UltraCreatives Interview #9: Chris Brogan
March 31, 2008
This week, author J.C. Hutchins interviews social media expert Chris Brogan.
Chris has been a blogger for the past 10 years, is well-respected in the blogging and social media space, and is renowned for his accessibility, excellent writing, and ability to connect with his audience. Chris often evangelizes about social media trends — and we get into that in the interview — but J.C. also asks about Chris’ personality and world view, and the philosophies that power his daily life and adventures in social media.
The recording is a little noisy; through the miracle of Skype, J.C. chatted with Chris while Chris did some work at a coffee shop. The cheerful ambience adds to the listening experience. Enjoy the conversation!
Sites mentioned in this interview:
- Find Chris Brogan at ChrisBrogan.com
- PodCamp
- CrossTech Media
- Utterz
- Chris’ SXSW “Enter Sandman” Karaoke Apocalypse performance (Video #1 … Video #2)
Subscribe to the free UltraCreatives Interview Series podcast — and J.C.’s free sci-fi podcast novel trilogy, 7th Son — by visiting the Podcasting Primer page. Be sure to watch the short “C2G (click, click, get)” video for easy-peasy instructions on how to quickly subscribe to this award-winning content.
This week’s episode of UltraCreatives is sponsored by Audible. Begin your free trial today — and receive a free audiobook — by visiting AudiblePodcast.com/UltraCreative.
J.C.’s intro chatter includes:
- A big “thank you” to listeners who are spreading the word about Scott Sigler’s novel INFECTED, and its April 1 debut in bookstores everywhere. Continue to evangelize! Let’s get Scott on The New York Times bestseller list!
- Thanks to your feedback, J.C. will post informal “audioblog”-style updates in the podcast feed. Expect these to focus on his creative projects.
Promos:
- Scott Sigler’s INFECTED
- ClonePod podcast
- Flipping Channels podcast
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Open Invitations To Bloggers: I’m Your Billboard
March 30, 2008
While there are some notable exceptions to this rule, I’ve found that two camps of RSS-powered brethren — dedicated bloggers and dedicated podcasters — rarely intermingle. I don’t know if bloggers perceive podcasters as RSS’s red-headed, loud-mouthed stepchildren … or if podcasters are so content to hear each other chatter that they can’t be bothered to interact with bloggers. Perhaps it’s both. Perhaps neither. But as I’ve watched the social media space more and more, the divide has become more and more clear to me.
I don’t like it. It doesn’t make sense.
Here’s my brass tacks reckoning about entertainment, and new media entertainment specifically: If you’re dumping your heart, soul and precious time (and money) into a project that is designed to be consumed by an engaged audience, then you’re damned-near obligated to evangelize your work. What good is a story or song (or blog or podcast) if there’s no audience to experience it?
There’s no shame in craving an audience, or growing one … which brings me to promotion, and the aforementioned RSS divide. I perceive this to be a picket line of sorts: Will a podcaster betray his mic-friendly roots by connecting with a blogger? Will a high-profile blogger be perceived as “slumming it” if they promote their work to a podcaster?
If you’re in one of these camps I’m discussing, honestly consider this: Have you ever considered reaching across that divide and promoting yourself to your RSS opposite?
There was a time when I didn’t. I look back at the past two years of communicating (and promoting) with podcasters exclusively, and see two years’ worth of wasted opportunity. The cross-pollination possibilities were — and are — endless.
It’s boneheaded to stick with your respective RSS cult. It is wise to look to your RSS opposite and see them as a new media ally.
Podcasters: Reach out to bloggers for promotion. New media marketing cannot begin and end with a podcaster networking solely with fellow podcasters (or worse, networking only with podcasters who produce shows in similar genres). Podcasting, despite its growth, remains a niche within the social media entertainment space — and when ‘casters only communicate with ‘casters of similar genres, they relegate themselves to something worse: ultra-niche obscurity.
Similarly, I encourage bloggers to connect with podcasters to promote their work. This is a currently-untapped marketing opportunity for bloggers. Podcast listeners are a captivated audience. Just like blog readers, they form relationships with show hosts, and look to them for more cool content. Podcasters play one-minute audio “promos” (gratis commercials) of other podcasts on their shows. These promos generate interest and new listeners. A great many successful podcasts — including mine — hinge on this marketing method.
I can shake my fist at podcasters and insist that they reach out to bloggers, and either they will, or they won’t. But I can bridge this gap in my own content, and I’m doing just that.
Bloggers, this is your open invitation: Consider my show a billboard for your work.
