Page Two Books released Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap by Margot Bloomstein on March 2. The Silver Unicorn Bookstore hosted her Tuesday launch event with an interview by Lylah Alphonse of the Boston Globe. On Thursday, Magers & Quinn in Minneapolis hosted graphic designer Carolyn Porter, author of Marcel’s Letters: A Font and the Search for One Man’s Fate, and she interviewed Margot. After the hour-long interview, they recorded some bonus footage to talk about the cover design process which involved consulting a trapeze artist to make sure people would trust that the two circus performers shown weren’t going to fall. Her virtual book tour in March took Margot to Seattle, Austin, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Milwaukee. Phew! She took the #2 spot on the best-selling new releases in Media and Communications Industry category on Amazon for two weeks straight and that landed her in the top #100 books in this category. When Amanda Frost left a review on Amazon encouraging police chiefs, elected officials, and anyone in public service to read the book, Margot tweeted the review and that her excitement warranted a fist pump like that given by actor Eriq La Salle in the opening credits of the ‘90s TV series E.R. Here’s the amazing thing that happened next in Margot’s own words: “ERIQ LA SALLE faved my tweet. “Then he responded to it with congrats. “My jaw hit the floor. “But here’s the kicker. Here’s where it gets creepy, but maybe only if you care about these details…

Margot Bloomstein launched new book, Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap (Page Two), last week and there’s never been such a timely title for our troubled times. Cynicism has grown to gargantuan proportions in the past few years and too many people believe you can’t trust anyone or anything anymore. Brands — retail companies like Old Navy, tech firms like Mailchimp, federal agencies like the FBI, multimedia platforms like America’s Test Kitchen, news organizations like The New York Times, public health officials and local election boards — can and do  bridge the trust gap with voice, volume of detail, and vulnerability. Her book is relevant to every writer who wants their readers to trust what they have to say. With the release of her book on March 2, Margot scheduled two bookstore events and a private party on Zoom. Her local independent bookstore, The Silver Unicorn, hosted a conversation between Boston Globe reporter Lylah Alphonse and Margot on Tuesday evening. On Thursday evening, the Twin Cities enjoyed an entertaining event with Carolyn Porter, author of Marcel’s Letters, and Margot Bloomstein. The hour long event sponosored by Magers & Quinn Booksellers went by too quickly. Host Annie Metcalf agreed to record the “afterparty” discussion about the design of Margot’s book cover. You can watch it here and learn why she consulted a trapeze artist. The private launch party with family and friends who raised a toast to her book’s success was a virtual event on…

You can enter to win a free copy of Margot Bloomstein’s new book, Trustworthy: How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap, by leaving a comment on this blog post. Tell us what brand you trust and why. You’ll then be entered into a random drawing to be held on Saturday, May 8, 2021. One lucky winner will be sent a free copy of this terrific new release. To regain the trust of consumers and citizens, marketers talk about empathy and authenticity, transparency and accountability. But how do you get beyond those buzzwords? Margot Bloomstein offers an actionable framework focused on voice, volume, and vulnerability. Voice is the personality and style which should be consistent across time and channels. Volume is how much you communicate and knowing when enough is enough. Vulnerability is the risk you take in telling the truth, reaching to connect with your audience, prototyping in public, and taking responsibility for mistakes when they happen. Bloomstein shows with dozen of case studies how to employ concrete tactics to regain trust, respect, and customer loyalty. Airbnb, Zoom, the FBI, TED, the United Kingdom Government Digital Service, The New York Times, America’s Test Kitchen, local election commissions, and other organizations have all embraced strategies of content and design that transform their audiences into empowered decision-makers. Smart organizations teach their audiences to evaluate product options, engage in continuous self-education, and make more informed choices. She believes business can be a force for good. And she provides practical advice…