Social Media Field Guide: Discover the strategies, tactics and tools for successful social media marketing [Paperback]

Krista Neher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2010

"The Social Media Field Guide is an outstanding tool for businesses looking to utilize social media to grow their business.  It is more than a book, it is an action guide and marketing planning method.  Don't waste your time making mistakes.  Read this book first." - Bill Martin, Training Manager at Procter & Gamble and Author

The Social Media Field Guide is a complete guidebook for business owners and marketers to successfully navigate social media for marketing success. Social media is one of the quickest growing areas of marketing, and you can't afford to ignore it any longer. Don't waste your time making mistakes - this book covers social media marketing plan building, strategy and the sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Blogs and Video that will lead you to success.

The social media field guide is your companion to social media success.  The field guide is comprised of two main components: The Map and The Compass.

The map is your social media plan, and the field guide includes a step-by-step process for creating a solid social media plan.  Don't struggle aimlessly through social media - use the proven planning method outlined in this book.

The compass represents the directions that your social media plan can take.  This section covers more social media tools than you knew existed - blogs, webinars, social news, Facebook, LinkedIn, mobile, discussion forums, review sites and many more.  The compass includes 8 directions for your social media plan:

1. Publishing
2. Sharing
3. Social Networks
4. Microblogs (Twitter)
5. Collaboration and Co-creation
6. Discussion and Review
7. Public Relations
8. Mobile

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Boot Camp Digital Publishing (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983028605
• ISBN-13: 978-0983028604
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

POSITIVE PRAISE
"The Social Media Field Guide is an invaluable resource for any business that wants to understand and get real results from social media.  Never before have I seen social media explained in such a clear and easy-to-follow fashion - this book is a must-buy!"
- Mike Grehan
Author and Global VP Content, SES Conference and Expo/ClickZ/Search Engine Watch


"Krista understands that 'Marketing with Meaning' is required for social media and she lays out exactly how businesses can strategically use social media to get results.  This book is a must-have for business owners, marketers and ad agencies."
- Bob Gilbreath
Chief Marketing Strategist, Bridge Worldwide and Author of The Next Evolution of Marketing


"Krista Neher gets it - and always has!  She knows that 'engagement' is more than a cheap slogan, it is a disciplined practice that requires attentive listening, deep consumer understanding, humility, credibility and a keen sense of timing.  She also understands the interdependency - nay co-dependency - of paid, owned and earned media!  Read this book - yesterday!"
- Pete Blackshaw
Ad Age Columnist, author and EVP  Digital Strategic Services at Nielsen Online

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krista's mission is to help other business owners achieve success in their social media marketing efforts.  Krista arrived on the social media scene early and spent hours learning and experimenting with social media marketing strategies, tactics and tools.  After lots of mistakes (and some angry letters) she figured out the path to success.  She successfully used social media to acquire over 40,000 users for an internet start-up company only 4 months after they launched - with almost no budget!


Krista has a passion for helping other businesses owners and individuals find the same kind of success through social media.  She is the owner and CEO of Boot Camp Digital, a company that specializes in Social Media training and consulting solutions.  Through Boot Camp Digital Krista works with companies of all sizes on their social media efforts - she has been hired by companies like Procter & Gamble, Ad:tech and Euro RSCG and also works with countless small and medium businesses.  Krista uses her 10+ years of marketing experience to strategically build social media in to businesses.


In addition to this, Krista is currently the Managing Director of the Institute for Social Media at Cincinnati State, where she runs a social media marketing certification program.


Krista is originally from Toronto, but currently lives in Cincinnati Ohio.  She is an international speaker and educator on social media marketing.  She enjoys blogging, speaking at conferences, cycling, reading, the outdoors and has a passion for travel and adventure.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Boot Camp Digital Publishing (October 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0983028605
• ISBN-13: 978-0983028604
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for social media strategies not just the latest shiny tool of the moment! January 11, 2011

By Mark Homer

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you want to use social media for yourself, your business or to increase your social media knowledge - read this book. This is a great first book from blogger, and international social media expert and speaker Krista Neher.

I am an internet marketer and I have followed this author's blog (and have seen her speak) for awhile. I have learned a lot from Krista Neher over the years and it was nice to have everything conveniently accessible in one action oriented guidebook. I especially like that she focuses on the real business benefits and strategies for social media and not just how to use the latest twitter, facebook, etc. shiny object of the moment. The social media marketing strategies that are the foundation of the book are what will stand the test of time. Facebook may change their rules every 3 months but these strategies will work no matter what happens. I really like the analogy to the map and field guide to walk one through the process of creating and implementing the social media strategy.

