“Social Media is a Cocktail Party”

Last weekend I read Jim Tobin’s new book, “Social Media is a Cocktail Party: Why You Already Know the Rules of Social Media Marketing.” It is one of three or four new books on social media that I ordered from Amazon over the holidays. I also bought “Facebook Marketing: Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business,” “Secrets of Social Media Marketing” and “Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day.” These books on social media keep coming out faster than I can read them. The list that I’ve made it through over the last year includes:

• “Join the Conversation: How to Engage Marketing-Weary Consumers with the Power of Community, Dialogue, and Partnership“
• “The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly“
• “Now Is Gone: A Primer on New Media for Executives and Entrepreneurs“
• “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies“
• “PR 2.0“

Much like “Join the Conversation,” Tobin’s book is an introduction to social media. It is both easy to read and easy to digest. Jim Tobin lives in the world of social media and shares some simple truths. With so much fear and apprehension among corporate executives, my hope is that texts like “Social Media is a Cocktail Party” will help marketers to sell the idea of social media marketing within their organizations. My guess is that it is not the CEO who is typically reading these texts, but more likely the marketing and communications folks. It is then their job to make the case to the c-suite executives.

I recommend Jim Tobin’s book (co-authored by Lisa Braziel) to anyone preparing to dip their toes in the waters of social media marketing. If you’re already immersed in social media, it may not be necessary since this is more of a primer. However, it may be something you want to give to your clients who have yet to ‘join the conversation.’

Post by Dan Dunlop, Brand Expeditions