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The Thank You Economy
Gary Vaynerchuk, the New York Times bestselling author and creator of Wine Library TV, is back with a bold and expansive look at the evolution of today's marketplace, revealing the essential factors defining and driving successful relationships between businesses and consumers. In this groundbreaking follow-up to the bestselling Crush It!, Vaynerchuk—one of Bloomberg Businessweek’s “20 People Every Entrepreneur Should Follow”—looks beyond a numbers-based analysis to explore the value of social interactions in building our economy.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Gary Vaynerchuk
46 books2,685 followersGary Vaynerchuk is the ultimate businessman. Born with an entrepreneurial spirit, Gary is a proven investor and advisor in the world of startups, and now an expert on the Fortune 500 world, through is work as CEO of Vaynermedia, a social media marketing agency. Having two bestsellers under his belt doesn't hurt either.
Thirty-three years ago, Gary got his start in business by ripping flowers out of people's yards and selling them back. Years later, he would use that savvy to grow his family's wine store from $3 to $45 million in just a few short years by launching WineLibrary.com, one of America's first wine websites. Fast forward to now, and he's continued to use that same business savvy, along with his brother, to build VaynerMedia, a new breed of agency that helps Fortune 500 companies like GE, PepsiCo, Hasbro and the New York Jets find their social media voices and build their digital brands. Along the way Gary launched a stratospherically successful internet wine show, written two bestselling books, and beaten Dr. Oz in basketball.
Thirty-three years ago, Gary got his start in business by ripping flowers out of people's yards and selling them back. Years later, he would use that savvy to grow his family's wine store from $3 to $45 million in just a few short years by launching WineLibrary.com, one of America's first wine websites. Fast forward to now, and he's continued to use that same business savvy, along with his brother, to build VaynerMedia, a new breed of agency that helps Fortune 500 companies like GE, PepsiCo, Hasbro and the New York Jets find their social media voices and build their digital brands. Along the way Gary launched a stratospherically successful internet wine show, written two bestselling books, and beaten Dr. Oz in basketball.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 529 reviews
November 11, 2012
Take-Aways & How This Resonates (with quotes from The Thank You Economy)
1. Calling internet-based services like Facebook and Twitter ‘Social Media’ is misleading.
"But what we call social media is not media, nor is it even a platform. It is a massive cultural shift that has profoundly affected the way society uses the greatest platform ever invented, the Internet."
Twitter is still a confusing phenomenon to most people. But as I explain in The Power of Twitter Told in 3 Tweets, it’s simply a tool that enables conversation between friends, acquaintances, and strangers all around the world.
The best thing about Vaynerchuk is that he admittedly doesn’t care about technology. He does, however, care immensely about his customers – existing and potential. So if the people he wants to reach happen to be on Twitter, he’ll join them there.
The lesson is to not get hung up on the technology. Don’t be confused by the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Posterous, Yammer, and the countless challengers to come. At the end of the day they are just tools to connect human beings to one another.
2. The world is becoming a small town.
"Social media has transformed our world into one great big small town, dominated, as all vibrant towns used to be, by the strength of relationships, the currency of caring, and the power of word of mouth."
Vaynerchuk compares our evolving internet-enabled economy to a small town. A small town where everyone knows each other and can instantly get in touch.
Although there have been moments throughout my trip where I’ve been off the grid, I’ve predominantly stayed connected. I realized that my intention was not to completely remove myself from the world I knew and the connections I’ve formed, but rather to enrich those connections and spark new ones.
With social media, I’ve managed to stay connected with friends from home, new friends from all over the world, and engage with like-minded people I’ll likely never meet face-to-face. We live in an extraordinary time where this is possible.
"What will not change, however, is the culture — the expectation — of communication, transparency, and connection that social media revived."
3. Successful businesses have heart and soul.
"If your organization’s intentions transcend the mere act of selling a product or service, and it is brave enough to expose its heart and soul, people will respond. They will connect. They will like you. They will talk. They will buy."
Social media enables the humanization of businesses. And why shouldn’t businesses become more personable? Behind every business is a collection of people. Businesses now have the opportunity to have a personality. But increasingly, this is becoming less of an opportunity and more of an obligation. Individuals will be less tolerant of businesses fighting this trend.
4. Avoid the 19-year old guy move.
"If people mentioned that they were drinking Merlot, I gave them my Merlot recommendation, but I didn’t mention that they could buy Merlot on my website. I didn’t try to close too early, like a nineteen-year-old guy; I made sure to invest in the relationship first."
On the road, I’m not physically selling a product or service, but I’m constantly selling. Selling myself, selling my country, selling my ideas.
It’s unbelievable how many people tell me I’m the first American they’ve talked to. Ever. That means their opinion of Americans come from what they learn on the news, see in our movies, and hear in our songs. This is not a completely accurate view, nor likely to be a very positive one.
As I travel, I don’t walk up to strangers and say “Hey! Im an American! You should like me and all Americans.”
Instead, I start by caring genuinely about that other person. I want to learn about their culture, their language, and their lifestyle. I invest in the relationship. In turn, I get to share my thoughts and beliefs. My intent is that they walk away from our interaction having a newfound understanding that Americans’ viewpoints and ideas, like any other nationality, are less absolute than mass media leads us to believe.
5. What’s the ROI of your mother?
"Work is always about giving — efficiency, entertainment, relief, free time, peace of mind, opportunity, comfort — to other people"
In his comically blunt way, Vaynerchuk answers some of the critiques of social media like: ‘There’s no ROI’, ‘Social media is still too young’, or ‘Social media is just another trend that will pass’.
For nonbusiness people, ROI stands for Return On Investment. He argues that trying to measure ROI in social media is like trying to measure the ROI of your mother. Caring and building relationships are things that sometimes cannot be sufficiently measured.
It’s similar to the philosophy Give and You Shall Receive. It’s a shame to avoid things that feel right because they can’t be measured.
"In the end, no matter what obstacles a company faces in the Thank You Economy, the solution will always be the same. Competitors are bigger? Outcare them. They’re cheaper? Outcare them. They’ve got celebrity status and you don’t? Outcare them. them. Social media gives you the tools to touch your consumer and create an emotion where before there might not have been one."
6. Those who avoid or ignore social media to create connections will be left behind.
"Unfortunately, if you wait until social media is able to prove itself to you before deciding to engage with your customers one-on-one, you’ll have missed your greatest window of opportunity to move ahead of your competitors."
Vaynerchuk puts this warning into a business context, but I think the same warning should be heeded by individuals.
I have friends who have chosen to avoid or ignore social media. Although you may not agree with the transparency or appreciate the connectedness it enables, I really think you’re missing out. Worse, I think you’re at risk to be quickly left behind.
Even if you don’t actively participate, at least don’t ignore it. But I do think it’s a shame not to embrace the way it can benefit and enhance life. I feel like I’m exponentially smarter and more knowledgable with every connection I make, on and offline.
I don’t intend to instill fear; I just want to help people understand why it’s important to at least not ignore our evolving world. To this point, there’s a great quote by Charles Darwin that kept popping into my mind throughout reading The Thank You Economy, which sums up this point:
“It is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”
1. Calling internet-based services like Facebook and Twitter ‘Social Media’ is misleading.
"But what we call social media is not media, nor is it even a platform. It is a massive cultural shift that has profoundly affected the way society uses the greatest platform ever invented, the Internet."
