by Paul Simister
on December 11, 2015
The full title of this book by Dan Kennedy is
“The Ultimate Sales Letter: Boost your sales with powerful sales letters, based on Madison Avenue techniques“.
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a Five Stars rating. This means I think it is Excellent.
Here is my book review.
My copy shows plenty of signs of use and that’s probably the strongest recommendation I can give.
When I look at my copy of this book, it shows all the signs of use – the spine cracked, various sections underlined in different colours, others asterisked and there are comments in the margin.
This is a book I go back to when I am preparing to write a sales letter because it is a) very good and b) very well organised. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 11, 2015
The full title of this classic strategy book by Michael E. Porter is
“Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors“.
In my review posted at Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book a rating of Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent.
Here is my book review.
A classic strategy book that goes well beyond the five forces model
This is a classic business strategy text and is essential reading for anybody who has a serious interest in business strategy.
The book is written in three sections:
1 – General Analytical Techniques
2 – Generic Industry Environments
3 – Strategic Decisions
[continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 9, 2015
The full title of this book by Michael Port is
“Book Yourself Solid:the Fastest, Easiest, and Most Reliable System for Getting More Clients Than You Can Handle Even If You Hate Marketing and Selling“.
In my review at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a rating of Five Stars. This means I think the book is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.
A book about marketing professional services that’s so good, I wish I’d written it myself.
Michael Port specialises in helping service professionals (accountants, business coaches and consultants, chiropractors, estate agents etc) to market themselves more effectively so that they are booked solid. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 8, 2015
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…]
by Paul Simister
on December 4, 2015
The full title of this book by Mark Blayney is
“Turning a Business Around: How to Spot the Warning Signs and Ensure a Business Stays Healthy“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk , I gave this book Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and it is Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
An easy to read guide for owners/managers of businesses in trouble
This is a very good book if you ever find yourself in the scary and stressful situation of owning or managing a business in financial distress or you fear that the business is heading that way.
In the preface Mark Blayney sets two main purposes for the book:
- To act as a fire extinguisher for a business already in a crisis.
- To act as a smoke detector to help identify the early warning signs while there is time to correct the problems. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on December 4, 2015
The full title of this important book by Michael Porter is
“Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book a rating of Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and is Very Highly Recommended to anyone with a deep interest in business strategy and how competitive advantage is created.
Here is my book review.
Very challenging but very rewarding if you’re interested in competitive advantage
I first read this book in 1990 when I realised strategy was the subject that combined (and reconciled) my interest in finance and marketing. I’d been very impressed with his book, “Competitive Strategy” and wanted to understand more about how you create competitive advantage through cost leadership, differentiation and focus. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 29, 2015
The full title of this mind-blowing book by Martin Reeves, Knut Haanaes and Janmejaya Sinha is
“Your Strategy Needs a Strategy: How to Choose and Execute the Right Approach“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and it is Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
A very helpful guide to making sense of the different ideas for how to “do strategy”
Kim Warren’s excellent book “The Trouble With Strategy” is a harsh criticism of how badly strategy has performed as an academic topic and as a professional service.
Too often new ideas have been introduced on the basis that older, more established ideas are wrong. Proper academic and real world subjects (like physics and engineering) build on what is accepted and only knock down and replace existing theory when there is strong evidence that old thoughts were wrong (e.g. the world is round). [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 19, 2015
When I reviewed this book, on Amazon.co.uk,
“How to Create a Million Dollar Unique Selling Proposition” by Bill Bodri,
I gave it a Five Star rating.
This means that I think it is Excellent and is Very Highly Recommended.
Here is my book review.
A terrific resource to help you to define your business in a short statement
When I read this book it was called How To Write A Million Dollar Unique Selling Proposition but, given the very minor change in title, I’m sure it’s the same book.
It is the most comprehensive look at the topic of Unique Selling Propositions that I’ve seen and the author deserves a lot of credit to compile such an outstanding review. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 8, 2015
The full title of this ground-breaking book on strategy by Richard D’Aveni with Robert Gunther is
“Hypercompetition: Managing the Dynamics of Strategic Maneuvering“.
In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book a rating of Five Stars. This means it is Excellent and Very Highly Recommended to the appropriate people.
Here is my book review.
A very important book that challenges the orthodoxy of strategic planning
This is a book I’ve wanted to read for many years and finally, in 2011 I did. Although it dates back to 1994 I’m very impressed about its ideas on strategy dynamics.
The view of business strategy presented in book is both scary and exciting.
The essence of strategy is building competitive advantage but in a world of hypercompetition, no competitive advantage is sustainable. [continue reading…]
by Paul Simister
on June 3, 2015
The full title of this book by Thomas Nagle and Reed Holden is
“The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Profitable Decision Making“.
This book has been revised a number of times and my review refers specifically to the Third Edition. I have recently bought the Sixth Edition.
In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I rated this book at the Five Stars level. It is Excellent (perhaps Brilliant is a better word) and is Very Highly Recommended to anyone who has to make pricing decisions in a reasonable sized business.
Here is my book review.
A superb review of pricing theory
Pricing is where your strategy is either tested and proven or fails. It is very much where the rubber meets the road.
The authors, Thomas Nagle and Reed Holden expertly walk a fine line that makes “The Strategy and Tactics of Pricing” work both as an academic textbook for MBA level students on a pricing module and as a guide for the serious practitioner of pricing who makes real decisions in a business. [continue reading…]
