Overview

Dave Evans wrote the practical step-by-step guide, “Social Media Marketing: An Hour A Day. “ It is a practical guide to the implementation and measurement of a social media based marketing program. This book helps marketers who are looking to expand their skills and tap into the Social Web the right way. Evans breaks down how to approach the world of social media by suggesting daily exercises over a three-month period. He stresses the idea of steering clear from traditional marketing and brings up the question “If I couldn’t interrupt you, how would I reach you?”

This book helps people to learn how to properly use the Social Web to your business advantage and how to effectively participate as a marketer by adopting the underlying behaviors that power the Social Web and making them the basis for your business and marketing plans. The author emphasizes the fundamental issue of giving up control in marketing and consumer conversations and ultimately gain influence by becoming a respected member in relevant Social Web communities.

Outline [Link]  Powerpoint [Link]  Amazon Review [Social Media Marketing Book Review (Amazon)]

Social Media Marketing: An Hour A Day is TOO MUCH, October 19, 2009

By	Kayley McDonald (Pullman, WA USA) – See all my reviews

Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day

Dave Evans specializes in social media, word-of-mouth marketing, operations and marketing consulting. He has a passion for solving difficult problems that are worth solving. He is experienced in the marketing world with experience including the launch of [...] in 2005, and he confounded Digitial Voodoo in 1994, a marketing technology consultancy. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in physics and mathematics from the State University of New York/College at Brockport. His Book, “Social Media Marketing: An Hour A Day,” tries to ultimately answer the questions, “If I couldn’t interrupt you, how would I reach you?” He gives a step by step guide:

Part I: The Foundation of Social Media
1. Backlash
2. The Marketer’s Dilemma
3. What Is Social Media

Part II: Month 1: Prepare for Social Marketing
4. Week 1: Web: 2.0: The Social Web
5. Week 2: The Social Feedback cycle
6. Week 3: Touchpoint Analysis
7. Week 4: Influence and Measurement

Part III: Month 2: Social Media Channels
8. Week 1: Build a Social Media Campaign
9. Week 2: Social Platforms
10. Week 3: Social Content: Multimedia
11. Week 4: Social Content: Reviews, Ratings, and Recommendations
12. Week 5: Social Interactions

Part IV: Month 3: Complete Your Plan
13. Week 1: Objectives, Metrics, and ROI
14. Week 2: Present Your Social Media Plan

These sections and chapters build off of each other in an interactive approach to eventually build a social media plan.

The book teaches marketers the new world of the social media marketing and steers them away from traditional marketing habits and tendencies. It provides the important trends of the Social Web through building participation and influence and encourages marketers to consider their options and formulate a plan.

There are many ways to use this book, Dave even says so himself. This book can be helpful for people that are new to marketing, it can be for a seasoned marketer that is transitioning into the Social Web, or it can be for a marketer that needs to reevaluate their social media plan. Readers can start from the beginning and read cover to cover and understand the basics of social media. Some may skip over the exercises, and not come up with a final plan. It is encourage that people should use this book in whatever way it will bring the greatest benefit.

This book is a helpful guide to developing a social media plan because of its day-to-day exercises that are available at the end of each chapter. Evans clearly is passionate in reaching out to other marketers by encouraging them to transition to the new style of marketing.

I would give this book a 3/5 stars labeling it as “It’s Ok.” I did not hold my attention very long because of its repetitiveness. Social media was defined and explained countless times. It was effective in that it had helpful hints throughout and each chapter summarized main the main points. This book would be most useful for someone that is completely new to the marketing and Social Web world.