The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web

I’ve been blogging about SAP BusinessObjects and business intelligence for almost two years. Over time, I’ve started using other social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. And just this month, I became the proud owner of an Apple iPhone 3GS. So this week during a vacation, it made perfect sense for me to read Tamar Weinberg’s recently published The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web – on my iPhone.

The book begins with “An Introduction to Social Media Marketing”, which is helpful when you’re an IT professional and not a marketing professional. Next, Tamar gives pointers for developing your social media goals. She proceeds to give detailed information chapter by chapter on using specific social sites using blogs like Blogger and WordPress, microblogs like Twitter, social networks like Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn, informational networks like Wikipedia, and social bookmarking sites like Delicious, social news sites like Digg and reddit, and social media sites like YouTube and Flickr.

The New Community Rules reinforced why I’ve already started using the social web to build my “personal brand”, helped me set new goals, and exposed me to sites that I’ve never considered using before. What I most appreciated about the book were the case studies – real stories about real people and organizations using (and sometimes abusing) social media. In addition to building my personal brand, I will be using this information to help my employer engage clients via the social web over the next few months.

Because I read the book on an iPhone, reviewing the reading experience is just as important as the book itself. I’m definitely a geek, but still unwilling to pull the trigger on a Kindle purchase (see related article, SAP BusinessObjects Business Intelligence 4.0 for Kindle). While I’m still not sure that iPhone is the ideal platform for reading every book, it was certainly the perfect device for pool-side reading. Given the subject matter of The New Community Rules, Tamar has included extensive web links to additional resources – which is probably the coolest reason to read it on a web-enabled device like an iPhone.

Ten years ago, we were fixated on search engine optimization for search engines like Excite and Alta Vista (remember those?). We didn’t know we couldn’t live without sites like LinkedIn and Facebook. Only time will tell if we will still be using these specific social web sites ten years from now. But I’m sure organizations will continue to use the world wide web to find new ways to connect with customers. The New Community Rules is invaluable reading for individuals and organizations dipping their toes in the waters of the social web. It is available now from the iTunes App Store or in a more traditional format from book resellers like Amazon.com.

• Purchase The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web (paperback edition) on Amazon.com
• Purchase The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web (Kindle edition) on Amazon.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”