Customer Reviews

Likeable Social Media: How to Delight Your Customers, Create an Irresistible Brand, and Be Generally Amazing on Facebook (& Other Social Networks)

5 star:		(152)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've read and reviewed a lot of books on Social Media and this is the first one I've given five stars. It's that good.

I'm a marketer, specializing in the digital realm and I've become increasingly annoyed at the self proclaimed Social Media Experts (SME's) out there. Most are full of hot air and sell snake oil. This is not the case with Dave Kerpen.

This book is clearly written with great examples by someone who has a vast knowledge of this area. Even better, he uses examples of his actual work within the book for us all to learn from (most social media books don't). Each chapter also ends with exercises for you to start considering how to implement the concepts into your business.

There are two aspects that separate this book from the rest. 1. Dave comes at it from the point of the user receiving the marketing and 2.Dave can easily be found on all social media sites giving out free advice, using the methods he describes in the book to grow his readership and business along with it. He walks the walk.

While I don't agree with every element of the book, my quibbles are not worth your time. Just understand that this book is worth purchasing.

I will be suggesting it to everyone I work with that suddenly wants to enter the social media space, but isn't sure why.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book from McGraw Hill.

As a business owner, this book is just what I want. it cleared up all the confusion I was feeling about social media. Like 95% of small business owners, I'm so clueless about using social media for my business (I'm great at posting photos of my kids and me hiking) that I would not have even read any book on social media if I didn't know Dave (full disclosure - we're good friends, but no one is making me write this review, and I'm being 100% honest, which is easy in this case, thank goodness. Silence was always an option). I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the same man who machine guns concise tweets and posts all day long can also write long-form so engagingly and informatively. The book is easy to read, complete with useful action items at the end of every chapter, and loaded with real-world examples. From Verizon Fios to United Airlines, practical stories of real-world online successes and failures fill the book. His explanation and definition of how a company needs to be engaged with it's customers is worth the price alone. It's part 21st-century marketing manifesto and part social media owners manual. If Anthony Wiener had read the appendix on using Twitter, he might not be in trouble today.

I responded to a request from the author to review this book. And I am really glad I did.

I, like most marketing professionals honest enough to admit it, am constantly trying to better understand how to use new platforms like Facebook, Twitter and other "social" networks in marketing. While I had heard some of what is covered in this book before, there is a lot I had not, and Dave's writing style is easy to digest and learn from as I went through the book.

Highlights for me were the sections on:

"Likes are more important than links" and how a strong Facebook strategy can drive a lot of traffic and attention to your core messages. Ten years ago, it was all about building a web site, optimizing for SEO and driving cross linkages. Dave makes some great arguments about how a holistic approach to Facebook can drive far more reception and attention to your core marketing efforts today. Interesting and thought-provoking.

"The Brilliance of the Facebook News Feed" and the pages on how Edgerank works to drive notice of your messages and how it all works together around likes, time of day, etc, etc. Very clear explanation of how Facebook algorithms work, and what this means to a marketing pro. These few pages are must reads!

And the areas around creating your company's own Facebook presence; what works and what doesn't; etc are all thought-provoking and already causing some discussions inside our own company about our strategy for Facebook and how we should (and should NOT) use this as part of our overall efforts.

Great book. Well written. Must have for anyone trying to navigate Facebook and understand how to better apply it in the marketing mix. I'm sharing three more copies with others on my team.

Gary Lee

CEO, mBLAST

[...]

This book is likeable. It's a two-thumbs up easy read, chock full of important social media marketing strategies that have a down-to-earth quality full of integrity.

"Listen carefully, be transparent, be responsive, be authentic, tell great stories--the qualities that would make you the hotshot at the party--they'll make your organization a likable one on social networks." --Dave Kerpen

The author is right on the mark.

What else about this clever book, you might ask?

1. It shines new light on how to use social media right--stay true to yourself which is great advice for a better world.

2. It's target readers are widespread--from those with their feet wet in social media to neophytes.

3. For those new to the scene or those wanting a review--there's fun content in the back of the book-- 25 pages of thorough explanations, simple ways the different social media platforms can enhance and expand communication with potential and established customers.

4.A chapter on tapping and using your listening skills full blast which you'll need if you want to enter the world of social media; it can make or break.

5 Approaching marketing projects at times like a child--with a sense of wonder, curiosity and super-creative out-of-the-box strategies.

6. Dave teaches sophisticated social media tools and approaches in an easy-to-understand and respectful way.

7. The book is written in a very refreshing and positive light.

Highly recommended. I can see LIKEABLE MEDIA become THE social media marketing textbook. Good for students too. This book to all those who want to hone their social media skills through learning the mechanics of online tools and the new-world marketing strategies that will drive your business to new heights.

