Free Business Book Giveaway

Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
What I like about small business owners is that they are not afraid to take huge risks and lay it all on the line. But, I agree they do need a lot of help with their marketing. I think having them go the social media and email route is not only the least expensive but its also the most effective. Thanks for the stats!
www.onlineuniversalwork.com

Did my eloquent answer truly disappear? I was going to edit it, realized I didn't need to, and then it was gone! Will tears and passion win me any points? LOL

I won't try and retype the fluff (anyone reading this can be thankful) ... I'll just say that as part of Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, we have several initiatives and alliances in play where our Social Media discoveries and resulting policies will be affecting not only our membership of 13,000 but will be shared with other United Way agencies as a model as well as part of best practices among Girl Scout councils. I took it upon myself to create a "soft start" to experiment. It has proved valuable and we are starting the formal council involvement with Membership Executives and our "cookie diva" ... next step? Formal policies, trainings, and collaboration.

These books would not only benefit our efforts to make wise steps with a variety of audiences and needs, but their impact would be shared throughout a network of organizations and people dedicated to doing something GREAT in this world!

Tears and passion always win points in my books :)

You have a great project underway, and I wish you all the luck in the world with it. Good for you for taking the initiative to get it off the ground!

I commented yesterday... hmm.

After several years of ardent convincing, the suits have agreed to move forward with a digital marketing strategy and to start taking seriously the importance Facebook, search engines, blogging and, to some extent, Twitter. Our goal is to begin to distinguish ourselves as industry leaders - we want to increase communication and discussion with others in our business. As well, we want to increase communication between ourselves and our clients (or potential clients).

Some of the most exciting things we will do this year:
- Company blog - a discussion blog for the company and our clients, as well as those in the industry that are interested (our clients are the type that will read blogs)
- Twitter - this will serve as another point for discussion (many of our clients are on Twitter) and we can rely on our blog as the hub
- Facebook - again, the blog is the hub of our efforts, but we will participate on Facebook to gain exposure and be represented there

In addition, the company I work for is digital publishing company that works with some of Canada's favourite retailers and I see some opportunities there for us.

So this is sort of my show - and while I know what I am doing, I sometimes lack the language. I studied anthropology which in fact is very useful (tribes are nothing new to me) but kinship terminology sometimes does not work in situations like this. This is a great opportunity for me and I want to impress the bosses, and more importantly, impress myself.

I think Duct Tape Marketing appeals to the do-it-yourselfer in me - and since the initial budget on this won't be that big, I might need all the help I can get in "practical" marketing.
Trust Agent - well we want to become leaders in the industry, and this book would be a great help in identifying how to go about become the reputable, 100 million dollar company we feel we are.
The Whuffie Factor is one I have wanted to pick up for a while - we want to build a community and discussion around what we do and improving/enhancing those solutions. Tara Hunt's insights would be really useful. As well, this would be a great book for retail community building strategies.
Avinash's Analytics book - MUST HAVE! I have his other Web Analytics in an hour a day, it was very gripping. I loved it and want to know what he thinks about analytics for social media.
The New Community Rules would be helpful to us in building communities around the brands we work with, using the our digital publications as an access point - another great book I ashamed to say I don't have.
Crush It would be a great book to get me pumped for starting my own social media revolutions.
And Six Pixels of Separation - from what I hear of this book, it might be a good gift for the suits when I have devoured it. They want to understand but still chuckle when mention Twitter.

I would read them all cover to cover. And I suppose I will even if I don't win. After all, that is why they invented Amazon. Cheers and have a great day!

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, we have entered with a soft start and slowly adding elements to our endeavors to make sure we can sustain what we establish. We are at the point of solidifying our experiments into policies and procedures which will affect approximately 13,000 girls, volunteers, and staff members in our area as well as other United Way nonprofits in the area (we are working toward a model that can be adopted by other nonprofits) and even other Girl Scout councils (a few of us are comparing notes and working to establish best practices).

As part of our formal Strategic Learning initiative, we want to utilize technology to build relationships. As the staff and volunteers lead this initiative, I would love to learn from the leaders in this realm and make this library available throughout our organization as share what we learn with other organizations. Our vision is to enliven a new element of community and be more able to reach out and connect to truly make a difference in the world!

know you may have already picked a winner, but here’s to hoping you are still reading the comments…I didn’t see that this contes was happening until today...through facebook, social media in action, right?
Heres my theoretical plan:
For my company page impressions are king because more page impressions mean more underwriting and grant revenue. Ultimately we want to drive people to look at our website and keep coming back for more because if they consume more of our content and loyal to our site, we know we are serving our audience well.
To that end, I would value metrics that show interaction with our content (linking, retweets and comments) higher than other metrics available (Fans, followers and subscribers). Fans and followers are passive; the act of linking and spreading the word is active and gives a sense that our content is resonating with our audience. Since we have several fan pages, twitter accounts and blogs for different content categories, I would create rank reports for each social media platform based on the content categories performance in the key “active” metric associated with the platform (linking for facebook, retweets for twitter and comments for blogs). A content category may rank well in its comments, but poorly in its linking. If a content category ranks well in all metric categories than we can infer that it is serving our audience well. If we’ve put a lot of effort into one content category and it ranks low compared to our other content, then we should re-evaluate our efforts because we are either need to change something or realize that our audience may not put as high a value on it as we do and it is no longer worth our limited resources to produce it.

