Marketing Book Reviews

The full title of this book by John C is

The Right Keys: Secret Marketing Strategies That Will Help You Sell Anything

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I have it Three Stars. This means Worthwhile.

Here is my review.

I don’t understand why I didn’t like this more

This is a fairly concise, low price book about marketing to the emotions.

It’s not badly written and it contains sensible, practical advice supported by examples. [continue reading…]

Reality In Advertising by Rosser Reeves

This is considered to be a classic market text as it introduced or at least popularised the concept of unique selling propositions.

Does it stand the test of time?

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Five Stars level. This means I think it is Excellent.

Here is my book review.

A marketing classic and a delight to read

This is the famous book credited with popularising the concept of the Unique Selling Proposition. It was first published in 1961. Can a book that is fifty years old have anything to teach us about advertising and marketing?

You bet it does. It starts with perhaps the most powerful statement I’ve read in a business book.”It cost $1,000,000,000 to write this book. We spent that much of our clients’ money and made many mistakes to isolate these principles.” One billion dollars – in 1961! Who knows how much that would be in today’s money. [continue reading…]

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…]

The full title of this book by Seth Godin is

Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Three Stars.

Here is my review.

A good idea that has dated as our needs change.

You are bombarded with thousands of advertising messages each day. There is only have one way to react to maintain your sanity – to develop a stronger screening mechanism so that the more messages you see and hear, the more you don’t even have to even think about them to ignore.

You literally just don’t see them. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Robert R Updegraff is

“Obvious Adams: The Story of a Successful Businessman“.

In my review posted to Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Fours Stars level. This means I think it is Good.

Here is my book review.

How to achieve success by doing the obvious

This was written in 1916 by and told the story of Oliver B. Adams and his career in advertising.
[continue reading…]

The full title of this book by John Barnes and Richard Richardson is

Marketing Judo: Building Your Business Using Brains Not Budget

In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Three Stars. This means Worthwhile.

Here is my book review.

An interesting concept but I’m not sure the ideas transfer to most small businesses

This is designed as a book for anyone who wants to build a brand but doesn’t have a big budget. It tells the story of how the authors risked everything to create a worldwide brand for Harry Ramsden’s fish and chips.

I like the book name and the imagery that attaches to it where you can use other people’s strength and power to your own advantage. [continue reading…]

In my review of

Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days

by Jay Conrad Levinson and Al Lautenslager posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Three Stars.

Here is my review.

I was disappointed and it suffers from a poor writing style

I am a big believer in the Guerrilla Marketing ideas and I’m a Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach but I have struggled with this book.

Thirty days equals thirty chapters and I only managed to stomach reading the first twelve chapters and skimmed the remainder, dipping in occasionally. [continue reading…]

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…]

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book,

Guerrilla Marketing During Tough Times,

a rating of Four Stars. This means I think it is Good and Well Worth Reading.

Here is my book review.

A book you need when things are tough for your business

It makes sense to consult a man who has been advising small businesses on how to use low and no cost marketing weapons since the mid 1980s when times are tough.

The essence of Guerrilla Marketing is to use time, effort and imagination to replace money in the marketing of a business. I particularly like “imagination” since time and effort both have their downsides. [continue reading…]