Best direct marketing books according to redditors
We found 82 Reddit comments discussing the best direct marketing books. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 82 Reddit comments discussing the best direct marketing books. We ranked the 32 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Epic content marketing might help you look at content from your blog to provide you with alternate methods of presenting it (infographics, videos, slide share presentations).
I liked the ideas found in Blue Ocean Strategy towards the beginning, but for whatever reason was never able to go past chapter 5.
Books and the blog of Seth Godin or alternatively Basecamp (formerly known as 37 signals) are usually fun, quick reads.
Blogs by KISSMetrics, Zendesk, Hubspot, and following Growth Hackers threads are all good options too.
What does your SaaS do?
Lastly, something that can provide guidance is taking an hour or two to draw your message map. Essentially, it's a list on one side of your target audience at each stage of purchase, what you want them to takeaway from your message and what are the main barriers to them understanding that message.
Best of luck!
Edits: Was on phone; added links for the lazy.
Voted down for not attributing his source and presenting a 70 year old concept as his own.
Hell, even the title is ripped off:
http://www.elmerwheeler.com/articles/explode-your-sales-by-maximizing-benefits.php
Here's a 20-point checklist (PDF format) from the world's highest paid copywriter, Clayton Makepeace.
And here's a blog post explaining the 20-point formula in more detail from a copywriter Clay hired (Roy Furr).
Here's Roy's book on story-telling: Amazon link.
I haven't purchased it yet but I am subscribed to his newsletter... he delivers an insane amount of value... for free... in prolific proportions.
part 2/2
One of the things you're struggling with is one of those "invisible gears" regarding how to actually get stuff done. I like to split it into two groups:
Most people keep everything in their heads & don't use a PPS that contains reminders, checklists, and work stations to help them accomplish things easily. As a result, your brain turns into spaghetti & you talk about it, write about it, post about it, complain about it, but don't actually just do the work. It's typically not because you're lazy, because laziness is just a symptom - the fruit on a tree with a different root cause. That's why you need a stronger PPS, one that enables you to single-task on real work, i.e. actually focus & get stuff done. Until you do that, it's really easy to be all over the map, feel discouraged, and be confused as to why you're not where you want to be. If you want to learn more about how things work, here are a few good audiobooks & other resources to pick up & listen to:
Based on your OP, rather than taking a monolithic approach & keeping everything in your head, you'll have far better success by externalizing it & chopping it up into individual pieces you can define & work on. So this is really what you need to do:
The takeaway is this: you're not lazy, you just aren't clear on how things actually work, and haven't gone through some simple exercises to more clearly define what you want & how to get it & then worked on it. It's really hard, pretty much impossible even, to work on something that you're not clear about, in terms of what exactly you want & what specifically to do next about it.
You need a clear goal, a clear & actionable plan, and a solid personal productivity system to make it happen. Literally hundreds of artists have done exactly that. Frank Ocean is who he is because he worked to get clear about his public identity, he crafted good products, and he shows up for work. That may sound like I'm over-simplifying it a bit, but imagine the opposite, a world where he didn't have a clear identity, had garbage songs or no songs at all, and skipped out on his concerts.
It's not magic...it's a choice to buckle down & overcome your internal resistance to do the simple things like get clear, make a plan, break that plan down into pieces, and work on it. Per that list above, if you don't have a productivity system to back you up & help to you work, if you don't master your voice & your instruments, if you don't understand music theory & how to design a good song, if you don't write constantly, and if you don't bother to craft an identity, then you're not really on the right path to become a world-famous musician, you know?
There are a lot of wanna-be's & posers out there, and the main thing that separates successful people from others is having an actionable plan & working on it until they achieve success. Right now, you're keeping everything in your head & you're stuck multi-tasking on "almost work" instead of single-tasking (i.e. focusing) on real work. As a result, you feel stuck & feel like you're spinning your wheels.
So, if you're ready to change your perspective to see how the game really operates, both from a personal productivity standpoint of actually getting things done & making progress on things, and from the music world in general, well, there you go! It's not magic, it's not monolithic, and the world is your oyster thanks to social media & the Internet. Build up a following on Youtube, SoundCloud, and Facebook & go get super famous!
Does this work for you?
UK LINK
> The problem with that is I am a very matter of fact person ....
Yeah, I bet you're an introvert. So am I (introvert) and also very "matter of fact person", I read a book (non-fiction) and I am good at skipping through the intro BS, get to the point, and then avoid the "filler".
But, you and I are the minority. The vast majority of people needs to be entertained and their attention captured.
Check out this book, it sounds crazy but.... it really works Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words. I can do some of that, and it works, but it's also an effort for me and doesn't come easy or natural.
Good question! I´ve been told about this book, which is not specialized in AR but in indie video games, but it might help: https://www.amazon.es/Practical-Guide-Indie-Game-Marketing-ebook/dp/B019P2PM9C
Pinterest has started cracking down on affiliate links. But there are ways around (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470651733/{YourAffiliateID}/
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470651733/{YourAffiliateID})
Please do some research to. This is just a blueprint change up the method, there are tons of other ways you can use pinterest to make money.
Just some food for thought. Disclaimer: I'm just an average joe, and not a marketing pro. When I think of your app, I think of it as a "family feud" style game where the point is to try to guess the most popular answer to each question. -- what does this have to do about judging others and being a safe place to do that? That would be a better description for tinder or some kind of "hot or not" app, but not for what you have created. In crafting your value prop, I'd recommend you turn to this book and follow some of their writing principles: http://www.amazon.com/This-book-teach-write-better/dp/0989895300/ . For example, if you follow their principle that "people don't care about you. they only care about themselves", you could rewrite something that may be more engaging to the average joe visiting your site. My thoughts are something like: "Do you know people as well as you think you do? Let's play." Where I wrote "people" in the previous sentence, you could replace that noun with "left handed people", "men", "women", or any noun if you want to target specific categories of interest. I hope this helps!
>I was wondering if there’s a way to start a business with just knowledge of how a business is run itself with me being my own boss and being present on job sites and whatnot.
Absolutely there is.
I would start with Content Inc. by Joe Pulizzi. You could start something online that monetizes an expertise+passion of yours, and your startup costs would be far far below the amount you have saved.
The idea is to focus on helping a narrow niche with free content, collect emails, find out their exact problems, then sell them the solution to their problems.
This site has some good ads to swipe, with explanations for some of them:
http://swiped.co/
To start off, these books should help to get the basics down pat:
5.https://www.amazon.com/Online-Copywriters-Handbook-Everything-Electronic/dp/0658020994
If you want to go deeper, and become an expert copywriter follow what the late great Gary Halbert says here --> https://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/newsletters/zfkj_hands_on_experience.htm
All the best on the journey.
One of the current best copywriters in the world started as a non-native speaker.
Some people think this is directly responsible for his success. Needing to translate everything in his head forces him to use the clearest language possible.
We haven't read his book, but if it's even a fraction as good as his sales letters, it will be a worthwhile pickup:
https://www.amazon.com/16-Word-Sales-LetterTM-multi-million-dollar-possible-ebook/dp/B07WBW4DGM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=evaldo+albuquerque&qid=1569846326&sr=8-1
Try this book.
Content Marketing Institute is also one of my favorite websites to follow for books and new content ideas.
Just stick with 'it' for six months. You don't need to write everyday but two articles a week should be the minimum.
Look here.
And checkout Hubspot. They offer free social media marketing ebooks on a regular basis. Decent stuff.
Also, this book is highly recommended.
Take a look at the book "Content Inc." if you have not already. It is also on Audible. Definitely worth a read (or listen), and covers your exact question. Short answer is yes, you should focus on building your content and audience first, then monetize it when that time comes. Build the audience, get emails, and eventually start making money.
http://www.amazon.com/Content-Inc-Entrepreneurs-Successful-Businesses/dp/125958965X
http://www.audible.com/pd/Business/Content-Inc-Audiobook/B015GF23EY
Looks like /u/skipthedrive found this book to be pretty helpful. Here's the link to it on Amazon.
Hi, it's available..
here's the link http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00KTKXZVC
And I have these in my list on amazon. Would love to get some opinions on them:
 
