Last updated on December 21st, 2015 at 03:47 pm
Social media can be a complicated space for B2B professionals who first dive into it. That’s why we weren’t too surprised to get this question via our Ask the B2B Experts call for questions, where you can ask our B2B insiders on anything related to your industry.
This question comes from Simon, who lives in Southampton, UK:
Can you recommend some good basic books on social media for beginners?
We sure can, Simon! For this answer, we turned to the columnist behind Startup Marketing Smarts, Mark Evans. He consults with startups and fast-growing companies to strengthen their marketing teams, and is also the co-founder of Toronto’s leading digital media conference mesh.
Here’s what Mark had to say about the top books on social media books for beginners:
To be honest, the best way to learn about social media is simply jumping into the fray. There is nothing better than experiencing first-hand how different platforms work, and what generates the best results.
That said, there are many books that provide valuable insight about how to approach social media and the most effective ways to operate strategically and tactically.
Here a list of books that I would recommend. Before you dive in, not all of them are specifically about social media. Some of them are focused on how to connect with consumers, which is a key element in being successful with social media.
Youtility by Jay Baer
In a noisy digital world, the brands that rise to the top embrace an approach that has everything to do with meet the needs and interests of consumers. Youtility, written by content marketing guru Jay Baer, is “marketing so useful, people would pay for it”. By being consumer-friendly, Baer says brands can build relationships and turn consumers into customers without selling.
The Social Media Marketing Book by Dan Zarrella
For people looking to get into social media, The Social Media Marketing Book is a great primer. It covers the social media landscape by providing an overview of the different social media tools used by marketers. It is probably one of the most user-friendly options for beginners as it looks at the basics and how to get started.
The Inside Advantage by Robert Bloom
Written by the former chief executive of advertising agency Publicis Worldwide, The Inside Advantage provides terrific insight about how brands can effectively market and sell by having deep knowledge about their customers. One of the keys to successful social media programs is being able to connect with people who matter. The Inside Advantage will help to make that happen with advice and real-world case studies.
Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan & Dharmesh Shah
A user-friendly, accessible book that covers the digital landscape – how to use search engines, blogs and social media to attract consumers. Inbound Marketing is focused on helping brands drive traffic to their websites using a variety of techniques and tools. Whether you want to improve search engines rankings, create an effective blog or leverage social media, Inbound Marketing has lots of solid tips.
Trust Agents by Julian Smith and Chris Brogan
Written by two of the leading social media consultants, Trust Agents looks at how brands can use social media to become trusted and influential online influencers. Trust Agents features insight about how businesses can develop strong networks to drive growth. It includes actionable steps and case studies that turn concepts into accessible learning opportunities.
Influence Marketing by Danny Brown & Sam Fiorella
In an ultra-competitive world, Influence Marketing looks at how to leverage influencers and, as important, learn how to use influence to encourage consumers during the purchase journey. It shows brands how influence marketing can become a powerful weapon within a marketing arsenal and how to use social media to build online relationships.
Jab Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
In many respects, Gary Vaynerchuk is the poster boy for social media. Vaynerchuk leveraged social media to drive the growth of his family’s wine business. In the process, he established himself as the one of the leading social media gurus. Jab Jab Right Hook encourages brands to take a different approach to social media. Rather than posting content and updates, Vaynerchuk says social media success happens when brands engage with consumers to build relationships and, as important, deliver content that matters.
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