Twitter is still a confusing phenomenon to most people. But as I explain in The Power of Twitter Told in 3 Tweets, it’s simply a tool that enables conversation between friends, acquaintances, and strangers all around the world.
The best thing about Vaynerchuk is that he admittedly doesn’t care about technology. He does, however, care immensely about his customers – existing and potential. So if the people he wants to reach happen to be on Twitter, he’ll join them there.
The lesson is to not get hung up on the technology. Don’t be confused by the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Posterous, Yammer, and the countless challengers to come. At the end of the day they are just tools to connect human beings to one another.
2. The world is becoming a small town.
"Social media has transformed our world into one great big small town, dominated, as all vibrant towns used to be, by the strength of relationships, the currency of caring, and the power of word of mouth."
Vaynerchuk compares our evolving internet-enabled economy to a small town. A small town where everyone knows each other and can instantly get in touch.
Although there have been moments throughout my trip where I’ve been off the grid, I’ve predominantly stayed connected. I realized that my intention was not to completely remove myself from the world I knew and the connections I’ve formed, but rather to enrich those connections and spark new ones.
With social media, I’ve managed to stay connected with friends from home, new friends from all over the world, and engage with like-minded people I’ll likely never meet face-to-face. We live in an extraordinary time where this is possible.
"What will not change, however, is the culture — the expectation — of communication, transparency, and connection that social media revived."
3. Successful businesses have heart and soul.
"If your organization’s intentions transcend the mere act of selling a product or service, and it is brave enough to expose its heart and soul, people will respond. They will connect. They will like you. They will talk. They will buy."
Social media enables the humanization of businesses. And why shouldn’t businesses become more personable? Behind every business is a collection of people. Businesses now have the opportunity to have a personality. But increasingly, this is becoming less of an opportunity and more of an obligation. Individuals will be less tolerant of businesses fighting this trend.
4. Avoid the 19-year old guy move.
"If people mentioned that they were drinking Merlot, I gave them my Merlot recommendation, but I didn’t mention that they could buy Merlot on my website. I didn’t try to close too early, like a nineteen-year-old guy; I made sure to invest in the relationship first."
On the road, I’m not physically selling a product or service, but I’m constantly selling. Selling myself, selling my country, selling my ideas.
It’s unbelievable how many people tell me I’m the first American they’ve talked to. Ever. That means their opinion of Americans come from what they learn on the news, see in our movies, and hear in our songs. This is not a completely accurate view, nor likely to be a very positive one.
As I travel, I don’t walk up to strangers and say “Hey! Im an American! You should like me and all Americans.”
Instead, I start by caring genuinely about that other person. I want to learn about their culture, their language, and their lifestyle. I invest in the relationship. In turn, I get to share my thoughts and beliefs. My intent is that they walk away from our interaction having a newfound understanding that Americans’ viewpoints and ideas, like any other nationality, are less absolute than mass media leads us to believe.
5. What’s the ROI of your mother?
"Work is always about giving — efficiency, entertainment, relief, free time, peace of mind, opportunity, comfort — to other people"
In his comically blunt way, Vaynerchuk answers some of the critiques of social media like: ‘There’s no ROI’, ‘Social media is still too young’, or ‘Social media is just another trend that will pass’.
For nonbusiness people, ROI stands for Return On Investment. He argues that trying to measure ROI in social media is like trying to measure the ROI of your mother. Caring and building relationships are things that sometimes cannot be sufficiently measured.
It’s similar to the philosophy Give and You Shall Receive. It’s a shame to avoid things that feel right because they can’t be measured.
"In the end, no matter what obstacles a company faces in the Thank You Economy, the solution will always be the same. Competitors are bigger? Outcare them. They’re cheaper? Outcare them. They’ve got celebrity status and you don’t? Outcare them. them. Social media gives you the tools to touch your consumer and create an emotion where before there might not have been one."
6. Those who avoid or ignore social media to create connections will be left behind.
"Unfortunately, if you wait until social media is able to prove itself to you before deciding to engage with your customers one-on-one, you’ll have missed your greatest window of opportunity to move ahead of your competitors."
Vaynerchuk puts this warning into a business context, but I think the same warning should be heeded by individuals.
I have friends who have chosen to avoid or ignore social media. Although you may not agree with the transparency or appreciate the connectedness it enables, I really think you’re missing out. Worse, I think you’re at risk to be quickly left behind.
Even if you don’t actively participate, at least don’t ignore it. But I do think it’s a shame not to embrace the way it can benefit and enhance life. I feel like I’m exponentially smarter and more knowledgable with every connection I make, on and offline.
I don’t intend to instill fear; I just want to help people understand why it’s important to at least not ignore our evolving world. To this point, there’s a great quote by Charles Darwin that kept popping into my mind throughout reading The Thank You Economy, which sums up this point:
“It is not the strongest of species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.”
July 27, 2015
i thought i would like this book more than i did, but i think the content and the writing style just killed the experience for me. i don't know much about vaynerchuk, but he writes as if he knows it all and is the big time, which i highly doubt. i'm sure that WineLibrary is a successful company, but it's no Zappos, so his arrogant tone is a lot to swallow. many times, he talks about how the world didn't think social media was going in one direction, but he alone knew it all along. painful to read. aside from his tone, the writing just isn't that strong and the content is repetitive throughout. the most random part of the book is the 'sawdust' section, which after reading, i still don't understand.
my takeaways...
"to achieve this kind of satisfaction among staff would require business leaders to engage at the same on-on-one level with their employees as with their customers." (p. 91)
i like this quote because it's true, and something that leaders don't understand. the best way to ensure top notch customer service is to have a strong staff that you believe in and care for. it's a rarity these days when the customer is always right.
there are also a couple of nice case studies for companies using social media that works. to me, if you read pages 149=193: The Thank You Economy in Action, you've gotten the best parts of the book.
if there's one thing that vaynerchuk drills into your brain, it's that social media should be an ongoing, engaging conversation with consumers instead of a megaphone for the company. i guess if he was focused leaving this a single lasting impression, he did it.
my takeaways...
"to achieve this kind of satisfaction among staff would require business leaders to engage at the same on-on-one level with their employees as with their customers." (p. 91)
i like this quote because it's true, and something that leaders don't understand. the best way to ensure top notch customer service is to have a strong staff that you believe in and care for. it's a rarity these days when the customer is always right.
there are also a couple of nice case studies for companies using social media that works. to me, if you read pages 149=193: The Thank You Economy in Action, you've gotten the best parts of the book.
if there's one thing that vaynerchuk drills into your brain, it's that social media should be an ongoing, engaging conversation with consumers instead of a megaphone for the company. i guess if he was focused leaving this a single lasting impression, he did it.
March 28, 2011
Like most books of this type, highly repetitive. I get the feeling when people write books about their ideas, they have to be repetitive just to fill some quota for minimum book size. The point can usually be made in about half or less pages. Yes, I got the point, move on. I'm a big analogy guy. If I pull out more than 1 or 2 to get a point across, people uasually get annoyed. All that being said, I did enjoy the book, was even somewhat inspired by it. It was easy to read and I agreed with about 90% of the author says.
July 2, 2011
I should preface this review by stating that while I intended to buy Gary Vaynerchuk's Thank You Economy on audio book, the opportunity came to review this book in exchange for a free copy. Based on what I've learned about, and from, Mr. Vaynerchuk up to now I didn't have to think twice about the opportunity.
