Social Media Marketing Workbook: How to Use Social Media for Business

Best book about social media marketing out there. Period! A stunning resource. Thorough, detailed, clear, and not in the slightest bit boring. The tone is informative and thorough, whilst not speaking down to the reader. If you buy the paper book, you get access to a web link that gives you another stunner free for download (pdf): The Marketing Almanac, with over 200 pages packed full of links to every useful app, plugin, website, course, magazine, and other resources you need.

As someone with over a decade in marketing and a mobile bartending small business, this book felt like the social media playbook I’ve been missing. It not only sharpened my thinking as a corporate marketer, but also gave me practical, step-by-step guidance I can directly apply to promoting my bartending brand and booking more events.​ This is one of those rare marketing books that became a true working companion for me—I highlighted heavily, dog‑eared pages, and covered it in sticky notes because there were so many ideas I wanted to come back to and implement. Jason McDonald lays out foundational marketing principles in a way that feels grounded in real-world business, then goes several levels deeper with detailed breakdowns of how each platform actually works—something that matters a lot when you’re juggling content for both a 9–5 and a growing small business.​ The tone throughout is knowledgeable yet refreshingly approachable and often funny, so it feels less like a textbook and more like being coached by a smart, slightly irreverent mentor. My confidence and overall digital marketing know‑how improved with every chapter, especially around what my company should be striving for and how to collaborate more effectively with our digital agency.​ From a small-business angle, the frameworks and exercises translate perfectly to a mobile bartending brand: defining a clear niche, choosing the right platforms, creating content that feels like “hosting a party” online, and ultimately using social to “brand build and sell more stuff,” which is exactly how the author describes the core of marketing. Between the in-book exercises and the free online resources you unlock after registering—templates, tools, and additional training—the experience feels like a truly comprehensive, one-on-one coaching program.​ This is not a “read once and shelve it” kind of book; it’s a manual I’ll keep reaching for as I grow both my corporate career and my mobile bartending business. I highly encourage anyone in marketing—especially those balancing a day job and a side business—to buy this book and seriously consider diving into his other content as well.

There is a mountain full of gold in this book. I've only just started to dig it out but I'm very optimistic about the outcome. I just opened the doors on my very small business and feel overwhelmed by the "you have to post here on this day and then post a video over here on this day at this time"... Social media is CRAZY but a necessary step to help a business grow and connect with their customers. This book is helping me step by step to feel less overwhelmed and more in control of what feels like the wild, wild west. It's also a very easy read, infused with humor. Helps keep your attention. The added downloadable worksheets and the fact that I was able to download a PDF version was huge plus as well. I'm over all glad I purchased this book. Will probably purchase updated versions in the future just to stay on top.

Very helpful, practical, and up-to-date. Provided great general principles and specific how-to’s. Would recommend as a textbook, for business, or for people looking to market themselves.

I’m really enjoying this book. I started a personal curriculum with a high focus on social media. This book is easy to read and I love the funny tone it has. I’m currently on chapter 3 and look forward to completing the assignments and applying them towards my business.