This has been a great year for business books and I wanted to highlight a few of my personal favorites if you’re looking to spend some time getting up to speed with some authoritative voices in the field. These are “newish” books … I’ve been catching up myself after a busy year!
Social Media Law for Business: A Practical Guide for Using Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Blogs Without Stepping on Legal Land Mines
This is the long-awaited authoritative reference on the subject and there is no person on earth more qualified to write this book than Glen Gilmore. A dense topic but a surprisingly easy read since it is jam-packed with ideas and tips to safeguard your online presence and content.
Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age (Que Biz-Tech)
A bright star on the PR scene and an original thinker, Gini Dietrich re-imagines today’s dystopian world of corporate communications and “spin” as a universe where companies pay attention and care. The world would be a better place if every company had this book in its library.
Contagious: Why Things Catch On
One of my favorite business books in recent years, Wharton Professor Jonah Berger uses real research to explore what ignites ideas and content both online and off. Rich in ideas with some great story-telling. Contagious starts where Gladwell’s Tipping Point ends.
Audience: Marketing in the Age of Subscribers, Fans and Followers
I was a little late to the party on this one but found this book by Jeffery Rohrs to be highly relevant in a world where content is simply a starting point. Very worthwhile paying attention to this experienced marketer and superb writer as he pins down key ideas of building an actionable audience of “joiners.”
Fizz: Harness the Power of Word of Mouth Marketing to Drive Brand Growth
Ted Wright is one of the most inventive and captivating marketers out there. He has contributed to several consumer revolutions in the U.S.–including the resurgence of Pabst Blue Ribbon, Chocolate Milk, and products for companies like Bissell, Intuit, AT&T, and Intel. It’s not just a book. It’s a marketing adventure.
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
This word kept going through my head as I read Ann Handley’s book. “Hallelujia.” In world where everybody needs to contribute content, Ann shows you how. Don’t be afraid of writing for the web any more. Read this book!
And if this isn’t enough to get your marketing juices flowing, I would also humbly submit that I also had two books come out in 2014, an all-new edition of The Tao of Twitter
, and the best-selling social media book of the year, Social Media Explained: Untangling the World’s Most Misunderstood Business Trend
. You might enjoy those books!
What books have you read in 2014 that you would recommend?
Disclosures: All books and images are affiliate links. Gini Dietrich did some paid work for me in 2014. I did a paid webinar for Ann’s company Marketing Profs in 2014. Glen Gilmore is on the faculty of Rutgers University, where I teach. I received free review copies of most of these books.