Most of my training has come from reading books, and I would love to expand my library with books on social media strategy and if my theoretical social media strategy is way off then I really need the books!

I haven't picked the winner yet, so you are still in the running. Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts, and good luck in 2010!

This is a good reminder to get my eyes a'reading! I'm working with a couple of social justice groups who have social media presences without a plan. So, first thing is to assess what each group has already, then examine a plan--and then get to integrating! For us, it's mostly going to be blogs, Facebook fan pages and Twitter accounts. And analytics, oh, we will become close friends with analytics!

Ah - the old social media presences without a plan! Please make sure you DO make good friends with analytics!

Just noticed - the link to Tara Hunt's site does not work - missing the http:// I think. :)

After several years of ardent convincing, the suits have agreed to move forward with a digital marketing strategy and to start taking seriously the importance Facebook, search engines, blogging and, to some extent, Twitter. Our goal is to begin to distinguish ourselves as industry leaders - we want to increase communication and discussion with others in our business. As well, we want to increase communication between ourselves and our clients (or potential clients).

Some of the most exciting things we will do this year:
- Company blog - a discussion blog for the company and our clients, as well as those in the industry that are interested (our clients are the type that will read blogs)
- Twitter - this will serve as another point for discussion (many of our clients are on Twitter) and we can rely on our blog as the hub
- Facebook - again, the blog is the hub of our efforts, but we will participate on Facebook to gain exposure and be represented there

In addition, the company I work for is digital publishing company that works with some of Canada's favourite retailers and I see some opportunities there for us.

So this is sort of my show - and while I know what I am doing, I sometimes lack the language. I studied anthropology which in fact is very useful (tribes are nothing new to me) but kinship terminology sometimes does not work in situations like this. This is a great opportunity for me and I want to impress the bosses, and more importantly, impress myself.

I think Duct Tape Marketing appeals to the do-it-yourselfer in me - and since the initial budget on this won't be that big, I might need all the help I can get in "practical" marketing.
Trust Agent - well we want to become leaders in the industry, and this book would be a great help in identifying how to go about become the reputable, 100 million dollar company we feel we are.
The Whuffie Factor is one I have wanted to pick up for a while - we want to build a community and discussion around what we do and improving/enhancing those solutions. Tara Hunt's insights would be really useful. As well, this would be a great book for retail community building strategies.
Avinash's Analytics book - MUST HAVE! I have his other Web Analytics in an hour a day, it was very gripping. I loved it and want to know what he thinks about analytics for social media.
The New Community Rules would be helpful to us in building communities around the brands we work with, using the our digital publications as an access point - another great book I ashamed to say I don't have.
Crush It would be a great book to get me pumped for starting my own social media revolutions.
And Six Pixels of Separation - from what I hear of this book, it might be a good gift for the suits when I have devoured it. They want to understand but still chuckle when mention Twitter.

I would read them all cover to cover. And I suppose I will even if I don't win. After all, that is why they invented Amazon. Cheers and have a great day!

Danielle - thank you for the time and effort you put into this comment. You should definitely read them if you don't win the set of books - they will help immensely.

Books are my weakness so I am sure I will end up with a copy of each eventually - it's a good reading list.

At the Museum of Samoa our social networking plan is to create meaningful connections between Samoa and the rest of the world.

We've started a Flickr account with our own photos as well as creating a gallery of photos about the recent devestation tsunami from other Flickr members. We also plan to start a blog in the coming year as a way of connecting with people outside of Samoa, especially the many Samoans who live outside of this country.

Our plan is also to use the blog and other social networks to build connections with other cultural institutions. This is important for us as building our network could help with partnering to create new exhibitions or projects.

Having a copy of these books would be a huge boost for us - we have a small library where they could be accessed not just by the staff but also by visiting students and would help us to create workshops in social networking for students as well in the coming year. They would definitely be used and appreciated!

It sounds like you have a great cause - good luck in 2010!

Hi!
Thanks for reviewing these books and sharing the information. It’s very difficult trying to figure out which books are the best to read with any topic, so I always rely on experts such as yourself for book recommendations. My name is Stephanie Graham, and I have a few things going on:
-I am a photographer
-career advisor for photography and communication design students at a college in Chicago IL
-children’s apparel designer/e-boutique owner.

