What could you possibly write about?!

I deal with this question all the time, as a blogger. Sometimes, you feel like you covered every possible angle and you can’t think up anything new to talk about. Our industry may change from time to time, but basically, it stays the same. When I was sent a link to Rich Schefren’s new release, I was a little irritated. I just read a Schefren report a few months ago, what could he possibly have to add to that?! And frankly, I’m a little sick of hearing revelations about social marketing- it’s last years news, unless you have concrete tips, I don’t want to hear how it’ll revolutionize my marketing.

Self Branding- The Untouched Niche

The Maven Matrix Manifesto is, surprisingly, all about self branding. We’ve all heard the buzz-word “authority”. By now, many of us are sick of hearing it, because it seems out of reach. Branding your business is one thing, and it must be done as professionally as possible. But in the world of social marketing (agh! Those words again!!), you have to make sure you have a very accurate and specific personal brand (I first read about it at Chris Garrett’s blog).

Skipping the sales pitch and getting to the meat

If there’s one thing I hate about Schefren’s reports, it’s his pitchy style. So I always begine with what should be skipped. The Maven Matrix Manifesto is no different. Save your time curency and skip page one and don’t stop until you get to page 26. At page 70, close the book. In other words: Only read pages 26-70 of The Maven Matrix Manifesto.

Self branding The Maven Matrix Manifesto way

Pages 26-70 of The Maven Matrix Manifesto are written like a work book. Schefren explains a concept, then leaves a few blank lines for you to fill in. Take the time and fill in the blanks, I think you’ll feel pleasantly focused by page 70.

Schefren divides the aspects of self branding to 11 steps. Each step is a clear thought into a different aspect of self branding. Wether it’s finding empathy towards your target market, establishing your public persona, creating your story, or even adopting specific repeating behaviors. The true value of this report is the devision of the term “branding” into so many sub-catagories. This way you really take a look at every nook and cranny of your public persona and you can really make decisions as to what it actually is.

A personal plead to Rich Schefren

I can’t take it anymore! Mr. Schefren, your launches are huge. Please pay someone to do your e-book design and branding!!! Please! I’m begging!!! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease!

Ok, I’m alright now. I guess I have no choice but to address Schefren’s terrible design. It’s just awful and something has got to be said, lest some of my beloved readers may think to themselves, accidentally, that this is the way to do it. I also think, that as an industry leader, Schefren isn’t giving a good example, here. I get it- design is not what makes the sale, but the easier it becomes to do good design, the more people will be doing it and you’ll be left behind.

Why The Maven Matrix Manifesto’s Design and Branding Sucks

I get the use of The Matrix. It was a cool movie and just the use of the word could draw in many people. The downside is, the word has nothing to do with the report. NOTHING! Using that picture, I’m almost sure, is actually illegal (I think E-books are safe for the time being, but the copyright laws will get there sooner or later. Be cautious and spend a buck on StockPhoto, will ya?). As for branding, I find the use of The Matrix confusing at best. And frankly the whole red pill/blue pill thing has been done to death. While we’re at it, The Matrix is a little old, too. (Movie-time is much quicker than normal-time)

I’d like to take the opportunity to give kudos on the almost complete unity of display of images, throughout the report- the round corners- nice touch. However, if you already accomplished that, why is the image on page 40 neglected? And while we’re at it, a lot of the images are stretched- what up?!

One last thing and we’re done: page 33 is actually blurry and pixelized. Oh, sorry, one more thing: Get an editor, just because it’s not for print, doesn’t mean there should be typing slips, like double words, or missing letters- there’s really no excuse for that kind of suff.


Even though I hate Schefren’s design, and disagree with his methods, The Maven Matrix is an extraordinarily valuable testing ground for your self branding. I’ve yet to see someone take this subject apart like this- great job!

Tags: rich schefren, The Maven Matrix Manifesto, free report, biulding your Public persona, writing bloggers, Authority, social marketing, Personal brand