Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The world is online and it's not going to stop being online anytime soon. "Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media" is a guide for blending marketing and social media in the modern day. Public relations, sponsorship still reign true as aspects from the past, but more than ever social media, direct selling, and an engrossing website can prove to be major contributions to a products success. Staying on top of the game and recognizing trends are vital, and PR Smith and Ze Zook come together to provide a complete and comprehensive guide for a dual approach to marketing. "Marketing Communications" is a highly useful and highly recommended resource.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media

Click here for more information about Marketing Communications: Integrating Offline and Online with Social Media

Read More...

The Principles of Successful Freelancing Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Being a freelancer is the new black. It's just a crazy fun loving world where nothing can go wrong. Well as a crusty old freelancer I can tell you that's far from the truth.
Well Miles Burke in his new book The Principles of Successful Freelancing discusses just that. Miles is no stranger to making the leap into world of freelancing having done it three times.
When I first picked up this book, I'll be honest, I was a little skeptical. But I found this is a good book. It's well written with an entertaining layback style all it's own. I can just imagine Miles sitting back in a cafe or coffee shop chatting about freelancing. You could easily read this book on 4-5 hour plane flight.
This book is squarely aimed at the person who is considering getting into freelancing or has just started. It covers off all aspects of the freelancers life cycle, such as:
* From starting out and a hard look at oneself, are you cut out to be a freelancer.
* Preparing for the transition from regular work to freelancing, and all the things you really need to think about (but don't).
* Finances, making sure you really do stay in business and keep a positive cash flow.
* Productivity, time tracking, getting into that productivity zone and not being distracted.
* Selling, winning work and understanding how to sell. Something all freelances fear at some stage.
* Customer service, or keeping the client, project management made simple, and dealing with difficult clients.
* Lifestyle, work habits, life balance are discussed, this is huge area that I know freelancers cut corners on.
* Expansion, life beyond freelancing, the final stepping stone on the way for a freelancer, be that back into employment, or expansion using outsourcing or your own staff.
You know what's really good and annoying too (well for me) with this book; it is just full of all those tips and tricks that I just wish some freelancing mentor had told me all those years ago in the previous century when I started freelancing.
I enjoyed this book to the point that I found myself nodding and smiling as Miles waxed on with another aspect of freelancing, pointing out the pitfalls along the way. And sometimes I was wincing as I realised that after 14 years in the game I've still got a few things even I can improve on.
The one thing I didn't like, and this was just me, is it was it had a few too many lists in places. It made me think I was checking off my freelancing skills all the time. But really that was a very minor point.
Overall, highly recommended, if you are a new freelancer, or old one, or maybe just considering freelancing, get this book, read it. Act on it, it's a great reference source, then later on, reread it.
But you know with this book, it's now a little bit easier.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The Principles of Successful Freelancing


Thinking about becoming your own boss and embarking on the wonderful and rewarding journey of freelancing? The Principles of Successful Freelancing is for you. In this easy-to follow guide you'll learn what's important in transforming your skills into a booming freelance business. This book leads you through the entire process, from getting started, through to winning and keeping loyal clients. Running a successful freelance business is easy, and with the information in this book, you'll confidently turn your freelancing dream into a profitable reality.

Learn how to make a smooth transition into freelancing
Understand how to effectively manage your money
Ensure you spend your time on the right activities
Discover why a work/life balance is important
Learn how your network can support you and your business
Overcome your fear of selling
And much more ...
The 12 Principles Of Successful Freelancing
Get Organized Keep your workspace tidy and plan ahead (short- and long-term).
Control Stress Remain calm and work through issues to avoid early burnout..
Research Spend quality time researching your proposed business-it's more than a five minute web surf.
Be PassionateLove your work! You should enjoy what you do for a living.
Budget Save for a rainy day rather than spend every cent as it comes in.
Value your Health Bad health stops you from working. Take time to exercise and maintain a nutritious diet.
Embrace Selling Enjoy the sales challenge-it's easier than you think!
Satisfy Customers Don't do average work-exceed their expectations and make them need you.
Grow Your Network Value family and friends' support, and meet new people all the time.
Maintain Cashflow It's what is in the bank that counts, not what you are billing-understand the difference.
Continually Learn Keep acquiring new skills and knowledge, every week. Let it slip and you could be left behind.
Achieve a Work/Life Balance Your life should be more than work-maintain a good balance for health and success.

Click here for more information about The Principles of Successful Freelancing

Read More...

Red-Hot Selling: Power Techniques That Win Even the Toughest Sale Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Do you consider yourself a sales professional? If so, when was the last time you read a book about sales? If it's been a while you'd do well to pick up this one by Paul Goldner, who states that selling is a science, not an art, and not a profession for those who want to get by on their "gift of gab."

