Do you have something to say, but struggle with how to say it? Or maybe the issue is finding your audience. You know they’re out there, right? People who share your concerns and passions. People ready to hear what you have to say, but more than that–people who are willing to open dialogue with you. Have a conversation. Learn from each other.
This is the point I’m at. I’ve determined the steps I need to take in focusing my blog and website on its new purpose. Now it’s a matter of learning how to build a platform so that I can reach the audience I want to share with.
Enter PLATFORM Get Noticed in a Noisy World: A Step-by-Step Guide for Anyone with Something to Say or Sell. During its release week last May, the author offered a sweet package for those who ordered the hardcover. I jumped on it and listened to the entire book via mp3 several times before the physical book arrived. There are five main steps to platform building:
1. Start with Wow. This should be a no-brainer, but maybe it isn’t. Either way, it’s certainly the foundation to a platform. If you don’t have a WOW product (book?), it will be hard to create a solid platform on top of it.
2. Prepare to Launch. In this section Hyatt talks about accepting personal responsibility, defining goals, creating branding, etc. Although this isn’t the largest of the five sections, it’s got a lot of practical information in it.
3. Build Your Home Base. This section focuses on the one place on the internet you own: your website and blog. Hyatt gives solid reasons why your blog should be at YourOwnName. You can’t control anywhere else, so you need to solidify your efforts to your home base. He likens Facebook, guest blogging, etc, to embassies–a presence you’ve been invited to have on foreign soil, knowing they can change the rules at any time and kick you off.
Anyway, this section talks a lot about the hows and whys of blogging, with some information about the rest of your website as well, such as your “about” page.
4. Expand Your Reach. This relates to reaching out from your home base to find blog subscribers, Twitter followers, and Facebook fans. Hyatt is a great believer in Twitter, so a good chunk of this section has tips for this form of social media. While I don’t love Twitter any more than I used to, he does provide some solid ideas.
5. Engage Your Tribe. Now that we (presumably) have all the pieces in place, Hyatt gives advice for keeping our new readers/followers/fans engaged and promoting us to their friends and contacts.
While he tries to make a case for “if he can do it, anyone can,” this didn’t ring true in my mind. Most of us are complete unknowns, not (former) CEOs of major publishing houses. Most of us don’t have the budget to throw at our websites the way Hyatt apparently does. ($1000 per month? Beyond my comprehension.)
So, in my opinion, you need to take some of it with a grain of salt. A lot of his advice can be scaled back to a normal budget of paying for URL and hosting then using a free theme and plugins. Mine may not be as fancy as his, but honestly I don’t see an expensive site when I go to MichaelHyatt.com. I doubt the average visitor is impressed by the bells and whistles. I could be wrong. My lack of judgment on the subject may be holding me back from having as effective a platform as Hyatt, who knows?
With all that in mind, I still think this book is a good buy and worth going through slowly and repeatedly. I’m sure I am getting way more than $15.36 value out of it. If you’re trying to find your way to a more solid platform, I recommend this book.
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Review 3 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
Michael Hyatt does a fantastic job of explaining the hows and whys we need to use social media as a platform to help launch our product, idea, service, or cause.
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Review 4 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
Michael Hyatt is the Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, which makes him the coolest man alive since most of the books I read are from TNP and now they are the proud publishers of the Voice bible. Mr Hyatt writes books and blogs about leadership, productivity, publishing, social media, and, on occasion, stuff that doesn’t fit neatly into any of these categories.
His latest book, Platform “Get noticed in a noisy world” is exactly what the title implies. This is a must read for anyone who wants to be noticed among the crowd. And this is the kind of leadership book I like, the chapters are short, easy to digest, packed with punch and there is TON of information here to devour.
If your self-improvement goals are to read one leadership book a year, make it this one! This is 60 chapters of equipping that you can use in ministry or the business world. In fact, I would argue that this book would be applicable to anyone who wants to get noticed, especially in fields that are flooded with competition.
The other great thing about this book is, it’s relevant. Unlike some leadership books that just get reprinted with new covers, Platform is about modern tools like websites and social media and Michael gives you great advice how to use them.
Hyatt also takes time out from advice giving to offer real stories of his personal successes and failures making for a delightful and easy read. Highly recommended!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this book for a fair and honest review.
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Review 5 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
Michael Hyatt knocked it out of the park. For the Social Media novice, it is an effective step by step instruction manual for effectively setting up your social media platform. It is a tremendous value for the price.
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Review 6 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
This book is nothing less than a "gold medal winner" because Michael Hyatt gives you more ideas and how to accomplish those ideas than you could possibly pay for through a consulting firm. It would cost you hundreds of dollars. Second, Michael Hyatt is building his own platform through everything he teaches you so you can see it happening in front of you if you go to his various social media and blog sites. Third, to be a former agent, publisher, literary agent, acquisitions editor, vp, president and ceo in publishing gives you the whole picture from a to z. Hyatts book is a must-read and maybe more important a must-apply for anyone who frankly is a leader! Terry Brown - former assistant to best-selling author of 55 books, Dr. Gary Smalley
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Review 7 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
Anyone can have a website. Thomas Nelson Publishers, of which Hyatt was formerly CEO, had thousands, he tells us in this book. But if you don’t interact with your audience, you might as well be printing a brochure to keep in your warehouse. It’s vital to reach out and engage with your audience in an authentic way — ghost-written posts won’t cut it. This is a timely book for me and I would guess for many others, since I am launching my own new business, right now. To sit at Michael Hyatt’s feet and hear his stories — some funny, some cautionary tales — of how he and others have worked their way to an online presence to die for is a gentle experience. Hyatt doesn’t shout at me through the pages. But this is no ramble down memory lane. His insightful anecdotes are peppered with sharp, bullet-point how-tos. He shares right down to software options and supplier names, so I don’t have to re-invent the wheel. Platform has become my business bible.
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Review 8 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
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.
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Review 9 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
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.
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Review 10 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
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.
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Review 11 for Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World - eBook
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.