27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

I would say the main theme of this book was marketing through social media. The author, Guy Kawasaki, gives many useful tips on how to build your social media platform and reach greater audiences. Kawasaki encourages social media users who just browse and post without much thought to really take a strategic mindset when it comes to using social media sites. Some of the main tips are to treat social media like a business, give your followers the content that they want to see, and reference your other accounts so you can promote your brand across multiple platforms. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book gave a lot of useful tips concerning self-branding and networking, which are concepts that I consider relevant to ENT3003. For example, Kawasaki emphasizes the importance of creating content that people actually want to spend their time consuming, rather than just what you feel like putting out there. I think this contributes to a personal brand because it sets followers up to expect relevant and entertaining content from you. of course, Kawasaki notes that you can post your opinions, but make sure that whatever you post is interesting and unique. It also contributes to the idea of forming a social network because I think that social media is a unique social network. I have connections with people now that I never would have had without social media. This is why I think it is so important to market your social media platforms, so you can reach more people and make more connections. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I think the exercise I would design for this book be something like this:

For this exercise, choose three of Kawasaki's social media marketing tips and use them to adjust your platform. Record, in detail, how you implemented the tips and any results they had. Interview 3 of your followers to see if the tips were successful in getting their attention. Ask them what they like about your platform and if there is anything about it that they would change. Do you agree with their advice, why/why not?

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

I think my biggest surprise was actually considering treating my personal social media accounts professional in order to establish myself and my "brand" across the platforms I use. I have always wanted to make my social media presence cohesive and reflect who I am as a person, but I also want my followers, whether that be friends, family, acquaintances, or strangers, to find what I post interesting. This book made me realize that to do this, I must take social media more seriously and develop my own unique strategy for using it. I was also initially surprised to learn that the author, Guy Kawasaki, was Apple's chief evangelist in 1983. This was so interesting to me because I really respect the cult following that Apple has developed. Apple's followers are devoted completely to the brand. I am one of these people, and I personally would never buy a product that wasn't Apple. I just love their brand and the way their products work, despite the high price tag and other problems that the brand might have. Knowing that the author was part of the team that fostered Apple's loyal following really made me trust his advice.