I am an example of the fruits of the Thank You Economy; I am the easily overlooked customer, a blogger with a scattering of Facebook friends and Twitter followers who now gets to direct the few attentions I influence to the Thank You Economy and of course Mixergy.com, who bought me this book. This is the Thank You Economy in action, and while I am sure Mr. Vaynerchuk isn't putting a down payment on New York Jets because of my book review, I am glad to contribute the small amount of influence I can muster... which is really the point of all of this. Social media brought you to this review, whether via Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, Goodreads or who knows what else - and the ideas carried along by those mediums have the potential to gain a lot of momentum. This is not a book about using the Internet for marketing however.
What Thank You Economy tries to do is to win a debate that is going on in the boardrooms and meeting places of any business today -- how should we run our business? Where do we focus, and what do we focus on? In much the same way that marketing involves advertising, development, and branding, Vaynerchuk highlights an idea of "culture," which encompasses your employees, your product and your customers as he champions the cause of developing strong relationships both inside and outside of your company.
It is an idea that makes sense, but one that does not immediately affect the bottom line, and that is why Vaynerchuk wrote this book. Certainly Gary Vaynerchuk loves social media (almost) as much as he loves wine -- but do not make the mistake that this book is some sort of guide to using Twitter effectively. Vaynerchuk sees social media as a vehicle for customer interaction; one that speaks more directly to your business than sales figures and market surveys can. He explains the benefit of not only embracing the social media phenomenon, but also understanding it fully. Were the Internet simply another advertising space the Thank You Economy would not be taking the shape it has.
Vaynerchuk knows that the information age has brought about a new breed of customer. Today people are well informed - they research your service and/or product with reviews and their friends often minutes before a purchase. They do not simply flock to lower prices; they find and more importantly stay with the companies and people they like and respect. They migrate to values, not radiated through call-center scripts, but instead demonstrated by truly enthusiastic and genuine employees pushing great product.
I also find the Thank You Economy to be so relevant to the current business culture that I unfortunately knew first hand about some of the points that Vaynerchuk makes. Companies are cutting staff and increasing productivity; and walking amongst the survivors of these actions I hear the talk about how the focus on service is taking a back seat to profit. Companies that looked to cut into employee compensation and resources are unaware that employees who once cared about their job are now more concerned about keeping it than anything else. Those same companies are also losing critical ground in the debates happening behind Facebook messages and Twitter mentions. Rather than fostering cultures of employees who seek to help their employers, they only drive away the employees to companies that do care.
Perhaps the potential of a Thank You Economy revolution in business is far off from today given the battles Vaynerchuk seems to continually fight to get his message across, but to this reader it is a far more exciting and encouraging approach to business than the status quo. The Thank You Economy helps bring a much more honest and authentic method of doing business to light in a clear and straightforward way, and is well worth a read.
Regarding the audio book version: I am fairly confident in saying that the most persuasive and engaging aspect of this book is Mr. Vaynerchuk himself. Where the audio book shines is that Gary Vaynerchuk takes time to break into his reading and updates the listener on things that he knows since he wrote the book last year. Some of those interruptions can be a little bit goofy, like when he mentions with odd reluctance that he almost ate split pea soup the other day, but often he interjects some additional thoughts and commentary that really fleshes out his thoughts in the book. Really the best way to sum up the audio book version is to say that it is the second edition of the Thank You Economy; but that should not dissuade you from enjoying either version.
I am an example of the fruits of the Thank You Economy; I am the easily overlooked customer, a blogger with a scattering of Facebook friends and Twitter followers who now gets to direct the few attentions I influence to the Thank You Economy and of course Mixergy.com, who bought me this book. This is the Thank You Economy in action, and while I am sure Mr. Vaynerchuk isn't putting a down payment on New York Jets because of my book review, I am glad to contribute the small amount of influence I can muster... which is really the point of all of this. Social media brought you to this review, whether via Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, Goodreads or who knows what else - and the ideas carried along by those mediums have the potential to gain a lot of momentum. This is not a book about using the Internet for marketing however.
What Thank You Economy tries to do is to win a debate that is going on in the boardrooms and meeting places of any business today -- how should we run our business? Where do we focus, and what do we focus on? In much the same way that marketing involves advertising, development, and branding, Vaynerchuk highlights an idea of "culture," which encompasses your employees, your product and your customers as he champions the cause of developing strong relationships both inside and outside of your company.
It is an idea that makes sense, but one that does not immediately affect the bottom line, and that is why Vaynerchuk wrote this book. Certainly Gary Vaynerchuk loves social media (almost) as much as he loves wine -- but do not make the mistake that this book is some sort of guide to using Twitter effectively. Vaynerchuk sees social media as a vehicle for customer interaction; one that speaks more directly to your business than sales figures and market surveys can. He explains the benefit of not only embracing the social media phenomenon, but also understanding it fully. Were the Internet simply another advertising space the Thank You Economy would not be taking the shape it has.
Vaynerchuk knows that the information age has brought about a new breed of customer. Today people are well informed - they research your service and/or product with reviews and their friends often minutes before a purchase. They do not simply flock to lower prices; they find and more importantly stay with the companies and people they like and respect. They migrate to values, not radiated through call-center scripts, but instead demonstrated by truly enthusiastic and genuine employees pushing great product.
I also find the Thank You Economy to be so relevant to the current business culture that I unfortunately knew first hand about some of the points that Vaynerchuk makes. Companies are cutting staff and increasing productivity; and walking amongst the survivors of these actions I hear the talk about how the focus on service is taking a back seat to profit. Companies that looked to cut into employee compensation and resources are unaware that employees who once cared about their job are now more concerned about keeping it than anything else. Those same companies are also losing critical ground in the debates happening behind Facebook messages and Twitter mentions. Rather than fostering cultures of employees who seek to help their employers, they only drive away the employees to companies that do care.
Perhaps the potential of a Thank You Economy revolution in business is far off from today given the battles Vaynerchuk seems to continually fight to get his message across, but to this reader it is a far more exciting and encouraging approach to business than the status quo. The Thank You Economy helps bring a much more honest and authentic method of doing business to light in a clear and straightforward way, and is well worth a read.
Regarding the audio book version: I am fairly confident in saying that the most persuasive and engaging aspect of this book is Mr. Vaynerchuk himself. Where the audio book shines is that Gary Vaynerchuk takes time to break into his reading and updates the listener on things that he knows since he wrote the book last year. Some of those interruptions can be a little bit goofy, like when he mentions with odd reluctance that he almost ate split pea soup the other day, but often he interjects some additional thoughts and commentary that really fleshes out his thoughts in the book. Really the best way to sum up the audio book version is to say that it is the second edition of the Thank You Economy; but that should not dissuade you from enjoying either version.
February 15, 2018
One of my closest friends turned me on to Gary Vaynerchuk and his podcasts. I was such a fan of his bluntness and easy to follow, action based advice that I thought I would check out his books. I didn't go in with any expectations, still being a recent fan and unsure if his voice would translate well to the page.
I was ultimately happy with the purchase because I admit it, social media is one thing I am not particularly good at. I am always terrified I'm gonna say the wrong thing and the few people who do know I exist will judge me and cut me (and my work) out of their life.
The Thank You Economy focusing heavily on the need to face social media head on because it's not going anywhere. It has brought back the customer service interactions of small town economies by shrinking the world for its users. Now everyone on the planet is in your neighborhood and rather than focusing on how to win short term business, you need to build up a fanbase, with a high retention of customer interest.
