Book Review of Socialnomics by Erik Qualman

I just finished reading Socialnomics, by Erik Qualman, and enjoyed it. I think that you will too. Qualman is an MBA Professor at the Hult International Business School and Global Vice President of Digital Marketing for EF Education, but is probably better known for his hyper-paced viral video, The Social Media Revolution on YouTube.

The book is simple and direct with three key themes.

Theme #1: Social Media will provide for a “newer and brighter world for consumers and businesses”. This will occur because communities of people who are interested in a particular product and service can easily come together through social media. Business can then just as easily find these communities that are interested in their product and service and engage in a meaningful dialog with them that will improve the customer experience, the product, and ultimately the bottom line.

Theme #2: Social Media will make it impossible for people and, on a grander scale, businesses to engage in “social schizophrenia”. The speed and transparency of information across social networks means you can’t be a party animal on Saturday night and a choirboy on Sunday. If you’re a corporation, you can’t spout “green” and dump toxic waste. Someone will notice and comment.

Theme #3: Social Media will change the face of search. There is a reason Google is so interested in Facebook. Wouldn’t you rather get a product or service recommendation from your network than from someone you don’t know?

At about 240 pages, the book reads quickly and is organized in such a way that it is easy to put down and pick back up when you have a spare moment or two. If you’re interested in where business marketing is going in the next several years, pick this up along with a copy of The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott.

Go here to see my video review of Socialnomics.