This book definitely showed me step by step exactly how to improve (and execute more efficiently -- i.e. in less time!) the social media plan for my business. Before even finishing the book I used a few of the tips and have seen ACTUAL BUSINESS from my new and improved social media efforts -- so, I guess this book has already paid for itself!

I read a lot of business / marketing books, and what made this book different is that everything is explained in a very clear way that is simple to understand - even if you aren't familiar with social media. I have read a few social media marketing books and this is definitely the best one I have read yet. This book goes beyond Facebook and Twitter and covers more social media tools than I knew existed.... The illustrations and examples are a nice addition and help to make the concepts easier to follow and understand.

I am buying this book for a few of my better clients and will recommend it to the rest of them!

If you are looking for a book to guide you through using social media, this is the book to buy. Read more ›

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book for Social Media! January 10, 2011

By Laura Cerquozzi

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm new to the world of social media and I don't have a marketing background, but I know how important social media is and I can see it transforming my industry, so I want to stay on top of it. I've read a few other social media book, but they tend to be theoretical and only focus on one or two areas of social media.

I loved the Social Media Field Guide because it covered so many social media tools (more than I knew existed) and it gave me lots of great ideas about how to use them. The social media field guide was a great resource for me in understanding social media and how businesses can use it. As a beginner it helped me understand how to build a plan as well as all of the different tools available.

I noticed that the Amazon listing doesn't include the Chapters, so here they are:
Why Social Media Matters?
Strategy and Objectives
Target Audience
Rules of Engagement
Introduction to the Field Guide
Content
Publishing
Sharing
Social Networking
Microblogs (twitter)
Collaboration & Co-creation
Discussion& Review
Public Relations
Mobile
Measuring the Results
As you can see, the book is pretty comprehensive but still an easy read.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking for building a social media plan or learning how to strategically use social media marketing tools.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Social Media Field Guide Keep a Pen Handy December 4, 2010

By Brian Tudor

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Krista Neher's Social Media Field Guide is a must read for both new and established social media marketers. For newbies it shows social media is more than just creating a Twitter account and tweeting about what you plan on doing. For experienced marketers the field guide reenforces concepts and strategies they should already have in place, building on those concepts to increase success and ROI. When you are reading the Field Guide make sure to keep a pen handy, not only for keeping notes in the margins, but to write down your key takeaways at the end of each section in the Action Items and Key Learnings section provided.

If you are motivated to add social media to your company's overall marketing strategy and you are running into road blocks from your company you need to show them this book, and discuss the strategies and tactics Krista introduces. She makes your arguments for success through social media for you, and armed with her Field Guide you will be able to find your way through the jungle that is social media.

At only 225 pages it is a quick and easy read you can knock out over the weekend, and you'll be a better social media marketer by Monday.

5.0 out of 5 stars Right on Target February 21, 2011

By M. Young

Format:Paperback

After attending an hour long presentation by Krista, I had to read her book. She really gets it and shares her knowledge very effectively. She shares how she applied her knowledge and experience gained at one of the top marketing companies in the world to a startup with a minimal marketing budget and learned how to effetively use social media in the process. I highly recommend this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding! January 18, 2011

By William Martin

Format:Paperback

This book provides an outstanding lay of the land for social media and provides practical recommendations for how to use social media to improve your business. I highly recommend it!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource December 16, 2010

By Ryan R Dlugosz

Format:Paperback

The Field Guide lives up to it's name. You won't find a lot of fluffy theory or ivory tower concepts in this book. Instead, you get exactly what you need to develop and implement a successful social media marketing strategy.

Experts may find themselves skimming through some of the earlier material, which focuses on background topics ("What is social media?") and dispels some common myths and misconceptions. However, this information is essential for anyone who is a newcomer to the modern social media tools - even seasoned marketers. Think of it as "social media 101".

Later in the book you'll find tips and tricks for making best use of the current social media tools. This material is a critical resource for anyone marketing online! The subtleties between mobile vs twitter vs facebook, etc are hard to keep straight in your head and the Field Guide does a wonderful job of keeping the info close at hand. This is the kind of book that you'll keep nearby your PC and refer to time and again.