“Must have” books for your Christmas list. – SCN Encourager 12/9/2013

There are still 16 shopping days left.

Every day this week I’m going to clue you in on one of the books I’m hoping Santa will stuff into my stocking.

I’ve selected these books with my on-going journey toward average in mind.

Each one delivers actionable ideas from an experienced perspective well outside of my own comfort zone.

Not that my comfort zone is all that expansive.

I admire those rare people with comfort zones the size of Alaska.

Mine would easily fit within the boundaries of the North Pole by comparison.

Scott Stratten is on the list of Forbes “Top 100 Social Media Influencers.”

His book “UnMarketing” challenges the conventional thinking of many social media marketing experts today.

Obviously, he’s not “anti” social media.

His place on the Forbes list proves this much.

But his suggestions for how organizations should effectively use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Google+ are… well, definitely contrarian.

He believes that most of us employ tech tool whiz-bang gimmicks at the expense of building sincere back and forth relationships.

It’s an interesting position.

Me?

Don’t I wish. Just once, I’d like to be accused of over-using tech tool whiz-bang gimmicks.

It would indicate that I’m making meaningful progress.

But my journey must be properly fueled, so I’m going to keep dropping hints to my family members about Stratten’s book.

When Santa motivates them to get out there and buy it, I don’t think they’ll come home with the wrong book.

“UnMarketing” is Stratten’s first book.

His new release – published in October – is titled “QR Codes Kill Kittens.”

My girls are big time cat lovers. They’ll retreat from this book cover in the same way vampires back away from sunlight.

So I’m confident they’ll get it right.

I’ve heard Stratten in several podcasts.

He really goes after QR codes in his latest book and ridicules them as yet another way marketers set up a one-way communication channel that further alienates their customers.

Here’s the Amazon link to “UnMarketing.”  If you’re really into social media, click on this and scroll down a bit. Amazon has posted a short feature by Stratten called the “Seven Sins of Social Media Marketing.”

It’s a provocative read … and it doesn’t poke fun of anyone’s furry friends; be they dogs, cats, or reindeer.

So, consider Scott Stratten today.

Four more recommendations are headed your way through Friday.

Do I think I’ll be able to report to you later that I found all five books in my stocking or wrapped up under the tree?

That’s difficult to say.

I don’t know how Santa will decide if I’ve been “naughty or nice” in 2013.

My daughters contend that I’m usually just “predictable or annoying.”

He’s got a tough call to make.

Tom Page, SCN