Social Media Marketing Book List
When I teach classes I’m often asked if I have any book recommendations. While I hesitate to recommend books in a new media field, because the content changes frequently, I do read books and also have a wish list. Here are a few books to consider for getting started in Social Media Marketing.
Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media and Blogs by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah. Brought to us by the founders of the ever successful and highly popular HubSpot, this book covers everything you need to know to be a good digital citizen today. It includes tips on how to optimize your profile, content and general attitude in order to secure work in today’s competitive marketplace. It’s an easy read and well worth a listen if you prefer books on tape too.
Engage: Revised and Updated: The Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate, and Measure Success in the New Web by Brian Solis. I’m a Solis follower and fan and believe he knows his stuff from both traditional public relations, and new media. He was extremely influential in my getting started in this field and he said “Participation is marketing” before anyone really even understood what participation meant.
The Zen of Social Media Marketing by Shama Hyder Kabani. This is a fresh approach written by a very successful 25 year-old entrepreneur. I enjoyed the insights from many leading online marketers and entrepreneurs included in the book as well.
Social Media Metrics: How to Measure and Optimize Your Marketing Investment by Jim Stern. This is a great introduction for tracking results in social media and how best to use the built in data to maximize your Return On Influence. Don’t miss this one.
Marketing 3.0: From Products to Customers to the Human Spirit by Philip Kotler. A more academic look at the state of marketing today including and social media, sustainability and how businesses are solving new challenges today.
On the wish list:
Launch: How to Quickly Propel Your Business Beyond the Competition by Michael A. Stelzner
Success Secrets of Social Media Superstars by Mitch Meyerson
If you have read and/or are reading any of these books and would like to share your thoughts about them, please do so in the comments area below. Thanks.