I would love to add a social media library to my book collection because, as an advisor I am always promoting how important social media is for branding yourself and your business especially while searching for employment opportunities. I would be able to use these books to cite, case studies, and share strategies to the students and recent grads. For my photography business, I plan to develop a steady social media workflow so I can stay connected and informed in my industries and become a person who can help others. As far as children’s apparel I have yet to implent a social media strategy for 2010 and as I create usernames and logins for all these accounts I want to make sure I am on the right track

Thanks for your consideration

Stephanie - thanks for your thoughts. I wish you luck in 2010!

I work for a public university that has 13 two-year colleges and an online campus. Students from these campuses have a great opportunity to transfer to the four-year campuses in the state university system to complete their final two years. The two-year campuses have frozen tuition for the last three years and are running on a very lean budget. Resources are stretched to the limit. Currently, some the campuses have experimented with a few social networking sites but have not measured or planned in any social media in significance. At the central office, we just added Google Analytics to all the sites (better late than never) and would like to build a university-wide social networking focus. It seems to me that the old-fashioned "sending letters to high school juniors" marketing push is no longer effective (both in cost and results). I need to convince my supervisor, my team and the higher powers (provost, chancellor) that it is time for us to step into the current century. We need to update our marketing and recruitment tactics and open a discussion with prospects where they live: online. These books would be extremely helpful in our mission to give students an affordable start to their higher education. In this time of crippling budget cuts, maybe we could find cost-effective ways to reach students through this library of books and give them the best start to the life they want.

Good stuff adding Google Analytics to the sites - certainly better late than never. If there's anywhere a marketing initiative could be improved by taking it online, it would be for high school students. Good luck!

Hey Steve,

Thanks for reviewing the books. All look extremely good.

As far as strategy is concerned for 2010 - its about continuing the momentum we have started to have since mid 2009. I have been evangelising the channel across our key products in the business with great success. My passion for this has shone through and captured their imagination.

Next steps for me is to make our whole site sociable, by allowing comments on our news and promotions, allowing our customers to vote for a promotion, and also share as much as possible our site has to offer.

Our Facebook fan pages have seen massive improvement since actively promoting them and engaging them. Moving on from that, I will be going through our customer service teams to get heavily involved with the engagement and help more "real time" when it comes to dealing with customer problems and frustrations.

I feel there is no excuse nowadays to guess what our customers want in terms of promotions, offers and service and by allowing them to comment and vote on our products, news and promotions, I feel this will be a big step to making our company more accessible, more personal and an overall better site to be on.

Our email/CRM channel will also have an overhaul by making the whole experience of receiving an email from us a much more pleasant experience - tailored to their interests.

Thanks once again for reviewing these. It's a big help.

John - they ARE extremely good books. I agree - if you let your customers have a voice, they will tell you how to win. Good luck in 2010!

In 2010 I want to use social media to launch my user experience career. In the process, I want to change the way the world thinks about user experience, especially "usability" and "information architecture."
I'm finishing up a doctorate in Communications Design, which is basically user experience for interactive. I've learned a lot of things that I think would be helpful in many of the situations people blog about or ask questions about. And I've also seen how UX people don't always do a good job of explaining or justifying their work to non-specialists. To address this, I want to use social media--LinkedIn, Ning, and blogs, mainly--to expand the reach of UX outside its sometimes-narrow walls. In the process, I want to meet people I can help, and who can help me with their expertise in turn.
I read a lot: I think it's one of the most important things you can do, since it gives you a framework to decide whether a change is important or just cosmetic. These seven books would be a terrific addition to my library, and would also give me the intellectual tools I'd need to get the message out.

Steve -

I work for a Nashville radio station that is part of a larger company that syndicates content to our own and other radio stations across the country. Right now, social media efforts within the company are scattered and all over the map. No two stations are on the same page.

In 2010, I hope to be the one to lead a more laser-focused social media charge across the company. I want to help steer our efforts so that they are unified and in sync whereas, right now, each station's social media-related tactics are just that, tactics, without much thought given to strategy.

So far, I've been successful in positioning our station locally as ahead of the curve in emerging media and thought leadership but relish the opportunity to spread this mindset company-wide. Radio's future, like newspapers, magazines and TV is in doubt. I believe these books, two of which I'm reading now, would be an excellent starting point for me in plotting our next course. With them, I believe I can succeed in helping make radio relevant again.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate.

Jeff - it sounds like you are biting off a big challenge - awesome. I'd love to see radio reinvent itself - good luck!

Great opportunity and amazing exercise in sharing SM plans for 2010. It's exciting to see social media challenge people to connect in 2010. I work for a health care system in Wisconsin. Our plans for 2010 are to integrate social media into all of our communications plans and reinvent the way we provide health care information, service and resources to our patients. We will educate and identify champions in an organization with 29,000 caregivers and use social media to engage directly with patients. We will strategically integrate social media into our communications to provide the best patient experience possible. We've got big plans and feel that 2010 will be the tipping point.

It's an exciting time and it's amazing to be part of a great revolution in conversation.

