MackCollier.com

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So I Have a Pretty Big Announcement to Make…

…I’m writing a book!  Actually I’m writing the only book I’ve ever wanted to write, Think Like a Rockstar!  Rockstars have passionate fans that absolutely love them, so why can’t brands as well?  The short answer is they CAN, and Think Like a Rockstar will show companies and organizations how they can cultivate advocates for their brands and the business value in doing so!

Here’s some of the main areas that will be addressed by Think Like a Rockstar:

  • Who are your brand’s fans, and why you need to connect with them instead of simply trying to ‘acquire’ new customers.  I’ll walk you through how to not only recognize your fans, but how to connect with them and even how to convert ‘ranters’ into ‘ravers’ (If your company has been struggling with how to respond to ‘negative’ feedback online, this is for you!).  I’ll also profile individual brand advocates so you can learn what makes these customers so very special.
  • I’ll walk you through exactly what Rockstars do to connect with and cultivate their fans.  And a lot of what they do is completely confusing and counter-intuitive to most marketers.  They do crazy things like give away their product to the people that are most willing to buy it, and instead of trying to blast marketing messages to millions, they go out of their way to connect with only a dozen or two customers at a time.  But their methods work, and you’ll learn why.  Also, if your company is one of the many struggling to build engagement around your social media marketing efforts, Think Like a Rockstar will teach you how to solve this common marketing problem.
  • An overview to becoming a Fan-Centric company.  Yep, after this you’ll have no more excuses!  This will show you what needs to happen both internally and externally in order to create a framework where you are directly connected to your brand’s fans, and they to you.
  • And oh yes, there will be case studies, lots and lots of case studies!  I’ll look at dozens of examples of how both Rockstars and brands are embracing and empowering their biggest fans.  I’ll walk you through exactly what they did, explain why it worked, and show you how you can apply those lessons to YOUR marketing efforts!

I’ll be sharing more in the coming days/weeks/months about Think Like a Rockstar leading up to its publication (I’ll be sharing with you those dates as soon as they are nailed down).  Think Like a Rockstar will be published by McGraw-Hill and I could not be happier to be working with them.  Plus my editor, Casey Ebro, immediately ‘got’ why the idea behind Think Like a Rockstar was so big, and has been so enthusiastic about this project.  That’s critical, if you are thinking about writing a book, the importance of having a passionate editor that believes in the potential of your idea cannot be understated.

For the last four years, people have been asking me ‘So, when are YOU going to write a book?’  I haven’t written a book because I didn’t want to write a book, I wanted to write THIS book.  Seriously, this is the only book I’ve ever wanted to write, ‘writing a book’ is not on my bucket list but I wanted to write this book because I believe in the concept that strongly.

This wouldn’t be happening without the help and advice of many people, but I wanted to mention a few friends that really helped me turn this project into reality.  They are Beth Harte, Lisa Petrilli, Lou Imbriano, Ann Handley and Amy Africa.  And an additional thanks to Lisa for introducing me to my agent, Linda Langton, who was an immense catalyst in helping this project see the light of day.  I’ll have a future post on the value of getting an agent versus going it alone when trying to get a book deal (and I tried both!).

Thanks to everyone that’s been so supportive of my being able to write Think Like a Rockstar.  Now if you don’t see me blogging as much here for the next 4-5 months, hopefully you’ll understand why 😉

About Mack Collier

My name is Mack Collier and I am a digital marketing and content strategist located in Alabama. Since 2006 I've helped companies of all sizes from startups to global brands such as Adobe, Dell and Ingersoll-Rand, create customer-centric programs, content and experiences. A long-time internet geek, I've been online since 1988 and began using social networking sites in 1991 when I joined Prodigy. Today, I help companies understand how new technologies like web3, crypto and artificial intelligence can integrate with existing marketing strategies to lead to exceptional customer experiences.

Comments

    • Mack Collier says

      Thank you Marcy 😉 BTW you and I need to talk, I have a feeling your clients might have a case study or two worth mentioning in this book!

  8. Jeannie Walters says

    Mack – This is outstanding news. I’ve always appreciated your approach and I’m so excited you have one more way to share it. Congratulations!! I have no doubt this will be a huge success.
    Jeannie

    • Mack Collier says

      Thank you Jeannie! This really is a labor of love for me, in fact I’ve been writing and researching it for the last year in preparation of getting an official contract! Can’t wait to make Think Like a Rockstar a reality and so excited about working with Casey and everyone at McGraw-Hill!

    • Mack Collier says

      Danny I actually haven’t read Brand Like a Rockstar (I need to pick it up), but it’s one of the books I looked at last year while I was fleshing out my proposal for Think Like a Rockstar. Based on what I know of the book, Think Like a Rockstar will be a very different book, although it’s possible similar points will be addressed.

  15. 40deuce says

    Congrats Mack!
    Sounds like an awesome concept combining two of my passions; music and connecting brands and people. Can’t wait to read it.

