There are hundreds of social media books out there. So how is a many-hat-wearing business owner supposed to know which ones to read? Here is a list of the 6 social media books that a business owners can read to get the most bang for their social media investment of money and time.
About the List Not a easy pick
Ultimately it came down to creating a mix of books that was targeted to small business owners and that will help us build our brands and grow our businesses. These books run the gamut from those that strive to give you an overview and strategic context for the social media trend — to more detailed how-to books that will help you apply social media in your everyday marketing tactics.
Overall, the intention of this list is to provide a spectrum of information that will leave you feeling better, smarter and faster when it comes to social media.
The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web by Tamar Weinberg
Let’s say you are now “sold” on the idea that using social media as part of your marketing strategy is probably a good thing. Yet, despite all the books out there, you’re still not sure exactly what to do or where to do it or how to do it – beyond establishing a basic profile or a presence.
The New Community Rules is your next step. This book will give you the specifics you’re looking for. It covers a number of niche social sites you may not be as familiar with, and includes short success case studies.
The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World by David Kirkpatrick
If you’re a business history buff who enjoyed the “Pirates of Silicon Valley” movie about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates – then you will also enjoy The Facebook Effect. It was written by a journalist who has interwoven his interviews with Mark Zuckerberg and the key players who turned a school hobby/project into the realization of Zuckerberg’s vision to change the world by connecting people.
This isn’t necessarily a book about how to use social media, but it will take you behind the scenes of several social networking sites and how they succeeded and failed. It’s great business reading in general.
Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff
Whenever a CEO or small business owner comes to me and says “I’m not sure I understand the business value of social media,” I tell them to read this book first. Groundswell is written by a team of researchers from Forrester Research. These people have done more research on social media for this book (and continue to empirically study social media and document it) than you or I will do in a lifetime.
Because this book was written in 2008 when social media was still “new” to even the professionals, it explains social media in a way that all of us can understand and relate to. Groundswell will give you a framework and a context within which to place new learning. It is well written, easy to read and full of research data that you can trust.
The Digital Handshake: Seven Proven Strategies to Grow Your Business Using Social Media by Paul Chaney
If you’re fed up because the time and money you’ve already invested in traditional marketing like advertising or direct mail isn’t paying off, or you’re frustrated because you see the world of marketing changing and you’re not sure how to maximize the technology for business objectives, then this book is for you.
While it won’t show you detailed nuts and bolts of how to start a blog or how to use Twitter, it will help you to start plotting your next move.
The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success by Lon Safko and David K. Brake
When a book has the word “Bible” attached to the subject and in the title, you automatically assume that it has everything you’ll need to get through life as it concerns that topic. And that’s exactly what you’ll find here.
This book covers some history and background, as well as tools and strategies that you can use to grow your business with social media.
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
By now you’ve noticed that the social media revolution requires a new and different way of thinking. This makes Trust Agents the perfect book to read next. It’s written by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith and endorsed by Seth Godin — all trusted marketing minds whose work has stood the test of time.
This is an easy read and will get you squarely in the social media mind-set. One warning: You may not agree with what you read. You may not like it. But understand this: It’s how the technology is impacting people and small business. Embrace it.
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So there you have it — a mix of social media books that every small business owner should have on the shelf. If you’re wondering what social media strategies and tactics you should put in your marketing plan this year, you’re guaranteed to find them here.
Tue, Sep 7, 2010
Social Media