Jamey - that's an amazing way to ge using social media in healthcare. I hope it goes well!

My social media plans for 2010 involve 1) developing my own knowledge and skill set, 2) helping to develop a strategy for my organization- Metro United Way in Louisville, KY - and 3) teaching within my organization to develop the knowledge and skills of others.

I believe my new library will help me achieve all three things by prompting me to:
- FOCUS my personal learning in social media.
- ADAPT my existing social media strategy based on the new things I learn and ideas I have as a result of reading the books.
- GIVE BACK by reporting out on what I have learned and how I am using the books, both internally (within my org.) and externally (with all of your fine readers!).

Or, if I had to say it in a haiku:

GETTING A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA LIBRARY [title]

If you share with me,
I will listen, learn, adapt,
AND reciprocate!

I think you are officially in the lead for "most creative answer" - love it!

Awesome! Thanks for doing the giveaway BTW!!! :)

Erin - I have no other way to contact you, but if you get back to me by midnight tonight with your contact information, the books are yours for your creative answer and the promise to come back and let me know how it's going. Congrats!

Wooo hoooo! Thanks so much! Can you drop me an email at firestar9s [at] gmail [dot] com?

:)

I work for an environmental non-profit that's been dabbling in social media for about a year (basic profiles on Facebook etc.), but I'm pushing to ramp up our activities in 2010 and beyond. I want to make social media an integrated part of our advocacy and fundraising campaigns as opposed to its current status of an afterthought.

We're just hitting our next round of 5-year strategic planning, so now is the perfect time to not only look at 2010, but even further down the road. We'd been at the forefront of web and online tech for awhile, but have started to fall behind when it comes to social media innovations--an issue I plan to tackle this year and beyond. I've been working to show top management that the Internet and social media aren't just the next step in media evolution but a different form of media entirely—instead of a broadcast model, it creates a participatory public space that allows for communications to flow multi-directionally. We can use this to deepen the engagement of our supporters, creating stronger ties to the organization and helping to further programmatic campaign goals.

And I can use these books to help us get there!

Katy - as Gary would say, you want to make social media the steak, when the organization considers it the pepper. Great stuff, and good luck convincing your top management!

Thanks for doing this!
In the next couple of months heading into 2010 I am going to be starting my own social media consulting business. I have two clients right now that need social media but don't have the staff resources to do it, so they've hired me. I work primarily with non-profits and they have small budgets, so my rates are lower than the norm because I'm driven more to help them than to make a profit. I see a huge need in this area (and everywhere) for more of the smaller non-profits (historical societies, social service providers, social jusitce orgs, orgs that are run by volunteer staffs, orgs that have a staff of 3, etc) to be active social media users so they can attract a new demographic to their communities, which right now are visited, run and supporter by older donors who won't be around forever. If these non-profits don't get new supporters from a different generation, they won't last.

There are so many different kinds of non-profits that I'll be working with, I need to get a handle on the best practices for each and how to grow their membership and following. 2010 is going to be a learning experience for me but also hopefully a year where I can help as many non-profits as possible.

These books would be a great start to my social media and marketing book collection!
Thank you!
Caitlin

Thanks Caitlin - the world needs more people like you. We share a passion for helping non-profit organizations succeed. Good luck in 2010!

I work for a Corporate Credit Union (basically a credit union for credit unions). This year we have started experimenting with Social Media - mainly Facebook and Twitter. Our goal is to learn the best way to navigate social media so we can train our credit union members. We are hoping to do a webinar for our members in the near future letting them know the dos and dont's of social media, so they can in turn implement social media strategies in there marketing plans for 2010. I think these books would help us to have a competitive edge and give our members the best Social Media 101 training.

I have already put these books on my must-read list! I personally find social media very interesting and love experimenting with it. Maybe this has something to do with being a Gen Yer.

Kathleen - perhaps these books (or at least one of them) should become required reading for you credit union colleagues? Good luck with the plan for 2010!

Hey, Steve, with my introduction to Social Media this year, my whole life has changed -- and I've chronicled my journey along Social Media Revolutionary Road in my blog SHARISAX IS OUT THERE.

Lately I've begun reviewing Social Media books BUT neither is on your list SO I definitely am a great candidate since I will want to review all of them for my blog. As a teacher and writer, my 2010 will be devoted to educating as many Baby Boomers as I can to become more comfortable with everything digital . . . ESPECIALLY Social Media!

Thanks for considering me; maybe you can check out my blog: http://sharisax.com

Shari - I checked out your blog - right there with you on "use your blog to be the go-to source for information". Great stuff!

I work with a nationwide faith-based corporation that distributes literature & is increasingly aspiring to develop online and community-based education programs. Our first decade's development featured direct distribution through nationwide motor home tours, etc. In the next decade we are striving to take a decided shift towards web-based, social-media marketing and follow-up. Social media is an exciting proposition for the non-profits in terms of leveling the playing field as well as honing in and cultivating our "best customers" as a user-centered, user-perpetuated community.

