All Aboard the ClueTrain – The Internet Marketing Bible
March 12, 2008 at 8:00 am | In internet marketing | 11 CommentsThe Marketer Review has moved to
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The ClueTrain has been on track since 1999, and what used to be its prophesy is now full on reality.
I’ve heard of the Cluetrain before, I’ve even reached the site on numerous, separate occasions, but I never really stopped to read it. A week ago a friend recommended it, so I read it, and boy does that prove the Cluetrain point!
What’s a Cluetrain?
Cluetrain started out as a 95 point theses. It became a book, in which each of its creators, Rick Levine, Christopher Locke (also known as RageBoy), Doc Searls and David Weinberger, contributes his piece. You can buy it on Amazon
What’s it About?
The ClueTrain is all about communication and how the internet changed communication.
Why Should You Care?
Because internet marketing is all about communicating. By now, you must have heard the phrase “social marketing”. If not here, then on any other blog and in any other newsletter. Social marketing is the hot new trend of 2008 and everybody’s is joining the band-wagon. Some with great success- others fall on their face. The ClueTrain Manifesto predicted it all.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Human
The Cluetrain is pro-human/anti-consumerism and as such liable to (and did) piss people off. Mainly advertisers, corporations, PR people and marketers. However it’s writers take a notable stand, in which they acknowledge that behind a corporation stand people. And this is, in effect, their whole point. These people need to be heard, they need to shed their office suits, sit in their bunny slippers and casually speak and laugh with other people. Other departments, management, customers- everybody needs to communicate.
Not a How-to Guide but a Manifesto
Finally a manifesto worthy of its name. The Cluetrain isn’t a how-to book and you won’t find any tips and tricks, but you will be inspired and you will need to reread. The Cluetrain is the bible of internet marketing conduct. Understanding the internet-user is key to successful internet marketing, and Cluetrain can clue you in to how internet users utilize the web. And it clues you in to how you can make a sale.
The Cluetrain is Self Exemplary
Everybody’s talking about things that go viral, but nobody really knows the magic formula. The Cluetrain is one of those magical viral things. Something that was emailed down from person to person, because people found it to be of value. This is the second time I passed on marketing related information to loved ones and friends (the first being Simpleoligy 101), and guess what, I wasn’t even asked to, with a despicable, low-down “tell a friend and get some free stuff” page. I just did it because I thought they’d enjoy it. I thought that those specific people would find this kind of reading material interesting, I thought it would bring them some sort of spiritual value. Cluetrain is that valuable- so valuable you’d just want to tell a friend about it.
And that’s exactly what lays at the core of the Cluetrain theory. People want to communicate. The want to communicate about things of value. They want to communicate about things of value to them. Can you provide these kind of things?
The Cluetrain is the internet marketing bible.
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Thank you for reminding me of the cluetrain. I haven’t read it in years, and it is high time I do.
Also, thanks for the simpleology review the other day. I do not buy in totally to the method, but I do like some of what is said. That was also a very interesting read.
Comment by Rob D — March 13, 2008 #
Hey Rob,
The Cluetrain Manifesto is an incredible read. I just couldn’t put it down. It isn’t a marketing report, it’s philosophy, and when it’s the type that agrees with you, you get inspired.
Glad to warp you through my time tunnel.
As for Simpleoligy, I use it daily, and it really helped me detect my daily distraction faux pas.
Good luck to you,
Tali
Comment by talishapiro — March 13, 2008 #
I’m always looking for reading recommendations so was thrilled to see this here. Going to have to add it to my “library request” list and see if I agree with your assessment. Thanks for the lead.
Comment by Kathryn — March 13, 2008 #
[...] presents All Aboard the ClueTrain – The Internet Marketing Bible posted at The Marketer Review, saying, “The ClueTrain has been on track since 1999, and what [...]
Pingback by Working at Home on the Internet — March 14, 2008 #
Well that’s what I’m here for, really, Kathryn- to recommend. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. When you’re done, please come back and share you’re opinions with us
Comment by talishapiro — March 14, 2008 #
seriously, i’ve seen the cluetrain manifasto before, and i was clueless. call me stupid, but i just could not understand the site.
Comment by Jansie Blom — March 14, 2008 #
Oh Jans, I wouldn’t call you stupid, just clue(train)less.
Just download the book and have a good read. The site is so unimportant they haven’t updated it since 1999.
Comment by talishapiro — March 14, 2008 #
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