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Social Selling: Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers
Understand how to reach and engage with the modern buyer using this bestseller. Social Selling outlines how to implement a social selling strategy and drive revenue, competitive advantage and market share through social networks.
Social Selling is a practical, step-by-step blueprint on how to create digital communities and build and turn relationships into sales online. Featuring checklists, tips and examples providing practical guidance, it covers important subjects such as how to network purposely and build social media trust in a mistrustful time and how to develop real influence and authority in your subject area.
Now newly revised, the second edition of Social Selling captures the latest changes and developments in the industry. It will be accompanied by a new introductory chapter, two new chapters on defining digital businesses and the future of sales and marketing, alongside new case studies by leading industry experts. Written by a thought-leader and renowned practitioner in social selling, Timothy Hughes , this book is essential reading for sales professionals, digital sales directors and social media executives who want to embrace the power of social selling in their organization.
Social Selling is a practical, step-by-step blueprint on how to create digital communities and build and turn relationships into sales online. Featuring checklists, tips and examples providing practical guidance, it covers important subjects such as how to network purposely and build social media trust in a mistrustful time and how to develop real influence and authority in your subject area.
Now newly revised, the second edition of Social Selling captures the latest changes and developments in the industry. It will be accompanied by a new introductory chapter, two new chapters on defining digital businesses and the future of sales and marketing, alongside new case studies by leading industry experts. Written by a thought-leader and renowned practitioner in social selling, Timothy Hughes , this book is essential reading for sales professionals, digital sales directors and social media executives who want to embrace the power of social selling in their organization.
- GenresBusinessEntrepreneurship
314 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
37 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Tim Hughes
2 books79 followersI've been called a "pioneer and innovator" of social selling. My writings (when I'm not writing books) can be found here https://dlaignite.com/
You can catch me on Twitter @timothy_hughes and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyhu...
You can catch me on Twitter @timothy_hughes and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyhu...
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
August 4, 2016
The traditional behaviour of buyers is changing thanks to the Internet and digital takeup and thus it can be harder for sales people to connect and possibly influence the decision making process. This book believes that it has some answers and can help the reader get a foot in the door at this crucial time through so-called social selling.
Increasingly people are not buying in a vacuum. For some, validation and evaluation of a supplier comes from their friends and acquaintances, perhaps through social media. For others, they are proactively searching online for information about both the potential supplier and the product. User reviews and opinions both good and bad can and do make a difference.
Key to the advice of the authors is building social trust, an influencing voice and a perceived authority. Here size of a company is not everything. It does not necessarily translate to overnight sales, there can be a bit of a long lead time as one’s bona fides are established, yet it can be an essential series of events that potentially may yield even-greater benefits in the long run.
The authors believe that social selling is going to replace the interruption-based selling method that has previously dominated the B2B space. It is probably inevitable, yet many still overlook the power of a prospective buyer’s network; whether it is a close series of friends whose counsel is sought or the mass power of an anonymous online forum. Clearly a company is not going to invest several million dollars in a software package or change suppliers for components on the basis of a Facebook post or review site entry, yet if they read streams of negative commentary, concern and more it might just set alarm bells ringing.
The world is global and mistakes can be amplified. On the flip side, happy customers may tell a hell of a lot more people through the same networks. Competitors may even be helping competitors along the way since the power of the network means that everyone benefits. Salespeople are being shut out of many conversations, possibly being only involved when an in-principle purchase decision has been taken, leaving the salesperson to just figure out the pricing and other small details. Their influence, at this stage, would be restricted; they possibly wouldn’t even learn about the lost business opportunity and if they do it would be too late to stick a bid in.
It was an interesting, thoughtful read that may be a “must-purchase” for many. Even if you don’t have direct sales responsibility, a lot of the book’s contents can still be relevant for other areas of business, explaining the power and breadth of the network. Done right it can be a powerful aide, yet powerful weapons can also create havoc when incorrectly used. Don’t go shooting yourself in the foot. Consult a book like this!
Autamme.com
Increasingly people are not buying in a vacuum. For some, validation and evaluation of a supplier comes from their friends and acquaintances, perhaps through social media. For others, they are proactively searching online for information about both the potential supplier and the product. User reviews and opinions both good and bad can and do make a difference.
