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I’m Writing a Book

posted on June 29, 2010

Before it was the “in thing” for everyone in social media to do, I’ve had the life long goal of writing a book.

I never knew if it would be fiction, business or something else, but I’ve always wanted to have a printed stack of binded paper on a shelf with my name on it. I’m happy to announce that in the very near future this is going to be a reality.

Slated for release in December, Content Rules, is the book I’m co-writing with the amazingly talented Ann Handley. It will be coming out from the good folks at Wiley and will have a forward from my buddy David Meerman Scott.

I could ramble on about what the book is about, but how I boil it down is that no matter what the latest and greatest shiny new online tool is that comes out, at the end of the day you need to have quality content of all types to be successful. We not only lay out our rules for successful content, but also tell you how to create it, what to think about and how to integrate it into all of your initiatives.

This isn’t a book about blogging, Facebook or Twitter, but they are all in there for sure. We wanted to write this book for the preacher who wants to grow their congregation, the small shop owner down the street or the Fortune 500 CMO who really wants to take their online marketing to the next level. The goal was to provide an educational, but also entertaining read that won’t bore you to sleep.

You can pre-order the book now and really make me smile or wait until it hits shelves and pick up a copy then.

If you need a final giggle before you order the book watch this little video announcement we made. We decided after this one, off the cuff take, that it was too much fun NOT to use. Plus, it illustrates one of our rules about having fun with the content you create.

Good read? Share with others!
Categories: Announcements / Books
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  • http://ronamok.com ronploof

    Congrats, C.C. I can't wait to read a book written by two of my favorite people!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      And I know how much you mean that. Can't wait to have you read it.

  • Vargaslmv

    I second Ron…eagerly anticipating the new book from two of my fave people (and friends). You will push the envelope and I know it will go beyond the myriad of social media books currently on the shelf. A classic, for sure. Writing a book is a tremendous undertaking. Great work.

  • Sherri

    Congratulations C.C. Looking forward to reading it.

  • http://www.TheDADvocateProject.com metzgerbusiness

    Very Nice. Looking forward to reading it.

  • http://www.keithburtis.com Keith Burtis

    Congrats to you CC! And Ann as well. I'll be looking forward to this book! No doubt the passion from both of you will shine through!
    Keith

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      We sure hope to and what has been fascinating is passing drafts back and forth because we are having such a blast writing it.

  • http://www.attentionmax.com maxkalehoff

    Wonderful news CC. And what a wonderful co-author, you and Ann Handley! I wish the best of luck to you, and trust you will let me know if I can be helpful in any way!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Oh you KNOW I'll be coming to you for some help at some point. Once you read it of course.

  • Nigel

    Hi CC,
    The URL to the book site on the vimeo page is wrong. Contentrulesbook.com not contentrules.com

    Maybe you could include a chapter about it ;)

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Thanks for the catch! Leave it to me to mess that one up! *laugh*

  • http://twitter.com/MYN MarkYoshimotoNemcoff

    How awesome. I cannot wait to read it!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Somehow I have a feeling you have a copy in your future.

  • http://chelpixie.com/ Chel Wolverton

    Ann + CC = amazing awesomesauce

    Congratulations to both of you. :D

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      We might have to put that one on the cover *grin*

  • http://neilbearse.com/ Neil Bearse

    Congrats! Such an important topic – and way too often overlooked. You're filling a huge need in the market here! Can't wait to read it myself, and then buy 10 more copies to give away.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Sounds good to me. How do we get it to be required reading for the students? That is the REAL question!

  • http://marketingroadhouse.com Beth Schillaci

    Congrats. Another book that I'm actually looking forward to reading because it's written by people who actually make things happen.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Can't tell you how that statement made my day. Thank you!

  • Popecarter88

    You write: “At the end of the day you need to have quality content of all types to be successful.”

    By quality do you mean like shooting an important announcement video in one take in front of a busy and very LOUD intersection with one speaker standing in front of the other so he has to turn his back to the camera?