What I liked about this book was it basically said the best way to be a good business, is by being a GOOD business. Not just good with products or services, but good like actually giving a shit about your customers-wanting to know their lives and interact with them so you can better yourself and by extension offer them something that will make their lives better.
This was an optimistic book because it ultimately said that businesses are moving in a direction that is consumer friendly. In a competitive economy businesses have to be the best, and if by being the best that means they have to care about the customers and get to know them/interact with them, than we will be seeing a lot more of that in years to come.
I was ultimately happy with the purchase because I admit it, social media is one thing I am not particularly good at. I am always terrified I'm gonna say the wrong thing and the few people who do know I exist will judge me and cut me (and my work) out of their life.
The Thank You Economy focusing heavily on the need to face social media head on because it's not going anywhere. It has brought back the customer service interactions of small town economies by shrinking the world for its users. Now everyone on the planet is in your neighborhood and rather than focusing on how to win short term business, you need to build up a fanbase, with a high retention of customer interest.
What I liked about this book was it basically said the best way to be a good business, is by being a GOOD business. Not just good with products or services, but good like actually giving a shit about your customers-wanting to know their lives and interact with them so you can better yourself and by extension offer them something that will make their lives better.
This was an optimistic book because it ultimately said that businesses are moving in a direction that is consumer friendly. In a competitive economy businesses have to be the best, and if by being the best that means they have to care about the customers and get to know them/interact with them, than we will be seeing a lot more of that in years to come.
November 19, 2011
Some authors are able to weave what could be a decent essay into a masterbatory 200 page diatribe about social media. Way to go, now you're an "author."
September 3, 2019
It is a bit redundant but it has very good content.
May 24, 2011
Alas, this book is too little too late. It really should have been written 7 years ago, and should have been a blog post instead of a repetitive "no duh" manifesto for customer engagement via social media. Vaynerchuk brings nothing new to the conversation, repeats the same call to action in almost every page and every paragraph, and for anyone who has read serious books on this topic, he comes across as arrogant to the point of delusion. If you are interested in reading about how social media has changed the way that people interact and its implication for business try "Here Comes Everybody" by Clay Shirky.
July 12, 2022
An engaging read about social media driven entrepreneurship. Concept wise it's still current, but some of the companies are already old news.
January 11, 2019
This is what it is all about
November 9, 2019
Here's my reading note.
.
https://aarifbillah.com/the-thank-you...
.
Best Regards,
.
https://aarifbillah.com/
.
https://aarifbillah.com/the-thank-you...
.
Best Regards,
.
https://aarifbillah.com/
September 9, 2021
I really liked this thought-provoking and relevant look at how social media is bringing small-town shop values back into business. Vaynerchuck shows that businesses need to build long-term, personal relationships with their customers by caring about them. Social media, because it magnifies word of mouth, is more effective at making emotional connections than broadcast marketing.
Vaynerchuck uses stats, case studies, and firsthand experience to make his points and recommend actions. Although he mentions several specific platforms, the ideas transcend the tools.
How all businesses should use social media
• Care. Respond to comments and invite people to share their thoughts. Outcare competitors that are bigger, cheaper, or more popular.
• Show up first to connect with early adopters (first-mover advantage).
• Be authentic. Be yourself and speak from the heart.
• Connect with the individual, not the business. Behind every B2B is a C.
• Build a community to turn buyers in to advocates. Join or create conversations around topics related to your product or service. Thank people when they provide feedback, positive or negative.
• Focus on quality, not quantity of fans/followers.
Consumers in the Thank You Economy
• People do business with people they like.
• 70% of people turn to family and friends for purchasing advice.
• Make every customer feel special.
• Dissatisfied customers are opportunities to fix problems and build relationships.
Social Media in the Thank You Economy
• Social media takes time; it’s a marathon.
• Provide quality content followed by quality engagement.
• Evoke emotion (positive or negative) so people are compelled to share.
• Let consumers decide that they want to know you; don’t try to persuade them.
• Pull people in; don’t push your message out.
• Start and join conversations about your general interests first to build relationships. Later, talk specifically about your business.
Vaynerchuck uses stats, case studies, and firsthand experience to make his points and recommend actions. Although he mentions several specific platforms, the ideas transcend the tools.
How all businesses should use social media
• Care. Respond to comments and invite people to share their thoughts. Outcare competitors that are bigger, cheaper, or more popular.
• Show up first to connect with early adopters (first-mover advantage).
• Be authentic. Be yourself and speak from the heart.
• Connect with the individual, not the business. Behind every B2B is a C.
• Build a community to turn buyers in to advocates. Join or create conversations around topics related to your product or service. Thank people when they provide feedback, positive or negative.
• Focus on quality, not quantity of fans/followers.
Consumers in the Thank You Economy
• People do business with people they like.
• 70% of people turn to family and friends for purchasing advice.
• Make every customer feel special.
• Dissatisfied customers are opportunities to fix problems and build relationships.
Social Media in the Thank You Economy
• Social media takes time; it’s a marathon.
• Provide quality content followed by quality engagement.
• Evoke emotion (positive or negative) so people are compelled to share.
• Let consumers decide that they want to know you; don’t try to persuade them.
• Pull people in; don’t push your message out.
• Start and join conversations about your general interests first to build relationships. Later, talk specifically about your business.
April 14, 2013
Gary V. spells it out for us in Thank You Economy!
The power of the human connection.
The importance of building valuable relationships.
The revolution in ways of interacting in today's awesome technology.
These have been the forefront of my mind recently after reading one awesome book by mastermind of this new economy, Gary Vaynerchuck. No matter what is said about Gary, I am crazy about him. It takes only watching him on stage once to fall in love and to look to him as a role model and visionary.
I loved Thank You Economy and it takes a lot to love business books ... I am a classics lover. Here are some of my takeaways from Thank You Economy
1. Empower our customers to complain to our face and not behind our back.
2. Learn everything possible from our angry customers. Learn what they ask us not to do and what to do better. Then decide which to implement.
3. Care passionately, deeply, insanely about our customers.
4. Play to the emotional center and not to the middle - do not play it safe, you will not be memorable.
5. Treat every customer as though they are the most important person in the world. Mean it.
6. Use whatever medium your customers and connections use. Go to their platform rather than bring them to yours.
7. Refuse to become one of those companies or businesses that didn't think it was worth the effort to adapt to change. Always adapt.
Thank you Gary. I know you read every review and this one comes from the heart. Thank you for being a role model.
The power of the human connection.
The importance of building valuable relationships.
The revolution in ways of interacting in today's awesome technology.
These have been the forefront of my mind recently after reading one awesome book by mastermind of this new economy, Gary Vaynerchuck. No matter what is said about Gary, I am crazy about him. It takes only watching him on stage once to fall in love and to look to him as a role model and visionary.
I loved Thank You Economy and it takes a lot to love business books ... I am a classics lover. Here are some of my takeaways from Thank You Economy
1. Empower our customers to complain to our face and not behind our back.
2. Learn everything possible from our angry customers. Learn what they ask us not to do and what to do better. Then decide which to implement.
3. Care passionately, deeply, insanely about our customers.
4. Play to the emotional center and not to the middle - do not play it safe, you will not be memorable.
5. Treat every customer as though they are the most important person in the world. Mean it.
6. Use whatever medium your customers and connections use. Go to their platform rather than bring them to yours.
7. Refuse to become one of those companies or businesses that didn't think it was worth the effort to adapt to change. Always adapt.
Thank you Gary. I know you read every review and this one comes from the heart. Thank you for being a role model.
