Social Media Explained: Untangling the World’s Most Misunderstood Business Trend by Mark W. Schaefer

Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized blogger, speaker, educator, business consultant, and author who blogs at one of the top marketing blogs in the world …{businessesgrow.com}

Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for nearly 30 years and now provides consulting services with Schaefer Marketing Solutions. He specializes in social media training and clients include both start-ups and global brands like IBM, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson, and the UK government.

Mark has advanced degrees in marketing and organizational development and holds seven patents. He is a faculty member of the graduate studies program at Rutgers University and is the author of three other best-selling marketing books:

1. Return On Influence: The Revolutionary Power of Klout, Social Scoring, and Influence Marketing
2. Born to Blog: Building Your Blog for Personal and Business Success One Post at a Time
3. The Tao of Twitter, Revised and Expanded New Edition: Changing Your Life and Business 140 Characters at a Time (the best-selling book on Twitter in the world)

Mark is also the co-host of The Marketing Companion podcast along with Tom Webster from Edison Research.

The Host’s Perspective:

Social Media Explained is one of the best social media marketing books I’ve read. But don’t take my word for it – Social Media Explained was Amazon’s best selling book on social media in 2014.

It’s not a long book either – it’s only about 130 pages. But it tackles some of the biggest issues about social media facing people and organizations who are trying to get a better understanding of this modern phenomenon.

I think it’s particularly effective for an executive who did not grow up with social media but is now trying to get a better understanding of it. Or someone who is trying to help educate and persuade their organization (and management) to adopt social media in a meaningful way that will help them achieve their goals.

The book is in three parts.

The first part is the five most important things you need to know about social media marketing. The second part cover the five most difficult questions you’ll face about social media marketing.  I’ve served on social media panels and these are the five big, thorny questions that come up more than any others. The last, shortest part of the book a quick explanation of what the different social media platforms are. Strengths and weaknesses – that kind of thing.

If you only read one book about social media, Social Media Explained is the one.

Listen to the interview:

 The #1 Selling Social Media Book on Amazon in 2014!

Social Media Explained: Untangling the World’s Most Misunderstood Business Trend

Show Notes

Mark Schaefer

Businesses Grow (Mark Schaefer’s blog)

The Marketing Companion (Podcast)

Books

Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger

Fizz: Harness the Power of Word of Mouth Marketing to Drive Brand Growth by Ted Wright

Blogs

Jay Baer – Convince and Convert | Social Pros Podcast

Mitch Joel – Six Pixels of Separation | Six Pixels Podcast

Lee Odden – Top Rank Blog

Christopher Penn – Awaken Your Superhero | Marketing Over Coffee Podcast

Mark Schaefer, Douglas Burdett and a few of Mark’s many books.

PS – make sure to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. And if you’ve had a chance to listen to the podcast, I’d be grateful for an honest, one-sentence review on iTunes or Stitcher. Reviews provide valuable feedback to me and help more people like you discover the podcast.

Thanks for listening!