We're excited to see how social media marketing will underpin and lead us into a new model of marketing and follow-up in 2010 for the coming decade's growth & development.

Hello,

I'm actually working as a Social Media Manager for an NGO, but my contract comes to its end, and I'm planning to become a self-employed videoblogger/social media manager. I'm now working on a Social Media Strategy for my organisation, and as soon as my contract will be done, I'll start working on a business plan for myself. I think those books will be a big help for both of those projects, even more since, as a self-employed person who just start in that way, I won't have much money to get new ressources, and those kind of ressources you offer are usually not available in librairy soon enough ! Thank you !

Johanne

Johanne - it sounds like you are going to have an excited 2010 - you will certainly need these books to get you on your way. BTW - you should invest in one or two of them on your own even if you don't win this set - they are fantastic and will help immensely.

Plan? I don't have a plan. That's why I need the book!

Actually, I just became the managing editor of GlobalShift.org which is all about young people working to make the world a better place. I'm so impressed by the knowledge and talent of these high school and college students so I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to read what they have to say. We've got the Twitter and Facebook accounts going, but I want to take it to the next level. These kids are trying to save the planet, the least I can do is get them some publicity.

Cynthia - having no plan is the perfect place to be right now. What an inspiring vision you have! Good luck in 2010 with GlobalShift!

Designing and rolling out our first social media application after implementing a full site redesign.

I am a City Forester involved on a national level with my professional group and because of the high visibility of my new work... I need to learn a new way to reach people. I am the first forester anywhere starting a new program using trees as environmental tools to help cities manage their environmental impact and while this sounds like common sense... all cities think of trees as something to prune or clean out of the street after a storm... first... then second on what they can use them for in terms of quality of life or climate change. So... A lot of people are watching but I can only fly to so many conferences or write articles. I need another way to reach people.
I recently attended a National Arbor Day event where we had to sign pledge cards and promise to advance our jobs in some way by nexts years event. I signed up and said I would learn to social networking. Over the last few days... I bought an android phone, signed up for twitter, three different e-mail accounts, and created a word press blog. Now I need to figure out how to use all this stuff! Help me! I want to be the best at what I do and I am in the perfect position to advance my job, my profession, and hopefully engage as many new people as possible. I wont make more money but maybe more trees will get planted and that makes it all worth while!

Nick - sounds like you are well on your way! I think these books will help you use those tools in the most effective way possible. Congrats for taking on such a huge challenge!

They will get me into the social platform that I'm so far behind in. I look forward to further my education one book at a time!! Power to the human voice. Buy the way got it on CD?

Sorry - I don't have them on CD!

Social media plans for 2010: encourage at least three people in the organization to fall in love with social media opportunities and help them to measure their success.
How these books can help: encourage me to keep trying and know what to do when an opportunity arise ;-)
I will continue reading authors blogs - they were very useful.

Vanessa - great goal, and I think it's one that most people forget to tackle. It's much easier to complain that "the other people here don't get it". Kudos to you for taking it on and making it YOUR responsibility. Good luck!

Hi! The fact is it would be easy buying them, but for someone like me who loves social media... I feel this is a great time to participate on your blog :)
I moved to London from Spain two months ago just to improve my knowledge about SEO, SEM and SMO. I have been so lucky and I am an online marketing executive for a company and during 2010 I am positioning the group websites and the online presence for them. It is a huge challenge, a 180º turn cause I have little experience, but I feel full of energy to learn and get the best result.
So I hope to be as lucky as I have been since I came here and winning those wonderful books you have. :)

Sounds like you've taken on a big challenge - congrats, and good luck!

I appreciate all of the work you put into writing your book & I am looking forward to reading it. I am posting my plans for using Web2.0 and social media in 2010. I plan to help those with developmental and physical disabilities form meaningful connections with their families, as well as their larger communities, through work with non-profit service agencies. My work involves directly assisting adults with disabilities in improving their physical mobility skills, and by extension their interpersonal skills. I believe there can be a great benefit to this population by integrating them into a social media community. Often the effects of isolation and depression affect individuals in more detrimental ways then the disabilities that bring them into the social service sector in the first place. In my experience, individuals with disabilities can benefit from a social media presence by increasing their opportunity to be seen and heard in a social setting, and thereby decreasing their sense of isolation and “differentness”. It is a simple idea that is already expanding social horizons for many individuals with disabilities, and bringing a welcome sense of empowerment to them and to their communities. I hope that people reading this will encourage and assist those they know with disabilities to take a first step, maybe open a facebook page, and work to create community that is inclusive of the disabled and their families through their own use of social media platforms. The book “Connected ” (Christakis and Fowler, 2009) has an excellent discussion on the relationship between social relationships and their impact on health within the larger community. I think you would find it very interesting. Again, look forward to reading your book and becoming more informed. I also plan to use the following site to broadcast my message: http://www.claim.io/welcome/?a...