August 30, 2013
Gary V is one of (the few) modern gurus I follow. Why? Because he lives and thrives in Social Media, a wave that (at least) for he next few years all of us, both people and businesses, need to surf.
This book carries 2 simple messages:
1 - 20th media (i.e. tv, radio, billboards, and paper) are less and less powerful, and, thus, overpriced and underachieving
2- businesses must truly care about their customers in order to connect. this connection in out networked age will yield results if you use it to learn with your customers what they truly want
Audiobook
Gary V is an energy tornado and I always feel pumped up after listening to him
I've got nothing but respect for self-read audiobooks. In this case, Gary sometimes goes off-script to delight us a funny story on the subject at hand.
This book carries 2 simple messages:
1 - 20th media (i.e. tv, radio, billboards, and paper) are less and less powerful, and, thus, overpriced and underachieving
2- businesses must truly care about their customers in order to connect. this connection in out networked age will yield results if you use it to learn with your customers what they truly want
Audiobook
Gary V is an energy tornado and I always feel pumped up after listening to him
I've got nothing but respect for self-read audiobooks. In this case, Gary sometimes goes off-script to delight us a funny story on the subject at hand.
March 14, 2018
While I’m probably 5 years late to the party, this book about utilizing social media for engagement with followers and customers. It’s thought provoking as I ponder personal branding and how to define mine. Easy to read, great examples, just a little dated but hey that’s my fault (as previously stated).
May 31, 2018
The Thank You Economy is one of the best business books I’ve read thus far. Here is a summary of the main points Gary Vaynerchuck recommends businesses implement.
“Care—about your customers, about your employees, about your brand—with everything you’ve got.
Erase any lines in the sand—don’t be afraid of what’s new or unfamiliar.
Show up first to market whenever possible, early the rest of the time.
Instill a culture of caring into your business by:
Being self-aware
Mentally committing to change
Setting the tone through your words and actions Investing in your employees
Hiring culturally compatible DNA, and spotting it within your existing team
Being authentic—whether online or offline, say what you mean, and mean what you say
Empowering your people to be forthright, creative, and generous
Remember that behind every B2B transaction, there is a C.
Speak your customers’ language.
Allow your customers to help you shape your brand or business, but never allow them to dictate the direction in which you take it.
Build a sense of community around your brand.
Arrange for traditional and social media to play
Ping-Pong and extend every conversation.
Direct all of your marketing initiatives toward the emotional center, and to the creative extremes.
Approach social media initiatives with good intent, aiming for quality engagements, not quantity.
Use shock and awe to blow your customers’ minds and get them talking.
If you must use tactics, use “pull” tactics that remind consumers why they should care about your brand. If you’re small, play like you’re big; if you’re big, play like you’re small.
Create a sense of community around your business or your brand.
Don’t be afraid to crawl before you run.”
“Care—about your customers, about your employees, about your brand—with everything you’ve got.
Erase any lines in the sand—don’t be afraid of what’s new or unfamiliar.
Show up first to market whenever possible, early the rest of the time.
Instill a culture of caring into your business by:
Being self-aware
Mentally committing to change
Setting the tone through your words and actions Investing in your employees
Hiring culturally compatible DNA, and spotting it within your existing team
Being authentic—whether online or offline, say what you mean, and mean what you say
Empowering your people to be forthright, creative, and generous
Remember that behind every B2B transaction, there is a C.
Speak your customers’ language.
Allow your customers to help you shape your brand or business, but never allow them to dictate the direction in which you take it.
Build a sense of community around your brand.
Arrange for traditional and social media to play
Ping-Pong and extend every conversation.
Direct all of your marketing initiatives toward the emotional center, and to the creative extremes.
Approach social media initiatives with good intent, aiming for quality engagements, not quantity.
Use shock and awe to blow your customers’ minds and get them talking.
If you must use tactics, use “pull” tactics that remind consumers why they should care about your brand. If you’re small, play like you’re big; if you’re big, play like you’re small.
Create a sense of community around your business or your brand.
Don’t be afraid to crawl before you run.”
March 15, 2018
This book could be summarized quite quickly. Much of the book involves Gary's attempts to persuade old-school by-the-numbers business people that the "thank you economy" is upon us and that the new way of marketing must involve caring through conversations on social media with good intentions.
Early on he makes an essential point that due to the connectivity of social media, people's conversations about you can powerfully impact your business through reputation factors (e.g. a virally shared facebook post about being treated rudely in one of your stores). It also gives you the opportunity to correct your mistakes. On the lighter side, it gives you the ability to start conversations with your audience to find out how to best serve them, show them that you care, and create an impact in people's lives that influence their behavior.
It also articulated an idea that I've always understood: build a relationship first before trying to sell. Stated differently: give value freely and if people want to buy your stuff later, that's a great bonus.
It's a win-win mentality that I'm glad the world is being forced to embrace.
-------------------------------------------
Here's a summary I found online:
At its core, social media requires that business leaders start thinking like small town shop owners.
(business leaders) are going to have to allow the personalities, heart, and soul of the people who run all levels of the business to show.
Unless you are building a new company from the ground up and can install caring as your businesses’ cornerstone, you have to be willing to embark on a complete cultural overhaul so that, like a local mom and pop shop, every employee is comfortable engaging in customer service, and does it authentically.
If you’ve already experimented with social media and it didn’t work, there are only two possible reasons: your product or service isn’t any good, or you’re doing it wrong.
Social media’s arrival was simply a catalyst for a revolution that was already brewing in the minds of consumers sick to death of feeling isolated, unappreciated, and ignored.
…the risk that your business will die before its time grows bigger every day that you don’t use social media.
When faced with two equal choices, people often buy for no other reason than they associate one choice with someone they know.
If you’re not passionate enough about what your company does to find fuel for conversations every day, for hours on end, with as many people as possible, maybe you’re in the wrong business.
Unfortunately, it���s going to be a lot harder for social media campaigns to attract earned media by about 2012 or so, once the public has become used to communicating directly with brands.
If your view of social media is so tunnel-visioned that all you care about are the number of fans or retweets or views you’re garnering, you’re missing the whole point.
Letting the consumers decide for themselves that they really want to know you, versus persuading them that they should, can make a very big difference in the relationship that ensues.
It’s not your imagination; marketing really has gotten harder.
We will one day dust off the bones of companies that fossilized because they didn’t think (caring) could “scale,” or because they didn’t think it was worth the effort, or because they could not stop drawing lines in the sand.
Early on he makes an essential point that due to the connectivity of social media, people's conversations about you can powerfully impact your business through reputation factors (e.g. a virally shared facebook post about being treated rudely in one of your stores). It also gives you the opportunity to correct your mistakes. On the lighter side, it gives you the ability to start conversations with your audience to find out how to best serve them, show them that you care, and create an impact in people's lives that influence their behavior.
It also articulated an idea that I've always understood: build a relationship first before trying to sell. Stated differently: give value freely and if people want to buy your stuff later, that's a great bonus.
It's a win-win mentality that I'm glad the world is being forced to embrace.
-------------------------------------------
Here's a summary I found online:
At its core, social media requires that business leaders start thinking like small town shop owners.
(business leaders) are going to have to allow the personalities, heart, and soul of the people who run all levels of the business to show.
Unless you are building a new company from the ground up and can install caring as your businesses’ cornerstone, you have to be willing to embark on a complete cultural overhaul so that, like a local mom and pop shop, every employee is comfortable engaging in customer service, and does it authentically.
