Social Web Analytics (SWA) is the application of search, indexing, semantic analysis and business intelligence technologies to the task of identifying, tracking, listening to and participating in the distributed conversations about a particular brand, product or issue, with emphasis on quantifying the trend in each conversation's sentiment and influence.
The advent of SWA is a pivotal moment in the development of the marketing communications industry.
It's just over ten weeks since I posted about my intention to write an ebook on social Web analytics, and now it's done. The ebook is hosted at www.socialwebanalytics.com, or you can simply click here to download it.
I do hope the ebook stimulates discussion and debate about this vital and nascent field, and look forward to the ongoing "distributed conversation". Love to know what you think.
Thanks to Larry Weber, David Meerman Scott, Brian Solis and the Social Web Analytics vendors for their support and contributions.
Graham Jones says:
I've just downloaded the book and had a quick scan of it. Even on that scan I've worked out this is ESSENTIAL reading. It should be on everyone's book list. Well done.
3 July 2008 — 9:18 am
Giles Palmer says:
nice work Philip - really thorough job. Do you have any plans to publish social media case studies?
all the best
giles
24 July 2008 — 2:48 pm
Philip Sheldrake says:
That would definitely be something we'd look to add in 2009 update Giles. Not that I've given next year's ebook more than 42 seconds thought just yet!... but I'd imagine we'd go into significantly more detail on the approaches and vendors rather than repeat the sections on the application of SWA. Saying that, if fresh applications emerge, they'd definitely go in too.
So keep us all posted here on MarCom Professional or on the Brandwatch blog, or both, and I'll call for information for The Social Web Analytics eBook 2009 around May next year.
I've also had interest from a two or three market watchers from a collaboration perspective.. which is fantastic. Over 3,500 downloads that I know of so far (not including some mirrors for which I have no stats); so SWA isn't as niche as some people think.
24 July 2008 — 3:00 pm
Giles Palmer says:
that's terrific take up Philip - well done.
8 August 2008 — 10:45 am
Anonymous says:
I have just read the book and it is excellent even though with the pace of development showing a few signs of age. I am attempting to discover whether it is possible to judge sentiment given that when you drill into comments, so many comments are ambiguous, drivel, general gripes and altogther not useful. I'd like to measure social media across an industry to see what is being said and about whom creating a comparitive and continuous understanding of the industry but on using some of the tools realizing how much social media is garbage. Any thoughts?
17 June 2009 — 10:23 pm
Anonymous says:
I found this thought inspiring - question does anyone have any visuals to help me show the SWA process/framework - just helpful for me to communicate the opportunity with my management
25 June 2009 — 11:10 am