The world of social media marketing can be a confusing place. Luckily for marketers and business owners, Shama Kabani has written a guide to help get them through the pain points.
Her book, The Zen of Social Media Marketing: An Easier Way to Build Credibility, Generate Buzz, and Increase Revenue, just came out in its 2012 edition and is jam packed with new content on Google+, Facebook ads, SEO, and more. Here were the highlights I found.
What I Loved
Case Studies
The end of the book contains 12 case studies where Kabani has gotten other business owners to talk about their social media successes. Readers will also find quotes and snippets of wisdom from professionals that compliment the key points she is trying to drive home.
AHA Zen Moments
There is no question about what you should take away from each chapter. AHA Zen Moments spell it all out in a short quick summary.
Reality on the Basics
If you think social media is a quick band-aid for having a real marketing strategy, this book will set you straight. It makes it very clear that social media is wonderful icing but not the whole cake, which many new to the online world seem to glaze over.
Advice on Hot Topics
Video and Google+ are all the buzz right now for professionals who want to use social media to their advantage. Zen does not disappoint and spells out tips and tricks on making the mediums work for your needs.
Final Thoughts
I would suggest the book for anyone who needs to learn more about social media, or those needing motivation to do more and do it efficiently. I personally felt motivated and ended up reworking a lot of my own strategies after reading the book. People that have very little experience in the online world may be confused after reading through the beginning portions which cover websites, SEO, and blogging. I'd suggest that those people do their own research to learn more about the topics. Shama Kabani is the CEO of The Marketing Zen Group. You can learn more about her and her company on Facebook or their website.