If you want to promote your blog to thousands of engaged listeners, for free, here’s your chance. Create a one-minute audio promo for your blog, and send it to me. I’ll play it in an upcoming episode of my podcast. Boom, done-deal, no reciprocation required.
Don’t wig. Creating an audio promo is easy: Write up the quick “elevator pitch” about what your blog covers, include your URL … and that’s it. Record it with a computer mic and email it to me: 7thSonNovel@gmail.com. If you don’t have a computer mic, call this number and leave a voice mail: 206-984-0918. I guarantee I’ll play your promo in a future episode of my show.
Aside from a few minutes of time investment, it’s is a risk-free chance for you to promote your blog — you know, that thing you believe in and want to grow — to thousands of listeners. It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Are you in? It’s doesn’t make sense to say no. Remember what to do:
- Write your pitch and include your URL.
- Record it to MP3 an email it to me — 7thSonNovel@gmail.com — or call this number and record it: 206-984-0918.
- That’s it.
Bloggers, I hope to hear your promo soon — and podcasters, I hope you’ll reach out to bloggers to promote your show. To not market your work to new audiences is foolish. Be brave, look outside your comfort zone, and evangelize your content. I bet you’ll grow your audience more quickly than you expect … and sharing your work with new consumers is what, in my brass-tacks view of things, it’s all about.
–J.C.
“Drawbridge” photo by william.ward, used under a Creative Commons license.
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Killer Content: Free PDF of Scott Sigler’s “INFECTED”
March 27, 2008
It’s SCOTT SIGLER DAY here at JCHutchins.net! In addition to posting my UltraCreatives interview with The Cadaverous Antichrist, I am also proudly presenting the full PDF edition of INFECTED, which will debut in bookstores everywhere on April 1.
Want an excerpt of this brilliant horror/sci-fi tale? You got it:
Perry awoke with a scream. His collarbone raged with pain, like he’d dragged a razor blade across the thin skin atop the bone, peeling back flesh like a cheese grater rubbed across some Cheddar. The fingers of his right hand felt cold, wet and sticky. A sunrise beam of light pierced his half-drawn curtains, lighting up the window frost crystallized on the pane. His room filled with the hazy glow of a winter morning.
In the dim light, Perry stared at his hands; they looked to be covered with chocolate syrup, thick and tacky-brown. He fumbled with the lamp on his night-stand. The bulb’s glow lit up the room and his hands. It wasn’t chocolate syrup.
It was blood.
Eyes widening in horror, Perry looked at his bed. Thin streaks of blood dotted the white sheets. Still blinking sleep-crust from his eyes, he ran to the bathroom and stared in the mirror….
Download the PDF below, or (if you’re subscribed to this feed) enjoy it as it screams through the interwebtubes to your podcatcher. This is truly Killer Content, folks.
Pre-order Scott Sigler’s INFECTED at Amazon.com today.
Learn more about Scott Sigler, INFECTED and his other works at ScottSigler.com.
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UltraCreatives Interview #8: Scott Sigler
March 27, 2008
It’s the eighth episode of the UltraCreatives Interview Series, and this week J.C. chats with sci-fi/horror novelist and podcaster Scott Sigler.
Sigler has blazed new trails in publishing by podcasting his novels for the past three years … and now, just days away from the debut of his novel INFECTED in bookstores everywhere, Scott discusses his professional drive, his creative inspirations, his unique story in publishing, the INFECTED release … and even what frightens him.
This is a must-listen interview with the master of horror podfiction!
Links mentioned in the interview:
Two calls to action in this week’s intro!
- Would you like to hear informal “audioblog”-style podcast updates from J.C. Hutchins about his upcoming fiction projects? Send him an email and tell him so!
- Spread the word for Sigler! Share this episode’s shownotes URL with your friends, family members and bloggers you admire. Tell them about Scott’s success story, and encourage them to evangelize this interview (which provides an excellent introduction to Scott and his work) on their own blogs. Let the world know about the April 1 release of INFECTED in bookstores everywhere!
Subscribe to the UltraCreatives Interview Series podcast — and J.C.’s free sci-fi podcast novel trilogy, 7th Son — by visiting the Podcasting Primer page. Be sure to watch the short “C2G (click, click, get)” video for easy-peasy instructions on how to quickly subscribe to this award-winning content.
Promos:
- SOBcon 2008
- Second Floor Lounge
- On the Podcast and Podcast Junky podcasts
- Persistent Spirit podcast novel
(Note: J.C. is aware that there’s a very brief “voiceover remnant” from the last UltraCreatives interview in this podcast. The interruption is two seconds long, and shouldn’t detract from your listening experience.)
