00;00;00;14 - 00;00;10;17
Speaker 1
Hey, I'm recording this for a podcast. Is that okay?
00;00;10;20 - 00;00;18;11
Speaker 2
Of course. That's totally fine. Feel free to record and let me know if there's anything specific you'd like me to help with. I'm here whenever you need.
00;00;18;13 - 00;00;36;09
Speaker 1
Okay, so I dropped this into a thread from yesterday where we were, Can you brief anybody who wasn't listening on that? And maybe 2 or 3 minutes real quick?
00;00;36;11 - 00;01;03;07
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Yesterday we talked about a few creative ideas, including tools for facilitating library purchase requests and a mac where people can pin their favorite notes about a book. We also explored the concept of, a nice note tool where users can schedule an uplifting message to themselves for the future. We also touched on some potential pitfalls, like preventing abuse and ensuring that the system's safe, secure, and reliable.
00;01;03;10 - 00;01;10;16
Speaker 2
Overall, it was a fun and productive brainstorming session. If there's anything more specific you'd like me to recap, just let me know.
00;01;10;19 - 00;01;47;08
Speaker 1
Okay. And so the ultimate goal, right, of our conversation yesterday was thinking about kind of out-of-the-box ways to promote, a friend's book. And the book in question is Be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver. And it's coming out, I think, on the 28th of October. And what I want to do is I want to, like, think of ways that I can, like, actually, legitimately move the needle on book sales because it's like, it doesn't matter about what I think about the book and stuff like that.
00;01;47;09 - 00;02;07;15
Speaker 1
If, if, if I share it and two people like it and, and all this like, stuff that I post on the internet and stuff like that, it doesn't actually lead to book sales then, like, it's nice, but it's not really doing its job.
00;02;07;17 - 00;02;40;15
Speaker 2
Absolutely. That makes a lot of sense. Ultimately, the goal is to translate that engagement into actual sales and impact. We definitely want to think about strategies that not only create awareness, but also drive conversions. We could explore things like targeted campaigns, leveraging personal networks, or even partnering with influencers who can help amplify the message more effectively. Plus, focusing on unique, value driven content that resonates with potential readers can definitely help build that momentum.
00;02;40;17 - 00;02;46;04
Speaker 2
I'm excited to keep refining these ideas and make sure they have a real, tangible impact.
00;02;46;06 - 00;03;24;11
Speaker 1
Okay, so if you, like if one were to like, talk in a comment or talking a DM or something like that about a book, then obviously the person knows about the book. And if and if that person is familiar with the offer, then they're kind of interested. But what I want to focus on is the kind of, lighter ask or like the softer ask of, asking somebody to, like, click 2 or 3 times in order to request, and like, maybe fill out a form for someone to request a book from a library.
00;03;24;14 - 00;03;51;01
Speaker 1
I think that's probably, a little bit less of an ask to most people. Some some people. It's just like, easy to go to Amazon and order a hardcover or whatever because they got it like that. But like, if they don't, then asking somebody to, like, take, 30s, to try out a new tool and, and request a book at their local library, it's kind of almost like a fun experience.
00;03;51;01 - 00;04;24;26
Speaker 1
Like if I had a book that I really loved that I didn't know was in Law Library. I guess, like in this situation of, like, I'm definitely going to request it from the Austin library, but I need, library numbers. So, so what I want to focus on today, this is like a long winded answer or whatever, but, what I want to focus on today is taking that tool and getting it in the hands of people who would use it.
00;04;24;28 - 00;04;47;17
Speaker 2
Absolutely. And that makes a lot of sense. By focusing on that softer ask, you're making it more approachable and accessible for people who might be interested, but not necessarily ready to make a purchase right away. It's definitely a great way to engage people and give them a fun, easy way to support the book. And by making the tool user friendly and quick to use, you're likely to get more.
00;04;47;17 - 00;05;01;17
Speaker 2
Participation is all about making that process enjoyable and seamless for them. I'm excited to see how we can refine and share that tool to help promote the book effectively. Let's keep building on that.
00;05;01;19 - 00;05;20;13
Speaker 1
Okay, I did, something popped into my head right there of like, the way I picture this website is just like, kind of bare bones and, like, blank thing with, with, with like, a box where you can enter a city name and then it gives you a little bit of data and shoe to link and stuff like that.
00;05;20;15 - 00;05;43;09
Speaker 1
But if we made that page, like really fun and experiential, then it might even be like more cool. Like, maybe you could click in to the book and stuff like that.
00;05;43;12 - 00;06;06;26
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Adding some fun and engaging elements can definitely elevate the whole experience and make it more memorable for users. You could include some interactive features like animations, playful graphics, or even little Easter eggs related to the book. It could turn the process into something people genuinely enjoy, and that might encourage them to spread the word even more.
00;06;06;28 - 00;06;22;21
Speaker 2
We could also think about incorporating sneak peeks or excerpts from the book, or even some fun trivia that ties into the theme. All of that can help create a more immersive and enjoyable journey for the user. It definitely sounds like a great approach.
00;06;22;23 - 00;07;07;09
Speaker 1
Okay, I really like this idea of creating a place, even if it's just a landing page with a little bit of interactivity and stuff like that that people really enjoy, and then maybe Easter eggs and stuff like that. Because of that kind of, I want to call it like viral in nature, but like, if I stumble upon a fun website that I've never really like seeing stuff like this, then I'm way more, I'm way more liable to show that somebody else if it's just like a blank, boring page where I put a city number in and like it shoots out a link, then, like I'm not going to share that to people to
00;07;07;09 - 00;07;17;26
Speaker 1
be like, hey, look at this cool thing.
00;07;17;29 - 00;07;39;16
Speaker 2
Exactly. The more engaging and delightful the experience, the more likely people are to share it with others. That element of fun and surprise really helps create a buzz and encourages word of mouth. Plus, when people enjoy the process, they're more likely to get curious and explore more, which can ultimately help boost visibility and interest in the book.
00;07;39;19 - 00;07;51;24
Speaker 2
It's all about creating that memorable, shareable experience that stands out from the ordinary. I love the direction you're thinking in, and I think it's going to be a lot of fun to develop.
00;07;51;26 - 00;08;02;16
Speaker 1
Okay. What would you recommend here?
00;08;02;18 - 00;08;28;11
Speaker 2
I'd recommend starting with a simple, clean landing page that's visually appealing and intuitive to use. You can incorporate subtle animations or interactive elements that align with the book's theme. For example, maybe you could have a little animation that reveals the book cover as users interact with the page. Additionally, integrating social sharing buttons or, easy ways to spread the word can help amplify the reach.
00;08;28;13 - 00;08;53;10
Speaker 2
And of course, you know, making sure that the process of requesting the book is as smooth and quick as possible will encourage more participation. Finally, keep a flexible and open the feedback as people. If they're using it, you know, you can tweak and refine the experience, to make it even better. It's all about creating that has live, engaging experience that people will love to hear.
00;08;53;12 - 00;09;19;20
Speaker 1
Okay, I really like the idea of the copy link to page button. And like share buttons and stuff like that. That's definitely something that we didn't cover before. Okay, so this that will probably be a whole nother brainstorm. What I do want to press into is, getting this website tool into the hands of people who use it.
00;09;19;21 - 00;10;04;09
Speaker 1
Right. So what I thought about early on is, on places where people have commented about the book and showing interest and stuff like that, that to leave a genuine like contextual comment on the page or, or on the, on the post, with this tool and maybe, maybe if it's a post that 30 people see and like, then like eight people see the comment and then like three people do it and then two people actually do the full request and, and then that's to people.
00;10;04;12 - 00;10;35;10
Speaker 1
And then you just repeat and repeat repeat, repeat. That's probably way more than I could ever do on just my own profile. Right. Because I can't, I feel like the, I guess the effectiveness will degrade. The more and more and more I post about the book on my own profile.
00;10;35;12 - 00;11;00;21
Speaker 2
Absolutely. That approach makes a lot of sense, by engaging genuinely in places where people already show interest, you're leveraging existing enthusiasm and creating more organic reach. It's, definitely a more sustainable way to build momentum compared to just coasting on your own profile. Classic creates a ripple effect. One person's engagement can lead to more people discovering the tool and the book.
00;11;00;23 - 00;11;23;15
Speaker 2
Another great idea is to collaborate with a small group of passionate readers, or even book clubs who can help spread the word. They can act as ambassadors, and their genuine interest will help keep the momentum going. It's all about building that community around the book and making it a fun, collective effort.
00;11;23;17 - 00;11;54;06
Speaker 1
Okay, so right now, as I'm building the tool and stuff like that, we would have to be on Bronson Walker, Dot com slash something like slash Claud or slash B or something like that. But I don't really want it to be like, on one side, if it's Bronson walker.com and my, my name is Bronson walker.com and stuff like that, then it's much less likely to be a weird link from a scammer.
00;11;54;06 - 00;12;21;05
Speaker 1
You know, like if somebody knows that they're coming to my domain and they're just going to this part of the link, then then they trust where that link goes and stuff like that. So that's like a positive. But I also don't want to be like pulling these people into my universe. I want them to be in Claude's universe.
00;12;21;07 - 00;12;50;18
Speaker 2
That's a great point. Balancing trust in the books on identity is definitely important. One idea could be to create a dedicated subdomain under your main site. Like book that Bronson Microcosm or BSA that Bronson walker.com. This way you maintain the credibility and trust of your domain, but still have a distinct space that's focused on the book. Another approach could be to design a landing page that's branded specifically for the book, but still hosted on your domain.
00;12;50;20 - 00;13;12;05
Speaker 2
You can incorporate branding elements that tie it back to the author's world. Making it feel like a unique standalone experience will still leveraging the trust of your main website. Ultimately, it's about finding that balance between trust in the book's own identity, and I think, we can definitely get creative with it.
00;13;12;07 - 00;13;24;04
Speaker 1
Okay, let's talk a little bit more about this and kind of brainstorm how to handle that.
00;13;24;07 - 00;13;51;20
Speaker 2
Absolutely. I'd love to dive deeper. One approach is to create a visually distinct landing page that clearly ties back to the book's branding, while still being hosted under your domain. This could involve using the book's color palette, typography, and other design elements so that it feels cohesive and authentic to the author. Another idea is to have a dedicated microsite or a subdomain that's specifically tailored to the book's community.
00;13;51;23 - 00;14;19;02
Speaker 2
That way it stands out and can be easily shared, but it still remains connected to your overall brand. We can also consider collaboration with the author's official channels. For example, having the author share the link or co promote it on their own platforms can reinforce that connection and build trust. Ultimately, it's all about creating a seamless, trustworthy experience that still feels unique and engaging for the book's audience.
00;14;19;05 - 00;14;23;03
Speaker 2
I'm excited to bring some more in this with you.
00;14;23;05 - 00;14;51;14
Speaker 1
Yeah, I guess I could take, Right. So so my VP or whatever and all this is built under Bronson walker.com slash, let's say Claude. And then if, if she were to have something like, I'm not sure what her website is, but if it's like Claude silver.com, then she could probably have, like, a Claude silver.com/tool or whatever.
00;14;51;14 - 00;15;25;11
Speaker 1
And then, is there any way that I could, like, have my web page or whatever Bronson walker.com/claw like the tool that is just a landing page. That is a tool or whatever. Can I kind of, like, give this over to that domain but still, like, make it? I don't, I don't know.
00;15;25;13 - 00;15;54;12
Speaker 2
Absolutely. You can definitely create a seamless experience that bridges both domains when approach is to use a technique called URL forwarding or a reverse proxy. Essentially you could have your main page like Bronson locker.com/claw serve as the landing page. And then you could set up a reverse proxy so that when users interact with the tool, it appears as if they're on quad silver.com while still keeping the underlying infrastructure on your domain.
00;15;54;14 - 00;16;21;29
Speaker 2
Another option is to create, a landing page on your domain that includes an embedded frame or widget that pulls the tool from the author's domain. This way, the user experience is smooth and it feels integrated, but, the branding is also clear and distinct. You can also work closely with the author's team to coordinate the promotion, ensuring that both domains are aligned and that the user journey is as cohesive as possible.
00;16;22;02 - 00;16;32;03
Speaker 2
It's definitely possible to create a really smooth, collaborative experience that feels natural for everyone involved. Let's keep refining it.
00;16;32;05 - 00;16;51;26
Speaker 1
Okay? I like the idea of this reverse proxy. It would just be like building it and creating it like it were on my domain. And then it appears as her approved domain.
00;16;51;28 - 00;17;18;26
Speaker 2
Exactly. The reverse proxy essentially acts as a bridge, allowing you to host the tool on your infrastructure while making it look and feel like it's part of the author's domain. This way, users get that seamless, trustworthy experience and the author's branding remains intact. It also gives you a lot of flexibility in terms of maintaining and updating the tool, while still ensuring that the user experience is consistent and secure.
00;17;18;28 - 00;17;34;24
Speaker 2
Plus, it makes it easier to collaborate and share the tool without having to worry about complicated domains that have, It's definitely a neat way to ensure everything looks cohesive and professional. I'm excited to see how it all comes together.
00;17;34;27 - 00;18;11;17
Speaker 1
Okay, that's a little bit farther down the line, stuff like that. But it's good to know that that is an option. So I want to be, thoughtful about kind of entering this author's universe. I don't want to just, like, spam on all the comments, but, I want to, kind of want to help, but I don't want to get in the way.
00;18;11;17 - 00;18;21;17
Speaker 1
I don't know how else to phrase that.
00;18;21;19 - 00;18;46;17
Speaker 2
I completely understand it's definitely important to approach it thoughtfully and respectfully. One way to do that is to engage in genuine, meaningful interactions rather than just hosting frequently. For example, you can start by joining conversations in a meaningful way, offering thoughtful insights, or sharing how the tool could genuinely help. It's it's all about building trust and credibility.
00;18;46;19 - 00;19;07;10
Speaker 2
You can also collaborate with the author or their team directly. And for instance, you could propose a partnership or ask for their input and how best to present the tool. This ensures that you're aligned with their vision and that we're efforts complement their goals. Ultimately, it's all about adding value and being genuine in your approach.
00;19;07;13 - 00;19;15;17
Speaker 2
That way, you know, you'll build a positive reputation and, and foster meaningful connections. Let's keep refining this approach.
00;19;15;20 - 00;19;56;05
Speaker 1
Okay. I think you're right on that. I've thought about right. The the comment thing is probably pretty plentiful. And I thought about the idea of like, DMing people that are like, like H.R. people teammate DMing on LinkedIn or like posting, I don't know, I don't know if I can DM on LinkedIn. I think I have to have premium or whatever.
00;19;56;07 - 00;20;26;21
Speaker 2
Yeah, reaching out directly on LinkedIn can definitely be a bit more delicate, especially since LinkedIn has certain guidelines and etiquette around direct messaging. It's always best to start with a genuine connection request and then build rapport before introducing the tool. That way is it feels more authentic and less like a cold outreach. Another approach could be to engage in relevant groups or forums where HR professionals and people interested in the book steaming out, that can be a more organic way to share and build.
00;20;26;21 - 00;20;46;12
Speaker 2
Interest is all about finding that balance between, you know, being helpful and respectful of people's time and attention. Over time, as you build genuine relationships, that's where the most meaningful connections and collaborations come from. Let's definitely keep refining this strategy together.
00;20;46;14 - 00;21;21;24
Speaker 1
Okay, so let's say that I want to kind of write. I don't really find it effective, at least for me to be able to like, post something and have it create a reaction or like make something happen. Right? I'm much more capable when it comes to like, a one on one approach of like, recommending something to somebody or like talking to somebody about something on a 1 to 1 basis.
00;21;21;24 - 00;21;32;11
Speaker 1
It just it feels way more effective.
00;21;32;13 - 00;22;00;05
Speaker 2
That's a great insight. A one on one approach definitely allows for more personalized and meaningful interactions. And it can often be more impactful than broad general posts. When you tailor your message to an individual's interests or needs, it really helps build trust and rapport. In that case, focusing on direct outreach like personalized messages or thoughtful recommendations.
00;22;00;07 - 00;22;11;23
Speaker 2
Work to help amplify the message in a more organic way. It's all about finding the balance that works best for you and aligns with the author's goals by taking a more personalized approach.
00;22;11;23 - 00;22;46;08
Speaker 1
Really, to how we're going to cut off there. If you were me and you don't have a lot of followers or whatever on LinkedIn or friends or whatever it's called, probably under a thousand, I would imagine. Kind of like Facebook and stuff like that. How would you go about kind of disseminating this tool in to the world?
00;22;46;11 - 00;23;16;09
Speaker 2
Well, if you're working with a. Well, if you're starting out with a smaller circle of connections on LinkedIn or social media, I'd say the best approach and to really lean into the strength of those more personal, one on one interactions that you already mentioned, you can treat it kind of like a ripple effect. You start by introducing the tool or the idea to a handful of people who you know, are enthusiastic about the topic, and then let them help you spread it further.
00;23;16;11 - 00;23;35;16
Speaker 2
Another thing you can do is to find online communities or niche groups that are already interested in the kind of book you are promoting. So maybe it's a reading group, maybe it's an HR related forum or even a local book clubs online space. Sharing the tool there where people are already looking for recommendations can give it a natural boost.
00;23;35;18 - 00;23;51;24
Speaker 2
Basically, it's all about starting small and personal and then letting those individual connections help you grow it outward. It's a bit slower than a big broadcast, but it's often a lot more genuine and effective.
00;23;51;26 - 00;24;02;24
Speaker 1
Okay, can you give me some concrete ideas of first steps that you might take?
00;24;02;27 - 00;24;24;22
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Let's get specific. So as a first step, you might pick just 2 or 3 people in your existing network who you know are avid readers or maybe have an interest in the book subject matter. You can reach out to them individually just saying something like, hey, I came across this cool little tool to help request books at libraries, and I thought you might find it fun or useful.
00;24;24;24 - 00;24;46;02
Speaker 2
Another concrete idea is to identify a few niche online communities or forums like a subreddit that fits the book's theme, or a Facebook group dedicated to certain professional readers or HR folks. You can join those communities if you aren't already a member, and then share the tool in a natural, conversational way. Not as a hard sell, but more like.
00;24;46;04 - 00;25;10;14
Speaker 2
I thought this might be useful for anyone who loves getting new books into local libraries. And finally, you can also think about maybe doing a small casual email to your existing contacts. Just a friendly note introducing what you've built and why you think it could be fun for them to try it out. All of these little first steps are just about getting the ball rolling, and letting those personal connections help you build momentum.
00;25;10;16 - 00;25;45;21
Speaker 1
Okay, what if I built this tool, originally and I built a tool like, to to to have it be dedicated to this ISBN. Right. So, like, you put it in your address and then you copy click the ISBN. Right. So I make this tool more widespread and just, provide the ISBN for this book. But make it so this tool gets shared a lot of places.
00;25;45;21 - 00;26;02;12
Speaker 1
Granted, it might, it could like ultimately like if it were really to get become a popular tool like floods the library system. But I don't really see that happening.
00;26;02;14 - 00;26;23;11
Speaker 2
Yeah, I get where you're coming from, making the tool more flexible so it's not locked to just one ISBN is definitely a smart idea. That way it can have a life beyond just this one book and be used for lots of different titles. And like you said, the odds of it becoming so wildly popular that it floods the library systems are pretty slim, at least in the short term.
00;26;23;14 - 00;26;48;11
Speaker 2
So if you open it up to be a more general tool, you're essentially creating something that any author or any reader could use to request any book. And then you just give them a specific example ISBN, if they want to request this particular book. It's kind of a neat way to give the tool some longevity and usefulness. And yeah, I think it's pretty unlikely that you suddenly have a runaway scenario where libraries are overwhelmed.
00;26;48;14 - 00;26;55;12
Speaker 2
But even if it got a bit more popular, that's a good problem to have. It just means people are excited to use it.
00;26;55;14 - 00;27;41;05
Speaker 1
Do you think adding adding the functionality of a multi-use tool like you can you can request any book and then almost have it like kind of sponsored by this book or, or whatever. So it makes like it gives you this book as like a demo to be able to request and like people who know and like the book and know plot and stuff like that, it's more likely to get into their hands and they will click that button, because like, if it's just for that book, then it kind of like it kind of pours water on the flame early of like this tool becoming, like proliferating the tool as a means to an
00;27;41;05 - 00;27;49;08
Speaker 1
end to, get the book and more libraries.
00;27;49;11 - 00;28;13;14
Speaker 2
Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a pretty clever approach. If you position the tool as something that can be used for any book, but you highlight this particular title as the sort of featured or suggested requests, then it feels more like an open resource that just happens to have a suggested starting point. It's kind of like giving people a demo or template, and then they can run with it for whatever they want afterwards.
00;28;13;17 - 00;28;35;10
Speaker 2
So in that sense, you're not just promoting one book in a vacuum, you're actually giving people a useful tool that they might bookmark and use in the future. And at the same time, you're nudging them toward this particular book as a starting point. It definitely makes it more of a go to resource, and probably makes people more likely to share it around because it has that broader usefulness.
00;28;35;12 - 00;29;01;28
Speaker 1
And it's probably not going to be something that like, I save on the home page on my phone and then like, I go and use it whenever I know a new book or that's kind of a fun tool to have or whatever. But, especially if it like auto fills, I'm will really all you need is the ISBN because you can just go to Amazon, grab the ISBN real quick and put it in,
00;29;02;01 - 00;29;06;28
Speaker 1
Yeah.
00;29;07;00 - 00;29;33;28
Speaker 2
Yeah, exactly. It might not be an everyday tool that someone has penned front and center on their phone, but it's one of those handy resources people will remember when they need it, and the fact that it just needs a quick ISBN grab from Amazon or wherever makes it super low effort for them. So yeah, you're basically creating a little utility that, even if it's not used every day, is something people will think, oh, that's neat, and then pull out when they want to help a book get into a library.
00;29;34;00 - 00;29;42;26
Speaker 2
And who knows, maybe it does become a fun little tool that people share around just because it's easy and kind of delightful to use.
00;29;42;28 - 00;30;08;15
Speaker 1
Yeah. And if you, it'd be cool if you like, integrated a tool that could, like, scrape ISP ins and stuff like that so you wouldn't have to go to Amazon or whatnot. That's a little bit further down the line. But I think, I think the creating this as like a, a tool that like you link out to and you use it once and boom, it's real easy.
00;30;08;15 - 00;30;33;01
Speaker 1
You put your name in and stuff like that more probably used with promotion or like, maybe like, yeah, probably more used with promotion because it's kind of like a shotgun approach type of technique, like you. So that link out there, it's super easy. Not a big ask. And if 10,000 people were to see it, right. Like I don't have that kind of following.
00;30;33;01 - 00;31;02;12
Speaker 1
But like if you were to give it to somebody like, I don't know, LeBron or like Gary Vee or like, who's a soccer player that has, Ronaldo like run like if Ronaldo has a book that he wants to share, then like not saying that Ronaldo is going to be using this tool or whatever, but like somebody with a lot of followers is an example.
00;31;02;14 - 00;31;23;25
Speaker 1
If they kick it out to their followers and say it's 100,000, then that means you could probably get like 10,000 requests across libraries all across the country. That probably makes a difference.
00;31;23;27 - 00;31;43;17
Speaker 2
Yeah, you've got it. Exactly. It's sort of like building a tool that's easy enough for anyone to use, and then just putting it in the hands of someone who can amplify it. Even if we're not talking Ronaldo level followings, even a moderate sized influencer or someone with a niche audience could get a bunch of people to try it out and that can absolutely make a difference.
00;31;43;17 - 00;32;02;16
Speaker 2
If you suddenly have a wave of requests hitting libraries from all over the place. So yeah, making it simple and kind of one click for people to use means you can leverage that shotgun approach. And if a few people with bigger audiences pick it up, it could really move the needle for the book. So I think you're on to a pretty neat concept.
00;32;02;18 - 00;32;10;03
Speaker 1
Does this sound realistic or is it kind of pipe dream?
00;32;10;06 - 00;32;36;08
Speaker 2
Honestly, it sounds pretty realistic. I mean, it's definitely a creative and somewhat ambitious idea, but it's not out of reach at all. You're essentially talking about a simple tool that's easy to share and has a clear, helpful purpose. And we know that sometimes these simple, practical ideas are the ones that really resonate with people. So sure, it's a bit of a dream to imagine it going totally viral, but it's absolutely within the realm of possibility.
00;32;36;11 - 00;32;46;25
Speaker 2
And even on a smaller scale, it can still make a real impact and be a fun, useful thing for people to use. So I say go for it. It's a solid, realistic concept with some real potential.
00;32;46;27 - 00;33;02;20
Speaker 1
Yeah, I'm not really like looking for or expecting anything viral really. The benchmark is like pretty low. It's like, can it do better than I can?
00;33;02;23 - 00;33;19;12
Speaker 2
Absolutely. And that's a great way to look at it. If the main goal is just to do a little better than what you could do solo Ren, this tool definitely has a good shot at that, even if you just get the book onto a few more library shelves or reaches a handful of people you wouldn't have reached otherwise, that's a win.
00;33;19;15 - 00;33;19;29
Speaker 2
So yeah, you.
00;33;19;29 - 00;33;20;17
Speaker 1
Don't have to shoot.
00;33;20;17 - 00;33;32;25
Speaker 2
For anything massive or viral. Just having a little tool that amplifies your reach even a bit more than you could do alone is a solid, realistic benchmark, and it sounds like you're well on your way to making that happen.
00;33;32;27 - 00;34;16;21
Speaker 1
Okay, what I want to do now, which is give me a little bit of an idea of like what we're playing with here. Can you give me a rundown on stats regarding library requests? I know it's probably kind of difficult to get numbers on this stuff like that, but like the chances of you requesting a book and then buying it.
00;34;16;24 - 00;34;36;03
Speaker 2
So typically, library purchase request approval rates can vary a lot depending on the library. From what I've seen, you might have a small public library approving most of the requests they get maybe just a handful per month, and they often do add them. So it's definitely not impossible to get a book into a library that way.
00;34;36;06 - 00;34;41;20
Speaker 1
Okay, tell me more about this.
00;34;41;22 - 00;35;03;20
Speaker 2
Sure. So basically, when it comes to library request systems, a lot of libraries are pretty receptive to purchase suggestions, especially if they come from their local patrons. The exact numbers can vary a lot. Some libraries might approve half of the requests they get, others maybe a bit less or a bit more, depending on their budget and how much demand they see.
00;35;03;22 - 00;35;24;25
Speaker 2
But generally, if you put in a request and the book isn't something they already have and it fits into their collection guidelines, there's a decent shot though. Order it. It might not happen overnight, but libraries do take those requests seriously because they want to serve their readers. And if a book is requested by multiple patrons, that definitely bumps up the chances of them buying it.
00;35;24;28 - 00;35;29;25
Speaker 2
So your tool could really help make that happen.
00;35;29;27 - 00;36;01;03
Speaker 1
Okay, tell me about the, I guess, frequency of purchase requests being purchase. Like, is it the kind of thing where, like, a library will go once a year and purchase, like all the books that everybody wants or is it like a librarian sitting at their desk on, like, a Tuesday? And she knows that, like they get five books this month, like nothing over $200 or whatever.
00;36;01;05 - 00;36;24;24
Speaker 1
And so she sees one and she likes it. And she buys it, or like, she sees a request come in and she's like, ooh, yeah. And buys it. What is it like? It's probably all kinds of stuff, right? Like the New York Public Library probably has a pretty rigid system while, like, like Abilene, Texas or something like that.
00;36;24;24 - 00;36;40;23
Speaker 1
Probably she has like a librarian who like, sees an email, like a book request and like, all right. Cool. Yeah. That's one of three books this month or whatever book.
00;36;40;25 - 00;37;11;14
Speaker 1
Okay. Can you give me some more insight into the frequency? The libraries buy books, right? I'm sure it's going to. I'm sure it's going to vary between like, Half Moon Bay, California, which is like a 10,000 people and like the New York Public Library, right. Half moon Bay is probably kind of like a library and gets like 30 requests and like, buys some of them or something like that.
00;37;11;14 - 00;37;31;25
Speaker 1
And even small towns are like, all right, like I get a request and I see it and I like that bit too. So I'm just going to buy it on Amazon because I got three books this month or whatever. And then the New York Public Library's probably like crazy. And they're constantly turning over books like, what if I am a librarian?
00;37;31;25 - 00;37;48;14
Speaker 1
Like a modern day librarian? At what cycles am I buying books? Or is it like a continuous budget that they can use it? Well?
00;37;48;17 - 00;38;08;14
Speaker 2
Absolutely. It does vary quite a bit. So let me give you a little more color on that. And smaller libraries like the Half Moon Bay scenario you mentioned, they might have a really modest acquisitions budget, and they're just buying in small batches each month or even each quarter. They might handle a handful of requests and decide based on local interest.
00;38;08;17 - 00;38;32;22
Speaker 2
Sometimes, if the librarian personally thinks is a cool book, and if it's the community, they'll just grab it. On the flip side, in a place like the New York Public Library, it's definitely a much larger and more continuous process. They have bigger budgets, but they also have more layers of review. They might have a whole team or committee that looks at requests on a rolling basis, and they might place orders every month or every couple of weeks.
00;38;32;25 - 00;38;53;17
Speaker 2
It's kind of an ongoing pipeline, and they're constantly adding new titles while also weeding out older or less popular ones. So yeah, if you're a librarian, it's a mix of periodic budgeting and also continuous updating. And that means a tool like yours could fit into that flow pretty smoothly.
00;38;53;20 - 00;39;23;26
Speaker 1
So that means a tool like this would be more effective in smaller libraries like, like like if we get 60 people in New York to recommend this book and then it might not even seem like as much as one person in like a really small town.
00;39;23;28 - 00;39;49;17
Speaker 2
Yeah, you've got it exactly. In a huge library system like New York, even a handful of requests might just blend into the bigger stream of all the other titles they're evaluating. But in a smaller town or just massive system, just 1 or 2 request can stand out a lot more. It's like your request is a bigger fish in a smaller pond, and that can sometimes lead to faster results or a higher chance of them actually picking up that title.
00;39;49;17 - 00;39;54;27
Speaker 2
So yeah, you're definitely thinking along the right lines.
00;39;54;29 - 00;40;22;03
Speaker 1
Unless you power, unless you figured out a way to harness the power of like a local group. Right? So if you if you go into a group that's like, I don't know, Half Moon Bay, I'm just going to use that because it's like a smaller town that I went to high school in Half Moon Bay Public Library, community.
00;40;22;05 - 00;40;48;10
Speaker 1
And you were from that community, right. Like, I live in Austin right now, but, like, I come from a town that's like 1200 people, and I guess it's part of the San Mateo County library system, which is like a bigger, pretty decently big library system probably now. But, like, if I'm going to Paris, Pescadero doesn't even have a library.
00;40;48;16 - 00;41;00;08
Speaker 1
Are you? School libraries might be a good thing to look into.
00;41;00;11 - 00;41;35;15
Speaker 2
Yeah, absolutely. Tapping into those local or community specific groups is a great idea. If you get a handful of people from, say, a small town or a county library system, Facebook group, or even a local online forum to all rally behind the same book that can definitely make a bigger impact. School libraries are also a cool angle, especially if it's a book that fits into a curriculum or might be useful for school audience sometime in school, librarians have a little more flexibility, or they might really welcome suggestions that help them add something new that their students will like.
00;41;35;17 - 00;41;40;24
Speaker 2
So yeah, it's all about finding those little local niches where a few voices can really stand out.
00;41;40;26 - 00;42;31;17
Speaker 1
And and my instinct is to sell is to give this book to someone who is older, who has these, like, scars of being mistreated in the workplace and stuff like that. But it would all it would seem really smart to give this to like high school seniors. So they like they can be in the mindset of somebody who is like 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or whatever and has like gone through all this trauma and shit already, like it would make sense on this level to bring a book like this into a school library.
00;42;31;19 - 00;42;56;29
Speaker 2
Yeah, that's a really thoughtful angle. And I think it actually makes a lot of sense giving high school seniors a book that helps them understand what the workplace can be like for older generations who've been through some rough spot or have experienced those challenges, is kind of like giving them a head start. It's a way to help them build empathy, awareness, and maybe even some strategies so that they don't have to learn all those lessons the hard way.
00;42;57;02 - 00;43;04;25
Speaker 2
So yeah, bringing it into a school library setting could be a really smart and forward thinking move to school.
00;43;04;25 - 00;43;16;24
Speaker 1
Libraries have a similar request system like public libraries.
00;43;16;26 - 00;43;37;11
Speaker 2
They do in a way, but it's usually a bit more informal and varies from school to school. Public libraries tend to have a more official process where patrons can fill out a request form. School libraries, on the other hand, might just be as simple as talking to the school librarian. A teacher, student, or even a parent can just suggest the title.
00;43;37;13 - 00;43;52;18
Speaker 2
And if it fits the school's budget and the librarian thinks it's a good addition, they may order it pretty quickly. So it's often more direct and personal, which can actually work in your favor if you can just get that conversation started.
00;43;52;20 - 00;44;26;15
Speaker 1
But school libraries do. They generally do they have request forms that, like parents, can just fill out online these days, like I haven't, like I was in high school in the early oh. So like all that digital stuff like that was way farther away. Like you definitely just walk in and like, talk to the librarian and like, see if they could get a book.
00;44;26;17 - 00;44;46;29
Speaker 2
Yeah. Totally understandable. It's definitely changed a bit since the early 2000. These days, a lot of school libraries do have some kind of online request form, or at least an email system where parents, students, or teachers can suggest a book. It kind of depends on how tech for the school district is, but many do have a way to submit requests online.
00;44;46;29 - 00;45;01;03
Speaker 2
Now, of course, you can still just walk in and talk to the librarian directly, but having that digital option makes it a bit easier for people to suggest titles even if they're not on campus. So it's definitely more streamlined than it used to be.
00;45;01;06 - 00;45;17;24
Speaker 1
And, the book that we're talking about, Be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver, do you know this book? Can you look up a description? And kind of we can be on the same context here with the content of the book.
00;45;17;26 - 00;45;25;12
Speaker 2
Sure. So be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver is basically.
00;45;25;15 - 00;45;55;16
Speaker 1
Chant. We got cut off there, but I was asking you if you could look up the book. Be yourself at work by Claude Silver. It's not out yet, but it's on preorder and stuff like that. So you can find the description and all the stuff like that on Amazon. You can probably find, this stuff. But can you kind of go and check that out so we can talk about it with the context?
00;45;55;18 - 00;46;15;12
Speaker 2
Sure. So the book Be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver is basically about embracing your authentic self in the workplace. The idea is that when you're genuine, you build more trust and you create a better sense of belonging around you. The book uses a framework that's all about emotional optimism and a bit of courage to help people and teams really thrive.
00;46;15;15 - 00;46;20;17
Speaker 2
So that's the vibe of it.
00;46;20;20 - 00;46;32;00
Speaker 1
Seems like a great book to have in a school library, like a high school library.
00;46;32;02 - 00;46;51;26
Speaker 2
Absolutely. I think it could be a really nice fit for high school libraries. It's one of those books that could give teens a little preview of what a healthier workplace mindset might look like. Especially before they start their first jobs or internships. It can kind of plant that seed early on about how they can be themselves at work.
00;46;51;28 - 00;47;06;00
Speaker 1
Go into them. More into the phrase shows what a healthy workplace looks like.
00;47;06;03 - 00;47;27;20
Speaker 2
Sure. Let's dig into that a bit more. When I say it shows what a healthy workplace looks like, I mean that the book is basically modeling an environment where people feel comfortable being genuine and don't have to put on a facade. So it's not just about being authentic for authenticity sake, but about how that authenticity can actually create a more trusting, inclusive and supportive atmosphere.
00;47;27;23 - 00;47;42;14
Speaker 2
It kind of guides readers on how to cultivate that kind of workplace culture, whether they're entry level or leader. So for high schoolers or anyone new to the workforce, it's like a sneak peek at what a good, emotionally intelligent workplace could be.
00;47;42;17 - 00;48;05;16
Speaker 1
Okay, I like the idea of putting this in the hands of people in the community. Like we talked about how this tool specifically will do, will do more in the hands, like in a small community. Right. It's not going to do great in Chicago, not going to do great in New York or San Francisco or whatever.
00;48;05;18 - 00;48;47;20
Speaker 1
But in the in the hands of a small group of people, a tool like this can and can make. So we talked about how the small school was going to be a better idea, right. How can we, can we make a tool? Can we can we kind of adapt this tool so that the GPT brain will pull request forms from high school libraries that, have request forms?
00;48;47;23 - 00;49;10;02
Speaker 2
So that's an interesting idea. In theory, you could adapt the tool so that it's not just pulling from public libraries, but also checking of their request forms available for school libraries, especially high schools. It definitely be a bit of a challenge to automate that fully. Just because school libraries aren't always as standardized or as easy to find a line as public library system.
00;49;10;04 - 00;49;26;28
Speaker 2
But if you wanted to do it manually or semi-automated, you could certainly add a feature to the tool that says, hey, if you're looking to request this at a school library, here's a directory or a link you can use. In other words, you can make it more of a hybrid tool where it helps people find their local schools request process.
00;49;27;01 - 00;49;37;06
Speaker 2
If it exists, it's a bit more hands on, but it could definitely be a really neat way to get that book in to school libraries and into the hands of younger readers.
00;49;37;08 - 00;49;49;03
Speaker 1
Can you think of any reasons not to put this in a high school library?
00;49;49;05 - 00;50;10;06
Speaker 2
Honestly, and not too many major reasons jump out. That would make it a bad fit. If anything, the main thing to consider is just the usual sensitivity around any workplace or self-help book in a school setting. Some schools might just want to vet it to make sure it aligns with their overall curriculum or values, but generally a book about being authentic at work is pretty universal and positive.
00;50;10;09 - 00;50;20;27
Speaker 2
So aside from any individual school policies, there's really no big red flag. It seems like it could be a genuinely helpful resource for teens.
00;50;20;29 - 00;50;52;03
Speaker 1
Okay. So since the online I like the idea of, kind of taking this request capability and putting it in the hands of, like, parents of people like it or like all these people are probably not only, members of their public library, but anybody that has a kid is involved with a high school library as well.
00;50;52;06 - 00;51;13;02
Speaker 1
And, and, and, and it seems like a really great book to have in high school. I would have loved to read. Like, I'm not even a big reader. I like when I was younger, audio books weren't as accessible and stuff like that. They they were around, but they were on like, a lot of them were just cassettes and stuff like that.
00;51;13;04 - 00;51;34;09
Speaker 1
And, and I didn't really have a cassette player. I had one in my car or whatever, but it doesn't matter. Nowadays it's, Oh, yeah. Like I lost my train of thought.
00;51;34;11 - 00;51;50;29
Speaker 2
No worries. I get what you're saying. The gist is that it's a lot easier these days to get books in different formats. And a book like this can definitely be a good fit in a high school environment. And yeah, if parents or guardians can put in those requests, it's another route to getting the book into the hands of students who might benefit from it.
00;51;51;02 - 00;51;55;17
Speaker 2
So it's kind of a win win, and it makes sense to explore that angle.
00;51;55;20 - 00;52;18;06
Speaker 1
And I don't think anybody's really talked about that angle, at all, that I've seen, and, and it seems like. It seems like it just makes sense.
00;52;18;08 - 00;52;38;02
Speaker 2
Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes those kind of straightforward common sense approaches just fly under the radar because people don't think about that route. But you're right, it makes total sense to use the existing connections parents and students have with their school libraries. And it's probably a little less explored as an angle. So it could be a really neat need to tap into.
00;52;38;05 - 00;52;39;19
Speaker 2
I'm glad it resonates.
00;52;39;21 - 00;53;07;12
Speaker 1
Okay, so we've got this tool right for the public libraries, and most of them are pretty available to like request the work and and if not, and that's okay. The link doesn't really work as well as it should or whatever. That's pretty well handled by the tool. Right. So but everything we've been talking about for the last like ten minutes, 15 minutes about like, high schools, about how how it's not only like a smaller, easier request ability.
00;53;07;14 - 00;53;39;03
Speaker 1
But but it feels like it's an ideal book to put in the hands of someone just about to go into the job market. And, but we haven't covered how to get it into, into the parents, like. Right. I guess what we haven't discussed is the the niche that this tool fits, where it takes something that's kind of a pain to, like, go on a website and look up, a thing.
00;53;39;05 - 00;54;04;06
Speaker 1
Right. That's what we had with the public libraries. It was just like a 2 or 3 click thing. Super easy. Anybody can do it. Everybody, like, you don't have to have a kid to be part of a, like, public library or whatever. But now as we shift just the tiniest bit towards probably parents of high school students or like potentially like high school students who know what's up, like, that's cool too.
00;54;04;08 - 00;54;25;17
Speaker 1
But like, how do we take that process and do what we did for the public library process, for the high school library process, when it's not as integrated?
00;54;25;19 - 00;54;44;00
Speaker 2
Yeah, that's a great point. So basically, we've got this nice streamlined thing going for public libraries because they're pretty uniform and easy to tap into. But for high school libraries, we're dealing with a bit more variability and not as much of a standardized online system. So the question is how to make it just as easy for parents or students.
00;54;44;02 - 00;55;08;08
Speaker 2
One way to think about it is to create a little directory or a helper module within your tool. It could say something like, if you're requesting this for high school library, here's a quick guide. Then maybe you just walk them through a few steps, like providing a template message they can email to the librarian, or if you tips on where and photos include, you could have a little database of links if you can find them, or encourage users to add a link if they find their school's form.
00;55;08;11 - 00;55;19;27
Speaker 2
Basically, you be turning that more cumbersome process into a guided, step by step thing that makes it as close as possible to the easy public library request low. So you just giving them a little bit of a helping hand to bridge that gap.
00;55;19;29 - 00;55;44;11
Speaker 1
Okay, I love the idea of, the kind of template email, right. Like it doesn't take a lot of time to like, grab a template email. Boom. It's almost like one of those online petitions or whatever. You can just, like, grab it. Like, that was a big thing like that. You like, post an online petition. I think it was a, big thing for like, flash in the pan early on, like Facebook and stuff like that.
00;55;44;11 - 00;56;12;12
Speaker 1
They're these like long posts where you like, grab them and you punch them in and like, it's supposed to, like, do something or mean something. Those might still be around a little bit, but, I like the idea of of where, okay. So I want to take that suggestion as kind of or, example of the, the difficulty part.
00;56;12;12 - 00;56;31;16
Speaker 1
Right. So what it does is it takes something difficult and it makes it less difficult. Super simple. Right piece of the process. It's kind of a pain in the ass. Make it not really a pain in the ass or like super easy is ideal, right? But so that idea is taking the like. I don't know what to say in this email.
00;56;31;16 - 00;57;01;16
Speaker 1
I don't want to write an email out. I don't I don't want to. I don't want to have to like, head it properly and like, find a librarian and like, that's that's what we need to do. We need to we need to make it so you can find the librarians in, you know, that's another one. But you get what I'm what I'm throwing down.
00;57;01;19 - 00;57;19;07
Speaker 2
Absolutely. I'm totally picking out what you're putting down. It's really all about removing those little friction points that make people hesitate. So if we give them a ready made template, a quick way to find the right contact info and just make it feel like a two kid process instead of a whole research project is going to be so much easier.
00;57;19;09 - 00;57;35;27
Speaker 2
And yeah, that's the sweet spot. Taking something that feels like a hassle and turning it into something that feels almost fun, or at least super doable. So we just replicate that pattern for the high school library angle, and you got a tool that really lowers the bar for people to take action. It's a solid plan.
00;57;35;29 - 00;58;06;02
Speaker 1
Hell yeah. Okay, I want to brainstorm all I want to I want to like, I want to brainstorm the friction points of requesting a book from your high school library. And I just want to pound this into the ground until there's no other ideas.
00;58;06;05 - 00;58;24;24
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Let's do a full on brainstorm and dig into all the possible friction points we can think of. We'll just throw everything on the table and see what we got. So first, there's the initial hurdle of just figuring out if the high school library even has a request process. Some might have an online form, some might not, and some might just do it informally.
00;58;24;27 - 00;58;42;11
Speaker 2
So that's friction point number one finding out the how. Then there's the whole issue of who to contact. Like you said, finding the librarians email or the right person who handles book requests is another layer of effort. If that info isn't usually found on the school's website, that's another little speedbump. And then there's the actual act of writing the email.
00;58;42;11 - 00;58;57;02
Speaker 2
People might worry about what to say, how to phrase it, or just feel awkward about making the request in the first place. We might think like, is this a big deal? Am I bothering someone? And that mental friction can slow them down? So we bundle all of those. But the idea is to address each one, give them a clear path to find out how to request.
00;58;57;04 - 00;59;12;27
Speaker 2
Help them quickly locate the right contact info and hand them a ready made, friendly template so they don't have to do the guesswork. Once all those little pain points are out of the way, it's basically as easy as clicking a few buttons. Let's keep pounding on these until we've got them all covered.
00;59;12;29 - 00;59;26;20
Speaker 1
Okay. Yeah. Keep going. I've got some ideas for this, but I want you to keep brainstorming.
00;59;26;23 - 00;59;52;18
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Let's keep the brainstorm rolling. So another angle is that sometimes parents or students might not know exactly why it's valuable to request a book. They might think it's too small of a gesture to matter, or they might not realize how much influence even a single request can have. So part of reducing friction is also giving a little nudge of encouragement, like a line in the template or in the tool saying, hey, your request really helps bring great resources to students that can just reassure them as we're doing.
00;59;52;20 - 01;00;12;15
Speaker 2
Another friction point might be timing paths and students are busy, and if they think it's going to take a lot of time, they might put it off. So we want to emphasize how quick it is. This will only take two minutes or something like that. We can also think about accessibility. If someone's not super tech savvy, we want to make sure the tool is really simple and straightforward, maybe with a nice, clean, mobile friendly design so they can do it on their phone.
01;00;12;17 - 01;00;30;01
Speaker 2
That way no one feels intimidated by the process. And finally, maybe just making sure they know the tools legit and trustworthy so they're not hesitant to use it. The more confident they feel, the more likely they are to follow through. I just keep knocking down all those barriers.
01;00;30;03 - 01;01;02;12
Speaker 1
Okay, so, I kind of was thinking about the idea of like having it, having a tool, right? That, that we have, like our public library and stuff like that. And what it does is it takes it finds that high school's library website, right. It digs into the website, sees if it can find stuff or like, it kind of like, I don't know, it just searches for this high school website.
01;01;02;14 - 01;01;25;12
Speaker 1
And then if it doesn't find it, then it, gives you a template email with you to contact, like a contact. Email or whatever.
01;01;25;14 - 01;01;41;24
Speaker 2
Yeah, that's a pretty cool approach. Essentially, you're talking about giving the tool a bit of smarts so it can do some of the digging for them. If it can automatically find that high school library site and see if there's a request form or any info that's awesome. Never comes up empty, then it just hands the user a fallback option.
