The Top 10 Best Social Media Marketing Books of 2013

We’ve come a long way in the world of social media and marketing.  I can remember the days where people just didn’t know what to do with social media.  Was it marketing?  Was it PR?  Was it something completely different?

In this year’s batch of best social media books, you’re going to see the evolution of this marketing tool from something unknown, new and exciting into a staple marketing strategy.

The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly

By David Meerman Scott (Jul 1, 2013)

If you missed it the first and second times, this is your third chance.  The new edition of the new rules of marketing has become a classic for marketers who strive to run a complete marketing program that incorporates good social media practices along with traditional marketing methods.

If you’re still confused about social media.  This will help.  If you’re marketing efforts have been somewhat fruitless, chances are you might be breaking some of these new rules.

The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue

By Shama Kabani (Jan 1, 2013)

This is an easy to read, easy to implement book about how to use social media to drive attention to your brand and conversions to customers.

An introduction by Chris Brogan tells you that this book has good stuff.

You’ll also love the practical how-to strategies you can swipefrom the book and deploy in your marketing to get results.

Instagram Power: Build Your Brand and Reach More Customers with the Power of Pictures

By Jason Miles (Sep 17, 2013)

Slowly but surely, Instagram is starting to gain momentum.

Use this book to get the ins-and-outs of how to leverage this popular platform to build your brand story and reputation, attract customers and develop a community around your company, product or service.

Social Media Engagement For Dummies (For Dummies (Business & Personal Finance)

By Aliza Sherman and Danielle Elliott Smith (Jun 17, 2013)

If you understand the power of social media, have social media accounts, but still haven’t experienced the benefit of social media in your marketing, you may be missing out on the “engagement” piece of the social media puzzle.

This book will help you see social media from a different perspective and teach you how to leverage each tool to attract more customers.

Pintelligent: Gain Thousands of Pinterest Followers With Ease

By Corey Frankosky (Oct 7, 2013)

Pinterest went from housewives creating interesting boards of crafts to a major traffic driver and brand builder.

But is it a good platform for your small business?

This book will help you answer those questions.  You’ll be surprised at how different businesses have used Pinterest in their marketing.

Klout Matters: How to Engage Customers, Boost Your Digital Influence-and Raise Your Klout Score for Success

By Gina Carr and Terry Brock (Oct 16, 2013)

Klout has cracked the code on figuring out who’s who in any area of life.

This book will give you a complete understanding of what Klout is, why it should matter to you and your business and how to raise your Klout score on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and other networks.

Word of Mouse: 101+ Trends in How We Buy, Sell, Live, Learn, Work, and Play

By Marc Ostrofsky (Sep 10, 2013)

It’s not secret the word of mouth marketing and recommendations from people who are like us or who we know and trust can make a massive impact on the sale of any product or service.

This book is all about identifying marketing opportunities for your business and finding the tools to help you take advantage of them.

Present Yourself: Using SlideShare to Grow Your Business

By Kit Seeborg and Andrea Meyer (Jun 17, 2013)

There aren’t a lot of books out there about SlideShare.  This is what makes Present Yourself an interesting read.

SlideShare is a social platform where you can share your presentation and prove build your reputation as a subject matter expert.

This book will show you how to create presentations that are shareable and how to use SlideShare as part of your marketing strategy.

The Social Media Side Door: How to Bypass the Gatekeepers to Gain Greater Access and Influence

By Ian Greenleigh (Aug 31, 2013)

One of the hidden and forgotten powers of social media is the accessibility you get to people who used to hide behind gatekeepers.

The author reveals ways that you can gain access to influencers using the doors that he calls “hidden in plain sight”.

The Social Media Advantage: An Essential Handbook for Small Business (101 of Small Business)

By Holly Berkley and Amanda Walter (Mar 16, 2013)

If you’re a small business owner who doesn’t have time to translate big brand social media strategies to your small business, this is your answer.

This is a handbook that will walk you through every step of the process of targeting customers, choosing social media channels and implementing a simple strategy for your small business.

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It’s so hard to choose just ten social media marketing books.  The list I’ve presented here contains books I’d recommend for reading, learning and implementing social media in your small business.

What social media marketing books have been your favorite and why?

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