Today I started work on SocialCorp, a new book on how smart companies are adopting social media. I believe that somewhere in between total brand surrender (the idea that the consumer now owns your brand and you are powerless to control it) and corporate conservatism lies an amazing, and largely untapped opportunity to engage openly and authentically with influencers, without compromising the goals and obligations of the corporation. SocialCorp will provide the roadmap.
Peachpit imprint New Riders approached me about writing a social media book, and now the contracts are in place and we are off and running. We had a great launch call this morning. We talked about marketing, audiences for the book, promotion, and a great deal about, no surprise, using social media to develop and promote the book. (And with any new book, one of the first things you talk about is the cover.)
The book will include profiles of Corporate Socializers, in-house and independent/agency communicators who have launched innovative and successful social media initiatives in every part of corporate communications, marketing and public relations. I’ll be looking to all of you to help identify these people and their work, and I welcome (need) submissions for inclusion from all sources. (There will be a more formal process for this shortly.)
I’m thinking about starting a blog for the book, to go along with the other three blogs I have, and most likely a wiki for chapter and topic development.
Stay tuned for more. The book is scheduled to be out In November, so I’ve got to get moving NOW! Oops, isn’t NOW GONE? Oh well…
Tags: socialcorp, peachpit, new riders, joel postman, corporate, social media