(Note to reader: I’ve a copy of Trust Agents by Chris Brogan and Julian Smith to giveaway. All details can be found at the end of this post.)

Occasionally you come across a book that changes the way you think. The Cluetrain Manifesto did this for me, as did Seth Godin’s Tribes. Well I think that Trust Agents is another one to add to that list. I say, I think, because strangely Trust Agents contains nothing I didn’t already know, though much of it was bubbling away at a subconscious level. What this book does is to bring these thoughts to clarity, condensing years of experience of interacting on the internet into a set of clear rules that will alter the way I work on a day-to-day basis.

In summary Chris Brogan and Julian Smith suggest that the way to gain influence in any community (especially those based online) is to become, what they term, a Trust Agent. In essence this is a person that helps to facilitate other people’s interactions, adding value along the way. The pair offer a guideline of six areas in which a person can focus to develop their talents as a Trust Agent.

1. Make Your Own Game – This is a technique where an individual finds their own niche, or way of doing business, that separates them from their competitors.

2. One of Us - A mixture of building empathy and conversation with the people you are trying to influence and connecting with the key players in any given market area.

3. Archimedes Effect – Understanding how to spot and manipulate leverage.

4. Agent Zero – Connecting with others and building small but powerful networks.

5. Human Artist – Learning how to interact effectively with people on a daily basis.

6. Build Armies - How to build and lead groups of people to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Ultimately it is difficult to do this excellent book justice in a short review. What I can say is that the content of the book will change the way you think about the internet. If you are serious about doing business, or building a community, online then this is a must read book.

To have a chance to win a copy of Trust Agents all you have to do is leave a ‘pick me’ comment by 3pm (GMT) October 23, then I’ll pick a winner at random. This competition is open to all.

Alternatively you can buy a copy of Trust Agents here.