Trust Agents
By Chris Brogan & Julien Smith
I recently heard the term trust agent for the first time. It was said with high regard to persons who are considered trust agents. I had to find out more. My search led me to this wonderful book.
Not only do the authors explain the importance of building up your, or your company’s, reputation through social media, but they also give important advice for everyday kindness and humility – just common, good personal and business practices. In short, trust agents are people you can trust to tell the truth, both good and bad. Collaboration and networking are explained and stressed. Being creative and original is detailed as well as sharing information with others. The importance of being just a regular guy, “one of us”, is explained.
Real-life examples of small and large companies that rely on the opinions and feedback of social media are interspersed throughout the book. Examples of businesses that made mistakes yet grew more respected from them are also given.
As Brogan and Smith (2010) explain of trust agents, “They connect with more people than anyone else, and they know how to leave a good impression. As they do so, they build healthy, honest relationships” (p. 15).
This book is an incredible resource for small companies wanting to grow, large companies wanting to improve their reputations, and nonprofits operating on tight budgets. You will learn easy and quick ways to build your online and offline reputation. You will learn how to build and maintain good, strong networks and relationships. Lastly, you will learn “how to be genuine, real, and open with people” (Brogan and Smith, 2010).
Enjoy!
~Emily Aragon
Brogan & Smith. (2010). Trust Agents. Using the web to build influence, improve reputation, and earn trust. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
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