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

by Shama Hyder, Chris Brogan (Foreword)

The Essential How-To Guide for Social Media Marketing by Leading Expert Shama Hyder, Named "Social media’s zen master of marketing" by Entrepreneur magazine and One of LinkedIn's "Top Voices" in Marketing & Social in 2015 In 2001, at the dawn of the millennium—and the digital marketing age—the first edition of The Zen of Social Media Marketing became a global hit. In the ensuing years, updated editions helped even more marketers, entrepreneurs, students, and professionals of all types navigate the sometimes-stressful world of social media. Now, this new, fully updated edition offers timely insight to the ways social media marketing has changed and specific steps to show you exactly how to thrive and profit with ease and efficiency.Whether you’re a novice, struggler, or mastery-seeker, you already know that engaging in social media is no longer optional. People are talking about your company online and you need to be part of those conversations. However, social media marketing isn’t like traditional marketing—and treating it that way only leads to frustration and failure. In The Zen of Social Media Marketing, Shama Hyder, social media expert and president of The Marketing Zen Group, teaches you the “Zen” of using social media tools to find your own marketing nirvana.The newest edition of The Zen of Social Media Marketing gives A comprehensive overview of why social media works and how to use it to drive traffic to your website and fan page- A proven process to attract followers and fans and convert them into customers and clients- The latest social media trends and step-by-step guidelines for sites and apps such as Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, and more- Innovative tips for mobile design- Essential advice on content marketing, email marketing, video, and targeted tactics to enhance your SEO- All-new information on why, when, and how to use online advertising- Why self-expression is the true driver of social media use and how to leverage it for your business- Insights from dozens of leading online marketers and entrepreneurs, with strategies for success

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

278 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 16, 2016

Reviews

[Kasey Brinkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good review of the basics. Case studies at the end of the book are interesting.

[Darren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, now in its fourth revised edition, seeks to help the reader navigate the possibly stressful, ever-changing world of social media and hopefully make the most of its opportunities.

It is just that this book failed, for this reader, to really inspire and invigorate. It is not a bad book in itself but maybe its hype just rang a bit hollow. That said, it is not an expensive book and can still be a useful tool in your armoury, but it is far from being a universal multi-tool. Going through the basics of what social media is and why you should use it, the book seeks to position the reader as an active participant within social media circles, placing their company within the conversation of prospective and actual customers alike.

The style of the book was jarring, perhaps due to its design, layout and general tone. It was far from being a smooth read, and this is a great shame as it diverted focus from a subject that is essential for many today. When there is a choice of guides to social media, this is far from being such a unique, essential read that you plough through regardless. On a bookstore shelf, it might be a bit too easy to put back and move onto a neighbouring title.

Should you have the book in front of you it can still be a worthy read, warts and all, otherwise one struggles to be overly enthusiastic towards it.

Autamme.com

[Robert III · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimer* this book was published in 2016 and is out dated in terms of social media marketing.
With that being said, this book was not helpful or useful in marketing on social media. This book read more like a guide on how to use social media.
The book in no way gave advice on how to use social media to market anything.
There was only one section that actually taught or helped to use social media for marketing and that came in ch. 11 and was written by someone other than the author.
I would not recommend this book to anyone actually trying to use social media to market their business. I would tell anyone who is new to social media and wants to learn how to use Facebook to read this book. But that would be the only people I would recommend this book to.

[Orsayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Zen of Social Media Marketing is a must-read for anyone seeking to harness the power of social media for business success. Shama Hyder's comprehensive approach, combined with updated content and expert insights, provides a powerful resource for navigating the dynamic world of social media marketing. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this book offers valuable lessons and actionable strategies to achieve marketing enlightenment.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good book on the basics of social media marketing. That being said, as someone who knows the basics, I found it difficult to get through this book. There were some great pieces of advice, which is what I was looking for. Just probably could have done without having to read the whole book to find those insights.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an information-rich book. It gives you so many resources and practical tips you can use. Definitely recommend it! Even if you already have some knowledge on the topic, I assure you it will give you some new information as well!

[Jaclyn Meuleners · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, great tips for social media marketing for beginners!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid groundwork, little more.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is some good stuff here. It didn't inspire me, but I feel more confident with some of the tools discussed.

[Gaby]

DNF.

need to reread.

[Thuy Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful for me

[Anna Hui · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a good balance of technicality and concepts/strategies in this book, easy to understand. The reviews on different social media platforms are helpful for deciding which one suits my business more.

[Anastasia Alén · Rating 5 out of 5]

For someone who constantly does social media marketing, this is at fantastic book. It explains every social media channel: FB, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat, Imgur, Line... step-by-step and with pictures so that it is extremely easy to understand. Also, I loved how Hyder wrote do's and don'ts of every channel.

Thank you BenBella Books and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads. A great book with a lot of new and fresh ideas. Very useful.

[Alexandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book if you want to gain your visibility online! Don't know what to do with your Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn account? Author Shama Hyder will guide through the steps to making your social media account into a thriving network.

I've written tons of helpful notes from this book. I needed a book like this since I barely do anything on my LinkedIn and I tend to get Twitter but not "get it". Can't wait to put all of what I've learned into action and see the results.

[Amanda Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is written in an easy to read and understand manner. There is no business jargon to confuse readers. There is advice that you would think was common sense, but, sadly, there are businesses out there not following it. The author compares having a website to having a phone--what business wouldn't have one--too many businesses don't have a website. I hate it when I search for a business online and there is nothing out there in cyber space. The Internet saves consumers a lot of time. The author uses good analogies to explain the logic behind the advice. I wish there was more research listed to support the advice, but overall, this is a good guide for social media business advice.