If you’ve already experimented with social media and it didn’t work, there are only two possible reasons: your product or service isn’t any good, or you’re doing it wrong.
Social media’s arrival was simply a catalyst for a revolution that was already brewing in the minds of consumers sick to death of feeling isolated, unappreciated, and ignored.
…the risk that your business will die before its time grows bigger every day that you don’t use social media.
When faced with two equal choices, people often buy for no other reason than they associate one choice with someone they know.
If you’re not passionate enough about what your company does to find fuel for conversations every day, for hours on end, with as many people as possible, maybe you’re in the wrong business.
Unfortunately, it���s going to be a lot harder for social media campaigns to attract earned media by about 2012 or so, once the public has become used to communicating directly with brands.
If your view of social media is so tunnel-visioned that all you care about are the number of fans or retweets or views you’re garnering, you’re missing the whole point.
Letting the consumers decide for themselves that they really want to know you, versus persuading them that they should, can make a very big difference in the relationship that ensues.
It’s not your imagination; marketing really has gotten harder.
We will one day dust off the bones of companies that fossilized because they didn’t think (caring) could “scale,” or because they didn’t think it was worth the effort, or because they could not stop drawing lines in the sand.
January 20, 2019
Book Review: “The Thank You Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk
I never talk in absolutes, especially when it comes to books. What one person will like and rave about to everybody they know, another person will find irrelevant and hate. So, I usually exercise caution when giving my recommendations. However, there is no place for caution with “The Thank You Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk. It’s an absolute must-read! Even better, listen to the audiobook. That’s what I did, and it’s always fun to listen to Gary talk.
If you are a marketing professional, a business owner, an entrepreneur, you should have read this book and keep it on your bookshelf to refer to it later and reread it. No matter who you are, if you live now and have a social media account, you must read it. And if you say you don’t have one, I’m sorry, where are you reading this post now? Chances are you are not on my blog but on one of the social media platforms where I publish it as well.
The book is very well written and very well researched, with numerous cases and hands-on experiences from other successful entrepreneurs and Gary himself. And luckily for me, those are not the same cases, and the same research that migrated from one business book to another and makes reading them particularly boring, at least for me.
What blows my mind is that Gary wrote this book in summer 2010 and recorded the audiobook in summer 2011. (The audiobook has some updated data that Gary provided of the script). He was able to see what social media platforms are going to become now nine years ago! And still, his advice is timeless and relevant.
Another thing that surprises me is that big businesses had nine years to read The Thank You Economy and implement Gary’s ideas in their social media strategy. Do you think they have done it? The answer for most of them is a big resounding NO.
Just take a look at Twitter or Instagram accounts of major US or Canadian banks. I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been looking there for the last couple of weeks.
This is a direct quote from the book.
“The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make with Social Media
1. Using tactics instead of strategy
2. Using it exclusively to put out fires
3. Using it to brag
4. Using it as a press release
5. Exclusively retweeting other people’s material rather than creating your own original content
6. Using it to push product
7. Expecting immediate results”
US and Canadian banks are making all of them. It’s as if this list of mistakes is actually pinned to their walls as a checklist on what to do on social media every day.
Please take your time and read this book. I haven’t read in a long time something so eye-opening and that I enjoyed so much.
A couple of quotes in the end.
1. If your view of social media is so tunnel-visioned that all you care about are the number of fans or retweets or views you’re garnering, you are missing the whole point.
2. Playboy Corporate America. Corporate America is rewarded for hookups and one-night stands, and that’s how much respect most corporations show toward their customers. Don’t hate the player; hate the game.
I never talk in absolutes, especially when it comes to books. What one person will like and rave about to everybody they know, another person will find irrelevant and hate. So, I usually exercise caution when giving my recommendations. However, there is no place for caution with “The Thank You Economy” by Gary Vaynerchuk. It’s an absolute must-read! Even better, listen to the audiobook. That’s what I did, and it’s always fun to listen to Gary talk.
If you are a marketing professional, a business owner, an entrepreneur, you should have read this book and keep it on your bookshelf to refer to it later and reread it. No matter who you are, if you live now and have a social media account, you must read it. And if you say you don’t have one, I’m sorry, where are you reading this post now? Chances are you are not on my blog but on one of the social media platforms where I publish it as well.
The book is very well written and very well researched, with numerous cases and hands-on experiences from other successful entrepreneurs and Gary himself. And luckily for me, those are not the same cases, and the same research that migrated from one business book to another and makes reading them particularly boring, at least for me.
What blows my mind is that Gary wrote this book in summer 2010 and recorded the audiobook in summer 2011. (The audiobook has some updated data that Gary provided of the script). He was able to see what social media platforms are going to become now nine years ago! And still, his advice is timeless and relevant.
Another thing that surprises me is that big businesses had nine years to read The Thank You Economy and implement Gary’s ideas in their social media strategy. Do you think they have done it? The answer for most of them is a big resounding NO.
Just take a look at Twitter or Instagram accounts of major US or Canadian banks. I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been looking there for the last couple of weeks.
This is a direct quote from the book.
“The Biggest Mistakes Companies Make with Social Media
1. Using tactics instead of strategy
2. Using it exclusively to put out fires
3. Using it to brag
4. Using it as a press release
5. Exclusively retweeting other people’s material rather than creating your own original content
6. Using it to push product
7. Expecting immediate results”
US and Canadian banks are making all of them. It’s as if this list of mistakes is actually pinned to their walls as a checklist on what to do on social media every day.
Please take your time and read this book. I haven’t read in a long time something so eye-opening and that I enjoyed so much.
A couple of quotes in the end.
1. If your view of social media is so tunnel-visioned that all you care about are the number of fans or retweets or views you’re garnering, you are missing the whole point.
2. Playboy Corporate America. Corporate America is rewarded for hookups and one-night stands, and that’s how much respect most corporations show toward their customers. Don’t hate the player; hate the game.
April 12, 2019
I have been following Gary for more than 10 years. He is a very influential speaker and his philosophy is a good one to follow. He is a go-getter and electric personality. His ideas and way of thinking are great.
He is also very good at reading his own books! Very enjoyable to listen to.
He is also very good at reading his own books! Very enjoyable to listen to.
April 4, 2019
In my search for inspiration and knowledge to begin my own business and do my own thing this book help me realize that before the money making well oiled machine, I need to put all my effort in bringing value to my customers, gain their trust and built a long term relationship. Gary Vay knows whats best for you in the new economy.
September 26, 2012
This book emphasizes that social media must be a part of your overall marketing strategy. It's not a matter of using Facebook or Twitter to send your message out to the masses in the same way as most companies have using traditional media. Rather, it must be a two-way conversation between you and your customers. In addition, traditional media and social media should be used in a complementary way; it doesn't have to be one or the other.
Care - about your customers, about your employees, about your brand - with everything you've got.
Erase any lines in the sand - don't be afraid of what's new or unfamiliar.
Show up first to market whenever possible, early the rest of the time.
Instill a culture of caring into your business by:
Being self-aware
Mentally committing to change
Setting the tone through your words and actions
Investing in your employees
Hiring culturally compatible DNA, and spotting it within your existing team
Being authentic - whether online or offline, say what you mean and mean what you say
Empowering your people to be forthright, creative, and generous
Remember that behind every B2B transaction, there is a C.
Speak your customers' language.
Allow your customers to help you shape your brand or business, but never allow them to dictate the direction in which you take it.
