Comments on: Move Over, Oprah: Introducing the MarketingProfs Book Club (with FREE Books, Too!)

By: Tahlia Poop Nicks

Tahlia Poop Nicks — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 00:31:03 +0000

i cant wait im so excited

By: Roger von Oech

Roger von Oech — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:44:32 +0000

I’ll bite (nudge from Mack).
With its title, I’m happy to see that “Citizen Marketers” doesn’t have one of those goofy mirrors on its cover like Time mag.

By: Dusan

Dusan — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 11:34:29 +0000

CK, do you sleep, are U a robot, or simply U are actually 3 people presented as 1?
Great idea, great energy and an admiring positive way of putting people together. You amaze me.

By: CK

CK — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 23:23:33 +0000

Hi Linda: Thanks for giving us a link to the review at Marketonomy, looks like a really well-structured group and discussion. Darn I wish I’d been in that group.
It will be easier for me to show you once Group Review drops in Jan. (likely Jan. 10th) but for now I’ll do my best to explain: The big difference here is that the readers themselves can lead their own discussion threads and groups with one another. So we’re asking the authors many and myriad questions…but we’re also asking one another. Not only does this make for several “nodes” of discussions, it facilitates more knowledge share and more new colleagues to be met between members (so everyone makes new contacts, too).
Working for a democratic and dynamic review, any member can begin a discussion on a certain theme or point. I’ll not only be starting some discussion threads, I’ll also be chiming-in on threads started by other members–as I believe will be the case by many. And of course the authors will have a thread and, likely, chime-in to other threads.
It’s all housed in one spot which keeps it structured and user-friendly.
Again…this will be easier for me to “show” than tell. I thank you for letting me hit on this here–-my original post was going long so I couldn’t hit on all the details, but will when Group Review begins!
Please join in the read and I’ll have an update posted here on Friday.

By: Linda Meneses

Linda Meneses — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 22:28:24 +0000

This is great, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say “nothing like it exists.” Marketonomy launched a book discussion group a few months ago, and just did a very in-depth discussion and author dialog on Competing for Customers and Capital. (www.marketonomy.com/marketonomy/competing.html) It is a good idea.

By: CK

CK — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 16:41:43 +0000

Hey Bookworms: Just a quick update–in 24 hours we’ve had over 400 members sign-up from across the globe–and I expect more sign-ups throughout the week. Wait, did I say the globe? I sure did!
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle-East are ALL represented in the Book Club. Point is, we bookworms are everywhere–and now we can all unite right HERE at MarketingProfs. And during group review, anyone can start a discussion thread–I told you it was democratic .
I always knew bookworms were cool. Now the world will know, too!
P.S.: I’ll report more in an update here on Friday.

By: DUST!N

DUST!N — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:00:26 +0000

Brilliant concept and great choice for an innaugural book!
I’m in.

By: Michelle Dunn

Michelle Dunn — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:38:53 +0000

This is a GREAT idea! I am glad I found out about it. I think you will be a huge success.

By: Johnny Chan

Johnny Chan — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 02:43:45 +0000

Marvelous idea, CK!
Thank you for bringing sexy back to bookworms. I’m looking forward to being considered smoldering hot again. =)
-Johnny

By: Val Frazee

Val Frazee — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:50:51 +0000

As a long-ago English major, I can’t wait! I dearly miss reading groups.
Just ordered my copy on Amazon. Thanks for putting this together, CK!

By: CK

CK — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:23:06 +0000

Jim: Thanks for asking about timing and indeed we’ve thought about this (a lot!)–this is a fair book review, rest assured.
Being that the Web (and the Book Club) are global, we promoted it through the blog here at The Daily Fix and the MarketingProfs newsletter. We took those postings and dropped them at a good balance of time zones for EST through PST–and of course globally. We then split up the “freebies” between these two promotional channels and, therefore, worldwide audiences. We aired the post here at 7:30am as that is when many of our European readers are online as well as EST are online and then sent out the MarketingProfs newsletter article at 11:30am as that is when PST readers are online as well as time zones in-between.
And, just for the record, both Ann Handley and me are buying books and will be doing so each and every time. So no one at MarketingProfs is getting a freebie–nope, those are for you guys. And we’ll be asking for even more free books from publishers and authors in future segments (I do hope the number of free books will increase with each segment, though that’s not in my control–but I can be politely pushy!).
Lastly, while we choose books on the value of knowledge, we also choose them on the value of price–the current read is only $16.50 at Amazon and we felt that was a competitive price across a range of demographics.
I hope that addresses your concern and it was great to be able to explain our free-book fair methodology. I do hope you’ll join in the read.

By: Katie Chatfield

Katie Chatfield — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 00:00:51 +0000

Lovely idea CK!

