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Updated by Ben Shute on Feb 20, 2024
Headline for My Top Social Media, Content and Business Books
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Ben Shute Ben Shute
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My Top Social Media, Content and Business Books

A list of the books I have read or am reading in the areas of social media, content marketing, sales, customer service and general business that shape the way I think.
Audience: Marketing in the Age of Subscribers, Fans and Followers
Jeff Rohrs' book looks at marketing from perspective of fan, followed and subscriber, and looks at how to build an audience on multiple platforms including email and mobile.
Brick by Brick: How LEGO Rewrote the Rules of Innovation and Conquered the Global Toy Industry eBook: Bil...
I love Lego, and this is a look inside how they reinvented themselves and their approach to innovation
Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ig...
This book from CC Chapman and Ann Handley is a fantastic how to for creating content, and should be required reading for anyone with a website. Check out my review here.
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
Despite being nearly 5 years old, Vaynerchuck's ode to the hustle is just as relevant today as it was when written
Epic Content Marketing: How to Tell a Different Story, Break through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing...
Does what it says on the cover - all you need to know about content marketing from the founder of the Content Marketing Institute.
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
Ann Handley's second book is a masterclass in the written word. Check out my review here.
Groundswell, Expanded and Revised Edition: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies
If you read only one book on the impact of social tech, this is it
Hatching Twitter - Nick Bilton
Twitter is without a doubt my favourite social platform. But reading this - it's amazing it ever got off the ground. A fantastic back story to the indispensable communication platform.
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
Anyone who knows Gary Vaynerchuck knows he tells it like it is. This book is a perfect how to around telling your story.
The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users eBook: Guy Kawasaki, Peg Fitzpatrick: Books
Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick have crafted a very practical how to guide to social. Check out my review here.
The Desk Closest To The Door - How To Master The Art of Selling Direct Media
This book was written by my good friend Mike Brunel, and if you're a sales person, I can't recommend it enough.
The Perfect Store - Inside EBay
A fascinating look inside one of the great eCommerce stories of our time
The Social Customer: How Brands Can Use Social CRM to Acquire, Monetize, and Retain Fans, Friends, and Followers
I was pleasantly surprised by this book - too many focus on reaching customers via social, this is about how the social customer thinks.
The Ultimate Online Customer Service Guide: How to Connect with your Customers to Sell More!
Marsha Collier is the queen of online customer service, writing the book on eBay - recommend this read highly
The Unauthorized Guide To Doing Business the Jamie Oliver Way: 10 Secrets of the Irrepressible One-Man Brand
I'm a big fan of Jamie Oliver - not only his food, but the business empire he has built around his brand. This book, while unofficial, is a great read about how he does it.
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
I loved Chris Brogan's first book, I recommend reading it to understand the trust economy.
UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging
Scott Stratten's no nonsense approach to marketing is one more marketers should take
What's the Future of Business: Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences
I'm a big fan of Solis' work, which is why three of his books feature on the list. WTF is a great title for visual thinkers.
Work in Progress: Risking Failure, Surviving Success
I picked up this book at Disneyland (of all places), and read it all the way home - riveting read
Youtility: Why Smart Marketing Is about Help Not Hype
I've been a big fan of Jay Baer's for a long time. Youtility is a fantastic book about how to make your content truly useful