From Emoticons to Email...

by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief Social Media Strategist at xynoMedia Technology

I just got my hot little hands on Diane Danielson & Lindsey Pollak's new book, The Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking (Or What Would Jane Austen Do?).  Although I wrote a portion of Chapter 8 in the book, this is my first time getting my mitts on a complete, final, shelf-ready copy.

What I like most about the book is the way Wendy, the book's Jane Austen-style narrator, takes you through her professional - and personal - online trials through entries that resemble a mental blog or journal. It might sound 'out there' but it works for the book.  It keeps, what could admittedly be a dry subject, light, airy and funny as hell. I think we all have a bit of Wendy in us - or at least we all have a 'BD guy' story to tell - sadly many of which include the DWK variety.

Ok, maybe that's not what I like best about the book...there are a lot of things to like...

The book doesn't assume anything. Yeah, we all know about email, but I can tell you from the numerous email communications I receive from allegedly professional people, many of us don't have a CLUE about how to use email even remotely correctly. I continue to receive email with subject lines that read: 'hi', 'hello' and 'another question'. Like, how the HELL am I supposed to tell who these emails are from and what they're about?? Graciously, Diane and Lindsey devote an entire chapter to email etiquette. There is a higher power!

The book dives right into hot topics like social networking (too many of us have still never seen the inside pages of Facebook) and blogging. There are do's and don'ts contributed by experts and everyday, lay businesspeople who are not gear-heads but realize that online technology is definitely the way to go if you're a savvy gal (or guy!).

The Savvy Gal's Guide is certainly not the War & Peace of online networking, but it provides an invaluable primer on getting started - and even many next-level tips - about what you can do to increase your GQ and ONQ (online networking quotient). I just made that last one up.

Bottomline: I've got my copy...got yours?

Double Bottomline: My copy is autographed by Diane herself, is yours? :)

Comments

[Karin]

Yvonne,
Did you notice the lovely posture of the "Savvy Girl" on the cover? We with computer-triggered trapezius pain should take note if we want to be just as savvy!

[Lena West]

You'll enjoy it. It's a quick, pithy read.

-Lena

[Yvonne DiVita]

I didn't have my copy but I ordered it and it's on its way now! Can't wait to read it, Lena.