MmmmmMmmmmm… That new-book smell is now wafting throughout the place.
If you don’t know the book, Content Rules is the how-to field guide to creating the kind of blogs, videos, FAQs, product pages (or any kind of content!) that will help your organization grow. “Content,” of course, is the hot topic in online business. As a former journalist and longtime write and editor, I love that. I love to see companies creating content as a cornerstone of their marketing.
But here’s the thing: Much of what I see is mediocre (and I’m being generous here). My work-hubby C.C. Chapman and I wrote this book to help anyone create the kind of stuff that will truly set you apart.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the paperback edition of Content Rules comes with 21 percent more text. The 11 content “rules” were brought to life by the illustrationally gifted Sean Tubridy. 
One of the hallmarks of rockin’ content is that it’s warm and human, and so from Sean’s imagination sprung forth Lugnut, who has the skin of a tin man but the soul of a poet.
Lugnut offers a kind of guided tour of each rule. To the right here is one of my favorite illustrations from Rule #7: Show, Don’t Just Tell.
Before working with Sean on this project, C.C. and I didn’t know him. But we connected because Sean publishes (you guessed it!) content online. I stumbled across his illustration work on Flickr. Trolled through his other work on his blog. Stalked him on Twitter. And here we are.
In his day job, Sean works for my friend Kristina Halvorson’s content strategy consultancy Brain Traffic. We met exactly a year ago at Confab, Brain Traffic’s inaugural content strategy conference. 
I’m only explaining all this so I can set up this photo, and show you what Sean looks like. I probably don’t need to say this, but that’s him on the left. (I’m the other person.)
The paperback edition is available wherever paperbacks are sold. At Amazon of course, or from your favorite bookseller.
So hey! Want to win a copy of the new paperback Content Rules autographed by both C.C. Chapman and me? Here’s what to do: Create an inspired tweet of this post and include the hashtag #ContentRules. We’ll pick a winner at random. And by “random” I mean we’ll pick the tweet we like the most. Ready? Go.
Thanks for writing this book. As an upstart Inbound Marketing firm, this was the exact fuel I needed. Hopefully, we can run into each other at the 2012 Hubspot Inbound Conference.
Jared Broussard
BlinkJar Media
Founder and CEO
http://www.blinkjarmedia.com
Thanks, Jared! I certainly hope so. Thank you for the kudos!
Just read about your book via Pinterest and I am very excited to read! Is the Kindle version of the book the new and updated version? I saw a publishing date of May 22, 2012. I want the newest edition! Thanks!
Hi Ann,
Your book arrived yesterday. And, as of midnight last night, I’m a wee bit shy of half-way through it. Love everything I’ve read, but the editorial calendar ideas have been gold for me. Will be sharing and discussing this book with my marketing team.
I’ve gotten to know David Meerman Scott in the past few years, so I knew the book would be solid. But, I must admit, I love the humanity and humor and personality you and C.C. inject into your writing. Refreshing. In recent years, I’ve greatly cut down reading marketing/biz books, opting for lit and poetry. So thank you for creating marketing landscape worth wandering!
Hi Tisha — Checking on the Kindle pub date. Not sure yet but I’ll ask the publisher.
@Keith — I can’t thank you enough for your comment. It truly fills my heart to hear that you appreciate the writing! And I’m not exaggerating there. I’m with you — I’m practically allergic to boring business books… so we intentionally set out to create a book that was different: Readable, fun, AND educational! Thank you so much.
Great post Ann, and thank you for the generous offer to win your book! You a Gary Vaynerchuk fan? I’d love to know more about what you say on content, great to connect with you!
Hi Handley and Chapman,
I bought the book today (29 Aug, 12) from nearby office bookstore, event that I do hope it could help me get smarter in the content optimization to my website and customer.
ISBN: 978-1-118-23260-6 (For your Conversion info.)
DK@Greenlattes.com
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