have not considered. It seems with every chapter I read I had a blog post to write. It needed digestion and spawned me to dig deeper. I encourage you to take your time going through the book and digest each chapter at your pace. As I mentioned earlier, this book is packed with such practical knowledge which will keep you thinking and cause you to go deeper to develop your platform.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted May 19, 2012

    Not just a book about building a business...it's about building

    Not just a book about building a business...it's about building a life., May 19, 2012

    This review is from: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World (Hardcover)
    Don't make the mistake of bypassing Michael Hyatt's book because you think you don't have a business or a product to promote. If you have a family, a spouse, or if it's just you and the dog, you have something or someone around which you can build a "wow experience."

    I've published four books, but it's not just the author-me that's excited about Platform. As a high school teacher for almost twenty-five years, I wish this book could be required reading for every state superintendent, every school board, every administrator and every educator. Instead of a ripple effect, there would be a tidal wave of change in classrooms.

    What impresses me about this book is that, unlike some others I've read about striving for success, it's not Michael Hyatt's homage to himself. Instead of "look at all the amazing things I've accomplished," this book's focus is, "watch all the amazing things you'll accomplish."

    Make an intentional purchase during the book's official "launch week," of May 21-25 and be ready for your first WOW experience!

    When you buy Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World during that week, you'll receive seven FREE bonuses (valued at $375.98):
    1. Platform Video Jumpstart Serier (6 video sessions)
    2. Why NOW is the Best Time Ever to be an Author (video)
    3. How to Write a Winning Book Proposal
    4. Writing a Winning Non-Fiction book Proposal eBook
    5. Writing a Winning Fiction Proposal eBook
    6. Digital edition of Platform
    7. Audio edition of Platform

    If that offer doesn't rock your world, then you really do need Platform!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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