Key to the advice of the authors is building social trust, an influencing voice and a perceived authority. Here size of a company is not everything. It does not necessarily translate to overnight sales, there can be a bit of a long lead time as one’s bona fides are established, yet it can be an essential series of events that potentially may yield even-greater benefits in the long run.
The authors believe that social selling is going to replace the interruption-based selling method that has previously dominated the B2B space. It is probably inevitable, yet many still overlook the power of a prospective buyer’s network; whether it is a close series of friends whose counsel is sought or the mass power of an anonymous online forum. Clearly a company is not going to invest several million dollars in a software package or change suppliers for components on the basis of a Facebook post or review site entry, yet if they read streams of negative commentary, concern and more it might just set alarm bells ringing.
The world is global and mistakes can be amplified. On the flip side, happy customers may tell a hell of a lot more people through the same networks. Competitors may even be helping competitors along the way since the power of the network means that everyone benefits. Salespeople are being shut out of many conversations, possibly being only involved when an in-principle purchase decision has been taken, leaving the salesperson to just figure out the pricing and other small details. Their influence, at this stage, would be restricted; they possibly wouldn’t even learn about the lost business opportunity and if they do it would be too late to stick a bid in.
It was an interesting, thoughtful read that may be a “must-purchase” for many. Even if you don’t have direct sales responsibility, a lot of the book’s contents can still be relevant for other areas of business, explaining the power and breadth of the network. Done right it can be a powerful aide, yet powerful weapons can also create havoc when incorrectly used. Don’t go shooting yourself in the foot. Consult a book like this!
Autamme.com
March 25, 2018
Social Selling: Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers by Tim Hughes is a very clear, insightful and concise book on all of the elements needed for a fantastic social selling program.
There are so many 'fluff-peddlers' in this digital space of social selling, business transformation, digital strategy and digital marketing, with seemingly pointless, meandering and meaningless information.
Tim and his book are definitely not one of these. Tim presents the next level of "information" that makes a difference; that of insights and real, practical knowledge that you can take into the field immediately. It strings all of the pieces together in a seamless fashion that provides some clear tactics and strategies that you can implement immediately. Overall, there is a tonne of details that will help any business put together a strong and remarkable social selling program from start to finish.
Social selling is the next wave; this is the book that you'll need to learn how to surf and become a champion surfer (of social selling, of course).
Doyle Buehler
@doylebuehler
There are so many 'fluff-peddlers' in this digital space of social selling, business transformation, digital strategy and digital marketing, with seemingly pointless, meandering and meaningless information.
Tim and his book are definitely not one of these. Tim presents the next level of "information" that makes a difference; that of insights and real, practical knowledge that you can take into the field immediately. It strings all of the pieces together in a seamless fashion that provides some clear tactics and strategies that you can implement immediately. Overall, there is a tonne of details that will help any business put together a strong and remarkable social selling program from start to finish.
Social selling is the next wave; this is the book that you'll need to learn how to surf and become a champion surfer (of social selling, of course).
Doyle Buehler
@doylebuehler
April 5, 2019
After checking some of the reviews online on Amazon and on Goodreads I was sure this is going to be a good book. But to be honest I was very disappointed! I do not know why so many good reviews and endorsements are made for this book? the only reason I can think about is that people have no real comprehension of how important social media is for business and how social media works. Anyone who uses Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn knows that by commenting, sharing, liking other people posts your friends see those posts and who posted them in the first place. So I do not see the need of writing a chapter about liking, commenting and sharing other posts. Or the issue I have with this book is that it talks about an interesting idea of how social media could be used for business but then it does not elaborate or gives examples how to implement certain strategies. And yes maybe someone right now will say – “hey you just said you didn’t like when the author talked about sharing, commenting or liking posts as a way of expanding reach or getting new followers”. Yes, I said that. I do not see the need for those actions having their own chapter as it is something you automatically do when you are on social media. It is like writing a manual on how to walk on a sidewalk…
But let us say you have never been on social media and you are thinking of using it for business and you are not sure if that is the right way how to invest your time and money. Then and only then I would recommend this book to you, as it makes a couple of good points (that in my opinion every person using social media already knows). The title of the book should have “for beginners” somewhere in the middle. Then I wouldn’t be so disappointed with the book. Like I said this could have been such a good book, but the author only starts to talk about interesting aspects of social media and gives a little taste of what you could profit from using the strategies he/they know and have implemented for others but he/they do not really share them in the book. At the end of the book, I got a bitter aftertaste as I have just been reading a self-written recommendation of the authors’ references, capabilities, and knowledge about the subject but not really taking anything away from the book. The best point made by the book is that using social media is important and how you use it is even more important – do not just pump out content but also engage your readers.
