Calling all Future Trust Agents

LaBreche has invited Chris Brogan, author of the New York Times bestseller Trust Agents, to keynote our Reputations forum that we are hosting with Minnesota Business and Best Buy on Feb. 3. Brogan, along with panelists from Best Buy, LaBreche and Select Comfort, will be providing best practice advice on how to use the web to build influence, improve reputation and earn trust.

Part of the after-party reception with the author includes a copy of his book – but my advice is to not wait until then to get your copy. I read the book in advance of inviting Brogan to Minnesota, and was able to e-interview him for my most recent column in Minnesota Business, see http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/0p349a3212/interview-with-a-trust-agent-chris-brogan/ If you’re running short on time, here’s a preview to get you thinking…and get those questions ready!

Trust Agents is not another book about social media tools. You should read those books – like Twitter Power and How to Really Use LinkedIn – before you read Trust Agents. You will need some basic understanding and practice in social media networking before taking a step back to spend time learning about its culture. In the case of Trust Agents, you’ll be learning from one of the people who have helped shape that culture – and are still defining it, through new concepts and terms, such as “trust agent.”

You’ll gain a glimpse into the uber digital savvy…enough to be able to glean very specific information that you can apply to how you will use social media networks for your business, whether you’re selling adhesives or ice cream. But you’ll also come away visualizing what it would be like to change the game of your business altogether. You will learn about “Making Your Own Game,” as Brogan describes it, which may lead to building a new business or new part of your existing business within the social media world. Trust Agents will get you thinking about all the social media possibilities because you’ll better understand this new and emerging culture of sharing, influencing and driving commerce.

Trust Agents is a perfect topic for a forum called Reputations. Most companies and business leaders have built their reputations on the trust they have earned over the years, through traditional means – from the handshake, to the favor, to the integrity they showed during difficult situations. Now those companies and leaders can extend that trust beyond their traditional communities, into a very international, sometimes very personal, but loyal, interested and authentic new group of people – all through status updates, opinion blogs and 140-character bits of information.

Start thinking of yourself as a trust agent – the newest role you’ll play in building and safeguarding your reputation. Join us on Feb. 3. Visit http://www.minnesotabusiness.com/0p361/reputations/ for tickets.