Tara Hunt wrote The Whuffie Factor. The concept of Whuffie was first put forth by Cory Doctorow in his book Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom. In short, Whuffie means 'Social Capital', the wealth generated by your relationships and your deeds that affect other people.
Think of Whuffie as a curency based on reputation. Right-handed Whuffie comes from groups you agree with. Left handed Whuffie from those you do not.

The lesson from Whuffie: Make yourself and/or your business human .

1. Do not be a community freeloader.
2. Do not misuse Social media tools.
3. Have patience - ou won’t see the fruit of your labor immediately.
4. Make as many social relationships as you can.

If you want to become an influencer,
- someone who is whuffie rich
- whose ideas spread
- who is well-loved

You need
- credibility

It doesn't happen overnight

5 ways to raise whuffie:
1: Turn the bullhorn around: Focus on individuals. Understand the needs of a community. Give it a voice.
2: Become part of the community you serve

Figure out:
- who is it that you serve?
- what problem are you solving?
- for whom?
- knowing that makes it easier
- then join them!
- not as market research
- not as a voyeur
- not to sell anyone anything
- if you join a community with the wrong intentions
- authenticity matters
- what you need to figure out is
- learn from that
- integrate it into what you are offering
- lastly figure out
- why would they give a damn?

3: Create amazing customer experiences

4: Embrace the chaos
Controlling the message is out. There are many benefits to openness and transparency.

Benefits of embracing the chaos:
- you’ll be better prepared for the unexpected
- you’ll join in the conversation that is already happening and be welcomed for this move
- it will bring in the opportunity for collaboration
- it will make your ideas stronger
- it will create supporters you didn’t know you had

5: Find your higher purpose.
- born out of passion?
- serving a need?
- fighting the good fight?
- maybe that stuff doesn’t interest you

Think customer-centrically, not customer-centric
- You do everything you can to keep your customers on your
- You have a long list of customer relations policies. Any exception website. to those policies has to go up the chain of command for approval.
- You measure number of visitors and time spent on your website as whether you are successful.
- You need to create multiple instructional videos so that your customers will understand how
- When budgets get tightened, you make cutbacks in areas like to use your product. customer service, marketing, support staff and design.
- You demand social media strategies that win over the ‘influencers’ to blog or tweet
- You are bothered by a customer describing your product in their about your product. own words that doesn’t match your brand.

Customer-centric -
You send customers to other websites. Your customers are doing things with your product you never dreamed and are posting videos.
-You measure how many people refer their friends to you as success.
- Influencers are adding you as friends on social networks.
- When budgets get tightened, you tighten operational costs.
- You work with your competitors towards better customer experiences for all.
- Your only customer service policy is to do right by the customer.
- You know you compete for your customers’ attention with everyone.

Help others go further
- Spread love
- Do well by doing good
- Think customer-centrically
- Help others go further
- Spread love

Combine all of these:
- turn the bullhorn around - become part of the community you serve - create amazing experiences - embrace the chaos - find your higher purpose

Thus you will become whuffie rich:
=
better word of mouth
- repeat sales
- customer loyalty

= big, fat increase to your bottom line.

[From the Great Books  Series. Also see The Success Manual  - Encyclopedia of Advice, which contains summaries of 100+ Most useful books.]