Click Here to see more reviews about: Red-Hot Selling: Power Techniques That Win Even the Toughest Sale

No matter what, where, and to whom you sell, everything you do fits into one of three phases of the sales process: Planning, Execution, and, Closing. True red-hot sellers know exactly what each phase encompasses, and the rest of us can learn in the time it takes to read this ultra-practical book. "Red-Hot Selling" presents a simple, start-to-finish sales process for new sales professionals and veterans alike. "Red-Hot Selling" also includes the author's powerful three-tiered planning process, proprietary tools including the Meeting Management Worksheet, and the best closing techniques in the business - plus can't-miss secrets for distinguishing your product or service in a competitive market. Selling may be tough, but it's not complicated. With this one-of-a-kind guide, you can streamline your job, kick-start your career, and send your earnings sky-high!

Click here for more information about Red-Hot Selling: Power Techniques That Win Even the Toughest Sale

Read More...

Mastering Niche Marketing: A Definitive Guide to Profiting From Ideas in a Competitive Market Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It's the BIBLE for Online Marketers!
This is available in both eBook and Hard Copy versions - I read the (6-Phase / 12-Chapter / 245-page) eBook.
ECONOMIC CRISIS - with our (global) economy in grave condition as I write this - and with JOB losses soaring - more and more people are searching for alternative ways to generate more reliable income sources. Add to this, the power of the INTERNET, and a potential solution emerges.
HOME BUSINESS - As a Financial Advisor, Business Consultant and Home Biz Coach - I see employees, professionals and small business owners everywhere liking the idea of running an Online business from home - IF they can get the 'right' education plus the necessary marketing skills.
And thus, the world of Internet Marketing tied to running a profitable Online Home Biz -- enter this new book - - -
MASTERING NICHE MARKETING - this gives enormous value to the reader - both beginner and experienced. It's release is also perfect timing, given the economy. This book truly under-promises and over-delivers. It takes you step-by-step through the whole process of developing a marketing niche. It's the most detailed, comprehensive and exceptional guide to creating and marketing a product Online that I've ever seen or read - bar none. The author removes all the guesswork.
In my opinion, this book gives the reader (the potential Online business entrepreneur) a wonderful "foundation" for pursuing a successful Online business from home. There are far too many "failures" in this industry - because of not being able to 'find' the right niche - or because of the lack of (or poor) training -- this book can change all that as I see it.
ERIC VAN DER HOPE - its author, has high credentials behind him. Perhaps more importantly, he gives a list of his mentors at the beginning, including Ted Nichols, Anthony Robbins, Joe Sugarman, Mark Joyner, (the late) Corey Rudi, Shawn Casey, Frank Kern, Mike Litman + many, many other top marketers - a formidable mastermind group.
Some observations...
NICHE MARKET - Eric defines this as "a small but potentially profitable market segment for which it is possible to design and provide a form of custom-made product or specialized service." It involves 'targeting a group' using information about their specific preferences, which might be a group interested in - exotic vacations - real estate - tennis - gardening, etc.
NO BULL - he 'tells it like it is' in terms of becoming successful with running any Online business -- that there IS a huge market out there where good profits CAN be made -- but, that you'll need MONEY to do it -- that you'll need to take ACTION -- that there's intense COMPETITION -- that you'll need to intelligently 'identify' your market, etc. This approach impressed me.
SPECIFICS - he goes into extraordinary detail with - "Finding the Niche" -- Creating the Product" -- "Developing the Offer" -- "9 Effective Business Models" -- "Top 10 Niche Sourcing Methods" -- Case Studies -- Explicit Pictures, Screenshots, Graphs, Diagrams, Charts, etc. Amazing.
VIRTUAL STOREFRONT - you'll learn of the requirements for your Online biz (choosing Domain names, FTP accounts, Autoresponders, Merchant accounts, Hosting, Video, Audio, etc + Upselling [back-end products], Advertising, Keywords, Social Media Marketing, Testing, Traffic generation - on and on. These are only tip of the iceberg. :-)
BLOGGING - this is the 'only' part (Section 2.9) where I have a tiny disagreement with the author :-) Since developing a BLOG (for profit) can be of tremendous value in these times (as a business by itself) - and whereas he suggests using FREE Blogging platforms (like WordPress.com and/or Blogger.com) - I (personally) strongly recommend using a platform where "you" have the full control. The Free versions give you only limited scope, and they can even be "shut down" on you. The ones where 'you' provide the hosting are far superior in my opinion. I'm referring to WordPress.ORG (not the ".com" Free version). WordPress.ORG - although a little more complex - when it's tied to a good hosting service (like Hostgator.com, or those listed on Eric's page 91) - is considered the top Blog platform by most experts I believe.
ACTION STEPS - what I really liked was the way Eric ended each Phase with a set of specific Action Steps - designed to get you "in production" ASAP.
RESOURCES - he provides SO many links to great tools / systems / websites. This only expands an already rich book on the HOW TO of Internet Marketing. It removes the confusion, the overwhelm and the technical obstacles that hinder so many people that are eager to move forward in this challenging but worthwhile and potentially lucrative industry.
All in all, a magnificant contribution to the world of Internet Marketing.
My thanks to the author for this timely masterpiece - it's a classic.
Without question, I give this a full "5-STAR" rating.
Sincerely,
Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada


Click Here to see more reviews about: Mastering Niche Marketing: A Definitive Guide to Profiting From Ideas in a Competitive Market

The business world is a competitive market and big businesses make extremely large amounts of money. So how can you as an entrepreneur and small business person compete with this . . . ? . . . with Niche Marketing of course! As an entrepreneur and small business owner, you have the ability to find a perfect niche market that the large businesses have overlooked, don't have time for or wouldn't be profitable enough for them. And whether it's a service or product, you can capitalize on areas where people are eager to buy and willing to spend whatever money is necessary to get what they want. "Mastering Niche Marketing" is the most complete single-volume guide to developing a unique business. It includes step-by-step, easy to follow strategies and techniques that will assist in identifying an idea in demand, creating a product, and how to promote it - making money in the process! Here is a small sample of what you ll discover within the pages of this book: Discover 2 mistakes that inexperienced individuals fail to do when attempting to choose a potentially profitable niche market. Warning: You're doomed to fail if you do not fully grasp the explanation. Having difficulties coming up with a niche idea? Drastically improve your brainstorming sessions with these 9 thought-provoking questions! Determining the profitability of your niche market is crucial to the success of your business, so before you accept any financial risk with your business - learn 15 of the most common fees that new business owners tend to forget about. Difficulties finding a profitable market? Here are 9 tested and effective business models that'll prevent you from having to re-invent the wheel so you can start generating a passive income stream! Discover 11 proven money-making methods that ll result in your customers gladly 'handing over' their money using the 'oldest trick' in the book. Integrate it properly within your sales process and this will be how you make the bulk of your profits. 9 highly proven techniques you can use to persuade your visitors to click through to your site, thus improving your traffic and increasing your potential for sales. Understand this aspect about your customers and it ll result in their loyalty to you for a lifetime as they will continually purchase from you again and again.

Click here for more information about Mastering Niche Marketing: A Definitive Guide to Profiting From Ideas in a Competitive Market

Read More...

Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book lives up to its title. It's a nice introduction to the topic of part-time (weekend) and home-based entrepreneurship, and should be a very helpful guide to anyone who is just starting out and simply needs an easy read with lots of ideas and some business basics. If that's what you're looking for, this book delivers.
As a serial entrepreneur who has started several ventures, both small and large, I really admire individuals who don't have a lot of time on their hands yet are motivated to take the first steps towards some extra cash -- and even the possibility of financial independence. It takes courage, especially for those with a full-time job and family obligations.
This book introduces the concept of part-time entrepreneurship, provides lots of part-time and home-based business ideas, and also some advice about marketing, etc. In some ways, the most valuable part of this book are the ideas that it presents (a page or two dedicated to each concept). Most of the ideas are within the reach of an entrepreneur who doesn't have a lot of start-up capital, and all are achieveable to varying degrees depending on how much time one can dedicate to them. Also, I really like the fact that this book takes the family into consideration and even discusses how to get the kids involved. For a mother or father trying to make a go of an entrepreneurial business after work or on the weekends, involving the kids can make all the difference in the world. It's nice to see this aspect of home-based entrepreneurship addressed.
The bottom line is that this book is for people who are just starting out and interested in a part-time, home-based business. It provides lots of ideas. If you use one of their ideas, great. And if not, it's still likely that the ideas presented in this books could inspire you and lead you to your own business concept. After you launch your business there are many other resources that will be helpful to you, but the key is to get going, and on that front this book is a good place to start.
Steven K. Gold
Author, Entrepreneur's Notebook: Practical Advice for Starting a New Business Venture

Click Here to see more reviews about: Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash


Live the Lifestyle of Your Dreams!

Are you hoping to build a better life for you and your family?

Can you see yourself here?

I could use some extra money to take a cool vacation or buy my kids something they really want.
I dream of taking a chance on one of my own ideas and turning it into reality.
I'm bored and have extra time on my hands.
I'm looking for a way my whole family can work together.

Imagine earning thousands more each year--all in your free time.

Thousands of people have found a way to live the lifestyle of their dreams--and now you can, too. Over a hundred weekend entrepreneurs share their secrets. It's all the information you need to forge your own path to the life you deserve.

Click here for more information about Weekend Entrepreneur: 101 Great Ways to Earn Extra Cash

Read More...

The Definitive Twitter Guide: Making Tweets Work for Your Business: 30 Twitter Success Stories From Real Businesses and Non-Profits Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I started reading this book and almost immediately started saying things like, "I didn't know that", or "Well, that makes sense, why didn't I think of that?", or even a few versions of "Huh?". The book isn't written over my head, nor is it under my ability. Let me give you a better idea. I'm no genius. I frequently misspell frequently misspelled words. I'm no slouch either. I'm proud of the fact that I essentially taught myself much of what I needed to know in order to pass the tests that helped get me in a classroom. I guess I'm average.

But in being average, I feel that I'm like a lot of people out there. I use Twitter, but probably not to the full potential. I have a blog, but I'm sure I could do more with it. Just like a lot of other people out there. Given that, I feel uniquely qualified to tear into this book and give it a good once-over.
I think this book is essential for those who want to use Twitter for more than telling us what you are making for dinner. When I talk to young people, many want to start some sort of business. That's great, and for those people I suggest finding ways to use Twitter to their best advantage. The Definitive Twitter Guide should be your first stop.
This book is extremely well written, to the point that it could hold my attention long enough for me to read it, start following it, and get up here and write a bunch of words about it. If you are like me, young enough to use Twitter but old enough to be slightly intimidated by the tech, Shannon makes the information accessible.
The PF guy in me wants to leave it at "buy this book", but the teacher in me feels the need to jump in as well. Any of my students will tell you that I rarely give "A's". This is one of those times.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Definitive Twitter Guide: Making Tweets Work for Your Business: 30 Twitter Success Stories From Real Businesses and Non-Profits

Social media tools like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn help businesses share information and connect with potential customers. What business can succeed without getting to know its customers? What business can survive without being seen as a reliable place for information or products? Social media promotes and supports businesses prospecting for new customers, connecting with existing customers and listening to what is going on in their community and their industry. Twitter is a powerful way to connect with people and other businesses. Connections ultimately keep you in business. This book will help you de-mystify Twitter for business. focused on small business marketing on the Internet. The Definitive Twitter Guide provides quality resources, tips, and techniques for small business owners looking to effectively compete on the web.

Click here for more information about The Definitive Twitter Guide: Making Tweets Work for Your Business: 30 Twitter Success Stories From Real Businesses and Non-Profits

Read More...

Selling to the Government: What It Takes to Compete and Win in the World's Largest Market Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is one of the best books I have read about federal sales and marketing; in fact, in anticipation of its release I actually pre-ordered a copy. As a consultant and trainer with over 25 years of government logistics, contracting, and sales & marketing experience, I find this book to be an accurate and informative guide to companies that are new to the federal marketplace, as well as for those that are currently selling in the federal marketplace. Each chapter is full of detailed information and steps to successfull federal business development, and ends with a comprehensive checklist of things to do (each checklist is "spot-on"!). Real life stories and experiences by the author, industry experts and successful company leaders make this a must have for any company that wants to strategically grow their federal sales business. Also the 36 page glossary of terms is a gem all by its self, as it describes commonly used government sales, contracting and marketing terms and acronyms that can overwhelm a federal busines novice. I only have a few books about government sales on my bookshelf and I have two of Mark Amtower's.
Deborah Peyton, President, Fedmed Sales Consulting, LLC ([...])

Click Here to see more reviews about: Selling to the Government: What It Takes to Compete and Win in the World's Largest Market

Learn the crucial ins and outs of the world's largest marketThe U.S government market represents the largest single market—anywhere. Government contract tracking firm Onvia estimates that government business—federal, state, local, and education—represents better than 40 percent of the nation's GDP. While anyone can play in this market, only those with the right preparation can win.Selling to the Government offers real-world advice for successful entry into the biggest market anywhere. Get proven approaches, strategies, tactics, and tools to make your business stand out, build relationships, understand procedures, and win high-stakes contracts. • Every year thousands of companies enter the massive U.S. Government (BtoG) marketplace, and by the end of the first year, most are gone and less than 10 percent make it to year two • Author has advised hundreds of companies, including Apple, Dell, CDW, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, IT, GTSI, and many small firms, on all aspects of marketing and selling to the governmentFrom the go/no-go decision, through company infrastructure requirements, marketing, sales, business development, and more, this book offers the best advice from the most recognized authority in the market.

Click here for more information about Selling to the Government: What It Takes to Compete and Win in the World's Largest Market

Read More...

