The Dragonfly Effect: Quick, Effective, and Powerful Ways To Use Social Media to Drive Social Change

Marketing gurus (and married couple) Aaker and Smith turn Aaker's popular class at the Stanford Graduate School of Business into a handbook on using the power and popularity of social media to do good in the world. They employ real-world examples--an e-mail campaign to register bone marrow donors for hard-to-match patients, a Colombian engineer who used Facebook to organize a protest against the Revolutionary Armed Forces, Obama's grassroots campaign, the microlending site Kiva--to illustrate their mantra F+GET: "Focus, Grab Attention, Engage, Take Action." This is the "Dragonfly Effect," named for the insect's ability to move in any direction when its four wings work together. Specific, practical advice teaches readers how to translate anything--a product, service, community concern--into a powerful narrative that invites participation, how to communicate with potential supporters, how to craft a compelling video, and more. A fascinating, comprehensive guide for how to take your cause and compassion viral. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, July 26, 2010)

"The Dragonfly Effect is the single best roadmap to social media I have ever seen. With ideas rooted in research and examples rooted in life, it offers both big strategies and small tips that you can use to invigorate your business, increase your happiness, and maybe even change the world. So do yourself a favor: Take two hours and read this remarkable book."
—Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and Drive

"The Dragonfly Effect is actionable, credible, and absolutely necessary for anyone looking to use social media and Facebook to drive social good."
—Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook

"The Dragonfly Effect  shows anyone how to get involved and take action on issues that matter to them. Its principles lay the foundation for any organization looking to harness the power of social media to champion a cause and create positive change in the world."
—Pierre Omidyar, founder and chairman, eBay; founding partner, Omidyar Network

"So much of the recent focus on social technology has emphasized its power to distract. It is hugely gratifying to see a book which focuses on its power to attract, to powerfully bring together caring people around critical social problems to address them at global scale. The same principles that make a YouTube video go viral can help bring disaster relief to Haiti. It is all just a matter of making it happen. Thanks to The Dragonfly Effect, you can now learn how."
—Geoffrey Moore, Co-Founder and Managing Director, TCG Advisors & author of Crossing the Chasm and Dealing with Darwin

"This book makes envisioning, formulating, and executing a social media strategy an intuitive and—dare I say—fun process!The Dragonfly Effect shows how any individual or organization can turn their passion for reaching out to the world into a concrete set of actions."
—Jessica Jackley, Founder of Kiva and Profounder

"The Dragonfly Effect shows how social technology, openness, and empathy can come together to change the world. Read this book to discover dynamic ways to harness this potential for good."
—Charlene Li, author of Groundswell and Open Leadership & Founder, Altimeter Group

"There's theory and there's applied theory. The Dragonfly Effect brings us all the way from the science into the execution. To me, it's that last mile that most of us miss. With this, you can take your ideas all the way through the last mile."
—Chris Brogan, author, Trust Agents and Social Media 101

"This truly innovative book identifies four powerful forces shaping our lives and shows how they are working together in unanticipated and creative ways. The Dragonfly Effect is fundamentally relevant to all younger leaders, who will spend their lives learning to leverage these forces, and to any leader from the baby boomer generation who wants to stay current with the role of social technology in business and our lives."
—Bill Meehan, Director Emeritus, McKinsey and Co., Inc.

"Too few executives take happiness seriously as a brand attribute, missing opportunities to build into products and services those features that would increase the overall delight and well-being of users and employees alike. Aaker and Smith have created an interesting, thoughtful, and engaging book to provoke new thinking about the power of joy."
—Joel Peterson, Chairman, JetBlue Airways

"The Internet has made it possible for individuals and small groups to have an impact far beyond their size. Read The Dragonfly Effect to learn how to translate your good intentions into actual, real, tangible, world-changing good!"
—Avinash Kaushik, Analytics Evangelist, Google & author, Web Analytics 2.0

"The Dragonfly Effect is an inspiration and joy to read. Drawing on design thinking principles and emotional contagion, this is an important read for anyone contemplating the virality of ideas and creating infectious action. You will love it. It will transform you and your work."
—Pat Christen, President & CEO, HopeLab

"Motivating and inspiring, The Dragonfly Effect makes readers answer the question ‘how can I make an impact in the world?’ with yet another question: 'what am I waiting for?' Whether acting as an individual or a corporation. Aaker and Smith show you how to harness the power of social media as a force for good, in a way that even a CFO will love."
—Lisa Edwards, Head of Global Business Development, Visa Inc.

"This book takes the fast-evolving world of social media and offers a clear, inspiring guide to create social change."
—Bobbi Silten, Chief Foundation Officer, Gap Inc.

"An excellent read. The Dragonfly Effect offers a guidepost for every marketer struggling to stay on top of fast evolving social media trends and use peer-to-peer marketing to mobilize a mass audience. Even more powerfully, the book demonstrates that by using our networks for good, we will be happier and more successful individuals—in life and at work."
—Joanna Drake Earl, COO, Current Media

"If you are ready to change the world The Dragonfly Effect has the social networking secrets you've been looking for."
—Gregory Baldwin, President, VolunteerMatch