Posted by Elena del Valle on September 28, 2009
Lon Safko, co-author, The Social Media Bible
Photo: Lon Safko
A podcast interview with Author Lon Safko is available in the Podcast Section of Hispanic Marketing & Public Relations, HispanicMPR.com. During the podcast, Lon discusses social media issues and his book with Elena del Valle, host of the HispanicMPR.com podcast.
Lon is the creator of the “First Computer To Save A Human Life.” That computer, along with 18 inventions and more than 30,000 of Lon‘s papers, is in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. He created numerous hardware and software solutions for the physically challenged, developed the first CAD software for civil engineers, and designed the archetypes for the Apple Newton and Microsoft’s Bob Operating Systems.
He is also responsible for the Tool-Tips help-balloon pop-ups. Some of the awards Lon has received include: Westinghouse Entrepreneur of the Year, Arizona Innovation Network’s Innovator of the Year, Arizona Software Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and Public Relations Society of America’s Edward Bernays Mark of Excellence Award.
Lon is the founder of nine companies, including Paper Models, Inc., which uses downloadable three-dimensional models in business advertising, promotions, and education. He has authored five books on: how to train managers to think creatively, how to launch a successful on-line business, and how new home owners can reduce building costs. His latest book The Social Media Bible Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success (see Business men outline social media basics…) addresses social media tools such as Facebook and YouTube.
To listen to the interview, scroll down until you see “Podcast” on the right hand side, then select “HMPR Lon Safko” click on the play button below or download the MP3 file to your iPod or MP3 player to listen on the go, in your car or at home. To download it, click on the arrow of the recording you wish to copy and save it to disk. The podcast will remain listed in the September 2009 section of the podcast archive.
Click here to buy The Social Media Bible
Posted by Elena del Valle on July 17, 2009
The Social Media Bible book cover
The Social Media Bible Tactics, Tools and Strategies for Business Success (Wiley, $29.94), a 821-page tome from Lon Safko and David K. Brake published earlier this year, outlines basic social media issues in 43 chapters. The soft cover book is divided into three parts: Background Basics and Tactics (chapters 1-23), Tools (chapters 24-38) and Strategy (chapters 38-43). The authors believe that readers who successfully implement the strategies they outline in the book may increase revenues, improve profitability and remain relevant in their industry.
The two authors relied on 48 experts and authors from companies such as Wiley & Sons, Inc., Publishing, Flicker, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Yelp, LinkedIn, and MySpace, among others, to enhance their contribution to the book and its partner website. The book project required almost two years of planning and about six months to write.
“The most challenging aspect of writing a 43 chapter, 844 page book on social media was the wrapping my brain around the extensive landscape of social media. I took months to gather information about the hundreds of companies and tools then creating the 15 basic categories of social media applications,” said Safko by email when asked what were the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the project. “Then the real work began; researching each of these technologies and compiling all of their histories, features, benefits, and interviewing nearly 50 of the world leaders on social media; Biz Stone, Twitter, Matt Mullenweg, WordPress, SVP YouTube, SVP, Flickr, VP MySpace, and even Peter Wiley, chairman of the Board for John Wiley & Sons, and Vint Cerf, the inventor of the Internet.
The most rewarding aspect of creating this work is the testimonials and stories I hear on a daily basis about how this book is answering so many peoples questions about social media and where they do they begin. Business people are both excited and stressed about social media. They all know social media is changing the way we all do business, but they don’t know how they should be applying it. The hear that this book is helping so many people is the most valuable reward I could have hoped for.”
The first section is designed to serve as an introduction on social media and its varied applications; they delve deeper in the second part where they address 100 social media tools and applications in 15 categories; in the last section, they share exercises for readers to determine their individual needs to facilitate their efforts at crafting and developing social media strategies for their business or company.
Safko, the founder of eight companies including Paper Models, Inc and LonSafko.com, dedicates his time to public speaking and developing innovative ideas. He has 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, training and e-commerce. Brake is the chief executive officer of Content Connections, a social media strategies company.
Click here to buy The Social Media Bible
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