The New Relationship Marketing: How to Build a Large, Loyal, Profitable Network Using the Social Web [Kindle Edition]

Whilst this book has given me some useful tips on using social media for business purposes, it does feel like the author has an ulterior motive of self-aggrandizement for both herself and a few select social media experts lucky enough to be in her circle. Throughout the book she draws on her own personal experience, which whilst at the start is interesting, quickly becomes tiring when she starts to use photos of her and famous people whom she was lucky enough to meet (e.g. here's me and Richard Branson).

The book covers twitter quite well, but skips over facebook, which she claims is due to facebook changing so often, but I suspect is possibly down to her also having written a book about how to use facebook.

There is also a section on how to get celebrities to know you, which I don't think is so relevant for businesses, and a section on how to use social media when you are at conferences/ get invites to be key speakers, which is quite a niche interest that won't benefit many people.

All in all, the tone makes it easy to read, but the author's constant self referencing becomes wearing. I think the book would be more beneficial if you are trying to build up a personal presence, rather than creating a social media strategy for a small business, which I was looking for. If you are looking for a complete social media guide, then this is not it.

I was recently recommended `The New Relationship Marketing' by Mari Smith as a book which might give me some good pointers in my new role (social media communications manager at the TES).

Having been recruited into the role on the basis of my engagement with the education community rather than following any formal training, or similar roles, I was very keen to see what Mari Smith had to say.

And I think it's fair to say that I learnt a lot - both in terms of things which will be useful for my role but also in terms of building my personal social media presence which was something I had completely neglected prior to reading the book.

Mari writes in an easily readable and highly engaging style. She makes the aims of each chapter clear, provides you with homework and always summarises the key learning points at the end of each chapter. It's a set up that works particularly well as it will make the book a great reference point for some time to come - I will be able to check back to the chapter summaries and see how I'm doing.

The book focuses on how you to build relationships online - real deep and meaningful relationships which are enjoyable and useful for all parties - Mari explores how you can build these relationships by utilising a variety of social media channels, though facebook and twitter are the two she majors on most heavily, and she uses real examples from her own career to illustrate how each of the techniques she outlines can harbour results in terms of achieving your business, and sometimes your personal goals.

One of the great things about this book is that despite the huge amount of information conveyed, it feels like light reading because it is written so well. I read it on my Kindle on the commute to and from work over a couple of weeks and I felt like I had Mari sitting right there next to me talking me through her ideas. In fact, I kind of did at some points as a couple of times I tweeted her to ask further questions and she tweeted me right back. That was a first for me and both added to my understanding of the book and also embodied the powerful messages that Mari was illustrating in her book about building relationships everywhere you go and treating everyone equally. She didn't know me from Adam, I'm unlikely to be a huge asset to her social network but her taking the time out to respond to my questions impressed me and combined with her sage advice has ultimately compelled me to recommend her to my network. It's also unlikely I'll forget Mari in a hurry.

This is one of those books that just feels like common sense. At no point does Mari come up with an idea that's totally out of left field and leaves you thinking `wow' or what the?!! Instead she gently leads you through a very common sense approach. You find yourself constantly thinking `what a good idea' or `I really should have thought of that' and occasionally `I'm already doing that - and it's working really well' <cue smug feeling. Whatever stage you're at you're likely to learn something from Mari about building your relationships, making them work for you and ensuring that you're a valuable asset to other people's networks too.

The people who will find this book most useful of all are those people who are either sole traders or networking online to promote their own business or persona. There is also a huge amount to be learnt by anyone working within social media or who has an interest in establishing their online presence. My latest blog ([...]), my new twitter account (@PookyH) and the fact I have, for the first time ever, had professional headshots taken were all direct responses to reading this book. So thank you Mari. Highly recommended.

Great book, highly informative and very user friendly. Working in technology it's easy to get wrapped up in lots of jargon, however Mari is an expert at providing real insight in to the best Social marketing practices without the jargon.

This is the second book I have bought of Mari's and she never fails to deliver highly informative, innovative and expert advice. It's a great read and a great resource to have for any business big or small and comes highly recommended.