Ashley Russell | @AshleyRussell13 Whether you are in healthcare or retail, your online presence is pertinent to your brand's image. Not only do 73 percent of Americans have a social media profile, but that number continues to grow. In order to stay on top of changing trends and successfully utilize social media to promote your business, stay ahead of the pack with the best social media marketing books. These books mix general posting and platform knowledge with in-depth case studies and statistics to help take your business's social media to the next level.

Social media platforms changed the way consumers communicate today and in order to survive in marketing, your business must be on social. Author Eve Mayer provides a proven methodology known as The Social Media Equation™ to get your company on the right track. To illustrate how successful this equation is and display incredible ROI, Mayer also highlights fourteen case studies from companies both large and small.

Trendology: Building an Advantage through Data-Driven Real-Time Marketing

Since inception a decade ago, social media has continued to evolve and adapt as users demand more engagement and quicker responses. Chris Kerns dives into the work of real-time social media to teach brands how to capitalize on known events and unknown events that will keep your business relevant and timely, encouraging consumers to track your brand. With Trendology, your business will be prepared to jump into the conversation for real-time events.

The Art of Social Media: Power Tips for Power Users

Guy Kawasaki and Peg Fitzpatrick team up to bring your business the top practical tips and tricks to get the greatest ROI for your time and money. Guy and Peg take your brand from the creation of your accounts all the way through how to continue to attract more followers while maintaining those you already have. This book will start your brand on the right path or provide your brand with new insights on how to grow your accounts with, “great stuff, no fluff.”

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

According to Michael Hyatt, success comes from two main assets: "a compelling product and a meaningful platform."One of the top 800 bloggers in the world, Hyatt utilizes his experience and in-depth insight into the strategy behind the best public speakers and creatives to craft a guide to capture the attention of consumers above other brands.

Contagious: Why Things Catch On

We have all experienced videos that have gone viral even if we are not quite sure why they were so popular. To uncover this phenomenon and determine how to create viral videos and content, Jonah Berger explores what identifiable similarities each of these instances have. Berger pinpoints six main principles that work to make up a viral sensation: social currency, emotion, triggers, public, practical value, and stories.

Top 5 Social Media Marketing Books