Authors Are Idea Merchants

Seth Godin makes some excecllent points in this video. It's about 30 minutes and worth watching.


If you don't have the time to watch it, here are some of my notes from watching the video:
- Authors are idea merchants. Their goal is to spread their ideas to as many people as possible. Authors are in the business of selling ideas and not books.
- Books are souvenirs. People can get much of the information contained in books online for free. The physical book is kept because of an emotional bond with the idea.
- Marketing is about having conversations ... and authors (and publishers) should generate 'remark-able' ideas so that these ideas invite conversations among potential readers.
- Authors should write words for readers and not search for readers for their words.
- Blogs work. Authors should maintain blogs so that they are able to talk adequately about their ideas and build up a platform.
- Publishers should empower authors to market their own books.
- The only asset is the permission that people grant you to contact them with their ideas. Authors should focus on getting and maintaining permission (gaining trust and reputation.)