Home - Web Services

In "New Community Rules" the author has created a handbook that is not only an excellent read, but also an excellent primer for any organization or enterpreneur trying to answer the question, "So what can this social media stuff do for me?"

In a methodical approach, covering all the bases of social media as it exists today, the author will walk you through the various aspects of social media marketing and how to use each of them to strengthen your company or brand. She teaches you the do's and don'ts of the social mediasphere -- and as many marketing folks know, the don'ts are probably one of the most valuable lessons you can ever learn. For example, don't use social media to try and push your products on people who haven't engaged with you -- it simply will not work.

The book itself was written for folks who probably haven't had much experience in the social media sphere. It not only walks you through the various offerings out there (from Facebook to Flickr; from Digg to Twitter) but also how each one of them is used -- and who uses them. It's important to note, and the author does a good job of this, that not every social media site is meant for every type of person or brand. Just like a focus group, you have to find the right environment for your social media efforts.

Anyone who is involved in marketing will find this book invaluable. The only drawback to it is that references to sites and such are very much based on what we know now, in 2009, to be true. No doubt in a few years the sites will have changed, but the principles behind social media marketing and interacting with your customers will still be the same.

I spend more than 20 hours a week immersed in various social media related activities so perhaps I'm not the target audience for this book. When I read books I'm looking for "secrets" which means something I haven't thought of - a new connection - a golden nugget that helps me see something from a different direction, or in a different way. I didn't find any in this book. In fact, I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and I can't, from memory, detail any specific part. That doesn't make it a bad or worthless book. It just means I've absorbed all of this info from other sources first. People who are looking to become involved in Social Media will find it useful because it does present a solid work on the topic. I'm trying to think of a book I've read in this space that is better, or more complete, and I can't, so if you're new to social marketing, and want a thorough overview of all aspects, buy this book. If you've already done a lot of reading on the topic, or actively participate, you can safely pass on it. The other point worth noting is that development on the internet is moving so very quickly today that for those who are inside and active, thoughts and ideas spread, and age, very quickly. If you're not yet involved in social media marketing, and you want to read one comprehensive overview, this is an excellent book. I gave it three starts instead of five because this is my review - a review of what the book offers someone with a medium to advanced level of experience in this area. If I were to rate it as I think someone new to social media marketing might, it probably would deserve a five star rating for the thoroughness of its coverage.

I have read a lot of books over the last year that aimed to be the "go to" source for understanding Social Media. Finally, one stands out. 'The New Community Rules' by Tamar Weinberg - probably the single most important book to read this year if you are involved in marketing your organization or cause on the web.

Practical, readable and accessible to those just getting starting out in this area, 'The New Community Rules' is sure to become the social media "bible". It starts off with a brief introduction to what social media is, follows with how to set goals, gets into the specifics of what to do, and finishes off with how to measure your results. Tools touched on include: blogs, microblogging, social networks, social bookmarking, social news, Q&A websites, photography, video, and podcasting. At the end, there is a nice 'Ultimate Social Media Etiquette Handbook' that spells out the dos and dont's of using some of the more popular social media sites.

Some points specifically stood out for me. First, Tamar makes it clear that you need to pick and choose which tools to focus on based on your goals and target community - something strangely absent from many other social media books. Then she goes further by spotlighting niche sites that cater to specific audiences, making the point that you can get a lot more exposure with a lot less effort if you use them. WiserEarth, for example, would fit into that category. Second, she goes into a lot of details on what she calls 'Informational Social Networks' like Wikipedia, Mahalo Answers, and Yahoo Answers which get a lot of traffic and can generate significant ongoing referrals. Finally, since I've never really been able to understand StumbleUpon, a social bookmarking service that we use to great effect at WiserEarth, it was a revelation to read the description in the book.

Besides this book, I recommend a number of other social media "must reads" for non-profits and activists:

* We Are Media - a community effort lead by Beth Kanter and NTEN to put together an online curriculum for nonprofits using social media. Since its a wiki and frequently updated it won't be obsolete like a book!
* Mobilizing Generation 2.0 by Ben Rigby - a nice summary of social media tools with specifically tailored strategies for the activist / nonprofit community.
* Here Comes Everybody by Clay Shirky - an oldy (in social media terms) but a goodie, this book is filled with great stories that illustrate the power of social media. Its a helpful frame for starting you web 2.0 exploration.

