I know you and Shelley in Accounting are already affiliated with that true crime book club (side note: actually “I love serial killers”, right?) but – if I can be that brave – I actually have another book club I’d love to start for you.
…Well, I guess technically it’s less of a club and more of a list of truly fascinating reads, perfect for a social media executive looking to level up their game. But still. I think it’s a perfect match.
Whatever Ted Bundy biography Shellster has picked this month, don’t get in the way. Relevant, effective, inspiring books that will get you better at work every day. Also, these books will inspire more passion and excitement towards what you do.
Sound good? Then this is the low pressure, low murder book club for you. Keep reading to read.
Top 10 social media marketing books
1. The End of Marketing: Humanizing Your Brand in the Age of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence by Carlos Gil
RIP, traditional marketing. We live in a world where youtubers get more views than Coca-Cola and politicians rise to power through memes.
The End of Marketing It skips the classical stages of grief and immediately goes into the acceptance stage. If you want to engage your audience, not just sell to them, this book (shortlisted for the 2020 Business Book Awards) is a good place to start.
This book covers:
- How to bring a human touch to the brand-customer relationship?
- Breaking the news feed algorithm
- Creating smarter paid strategy plans
2. See You Online: Building Your Small Business with Digital Marketing by Avery Swartz
Whether you’re a combative entrepreneur or the head of the social division of a major global brand, the CEO of Camp Tech has some great takeaways in this book.
The truth is, social media doesn’t exist in a bubble. See you on the Internet It’s a perfect reminder that your social strategy needs to be symbiotic with the rest of your online presence. Your website, newsletter and online advertisements are part of the package.
Plus, I guess we all agree: waving emoji on the cover? Pleasant. And aren’t we all really want a marketing book? Be honest.
This book covers:
- Modern etiquette for social media
- Tailoring content for readers and your friendly neighborhood SEO bots
- The power of tracking and segmenting your audience for maximum impact
3. Brand Storytelling: Put Customers at the Heart of Your Brand Story, Miri Rodriguez
Storytelling does magic to the human brain. And if every post you make is an opportunity to tell a micro-story, you should take a cue from Microsoft’s own creative journalist (slash wizard?) Miri Rodriguez.
To ignite your brand’s own magic move, Expedia has compiled case-by-case studies from big names like Google and McDonalds. That too!
This book covers:
- How to use storytelling to evoke emotion?
- Evaluate, disassemble and rebuild your brand story
- Why artificial intelligence and machine learning can’t do everything
4. Get the Job done: The Ultimate Guide to Productivity, Procrastination and Profitability by Jeffrey Gitomer
As a social media manager, you wear a lot of hats (hopefully not a fedora, but I’m diving into).
You plan and run campaigns. You mingle with the fans. You convince your salespeople that no, you can’t get Ryan Reynolds to approve your new vitamin line. Among all the other things on a social media manager’s to-do list, you need to make the most of each day.
Think of this book as the motivation you need to review your to-do list effectively and efficiently. (Never mind the swearing in the title, mom!)
This book covers:
- Optimizing your work habits
- Creating a comprehensive plan to maximize efficiency
- How to eliminate distractions and avoid procrastination
5. Social Media Marketing Workbook: How to Use Social Media for Business (2020 Updated Edition), by Jason McDonald
Author and Stanford professor (well, Stanford Continuing Studies professor, but still) Jason McDonald puts out a new version of this social media workbook each year. His metaphor stays the same year after year: If social media is one party, as a social media marketer, you are the gracious host.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating the entertainment (aka content) that will keep the party alive.
This book covers:
- Conceptualize the content you need
- Creating a personalized social media marketing plan
- Developing in-depth knowledge of each unique social platform
6. Faster, Smarter, Louder: Master Attention in the Noisy Digital Market by Aaron Agius and Gián Clancey
Okay, let’s get back to that party metaphor for a hot second. If social media is actually a soiree, it is definitely a place where all guests are open-mouthed, extroverted.
Brands that specialize in silence are likely to get stuck in their famous chip bowl unnoticed.
Get bullied with the help of this strategic guide that teaches brands to build visibility and demand. It’s basically an 80’s movie makeup montage to teach you to be the life of the party.
This book covers:
- Finding industry proven strategy with lots of research to back it up
- Going beyond SEO and advertising words to provide authentic value
- Getting the attention your brand deserves
7. Run With The Foxes: Make Better Marketing Decisions by Paul Dervan
Let’s face it: social media marketing is really more of an art than a science.
For all the strategy, planning and data mining we do, there really is no foolproof method for engagement. If it did, there probably wouldn’t be 10 new books to read on how to do it each season.
Paul Dervan, formerly Global Brand Director at Indeed, is upfront about the uncertainty of all this. “This is not an answer book,” he says quickly.
what is that to do the word is a book full of lessons he and a few dozen other marketers—they’re shrewd foxes—have learned throughout their careers.
This book covers:
- Secrets to making better decisions
- Lessons learned from failures big and small
- First-hand advice from some of the world’s greatest marketers
8. Fanocracy: Turning Fans into Customers and Customers into Fans by David Meerman Scott and Reiko Scott
It’s like an old adage: if you put a photo on Instagram and you don’t have a fan to see it, did it?
this Wall Street Magazine Bestsellers from a father-daughter team (family marketing genius, of course) focus on building commitment, loyalty, and even a love bond with your target audience or customers.
This book covers:
- How to harness the power of fandom through social psychology?
- Build personal relationships with your followers
- The impact of a meaningful corporate culture
9. Digital Trust: Social Media Strategies to Boost Trust and Influence Customers Barry Connelly
What do successful relationships and buying things on Instagram have in common? It’s all about trust.
If your audience doesn’t trust your brand, you’ll never be able to engage. You may not be able to go to therapy with your clients (why doesn’t Esther Perel answer my calls?!) to be Build a social strategy around a strong, specific brand identity.
This book covers:
- How to reinforce customer trust through social media?
- Ensuring transparency and empowering the consumer
- Practical tools for building and using trust
10. Everyone Writes: Ann Handley, Your First Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
You may be a social media manager on paper, but ultimately your job is to write. Surprise!
That’s why everybody writes continues to stay on our list of reading suggestions every year.
In our content-driven world, communication skills are essential in any extrovert role. “Our online words are currency,” Handley says. “They tell our customers who we are.”
Great communication is a classic skill that will always be valuable, spanning time, space, and everything that comes after Twitter.
This book covers:
- Why is writing important? more now no less
- Easy grammar rules and writing tips
- Fundamentals of great marketing content
Have you finished eating these 10 essential books for social media marketers? The good news for this little book club is that everything in the world of social media is changing and evolving every day. More exciting expert opinions are always coming down the pipe. Keep watching us.
In the meantime, take this mini-library as inspiration to flex your own social media genius. Perhaps with what you’ve learned along the way, you’ll write the next book on our must-read list.
Reading is great, but using newly acquired skills is even better. Easily manage all your social channels, collect real-time data and interact with your audience through networks with Moyens I/O. Try it for free today.
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