A key takeaway is that it is not so much about what you know, but what you give to your community/followers. If you do not have a community and you are not building one you are certainly giving an advantage to your competition who is using social media to creat it. Times change, where and how people get information change, so should your strategies. Provide people with information, connect with them, listen to them, show them you understand them and that you are there for them.
You can find more book reviews at: https://purposefocuscommitment.com/ca...
But let us say you have never been on social media and you are thinking of using it for business and you are not sure if that is the right way how to invest your time and money. Then and only then I would recommend this book to you, as it makes a couple of good points (that in my opinion every person using social media already knows). The title of the book should have “for beginners” somewhere in the middle. Then I wouldn’t be so disappointed with the book. Like I said this could have been such a good book, but the author only starts to talk about interesting aspects of social media and gives a little taste of what you could profit from using the strategies he/they know and have implemented for others but he/they do not really share them in the book. At the end of the book, I got a bitter aftertaste as I have just been reading a self-written recommendation of the authors’ references, capabilities, and knowledge about the subject but not really taking anything away from the book. The best point made by the book is that using social media is important and how you use it is even more important – do not just pump out content but also engage your readers.
A key takeaway is that it is not so much about what you know, but what you give to your community/followers. If you do not have a community and you are not building one you are certainly giving an advantage to your competition who is using social media to creat it. Times change, where and how people get information change, so should your strategies. Provide people with information, connect with them, listen to them, show them you understand them and that you are there for them.
You can find more book reviews at: https://purposefocuscommitment.com/ca...
October 14, 2016
This book is that critically important balance of the why and how for social selling. It also addresses some important objections necessary to sell the idea in an organization. One of the most valuable pieces is how to position to an executive team with concrete examples for the CEO, CFO, CMO and Head of Sales.
Tim and Matt do a great job of digging below the surface on the why and how. They give practical guidance with real world examples to bring it to life. They bust myths about social selling and goes beyond tactical tips and tricks - leaving us with 5 clear steps to getting started. I really appreciate their approach to measurement. The recommendations on measurement are practical and considered based on the maturity of a program.
Most importantly, they cover the critical need for a cultural shift - not just the sales team but the whole organization. They recognize the challenge for traditional corporate hierarchies to shift and adapt the the networked or connected economy. The book delivers a strong message on digital maturity. The digital maturity of an organization is connected to the digital maturity of leadership. Leadership buy-in and engagement are key to driving social selling success.
An important read, I would absolutely recommend for sales professionals, digital leaders and those looking to build and launch a social selling program.
Tim and Matt do a great job of digging below the surface on the why and how. They give practical guidance with real world examples to bring it to life. They bust myths about social selling and goes beyond tactical tips and tricks - leaving us with 5 clear steps to getting started. I really appreciate their approach to measurement. The recommendations on measurement are practical and considered based on the maturity of a program.
Most importantly, they cover the critical need for a cultural shift - not just the sales team but the whole organization. They recognize the challenge for traditional corporate hierarchies to shift and adapt the the networked or connected economy. The book delivers a strong message on digital maturity. The digital maturity of an organization is connected to the digital maturity of leadership. Leadership buy-in and engagement are key to driving social selling success.
An important read, I would absolutely recommend for sales professionals, digital leaders and those looking to build and launch a social selling program.
August 7, 2016
Interested in social selling? Buy this book. Want to sell more effectively? Buy everyone in your team and your manager a copy as well.
It's easy to get caught up in a lot of jargon and nonsense when sales meets marketing meets digital. The authors successfully manage to explain their purpose clearly, setting out the case for social selling and providing a set of very practical tools and techniques for their readers.
As a social 'instruction manual', this book will work for those new to social sales. It sets out the case for moving to social, the risks and the advantages. For sellers already using digital tools, the writers offer excellent tips and more sophisticated techniques.
It's highly recommend for anyone in sales and marketing, but should also be read by those on the C-Suite looking to ensure their revenue streams are protected and stay ahead of the curve.
It's easy to get caught up in a lot of jargon and nonsense when sales meets marketing meets digital. The authors successfully manage to explain their purpose clearly, setting out the case for social selling and providing a set of very practical tools and techniques for their readers.
As a social 'instruction manual', this book will work for those new to social sales. It sets out the case for moving to social, the risks and the advantages. For sellers already using digital tools, the writers offer excellent tips and more sophisticated techniques.
It's highly recommend for anyone in sales and marketing, but should also be read by those on the C-Suite looking to ensure their revenue streams are protected and stay ahead of the curve.
September 27, 2016
Social Selling – Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers is a small book that packs a big punch!
It sets out logically and concisely, with well-researched and powerful arguments as to why building community through social media is now the bedrock of Prospecting. It’s an especially great little Toolkit for anyone who is not a digital native or lacks the belief/knowledge to get started. Equally useful for corporates and entrepreneurs alike, the book also contains practical guidance on using all the main platforms as well as tips on content and the use of hashtags etc. Why get left behind? Once you’ve read the book and understood the concept of “reach” for your business through social media, you won’t look back.
It sets out logically and concisely, with well-researched and powerful arguments as to why building community through social media is now the bedrock of Prospecting. It’s an especially great little Toolkit for anyone who is not a digital native or lacks the belief/knowledge to get started. Equally useful for corporates and entrepreneurs alike, the book also contains practical guidance on using all the main platforms as well as tips on content and the use of hashtags etc. Why get left behind? Once you’ve read the book and understood the concept of “reach” for your business through social media, you won’t look back.
March 9, 2019
The worst book about social media and marketing. Apparently it’s for sales people who have no idea of social and want to learn about social selling- don’t bother reading it. It’s waste of time and all information about social platforms or working with influencers is out of date. Really, I would not recommend this book to anyone.
September 26, 2017
It's not as good as the rating. Some theories maybe are already well known to the public, only the author elaborates it using the popular concept "social media". But it's still a book that can give me inspiration.
January 3, 2018
A must-read book on social selling and relationship building for sales and marketing people. Tim is one of the social selling leaders on the planet. Read it, highlight and take notes. Then read it again!
September 11, 2018
I started the book two days ago. Yesterday I finished it. For me this is a very relevant book. Kind of a bible on how to build a first stage operation of social selling. easy to read and easy to replicate and apply the concepts and tips from this book. Great book
December 14, 2018
I recently participated in a training on social selling and was fascinated. This book helped me understand what really means to be a social seller and gave me many inputs on how to build my own strategy. The reading is easy and involving.
July 22, 2021
A paradigm shift in sales and marketing
This is eye opening for me as a business owner and salesperson. It not only changes the way I will use social media platforms, but also the concepts of sales and marketing and the opportunities for collaboration between the two.
This is eye opening for me as a business owner and salesperson. It not only changes the way I will use social media platforms, but also the concepts of sales and marketing and the opportunities for collaboration between the two.
September 7, 2023
This book is great as a practical no nonsense guide to making the switch from traditional marketing to social selling. I did find myself getting a bit bored with the repeated use of the same examples throughout the book nevertheless it is an easy read for busy people.
January 11, 2017
A fantastic guide and manual for anyone looking to increase their knowledge on sales processes and using social to sell.
June 30, 2024
Tim Hughes' "Social Selling: Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers" is a must-read for anyone looking to leverage the power of social media for professional success. Hughes provides a comprehensive and practical guide to building relationships, establishing credibility, and ultimately driving sales through platforms like LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
What sets this book apart is its focus on authenticity and genuine connection. Hughes emphasizes the importance of providing value to your network, sharing relevant content, and engaging in meaningful conversations. He also offers valuable insights on how to identify and target potential customers, create compelling content, and measure the effectiveness of your social selling efforts.
The book is well-organized and easy to follow, with plenty of real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key points. Hughes' writing style is engaging and informative, making this a delightful read. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or just starting, "Social Selling" is an essential resource that will help you harness the power of social media to achieve your business goals.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving sales world.
What sets this book apart is its focus on authenticity and genuine connection. Hughes emphasizes the importance of providing value to your network, sharing relevant content, and engaging in meaningful conversations. He also offers valuable insights on how to identify and target potential customers, create compelling content, and measure the effectiveness of your social selling efforts.
The book is well-organized and easy to follow, with plenty of real-world examples and case studies to illustrate key points. Hughes' writing style is engaging and informative, making this a delightful read. Whether you're a seasoned sales professional or just starting, "Social Selling" is an essential resource that will help you harness the power of social media to achieve your business goals.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving sales world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
The strategy to succeed in 2025, Social Selling is a must and Hughes makes it Easy to Get Started
There are too many LinkedIn books on experts selling the value of Social Selling. Hughes' book on social selling is the bible on how to transform your company leaders, culture, and entrepreneurs, and how to think broadly by not focusing just on LinkedIn. As a new business owner, I've read books from Disney, his books on LinkedIn are good, but what Hughes does is explain that the strategy is to build a multi-channel approach. For months now, I've not grown my presence. As I start my new multi-channel strategy, I get more connections and discussions for projects. This is why I'm giving it 5-stars. Hughes' book works even for an entrepreneur. I say this because this book is more geared toward getting an entire company online. The book has case studies and how-to get started sections, so don't wait like me. I plan on leaving this by my computer table to help me plan my strategy as I grow my business across X, Instragram, Blue Sky and YouTube.
There are too many LinkedIn books on experts selling the value of Social Selling. Hughes' book on social selling is the bible on how to transform your company leaders, culture, and entrepreneurs, and how to think broadly by not focusing just on LinkedIn. As a new business owner, I've read books from Disney, his books on LinkedIn are good, but what Hughes does is explain that the strategy is to build a multi-channel approach. For months now, I've not grown my presence. As I start my new multi-channel strategy, I get more connections and discussions for projects. This is why I'm giving it 5-stars. Hughes' book works even for an entrepreneur. I say this because this book is more geared toward getting an entire company online. The book has case studies and how-to get started sections, so don't wait like me. I plan on leaving this by my computer table to help me plan my strategy as I grow my business across X, Instragram, Blue Sky and YouTube.
December 27, 2024
The book that sells the idea of social selling.
Slavery is an extremely inefficient way of exploiting human labor from an economic standpoint. Slaves are lazy, do poor work, and constantly think about escaping. Plus, you need overseers to keep them in check.
Capitalism? Much more effective. Bonuses, stock options, company mission, team spirit—all of it ensures that employees dream of doing more work. Overtime? Not a problem. Add a mortgage, an obligatory expensive vacation (with Instagram-worthy photos), a car on credit—and your worker won’t run anywhere.
And the most creative and promising employees will carefully, authentically, and subtly promote their company on social media. For instance, using the 4-1-1 strategy: four entertaining or informational posts, one personal post (featuring a dog, perhaps), and the next one with just a tiny touch of sales.
Slavery is an extremely inefficient way of exploiting human labor from an economic standpoint. Slaves are lazy, do poor work, and constantly think about escaping. Plus, you need overseers to keep them in check.
Capitalism? Much more effective. Bonuses, stock options, company mission, team spirit—all of it ensures that employees dream of doing more work. Overtime? Not a problem. Add a mortgage, an obligatory expensive vacation (with Instagram-worthy photos), a car on credit—and your worker won’t run anywhere.
And the most creative and promising employees will carefully, authentically, and subtly promote their company on social media. For instance, using the 4-1-1 strategy: four entertaining or informational posts, one personal post (featuring a dog, perhaps), and the next one with just a tiny touch of sales.
September 8, 2022
This book so far has provided you with the theory as well as some practice to help you move from the world of analogue to digital selling. The authors explains the difference between traditional sales technique and new digital selling approach and how you could move toward them. Book is suitable for B2B selling. LinkedIn and Twitter are the main social networks that book focus on them and give you some advices about using them in social selling but I think the methods and advices are a little old and is not useful today.
The last chapter is the summary of the whole book and it might be better to read it first.
The last chapter is the summary of the whole book and it might be better to read it first.
November 13, 2022
Nice and up to date guide for social self positioning and brand, good tips on social outreach and selling. Apart from those there are useful ideas on approaching digital transformation. I liked the thoughts of being human in today's digital world. Some good learning points on posting strategy with tools provided. I'd recommend reading for refreshing social networking as well as learning some new tips.
November 9, 2022
A great in-depth book that details Social network selling. Reads more like a school book than a casual read and great for first-timers entering the realm of online selling. It also provided a deep background that I found interesting to read.
August 14, 2016
There are a few different understandings of social selling. I must admit this book is about my least favorite definition. I should backtrack a bit. Social Selling, the book not the process, is Tim Hughes’ first book and co-written with Matt Reynolds. It’s about the different tools and tactics salespeople can now use to initiate the sales process. It’s qualifying leads and the cold call.
I tried very hard to like this book, but I quickly realized I’m not the target audience. So I put myself in the perceived target audiences’ shoes and continued reading. After all, it’s Tim Hughes (whom I follow and respect on Twitter), social media and sales. All powerful and important things.
Someone in the target audience could probably appreciate the book more than I. I can see how it would be a useful start, mostly.
Who is the Target Audience?
Old-school sales representatives. I want to leave my personal dislike of this sales method out of this, but it just won’t happen. There are still the sales reps who come out in teams, throw a heap of fluffy jargon around, and expect you to sign on the dotted line. They still see B2B and B2C as being things. This book is for them.
What’s Social Selling?
In Social Selling, Tim Hughes introduces a few new concepts and practices to these dinosaurs. And I’m thankful he does. In the book, we learn that social media lets us see into the lives of our prospects. Tim recommends using that someone likes kittens as a rapport builder if you saw that on their Twitter feed. Perhaps they went to the same college as you. You can see that on their LinkedIn page and mention the connection in your cold call.
You learn what each social media network is, and how to use them, both for branding and relationship building. Also about influencers: what they are and how to work with them. The influencers section gave me a little concern. My perceived target audience is used to things being black and white. Do X get Y result. I’m not sure they’ll understand you can’t throw money at an influencer and get sales. It’s more subtle and the influencer may refuse. There’s more than one recommendation to use Klout to screen influencers and prospects. Less said on that the better.
Social Selling also gets a little confusing with its focus. It jumps from company level selling to individual sales rep activity, and then back again. It also uses repetition to confirm the different uses of social media platforms, but it felt repetitious. Probably good for the target audience, though.
Who Should Read Social Selling?
If you’re a sales rep who has been using the same processes for the last 30 years, read this now. Then read Bryan Kramer’s Human to Human, and then anything you can find on personalization and one-to-one selling.
Thanks to Kogan Page for the complimentary copy.
Originally published: http://tapdancingspiders.com/book-rev...
I tried very hard to like this book, but I quickly realized I’m not the target audience. So I put myself in the perceived target audiences’ shoes and continued reading. After all, it’s Tim Hughes (whom I follow and respect on Twitter), social media and sales. All powerful and important things.
Someone in the target audience could probably appreciate the book more than I. I can see how it would be a useful start, mostly.
Who is the Target Audience?
Old-school sales representatives. I want to leave my personal dislike of this sales method out of this, but it just won’t happen. There are still the sales reps who come out in teams, throw a heap of fluffy jargon around, and expect you to sign on the dotted line. They still see B2B and B2C as being things. This book is for them.
What’s Social Selling?
In Social Selling, Tim Hughes introduces a few new concepts and practices to these dinosaurs. And I’m thankful he does. In the book, we learn that social media lets us see into the lives of our prospects. Tim recommends using that someone likes kittens as a rapport builder if you saw that on their Twitter feed. Perhaps they went to the same college as you. You can see that on their LinkedIn page and mention the connection in your cold call.