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
 
Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More
by Robert Bly
 
Words that Sell
by Richard Bayan
 
Tested Advertising Methods
by Caples and Hahn
 
Writing That Works
by Kenneth Roman and Joel Raphaelson
 
Confessions of an Advertising Man
by David Ogilvy
 
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
by Al Ries and Jack Trout
 
The Robert Collier Letter Book
by Robert Collier
 
Nicely Said: Writing for the Web with Style and Purpose
by Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee
 
Letting Go of the Words
by Janice (Ginny) Redish
 
Essential English for Journalists, Editors and Writers
by Harold Evans
 
Can I Change Your Mind?: The Craft and Art of Persuasive Writing
by Lindsay Camp
 
Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer
by Roy Peter Clark
 
Read Me: 10 Lessons for Writing Great Copy
by Roger Horberry and Gyles Lingwood
 
Hey, Whipple, Squeeze This: The Classic Guide to Creating Great Ads
by Luke Sullivan
 
WRITE IN STEPS: The super simple book writing method
by Ian Stables
 
On Writing Well
by William Zinsser
 
The Wealthy Freelancer
by Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage and Ed Gandia
 
Write Everything Right!
by Denny Hatch
 
The Secret of Selling Anything
by Harry Browne
 
The Marketing Gurus: Lessons from the Best Marketing Books of All Time
by Chris Murray
 
