Next time you’re sitting on the train, at your desk, in a traffic jam, pondering whether to invest in a colour advert in that niche magazine, just pause for a minute and consider spending your money on something a little different: invest in a marketing book.
But which one?
There are thousands of books on the topic, written by everyone from TV personalities to successful entrepreneurs and university professors, so here are three of the best to give you a head start on getting an inspirational book that will get the ideas flowing:
‘All marketers are liars’ by Seth Godin
The author gives a convincing argument that traditional forms of marketing, such as press advertising and radio, are ineffective.
Seth’s style of writing is very readable – you’ll easily devour this in one sitting, and come away feeling inspired and ready to make some real changes to your marketing strategy.
The main thrust of the book is that people buy from people, and they like to hear authentic believable stories about your products, about you and about your company. So marketing’s not about lies, it’s about great story-telling.
Wondering why your marketing strategies aren’t working? Read this book.
‘Quick Win Marketing’ by Ann Marie Hanlon- Launching new products
- Revitalising your business
- Growing a business
- Marketing essentials
And it’s packed with practical tips you can put into practice from day one. The book assumes no previous knowledge, avoids technical jargon, and is easy to dip in and out of.
Differentiate or Die, by Jack Trout
Another short book you can gallop through in an afternoon, this one suggests that the key to making your business work is to focus on your unique selling proposition – basically highlighting what is special about your business.
The author suggests that trying to stand out by being the cheapest or most expensive isn’t good enough – neither is having the widest product range. He argues that the best way to get that point of difference from your competition is through:
- effective leadership
- having a strong heritage
- or having ‘hotness’ (you’ll have to read the book for the definition!
And if you’re hungry for inspiration to put your plans into action now (before your Amazon order drops through your letterbox) download my ebook ’41 Fresh Marketing Ideas’ by entering your email address at the top of the left sidebar.
Which marketing and business books have you read that inspired you? Share your recommendations in the comments below.