Crushing It!

About the Author

Gary Vaynerchuk is a name synonymous with entrepreneurship and social media marketing. As the chairman and CEO of VaynerX, a $150-million-plus media holding agency, and the head of VaynerMedia and PureWow, Gary has established himself as one of the foremost marketing experts in the world. His influence extends beyond traditional media; he is a prolific angel investor and venture capitalist with investments in Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Uber, and Venmo. Vaynerchuk is also a four-time New York Times best-selling author, known for his dynamic personality and visionary insights.

Main Idea

"Crushing It!" by Gary Vaynerchuk is a comprehensive guide on leveraging social media platforms to build a personal brand and achieve entrepreneurial success. The book expands on the principles of his previous work, "Crush It!", emphasizing the importance of personal branding in today's digital age. Vaynerchuk offers detailed strategies for utilizing various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat. The book also includes real-life success stories from entrepreneurs who have followed his advice to create substantial, fulfilling businesses. "Crushing It!" is not merely about financial gain but about living life on one's terms through passion, authenticity, and relentless hard work.

Table of Contents

1. Get Pumped
2. The Path Is All Yours
3. What (Still) Matters
4. The Eighth Essential -- Content
5. What’s Stopping You?
6. The Only Thing You Need to Give Yourself to Crush It
7. Get Discovered
8. Platforms
• Musical.ly
• Snapchat
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Podcasts
• Voice-First

Get Pumped

The opening chapters of "Crushing It!" set the stage for the rest of the book by emphasizing the potential of influencer marketing. Vaynerchuk argues that influencer marketing is poised to take a significant share of traditional marketing’s audience. With platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat dominating user attention, he highlights how brands have tripled their social media spending since 2009. He provides staggering statistics: one in every five minutes on mobile is spent on Facebook's apps, and over 3 billion snaps are created daily on Snapchat.

"The Internet is the mainstream. You are in complete control of how the world sees you, how often and in what context." - Gary Vaynerchuk

Vaynerchuk emphasizes that anyone can build an online profile and monetize their influence, explaining that even with a modest following, significant income can be generated. He introduces the concept of personal branding, which transcends platforms and products, urging readers to think beyond their current successes and continually seek new opportunities.

The Path Is All Yours

Vaynerchuk encourages readers to take control of their destiny by embracing the opportunities presented by the digital age. He uses examples to illustrate how individuals can pivot from one niche to another while maintaining their personal brand. For instance:

• An expectant mother starting a pregnancy podcast and then writing a book on raising kids with anxiety.
• A wine blogger using his platform to become an expert in business communication.
• A project manager launching a nature-oriented podcast and eventually creating a series of how-to videos.

The key is to create a powerful personal brand that is not limited to any one platform or topic. Vaynerchuk emphasizes that the Internet offers unprecedented control over one's public image, allowing for continuous growth and diversification.

What (Still) Matters

Before diving into platform-specific strategies, Vaynerchuk stresses the foundational elements crucial for success: