AKA: Nick the GeekKnown Associates:
Profile: Founder, creator, and geek personality, Pirillo has been online and an inbound marketer since 1996, having started out with the website and blogging network Lockergnome. He has built up an entire, sprawling network of blogging networks, websites, and most notably online video content. Previously, Pirillo hosted a television show called "Call for Help" on 24-hour technology and gadget channel TechTV, which is now defunct. Because of this media exposure, especially to video, Pirillo now regularly contributes to CNN, is a partner at YouTube, hosts daily Ustream.tv shows, is a regular guest at CBC, and even has his own video shows all about technology, Internet, and other things that interest him.
Not only is Pirillo active in video, but he is also quite active in blogging. Lockergnome became his blogging network, which sees millions of views and has 100,000 active members. Unlike other technology blogs, Lockergnome uses a minimal interface and has major topics like Internet security, cloud services, IT, and major technology companies like Microsoft and Apple. The blog also boasts over 190,000 subscribers to date.
Along with Lockergnome and his various video channels, Pirillo hosts an annual conference all about social media, blogging, and technology called Gnomedex. And in true Pirillo fashion, Gnomedex is streamed live every year for fans to join in on the conversations. Pirillo conducts many live streaming feeds, including one of his work area and desk, so live streaming Gnomedex is only natural.
Lockergnome and Gnomedex also inspired Pirillo to create Gnomies, a email subscription based service to help his followers with start-up, entrepreneurial, and blogging advice and offers consulting services. Gnomies has since grown to include a private Minecraft server for subscribers as well as a TeamSpeak server and videos of Pirillo vlogging about his everyday life, which he posts to YouTube.
Pirillo is a huge advocate for Microsoft and Windows, even hosting a live stream video series on for Microsoft on their Channel 9 website called "Help Desk With Chris Pirillo," where viewers can call in and discuss tech-related issues, especially of the Microsoft variety.
Not only is Pirillo very interested in live stream video and blogging, but he has also published books on relevant topics, much like the other best inbound marketers out there. He started GnomeTomes, which showcases all of his ebooks which fans can purchase and download as a full set, "DRM-free." One of his most popular published works is the Poor Richard's E-Mail Publishing, Online!
Current whereabouts have him located in Issaquah, Washington.
Last Seen:
- Chris Pirillo Blog -- His main hub of video, blog posts and social networks.
- Lockergnome -- A major blog network all about technology.
- Chris Pirillo Live -- A live stream of Chris Pirillo's work area.
- YouTube -- Pirillo's daily vlogging videos.
Special Skills: Pirillo graduated from college with a degree in English, eventually falling into a position as an English teacher early on in his career. However, through networking and savvy online experience, Pirillo became a hit video host and went on to even become a member of the board for Ustream. Video has always been Pirillo's main focus, starting with TechTV and now being part of several different projects all over the Internet and with major media companies like CNN and CBC. His acute focus on one content channel, and nurturing it to the point of being valuable for his viewership, is one way Pirillo made a name for himself as one of the best inbound marketers.
Expansion into a multichannel marketing strategy makes sense, but there always needs to be an anchor of content. Pirillo used his anchor of video content to develop several different channels and other types of content, like an email service and blogging network. To be one of the best inbound marketers is to have a good eye for long-term goals and consistant improvement over time. Pirillo stuck to a niche that would eventually become one of the most popular means of social media and networking, rivaling most blogging networks.
Notes: Pirillo has created over 5000 YouTube videos.
This post is part-one of the 11-part blog series "The Inbound 11," a collection of today's best inbound marketers as seen through the eyes of Magnetic MarCom. You can learn more about upcoming "Inbound 11" profiles by visiting our introductory post.
