Why now is the time to Crush It! Cash in on your Passion

by: Gary Vaynerchuk

Why now is the time to Crush It! Cash in on your Passion is a small book with a mighty big message that “true success lies above all in loving your family, working hard and living your passion.”

And there is no questioning author Gary Vaynerchuk’s passion for the power of social media and he should know, because by the time he left college at 22, he’d built a $10 million business selling wine online.

In the book he shares that developing your personal brand is key to monetizing your passion online. Whether you are delivering your content by video, podcast or blog, it’s your authenticity that will differentiate you from everyone else.

Many don’t realize, he comments, that in today’s world your business and your personal brand need to be one and the same.  Monetizing a personal brand is not a new concept – take Oprah. Leveraging social networking platforms is all about building word of mouth. We are living in a world where word of mouth is allowing content to travel faster and further than ever before.

To use social marketing networks, two pillars need to be in place – product and content.  Great content is what you’re going to pump into your social media networks to draw eyeballs to your blog and where eyeballs go, opportunities follow, he observes.  Make sure you can talk about your product like no one else. You are creating a community and you do this through conversation.

Blogs increase the ability of people to find you through Internet searches because their content changes and expands daily. There are three blog approaches – video, audio and written. He uses video because he loves to talk and has got a big personality. Do what comes naturally to you.

While Vaynerchuk talks passionately about how to use social media to create a personal brand, he also provides some practical information on the different programs available,  a step-by-step approach to getting started, as well as some ideas on how to make money from your brand.  

But you have to be patient he warns.  It is not going to happen overnight.  In fact, be prepared to put the money you earn back into the business, not your pocket if you want it to succeed.  That’s what it is so important to centre your business on your passion.  You have to think of yourself as running a marathon, not a sprint.
 
Creating a legacy is now what drives him. Legacy is the mortar of successful, lasting brands and he values legacy over currency.  

This is an easy read and you enjoy and appreciate the direct, honest style of the author. He offers practical advice and fuels your passion to get started, to get out there and build your personal brand.

Posted in: Social Media