You learn what each social media network is, and how to use them, both for branding and relationship building. Also about influencers: what they are and how to work with them. The influencers section gave me a little concern. My perceived target audience is used to things being black and white. Do X get Y result. I’m not sure they’ll understand you can’t throw money at an influencer and get sales. It’s more subtle and the influencer may refuse. There’s more than one recommendation to use Klout to screen influencers and prospects. Less said on that the better.
Social Selling also gets a little confusing with its focus. It jumps from company level selling to individual sales rep activity, and then back again. It also uses repetition to confirm the different uses of social media platforms, but it felt repetitious. Probably good for the target audience, though.
Who Should Read Social Selling?
If you’re a sales rep who has been using the same processes for the last 30 years, read this now. Then read Bryan Kramer’s Human to Human, and then anything you can find on personalization and one-to-one selling.
Thanks to Kogan Page for the complimentary copy.
Originally published: http://tapdancingspiders.com/book-rev...
March 17, 2023
Book Review: Social Selling Techniques to Influence Buyers and Changemakers, second edition, by Timothy Hughes
I read the first edition of Social Selling and view the second edition as a huge advancement.
The volume of updated and fresh new information is impressive.
What I liked the most:
Tim’s book can be used to answer questions you have about specific areas of social selling. I found it easy to use. I’ve been using social media since the early 2000s and feel I’m at least aware of most applications and tools, yet I discovered some apps and services that were new to me.
In addition, I enjoyed the personality that came through in the words I was reading. Many writers struggle to find their writing voices. I met Tim in 2019, and I can’t help but hear him as I read his book. In real life he has a wonderful British accent, and he occasionally uses words and expressions that are not “American,” but they are easily understood, and add elements of sophistication and charm to the reading experience.
Chapter eight offered useful insights about the way readers can use technology to their advantage. I think those of us who use social media in our work have developed ways to target our potential audiences for prospecting as well as expanding our reach. I was aware of Tweepi but was happy to learn about Followalk and several other apps as resources to assist me.
What I liked least:
I found myself skipping past the data visualizations and diagrams. They contained useful information and made the overall text interesting because it enhanced the overall visual experience, but I was more interested in reading about what Tim had to say.
I’m giving Social Selling a five-star rating because it is packed with useful and usable information. It has become a great resource to use in my work and the information comes from a trusted source — Tim Hughes!
I read the first edition of Social Selling and view the second edition as a huge advancement.
The volume of updated and fresh new information is impressive.
What I liked the most:
Tim’s book can be used to answer questions you have about specific areas of social selling. I found it easy to use. I’ve been using social media since the early 2000s and feel I’m at least aware of most applications and tools, yet I discovered some apps and services that were new to me.
In addition, I enjoyed the personality that came through in the words I was reading. Many writers struggle to find their writing voices. I met Tim in 2019, and I can’t help but hear him as I read his book. In real life he has a wonderful British accent, and he occasionally uses words and expressions that are not “American,” but they are easily understood, and add elements of sophistication and charm to the reading experience.
Chapter eight offered useful insights about the way readers can use technology to their advantage. I think those of us who use social media in our work have developed ways to target our potential audiences for prospecting as well as expanding our reach. I was aware of Tweepi but was happy to learn about Followalk and several other apps as resources to assist me.
What I liked least:
I found myself skipping past the data visualizations and diagrams. They contained useful information and made the overall text interesting because it enhanced the overall visual experience, but I was more interested in reading about what Tim had to say.
I’m giving Social Selling a five-star rating because it is packed with useful and usable information. It has become a great resource to use in my work and the information comes from a trusted source — Tim Hughes!
December 29, 2016
Kirja, joka auttoi ymmärtämään, miten sosiaalista mediaa hyödynnetään liiketoimintaan ja miten siitä tehdään myös rahallisesti uskottavaa. Kirja, joka jokaisen yrityksen viestintä/markkinointihenkilön olisi syytä lukea. Toimii myös erinomaisena käsikirjana, vaikka sosiaalisen median kehityksen vuoksi osa asioista vanhenee. Kirja kannattaa ehdottomasti hommata ekirjana, jotta se kulkee matkassa.
October 23, 2017
great figures
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