This book is a great place for newbies to start. But don't worry if you are past the beginner level. If you rate yourself at the intermediate level, or even the advanced level in social media, there's much to hold your attention. I learned a lot from this book, despite being steeped in social media everyday due to the nature of my work.

Here are the reasons I rated this book a 5-star and recommend you read it:

(1) The book gives an overview of using social media to market a business.
(2) A wide number of social media sites are identified and explained
(3) You get detailed "how-to" advice
(4) It explains how to use features of large social sites -- so you know what to do with a site, beyond just creating a profile.
(5) There are numerous screenshots, helping convey information better than words alone.
(6) Each chapter has many citations to places online where you can read more. That way, if you are advanced, you can dig in more and won't be left wanting.
(7) The author is widely recognized as knowing her stuff when it comes to social media.

Disclosure: I was interviewed for the book. But if I'd thought it was not going to be a good book, I wouldn't have participated in the interview in the first place.

Definitely worthwhile!

Wow! What a great job you did on the book! Really, congratulations!

The New Community is full of great information, terrific links, incredible ROI case studies, and the writing style is very easy to understand! The format is awesome! You really have a winner here! I would recommend this to anyone wanting to understand social media better, and those of us who think they do!

Congratulations! - Lon Safko (Author of The Social Media Bible)

I just finished reading The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web by Tamar Weinberg. It's just been released so it is hot off the presses, which is exactly what you need when it comes to social media. It is very difficult to write a book on a medium that is moving like a bullet train!

I often read these books as an audit for my clients and readers, always searching for good books to recommend. There are no experts and every book (or e-book) will always offer at least one nugget to add to your understanding, capabilities or strategy plans.

This book is well written and comprehensive with a very conversational manner, making the exploration of topics such as blogging/micro-blogging, reputation management, and rich media digestible. Tamar gives you a good foundation in terms of providing a background on social media before she dives into the key element which often get missed in the rush to get into social media: goal setting.

She then leads you through the appropriate actions to get started. By covering these three topics before even going into the specific platforms, she provides you the tools you will need to succeed in marketing to the social community.

There are wonderful case studies throughout the book that illustrate which interesting and inspiring.

I highly recommend this book!

Andi Fisher
[....]

As a former journalist who has found that the appropriate use of social media is helpful in my work and personal life I enjoyed this book's utter practicality, conversational style and specificity. She describes the "why" to get involved in social media, then the "how" - rather than starting with the "what" as some social media experts are prone to doing. This book will be helpful to newbies and to the seasoned players on this scene. In fact her slant is how to be helpful so you naturally attract and involve your kind of clients. When I got done reading it I wanted to get to know more about her and her work - one sure sign that she embodies what she writes.

The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web is a pretty long title, but wait till you get a hold of the book-- it's chock-full of how-to's for the manager who wants to get in the social media game.

Author Tamar Weinberg shares her depth of knowledge of making a play at the social media space. As the title suggests, the slant of the book is marketing and this means that there is adequate attention to finding target audiences, measuring metrics, and defining return of investment relative to the social media space.

People already inundated with social media and virtually living on the web will find nothing earth-shaking about this book. But looking at social media as a marketing channel will appreciate this guide. Social media faves like Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and user generated content are covered, but the things taken for granted like social media etiquette and engagement are also in the book.

One thing marketing execs will like about this book is that it has practical information in running a social media marketing campaign. From strategy development to work flow and tactical considerations, there's good enough info.

The caveat is that someone may find the information here "basic" already as the social media space is moving at an accelerated pace. But nonetheless, The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web is very comprehensive and covers all social media bases.

I have read a good number of books on social media and this is one of the better ones when it comes to combining nuts and bolts with insight based on real in-depth experience. Weinberg is a steeped in social media -- it's what she does for a living, 24/7 -- and it shows. Even if you're into social media there's likely something you can learn here.

Discussion of blogs, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, videos and podcasts are to be expected in a book of this title, though Weinberg's perceptions are cut above the rest. She really gets this stuff and knows how to work the different platforms to achieve desired goals.

