Summary of “Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too” by Gary Vaynerchuk (2018)

Summary of

Entrepreneurship and StartupsMarketing and SalesEntrepreneurial MindsetSocial Media Marketing

Title: Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too

Author: Gary Vaynerchuk

Categories: Entrepreneurial Mindset, Social Media Marketing

Introduction

“Crushing It!” by Gary Vaynerchuk is a follow-up to his successful book “Crush It!” and serves as a comprehensive guide for entrepreneurs aiming to leverage social media and personal branding to build successful businesses. Vaynerchuk draws from his vast experience and includes numerous case studies and real-world examples to illustrate his points. The book emphasizes the importance of authenticity, hustle, and strategic use of social media platforms to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Chapter 1: The Path to Success

Major Points:

  1. The Importance of Personal Branding:

  2. Vaynerchuk stresses that personal branding is essential for differentiating oneself in a crowded market.

  3. Finding Your Passion:

  4. Identifying your passion is the first step in building a brand that resonates with your audience.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Start by listing your interests and identifying what excites you the most to narrow down your niche.
  • Action 2: Create a personal branding strategy that includes consistent messaging and visuals across all platforms.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Vaynerchuk mentions Kylie Jenner using Instagram effectively to build her cosmetics empire by connecting her personal brand with her business.
  • Example 2: Casey Neistat successfully used YouTube to share his passion for storytelling, which eventually led to him co-founding the media company Beme.

Chapter 2: Success Is in Your DNA

Major Points:

  1. Self-Awareness:

  2. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is critical for success.

  3. Authenticity:

  4. Authenticity builds trust and loyalty among your audience.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Take personality assessments and gather feedback to understand your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Action 2: Share personal stories and experiences with your audience to build authenticity.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Marie Forleo embraces her quirky personality in her online business training, which has endeared her to a large audience.
  • Example 2: Lewis Howes shares his journey from a former athlete to a successful entrepreneur, building a loyal following around his authenticity.

Chapter 3: The Honey Empire

Major Points:

  1. Providing Value:

  2. Gary emphasizes that providing value to your audience is essential over self-promotion.

  3. Community Building:

  4. Success comes from fostering a strong, engaged community.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Regularly produce and share high-quality, valuable content tailored to your audience’s needs.
  • Action 2: Engage with your community consistently through comments, forums, and social media interaction.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Pat Flynn’s commitment to helping others through his Smart Passive Income blog has built a dedicated community.
  • Example 2: The “Women Who Code” organization fosters a supportive community for women in tech through events and resources.

Chapter 4: The Eight Essentials

Major Points:

  1. Intent:

  2. Successful entrepreneurs have a clear purpose behind their actions.

  3. Patience:

  4. Building a brand takes time, requiring patience and long-term planning.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Define your “why” and align your actions with this purpose.
  • Action 2: Set long-term goals and break them down into achievable milestones.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Vaynerchuk himself displayed intent by posting wine videos consistently, knowing it would take time to grow his audience.
  • Example 2: Sarah Kauss, founder of S’well, stayed patient and focused on product quality, leading to her brand’s success over years.

Chapter 5: Influencer Marketing

Major Points:

  1. The Impact of Influencers:

  2. Leveraging influencers can extend your reach and credibility.

  3. Selecting the Right Influencers:

  4. Aligning with influencers who share your values is crucial.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Identify influencers in your niche and engage with them by sharing their content and building a relationship.
  • Action 2: Collaborate with influencers who have authentic engagement with their followers.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Fashion brands collaborating with Instagram influencers to showcase their products.
  • Example 2: Tech startups sending products to YouTube tech reviewers to gain exposure.

Chapter 6: Social Media Platforms

Major Points:

  1. Platform Selection:

  2. Each social media platform serves a different purpose and has unique user demographics.

  3. Content Consistency:

  4. Being active and consistent across chosen platforms maximizes visibility.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Research and select social media platforms where your target audience is most active.
  • Action 2: Develop a content calendar to ensure consistent posting and engagement.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Entrepreneur Shea Serrano leverages Twitter to promote his books and engage with his audience.
  • Example 2: The rise of Instagram Stories being used by personal brands to share daily, candid content.

Chapter 7: Monetizing Your Brand

Major Points:

  1. Multiple Income Streams:

  2. Diversifying income sources reduces risk and increases stability.

  3. Monetization Strategies:

  4. Strategies include affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and product sales.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Explore different monetization strategies and implement them where appropriate.
  • Action 2: Regularly review and adjust your monetization efforts based on performance and feedback.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: Vaynerchuk’s own example of monetizing his wine blog through wine sales and affiliate marketing.
  • Example 2: Lifestyle bloggers using affiliate links to recommend products to their followers.

Chapter 8: Jabs, Right Hooks, and Media

Major Points:

  1. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook:

  2. Gary’s principle of giving value (jabs) before asking for something in return (right hook).

  3. Content Marketing:

  4. The importance of using content to provide value and softly market your products or services.

Specific Actions:

  • Action 1: Follow the “80/20 rule” by offering value 80% of the time and promoting your products/services 20% of the time.
  • Action 2: Create engaging and educational content that addresses the needs or interests of your audience before presenting offers.

Concrete Examples:

  • Example 1: A fitness coach offering free workout tips on YouTube before promoting online coaching services.
  • Example 2: A tech influencer sharing in-depth product reviews and tutorials before releasing sponsored content.

Conclusion

Gary Vaynerchuk’s “Crushing It!” is a valuable resource for aspiring and established entrepreneurs alike, loaded with actionable insights and real-world examples. The guiding principles include the importance of personal branding, providing value, leveraging social media effectively, and maintaining authenticity. By following Vaynerchuk’s advice, entrepreneurs can build influential and successful businesses in the digital age.

Summary

In summary, “Crushing It!” teaches that success in today’s entrepreneurial landscape is rooted in a deep understanding of one’s self and audience, the strategic use of social media, and a commitment to delivering consistent value. Through concrete examples and practical advice, Gary Vaynerchuk provides a roadmap for building a strong, authentic brand that can withstand the test of time. With persistence, authenticity, and strategic action, any entrepreneur has the potential to crush it.

Entrepreneurship and StartupsMarketing and SalesEntrepreneurial MindsetSocial Media Marketing