Book Review: Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

November's pick from the Glitter Collective's book club was Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World. I had never heard of it but was excited to dig in. The book club is aimed toward female entrepreneurs, and I'm loving our little Facebook group. Join us! Michael Hyatt is a popular blogger and best selling author. I suggest you read this blog post to get an idea of what the book covers (why you need a platform to get noticed). Amazon summarizes the book as, "To be successful in the market today, you must possess two strategic assets: a compelling product and a meaningful platform. In this step-by-step guide, Michael Hyatt, former CEO and current Chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, takes readers behind the scenes, into the new world of social media success."

My Take:

Overall, it was a decent business book. It was written in 2012, so some social media suggestions are already a little outdated, but that's just how it goes.

After I got about 10% of the way through, I left a message on our group board asking whether anyone had finished it. I was really struggling to get into it and didn't want to waste my time. No one had, so I decided to keep going. I had a 4.5 hour plane ride ahead of me, so why not. The beginning was repetitive, simplistic and he spent too much time trying to sell us on him rather than his ideas. He really wanted to convince everyone that he was popular enough to be writing this book.

I realized that part of the problem is that I have a degree in marketing and have been working in the world of content marketing and social media for at least 6 years. For anyone new to blogging and social media, the book wouldn't be as repetitive. So don't let me scare you off!

Once I got at least halfway through, it got much better. There were helpful tool suggestions and ideas for twitter. I'd say this is a great book for anyone in the beginning stages. He explains why the first impression of your website is so important, different elements you should include, and ways to use social media effectively.

Points I Don't Agree With:

• He claims that social media is more important than growing your email list. Not true! You own your email list. You do not own your social media followers. What if Facebook suddenly disappears?
• He makes it sound like you need a huge team to run your company and need to invest a lot of money. Maybe it's because I had just finished The $100 Startup, or because I've experienced the opposite, but I don't agree at all. There are plenty of hugely successful solopreneurs and small teams. If you read this book, don't let that intimidate you.

Good Blogging Tips:

• Write your post at night, let it simmer, then go back and make the edits in the morning
• Keep a list of blog post and business ideas with you at all times (notebook, phone app, etc.)
• Set a timer to keep you focused on writing and/or go offline while you write

Like I said, overall it was a good book, but it will be especially useful to those who are newer to the world of blogging and content marketing. Just be careful of outdated tools and advice.

I'd love to hear what you thought of the book! Let me know in the comments.