Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is essentially about how to promote yourself in the world of the Internet generally and of social media specifically. If you are not comfortable with self-promotion, I would recommend against reading this book. If you want to learn how to have a bigger voice in the world, this book is for you. In particular, those interested in publishing written works can benefit from Hyatt’s sage advice.
Hyatt, a former CEO of a “Christian” bookseller, lays out a comprehensive digital strategy that can be implemented by companies/corporations or individuals. Some of his suggestions require some start-up funding, but one can omit these suggestions if one is on a lower budget.
The chapter on Twitter, in particular, is excellent and perhaps leads the world that publishes in the English language. Again, he sees technologies like Twitter not as an ends to themselves but as a means to advance whatever good message one wants to convey. (At least, I hope it would be a good message.)
The source of his expertise is his time in the publishing industry. As such, he frequently refers to himself as the authority. Like with his views on technology, I read this not as narcissism but as a tool for me to use in my endeavors. Others may dissent, however.
Overall, this book is helpful to learn how to build a personal brand or a platform in today’s society using technology. It does an excellent job at it, too.