I originally thought that Social Media was just a digital platform for narcissistic B List celebrities who had a recurring need to inform the world when they were eating or waiting for a cab. After reading Dave Kerpen's "Likeable Social Media" I now realize how narrow minded this view was. When used correctly, Social Media is an effective tool which companies of all sizes can use to identify, grow, connect, inform and serve their customer base.

Effective Social Media involves listening to your customers in an honest, non-phony way; providing real value for free without worrying about "giving away the store"; promptly responding to crises; developing a feel good online persona and inspiring the customer base. The book is packed with numerous case studies and action items detailing exactly how to achieve these necessary attributes.

This is a book which must be read slowly, earmarked, and read again and again. There is so much to digest--even the author admits most Social Media success is the result of a consistent slow, well thought out process. I intend to employ as many of these valuable ideas into my small tutoring business. Maybe, just maybe, I will be able to take this business to the next level on a shoe string marketing budget.

Even though I work with the author and have heard these stories many times, I still managed to learn something. So many marketing and social media books try to give you advice in the form of vague statements like "have great content" or "be responsive" but the advice normally ends there. This book goes beyond the vague suggestions and cliche terms. Dave outlines exactly what counts as "great content" and exactly what steps are required for "being responsive." Each chapter tackles a necessary component to being successful in social media marketing and each chapter ends with action items that can put his words into a reality for your business. If you want to learn where to begin with using social media for your business, I would recommend this book. If you already think you know everything about social media marketing, I would still recommend this book because so many of the obvious necessities are the things we forget to do everyday. Overall, education & fun to read! Very #likeable!

Disclosure: I know this author well. In fact, I'm married to him. But I'll review it honestly, I promise!

I read Likeable Social Media over a 2 day period. I found it to be EXTREMELY user friendly. Aside from having incredibly simple yet powerful examples, Dave gives you tips for how to practically incorporate these best practices into your own business. I often find business books to be preachy, and this book is anything but. Dave demonstrates the how-tos in social media through the art of storytelling-- stories from his clients and others who are paving the way in the field of social media.

The concept of being a "likeable" company is so simple, and yet, when you read this book, you realize that there's a lot more that you can do as an organization to be a more likeable brand...and how that can directly affect your social media results.

I recommend this book to small businesses, brand managers at larger businesses, and agency peeps alike. It really does help you "get it".

I really liked this book. I found it very insightful and helpful. Not only was the content understandable and relevant but it was also nicely organized so that each section was easy to digest and understand. Another book I'd highly recommend along with this one is The Like Economy: How Businesses Make Money With Facebook. I've been reading up on social media like a madwoman, and these are without a doubt the two best resources on the subject I found thus far.

Likeable is a wealth of information for anyone working in Social Media or just getting started in the business. Proven tips for making your Facebook page more Likeable with real life examples. Dave Kerpen works with Social Media everyday and shares his expertise.

Step by step examples and doable tasks at the end of each chapter make this not only a fun book to read but also provide the skills needed to make a difference in your Social Media practices.

I met the author, Dave Kerpen, in 2007 at the first WOMMA Summit (Word of Mouth Marketing Association) that I attended. I knew from the start that Dave would be a key influencer of my education in social engagement and a valuable resource for "how to" information that is based on real life case studies and experiences. At the time, I didn't know that I would become the Board President of WOMMA or that he would become an author and thought leader on the effective use of Facebook (as well as Twitter, You Tube and more). Since that time, Dave and I have come to be good friends, colleagues, and benefactors of each others shared experiences.

In "Likeable Media" Dave gives freely of his experience and drives home the point that consumers are increasingly responsible for the success or failure of brands by what they like and what they say about our brands. Dave has filled his first book with entertaining and interesting case studies and anecdotes that make the 18 lessons easy to understand and apply. It's an ideal book for those that are just getting started, as well as semi-seasoned veterans who are looking for an edge to move them forward in ways that engage and leverage existing and new relationships. Dave is the master of "Likeability" and he shares his insights in a way that is both easy to understand and apply. I found myself noting several opportunities for our business, a northwest regional insurance company, to incorporate Dave's tips in several ways that will increase our fan base, our edge rank, and the number of "likes" that we generate.

I've already passed my copy (which still needs to be autographed by the way) along to a college student that I've helped to mentor over the past year. She'll learn more from this book in a few hours than she could possibly learn in her classes over the next year.

The only criticism that I have for the book is that there were numerous references to the agency that Dave owns and operates... so much so that I started feeling as if I was reading corporate collateral for Likeable Media (the agency). If you are able to look past those repetitive mentions and the reference to his clients, you will come away with a wealth of information that is actionable and very beneficial. Dave gives away in his book what many consultants try to sell at a premium.

Thanks Dave. And congratulations!

NOTE: The opinions offered in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of WOMMA or my employer.