Summary Comments on "The Art of Social Media"
Guy Kawasaki made a good job concerning Social Media. He gives the basic knowledge of how it works and how to start own blog. However, I think that in 2019 his book is not comprehensive enough for advanced users.
To my mind, reading student books about Social Media is not a useless activity since authors may suggest some tricks, mechanisms, ways to improve your blog and its content. However, Social Media is very inconsistent, it is very difficult to catch what will be popular the next second. Different platforms use their styles, Guy Kawasaki sais the same. What is popular on Snapchat may not be popular on Facebook, etc. Similarly, each platform changes over time. At least, constant updates to applications and sites require extra attention and time. Scientists do researches on how Social Media works, how it affects our lives, how it works in politics, art, etc. But these works are usually done post-factum, that is, they are not an online analysis, but reflections of what has already passed. That is why, I am sure, the best way to study Media, specifically blogging, is to work in the so-called field. That is, do not read books and articles, but start a blog. To improve it you are better to read other pages, watch a video about how a particular platform works, but be sure to immediately use the knowledge that you gain. Only by experience, we can say that a person knows something about Media.
Anyway, I would rather recommend "The Art of Social Media" to those who are at the very beginning of Social Media experience. For advanced users, I would not advise reading this as a student book, but as a book for leisure time, for reflection about how Media has evolved, what changes have occurred, and what has remained the same.
To my mind, reading student books about Social Media is not a useless activity since authors may suggest some tricks, mechanisms, ways to improve your blog and its content. However, Social Media is very inconsistent, it is very difficult to catch what will be popular the next second. Different platforms use their styles, Guy Kawasaki sais the same. What is popular on Snapchat may not be popular on Facebook, etc. Similarly, each platform changes over time. At least, constant updates to applications and sites require extra attention and time. Scientists do researches on how Social Media works, how it affects our lives, how it works in politics, art, etc. But these works are usually done post-factum, that is, they are not an online analysis, but reflections of what has already passed. That is why, I am sure, the best way to study Media, specifically blogging, is to work in the so-called field. That is, do not read books and articles, but start a blog. To improve it you are better to read other pages, watch a video about how a particular platform works, but be sure to immediately use the knowledge that you gain. Only by experience, we can say that a person knows something about Media.
Anyway, I would rather recommend "The Art of Social Media" to those who are at the very beginning of Social Media experience. For advanced users, I would not advise reading this as a student book, but as a book for leisure time, for reflection about how Media has evolved, what changes have occurred, and what has remained the same.
Hey Anna, I definitely agree with your statement about social media being inconsistent. In the fast-paced world that we live in, things are constantly changing. I think the book captured a lot of thing important aspects of social media. Although the book is outdated, a nice refresher of the basics and a couple new things learned helped make the read enjoyable.
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