On Writing
by Stephen King
 
Writing for the Web
by Lynda Felder
 
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
by Ann Handley
 
This book will teach you how to write better
by Neville Medhora
You're not stressing the benefits enough on the front page. Also, you're not capturing their contact information. There's no explanation of what it is you're selling or what it will do for the customer. In short, bad marketing.
Further reading: http://www.amazon.com/Irresistible-Offer-Product-Service-Seconds/dp/0471738948
There are some books you need to read.
https://www.amazon.com/Platform-Revolution-Networked-Markets-Transforming/dp/0393249131
https://www.amazon.com/All-Marketers-Are-Liars-Authentic/dp/B0009WF9EG/
https://www.amazon.com/Tribes-We-Need-You-Lead/dp/B001IMTKUK/
Your problem is not that the app is buggy. If the users told you that they left because of a buggy interface, they are lying. If consumers liked your story, they would tolerate a few bugs. You have two problems that are kind of the same problem. Problem number one is that without even downloading it, and by just looking at the app store page, this thing reeks of a desperate attempt to monetize my attention with ads or whatever. But this is also because of the bigger problem, which is that there is no story, no tribe, no niche, = no reason to use this app. The name and logo is boring and your whole thing looks like you are trying to be everything to everyone. And you know what happens then.
There is no amount of money you can throw at this problem to solve it. You have to have one damn good and unique and fun reason for consumers to spend their precious time using it that will create a buzz. "Random Acts of Ice Cream" or some shit like that. That is the only thing that can save this.
What tactics do you use to grow your Instagram?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZLNQGGZ
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
amazon.com
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
amazon.com.au
amazon.in
amazon.com.mx
amazon.de
amazon.it
amazon.es
amazon.com.br
amazon.nl
amazon.co.jp
amazon.fr
Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, amazon.co.jp, amazon.fr, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.
Pinfluence: The Complete Guide to Marketing Your Business with PinterestSOLD!Communicating DesignSOLD!Event PlanningSOLD!TwittervilleSOLD!The Truth About Email MarketingSOLD!The Little Red Book About SellingSOLD!Secrets of Social Media MarketingSOLD!Rebel’s Guide To Email MarketingSOLD!Preparing A Successful Business PlanSOLD!Business Model GenerationSOLD!Transcending CSSSOLD!Designing with Web StandardsSOLD!Designing with Web Standards - 2nd EditionSOLD!Social Media is BullshitSOLD!Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage Customers and Ignite Your BusinessSOLD!Defensive Design for The WebSOLD!MTIVSOLD!The Boron Letters is one of my favourites - you can find it online for free (google) as the Boron family put it online to share their father's teachings.
If you're just starting out, This Book Will Teach You To Write Better it's a great start and a summary to look back to from time to time.
Also if you're interested, I have a free productivity email course in which I share how I went from 9 to 34 books a year.
I don't want to self promote, so if this sounds interesting send me a DM and I'll share the link!
Drive yourself sane
Godel, Escher, Bach
Geometry of meaning
Hypnotic Writing
Holographic Universe
Let me know if any of these sound interesting to you and I can refer you to more similar ones. These books have changed my life and helped me learn a lot, they are some of the best books I have ever read.
Affiliate Marketing.
Well, it's my job, so definitely I can recommend some resources for you to learn from.
Customer Manipulation - Chloe Thomas
Seductive Interaction Design Creating Playful, Fun, and Effective User Experiences - Stephen Anderson
Gamify How Gamification Motivates People to Do Extraordinary Things - Brian Burke(2014)
Tested Advertising Methods
The Irresistible Offer How to Sell Your Product or Service in 3 Seconds or Less - Mark Joyner 2005
Brainfluence 100 Ways to Persuade and Convince Consumers with Neuromarketing - Roger Dooley
No need to thank me Jeff Bezos, you rich smart man.
Email marketing demystified is an amazing book on email marketing. It covers various ways on how to monetize on your mailing lists. Do you do any affiliate marketing?
Edit: You can download and read on Kindle.
A great book that might help is Affiliate Program Management: An Hour a Day... It goes day by day, week by week, month by month on how to set up and maintain an affiliate program. I am currently reading this and so far it's offered some great insight.
As far as marketing goes, nothing beats The Irresistible Offer, IMHO. It's simple and effective.
I just published an ebook on Amazon and found Mike Fishbein's blog really helpful.
 
He also has a book on Amazon for $3.99, which has the information from the blog and a lot more.
 
(And he's super friendly guy who loves to help authors out)
Congrats! Here are some resources: site: PixelProspector, article: Why Your Game Marketing Sucks And What To Do About It
), book: A Practical Guide to Indie Game Marketing, Facebook group: Marketing Cheat Codes for Game Developers. I'm about to launch a video game marketing course. I'll send you a discount code when I launch. Good luck!
I've heard good things about The Boron Letters.
Copywriting is a skill that can be useful to anyone.
If you're looking for a book, I really like Epic Content Marketing.
For general guides to Digital Marketing, I highly recommend Neil Patel's Quicksprout. Just read everything he has there, especially his Guides in the right sidebar. Extremely thorough, very well-researched, and lots of references to other sources.
Good luck!
Joe Pulizzi came out with a pretty decent book that goes over content work flows and whatnot.
http://www.amazon.com/Content-Inc-Entrepreneurs-Successful-Businesses/dp/125958965X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1434657347&sr=8-3&keywords=joe+pulizzi#
Edit: and to answer your prior question, I have prior experience as a journalist. The work flow aspect is very similar between content marketing and journalism.