What they're saying about our free social media ebook

Its just two days since we launched this social media ebook project upon an unsuspecting world and already we've got some good recommendations as well as lots of constructive feedback for a much, improved second version.
First the comments:

From twopointtouch: "A good, introductory guide to Web 2.0, blogs and social media with useful tips on getting started with blogging and podcasting. It’s only 30 pages so is ideal for students and the very busy".

From hacstart blog: "This book is fantasic for anyone looking at getting up to speed on what Web 2.0 can do for their business (If you think blogs, RSS and Podcasts are not important for your business then you need to read this book)"

From Forward: "Are you a newbie to the online space? Or maybe you’re already well involved in social media, but you’re such an expert you might need some help explaining it to folks new to the medium. Then step right up — this 30-page e-book is for you!"

From Des Walsh: "It's a deceptively easy read, with valuable content, clear explanations of "Web 2.0" words and concepts, and plenty of links to examples and resources".

Now, suggested improvements:

Richard Bailey makes two suggestions:

- On podcasting. It's questionable whether podcasting belongs in a guide to social media. It's broadcasting for the people, so to that extent it belongs in Web 2.0. But a podcast is closer to a finished publication than a rough draft for collaboration purposes, and it isn't evident to me how the technology assists conversation.

- On wikis. Yet the most interesting social media tool of all is missing from their guide. Wikis - which are collaborative by design, and which have very clear applications in knowledge and project management. Had their guide been offered in a wiki, we could have offered amendments and suggestions. So let me record this request for the second edition.

Richard also argues that the whole project could be put on a wiki and developed collaboratively. The only downside of this idea is that Lee and I wanted something to be able to give to prospective clients including many who would not even be really sure what a wiki is.

In an email another friend of mine suggested a section on legal issues surrounding social media and another on where social media fits in viz traditional media and PR.

Des Walsh points out that we didn't put in page numbers. Damn.

And I've had other suggested minor improvements, too. Its amazing what you don't pick up in the editing process!

All good suggestions, keep the feedback coming.

Comments

[Lee Hopkins]

The page number 'thingy' is down to a misfit between Word2007 and Acrobat 7 Pro -- the page numbers are there in Word but Acrobat for some reason doesn't want to see inside the footer and pick them up, yet it does with previous versions of Word... More details as they come to hand.