I love to read! When I want to learn about something, I turn to books or more recently, the interwebs to get the facts.
While blogs are great, you cannot replace the impact of a full book. Compare reading a tweet to a book — sure it can be a great tweet but the longer conversation with the author is what I crave. I have spent a lot of time reading about social media in the last year working with My Book Club. You, as a 12 Most reader, may already know many of these authors and I am proud to say that half of them have written for 12 Most as well.
I urge you to buy these books if you haven’t already, and most importantly — READ them once you buy them! So many people tell me they buy books and never read them. Pick them up, entertain your brain and get some new ideas ruminating!
Another caveat to this list is that all these authors are actively engaging on social media so you can tell them personally how much you liked their books. Here’s my list in no particular order…
by Guy Kawasaki“Knowledge is great. Competence is great. But the combination of both encourages people to trust you and increases your powers of enchantment. And in this world, the combination is a breath of fresh air.”
“You see, the thing about working with pirates is that they know what they are doing. They already know more than you do because they are sailing and raiding. They are the experts in your organization, and you need to get them on your side, not turn them against you. Here is how to deal with a pirate ship model in ten simple steps: 1. Respect the pirates. (They know how to execute.) 2. Invite the pirates to the table. Recognize their wins. 3. Ask the pirates to report on what they see and hear. 4. Ask the pirates to report on their wins and losses. 5. Ask the pirates how you can help them win more…”
by Dave Kerpen“Engage: create true dialogue with, and between, your customers.”
by Chris Westfall“Take control of your personal message.”
by Steve Jones“We’re not into music. We’re into chaos.”
by Jason Falls and Eric Decker“Social media marketing is about being social with a purpose.”
by Jay Baer and Amber Naslund“Social media is about people, not logos.”
by Ann Handley and C.C. Chapman“Everyone is the media. Everyone is a publisher.”
by Guy Kawasaki“An enchanting profile is crucial because people look at profiles and make snap judgments.”
by Sally Hogshead“The greatest gift is to be able to make someone else feel fascinating.”
by Mark Schaefer“We ALL can be heard and have influence. Everywhere. Anywhere. This is the era of the Citizen Influencer!”
by Mari Smith“New marketing is about the relationships, not the medium.”
What is on your nightstand or loaded on your Kindle ready to read? Please let me know in the comments below.
Featured image courtesy of Horia Varlan licensed via Creative Commons.
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Article by Peg Fitzpatrick
Peg Fitzpatrick is proud to be a Managing Partner and writer for 12 Most. She is Director of Marketing and Social Media Manager for Kreussler Inc., and hosts the popular #MyBookClub chat on the 1st Monday of every month at 8 pm EST. She has also started speaking at events such as the #140 Conference and is honored to be included on several “best of” online and blogging lists. Peggy loves to travel and enjoys photography as well. All about being positive and connecting, she is a true social butterfly. Tweet her and say hi at @pegfitzpatrick, find her Stumbling on StumbleUpon, rocking Google+ here Google or happily pinning on Pinterest
@bluehenprof you should also check out The On-Demand Brand by Rick Mathieson. It's got some great tips on successful digital branding!
@heheheaney Thank you so much for that reco! I am putting it on my summer reading list...keep those book recos coming!
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I've enjoyed several of these, Peggy - and I'm reading Return on Influence right now. NOW Revolution and Content Rules are in my queue...as well as What the Plus (gotta find where I downloaded that eBook).
#1 is one of my recent favorites (along with Good to Great). I enjoyed both #2 and #6 because they touched upon social media monitoring...and that is our bread and butter!
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@dbvickery Did you read Fascinate yet? Love that one a lot! And #1.
Content Rules and NOW Revolution will give you practical things to start implementing right away. There are Storifys available on for both of those chats from #MyBookClub. Great info: http://storify.com/PeggyFitz
@Peg Fitzpatrick I haven't read Fascinate yet...will definitely put it in the hopper. One of these days, I need to join that #MyBookClub chat...I bet it has some fantastic readers joining!
@SGFrerich Thanks for sharing, Stephanie. There were several McGraw Hill books in my list. Love to work w/ you for @MyBookClub2 #MyBookClub
@PegFitzpatrick fantastic! I'd love to set up a chat with you, plus the @MHBusiness marketing and publicity team re @mybookclub2
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Great list Peggy, You just added 5 books to the pile I have on my desk... Thanks :)
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ACK... no "unMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging." by Scott Stratten? If you haven't, you need to read this one.
The Now Revolution was a good one...that's the only one off this list I've read! Guess I've got my summer reading list now :)
@anitahovey I must admit, I haven't read unMarketing yet. I will add it on my list. :)
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Social media is one of the tools for online marketing and reading all these books will surely provide additional ideas to improve your online marketing strategies. Thanks for sharing all these. :)
@Martin D Redmond You will love Relationship Marketing, Mari know her stuff and you will too when you are done.
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After hearing that I was lucky enough to have two shout-out's, I had to come over and join the conversation. So, thank you to both Chris Westfall and Jim Dougherty, first of all, for mentioning "Say This, NOT That" in this list, which makes me unbelievably honored.
My very, very first book that I read about social media after joining the social media space in April 2011 was Dave Kerpen's book, which is Peggy's #3. What I loved so much about that book was that Dave gives readers the exact words to use, and I also felt that as an academic, I could follow his instructions pretty easily (many academics are not on top of technology in the real world--it's sad, but true...I've been asked to go back and teach my fellow colleagues about what I've learned about social media in the year I've been gone!).