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“7th Son” Anthems: Revisited
March 25, 2008
In the final episode of 7th Son, Book Three: Destruction, listeners were treated to a mixed audio montage of the anthems heard in the 7th Son trilogy. Fans of the series requested a stand-alone version of that experience, and now J.C. Hutchins can release it into the wild.
This audio was brilliantly mixed by Destruction’s producer, Shawn Bishop, and features these songs:
- “Afraid This Time” by Celldweller (Intro)
- “Purple” by Ethic (Book One: Descent anthem)
- “Switchback” by Celldweller (Book Two: Deceit anthem)
- “Symbiont” by Celldweller (Book Three: Destruction anthem)
Enjoy!
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“7th Son: Destruction” Blooper Reel
March 25, 2008
Fans of 7th Son, Book Three: Destruction may remember a brilliant audio recording that first saw light back in December 2007, when author J.C. Hutchins chatted with Destruction’s producer, Shawn Bishop.
In that Q&A episode, Shawn presented a masterfully-mixed, hilarious “blooper reel” of a flummoxed — and very foul-mouthed — Hutchins as he tried to read various parts of the novel. Hutchins’ readings may be very good indeed in the 7th Son audiobooks … but there’s many a mis-speak between mic and final mixdown.
Listeners requested a stand-alone audio file of this blooper reel, and — after receiving permission from Celldweller to release the file into the wild (Celldweller provides the “soundtrack” for the experience) — they can now listen to it in all its snarky glory. Be warned: four-letter words abound.
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Killer Content: “Fun Anymore” and “Unquiet Desperation”
March 23, 2008
“Killer Content” is J.C. Hutchins’ unpredictably scheduled, ongoing series about cool creators in the online space.
This post is partly prompted by a friendly online challenge by writer Chris Brogan, in which he asked his readers to suggest “hidden gems” in the blogosphere. Two men of many talents immediately sprang to mind, and they more than qualify as “Killer Content” creators.
Evo Terra and Chris Miller are gifted writers and communicators. They’re also collaborators: Terra and Miller are largely responsible for keeping the site Podiobooks.com up and running smoothly. Podiobooks.com in itself is a hidden gem on the ‘Net — it provides free serialized audiobook hosting and distribution for DIY-spirited authors (such as myself) and their work. Podiobooks.com is a daring, disruptive service, and I’m confident that mainstream publishers will soon examine its model as — like the recording industry — it turns to digital distribution as the only true sustainable means of profit and survival.
But beyond Podiobooks.com, Evo Terra and Chris Miller are accomplished bloggers in their own right.
Evo Terra, a former podcaster and co-author of two “For Dummies” books about podcasting, is known for his intelligence, wit and snark. His blog, Fun Anymore, showcases an expert’s perspective of social media far from the blogosphere’s feel-good echo chamber. He chimes in on social media services, marketing and advertising. Shorter posts are often rabbit punches on well-known topics, while longer writings illustrate his practical views on new media and content quality.
To the uninitiated, Terra’s tone may come off as curmudgeonly … and that’s probably fine by him … but look beyond the barbed sarcasm, and you’ll find many thought-provoking opinions. Recommended for social media types, especially those who appreciate a spike of zero-BS snark.
Chris Miller, in addition to being a podcaster and self-proclaimed “codeshaman” (and as someone who’s worked with him on technical issues, the title ain’t no lie), crafts a blog called Unquiet Desperation. Miller’s interests are far-flung, as is his writing: he may blog about Cleveland weather one day, and coding the next. Topics also include science-fiction, religion/spirituality, podcasting and more.
What makes this personal potpourri so interesting and entertaining is Miller’s writing itself. Thoughtful and carefully crafted, there is always a nugget of “bigger picture” truth to his posts. While I may not be able to fully understand his writing about coding, for instance, I always take away a personal insight into the man’s life, or something that applies to my own. Recommended for codemonkeys of all stripes, fans of new media (mostly podcasting), and those craving glimmers of personal truth in each post.
Find Evo Terra’s Fun Anymore here. Find Chris Miller’s Unquiet Desperation here.
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J.C. Hutchins is an SOB…
March 22, 2008
While at least one podcaster I know has gone on record as calling me a “sonuvabitch,” I am supremely proud to be officially knighted as a true SOB by superblogger Liz Strauss at her site, Successful Blog. This is an honor, and I’m grateful to Liz for the recognition.
In Liz Strauss’ world, the mischievous acronym stands for “Successful and Outstanding Blogger.” There are bazillions of blogs in the ’sphere, but only a select few are awarded this distinction. According to Liz, SOBs:
(T)ake the conversation to their readers, contribute great ideas, challenge us, make us better, and make our businesses stronger. … Good conversation shared can only improve the blogging community.
