I have not had time to write my own posts – ack! So I am providing a list of posts in the social media space that I think are good reads:

Trying to figure out the best social media book to read? It is difficult to find good books on the topic, so many people claim to be experts, and it is such a fast moving space, that some books can become outdated by the time the hit the shelves! Janet Fouts, has come up with a way to aid you. It’s a site called the Social Media Bookshelf. It is a great reference library to check out.

I liked this post from the Diva Marketing Blog about the state of blogs now that Twitter, Facebook, etc are taking a lot of mind share. I am partial to blogs. I love to read them, comment on them, write them and I feel that the blog is here to stay (I hope!)

Elance has a great series on improving your blog. The posts are well written in digestible chunks and offer good tips.

Amber of Altitude Branding has a great post about time management and tasks as it pertains to social media. She is a blogger who mainly focuses on the corporate world, but her theories can often apply to small business as well.

And finally social media guru, and all-around good guy, Chris Brogan has a great post on things small business owners should do online. I love Chris Brogan. If you are not reading him, you should be!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Today is the giveaway for the new Chris Brogan and Julien Smith book Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust.

Thanks to everyone’s comments (and patience). Does not help to have your comment form do a deep dive while you are trying to do a giveaway!

I had 8 commenters here and 2 on my personal blog (there were 2 dupes which I counted in the first 8).

I used Random.org to and they said the winner is Number 8. And that is Lydie Lydie from Travel is More Fun with Kids who apparently is a very lucky person, she has won two other books on my personal blog, I am going to have to cut her off!

Congrats Lydie, I will contact you. If you did not win, you should definitely go out and buy this one! And if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to get Chris Brogan to a book signing event let me know by commenting on my “I want Chris Brogan to come to San Francisco” post

I had the opportunity to see Chris Brogan and Julien Smith share a little bit of the content of their new book Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust at the SOBCon conference I attended in May in Chicago. The presentation was around an hour, but it was enough to convince me that this book was going to be great.

When I returned home I immediately pre-ordered two. I got my copies right before the weekend and last night I dove in!  It is everything that I expected and more!  I am not done, although it won’t take long, the content is so good, but I wanted to tell you to go out and buy this book!

If you are still trying to figure out what social media is all about

, this book will give you insight into how “today’s online influencers are web natives who trade in trust, reputation, and relationships, using social media to accrue the influence that builds up or brings down businesses online.”

If you ever have the opportunity to meet Chris Brogan you will immediately see that he is just as friendly, warm, and inviting in person as he is on his blog or his newsletters.  He is gracious and helpful and there is no question that he is someone you can trust when it comes to his recommendations, his observations and his work. That is because he personifies the characteristics of a friend.

So whether you are getting into social media and want to emulate the actions that have made Chris and Julie successful trust agents, or you want to understand how to work with an online influencer, or just want to read a very good book, Trust Agents is a must read!

Follow Chris Brogan on Twitter

And now, since I did buy 2 copies, I am giving one away!  Just leave a comment about why you want to check out this book and I will select a random winner next Wednesday (8/26/09) to send you my extra copy!

I just finished reading The New Community Rules: Marketing on the Social Web by Tamar Weinberg. It’s just been released so it is hot off the presses, which is exactly what you need when it comes to social media.  It is very difficult to write a book on a medium that is moving like a bullet train!

I often read these books as an audit for my clients and readers, always searching for good books to recommend.  There are no experts and every book (or e-book) will always offer at least one nugget to add to your understanding, capabilities or strategy plans.

This book is well written and comprehensive with a very conversational manner, making the exploration of topics such as blogging/micro-blogging, reputation management, and rich media digestible.  Tamar gives you a good foundation in terms of providing a background on social media before she dives into the key element which often get missed in the rush to get into social media: goal setting.

She then leads you through the appropriate actions to get started. By covering these three topics before even going into the specific platforms, she provides you the tools you will need to succeed in marketing to the social community.

There are wonderful case studies throughout the book that illustrate which interesting and inspiring.

I highly recommend this book. In fact, I have purchased a second copy to give away to one lucky reader!  Just leave me a comment telling me what the last book you read on social media was, or if you have never read a book on social media, why this one appeals to you.  I will use a randomizer to select a winner at the end of this week, Friday, August 14th.  So please make your comment before 11:30 p.m. (PST)

And if you don’t get selected, buy the book anyway!

Disclosure: the links are Amazon affiliate links

A lot of people ask me about good books to read to help them get started with Twitter.  There is a lot of content out there on the web, but you have to hunt and peck to get good material.  As you know, I do have my Twitter Tips & Tricks blog where I post tools and tips a couple of times a week, but to get started, I usually do one-on-one or group coaching.

When I was asked to be a part of this project my first thought was, “No way! I am not a millionairess (really I’m not!)” but the publisher Sarah Sprout, said it was book that provided other women (and men!) a dose of business inspiration.  Putting it that way, I said, “why not!”

In The Millionairess League eBook you’ll discover:
• How Social Networking can transform your Business.
• Secrets, Hints and Tips to Online Success.
• Definitions of Empowerment, Inspiration and Business Fulfillment.

The 30 businesswomen (including me!) profiled cover the vibrant spectrum throughout various stages of business development. This ranges from the start-up phase, fueled by excitement, to booming online empires.

THE MILLIONAIRESS LEAGUE (30 Online Business Adventures) IS FOR ANYONE THAT ENJOYS READING MOTIVATIONAL PROFILES OF SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMEN.

It showcases women in various fields of interest such as publishing, share trading, property, iPhone app development, Law of Attraction, community building plus many more!
Explore the world of possibility and inspiration from empowered online entrepreneurs.

I was very proud to be apart of this project and I hope you will find inspiration!

I am selling it for $15.00.

A small price to pay to be inspired by their passion, creativity, success and flair for online adventures.

Recently I participated in the Problogger’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog project for my personal blog. It was a very enlightening project that I highly recommend for any blog (either business or personal that is at 6 months old. It is not something that you have to complete in 31 days.  Think of it as 31 lessons to refine/enhance/improve your blog.

The cool thing is that Darren Rowse of Problogger has put together the 31 tasks into a neat notebook which also includes bonus material that is not on his website.

I plan on using this workbook as an audit for my blogs every 6 months and I think it is useful enough for you as well!