Have you ever read a book that completely changed the way you lived your life? We have! Our team believes that books are an amazing way to learn new tactics, ideas, and overall help make our lives better. In this week’s blog, we wanted to share some of that with you and have curated a list of seven books that completely changed the way we looked at marketing. These books hit all aspects including PR, Branding, and general marketing. We have also enclosed a link to buy it either through Amazon or through one of our favorite sites called ThriftBooks. ThriftBooks offers ridiculously low prices for any book you can imagine. Here are 7 Books that Changed the Way We Look at Marketing.
Trust me I’m lying – Book by Ryan Holiday
This book quite literally is the reason I am in the marketing field to this day. Ryan Holiday is a media manipulating genius and breaks down the faults in our news systems. Mr. Holiday delves into his devious tactics and elaborated on how to “trade up the media outlet’s chain”. The premise of the book is that major news corporations are deriving their content from small blogs and Twitter. When you picture a journalist, you picture a person in a trench coat with a small notepad and a pipe, right? Or is that just me? Anyways, for the past 15+ years, news has been going 24/7/365. There aren’t enough street corners for investigating in the world to fill the news with that much information. This book discusses that strategy and much more. 10/10 recommend.
Amazon book link
Purple Cow – Book by Seth Godin
If you are a fan of books that will change your entire perspective on life, Purple Cow is the book for you! Written by the best-selling author Seth Godin; Purple Cow goes deep into how to stand out in today’s age. Seth Writes “You’re either remarkable or invisible. Make your choice. What do Apple, Starbucks, Dyson, and Pret a Manger have in common? How do they achieve spectacular growth, leaving behind former tried-and-true brands to gasp their last? The old checklist of P’s used by marketers – Pricing, Promotion, Publicity – aren’t working anymore.” This is a must-read for anyone looking to redo the way they do their personal brand or company.
Check out the book today at your local library or buy it here:
Buy the Book: Link
Poke the Box – Book by Seth Godin
Poke the Box is another example of why Seth Godin is a genius when it comes to marketing. His second book on our list, Poke the Box is a masterpiece that again can adjust the way you see your life. Seth Write “We send our kids to school and obsess about their test scores, their behavior, and their ability to fit in. We post a help wanted ad and look for experience, famous colleges, and a history of avoiding failure. We invest in companies based on how they did last quarter, not on what they’re going to do tomorrow. So why are we surprised when it all falls apart?
Our economy is not static, but we act as if it is. Your position in the world is defined by what you instigate, how you provoke, and what you learn from the events you cause. In a world filled with change, that’s what matters—your ability to create and learn from change. Poke the Box is a manifesto about producing something that’s scarce, and thus valuable. It demands that you stop waiting for a road map and start drawing one instead. You know how to do this, you’ve done it before, but along the way, someone talked you out of it.”
One Poke the Box review stated:
“If you are happy being just a dreamer, perhaps you don’t need this book. Are you enjoying the status quo, don’t even consider reading this book. If you are content waiting for success to find you, please put this book down and go find something else to read. Why has Poke the Box become a cult classic? Because it’s a book that dares readers to do something they’re afraid of. It could be what you need, too. “Is Seth Godin the Pied Piper for however many of us have been afraid to fail? Will I answer his call? Will you?” –Peter Shermeta
Check out the book today at your local library or buy it here:
Buy the book: Link
Blue Ocean Strategy – Book by Renée Mauborgne and W. Chan Kim
The fourth book on our list is another staple for anyone trying to change the way they see businesses and change businesses. This is perfect for the change maker who want to revolutionize the business they are working for or starting.
“Blue Ocean Strategy continues to challenge everything you thought you knew about competing in today’s crowded marketplace. Based on a study of 150 strategic moves spanning more than a hundred years and thirty industries, authors W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne argue that lasting success comes from creating ‘blue oceans’: untapped new market spaces ripe for growth. And the business world has caught on – companies around the world are skipping the bloody red oceans of rivals and creating their very own blue oceans. With over one million copies sold worldwide, Blue Ocean Strategy is quickly reaching “must read” status among smart business readers. Have you caught the wave?”
Check out the book today at your local library or buy it here:
Buy the book: Link
Decoded: The science why we buy – Book by Phil Barden
Decoded starts off with a case study on Cadbury (the chocolate company). Cadbury was a dying brand ready to make its exit from supermarket shelves everywhere. Their last-ditch effort was quite possibly the most genius revitalization campaign ever created and also could have possibly pioneered the wacky commercials we see today. Just check it out below:
People were so caught off guard by a gorilla playing a hit 80’s song that Cadbury was flying off the shelves and essentially saved the brand. Cadbury attempted to recreate a v2 of the commercial and it flopped. How could that be? Well, Phil Barden goes into why exactly that may have happened. Another 10/10 recommendation.
Amazon book link
Building a StoryBrand – Book by Donald Miller
“Donald Miller’s StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their businesses. This revolutionary method for connecting with customers provides listeners with the ultimate competitive advantage, revealing the secret for helping their customers understand the compelling benefits of using their products, ideas, or services. Building a StoryBrand does this by teaching listeners the seven universal story points all humans respond to, the real reason customers make purchases, how to simplify a brand message so people understand it, and how to create the most effective messaging for websites, brochures, and social media.
Whether you are the marketing director of a multibillion-dollar company, the owner of a small business, a politician running for office, or the lead singer of a rock band, Building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.”
Check out the book today at your local library or buy it here:
Buy the Book Link
Made to stick – Book by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Made to Stick is a great book on how to make ideas so memorable, that they stay in your mind for generations to come. Remember when eggs were bad for your health? A bunch of marketers gathered to and came up with a brilliant – almost diabolical idea. They made an video advert that portrayed an entire steak dinner “with all the fixins’” and stated that that meal had more cholesterol than an egg breakfast. That was all she wrote for eggs and their health benefits. The Heath brothers go into the scientific steps on why certain ideas stick.
Who is Finden Marketing?
Finden Marketing is Duluth, Minnesota’s leading Gen Z & Millennial marketing agency. With years of experience, over a million dollars of ads managed, and a dedicated team we can help grow your business to its true potential. Our team offers a wide range of services, including PR, Branding, Content Creation, Paid Media, Graphic Design, and Web Development. With over 50 projects in the bag, Finden Marketing is becoming a staple marketing agency in Duluth, Minnesota. With awards including the Duluth News Tribune Best of the Best and Upcity’s top digital marketing agencies. Finden also is listed in GoodFirms top 10 ad agencies in Minnesota and Designrush’s top SEO agency in Minnesota.
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