Social media is an incredibly competitive space. Gone are the days when you could setup a Facebook page for your company and easily reach your followers. Things are a little trickier now, as networks like Facebook restrict organic reach in favour of a pay-to-play model.
That being said, the common denominator of good social media marketing is awesome content that appeals to your audience and strikes a chord. People like to see posts that are interesting and relatable.
With this in mind we’ve rounded up some of the best social media marketing books that both aspiring and experienced marketers can read to hone their skills and learn the latest social media marketing strategies.
Content Mavericks: How to Grow Your Business with Insanely Shareable Content
Andrew & Pete, 2017
Content Mavericks is a fantastic book – it’s not purely focused on social media. Instead it teaches readers how to formulate a powerful content strategy, which is essential to cut through the noise and be heard on social media channels.
The beauty of this book is that it is packed with actionable tips that step-by-step instructions on how to implement them. It’s much recommended for those who’ve been running social media campaigns, but are looking to strengthen their brand and add some structure to their approach.
In an era where sharability is crucial – this book has some cracking tips.
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users
Guy Kawasaki & Peg Fitzpatrick, 2014
Co-written by Guy Kawasaki (of Apple fame), The Art of Social Media looks at a strategy for building to build your social media presence, and for bloggers – how to integrate both your social media and blogging tactics.
This is a great book for beginners looking to get their feet wet in the social media world.
Storynomics: Story-Driven Marketing in the Post-Advertising World
Robert Mckee & Tom Gerace, 2018
Storynomics is based on the premise that “interruptive” advertising – that annoys consumers are being replaced by “story-centric” marketing, that places a brands story at the center of its message.
It offers some great lessons on how original storytelling is the new paradigm being adopted by successful brands. The book is great because it breaks down a detailed roadmap to cut through the noise and reach your most valuable prospects.
Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction
Derek Thompson, 2017
In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson provides us with an interesting premise – that the most important audience isn’t early adopters, but their friends, followers and imitators!
This book delves deep into psychological studies to smash commonly held myths about virality, pop culture and what makes a successful product. Thompson delves into the science of how to capture people’s attention, the currency of all social networks, making this title a worthwhile read for every social media marketer.
Everybody Writes
Ann Handley, 2014
Social media is made up of two elements: imagery and words. Adding the right words to your posts can makes the difference between a successful social media post and a flop.
Everybody writes is a must-read for any marketer, it provides a concise system for writing engaging, clear and direct web copy that engages your prospects.
This book is full of easy-to-follow tips, tools and best practices, almost all of the content is actionable. You should notice your writing start to improve once you follow Ann’s tips. We keep a copy of it on our desk at all times to reference!
One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days
Brendan Kane, 2018
Regardless of your audience size, this book has plenty of tips you can leverage to improve your messaging, position your brand and grow your influence online.
Based on real-world examples of how Brendan Kane grew his social media following, it’s a book written by an expert in digital communications that explains his processes clearly and concisely.