#askgaryvee: a wake-up call for entrepreneurs and marketers

[jrineakter]

About five years ago, he was in every presentation about social media as an example of successful social media use: Gary Vaynerchuk. He used YouTube and other channels to grow his businesses. And in his third book, #askgaryvee, he shares his insights from the past few years.

Gary Vee (as he is known on his social media) is an entrepreneur. He built his father's wine company into an online empire based on his clever use of emerging social media platforms. He is a formal investor in Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, among others. He is a renowned speaker (including at The Next Web 2016 in Amsterdam ). And he is the head of a successful American marketing agency that focuses entirely on social media.

Gary is a phenomenon
His fans are not just fans, they are superfans. Just like Lady Gaga, his community has its own name, the Vaynernation. And that loyalty of his fans is based on something. The amount of content he has been creating and sharing for free for years is enormous. The value of that content is enormous for many people. And the way in which it is unique.

Moreover, he has been proven right time and again when it comes to the power of social media to build his (or your) business.


#askgaryvee (aff.), the book, is inspired by and named after Vaynerchuck's YouTube show #askgaryvee . On that show, he answers questions he receives through his social media austria telegram number list channels. Sometimes with guests, like the episode with his father or celebrities like Seth Godin . But often just with the help of his team, in the office.

Question : Is it wrong to link my Pinterest to my Twitter account so that new pins are automatically tweeted? Answer : Yes, it is wrong. Why are you tweeting? What is the best channel for your message?*

It is not his first successful show: he became famous with his successful YouTube show Wine Library TV, of which he recorded 1,000 episodes. ' Overnight success ', as he himself says about it. Video content is his thing. The #askgaryvee show is also heading towards 200 episodes.

Just like the show, the book is different.
It is a kind of social media self-help book for entrepreneurs. A paper translation of online advice about the online world. A summary of almost two years of vlogs in which hundreds of questions were answered.

Question : What should be your priority as an independent entrepreneur? Answer : The answer applies to any business, small or large. Your priority should be cash. Cash is the oxygen of your business.

In a way, it’s GaryVee through and through: practical, motivational, snackable content. But in the offline form of a book. And unlike much of his content, it’s not free. But once you’ve finished the book, you’ll understand why. The business model Vaynerchuk believes in is giving away lots of valuable content and occasionally asking for the deal. The ‘ right hook ’.

In previous books he already explained his content strategy. His latest book is about a broader view of business. What is his opinion about entrepreneurship? How does he tackle the daily challenges of entrepreneurs? How does he see the role of social media? What does he think about Facebook advertising ? When does he decide whether or not to invest in start-ups?

Question : What do you think about the future of Facebook? Answer : I don't think Facebook will be able to hold on to young people, but don't underestimate Zuckerberg. Facebook will do other things: TV, free internet, phones - just you wait.

The book is divided into themes (chapters) and questions (paragraphs). Each paragraph is based on a question from someone in his community that was previously addressed on the show.

The interesting thing about #askgaryvee
The interesting thing about #askgaryvee is that the success of the book underpins the content.

#askgaryvee bookThose who follow Vaynerchuk have seen him ' hustling ' in the run-up to the publication , as he calls it: tackling, arranging, getting things done. He proves that he understands building communities by writing a book that is full of questions from people in his own community. A book that is sold to that same community.

He proves that he is a good entrepreneur by turning existing content into a book and making that book a success thanks to a clever and unorthodox marketing approach.

Question : I have a start-up idea with enormous potential. How do I get funding? Answer : No. An investor has no use for ideas. Because ideas are worthless if you don't know how to execute them.

Recommendations? The chapters on mindset ( Clouds & Dirt ), hustle , the different platforms, Facebook advertising and influencer marketing . Those chapters are worth reading for anyone who is involved with social media in a business context. It is a book full of interesting tips. It gives a glimpse into the mind of a successful (online) entrepreneur. And that is inspiring.

Does that also mean that Vaynerchuk has written a good book?
The answer is yes. But the answer is also no.

Anyone who follows Gary and is part of his community (like me) will find it a good book. Anyone who follows him on YouTube, watches his videos, follows him on Instagram , will recognize his message. The book gives fans his vision and tips on the most important topics – the topics that make him so interesting to follow – in a handy format.

But: if you don’t follow Vaynerchuk on one of the many platforms where he is active, it might be hard to appreciate the tips and the vision. Then you miss a bit of context. Why would you assume that he knows what good content looks like? What the opportunities are for businesses on Pinterest? The importance of IRL meetings instead of conference calls ? Let alone what his vision is to endorse the use of online channels by children.