Book Review: Spiraling Up Delivers on Its Mission

My calendar of weekly reading is full. 

It starts with the myriad of e-newsletters that populate my Email inbox -- Computerworld, Infoworld, Informationweek, TechCrunch, GigaOm, Washington Technology, Potomac Techwire, TechBisnow, Fast Company, among others.  Each delivers timely news, as well as a unique perspective on the trends shaping the technology, telecom and security markets.

My night table at home is stacked with issues of the Washington Post, New York Times, BusinessWeek, Fortune and Forbes.  Again, each provides a meaningful and differentiated take on the news.

And finally, my Google Reader brings to me blog posts from public relations firms, social media marketing consultancies, ad agencies, analysts and other pundits.  I subscribe to more than 50 of these musings because they often provide an unfiltered take on what's happening in the industry.

Earlier this month I agreed to review a book about growth strategies for professional services firms because I respected how the PR practitioner pitched me.  Admittedly, I kind of hoped Sean wouldn't follow through and send me a copy of the book.  He did...and I'm now quite happy about it.

That's because Spiraling Up turned out to be an engaging and informative read.  Written by a couple of the top executives at creative and branding firm Hinge, the text steers clear of the heavy brow, academic ramblings that often define business strategy books.

Rather, Spiraling Up gets right to the heart of its mission -- ideas to help leaders of professional services firms more quickly scale their organization.  The writing is in straight-forward English with recommendations supported by extensive research and interviews, rather than experience-based hunches.

Take a stroll over to the publication's promotional Web site and download a copy for free.  It only takes a few hours to read and even the busiest of executives will find it time well spent.

Blogger Relations Done Right

The increased profile and readership of this blog has raised my distaste for the lazy public relations hacks who pepper me with pitches for products and services that are in no way consistent with my editorial focus.

Here are a couple of off-target missives from December:

--A new flavor of chewing gum infused with vitamins
--Gambling trends among China's working class
--A Web enabled garage door system 
  
I'm a PR person by training, so I would like to think I am more tolerant than your typical journalist who has spent a career wading through this stuff.  Yet, even I am tempted to reply with a curt inquiry about whether the hack in question has actually read a post before sticking me on their spam...er...distribution list.

Today brought a bright light of encouragement that all is not lost in the world of blogger relations.  I've included below an exchange I had with Sean McVey of Hinge Marketing, whose thoughtful and targeted pitch will most likely lead me to invest time in writing a review of the book he's pushing.

The third-party credibility and awareness garnered from effective public relations remains incredibly valuable and contributes to the success of an organization.  Like all things worth having, it just takes an investment of time, thinking and consideration to get it right.

Good show, Sean!

Hi Marc,
I have been reading Strategic Guy since late summer and it has been a consistent source of information for me. Our company only dabbles in Social Media but we are learning.

I was wondering if you would be interested in reading a book our company recently wrote and launched. It is called Spiraling Up - How to Build a High Growth, High Value Professional Services Firm. Based on interviews of 300 CEO's, it documents what high growth companies have in common.

We are looking for feedback on the book from other marketing and PR companies and we'd love to know what you think about it. Let me know and I will send you a hard copy. Or, you can get the soft copy at www.spiralingupbook.com. 

Thanks,

Sean

------------------------------------------------

Hey Sean,

 

Thanks for the note and the offer to forward along a copy of the book.  I'd welcome the opportunity to review it and, if appropriate, write a post with my thoughts.

 

Here is my work address:

 

Marc Hausman

Strategic Communications Group, Inc.

1400 Spring Street

Suite 330

Silver Spring, MD  20910

 

I would also like to compliment you on the professionalism of your Email.  Unfortunately, most of the notes I receive are from public relations reps who refuse to take the time to actually read my blog, before sending me some off-target, rambling pitch.

 

I hope it's cool if I cite you as an example of blogger relations done well.  Enjoy your evening,

 

Marc