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      *laugh* I never said it had to be HIGH quality content.

      Actually, we loved how the announcement video came out because it drove home some other points we make in the book about having fun with your content and not worrying about if it is absolutely perfect or not.

      We shot the video and loved the honest and fun approach. Would I have preferred it if all those big trucks didn't decide right then to go by? Sure. But, it is what it is and we are happy with how it turned out.

      • Popecarter88

        Please explain.

        Shouldn't businesses strive to produce HIGH quality content to attract customers? The video you released might be fun and honest, but it's difficult to hear because of the traffic noise. There is seemingly no thought to the positioning of the speakers or any effort at an artistic or creative presentation.

        And what about effort? It looks like you took one take with a Flip phone on a balcony and went with it. How is this producing “killer” content?

        Apologies, if I'm coming across as a jerk, but I'm curious why you would release this type of rudimentary content.

      • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

        Anyone creating content for the web should try to produce it at as high of a level as they can, but things such as cost and time often get in the way.

        In this case we didn't have the time and resources to go into a studio, but we had an HD cam and decided after a cup of coffee to film a little video. It wasn't overly planned, but rather something we thought was a good idea and just set up and filmed it. If we had waited until a better time and a better location we might never have created it.

        A business doesn't always have the time or resources either and we believe that in situations like that they should push forward and create what they can, when they can.

        Too may people get hung up in “production values” when in fact it is the message IN the content that is even more important. We assumed our approach would spark some conversation from people such as yourself, so I'm glad to see it worked perfectly.

  • DAD

    Another proud addition to the shelves known as “Charlie's (I don't call him CC) Accomplishments”.

    After nearly 37 years, it appears it may be time to build an additional set, because I think he is just getting started.

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Dad, I can't even begin to tell you how much a simple comment like this made my day. Thank you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ChefMark Mark C. Tafoya

    Way to go, bro. You rule!

    • http://www.cc-chapman.com/ C.C. Chapman

      Thanks man!

  • http://www.pjmullen.com/ PJ Mullen

    I am very excited for you C.C. With all you've accomplished in this space I've wondered when a book deal would come your way. I've learned a lot from the things you've done and am looking forward to reading it. So much so that I just pre-ordered it. Congratulations again.

  • http://twitter.com/abelniak Alan Belniak

    Awesome! I love the raw footage! I love how it's unrefined, but adds to the realism of the message (surely what you were going for). I can't wait to read it and review it!

  • http://twitter.com/abelniak Alan Belniak

    Awesome! I love the raw footage! I love how it's unrefined, but adds to the realism of the message (surely what you were going for). I can't wait to read it and review it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/sandrapearson1 Sandra Pearson

    WooHoo CC – Congratulations! I know from listening to Managing the Gray that this has long been a goal of yours. I'm happy to see you making it happen and I'm really looking forward to reading it. I just pre-ordered it – it will be a Christmas present from me to me (I'm very good to me!). Rock on CC!

  • http://www.davemadethat.com Dave Delaney

    WOO HOO! I'm so excited about this. I know it's going to rock!
    Best of luck man.

    Let me know if you need a nose to pick… better make that a brain. :D

  • http://www.twistimage.com/blog Mitch Joel – Twist Image

    You're writing a book and I'm smiling from ear to ear :)

    I can't wait to read it :)

  • http://www.ricardobueno.com Ricardo Bueno

    CC: just catching this through the feedreader… Congratulations and definitely looking forward to reading it! Diggin' the cover design too.

  • http://thoughtwrestling.com/blog Mark Dykeman

    Belated congratulations to you and Ann on the book deal!

  • http://twitter.com/Lifespring Steve Webb

    If anyone should be writing a book on this topic, it's you, C.C.! I'm thrilled to see it's almost here, and can't wait to read it. Congrats!

  • Scott Sigler

    I'm a little behind, just getting to this now. Should be a damn fine book!

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