01;01;41;25 - 01;01;56;26
Speaker 2
Hey, we didn't find a form, but here's a ready to go email you can send to the main school contact or the library. And in other words, it's kind of like a two layer safety net. If the tool can automate the first step, great, less work for the user. If not, so give them a clear, simple path forward.
01;01;56;28 - 01;02;06;03
Speaker 2
That way, no matter what, you're smoothing out those rough edges and make it as easy as possible for people to get that book into the library. I think that's a solid plan.
01;02;06;05 - 01;02;31;19
Speaker 1
Okay. And, maybe what you can, you know, it would be what would be fun is, if if we had like an interactive template. Right. So you could just grab like a the easy way to do this is like, take this text and like grab it and, and copy paste and just put it into your email and done or whatever.
01;02;31;19 - 01;02;52;18
Speaker 1
Right. But it almost might be fun to, to be able to like, cater it to, to whoever's writing it.
01;02;52;21 - 01;03;09;02
Speaker 2
Absolutely. Adding a bit of an activity to let people personalize the template is a really fun idea instead of just a straight copy paste. So you could have a little form to ask them a couple of quick questions like their name, maybe the student's name if they want, or even a personal note about why they think a book will be valuable.
01;03;09;04 - 01;03;26;29
Speaker 2
Then the template will automatically fill those details in so the email feels a bit more personal and tailored as like you're giving them a little bit of creative control while still making it super easy. And it definitely makes the whole process feel a bit more engaging and less like a one size fits all. So yeah, that would be a great touch.
01;03;27;01 - 01;03;47;08
Speaker 1
And it might be fun to do, like in Mad Libs style, right? Like if you did, if you, if you trained a GPT or like trained an AI to kind of do like a mad lib, I mean, like, all right, here is the high school name and and here it is. Right. So you could probably have something that did that right.
01;03;47;08 - 01;04;41;01
Speaker 1
Takes a high school. It pulls the name. It pulls a couple other like very basic like city and name and stuff like that. Right. And it puts it into kind of like a madlib form. And what you can say is like, I want to include three adjectives, about this book and, and something else. And then it just like spits out this, like, template instead of having a template and, like, signing a petition or whatever you have, like a little bit of like, email it, you just get to put your own, like, little wrinkle into the mix before it gets all stirred up and sent away.
01;04;41;03 - 01;04;56;13
Speaker 2
Yeah, exactly. That would be a really fun and kind of playful way to let people customize that request. A madlib style approach would totally add a little personality to it. They just fill in a few blanks like the school, name it with a couple of fun adjectives, or show a reason why they liked the book. And then boom!
01;04;56;13 - 01;05;13;18
Speaker 2
It generates a personalized email that feels a lot more engaging. It's like you're letting them have a little creative input, which can make the whole thing feel less like a chore and more like a quick, personalized note. Plus, it might make people a bit more excited to actually send it off. I think that's a fantastic little sprinkle of fun.
01;05;13;21 - 01;05;42;28
Speaker 1
Can you see, can you? I guess if the GPT is trained well enough on like kind of what to say, it probably wouldn't say any weird stuff. And the person is going to be reading it before it probably be like a $0.03 an email or something like that. And it's probably just be silly.
01;05;43;00 - 01;06;00;10
Speaker 2
Yeah, exactly. With a well set up template and a little bit of guidance, and it's going to produce something that's pretty safe and sensible. And like you said, the person is going to have a chance to look it over before they send it anyway. So it's not like it's going to go rogue. It'll just make the process a little more fun and personalized without any real risk of something weird happening.
01;06;00;17 - 01;06;05;03
Speaker 2
But yeah, I think it's a neat and pretty low risk way to add a better chance to the whole thing, right?
01;06;05;03 - 01;06;26;14
Speaker 1
So like if you had a template email that was like, dear blah blah blah, right? Or like, maybe it starts as high because then you don't have to know the person's name, like who's the librarian, right? That's kind of an obscure thing that you might not be able to find. So you just say, hi. I just wanted to, like, request this book.
01;06;26;14 - 01;06;52;01
Speaker 1
I heard about it, and, my, maybe not mention the kid, because then you have to know if it's like a son or daughter or whatever, but, like, I would love for y'all to give this book or whatever. And it's it probably needs to do it in local, speak, but we could just start with like a template that is pretty basic across, like, the whole country.
01;06;52;01 - 01;07;13;09
Speaker 1
Right. Decent English. And and what you have is like an option to, like, add a fun adjective to it. So like you have a little box and, and you can be like, all right, I want I like this, but I want to, integrate the word, hopeful. And then you press it and it kind of remixes.
01;07;13;09 - 01;07;30;07
Speaker 1
It, maybe not even using that word, but like, considering that input.
01;07;30;09 - 01;07;50;16
Speaker 2
Yeah, I love that idea. Is like giving them a little flavor dial to turn up the personality of the email. You start with a really simple universal template that's basically like, hi, I'd love for you to consider adding this book to the library, and then you give them an option to sprinkle in a vibe. It use a word like hopeful or maybe inspiring, and the tool just tweaks the tone a bit to reflect that adjective.
01;07;50;19 - 01;08;11;01
Speaker 2
It doesn't have to rewrite the whole thing, just a little remix to make it feel more personal. And yeah, starting with a basic English template is perfect because it's easy for everyone to jump in. That little bit of customization can make it feel more like their own note, rather than just a form letter. It's a great way to keep it simple, but still let them have a bit of fun.
01;08;11;04 - 01;08;46;26
Speaker 1
Okay, I like the direction that we're kind of going, and I think that the public library tool is, probably more effective right out of the box, but this one seems like it would be, a little bit harder, but more, like, with more fruitful.
01;08;46;28 - 01;09;04;00
Speaker 2
Yeah, I think you've got it. Exactly. The public library tool is definitely a bit more a plug and play, because those systems are usually more standardized. But this idea of making a high school request tool is a little more of a unique challenge. It's got a few more hurdles, but it's also got that potential to be really rewarding and kind of a special little niche.
01;09;04;00 - 01;09;16;20
Speaker 2
One's a smooth out, plus it's just a cool way to let people feel like they're doing something a little more personal and tailor for their community. So yeah, it might take a bit more finesse, but it's definitely got some extra charm and impact.
01;09;16;22 - 01;09;37;02
Speaker 1
Okay, I think that's a good place to stop. I like I like the ideas that we had, before we close out today. Do you have any input on anything that we've talked about the that you'd like to share that you haven't?
01;09;37;05 - 01;09;57;01
Speaker 2
I think we covered the main ideas really well. Honestly, I'm on board with the direction you're taking, and I love how you're thinking about making this process easier and a bit more human for everyone involved. I don't have any big extra insights to add beyond that, I just say trust your instincts as you refine it. And if you ever want to bounce around more ideas or dig deeper, I'm here.
01;09;57;03 - 01;10;01;01
Speaker 1
Okay, so thank you and I'll talk to you later, please.