overview of IBM social media products
923640
"Web 2.0 and Social Networking for the Enterprise" is an overview of IBM products for the social networking.  (See my review of "The Social Factor" for a better, less IBM specific take on the world while still being written by IBMers.)  I also had a "this book is in search of an audience" moment at the beginning.  It assumes you haven't heard of AJAX and then goes on to show long detailed code.

As far as product overview, I think the book does well.  It covers different IBM offerings (portlets, connections, quickr, etc.)  There are many screenshots and the book talks about what each one is good for.  There are some tips throughout, but I felt they got buried in the "how to use the tools" descriptions.

If you are working an a shop using IBM social networking products, this is a good guide to them all.  My low rating is because I didn't get that's what it would be about from the title or subtite.  I expected it to cover more "guidelines and examples for implementation and management within your organization."  I feel "The Social Factor" does that in a less product centric way.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for writing this review on behalf of JavaRanch.
9162
Best info to date: How to add twitter and pinterest apps to facebook pages.  This was a goldmine to read
3550289
I read this book when I went to work for a company that offers a complete platform of social media tools. While they are a technology company, they recognize the importance of community management tactics to motivate people to use those tools. One strategy they focus on is building off of the community's current usage of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to establish their own social media platform where they then own the data. I read Peter Shankman's book to learn more about this transition from current social media usage to more sophisticated social programs.

I liked how Shankman uses social tools to expand and accelerate customer service activities that he was doing already. In that way his recommendations are very organic. He emphasizes the importance of familiarity and making customers comfortable by starting with tools and sites they use already ... then gradually moving them to more interactive behaviors until you have online dialogue and 2-way communication.

I liked this book because of that focus on moving from the familiar to newer tools and behaviors. So often organizations fall in love with their new website designs and technologies but wonder why customers don't automatically move to that new platform. Shankman lays out a more common sense process here that enables customers to transition at their own pace.
2685230
I love Twitter and use it for professional networking, personal entertainment/support, and informational needs (such as weather alerts and local traffic advisories). Alexandra Samuel's book helped me understand how to be a more focused and effective twitter user.
 This book struck an even balance between approachability and technically specific talk. In discussing Twitter lists, for example, she recommends transitioning from having someone on a list to actually following them "so that you can build real relationships with them."
 On the more technical (to me, at least) front, Alexandra Samuel provided easily understandable methods and strategies for posting and scheduling tweets. In her words, "a Twitter feed that builds your reputation and relationships without chaining you to your Twitter client 24/7" is possible, but it takes forethought.
 I really agreed with the mini case study that was presented, discussing how a business saw a tweet regarding their product that posed concerns about the product's origins in China. The business responded, established a dialogue with the original tweeter, and proceeded to have a business relationship with the organization. As someone who sees "negative" tweets mishandled by businesses and individuals every day, I was happy to see the point made that Twitter can help problems be resolved rapidly and can help repair situations that would fester in less real-time environments.
 Lastly (and here is another example of the balance between the technical and the personal), Alexandra Samuel discusses how one of her Twitter lists includes "lovable people I know entirely online. This is a pure, gut-level feeling." As a Twitter user, I feel the same way. You can tell a lot about a person in 140 characters.
 I am grateful to Alexandra Samuel for helping me get even more out of a social network that has brought me a great deal of enjoyment and knowledge.*
*Note: this book goes into detail about the use of the HootSuite Twitter client to help organize the Twitter experience. I am not a current HootSuite user, so I focused this review more on Twitter itself. I do believe this e-book would be helpful to a Tweeter who chose to use HootSuite.
158097
A good introduction to using the social media by Francis, a member of the Redwood Writers.
87069
I'm working to create an information product and am working to figure out how best to "get it out there". Up until now I've thought taht social media was, well, social.  (This is, non-business.)  Michael Hyatt clearly & succinctly lays out not only what to do step by step, but WHY it's important for businesses (and causes) to reach out using all these media and create a platform in which to get your message to the world.

