OK, so first off, for everyone who reads this blog via e-mail updates . . .
Yes, you can do that, you know. On the main blog page, off to the right, under my smiling half-face, there is a shiny orange button with the words “Subscribe - You know you want to” next to it. If you press that button, you will get an e-mail whenever I update my blog. But I digress . . .
Anyway, everyone who reads via e-mail updates, this probably just got marked as spam because it has the word FREE in the title. Which means, you may not even be reading this. So, whatever.
I went to college and have a fancy degree that says I know marketing. The truth of the matter is that I wasted a lot of money.
But I have two resources that will give you all the marketing education you will ever need, and can make you an expert if you invest enough time.
One is called the Internet, the other is called a library.
You need to read more. I don’t know how much you read now, but I would bet you need to read more. I read a ridiculous amount, and I could stand to read more. I am currently in the midst of reading seven different books right now, and that does not take into consideration the numerous blogs and newsletters I subscribe to.
Yes, the Internet has some really bad information floating out there, but generally if you do a search for “small business marketing blog”, the search will turn up many of the blogs that have the most backlinks, which means lots of people are reading the blog and commenting on their own blogs, which means it is probably decent stuff. (Yes, I am aware that this blog doesn’t show up at the top of those listings. But you don’t really need to find this blog, now do you?)
Here is just a partial list of some of the best books on marketing your business you could ever read. Finish all of these, and learn to apply the concepts they teach, and you can be on your way to being nearly an expert.
Think and Grow Rich - Napolean Hill
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
Little Red Book of Sales: 12.5 Principles of Sales - Jeffrey Gitomer
Purple Cow – Seth Godin
Your Marketing Sucks – Mark Stevens
Buzz Marketing: Get People to Talk About Your Stuff – Mark Hughes
Free Publicity – Jeff Crilley
The Golden Rule of Schmoozing – Aye Jay
Endless Referrals – Bob Burg
The Go-Giver – Bob Burg
Referral of a Lifetime – Tim Templeton
Get More Referrals Now – Bill Cates
The Ultimate Marketing Plan – Dan Kennedy
The Ultimate Sales Letter – Dan Kennedy
If you don’t have time to become a marketing expert, do yourself a favor and find an expert. I am an expert. I have read all of the books on that list. Many times. And more books than that.
Brent Allan is the “Small Biz Marketing Wiz” who specializes in unconventional marketing methods for small businesses. He is the editor and head honcho for BizWarrior Online. He is an expert at marketing. And he can prove it.
