The Digital Handshake : Seven Proven Strategies to Grow Your Business Using Social Media

Practical and Tactical: The Digital Handshake is well done

Paul Chaney, president of the International Blogging and New Media Association, has done a fine job with The Digital Handshake, Seven Proven Strategies to Grow Your Business Using Social Media.

While I find his book to be much more practical and tactical than strategic, anyone who is relatively new to SM and the tools required will find The Digital Handshake and extremely approachable read, with wonderful references, case studies and guidance. For those with a little more experience, the book is full of reminders, tips and tricks that you will find helpful.

One of the things I liked most about Paul's book is the way he pulls from the theoretical, such as the concepts in The Cluetrain Manifesto, and brings them to life, with real-world how-to. I would still suggest everyone read Cluetrain, but for business owners and marketing executives who are the run, The Digital Handshake becomes a solid "Cliff's Notes" with the added benefit of telling you how to use the theories now.

His summary of the five consumer trends that are shaping the marketing world we live in now is spot on, as is his well-researched and survey-filled section on media and audience fragmentation.

His seven "strategies" with detailed practical application for each include:
Business blogging
Social networks
Online communities
Microblogging
Online video
Podcasting
Social media new releases

Being from South Louisiana, Paul even tosses in a lagniappe for his readers with a catch-all "Other Social Media Marketing Tools" with practical applications to keep you acting now and thinking ahead.

His plans of action for each strategy are invaluable, if for nothing else than to see how others in your business are using the tools available. That's priceless.

The Digital Handshake is available at most big-box bookstores, including Barnes & Noble, and at Amazon. And, yes, you can also get it as a digital book for your Kindle!

Enjoy it, and if you have any of your own thoughts on the book or suggestions of another, please let me know! You can also follow discussions about the book at Twitter, using the following hashtag #digishake.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.