I belive that the value of the book is in the knowledge passed on by the diverse group of interviewees. Even if you profess to know everything about a particular topic, there are a half-dozen other topics that you probably know less about, and can learn something useful. There are even a few interviews, such as the one with Northwestern Universityls Patrick Duparcq, that provide a much more holistic overview to the whole area of online marketing. I went out of my way to make sure that the book offered more than just “the usual suspects,” whomever they might be.

I urge anyone on the fence to pick up a copy and read a bit before you make up your mind. There’s a lot of good stuff here, from Lee and others!

Not really sure why anyone would be commenting negatively about a decent book of interviews from a diverse group of internet marketers. Buy it or don’t, it’s as simple as that.

Also, not really sure why Doug is allowed to post anywhere but his own forum either, but I guess some blogs and forums allow anyone to post, no matter whether it’s trolling flame bait or not. I guess that’s to be commended in the name of free speech or something, but personally I feel the Internet would be a much nicer/safer place of all the trolls were banned post haste.

What I find most amusing is Wiley would commit to print what can be found for free on most of the SEO blogs and webmaster forums but I suppose they’ll find a market in the same people that fill the halls of SES/SMX/PubCon year after year.

I also stated in a prior post that I quoted you wrongly.

Frankly Lee; Your post above is showing your true colors buddy. It’s showing what “many” of us have known for a long time.

I take back my apology now. Thanks for your post.

Kind of funny that I’m the only one posting in your blog who has not linked up his website.

It’s very telling when someone says they’re a marketer with no time to self promote but with plenty of time criticize those that do.

@Nick Wilsdon, the book “Online Marketing Heroes” is the result of unsolicited inquiries to people the publisher identified to participate in phone interviews. The interviews were transcribed, edited and published. Nobody in this book pitched Wiley for a book deal. The people interviewed all have something useful to share and people are free to engage or ignore.

@Doug Heil One of the great things about blogs, forums and other online information/communication platforms is the opportunity for smart dialogue. Your initial comment mis-quotes me as saying something about small businesses needing blogs when it was another commenter who said that. Such carelessness only reveals your predisposition.

I just don’t have the time to promote like that let alone write a book. Some go to 20 conferences per year. Others are constantly promoting. I don’t know where they all find the time. I’m just a small biz and don’t have employees to do stuff, so I have to do it. I just can’t get away for a week at a time all through the year. Even if I did have time, I wouldn’t be back slapping others in doing so… not my style.

It’s just hard to sit and read places without saying anything, but I’ll do my best to keep my mouth shut in the future.

Book deals aren’t that hard to come by, publishers are pretty open to proposals from the IT sector, especially when they are business orientated. I’ve turned down one inquiry myself – many of my friends have published books and one referred me to their agent.

I imagine you and the other moderators at IHY have a wealth of knowledge that could be shared with the world? Why not get a book out there!

Flame me again please. I guess disagreeing with the majority opinion in here is not wanted. I sometimes think that some people seem to actually believe our industry consists of only people in the circle who tout and promote others in that same circle. Let me clue you all in a bit; there are thousands of others out there who could care less about that circle. Social media has made it so it’s now the in thing to self promote, especially if you are a good butt kisser. If you don’t kiss, you are chastised for not joining the circle. And Steve; I don’t need to read this stuff daily like some do as I have my own place with a ton of great people who I learn from daily. Those people don’t see the need to be in this circle either.

1) the guys that believe a rising tide floats all boats, and
2) the kind that thinks putting someone else down makes them look taller.

I’ve only had personal dealings with one of the guys in the book so far… and to avoid sounding like a sycophant I won’t toss out a name… but he’s the first type. Glad those are around, it makes the industry a better place. Should be a good book.

And Doug, doesn’t total rejection of an idea close off a part of the openmindness that is needed to keep up to date in an environment that changes daily like the internet. Can’t it close it off enough that we find out a week later that that attitude put us months behind others in our same field?