    Cheers,
    Sheldon, community manager for Sysomos

  21. Heather Rast says

    Mac, such wonderful news! I’m excited for you to begin your new adventure. I’m sure you’ll have lots to share with us after you work through the creative process. Look forward to owning my copy! – @heatherrast

  24. Miriam Gomberg says

    Mazel Tov Mack!! I will be one of the first in line to buy it. I always wanted to be a rock star and with your book, I will be. I believe it, I see it, it will happen!! Miriam

    • Mack Collier says

      Ha! It seems you can add the ‘Rockstar’ modifier to anything and it instantly becomes cooler.

      Except for ‘Social Media Rockstar’, it seems 😉

    • Mack Collier says

      Jennifer that is a good question! It’s VERY early going right now, in a few weeks we should have a solid idea of release dates, etc. I will let y’all know everything as soon as I do 😉

    • Mack Collier says

      Jennifer, Casey just told me that the Kindle version will be available the same day the book is, so you can read it as soon as everyone else 😉 As soon as the pub date is nailed down, I’ll let you know!

  31. Nedra Weinreich says

    Congrats, Mack! You already have so much great content written on the blog that hopefully it will just be a matter of organizing and expanding on it. Great idea for a book!

    • Mack Collier says

      Thank you Nedra! I can definitely use some of the material I’ve already covered on the blog. But at the same time, the last thing in the world I want someone to do is buy the book and then think ‘Aw man, I’ve read all this on his blog already!’ That’s not going to happen, A few of the points will be familiar to those that read this blog regularly, but even with those, I want to expand and give far more information than I did here.

      ‘Inspiration’ will be drawn from this blog in places, but the content will be original and far more in-depth. I think you’ll enjoy it 😉

  32. Gini Dietrich says

    Last year when I was asked about writing a book, I said I wasn’t interested because everyone is writing a book and I didn’t want it to look like I was copying all of my friends. My mom looked me straight in the eye, used my middle name and said, “Everyone in your world might be writing books, but out here in the real world, it’s a really big deal.”

    So I leave you that piece of wisdom from my mom and say a HUGE congrats!

    • Mack Collier says

      I know, right? I have a group of ‘non-social media’ friends and family that I use as my barometer: If they think it’s a big deal, then it’s REALLY a big deal 😉

      BTW congrats on Marketing In The Round, the floodgates open later this week on sales, right?

  33. Lou Imbriano says

    Mack,

    I am so very happy for you and thrilled that McGraw-Hill is your publisher. I will help in anyway I can. Go get ’em Rockstar!

    My best,
    Lou

  35. Lisa Diomede says

    Congratulations Mack! I’m so fortunate to have collaborated with you and know firsthand all you have to share. I can’t wait until the launch. Now get writing.

  36. Tim Burrows says

    Congratualtions Mack! That is great news and you’ll be adding a great voice to the printed word. I can’t wait until it “hits the shelves” as they say. Way to go!

  39. Caylie Price says

    Congratulations Mack! So glad to hear you are writing THIS book. I know it will be filled with brilliant lessons and resources.
    Looking forward to reading it.

    • Mack Collier says

      Thank you Caylie, Rockstar will definitely be heavy on actionable advice that companies and individuals can get to work on immediately. I think you’ll find it useful 😉

  40. Becky Carroll says

    Mack,

    I am SO excited for you!! This is indeed the book you were meant to write. Let me know if I can help in any way, having just been through this process. 🙂

    As always, you rock!

    • Mack Collier says

      Thank you Becky, I followed your model and waited for the book that was perfect for ME to write 😉 I’ll no doubt be asking you for advice soon, thanks!

  41. Lucretia Pruitt says

    Woot!! Congrats Mack!!
    Well, actually, I should be congratulating your publisher – for the foresight they are showing. Looking forward to seeing it! 🙂

  42. Ann Handley says

    I am so freakin’ THRILLED for you…. !! I have been wanting you to do this for soooooooooooooooooooooo long!! Happy to help you however I can. But you already knew that.

    Big. Fat. HUG!

    • Mack Collier says

      Thanks sis! You have always played a huge role in any writing success I have had, I still remember getting giddy as hell when I got an email in early 2006 inviting me to write for Daily Fix 😉 Your constant support Ann means the world to me, thank you.

  46. Scott Schablow says

    Congratulations Mack! It’s a best seller before you put down the first word. Look forward to hearing at least a little about the process.

    • Mack Collier says

      Thanks Scott! I’m definitely gonna blog about the process, in fact I’ll have to be careful to not turn this place into ‘Mack’s blog about writing a book’ 😉 But yes, updates coming, probably next week to start!

  49. Brian Massey says

    As I’m nearing the end of my own publishing journey, I can say it’ll be worth it… but it won’t feel that way sometimes. May your journey rock.