The true added value of this text comes from her attention to topics that are somewhat under the radar. She delves deep into bookmarking services (StumbleUpon, delicious, etc.) social news sites (digg, reddit, sphinn, and many more) Mahalo, and other aspects that are not as readily recognized or understood, but can provide the means to supercharge your social media efforts.

Including case studies to illuminate certain points, Weinberg covers a tremendous amount of ground. She makes the point that "social media marketing is a comprehensive effort," and the same goes for this book.

I found The New Community Rules to be the most important single book I have read in a very long time. This is the most well written and comprehensive instructional text tool I have come into contact with. Anyone who owns a business, is responsible for marketing, sales and customer service must read this book! College professors, you need to make this an assigned textbook. The book gives you in-depth information on everything there is relating to Social Media Marketing. It tells you what the main social media sites and applications are, how to use them and what they are best suited for. Tamar gives you information you would never find on your own and it is obvious that she is a top expert in this field. She also provides real world case studies of how companies like Dell Computer, Zappos[...], JetBlue and others used Social Media to become more aware of what their customers were saying about their brand reputation and how they turned it into a positive situation and even increased sales. Get it, Read it, Do it!

This book is only for beginers. If you don't have previous knowdledge about social marketing is ok. If not, try another book

Excellent insights into using social media as a marketing channel and engaging your community. Avoid common pitfalls and leverage the power of this highly effective medium.

[...]
Here is where I first found out about this book.
This review covers the Top 5 Best Social Marketing Books.
This book beats them all and should be your first read.
As a blogger, twitter and social media newbie..this was a saving grace!

When I ordered this book, I was very pleased with the service I received from Amazon. Someone recommended this book and Amazon beat every price when I compared. Thank you so much for the prompt service and the great prices on Amazon. I'm sold and will continue to shop online at Amazon.com.

I ordered this book for my college class. It is well written and fairly easy to understand. Would never have understood Social Media Marketing without it.

The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web is an excellent book - written well, enjoyable, and informative. Who is it for? In my opinion this book is mandatory reading for people interested in promoting a company, product, or service using social media sites/networks. It would also be interesting for the novice who wants to learn more about how facebook, twitter, blogs, etc. are used as well as combining various media effectively.

I consider myself at an "intermediate" level in understanding social media: I use facebook, linkedin, twitter, am internet savvy, etc. However I knew there were gaps in my knowledge and that I could learn a lot more. This book was revolutionary for me as I've gained a whole new perspective on social media and look forward to applying it in the future. Only the most advanced social media 'freaks' who are plugged into all the networks already can take a pass on the book, although I'm sure reading this book would also give the 'power-user' a few good ideas to try.

[...]

Good Morning, Social Rabbit here with your guide to the world of social media.

Today as promised (although a bit late, sorry) is part 2 of my review of The New Community Rules: Marketing on the social web.

As you know I loved the first half of this book and now looking at the second half... This is a much more hands on part of the book, with where to go and what to do when you get there references.

My favourite parts are: (all direct quotes)

* the most successful Twitter users are those who engage in facilitating and building friendships. Some of the most successful business entities are those that actively monitor the conversation, show concern for the well-being of their customers, and provide in-depth and quick customer service
* In reality, Twitter has proven itself to be a reputation management tool, but it is also a tool that brings people all over the world closer together for business and personal goals
* If you're looking to Twitter as a source of income, consider a strategy that allows you to broadcast sales that you can offer your Twitter followers exclusively
* When you provide value to your followers, you will find that more people will become aware of you
* How can you acquire customers on Twitter? It's as simple as monitoring for your competitors or industry terms and then participating in the conversation when it seems right
* "social networks" and "social networking sites" are generic terms that are used to connect users with similar backgrounds and interests
* The best-performing Facebook pages are those that provide compelling and engaging content.
* MySpace works very well as a social network that lets you meet new users. It does not support third-party applications nor does it have a company-specific pages
* LinkedIn is best for finding potential clients, service provider, subject experts and colleagues
* Yahoo! Answers can, therefore, be a very powerful social media marketing tool, as it can drive traffic and awareness.
* The biggest benefit to sharing knowledge is that you're arming individuals with information that enhances their opinion of your credibility
* While social bookmarking services exist to help you centralise a list of your favourite websites in a single location, the goal really is for social sharing, and that's exactly what today's social bookmarking accomplishes
* Social news websites, like social bookmarking sites, are communities that let you submit web content in the form of articles, videos or pictures.
* for the most part, promoting yourself using only one medium won't yield the biggest success. In fact, for the best ROI, you will likely need to focus your energies on multiple online properties
* For most individuals and organisation, however, a long-term engagement will require a long-term commitment. Just like any type of promotional tactic, social media marketing is hard work.

There are lots more gems in this book, and I also like the Ultimate Social Media Etiquette Handbook which Tamar has taken from a blog post - this is worth a read, as it is really all about how to behave online - believe me I can think of A LOT of people who would benefit from just reading that!

All in all I would really recommend this book for anyone looking for a one-stop shop to social media marketing, some of it is slightly out of date now, but it is still a good resource for those just starting as well as those with more experience.

If you've read it, let me know what you thought....

I've been blogging about SAP BusinessObjects for almost two years and was pleased to receive a review copy of The New Community Rules. Over time, I've started using other social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Delicious. The New Community Rules reinforced why I've already started using the social web to build my "personal brand", helped me set new goals, and exposed me to sites that I've never considered using before. What I most appreciated about the book were the case studies - real stories about real people and organizations using (and sometimes abusing) social media.

Ten years ago, we were fixated on search engine optimization for search engines like Excite and Alta Vista (remember those?). We didn't know we couldn't live without sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Only time will tell if we will still be using these specific social web sites ten years from now. But I'm sure organizations will continue to use the world wide web to find new ways to connect with customers. The New Community Rules is invaluable reading for individuals and organizations dipping their toes in the waters of the social web.

he leido varios libros de social media y me di cuenta que este es el mejor de todos... mucho mas enfocado a tomar acciones inmediatas para entrar a este mundo.

This book covers all the basics of using online social tools for marketing. It doesn't just gloss over things though. The author gives a thorough run-down of the tools that are available at this time. She also gives a clear and concise explanation of how and why to use them.

An example of this is her chapter on social bookmarking. Here she covers the most popular tools, which are Delicious and StumbleUpon, giving an in-depth users guide for each. She doesn't stop there though - she also provides a very good introduction to lesser known social bookmarking tools. In addition to being thorough on how to use a tool, she also provides information on what it might offer your business or project.

At the end of the book, she helps with strategizing your social marketing efforts. This book is the best book I've read on social networking so far.

Tamar Weinberg has written a great overview of all things related to social media. What I found especially helpful were the suggested websites. The book really expanded my understanding and appreciation of social media. Add this book to your library.

Social media is much broader than MySpace or Facebook, and Tamar is well aware of that. Throughout the book she coves pretty much all aspects of marketing on the social web.

On each chapter you will also find real examples that illustrate the concepts and give you ideas to implement on your own projects.

A must read if you are looking to understand the social media phenomenon.

ESSENTIAL reading for anyone trying to market online!

I consider this book essential reading for anyone trying to market anything online. The marketing world had changed completely, and even my marketing books that are just 5 years old already seem ridiculously outdated.

This book covers all the basics and even some new things that I know very little about (What the heck is DIGG IT?). Really, consider buying this before trying to market your products anywhere, especially since now a days it's almost impossible to market anything without an online platform.

I'm an author myself (I write accounting books) and almost all of my sales are either directly or indirectly generated on the web. A lot of the information in this book was new to me, and I consider myself to have a fair amount of internet savvy.

Just one note, though-- I think that people who are REALLY marketing pros; might think the book is a not advanced enough for them. But for the other 99% of us, I think this book has a lot of useful information to offer.

Recommended!

Reviewer: Dave Roman, GCPCUG member

Chapter One - An Introduction to Social Media Marketing
This chapter introduces the concept of social media marketing and explains its role in today's online marketing initiatives. This chapter also covers some of the primary tools used for a social media marketing campaign. He briefly describes some of the more popular sites like Digg, Reddit, Mixx, Delicious, stumbleupon, facebook, myspace and linkedin.