How to Say It: Marketing with New Media: A Guide to Promoting Your Small Business Using Websites, E-zines, Blogs, and Podcasts Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I liked this book. But I didn't find it to be a masterpiece. In my humble opinion it merely provides an overview of the basic Internet Marketing tools and techniques available. It includes the following 6 parts:
1. Setting the stage for the new media success
2. Getting your message across with a Web site
3. Getting your message across with an ezine
4. Getting your message across with a blog
5. Getting your message across with a podcast
6. Putting it all together
Each of these parts was divided into two chapters. Thus, there were a total of 12 chapters in this book. I found the text to flow and the book to be an easy read.
I think the book could have been better if it got into a little more detail regarding the subjects it chose to cover. And I think of podcasts as involving both audio files and now, today, video files. I didn't see much if any coverage of video files. And since I just read "YouTube for Business" (ISBN: 9780789737977) a week ago, I kind of thought there should have been some coverage of the subject.
I also thought there should have been a chapter entitled "Getting your message across using social networking Web sites." It seemed odd to me there was no coverage on this. 4 stars!

Click Here to see more reviews about: How to Say It: Marketing with New Media: A Guide to Promoting Your Small Business Using Websites, E-zines, Blogs, and Podcasts

The essential resource for building a global community of customers.How to Say It: Marketing with New Media provides business owners with the tools they need to effectively market their company to today's ever-evolving online community. Packed with power words, content templates, practical steps for getting the word out, and the essentials of speaking to the right audience, this book is the key to building a community of loyal customers online. It also offers quick tips for generating website copy, articles, podcast scripts, and blog posts months in advance, so any small business owner can start an online marketing campaign regardless of limited schedules and budgets.

Click here for more information about How to Say It: Marketing with New Media: A Guide to Promoting Your Small Business Using Websites, E-zines, Blogs, and Podcasts

Read More...

Social Media for Business: The Small Business Guide to Online Marketing Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Full disclosure: I'm a contributor, a friend of both co-authors, and business associate of most of the other contributors. I am a touch biased. On the other hand, I am also a prolific reviewer--you can see what I think about a range of books by clicking on the "see all my reviews" link. Didn't just duck in here to promote one book.
Social Media for Business is written for the solopreneur and micro-business market, where you (mostly) are doing most of everything yourself. I teach classes on social media in the local Chambers and Community College system, as does Martin Brossman. If you're likely to take those classes but can't get to one, this is a good book for you.
Social Media for Business steps you through the theory of what's happening in this space--primarily LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter--and then provides you with specific activities you can do, in a reasonable amount of time, to promote your business. The book touches on Mobile (phone apps for smart phones); GooglePlus did not make it into the printed copy but we anticipate online updates at the website, accessible to people who buy the book through QR codes and a password.
I've read some other books about social media marketing that open with, "Start with a small test budget of no more than $200,000.00." Brossman & McGaha will not take you down that path. If you're overwhelmed by all the online marketing you are being told you should be doing (especially by people who want you to pay them to do it for you) and need to get an understanding of the whole field before you start spending marketing money, Social Media for Business is a good place to start.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Social Media for Business: The Small Business Guide to Online Marketing

Social Media for Business is an insider's guide to online marketing for the small business owner, manager or entrepreneur who wants to build the right multidimensional Web presence.Guaranteed to boost your social networking IQ, this book invests in your future with tips for sustainable tactics and savvy communications that are proven to deliver the real social media ROI - higher levels of customer engagement.Co-authors Martin Brossman and Anora McGaha speak from experience in educating small businesses and solo-professionals in the everyday strategies that drive social media results. In all, more than twenty experts contribute theirperspectives on Web marketing and social media management. Social Media for Business:' Explains the competitive advantage for small and micro-business owners' Clarifies how businesses attract, engage and retain new customers' Demystifies social media strategy, implementation and content creation' Helps you define and evaluate your social media management program ' Alerts you to the risks of not monitoring the online conversation' Discusses the value of fully integrating social media into your business' Guides you through the exciting cultural changes and paradigm shifts

Click here for more information about Social Media for Business: The Small Business Guide to Online Marketing

Read More...

Home-Based Business For Dummies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're completely clueless to running your own home-based business, this is a great beginner (hence the title "for Dummies"). I found the book to work best when you already have an idea for your business. As with similar books, it's great to have a general idea of what type of business you'd like to pursue before reading the book; it will help you better shape your idea.
The book did spend a lot of time talking about how to deal with family problems, creating a quiet workspace, setting work hours and how to get through a project when you have no desire. While some people might find this beneficial, it read like "filler" to me.
All in all, though, it's worth checking out.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Home-Based Business For Dummies


Expert tips and advice on starting a home-based business

Starting your own home-based business is a great way to supplement your income in these tough economic times. With thirty percent new and revised material, Home-Based Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition gives you the most current and up-to-date information you need to navigate your way through the whole process.
You'll get trusted and creative advice on how to start being your own boss, bringing in a steady paycheck, and running a business you'll enjoy.
Complete coverage of legal and financial aspects of a home-based business
Effective advertising and promotional strategies that won't break the bank
Tips and information you need to make your business profitable
Advice on outfitting and running a home office

Whether you've been affected by downsizing in these uncertain times or are just looking to earn some extra cash, Home-Based Business For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to avoid scams and truly start working from home for profit.