Very helpful!
667613
Deep, inside, and classical for media strategic management.
2927641
Playing on social media is much like cooking - natural to some, intimidating to many, yet known and consumed virtually by all. ROTOMA is a perfect recipe book for social media success. To enjoy its benefits, you can start with simple formulas first proven and perfected in the social media test kitchen by Spencer X. Smith and D.P. Knudten. With persistence and practice - and this book suggests not just the ingredients but indespensable step-by-step guides -  you'll experience the fun, enjoyment, and true benefits of real connections made via social media. Whether you dabble in social media or have become a social media pro, you'll find plenty of new flavours, techniques and insights in this book. And... if you want the authors join you on your social media adventure, give a listen to a very bingeable ROTOMA podcast.
251452
This book is one of the first to address the most recent social media issues: hiring within or outside of your company, understanding the difference between strategic and tactical roles in social media, and where ROI really fits with your business. I appreciate the amount of graphs and real data that is presented in this book. I do wish there were more case studies, but the ones that are brought up are very recent. There's emphasis on social media crisis plans and how social media is part of your entire business, not just marketing or sales. However, it answers questions about marketing and sales that most social media books do not - particularly in confidentiality and disclosure agreements. Definitely a book for those looking for higher-level, advanced info on social media and your business.
448024
Good read for those unfamiliar with all the social platforms.. Great suggestions. Most of the material I was familiar with so I would have liked more actionable items about using the platforms the Vee way.
658459
Tara Ross once again shows us how to use social media, but this time how to maximize social media for online networking. I was interested to learn that 89% of job recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates, making this platform an extremely important one for those hoping to increase their job and client connections. The author also explains the importance of using groups to reach out to hiring managers and thought leaders and soft ties - those who know people and are not so much like us that they are actually better at helping us make important connections than our primary connections on social media. Finally, the author stresses the importance of the 90/10 rule - spending 90% of the time building relationships and 10% of the time promoting oneself. Too often those seeking to promote their brand on social media forget those numbers and are not using the platforms effectively. I highly recommend Rosss book for those who want to take advantage of the latest trends in social media to improve their social networking.
4073248
Joshua provides a comprehensive guide to utilizing social media for a job search. The second edition of his book is filled with tips and strategies that can be immediately implemented. Job seekers, new and old, will learn ways to energize their job searches and enhance their careers.
4821478
Useful guide about many tips and tricks about social media.
3045424
It's a good primer on the in's & out's of using social media. The digital media game has changed and instead of hiding behind not using twitter or social media, educate ourselves on the best practices to use.
4611261
20 billion minutes are spent on Facebook everyday.  That's 20 billion opportunities for you to find new customers and connections, and Jeremy Goldman's Going Social is the book that will show you how.  Goldman has created a handbook for effective social media use that is both entertaining and informative.  He includes examples, not only from his own career, but also stories and tips from successful establishments that range from small businesses to non-profits to international corporations.  With information on just about every type of social media website, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and even blogs, Tumblr and Foursquare, this book shows you how to use and integrate your accounts to increase your  customer interaction and profits.  Going Social is a must have, not only for small businesses but  for anyone with any type of social media account.
2358058
I particularly like the coverage of this book on how to leverage the existing social media networks in Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+, and how to drill into a more in depth practise based on anyone's business requirements, as well as how anyone should have a respective social media policy with PDCA cycling approach!  Impressive work by Neal Schaffer
3964709
In just 26 days I've gathered over 2,000 followers using Ian Sutherland's Twitter strategy. When I started to implement his program, all I had was a dormant Twitter account with less than 200 followers. After the initial set-up I now spend less than 15 minutes per day on Twitter using his ideas. This thing works! Well done, Ian. You've written an informative book about the inner mechanics of Twitter and devised a system that allows authors to access social media without wasting their time and money!