Confessions Of A Media Manipulator

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Episode #369 of Six Pixels of Separation – The Twist Image Podcast is now live and ready for you to listen to.

There are certain people and brands who know how to manipulate the media. Not in a nefarious or evil way (those kinds exist as well). They manipulate the media to draw multiple layers of attention to their causes, products, brands and services. While young in age, Ryan Holiday seems to have a knack for driving attention to things like fashion brands and authors unlike any other. You could call him a PR professional, but his seminal book, Trust Me I’m Lying: Confessions Of A Media Manipulator, was not only a bestselling book, helped garner Holiday a ton of attention but nurtured his title as, Media Manipulator. He’s worked with American Apparel, Tucker Max, James Altucher and many others. In this chat, Ryan talks about the difference between a publicity stunt (a moment in time) to creating something that makes people say, "do you remember when…" (something legendary). Think you’re really marketing? Listen to this. Enjoy the conversation… 

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation – The Twist Image Podcast #369.

2 comments

  1. I think the most valuable marketing expertise Ryan Holiday can offer is not his work with controversial clients but how to successfully promote yourself. For example, how Holiday gets 4+ stars reviews on his book on Amazon, branding and positioning himself as a media insider coming clean about its dark arts.
    Obviously doing the marketing for a big company great for someone’s career in of itself, but working in a company that gives you a license to provoke is even better for your personal brand. It gives you the publicity/notoriety you can milk for years writing books, doing consulting, etc.
    Marketing media manipulation has a bad rep than other types of communication but all media is biased and serving some interests. It’s not any better or worse to make you to buy something versus influencing your political ideology, etc. The onus is on the individual these days to develop their critical thinking skills and be skeptical/analytic about everything they hear and read.

  2. Came in with an open mind, but listening to this left me with the impression I have eavesdropped on a Journalism undergrad struggling to outline his senior thesis.

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