Chris Brogan is a New York Times bestselling author of the book Trust Agents.

But if you think that’s why I’m excited to be interviewing him then you’re mistaken.  Chris Brogan is amazing not because of what he’s done or accomplished but because of who he is and what he believes.

What I love about Chris is his strong approach to bringing relationships back to online sales.  The concept is incredibly powerful and incredibly simple.

Below you’ll find a few questions that I asked Chris.  His answers are absolutely a must read for every person who’s working to build an online presence.

Does Being Friendly Really Make Sales?

Me: You’re an adamant supporter of bringing our friendly human face back to the internet. You want to make sales while at the same time actually caring about people and working to take care of their needs.

I’ve heard a lot of people actually reject this idea as weak marketing. Some people I’ve spoken with have argued that this style will actually lead to a lower income. How would you answer this?

Chris Brogan: I’m making more money than ever before. It took me a lot of work, but what I’ve learned is this: the method of shoving sales prospects into a funnel and grinding them down until someone cries uncle and buys is done.

I’ve found that relationship-based selling yields plenty more than the cold, hard boot of traditional advertising/marketing, when done with positive intent.

Me: What is your number one pet peeve when it comes to working with people online? What do people do online that really gets under your skin?

Chris Brogan: I’m really frustrated by armchair critics. I see a lot of people ready to trash other people’s efforts, but when I dive into what they’re doing, I don’t see any body of work on their websites. I don’t see them taking to stages. I don’t see them advancing the cause.

If you’re going to earn the right to complain and moan, do it by being better than the person you’re trashing.

Trust Agents: His New York Times Bestseller

Me: You recently co-authored a book called Trust Agents. What is it that separates Trust Agents from other books that deal with online business? Why should my readers and I purchase that book for ourselves?

Chris Brogan: Trust agents isn’t about tools, for one. It’s a book about how to be human at a distance. We show the mindset behind how we found our own success. Hopefully, with some experimentation and effort, you’ll be able to recreate what we’ve discovered.

This book won’t give you some formula for success. It’ll give you the heart behind the actions. And it’s 67% better than SkyMall.

Group Discussion

Chris is working hard to bring a human side back to the internet.  He’s an advocate of strong ethics, honesty and a genuine desire to add value to the lives of people we do business with online.

I highly recommend that you incorporate his philosophy into your online presence.

What about you?  Are you chasing sales or building relationships?  Are you trying to make it big online or are you working to bring value to the people around you?

Let’s talk about it.