By: Jim Lane

Jim Lane — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:59:47 +0000

My question pertains to this:
Did you say FREE books? That I did. The first 30 to sign-up for each segment will receive a free, signed copy of the featured book. . . .
At what time do you intend to post this notice so all of us have an equal opportunity to see it at the same time and have an equal chance of being one of those selected?
jim

By: David Berkowitz

David Berkowitz — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:52:48 +0000

Great work, CK & co! This should be a really exciting program. In my new apt, I chose to have more bookshelves instead of a dining room table, so I can’t wait to join in. David

By: David Meerman Scott

David Meerman Scott — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:21:55 +0000

This is a terrific idea! Congratulations on the book club, CK and team.
As Jonathan Kranz reported on this blog a few months ago in his post “The Real Way to Attract a Publishers Attention,” I’ve been writing a book called “The New Rules of Marketing and PR” (that started life as an ebook and a Feb 2006 MarketingProfs article called “The New Rules of PR”).
Well I just submitted the manuscript to Wiley this week. Woo Hoo. The book comes out in June 2007.
I would love to participate in the club with my book in the summer of 2007.
After all, MarketingProfs members have seen the whole book process from start to finish already!
Cheers, David

By: Loren Smith

Loren Smith — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:11:36 +0000

Greetings from Florida – The Sunshine State. (Please don’t hate me because I’m warm.) I would love know who else is avoiding the snow right now – Australia?
This should be a great discussion especially since all of us are using some of the very technology that is discussed in the book.
I’m looking forward to it.
Loren

By: CK

CK — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:45:38 +0000

Bookworms are the new cool. Smart is sexy and sharing knowledge is the only way to stay up-to-speed and get-ahead in this fast-moving world…blogosphere…metaverse.
And yes, our book club will bridge all three planes I just mentioned. This ain’t your grandpa’s book club, kids.
But that’s all this bookworm is saying for now– a girl can’t give away all her secrets in the first segment! Thanks so much for enjoying the idea — we’re having a phenomenal number of sign-ups and I will report more here later in the week.

By: Mario Sundar

Mario Sundar — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:40:38 +0000

CK!
That’s a fabulous idea, and I can’t think of anyone but you & Ann, who can run it successfully.
Kudos, once again, and wish you all the best!
Mario

By: Michael A. Stelzner

Michael A. Stelzner — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:19:41 +0000

Hey CK;
Love the idea! How do those of us who are also authors get our books considered?
Best Regards, Mike

By: Tim Jackson

Tim Jackson — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:13:29 +0000

Oprah who? CK/ Ann rock mightily! The Profs is such a perfect fit for this thing. How freakin’ cool. As always- I am totally impressed by Ann and CK. What a Dynamic Duo!
The marketing world is so ready for this. Look at the great things the Profs and DF are doing for the community. Or Mack, or CK, or Toby, or Lewis, or Mike, or… the list goes on. I am so happy and proud to be a part of this group of people.
This will be fun!

By: Jill

Jill — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:00:45 +0000

MarketingProfs comes through with another winning idea! I can’t wait to dig in to this book!

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:56:46 +0000

Bookworms = The New Cool…
(lol….) love it! : )

By: Ben McConnell

Ben McConnell — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:44:59 +0000

Jackie and I are thrilled to have Citizen Marketers be the inaugural book for the club. Thanks Ms. Divine CK!

By: Donna Barson

Donna Barson — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:41:38 +0000

This is a real service to the marketing community and I look forward to participating.

By: Bob Glaza

Bob Glaza — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:36:32 +0000

Great concept, CK and Ann. My fingers are crossed. Never having been in a book club – but loving to read – I look forward to the discipline of reading then sharing. I’m guessing we’ll discover that Oprah ain’t got nothing on this bunch. Although she has figured out branding and marketing

By: Jackie Huba

Jackie Huba — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:09:47 +0000

Big ups to CK for putting this together! We are excited to be part of the inaugural effort.

By: CK

CK — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:02:33 +0000

Hey all you bookworms…get ready to get your read on! Thanks to the authors for being so supportive of this idea. I’m please to announce that, not even 11amEST and our Book Club is officially GLOBAL (that was my biggest hope). Members span U.S. & Canada, Europe and Australia.
When it comes down to it, this Book Club is not so much about books–but about sharing knowledge. I’m confident that you’ll learn just as much from fellow marketer’s insights during the group review as you will from the book.
Speaking of share, fellow marketer David Armano compiled an amazing summary of the sea change of events in 2006. How did he do it? Through feedback shared from the community. A great thing to read before you get crackin’ on our first book:
http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2006/12/2006_in_your_wo.html
Psst: And don’t forget we have a stellar lineup of authors already lined up for Q1. Bookworms = the new cool.

By: Paul McEnany

Paul McEnany — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:01:51 +0000

Great job folks!
I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the book. It’s one I was planning on anyway, and what better way to dive in than to do it with you guys.
Thanks CK & Ann!

By: Ann Handley

Ann Handley — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:38:14 +0000

Thanks for all the kudos, all…and mccale: thanks for the background. Somehow only you would be able to speak on this topic so articulately….
Major kudos to our friend and colleague CK…she’s the brains (and beauty!) behind this effort. CK — you rock!
I’m really looking forward to participating in the Book Club — it’s gonna be great.

By: David Reich

David Reich — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 14:23:41 +0000

What a great idea!
I just signed up and I’m looking forward to learning together.