I had the great pleasure to chat at length with Liz at SXSW earlier this month, and will soon have her on the UltraCreatives Interview Series to share her perspectives on social media … and more important, success. I’ll also be helping her spread the word in the podosphere about SOBcon 2008, a brilliant conference designed to empower people to embrace their creative passions, and launch online businesses. It’s a remarkable venture, and I’m honored to help Liz evangelize the cause.
I’ve been an avid reader of Liz’s Successful Blog for months now, and highly recommend it for practical (and philosophical) tips on how to be a better contributor to the online community. Check it out … and thanks again to Liz for this prized distinction!
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7th Son fans “give back” with amazing reviews, art, audio
March 21, 2008
While the 7th Son podcast novel trilogy has concluded — and if you haven’t listened to the audiobooks, you should; subscribe for free and join nearly 40,000 worldwide listeners by visiting my Podcasting Primer page — the story and experience still resonates with me. More important, it’s made an impact on 7th Son listeners, and recently, several have been moved to “give something back” to me, and the 7S community.
Listener Gemini recently reviewed all three audionovels on her blog, Time Well Wasted. I was thrilled to learn that she enjoyed 7th Son from beginning to end: “J.C. Hutchins has created a story so amazing, and so full of conspiracy, that you have to stop yourself from wondering if he’s really got more information that he’s letting on,” she wrote in her review of Book One: Descent. “His grasp of technology during the weaving of this book almost puts Michael Crichton to shame.”
Mentioning me in the same paragraph as Crichton is humbling beyond measure. But then Gemini followed up with this comment in her review of Book Two: Deceit: “Last week, I said the man was as good as Michael Crichton. This week, I’m saying he’s better.” I’m stunned and thrilled to know that 7S made such a positive impact on Gemini.
Find her reviews here:
These accolades alone made my month, but then woodcarving maestro Keith Burtis blew me right out of my Asics (and my socks) this week when he emailed me this remarkable blog post. Keith was so inspired by 7th Son that he hand-crafted an unbelievably cool, stylized rendition of “The Womb” cloning chamber, described in the novels.
His art — made from Osage orange, Australian Burl and blood-red Paddauk woods — is nothing short of miraculous. I nearly wept when I saw his photos of the project … and I know I will weep when I receive it from Keith in the mail very soon.
Keith, thank you for this priceless piece. I’ll do more than cherish it — I’ll be displaying it proudly in my living room for years to come.
Finally, 7S fan “Dan the Demented” recently interviewed me on his podcast, the Polyschizmatic Reprobates Hour. It was a treat chatting with him, and the episode — which also features podnovelist Seth Harwood — is a hoot-and-a-half. Find the interview here.
I am deeply touched to know that the 7th Son trilogy continues to move and inspire people … and I’m doubly thrilled to know that fans can enjoy its forthcoming supplemental short story anthology 7th Son: OBSIDIAN in May, and the release of 7th Son: Descent in print in 2009.
Have you created artwork or a blog post inspired by 7th Son? I’d love to know about it. Please give a shout-out in the comments!
–J.C.
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UltraCreatives Interview #7: Guy Kawasaki
March 19, 2008
Welcome to the seventh episode of UltraCreatives! This week, J.C. chats with Guy Kawasaki, prominent blogger, entrepreneur and venture capitalist. This conversation runs the gamut, from Guy’s early years in Hawaii and at Apple Computer, to his current projects Truemors and Alltop.
Equally important, Guy shares practical insights on identifying worthwhile creative/business ideas, public speaking and more. This one’s a must-listen, folks.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Subscribe to the free UltraCreatives Interview Series podcast — and J.C.’s free sci-fi podcast novel trilogy, 7th Son — by visiting the Podcasting Primer page. Be sure to watch the short “C2G (click, click, get)” video for easy-peasy instructions on how to quickly subscribe to this award-winning content.
This week’s episode of UltraCreatives is sponsored by Audible. Begin your free trial today — and receive a free audiobook — by visiting AudiblePodcast.com/UltraCreative.
Pre-interview chatter notes: J.C. enlightens listeners on these cool topics…
- His new day gig at Myxer.com (Read more about how he landed the job in this blog post.)
- The groundbreaking 7th Son: OBSIDIAN short story anthology, coming in May
Promos:
- Scott Sigler’s Infected (in bookstores April 1)
- The world premiere of the Steampunk Spectacular promo
- The Secret Lair
- Into the Blender
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