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Best Business Book Reviews By Paul Simister

Pricing on Purpose by Ronald J Baker

The full title of this book by Ron Baker is

Pricing on Purpose: Creating and Capturing Value“.

in my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good.

Here is my book review.

Has some excellent content for value pricing but it is long-winded.

The author is responsible for changing the thinking of many accounting and legal professionals on how they should be pricing their services. He advocates moving away from fees based on clocked hours and moving towards fees based on the value of the work done to the client. This book moves value-based pricing out of professional services and into the mainstream. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

The full title of this book by Jay Conrad Levinson and Paul Hanley is

The Guerrilla Marketing Revolution: Precision Persuasion of the Unconscious Mind“.

In my review at Amazon.co.uk, I gave it a Four Stars Rating. This means I think it is Good.

An interesting start to a new way of marketing to the unconscious brain

It seems to have become a traditional method of marketing. You present yourself as selling the new improved version and then you knock the old version but don’t really deliver anything new.

This delivers.

Unfortunately Paul Hanley, the main author, died a few months after publishing this book in 2005. Jay Conrad Levinson died in 2013. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

The full title of this book is

Startup Guide to Guerrilla Marketing: A Simple Battle Plan for First-Time Marketers“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good.

Here is my book review.

A good place to start building your knowledge of Guerrilla Marketing

While much of the scope of this book is also covered by the main “Guerrilla Marketing” book and you do have to ask whether you need both, the “Startup Guide To Guerrilla Marketing” has certain advantages and disadvantages. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

Finance for the Perplexed Executive by Ray Proctor

In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I rated this book by Ray Proctor

Finance for the Perplexed Executive

at the Four Stars level. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

A comprehensive look at finance written from a slightly different perspective than normal

If you don’t understand finance, then no matter how much of a wheeler and dealer you are, no matter how strong your trader’s instinct, you are likely to hit a finance problem. While finance and accounting has the image of being dull and boring, a business needs to be designed to generate profit and cash.

Unfortunately, sometimes, what increases profit reduces cash and what increases cash can reduce profit. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

In my review of

Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins

posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rate this classic book at the Four Stars level. This means I consider it to be Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

A direct marketing classic but heavy going in places. More for professionals than business owners.

Can a book first published eighty years ago teach you anything about advertising in the Internet age? It can if the book is “Scientific Advertising” by Claude Hopkins.

Claude Hopkins was a pioneer in advertising and copywriting but his impact today is probably seen most through his influence on the modern direct response marketing experts like Jay Abraham.. I have heard him say that he must have read this book over sixty times and that he gets something new from the book every time that he reads it. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

The full title of this book by Ken Blanchard and Margaret McBride is

The One Minute Apology: A Powerful Way to Make Things Better“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book as worth Four Stars. This means it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

The apology starts by admitting that you’ve made a mistake and will take responsibility for your actions.

This book, like the other One Minute Manager books, is told in the form of a story and it makes some powerful points in an entertaining way.

According to management guru Brian Tracy, “I was wrong” are three of the most important words that a manager can learn to say. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

Raving Fans by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles

The full title of this book by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles is

Raving Fans : A Revolutionary Approach to Customer Service“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

A vital message wrapped in an irritating story but the ideas are good

The critical message of this book is that satisfied customers are not good enough…you need Raving Fans.

This carries on the One Minute Manager traditional of books of educating you through a story. The gist is that the Area Manager (never named) is in a new job and he is told to forget his plans for Total Quality and instead to embrace customer service if he wants to last longer than the eight months average time in the role from his last three predecessors. Charlie arrives, his golf addicted fairy Godmother to teach him. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

Sales On A Beermat by Mike Southan and Chris West

When I reviewed

Sales On A Beermat by Mike Southan and Chris West

on Amazon.co.uk I gave it a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my review.

A British approach to consultative selling aimed at helping the customer to buy

The popular Beermat Entrepreneur book has been followed up by this one with the key message of:

Be Liked. Qualify. Close. [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

Mindcontrolmarketing.Com by Mark Joyner

The full title of this book by Mark Joyner is

Mindcontrolmarketing.Com: How Everyday People Are Using Forbidden Mind Control Psychology and Ruthless Military Tactics to Make Millions Online“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Four Stars level. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

A book with a story, withdrawn because the ideas were “too dangerous”

This book has a legendary reputation for being issued and then withdrawn because the “secrets are too dangerous for people to know”.

Hah! That’s a great marketing story and example of mind control marketing. It has to be fantastic, doesn’t it? [continue reading…]

in Best Business Books

The full title of this book by Dan Kennedy is

The Ultimate Marketing Plan: Target Your Audience! Get Out Your Message! Build Your Brand!“.

In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book a rating of Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and is Very Highly Recommended.

Here is my book review.

Better than the earlier version but still not really about creating a marketing plan

I read an earlier version of this book and gave it a four star rating – The Ultimate Marketing Plan: Find Your Hook. Communicate Your Message. Make Your Mark..

I still have the criticism that the title is wrong. Not only do I object to the use of the word Ultimate, it’s not the best that will ever be, it’s also not a book focused on creating a marketing plan.

This is a much better book than No B.S. Direct Marketing which is what this book should really be called. [continue reading…]

in 4 – Lead Generation, Best Business Books