I'm in the middle of reading "Connected" now, and it's an amazing book - it really puts all of the changes happening within social media into perspective. You obviously have a passion and are working for a great cause - one of the "wicked problems" that social media can help solve.

I really hope you will check back in and let me know how you are doing.

Thank you. the program has humble beginings but has already been effective. An individual"s aunt connected her and she already accessed guest for a birthday party. I would like to get Doctor Christakis to look at monitoring this process. I believe from the very out set that the social network can be an agency for change. The positive presence encourages supportive efforts in a two way stream of actions. Thanks for the encourage ment did you check the broadcast link?

Hi Steve

Finished university a couple of months ago and now working as a consultant at interactive agency LBi. Since I am mainly working on social media strategies for clients these books could provide great insights & inspiration from respected leaders in the field.
Already had 4 of these books on my Amazon wishlist so that would come in handy as well! :)

For 2010 I hope to improve corporate communications (both internal & external) for clients to help them better build relationships with their key stakeholders.

Best
Rob

Rob - you are on the right track if you had 4 of these on your list already. Good luck in 2010 with your clients!

this is great!

I'm currently a college student with big dreams. In the next year, I'm going to be moving from a small town to the big city of Phoenix, AZ. Once in Phoenix, I want to open my own photography studio...but I know I've got a lot of learning to do, both about photography and about entrepreneurship. I know you can't help with the photography side of things, but I know that anything I can do to learn more about social media and marketing is gonna help. I've wanted to buy a few of the books on this list for a while now, but money's tight. So here I am, trying to see if I can win a copy. If you don't pick my entry, will you at least check out my portfolio? You can find it at http://jeanneschaser.daportfol.... Thanks!!

Jeanne - I checked out your portfolio - nice stuff. Good luck with the big move - social media will certainly help grow your studio, if you start with a good strategy.

I am father of three that started a small grassroots awareness group called Champion Darfur about 3 years ago. It is my belief that the only way to end atrocities taking place in Darfur and around the globe is to fight the very thing that fuels them, apathy. And the best way to fight apathy is with education. Though I have utilized Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger to some degree for this cause I have by no means been able to maximize their potential. Obviously these books would solve that problem.

I have set a personal goal of hosting at least 6 offline awareness and/or fundraiser events within 2010 and these books would provide me with the knowledge necessary to effectively use social media to drastically increase the number of people we can reach. These books would be a great benefit to our efforts.

Using social media to fight apathy - awesome! Good luck in 2010, and let me know how your events go - it sounds like a great cause!

I started a small grassroots Darfur awareness group called Champion Darfur rough two years ago and though I have utilized Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger to some degree I lack the knowledge these books would provide to truly maximize my efforts. In 2010, I am planning on spreading Darfur awareness and education efforts with both online and offline events and efforts. Personally I have set a goal to host at least 6 educational/fundraiser events during 2010.

Ever since I was a kid playing on my dad's MS-DOS computer, I've been fascinated and intrigued by the power of computers and technology to change the world we live in. When I started with social media in 2005 as a high school student, I was immediately impressed by the potential social networking had to change interpersonal communication and social dynamics. Since that time, I've been constantly working to merge this passion with my other great love- politics.

In my junior year at college, I wrote a paper about the use of new media in presidential elections since 1996 with a focus on the 2008 race- this paper won a Gold Pollie award at the American Association of Political Consultants for best use of social media research. Ultimately the biggest award to come from that paper was the job I have now- working with new media consulting at a brand-new company in Northern Virginia- RaiseDigital. My current boss found me through that paper, and used LinkedIn to get in touch with me.

While I feel I have a pretty strong understanding of social networking and its background and functionality, I truly feel I have a lot to learn still. I was very fortunate to get a job right out of college- I literally finished my last few classes this summer. I believe these books will help round out my understanding of the best uses of social media and help me be most effective for my company's clients. Moreover, it will help me shape my understanding of how to merge my understanding of the political world with the benefits a successful online strategy can bring to our clients. Ultimately, the more candidates and organizations leverage this critical medium, the more competition and growth there will be, and the better experience we will all have online.

Brad - cool story. I agree with you - the more people that use the medium, the better the experience will be for all. Good luck!

There is a huge amount of emerging leaders in the arts nonprofit world that have the inclination to use these types of tools but bosses who are too preoccupied with the bad economy to let them do it. I'm hoping that I can gain more knowledge and info to back up what I already suspect to be beneficial for my marketing/development colleagues from these. Maybe somewhere along the line, I'll grow some balls and do it for myself to help others in the arts to achieve it too rather than stand around worried if it'll completely bankrupt me in the process. Good enough answer for you?

That's a perfect answer. So when are you going to "grow some balls" (as you say) and start? It won't bankrupt you - but will certainly require a lot sweat and hard work.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Steve! Actually have been researching various blogs and news sites to figure out some form that is somewhere in the middle where people can get news-ish visual and performing arts content with a mix of media by way of quick audio podcasts and short videos to keep things interesting. Have the perfect idea for a name--just to research its use elsewhere and buy domain--and will be off to a quick start hopefully in the new year.