Build a sense of community around your brand.
Arrange for traditional and social media to play Ping-Pong and extend every conversation.
Direct all of your marketing initiatives toward the emotional center, and to the creative extremes.
Approach social media initiatives with good intent, aiming for quality engagements, not quantity.
Use shock and awe to blow your customers' minds and get them talking.
If you must use tactics, use "pull" tactics that remind consumers why they should care about your brand.
If you're small, play like you're big; if you're big, play like you're small.
Create a sense of community around your business or your brand.
Don't be afraid to crawl before you run.
Care - about your customers, about your employees, about your brand - with everything you've got.
Erase any lines in the sand - don't be afraid of what's new or unfamiliar.
Show up first to market whenever possible, early the rest of the time.
Instill a culture of caring into your business by:
Being self-aware
Mentally committing to change
Setting the tone through your words and actions
Investing in your employees
Hiring culturally compatible DNA, and spotting it within your existing team
Being authentic - whether online or offline, say what you mean and mean what you say
Empowering your people to be forthright, creative, and generous
Remember that behind every B2B transaction, there is a C.
Speak your customers' language.
Allow your customers to help you shape your brand or business, but never allow them to dictate the direction in which you take it.
Build a sense of community around your brand.
Arrange for traditional and social media to play Ping-Pong and extend every conversation.
Direct all of your marketing initiatives toward the emotional center, and to the creative extremes.
Approach social media initiatives with good intent, aiming for quality engagements, not quantity.
Use shock and awe to blow your customers' minds and get them talking.
If you must use tactics, use "pull" tactics that remind consumers why they should care about your brand.
If you're small, play like you're big; if you're big, play like you're small.
Create a sense of community around your business or your brand.
Don't be afraid to crawl before you run.
August 12, 2012
The world is divided up into those who believe people are basically good by nature while the rest believe people are selfish by nature. This book is certainly going to appeal to the first group and challenge the second. Like most successful strategies in business it is something that requires investment in both time and effort to be successful, so too with getting on board with the Thank You Economy.
The book certainly has many illustrations and conclusions as to why focusing on helping other is good business. The challenge is that getting a return on investment for such a strategy can take time. However, there seems little doubt that most people these days are hesitant to commit to a product or service without some sort of free sample or strong endorsement. This book encourages the reader to go and develop these means and focus them on driving business.
The book is well written and easy to read. It does not perhaps provide anything startling for those already in the Thanks You Economy but it does provides a few examples and suggestions where a strategy could be tweaked and enhanced. Those that have their doubts about the Thank You Economy are probably going to dismiss the books as fantasy. I would encourage those people to try and keep and open mind and at least try some of the suggestions from the book. In most cases they won't cost you anything and you might be surprises at the results that ensue.
There is certainly enough evidence out there to suggest that, done correctly, the techniques of the Thank You Economy can benefit any business. The greatest challenge for the sceptics is probably just being willing enough to give it a go. So, even if you have your doubts, I'd encourage you to read this book with an open mind and perhaps try a few of the suggestions. For those who have already embraces the ideals championed in the book it is still a worthwhile read in the quest to refine that way that you go about thanking people for interacting with your business.
The book certainly has many illustrations and conclusions as to why focusing on helping other is good business. The challenge is that getting a return on investment for such a strategy can take time. However, there seems little doubt that most people these days are hesitant to commit to a product or service without some sort of free sample or strong endorsement. This book encourages the reader to go and develop these means and focus them on driving business.
The book is well written and easy to read. It does not perhaps provide anything startling for those already in the Thanks You Economy but it does provides a few examples and suggestions where a strategy could be tweaked and enhanced. Those that have their doubts about the Thank You Economy are probably going to dismiss the books as fantasy. I would encourage those people to try and keep and open mind and at least try some of the suggestions from the book. In most cases they won't cost you anything and you might be surprises at the results that ensue.
There is certainly enough evidence out there to suggest that, done correctly, the techniques of the Thank You Economy can benefit any business. The greatest challenge for the sceptics is probably just being willing enough to give it a go. So, even if you have your doubts, I'd encourage you to read this book with an open mind and perhaps try a few of the suggestions. For those who have already embraces the ideals championed in the book it is still a worthwhile read in the quest to refine that way that you go about thanking people for interacting with your business.
February 11, 2017
Ironically, or obviously, I was introduced to this guy (entrepreneur who now helps businesses understand the technological shift of our culture and social media's impact on marketing) through a friend on Facebook sharing Vayner's newest video and telling one of his friends to check it out. The share wasn't for me, but it came across my newsfeed and I checked it out. Here we are 10 days later and I've watched more videos, listened to this audiobook (bc my library only had this of his 3 on audio, but I'll be asking if they can get the others bc, seriously, listening to this guy really amps up the quality of what you're getting) and now I've binged on more of his videos.
Honestly, there's nothing actually new here unless you're still living in the box of only traditional marketing methods, but this guy good. First, our philosophies and practice in customer care already line up, so I can get behind him. Second, he hits hard with great examples and actual numbers which are always fascinating to back up what you're already feeling. Third, I felt fired up listening to him and it was a great format for sparking ideas or inspiring me to recommit to projects we've wanted to do but just haven't found the time for yet. (Yeah, I made my husband get in on this immediately)
Fair warning, he's a firey sort for sure, so while there was only a touch of language in the book, if you do check out his videos, some are clean, some are very heavy on the language.
Honestly, there's nothing actually new here unless you're still living in the box of only traditional marketing methods, but this guy good. First, our philosophies and practice in customer care already line up, so I can get behind him. Second, he hits hard with great examples and actual numbers which are always fascinating to back up what you're already feeling. Third, I felt fired up listening to him and it was a great format for sparking ideas or inspiring me to recommit to projects we've wanted to do but just haven't found the time for yet. (Yeah, I made my husband get in on this immediately)
Fair warning, he's a firey sort for sure, so while there was only a touch of language in the book, if you do check out his videos, some are clean, some are very heavy on the language.
December 19, 2012
I recently purchased the audio book “The Thank You Economy” after hearing Justin & Mary speak about it in their program at WPPI and though this book is narrated by what sounds to be a well caffeinated author it was had a lot of great information about how to use social media for your business and how traditional advertisement is slowly declining and why. Gary, the author, also spoke a lot about how we are moving away from the faceless corporation mindset and more towards local small business again (what he called the humanization of business) and how more than ever before we need to make customer service and the customer experience a top priority (something your grandparents knew all too well) because unlike the 80′s clients today have a voice and with the invention of social media they are louder than ever before. Gary even speaks about the eventual demise of the use of Facebook and social media as a tool for advertisement by businesses, something which I think we are already beginning to see. There is a lot to take away from this and there are things that you can instantly implement into your business. If you haven’t read this book I highly recommend it. It will definitely make you think a little differently about your business, your approach to clients, and advertisement!
October 3, 2017
This is another example of something that’s happened a lot of late. I was looking forward to reading it but once I actually got round to it, I was left unimpressed. The problem is that while Vaynerchuk was clearly right in what he was saying, it’s a lot less revolutionary now than it was back then.
That doesn’t mean that I’m not a fan of his, though. It just means that I think it’s one of his weaker books, and it’s also the one that hasn’t aged well. Don’t get me wrong, the basic principles of the book – which largely focuses on going out of your way to help your customers as much as possible – are still relevant, and they’ll still be relevant in the years to come. But the truth is just that many of the examples are now outdated and it just has nothing on some of Vaynerchuk’s more recent books.
