The Big Book of Social Media by Robert Fine Review

Title: The Big Book of Social Media: Case Studies, Stories, Perspectives

Author: [Edited by] Robert Fine

Genre: Social Media, Marketing

Page Count: 312 pages

Publish Date: November 1, 2010

Book Type: Owned Paperback

Publisher: Yorkshire Publishing

ISBN: 9780881441598

Picture from Goodreads

My Review: “The Big Book of Social Media” is divided into topic-based sections, with each section containing a few case studies, stories, or essays. A theme that was weaved throughout “The Big Book of Social Media” was the emphasis on companies developing a plan before jumping into social media. While some case studies were better than others, the overall book would be a good addition for anyone looking for real-world stories about people using social media for businesses as different as government to publishing. It was nice to be able to read about social media usage in different fields of work. However, at times, some of the chapters could seem as if they were a little bit of a sales promotion. Sometimes the authors seemed to be touting their business capabilities instead of showcasing how they are using social media and explaining why those methods were successful.

The sections in “The Big Book of Social Media” were organized in a way that was very easy to understand. The writing was not too technical, so any audience should be able to appreciate it. This book would be especially beneficial for people who are novices with social media and have had a hard time understanding other guides. Throughout the book, URLs are provided so the reader can easily reference the things that are being talked about online. Even non-novices should be able to appreciate “The Big Book of Social Media,” especially when the book delves into the analytics. Reading this book should allow companies and individuals to really think about what they want to do with social media. 

Readers of “The Big Book of Social Media” are asked to visit www.TheBestofSocial.com to continue the conversation about the book and share their own social stories. On the website, readers can ask the authors questions, interact in live webinars, and find resources for learning. Social media links are also provided after each chapter so the reader knows how to get in contact with each individual author, which was a nice touch.