A major reason why I like social media is the learning process that comes with it. Besides Googling for information online, another great resource for me to get information has always been Amazon. Amazon’s got some great books on Web 2.0 and Social Media topics. To be honest, I have benefited greatly from reading them in the past. In this post, I would like to sort through the readings I’ve done and make my top 10 picks for your reference.
Feel Clueless about Social Media? These 4 Books Can Help You Make the Transition!
1. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich – Tim Ferriss
Back when I worked in Corporate America, reading this book has absolutely inspired me and broadened my horizon to see what’s possible out there and what I am truly capable of. Tim Ferriss, the author, introduces the concept of “New Rich” in his book. Tim runs a multinational firm from wireless locations worldwide. He particularly speaks of the critical role that the Internet plays in order to design a desirable lifestyle. I will do a review on The 4-Hour Workweek book tomorrow (Review the post). So subscribe to our RSS feed so you won’t miss it after I publish it.
2. The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly – David Meerman Scott
This book is my favorite Web 2.0 guide that actually helped me tremendously in terms of adapting to all kinds of new media tools. What I like about it is the fact that David Meerman Scott has covered, one by one, the most important Web 2.0 tools in this book, including Blogs (Chapter 4), News Releases (Chapter 5), Podcasting (Chapter 6), Forums/Wikis (Chapter 7), Social Media (Chapter 19), Search Engine Marketing (Chapter 20), etc. If you are new to Web 2.0 and not used to this entire paradigm shift, this book can get you introduced to all these new concepts.
3. Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us – Seth Godin
Seth Godin is probably one of the most popular Web 2.0 gurus. Having founded Squidoo, he authored several influential books, including Purple Cow, The Dip, Permission Marketing, Small Is the New Big, etc (All Recommended). The book ‘Tribes‘ says change is good. Seth argues that lasting and substantive change can be best effected by a tribe: a group of people connected to each other, to a leader and to an idea, and the best tool to accomplish this is the Internet (Twitter and Facebook in particular). This is another mind-blowing book that is guaranteed to help you see the world in a new light.
4. Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More – Chris Anderson
Chris Anderson, the editor of chief for Wired magazine, wrote this great book about Internet marketing. It’s an important guide book for anyone who wants to understand internet commerce or innovation in services. In his book, Chris examines the new economics that comes with the Internet age. He proves his points through illustrative examples and persuasive language. It’s an excellent read.
6 Books about Blogging, Search Engine Marketing, Google, and Twitter
5. Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers – Robert Scoble and Shel Israel
Amazon Has Some Kick-Ass Books!
For small business and companies that have already embraced blogging, this book is an essential guide to best practice. Robert Scoble has probably maintained one of the most popular blogs on the Internet. According to the book, there are six pillars that set blogs apart from all other communications channel – Publishable, Findable, Social, Viral, Syndicatable, and Linkable. On the contrary, if your business is not blogging, use this book as a discussion starter for deciding whether blogging is right for your company. All things considered, Naked Conversation is a very helpful guide book.
6. ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income – Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
For anyone who wants to build an online business or blog for income, this book is a must-read. Darren Rowse is the owner of Problogger.net , a website where bloggers worldwide go for advice and information on enhancing their blog’s presence. In a nutshell, here are the monetization methods elaborated in this book:
Direct Monetization:
- Advertising
- Sponsorships
- Affiliate commissions
- Paid reviews
Indirect Monetization:
- Freelance writing contracts
- Book deals
- Speaking engagements
- Consulting opportunities
- Service contracts
- Sell your own products
7. Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time – Joel Comm
A great book to read if you want to understand how Twitter works. When I first started out with Twitter, this book has been an indispensable resource for me. The insightful information it presents will certainly set you apart from other Twitter starters who haven’t read the book, helping you conduct highly effective social media marketing campaigns.
8. What Would Google Do? – Jeff Jarvis
I have just finished this book recently. It’s a bold and vital book that asks and answers the most urgent question of today: What Would Google Do? Internet expert Jeff Jarvis, in his book, illustrates the new worldview of the Internet generation: how it challenges and destroys, but also opens up vast new opportunities. His findings are counterintuitive, practical, and thought-provoking, giving readers a glimpse of how everyone and everything – from corporations to governments, nations to individuals – must evolve in the Google era.
9. Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords: How to Access 100 Million People in 10 Minutes – Perry Marshall and Bryan Todd
The title of the book is pretty enticing and self-explanatory. Initially, I bought the book because of the stunning reviews I see on Amazon. It’s hard to resist. Having finished the book, I have to admit that the information presented is indeed very useful. I would encourage all Internet marketers/business owners get their hands on this book as soon as possible, because if you don’t, your competitors will. Here are some key points in this book:
- Build an AdWords campaign from scratch
- Identify keywords that entice people to click on your ads
- Get the lowest bid prices on your keywords
- Defeat click fraud and other scams
- Use search engine optimization techniques
- Turn clicks into customers
10. Search Engine Optimization For Dummies – Peter Kent
If you are new to SEO (Search Engine Optimization), I highly recommend this book. This handy guide shows you how to get more visitors by getting more visibility for your blog or Web site. A couple key concepts covered in this guide include:
- Plan a search engine strategy
- Build pages that offer visibility
- Make your site rank high with the most important search engines
- Avoid things that search engines don’t like (and tricks that might actually get your site penalized)
- Use Google universal search, image search optimization, XML sitemaps, and more
- Choose the right keywords
- Track and measure your results
- Increase your exposure with shopping directories and retailers
- Boost your position with popular links and social networking sites
- Use pay-per-click in ways that get the most bang for your advertising buck
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