Rather impressed that you take the time to reply to so many of your commenters...you hear lots of talk about how important it is to do but so few actually do it.

Still crossing my fingers for those books as a tool though!

Jorge - I can empathize with people who don't reply as often to comments - it's a lot of work and late nights at the keyboard.

Good luck with the plan, and I'll let you know about the books.

I am working on trying to design software / services that will allow for managing & interacting with social networks from within business applications such as mail clients & enterprise applications. So an example can be a software that links overseas students looking for information / guidance on a University course (how soon will I be able to pay off my school loans after I graduate out) with alums of that program.

The challenge that I am grappling with (& this is where these books can help) seem more social / ethnographical & less technical (I do have an integration prototypes using facebook connect). i.e. How do we make a social media + business application that is a win win for both sides? How can folks on both sides (customers / businesses) come together in a non-creepy, non-big brother fashion?

There is so much good that social networking can bring, if there was a better way to harness it.

That's a pretty big challenge, and I'm not sure these books will help you solve it. I'd love to hear how the initiative takes shape - its sounds very exciting.

I get the biggest return for my business using social media when I listen.

AMEN!

social media plans for 2010, and why you think these 7 books will help you achieve what you want to accomplish...
I want to expand my readership base. A Facebook Fan page is on the list. So is interacting with other like minded bloggers and sharing their message. I want to help people realize the incredible opportunity social media plays in transcending racial, political, economic and geographical boundaries. I want people to be inspired to take action, no matter how small a step, in their own lives and begin building a joyful, fulfilling life. I have been online less than a year and I am learning fast. Books like these by people who walk their talk would accelerate my learning curve.

The books would certainly accelerate the learning curve of anybody in business :) I'd start with at least one of these books before you implement a Facebook page.

In 2010, my biggest commitment is to evolve our corporate and marketing communications beyond traditional PR methodsthat includes a seamless social media platform that creates a two-way dialogue with the public. My dream is a fully operatioanl social media micro-site where we can engage the public and vice versa via multiple channels, from IR to marketing to environmental to CSR. And to be clear, while it would invovle various updates on what our company is up to, it would also include relevant and related topics that would serve as resources (e.g. environment) but not company-centric (for instance, 10 easy tips on how to be environmental or links to other sites that focus on environmental causes). To get there, the first step in this 1000 mile journy begins with being well versed and prepared in order to create and deliver a presentation to our leadership that is: 1) influential, credible; and 2) grounded in strategy and sound ROI.

Toward that end, I firmly believe success begins with having a corporte objective that drives a strong strategic approach vs. a tactical mode centered on one offs that involves slamming up Facebook or Twitter applications and thinking you have a winning social media program. In the end, this is all still very new to me, but I know enuogh to know there are many things I know, I know I don't know in the way of sound social media. From where I sit, these books would certainly provide a wealth of insights to a newbie, such as myself, on how to correctly approach the dream so that the right strategy is in place.

In 2010, my biggest commitment is to evolve our corporate and marketing communications beyond traditional PR methodsthat includes a seamless social media platform that creates a two-way dialogue with the public. My dream is a fully operatioanl social media micro-site where we can engage the public and vice versa via multiple channels, from IR to marketing to environmental to CSR. And to be clear, while it would invovle various updates on what our company is up to, it would also include relevant and related topics that would serve as resources (e.g. environment) but not company-centric (for instance, 10 easy tips on how to be environmental or links to other sites that focus on environmental causes). To get there, the first step in this 1000 mile journy begins with being well versed and prepared in order to create and deliver a presentation to our leadership that is: 1) influential, credible; and 2) grounded in strategy and sound ROI.

Toward that end, I firmly believe success begins with having a corporte objective that drives a strong strategic approach vs. a tactical mode centered on one offs that involves slamming up Facebook or Twitter applications and thinking you have a winning social media program. In the end, this is all still very new to me, but I know enuogh to know there are many things I know, I know I don't know in the way of sound social media. From where I sit, these books would certainly provide a wealth of insights to a newbie, such as myself, on how to correctly approach the dream so that the right strategy is in place.

You are so bang on when you say success begins with having a corporate objective that drives a strategic approach. Good luck with the first step, and let me know how the journey progresses!

We're a municipal government that has tried to set a standard in the social networking area for government. While most cities were still looking at embedding Google maps, we were Facebooking and Twittering and have since built a decent sized set of followers. Other cities around us have been watching what we do (and secretly hoping we screw up so they don't have to go outside their little security zones). Now that we've built our base, I'd like to use these books to help figure out what to do next and how best to do it. So far it's been all trial and error, and a few best practices never hurt once and awhile.

