This is one of the most important posts I’ll ever write.
My new book, Youtility: Why Smart Marketing is About Help Not Hype releases on Thursday in hardcover, Kindle, Nook and iBook. Audible audio version on the way. I truly believe it’s the best work I’ve ever done, and I’ve been blessed with a ton of terrific media coverage of the book already.
The concept and name for “Youtility” is about two years old. I first spoke about it at the inaugural Content Marketing World conference in 2011 (note: I’m keynoting this year’s affair. It’s an AMAZING event, and if you care about content, you should try to attend. Use code “CONVINCE” for a discount). Since then, I mulled, researched, wrote and marketed the book. But it was by no means just me. NOT. AT. ALL. So many people were a huge part of making this book happen, and I want to make sure they are recognized here:
- My Mom, Joyce Hollis, who taught me how to write long ago (she’s an English teacher), and handled early copyediting for this book, and for my previous book. <
- Tamsen Webster, a fantastic person and terrific marketer, who provided editorial guidance for early versions, and whose experiences with Warby Parker are chronicled in the book.
- Kim Corak, one of my best friends and head of special projects here at Convince & Convert. Kim handled many of the interviews for the book, and coordinated our pre-order campaign. This book is as much hers as it is mine.
- Chuck Kent, an unbelievably good guy from Creative On Call, who wrote an original song for the book, AND created this music video, featuring photos from people who pre-ordered the book! (click here to tweet about the music video)
- Marcus Sheridan, The Sales Lion, whose amazing success with River Pools & Spas helped crystalize the concept of this book. Marcus wrote a smashing foreword to Youtility, too.
- My old friend Michael Hale, who created a whole series of nifty, hand-drawn charts and graphs to bring data in the book to life.
- Chris Bohnsack from Bohnsack Design who created many of the satellite content pieces for the book, including Slideshare presentations. Chris and I have worked together for almost 20 years. He also designed the award-winning Convince & Convert logo.
- Neal Lumantara from Crefio who built the Youtility pre-order store, as well as the amazing (at least to me, and I hope to you) Youtility website. Check it out!
My old pal Doug Cholewa from Catywampus, who designed the official Youtility T-shirts. You can win one yourself if you take a picture of the book in the wild and post to Twitter or Instagram with #Youtility. (Check out Doug’s remarkable Screaming Guys project, too)- Chris Johnson, Jason Moore and the entire team at Simplifilm, who created the astounding Youtility trailer, which I think is one of the best book trailers ever. Check it out!
- Carrie Morgan from Rock the Status Quo, who has been a tireless supporter, and helped put together the forthcoming “21 Quotes That Will Change the Way You Think About Marketing” Slideshare.
- Peg Fitzpatrick from 12 Most, who was hugely helpful in repackaging book excerpts as guest blog posts.
- Mitch Joel, Julien Smith, and Chris Brogan who have all been incredibly supportive of this effort, and who introduced me to my agent, Jim Levine.
- The aforementioned Jim Levine of Levine Greenberg literary agency, who has absolutely instrumental in getting my publishing career to the next level.
- Sally Hogshead (one of the best public speakers alive) who initially introduced me and Youtility to Portfolio/Penguin, my publisher.
- Will Weisser and Brooke Carey at Portfolio/Penguin for believing in this book, and in me.
- My publicists, Mark Fortier and Norbert Beatty at Fortier PR, who continue to ring the bell for Youtility, generating lots of buzz and coverage.
- Awesome people, terrifically successful authors, and smart marketers Ann Handley, John Jantsch, and David Meerman Scott for their support and for blurbing the back of the book.
- Wise, creative content producers Jonathan Fields and Derek Halpern for their help with book marketing and promotion strategies.
- Chris Sietsema, Daniel Lemin, Jess Ostroff, Lisa Loeffler, and Kim Corak (again) – the Convince & Convert team – for their incredible efforts on helping to market the book, and to keep our consulting practice humming while I was writing and doing book-related stuff.
- And to all of you who have already purchased the book, and are chomping at the bit to review it on Amazon and tell your friends. Thank you!!!
Lastly, a blog post certainly isn’t enough to thank my remarkable wife and our two kids, who have been behind me 100% on this project, despite me having to lock myself away for long stretches to write, and taking to the skies to promote the book at more than 50 events this year. Thank you. And I love you.