Micro mavens are introduced in my book - microDOMINATION: How To Leverage Social Media and Content Marketing to Build a Mini-Business Empire Around Your Personal Brand (published by Wiley). I describe Micro mavens as a new breed of creative entrepreneur who use social media technologies to develop their platform, build their personal brand and their community of fans and followers, and grow their mini-business empire, often from the comfort of their home (or on the road somewhere). In this SlideShare presentation, I outline the seven powerful characteristics micro mavens share. What do they do regularly and consistently that sets them apart from the pack? What behaviours do they exhibit that contributes to the continued growth of their public profile and personal reputation and, ultimately, the development of their business? MORE - http://microdominationbook.com/

1. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
By Trevor Young - @trevoryoung

2. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
“Be consistently useful.
Isn’t that the key to
influence anywhere?”
JASON FALLS ~ @jasonfalls
Co-author No Bullshit Social Media
Jason Falls (right) with Trevor Young at BlogWorld LA
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

3. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
MICRO MAVENS defined …
Micro mavens are a new breed of creative entrepreneur
who use social media technologies to develop their
platform, build their personal brand and their
community of fans and followers, and grow their minibusiness empire, often from the comfort of their home
or on the road somewhere. They’re at once digitally smart,
self sufficient and generous with their knowledge and
experience.
Examples covered in the book microDOMINATION
include Gary Vaynerchuk, Jonathan Fields, Danielle
LaPorte, Chris Guillebeau, Trey Ratcliff, Marie Forleo,
Darren Rowse, Chris Brogan, Natalie Sisson, Brian Solis,
Mari Smith, Mignon Fogarty and Cliff Ravenscraft.
You may not be aware of these names, but within their
particular sector or niche they are well known, highly
respected and very influential.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

4. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
Here are the
seven powerful
characteristics of
MICRO MAVENS
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

5. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
1. The Power of Authenticity
The art of keeping it real! When it comes
to micro mavens, what you see is what you
get. Of course, this is the antithesis of how
TV and film celebrities operate, where
everything about them tends to be
planned, staged and highly ‘airbrushed’!
Authenticity can be a powerful strategy:
• Taking people ‘behind the velvet rope’
of your life and your business builds a
greater sense of connection.
• Adhering to high degrees of openness
and transparency builds trust.
• Showing your authentic self
consistently online as well as IRL (in
real life) strengthens your personal
brand.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

6. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
2. The Power of Blogging
A well-maintained blog (or content hub)
sits pretty close to the core of the micro
maven brand – it’s the foundation of their
business and the digital heart of their
personal and professional brand. A blog …
• Helps you get found online.
• Ensures you have a steady stream of
content to share via social networking
sites.
• Gives your fans something to share
online with their friends and followers.
• Provides a platform from which to
promote your products and services.
• Helps you gain clarity around your
thoughts, opinions and ideas.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

7. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
3. The Power of Social Participation
Micro mavens understand the power,
context and nuance of the social web
– they get the fact that participating
on social networks with enthusiasm
and authenticity can build your
profile, your reputation as well as your
business. Social media helps micro
mavens in numerous ways:
• Engaging with new fans and
followers (and staying in touch
with existing ones).
• Increasing their reach globally no
matter where they are in the world.
• Building relationships with media
and key influencers.
• Engendering trust and enhancing
their personal influence.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

8. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
4. The Power of Relentless Giving
The practice of solving people’s problems
by consistently creating and distributing
free content has been described by best
selling business author BRIAN SOLIS as
“relentless giving”.
Relentless giving is an attitude that sets
micro mavens apart from the ‘also-rans’
and the ‘wannabes’. It takes time, energy
and not inconsiderable effort to get up
every day and consistently deliver value to
your community (without the expectation
of anything in return). Micro mavens give
relentlessly by:
• Teaching and sharing ideas.
• Responding to people’s queries.
• Creating content of high value.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

9. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
5. The Power of Building a Community
This is where micro mavens really come into their
own (and where the real smart marketing begins).
Firstly, the micro maven attracts an audience by
providing compelling content via their blog or
podcast; they then turn that audience into a tribe of
passionate fans and followers, a community of
advocates who will over time:
• Share the micro maven’s content with their own
personal networks.
• Amplify the micro maven’s opinions and ideas
through conversation, making them an integral
part of their worldview.
• Talk about them in glowing terms, including
recommending their products and services.
• And importantly, buy their stuff, thus keeping
them in business!
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

10. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
6. The Power of Generating Revenue from Multiple Sources
The micro maven business model is highly diversified. While some might parlay their
personal brand into a traditional bricks-and-mortar business (such as a consulting
firm with an office and staff), more likely they will remain virtual and generate
revenue from endeavours such as …
•
•
•
•
•
Speaking, training, coaching.
Running their own events or online membership sites.
Developing and selling their own training and information products.
Writing books or selling blog sponsorship packages to advertisers.
Becoming paid advocates or ambassadors for companies and brands.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

11. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
“Today’s empire of one has to have a
diversified business model… your blog
is just one extension of what you do,”
says Lisa Stone, co-founder and CEO of
blogher.com (on-stage at BlogWorld LA 2011
with Mitch Joel and Deanna Brown).
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

12. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
7. The Power of Pressing the Flesh
While micro mavens are active in the virtual world,
don’t think for one moment they sit in front of their
computer in the basement all day, wearing pyjamas.
Micro mavens understand the power of online
social media is in the relationships you build with
people offline.
That’s why they invest time:
• Attending conferences and events connecting
with fans and followers.
• Touring heavily (including to out-of-the-way
places) when promoting a book.
• Organising informal meetups to ‘press the flesh’
with readers of their blog, or listeners of their
podcast.
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

13. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
When his first book Crush It was launched,
social media celebrity and entrepreneurial
micro maven GARY VAYNERCHUK hit the
road undertaking what he called the
‘Hudson Hustle Tour’. He visited Hudson
News & Bookseller outlets in six airports
within a 24-hour period, taking advantage
of the opportunity to meet and chat with
his growing legion of fans and followers.
<<< Gary Vaynerchuk shakes hands with a new fan at
his Crush It! book signing at Dallas Fort Worth
airport. PIC – Matt Sitomer, Vaynermedia
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

14. The 7 Powerful Characteristics of ‘Micro Mavens’
Become
a
micro
maven
1.
2.
3.
4.
Develop your platform
Build your brand
Grow your business
Live your dream
@trevoryoung | trevoryoung.me | microdominationbook.com

15. About TREVOR YOUNG
Trevor is an author, speaker, consultant
and adviser on using social media and
content marketing to build your business
and personal brand.
He is a former journalist with two
decades’ experience in public relations
and marketing communications.
Follow Trevor on Twitter - @trevoryoung
http://microdominationbook.com/
http://trevoryoung.me