CRMSOL FAQ

 

 

This FAQ will answer questions about the book and its history, how the 4th edition is going to be organized, etc.

 

What is CRM at the Speed of Light?

 

I'm so glad you asked. CRM at the Speed of Light is called by some (for real) the "Bible of CRM" or the "Bible of the Industry." It has been through 3 editions since 2001 and is now in 8 languages. It has a couple of special editions too - such as the Tata-McGraw-Hill edition for distribution in only India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. It has another one that is somewhat of an urban legend - an Australian Student Edition (based on the 1st edition of the book) that I've heard of a few times but never seen. I have all the other ones. The book has been getting five star reviews for the most part since day one and has sold a helluva lot of copies - 6 figures is about what I can tell you.  It has grown in page size from 360 to 480 to 671 over the years and in bulk - now 3 pounds - so I use it to brain people I don't like.

 

Why are you writing a fourth edition? You said you were done after the third one, you liar.

 

Weeeeeeeellll, I guess I did lie. Actually the reason is that the world had undergone such a dramatic social change (sometimes wrongly called Web 2.0, but who am I to complain) that it impacted the business ecosystem and the way that business needed to be conducted in ways that when I hung up my spurs with the 3rd edition, I couldn't anticipate.  As much as writing books is fun, its also a pain in the butt, so the change had to be VERY dramatic to make me do the 4th one. But we're entering an era where there is going to be a CRM 2.0 or, if you prefer, a social CRM and that needs a whole new underpinning. Additionally, as always, there is this tendency to throw baby out with bathwater and to hear the social software side of CRM say, "you don't need the operational anymore, just the collaborative. Nuh-uh. You need both and this book will make that case VERY strongly.  Life just isn't so damned black and white, though it is easy to think about it that way, isn't it?

 

Is there going to be a fifth edition?

 

No, definitely, maybe, most likely, possibly not.

 

 

So what should I do to make this work?

 

Take a look at the CRMSOL Community FAQ. That should help.

 

 

 

CRMSOL COMMUNITY FAQ

 

This FAQ will answer questions about the community, who can participate, why this is a private wiki and not public etc.

 

Why is this a private wiki?

 

Because while I love and trust the wisdom of the crowd, I'm writing a book that has deadlines and that needs to have attribution and needs to have its research corroborated - the rules of the publishing world. This way, with a private wiki, I know the people I'm dealing with and I can sleep nights, which might be a first in my long and eventful life.

 

 

How do I register?

 

This is actually a funny question, because to read this, you have to already know the answer since you can't be here without registering.  But, in the interests of something or another, here's the drill. You register on MyCRMCareer.com. You fill out your p

 

Am I going to be writing the book?

 

If "I" means "me" a.k.a. Paul Greenberg, well, then, of course, you dolt!! If "I" means, "members of the wiki" odds are the answer to that is no but that isn't a blanket statement. I'm happy to entertain the idea of some of the members of this community writing something but I have to be very circumscribed in this, because the key to a good author is that their "voice" is clear in the writing. The greatest compliments that I get for the book is that its like having a conversation with me - and that from people who have never spoken to me.  So don't be too shy about it and ask, but realize that the additional writers are going to be few and far between.

 

Are there other ways for me to be in the book besides attribution

 

I have no problem quoting you or "having a conversation" with you potentially in the book. If you're a subject matter expert and you provide something that I think needs inclusion, then I'm happy to quote you about it - and you can be in that way.  if you think that there is something that I haven't thought of, let me know. I'm wide open to you being in the book, if there's a reason.  Additionally, if you provide a significant amount of input that I use, a contributing author status on the inside cover of the book is definitely a possibility.

 

What do I do to participate?

 

Check out the different pages - each of which is a chapter in the book and, with your name identified prominently, start throwing ideas at me that I might use that make sense for the chapter you're in.  Throw up a video or audio file or a link to a video or audio file or a document if you care to. Again, take care to identify yourself as the provider of the item or the idea. If I decide to use the idea you'll be attributed in the book.  And potentially you could win a prize too.  Vote on the prizes that you want to see me give out - but be reasonable. I'm not superrich or even rich, as far as I know.

 

I'm a vendor. Can I participate?

 

I actually encourage vendor participation - big, medium or small. Established or new. Each page, if you notice has an area where vendors who are appropriate to the chapter can be mentioned. If you're a vendor, feel free to nominate yourself. Also, you'll see a schedule a phone call or a demo on the page. Feel free to enter the calendar the dates that you'd like to demo your software/services to me.  I may not be available on those dates. I will call or email and confirm, ask to change the dates or say no thank you, but as a vendor, its up to you to be aggressive and push for it. That's why the appointment calendar is available on every chapter page.  The story is that I will name a vendor the "Best of" or "up and coming" in each chapter of the book but I certainly wouldn't know everyone that's out there for the subject written about. So I'll have to count on you to be good marketers and public relations agents.  Trick is to make sure that you do what you have to do to