Chapter Two - Goal Setting in a Social Environment
This chapter discusses the challenges and hurdles faced in social media marketing and also explains the various ways to leverage social media marketing to achieve specific goals.

Chapter Three - Achieving Social Media Mastery
He outlines tools for monitoring online chatter and what you can do to appease your audience.

Chapter Four - Participation is Marketing
This chapter explains how participation online is critical to success in social media marketing and presents case studies highlighting small and large businesses achieving success with this tactic.

Chapter Five - Using Blogs To Communicate, Influence and Learn from your Constituents
Describes the growth of blogs and explains how to set up a blog from scratch and how to make it friendly for social media communities.

Chapter Six - Microblogging Magic
He illustrates microblogging service Twitter and explains how to use the service. He also features successful case studies,

Chapter Seven - Getting Social
He discusses the primary 3 social networking sites and explains how you can use them appropriately for social media marketing gain.

Chapter Eight - Informing Your Public
Highlights knowledge exchange websites such as Wikipedia and Yahoo! Answers and offers insights into how you can use these networks to establish thought leadership and expertise.

Chapter Nine - Leaving Your Mark
Presents the concept of social bookmarking sites and explains how to use these services.

Chapter Ten - Social News Brings You Page Views
The chapter explains the benefits of content creation for social news sites and outlines the steps you can take to write great content for, and to become a successful contributor to those sites.


Chapter Eleven - New media Tactics
.covers the services that allow you to promote your photographs and videos and explains how you can become a rock star podcaster or videoblogger.

Chapter Twelve - Sealing The Deal
This last chapter explains the best approach for a successful social media marketing strategy, especially once you're armed with the information presented in the preceding chapters.

This is a great book for the novice or the expert. Lots of good information and links to social sites and tools. It also contains an etiquette handbook. It's worth every penny

With hundreds of millions of people using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a multitude of other social media sites, more than a few companies have lunged into the turbulent realm of social media marketing, attempting to attract the attention of countless consumers. There's one problem, though. Savvy online folk aren't just consumers. They're communities.

Tamar Weinberg, a social media guru, understands the dynamics of online communities, and her book "The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web," clearly demonstrates her vast knowledge of the subject. The book explores how businesses can use social media tools as a vital promotion and communication tool. Specifically, the main emphasis of this title is indeed targeting online communities, researching them, and becoming an active member of and contributor to those communities as part of a social media marketing campaign.

Sounds like a good idea.

"The New Community Rules" begins with a helpful introduction to social media marketing, observing the different kinds of social media. Right from the start, Weinberg points out that social media marketing is most successful with objectives such as bringing traffic to your website, driving relevant links to your website, making consumers brand-aware, and triggering conversations. These accomplishments can then lead to sales, not vice versa.

After introducing the subject, Weinberg discusses the importance of goal setting and strategy: "If you are jumping into the game without being aware of your surrounding and your space, the consequences can be disastrous," (p. 19). How true. Have a plan, set realistic goals, and please, please understand that this is a long-term commitment. As Weinberg repeatedly emphasizes, social media marketing takes time. Don't expect outstanding results overnight (although it can happen).

Next, Weinberg covers the importance of listening, communicating, and participation with social media. The bulk of the book, however, discusses various types of social media and how to approach each one. Excellent chapters cover blogs, microblogging (ahem, Twitter), social networking, informational social networking, social bookmarking, social news, and social photography/video/podcasting. Finally, a summary chapter pulls everything together and offers some tips for your social media marketing campaign.

I think I can summarize my opinion of "The New Community Rules" with one word: "wow." The book is comprehensive, easy to read, interesting, and inspiring. I would highly recommend this guide to any social media maniacs interested in expanding their businesses' marketing efforts into the world of social media--successfully.

I really enjoyed. Probably, you won't find no better book than this digital marketing reference title. I recommend for everyone who wants to get inside the web 2.0 world.

Although I skimmed the first few chapters of the book, the remainder was helpful in gaining a deeper understanding of the vast number of web 2.0 technologies and their connectivity to each other. I think this is an excellent read for anyone needing a more indepth understanding of utilizing social media for marketing, advocacy and general PR.