That’s why I’d recommend getting started with something like Jab Jab Jab Right Hook or #AskGaryVee if you can – or better still, skip the books altogether and just watch Vaynerchuk on YouTube instead. His energy comes across more in videos than in the written word, and ultimately you’ll feel more inspired if you catch some footage than you will if you read the book. I was hoping to get some more out of it, but no worries – I can inspire myself enough.
That doesn’t mean that I’m not a fan of his, though. It just means that I think it’s one of his weaker books, and it’s also the one that hasn’t aged well. Don’t get me wrong, the basic principles of the book – which largely focuses on going out of your way to help your customers as much as possible – are still relevant, and they’ll still be relevant in the years to come. But the truth is just that many of the examples are now outdated and it just has nothing on some of Vaynerchuk’s more recent books.
That’s why I’d recommend getting started with something like Jab Jab Jab Right Hook or #AskGaryVee if you can – or better still, skip the books altogether and just watch Vaynerchuk on YouTube instead. His energy comes across more in videos than in the written word, and ultimately you’ll feel more inspired if you catch some footage than you will if you read the book. I was hoping to get some more out of it, but no worries – I can inspire myself enough.
October 6, 2013
Posting this review at 1:50am because I couldn't put this book down. I don't know about you, but hard to put down non-fiction is a rare bird in my world.
Mr. Vaynerchuk illustrates the right and wrong ways to use social media using excellent stories, making this book fun and approachable in the vein of Malcom Gladwell's Blink and Outliers.
Some of my favorite advice from this book:
- Apt analogies between the one on one relationships businesses have with their clients in small towns and the kind of one on one relationships you can create with clients using social media.
- Being yourself, genuine, and polite in online relationships just as you would be with in person relationships
- That your unique spirit and "outcaring" are competitive advantages that are harder to overcome than cost and convenience.
Even had some specific examples from a dentist and a lawyer using social media, examples of professionals using social media that are highly applicable to veterinary practice.
A fantastic read. Was fortunate enough to win a copy through a blog commenting competition and will definitely be recommending it to friends!
Mr. Vaynerchuk illustrates the right and wrong ways to use social media using excellent stories, making this book fun and approachable in the vein of Malcom Gladwell's Blink and Outliers.
Some of my favorite advice from this book:
- Apt analogies between the one on one relationships businesses have with their clients in small towns and the kind of one on one relationships you can create with clients using social media.
- Being yourself, genuine, and polite in online relationships just as you would be with in person relationships
- That your unique spirit and "outcaring" are competitive advantages that are harder to overcome than cost and convenience.
Even had some specific examples from a dentist and a lawyer using social media, examples of professionals using social media that are highly applicable to veterinary practice.
A fantastic read. Was fortunate enough to win a copy through a blog commenting competition and will definitely be recommending it to friends!
October 9, 2017
The Thank You Economy is a book that really changed how I view the business world. In a world full of competition and metrics the human message by Gary to really take time to care for the end consumer in the social and technological world is really inspiring and refreshing. Giving value back to the consumer is what business today is all about and the only way to actually win in business. The business world is really going through a real landscape shift in the way we communicate and sell, Gary's main message is those who don't react and adapt will LOSE their market share or customers in this dynamic and ever changing space. The new media of social networks like twitter, facebook, instagram are the new cbs, cnn etc. This is where the attention is at.. The smartphone is the new tv. We're all on our phones at all times and coming up with creative ways to reach consumers on these platforms is the winning strategy that companies need to adapt too. This book helped me understand how to better reach customers and understanding the importance of value.
December 21, 2011
Much of this book is a heap of anecdotes, trite ideas and "best-practices" lists, each as obvious and useless as the other. Yes social media is a big deal, and more firms should use it to engage their customers. Authenticity is good. Hiring talent is important. Word-of-mouth is becoming relevant again. Also money is nice but doesn't buy happiness, your health is your most precious asset and you can't cross the same river twice.
Gary Vaynerchuk is obviously a very gifted entrepreneur and businessman, but he is a terrible narrator, and unless you've never used twitter this book won't teach you anything you don't already know. It is a testimony to Gary's marketing skills that I not only bought the book, but also listened to it until the end in the misguided belief that surely there must be something of tremendous value hidden in there. I don't mind the $20 too much, it's the five hours I'm never getting back.
Gary Vaynerchuk is obviously a very gifted entrepreneur and businessman, but he is a terrible narrator, and unless you've never used twitter this book won't teach you anything you don't already know. It is a testimony to Gary's marketing skills that I not only bought the book, but also listened to it until the end in the misguided belief that surely there must be something of tremendous value hidden in there. I don't mind the $20 too much, it's the five hours I'm never getting back.
July 1, 2012
This is 2012 and you better not piss off Gary Vee by questioning our cultural shift towards social media, largely the humanization of brands.
The book is a marketer's lesson for using social media. For those who remain unconvinced by the brute force of social media, Gary Vee will shake you up with plenty of examples.
The book has a lot of intuitive stuff like why you should care about your customers and employees, but again it serves as a list of the mandatory stuffs to be done in a business. The bouquet of example ranging from AJ Bombers to Tony Heish will hit the cores of the naysayers.
Again, I must repeat, this is a must read for those who remain unconvinced by social media, asking like whats its ROI and still embraces traditional media, blindly all the way. Gary also offers some tips on how you can play 'Ping Pong' with traditional and social media.
But if you have seen Gary Vee talking on a stage, you will badly want him to read the book to you.
The book is a marketer's lesson for using social media. For those who remain unconvinced by the brute force of social media, Gary Vee will shake you up with plenty of examples.
The book has a lot of intuitive stuff like why you should care about your customers and employees, but again it serves as a list of the mandatory stuffs to be done in a business. The bouquet of example ranging from AJ Bombers to Tony Heish will hit the cores of the naysayers.
Again, I must repeat, this is a must read for those who remain unconvinced by social media, asking like whats its ROI and still embraces traditional media, blindly all the way. Gary also offers some tips on how you can play 'Ping Pong' with traditional and social media.
But if you have seen Gary Vee talking on a stage, you will badly want him to read the book to you.
November 29, 2017
I love Gary Vaynerchuk's work, not just his books but everything. He has been a great inspiration to me. If you don't know who he is I highly suggest to do your research, the man can change your life.
Now, about this book. I believe in the TYE, not just in business but in everything. I believe in putting people first because we all are human, we are brothers and sisters and not numbers and statistics. While we are being treated as commodities by most companies there are few who still remain human, who build relationships based on trust and loyalty instead of manipulation and lies. The Thank You Economy reminds us to be grateful for what we have. The humility, humbleness and gratefulness of Gary Vaynerchuk shines through throughout the book but don't get me wrong, he's a businessman through and through however he's a wise businessman, one that understand people and our desires.
I highly recommend this book to everybody, whether you're an entrepreneur or not.
Now, about this book. I believe in the TYE, not just in business but in everything. I believe in putting people first because we all are human, we are brothers and sisters and not numbers and statistics. While we are being treated as commodities by most companies there are few who still remain human, who build relationships based on trust and loyalty instead of manipulation and lies. The Thank You Economy reminds us to be grateful for what we have. The humility, humbleness and gratefulness of Gary Vaynerchuk shines through throughout the book but don't get me wrong, he's a businessman through and through however he's a wise businessman, one that understand people and our desires.
I highly recommend this book to everybody, whether you're an entrepreneur or not.
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