Click here for more information about Home-Based Business For Dummies

Read More...

Small Business Management: Entrepreneurship and Beyond Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book is expensive - is making the book sellers and publishers rich. This is another example of schools very frequently requiring new versions of a book, with just a few changes, to make it seem as if you MUST purchase the newest version, while an older, dicounted version would suit you just as well.
My shool did not have any used books for sale. The school was charging @$200.00 plus, I paid @$150.00 here, and the last version sold here for @ $25.00! If you are considering purchasing this book, look for an older version.
The book does have valuable information for people who are starting a new business.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Small Business Management: Entrepreneurship and Beyond

Small Business Management provides a balanced introduction to both entrepreneurship and small business management with a focus on achieving and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage as a small organization. Current issues including global opportunities, service, quality and technology are highlighted throughout the text. The streamlined format allows instructors to cover the entire text of 18 chapters within a standard semester timeline without sacrificing important topics. The Fifth Edition features a special focus on the impact of the financial crisis on small business management.The online Business Plan Guide and templates provide some of the most extensive information available on business planning.

Click here for more information about Small Business Management: Entrepreneurship and Beyond

Read More...

The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is the book trailer. Amazon has a video posting feature for certain books but, last I heard, it's only available for certain books at this point.

Click Here to see more reviews about: The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies

A small seafood restaurant attracts new customers with virtually no marketing budget. An iPad case manufacturer generates more than $1M in revenue in four months with only four employees. A voiceover company is able to connect thousands of artists with opportunities, all without expensive hardware and software. A law firm increases access to key information while dramatically reducing technology-related costs and risks.

Click here for more information about The New Small: How a New Breed of Small Businesses Is Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies

Read More...

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 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book isn't as bad as some reviewers have written or as good as others have raved about. This book isn't for salespeople and because of that I was disappointed. This book is for professionals that have to "book themselves," such as public speakers, lawyers, accountants and the like. In some ways if you don't already know what this book teaches you better get a job. However, as the E-Myth points out there are plenty of people that are good at what they do but are clueless about how to get themselves business. If you fall into this category this is a good book to read and implement.
Port's book is long and at times wordy but a fun and easy read. There are diamonds here but you have to mine through a lot of ore to get at them. The book is well written and conversational. I can see why Mr. Port has a successful career. This book is perhaps a good first read if you're considering starting your own business or want to get more clients. For a solid and measurable program I recommend "Get Clients Now" by C. J. Hayden or "Get Business to Come to You" by Sarah and Paul Edwards.


Click Here to see more reviews about: 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

Book Yourself Solid-now in paperback-is a complete instructional guide for startingn and growing a successful service business. It gives you simple, yet effective techniques for creating relentless demand and endless leads. It includes more than 200 proven marketing strategies for attracting new clients, earning more referrals, and building profitable, long-lasting professional relationships. If you want to take your service business to the next level, start here and Book Yourself Solid.

Click here for more information about 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

Read More...

Guerilla Marketing on the Internet: The Definitive Guide from the Father of Guerilla Marketing Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book sadly doesn't live up to the hype. It reads as an advertisement for the services of the authors and even uses one of the authors as a case study.
The authors use every old marketing trick in the book to try to sell in the new internet world. Truly long online sales letters and one page websites that try to gather user data are not revolutionary and are a true turn off to lots of folks.
It is rare that I return a book but this one is going back.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Guerilla Marketing on the Internet: The Definitive Guide from the Father of Guerilla Marketing


Add the Internet to Your Marketing Arsenal-Guerrilla Style!

The Father of Guerrilla Marketing, Jay Conrad Levinson, changed marketing forever when he unleashed his original arsenal of marketing tactics for surviving the advertising jungle on a shoestring budget. And now, Levinson and online marketing masters Mitch Meyerson and Mary Eule Scarborough once again show you how to beat the odds by combining the unconventional, take-no-prisoners Guerrilla Marketing approach with today's ultimate marketing weapon-the Internet.
Learn how to use the internet Guerrilla style. Level the playing field, and achieve greater online visibility. Boost traffic to your website. Convert visitors into paying clients. Capture and keep your market share, and create multiple income streams-all while saving time and money!
This complete Guerrilla Marketing online guide includes:
The 10 most effective Guerrilla strategies
Case studies of the five greatest online Guerrilla Marketing campaigns
How to create a high-impact website on a budget
Low-cost tactics for maximizing traffic
The 12 biggest internet marketing mistakes and how to avoid them
Creative tactics and cutting-edge tools that inspire customers to take action
Essential information on cutting-edge technology

Click here for more information about Guerilla Marketing on the Internet: The Definitive Guide from the Father of Guerilla Marketing

Read More...

