So, is social media global?

Many people ask: "Is social media global?"

Answer: YES

There is no doubt that we're in the middle of an international revolution in the way people communicate and smart organizations the world over are figuring out what it means for their marketplace.

One of my own little proof points comes in the U.S. mail every few weeks or so, another translated edition of The New Rules of Marketing & PR. As of this writing, the book is being published in 22 languages.

This past weekend I learned a little about how the Japanese translation came about. It should not surprise you that it was because blogging.

When the first edition of the book was published in English in June 2007, Kiyo-san talked about it on his blog. Masaki Ishitani then read Kiyo-san's post and also purchased the English language edition and he then recommended it to Ms. Kanbara who is CEO of social media marketing company News2U (they have a direct to consumer press release distribution service in Japan). These social media mavens then suggested to Nikkei, one of Japan’s most influential business publishers to do a Japanese language translation. The lead translator, Mr. Hirata, is also a blogger.

And Nikkei, my Japanese publisher, lost control by publishing a free PDF sample of The New Rules of Marketing & PR in Japanese.

The Japanese version of The New Rules of Marketing & PR ships next week from Amazon Japan.

Social media is indeed global.

Here are the translations. Some are complete (with links and covers here) and many are in progress.

Bulgarian

Portuguese (Portugal)
As novas regras de Marketing e Relacoes Publicas Note that my Portuguese publisher created a blog to promote the book.

Chinese (simplified)

Lithuanian
naujosios rinkodaros ir viešuju ryšiu taisykles

Russian

Polish

Chinese (Orthodox)

Czech
Nova pravidla marketingu a PR

Japanese
マーケティングとPRの実践ネット戦略

Korean

Portuguese (Brazil)
As novas regras de Marketing e do Networking

Vietnamese
Quy Luat Moi Cua PR Và Tiep Thj

Serbian
Nova pravila marketinga i odnosa s javnošcu

Turkish

Romanian

India

Arabic

German

Latvian
Jaunie marketinga un sabiedrisko attiecibu likumi

Bahasa Indonesian

Comments

[Torsten Herrmann]

Is there a German version to come? Read the English version a while ago, but would love to help you promote it.

[David Meerman Scott]

Hi Torsten - Yes, German is coming but probably not until late 2009.

Thanks! David

[Dan Schawbel]

David, this is awesome. I'm very proud of you and am grateful to have you in my network. I really like how your books prove themselves and end up selling even more because you practice what you preach. Well done!

[Frankie De Soto]

Hello Mr. Scott,

My name is Frankie De Soto and I am a Arts & Technology graduate student at the University of Texas at Dallas where we are actually reading your book as part of class. I am absorbing every chapter of the book. My focus is on social media and your book opened my eyes of what is possible out there in the new era of new media communications. In fact we developed a new degree program based on it, Emerging Media and Communications.

If it is possible I would love for you to check out my site http://solpersona.com/, it is a blog that I created specifically how to target the Hispanic Market and I would love to get readers to contribute. Thanks again and keep up the great work!

[SpiritintheVillage]

This is awesome David... We're just at the cusp of the wave social media and will be interesting to see what will change in our lives over the next few years.

Kevin

[Susan Rice-Lincoln]

Dear David:
This is exciting. Your book is excellent and deserves to be translated into as many languages as possible. But I think the fact that social media has gone international--and in many regions has leapt ahead of the US--begs many questions and promises many opportunities. I think it is time for individuals and corporations alike to perhaps be slightly less US-centric and realize that the internet--and particularly social media--is a global conversation with huge potential for us all.

[David Meerman Scott]

Frankie - that URL does not work. David

[Tobias Singer]

Impressive list there, David!

I noticed the books all have different covers (layout and images). Was that deliberate? Wouldn't it be better to use the same cover everywhere, so the book becomes more recognizable?

I'm happy there will be a German version. I already read the English one, but I'm sure I can get more friends to read it, if there is a German version.

[Daiji Hirata]

Dear Mr. Scott,

My name is Daiji Hirata, the translator of Japanese Edition. I'm very excited to deliver your book to Japanese readers.

Yes, the story is true. And I think social media is global so I do believe your book is worthful for Japanese readers, too.

Another story. I'm excited because you are using TypePad and I was an engineer of TypePad. I was very happy when I read "My blog has changed mime."

Best Regards,
Daiji Hirata

[David Meerman Scott]

Hirata-san, Thanks for working on my book. I really appreciate all your efforts. And yes, Typepad has been good to me.

Tobi - the local publisher in each country chooses the cover and makes all the marketing decisions for the local language editions. I think it is really cool to see the different covers. It is a cultural experience!

David

[Ricky C]

You surely have a lot of experience. Well Done david. I too love marketing and i will purchase some of these book when i get my salary

[Kiyoshi Terada]

Hi David-

I am a long time reader of you blog and it is TRULY exciting to learn that your book will be published in Japan! Since I still see many cultural gaps between the United States and Japan in terms of how social media is explored and I am sure your book will be a big breakthrough in the marketing/communication industry in Japan!