6 Pixels of Separation

Came across this video and I really like it. It talks about many of the same things I’ve been talking about. Plus, it gives a nice synopsis of the strategy behind social media.

The Q & A format works. And it’s a good discussion about the strategy and process of social media. Nice tie-ins between his answers and content you’ll find in the book. Mitch Joel really gets going 3-4 minutes in. Good stuff.

I agree with the idea that relationships in the digital world need to follow the same theoreis as relationships in real life, and the process of building community will be a SLOW process.

Favorite quotes:

• “If you only have a couple hundred people reading your blog, and three of those people become your clients, then that’s a really good day at the office.”
• “I offer value and insights to the community.”
• “Hopefully we’ll be top of mind and they’ll call us.”

That’s what it’s all about, right?

We know this guy is hip because he’s dressed all in black. And we know he’s successful because he’s sitting in a really nicely decorated living room. We want to be like him, right? Just kidding.

Somehow Mitch Joel seems very similar to Gary Vaynerchuk, but less loud and less New York. Perhaps the West Coast version of G.V.? Is that intentional?

I found this connection in the book’s Publisher’s Weekly review:

“A digital marketing maven who parlayed a podcast into a thriving career, Joel extends the notion of human interconnectedness by six degrees to the virtual world. With abundant Internet social networking sites and mobile texting, we are all intrinsically connected, he argues in this accessible primer to capitalizing on connections to increase brand awareness. New breeds of entrepreneurs are being created daily, he asserts, using free publishing tools available on the Internet to create brands and develop audiences on a scale that rivals the biggest firms in the world. Joel cites such success stories as Gary Vaynerchuk of Wine Library, who transformed his parents’ New Jersey liquor store from a $4 million business to a $45 million one in five years by connecting to Facebook and Twitter and creating a video podcast to lure customers. More than a mere collection of inspirational case studies, the book offers practical advice, from choosing a catchy blog name to tips on Web presentation. Joel has created an eminently readable guide to harnessing the various tools available across the virtual landscape.

In truth, this is a well done promo video. I like the length. It’s a bit long, but good for the subject matter. The only bad thing is the slamming door in the middle of the piece. Slightly amatuerish on an otherwise good production.

The book? Yeah, I intend to buy it. The 41 reviews on Amazon are highly positive and seem to really inspire action. Plus, I love to read about this stuff.

You? If you’ve already bought the book, let me know what you think!