Small Business Marketing for Dummies, Second Edition Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)As a card-carrying dummy, I opened "Small Business Marketing for Dummies" with high hopes. I wasn't disappointed: in great detail and in plain English, Barbara Findlay Schenck has produced an exhaustive, fact-packed, thoroughly enjoyable guide to marketing. While I've picked up a few tricks of the trade during my ten years in retail/distribution, both as a sole proprietor and in a partnership, Schenck's book shows me how much more I have to learn in this wide and fascinating arena. Besides serving as a powerful motivator, "Small Business Marketing for Dummies" is long on specifics: the hows and whys of reaching customers and bringing them back for more. The book's Internet chapters, for example, are chock full of Web sites and strategies completely new to me. Having read many other marketing resources over the years, I can say without equivocation that this one comes closest to being a bible of the genre. Even the most clueless among us can use the book as a kind of in-house consultant, an easy, expert guide through the labyrinth of marketing a small business.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Small Business Marketing for Dummies, Second Edition

Having your own business isn't the same as having customers, and one is useless without the other. Whether your business is a resale store or a high-tech consulting firm, a law office or a home cleaning service, in today's competitive environment, strategic marketing is essential.
Small Business Marketing For Dummies, Second Edition is updated from the original version that won rave reviews and inspired thousands of small businesses on their way to becoming big businesses. Updates include more information on online marketing, a whole new section on getting and keeping customers, new cost-effective, fast-acting ideas for instant impact, and more. The book covers:
Marketing basics that prepare you to rev up your business and jumpstart your marketing program
Information to help you define your business position and brand
Advice on bringing in professionals
A quick-reference guide to mass media and a glossary of advertising jargon
How-tos for creating print and broadcast ads that work
Ideas for getting the word out without advertising, including information on direct mail, brochures, publicity, promotions, and more
Ten steps to follow to build your own easy-to-assemble marketing plan

With pages of ideas for low-cost, high-impact marketing from author Barbara Findlay Schenck, a marketing consultant with more than 20 years experience with clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, Small Business Marketing For Dummies, Second Edition helps you reach and keep new customers. Whether you're running a home office, a small firm, a family business, a nonprofit organization, or a retail operation, you'll discover how to:
Custom design your own marketing program
Create effective marketing messages
Produce marketing communications that work

No matter what field you're in, Small Business Marketing For Dummies, 2nd Edition will help you make your dreams come true. If you buy it, read it, and implement some of the marketing strategies discussed, customers will come.

Click here for more information about Small Business Marketing for Dummies, Second Edition

Read More...

UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The new book UnMarketing from Canadian viral marketer and Twitter gadfly Scott Stratten takes the rules and purees them, Blendtec style.
Here's what makes UnMarketing an unusual, yet worthy use of your marketing education time:
UNpretentious
Unlike so many marketing books, Stratten doesn't overcomplicate the subject matter. He believes that common sense should prevail, and that UnMarketing success is rooted in the creation of everyday "wow" moments. His self-deprecation adds a hilarious, warm tone throughout.
UNstructured
Like Gary Vaynerchuk's Crush It, Stratten dictated some of the book, and it reads very conversationally. Also, there isn't a narrative or progression in the book, but rather a collection of 57 short observations, lessons, and anecdotes. For readers that consume material in bits and pieces, this format is ideal. You can easily read UnMarketing over time in 10 or 15-minute chunks.
UNafraid
Sacred cows are slaughtered in UnMarketing, both in the material and in the book's packaging. (The faux testimonials on the back of the book are priceless, including:
"This book is the greatest business book in the world, besides mine."
- Author who only gives testimonials for people who give him one in return
Stratten's rant against direct marketing - "People still teach courses on how to cold-call better! That's like finding a better way to punch people in the face" is one of the more memorable examples of his outlook.
UNderstandable
One of the most commendable aspects of this book is Stratten's gift for boiling down a marketing principle to its simplest form. His "Pull and Stay" advice; segmenting customers into barrels; platforming; social currency, and other concepts are instantly applicable to real world marketing challenges fitting a wide variety of circumstances. The examples and mini case studies he presents provide insights that leave you nodding your head and thinking you could adopt the same approaches.
UNsettling
Stratten has a knack for gaps. The two sections in the book on the Trust Gap and the Experience Gap are among the strongest in UnMarketing. Both are wake-up calls for marketers, and make the case that separating marketing from day-to-day customer experiences is an impossibility. Greg Verdino's excellent book MicroMarketing hits on similar themes. Stratten writes: "
The space between the best services, often what a new customer receives and the worst experience is what I call the Experience Gap. As a business owner your goal needs to be having no gap at all, optimizing every point of contact with your customer."
A tall order, to be certain.
UNdercover
The best parts of UnMarketing are when the author uses his own circumstances to make a point about the importance of people and customer experience. His tale of his switch of coffee loyalty from Tim Horton's to McDonald's is a documentary-style account of how real people perceive and are impacted by business details we all too often take for granted. Based on consistency of product, suitability of packaging, and convenience of location, Stratten shifted his daily coffee habit - to the tune of perhaps $30,000 in lifetime value, underscoring the ultimate importance of every customer acquisition or defection.
As you might expect, UnMarketing is not your typical marketing and business book. It's a boullabaise of advice and observations on social media, viral marketing, and customer experience, with a side order of social media how-to. There are a few sections devoted to the mechanics of Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and other social media operational specifics. Because they are relatively high level overviews, these aren't the strongest components of the book, and if you want details on Twitter or Facebook best practices, I recommend Kyle Lacy's Twitter for Dummies and Mari Smith and Chris Treadway's Facebook Marketing an Hour a Day.
But, if you're looking for an always-interesting, impactful, funny, practical book to get you excited about marketing again, you should pick up a copy of UnMarketing. Scott Stratten is a compelling character with panache and wit, and he puts these strengths to great use in his first book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging.