I think what you'll get from the books is that you are already on the right path, and from what you say probably doing the best practices already. You are listening to your base, and doing a lot of trial and error. Those are the keys to the kingdom!

I work on Hispanic marketing for Fortune 500 Clients. Despite the stats, the potential, the media coverage, the results and the reality out there, the U.S. Hispanic segment still is the baby stepchild when it comes to budgets, corporate support and innovative marketing.

Social media usage and its effectiveness among Hispanics can be the spearhead that helps us open eyes and get additional resources to offer the customers what they deserve. Expanding my knowledge on the discipline through these books would give me the tools to go and ‘sell the Hispanic market to corporate America’.

My social media plans for next year are to obtain additional funding from our Clients, execute customer-relevant initiatives that integrate with our current broadcast campaigns, and get results and success stories that will open the door for new business for me and for other Hispanic marketers.

Fernando - what a big/great goal! I wish you luck in that, and I hope you'll let me know how you progress!

My husband and I have our our web design business and while we, of course, have helped our clients in SEO over the years we are expanding our business into social media. We have seen a real need for small to medium sized businesses that need help in navigating the social media world. We are looking forward to helping them reach their goals for their businesses by leveraging social media in their advertising. In this limited economy social media is a great help to small business! I look forward to expanding my knowledge with these books!:)

Small business owners have so much to gain with social media, especially the ones who are willing to work harder than anybody else. Good luck!

Hi Steve,

Thanks for this opportunity! I plan to release an ebook in 2010 specifically for the Real Estate & Mortgage Industry. There are so many articles out there that say social media is a waste of time for this particular industry. As a real estate broker with a team of real estate & loan agents, we have seen the exact opposite in our business. These books would be a great catalyst and motivator to stay on task and reach my goals!

Excellent to hear that you've had success with it - keep it up, and good luck with the ebook!

I have recently finished writing my first book and, as a self-publisher, obviously have more than a fair amount of work ahead of me with regards to actually selling it. I have long established myself as a blogger within the particular community my book is aimed at, and have been posting entries about the book's development process (blog posts there are naturally duplicated on my Facebook account). The book itself will be published on/around Thanksgiving, at which time I'll begin serializing the bulk of it on it's own web site, ComicBookFanthropology.com. (Note the gratuitous plug.) I'll also be trying to engage the target community more readily via their existing venues, and drum up support that way. My main blog will continue as it has, with periodic sales/marketing updates. I'm also looking to set up a Facebook fan page.

As for plans through 2010, I have clearly not addressed Twitter at all, and would be interested to see what these books might be able to do to suggest options there.

If you are looking for specific advice on what to do with Twitter, New Community Rules is the book for you. Gratuitous plug noted :)

And for 2010 I will beak the bonds of a Job for a living and make my living on the web with social marketing. Helping others to do the same and have fun to boot. Showing others how to stay healthy, wealthy, and have personal time to travel and things they never thought they could do.

Phil

Very nice Phil - let me know how it goes!

Social media plans for 2010? I can't even tell you my social media plans for next month! One thing is for sure: The social media landscape a year from now will be very different than it is today. (Indeed, my personal social media landscape is different today than it was last week: The Web site for BuxMont digital (www.buxmontdigital.com), social media communications company, just went live yesterday.) So where will I be next year? Who knows?! But being a business book junkie, I'm sure these seven volumes will help me get there in style!

It certainly will be different. But I think the main thing to remember is that the fundamentals will not change, and that's what you'll get out of these books. Good luck!

I am a fledgling SM consultant and my SM goals for 2010 are to get more small business clients. I have noticed that the medium's late adapters are small business owners. I have enough trouble getting my mother to sign up for a Linked In account to promote her antique and art appraisal business. Many think that SM is too expensive, too technical, will take up too much of their time, are unaware that there is an online community out there for their products/services, or are just downright scared.

I'm constantly on the lookout for new ways to express to small business owners/potential clients that SM power doesn't reside solely in that 'vast internet out there,' but in the smaller spheres of influence contained within. The key is finding out which sphere is best for them, but there is no standard SM campaign that works for every business. These books would give me more evangelistic ammo and tools.

Great stuff - these books are excellent for small business owners because they explain social media in a language that business owners can understand. Good luck in 2010 and I hope you'll check back in to tell me how it's going!

I am a small marketing firm in Eugene, Oregon spreading the news and advising strategies to our small business community. I have started a Social Media Marketing and Networking book club and these books will all be introduced to my "community" www.EugeneBookClub.ning.com

Very nice! I hope the community enjoys them! Do you have to be from Eugene to join?

We are currently looking into various social medium to better advertise the products and services we offer at our credit union. We are pretty much starting from scratch, so it would be great to get as much information and best practices we can before launching.

We're very exicted about the potential untapped market, but want to avoid making mistakes when implementing.

There's a credit union in Alberta that has used social media to produce some great results. Check it out here: http://www.youngfreealberta.co...

you're so cool steve.

great idea.