I wasn't using my social media to become a business, but rather to reach college students, and his message felt easily translatable. I also realized that Dave practiced what he preaches. I wrote to him and told him how I felt about his message and his book and how it resonated with me. He was so reachable and personable, and ultimately, he endorsed my book and I'm proud that his endorsement sits right at the top and is literally one of the first things people see.
Now, I'm getting ready to read Ric Dragon's book, Social Marketology, because I'm reviewing it for McGraw-Hill. I'm really looking forward to that.
Thank you for more wonderful ideas for books I can learn from, Peggy! And thanks, Chris and Jim, for the abundance of compliments.
Ellen
@chattyprof I can't help but see the 12 Most connections within this comment, Ellen. Dave and other Likeable staffers have written for 12 Most as well as Chris Westfall. I love to see the community connections and how they help others grow and learn.
I can't wait to start your book and will be doing so very soon! And Ric is the guest for My Book Club chat tomorrow July 2nd at 8 pm EST, come and join in the conversation.
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@chattyprof #MyBookClub is the live, monthly chat that happens on Twitter, usually the first Monday of every month. More can also be found on our new website: http://mybookclub2.com/ @Peg Fitzpatrick
@markwschaefer @12most ....Thats great, I just bought 2 of the top 3 of them on Wednesday night.
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Thank you very much for this wonderful comment Peg. I'm delighted you liked Return On Influence!
12 Most Informative Books On Social Media: http://t.co/hIybVO1R via @thornybleeder #uwsmc [Agreed! Love especially @thebrandbuilder book]
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I just want to echo @leaderswest with a shoutout for "Say This, Not That" to your college professor. I wish I had this book when I was in school! @chattyprof is a talented writer with an easygoing style that's crystal-clear. I was in Seattle last week and got to meet Ellen IRL - I'm a big fan of her message and her delivery.
One of the biggest thrills for me was being able to meet @guykawasaki last month. The only thing that could top it? Meeting @Peg Fitzpatrick !! :-) (Someday soon I hope) I just discovered @sallyhogshead (I know, I'm late to her party). Really appreciate this great list - thanks for including me with all these talented folks !
@westfallonline @leaderswest @chattyprof
Hooray for the Ellen meeting! And who was this other Guy you met?
You should put Fascinate on your reading list, her message and research fits in really nicely with your epitch. Here is the Book Club summary from her chat: http://mybookclub2.com/fascinate-by-sally-hogshead/
Can't wait to meet you in person either!
@annetreasure @nigelcameron @tamcdonald *Stops writing 'How To Social Media Your Way To Millions'* *hangs head*
@FeliceTherese @annetreasure @nigelcameron @tamcdonald Social Media was supposed to be my cash cow. I have purchased all of the literature.
@FeliceTherese @annetreasure @nigelcameron @tamcdonald wait! Are you saying the $5,000 cheque I sent to the Social Media Inst was a waste?
@fapanislives @FeliceTherese @annetreasure @nigelcameron Social Media what? Institute? $5000? Wow. Maybe I'm just looking at this all wrong.
@tamcdonald @FeliceTherese @annetreasure @nigelcameron now I just feel silly... It's like that time I sent money to the Nigerian prince.
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I have a couple of these and want to add @Platform by Michael Hyatt and @Inbound Marketing by Halligan and Shah. They have taught me a lot. Barbara at bfowler@chiefoutsiders.com
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My excuse for not reading enough is that here in Israel it's more expensive to buy books in English-that is if they have them. I also do most of my reading on the Sabbath (don't turn on and off electricity) so a kindle is out of the question for that reading. :-(
@newdaynewlesson Those are really good reasons though, Susie. What was your favorite book that you read recently?
@Peg Fitzpatrick Am reading lots of Percy Jackson books in Hebrew that I stole from my kids. LOL
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I love reading titles of books like these -- it's often a contest of who is wittiest! I think "What the Plus!" wins this one. :) Thanks for the suggestions; I'll be adding them to my list!
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@annedreshfield I think that Guy is pretty witty too! You should try the #MyBookClub chat on Monday. If you like these authors in print, you will love them tweeting live. The live conversations are great. Thanks!
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This is a wonderful list, @Peg Fitzpatrick I have read just a few of these. I loved "Return on Influence." I'll have to get busy and crack the bindings of these other ones...
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Fantastic list Peggy and I confess to only having read about half. @guykawasaki 's books were phenomenal - Enchanment blew me away. As did @sallyhogshead 's Fascinate. I'm excited to read @markwschaefer 's Return on Influence soon.
A couple of books I really enjoyed recently were @rogerdooley 's Brainfluence - which was a rich, accessible book about neuromarketing (and I don't mean that as an oxymoron). Also loved @chattyprof 's book Say THIS Not That to you College Professor which is intended for college students, but is a really accessible and insightful book for parents to teach their kids about how social behaviors are perceived by other people and what social skills are necessary to succeed academically (and in life).
I have got some reading to do - thanks Peggy!
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@leaderswest I have "Say this, Not that..." and am waiting to start it. Also on my short list "Launch" by Michael Stelzner and the August Book Club choice At Left Brain Turn RIght by Anthony Meindl.
I'll check out Braininfluence! Thanks for the recommendation.
So many books!