Click here for more information about UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging.

Read More...

Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There are a series of books that I keep on a special - quite small - bookshelf. I try to reread each of them every year or so. While I've gotten to the point that I know what they say, but each time I go through one of them I get an idea or two to try in promoting my business.
This book has made it to that shelf.
It got a decision to be put there while I was reading it at the book store. On page 24 there's a story of a lady wanting to sell helmets in a state with no helmet law. So she started stocking children's helmets. When riders told her they didn't want a helmet she asked, 'What about one for the child, they aren't old enough to make that decision for themselves.' What daddy could resist? Then a month later they were back for a helmet for themselves after the kid was asking, 'Daddy, where's your helmet." So a sale for Daddy, little Jimmy and little Suzie. Three sales for one question.
Then on page 83 there's the advice:
Shoot your web designer if they:
Suggest flash intro pages
Suggest frame pages
Suggest templates.
Yes, Yes, Yes!
One point about the web I do not agree. Learn to do your web site yourself. You may hire a designer to do it at first, but then maintain it yourself. It isn't hard and you won't be nickled and dimed to death over every small change you want.
I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea. All of his ideas won't be applicable, but if you get a good idea or two each time you read through it, the book is worth it's cost many times over.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide

Duct Tape Marketing is the small business marketing road map - A collection of proven tools and tactics woven together in a step-by-step marketing system that shows small business owners exactly what to do to market and grow their businesses. This guide combines insights gained from over twenty years of successfully working, in the field, with real-life small businesses. There are no theoretical complexities presented in Duct Tape Marketing - just simple, effective and affordable marketing that sticks. CAREFUL! Duct tape is a serious tool... it sticks where you put it. So are the ideas in this book. If you're ready to make a commitment and are willing to make something happen, John's book is a great place to start. --Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow For all those who wonder why John Jantsch has become the leading advisor and coach to small businesses everywhere, Duct Tape Marketing is the answer. I have never read a business book that is as packed with hands-on, actionable information as this one. There are takeaways in every paragraph, and the success of John's blog is living proof that they work. Duct Tape Marketing should be required reading for anyone who is building a business, or thinking about it. --Bo Burlingham, editor-at-large, Inc. magazine, and author of Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big Duct Tape Marketing is a worthy addition to the growing library of how-to books on small business marketing -- concise, clear, practical, and packed with great ideas to boost your bottom line. --Bob Bly, author of The White Paper Handbook With the world suffering from depleted reserves of trust, a business that sells plenty of it every day tends to create the most value. The great thing about trust as a product feature is that it delivers exceptional returns. With this book, John Jantsch has zeroed in on exactly what small businesses need to sell every day, every hour. --Ben McConnell, co-author of Creating Customer Evangelists: How Loyal Customers Become a Volunteer Sales Force John Jantsch has provided small businesses with the perfect perspective for maximizing all marketing activities - offline and on. Jantsch has the plan to help you thrive in the world of business today. Read it, all your competitors will. --John Battelle, cofounding editor or Wired and author of The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture Duct Tape Marketing is a great read for anyone in business. It has fresh ideas laid out in a practical and useable way. I highly recommend this book for growing any business. --Dr. Ivan Misner, Founder of BNI and Co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Masters of Networking

Click here for more information about Duct Tape Marketing: The World's Most Practical Small Business Marketing Guide

Read More...