Internet rock star and PodCamp co-founder, Chris Brogan, admits there are already a variety of books that address social media; and yet, he declares why we should read his. Do we really need another book on the topic? The answer is "yes." We need his. Whether you're an online networking newbie or a social media socialite; Brogan's Social Media 101: Tactics and Tips to Develop Your Business Online is an educational read.
Brogan reminds us that social media is about people and building relationships. We like to be engaged, respected and appreciated. Make people the experts. Find ways to tap into their expertise.
He pleads with marketers to concentrate on the details the consumer deems important, not their own interests. "Please ask yourself, "Who cares?" after every little scrap of copy you write."
Social media yields personal power, allowing you to broadcast your unique voice, with flexibility, to a worldwide audience. Your influence can transfer to the workplace. You can mix your personal brand, as well as support for the company that pays you. Brogan presciently sees this as an employment trend. He also advocates developing your online presence to enhance your presentation of personality and professional doings. Blog and add video to display a less boring resume. Your personal brand is a mix of reputation, trust, attention and execution.
Pubs (short for public houses) are places where people talk with like-minded and dissenting people. They gossip, make deals and sell. Silly moments and random happenings occur too. Pubs support talking as opposed to doing. Brogan believes online networking mirrors pubs.
Accepting the above analogy, "First, be ready to buy someone else a drink," says
Brogan. "Take that as a metaphor for sharing overall." Marketers should share something of value; bloggers should ask to hear someone else's story first. Salespeople should do something for prospects/customers before focusing on their needs.
Regulars mind the pub, welcoming strangers, and tending the place while the barkeep is busy in the back. It's a two-way relationship between the barkeep/management and the regulars. "It's not what you do inside the pub that makes you or changes you or gives you something to call your own; it's what you do outside the pub that counts in the long run," says Brogan.
Now, many people claim to be experts in the subject. Brogan views himself as an adviser because in today's online world, expertise can be fleeting. He lists strategies and tactics he'd look for in a so-called expert, including how to turn blog posts into business leads and how to create, edit, and post at least one other type of media besides text.
Topics including "100 Best Branding Tactics Using Social Media," and "50 Ways Marketers Can Use Social Media to Improve Their Marketing," make reading the book worthwhile alone.
Businesses committed to blogging will appreciate Brogan's tips including know your blog's goal. He believes a company's blogging policy shouldn't be any more complex than their email policy.
In an instant gratification-demanding world, Brogan notes an eight-year climb to earn his first 100 RSS (Really Simple Syndication) subscribers. His daily readers now exceed 45,000.
Brogan covers perfunctory social media sites, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, but Social Media 101 teaches beyond. His modestly priced 5" by 7" text yields megatons of topical knowledge, including 272 postscripts that highlight blog posts, tips and websites; to enhance your online business profitability long term.
Social media is a newish, evolving Internet discipline that's changing the 21st century business landscape. Its applications may change with time and it's not a panacea for business success. But a basic understanding of its benefits is vital. Brogan's text is enlightening regardless of previous social media knowledge.
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