Around here, we value ongoing learning. We subscribe to top marketing industry newsletters. We share interesting news nuggets with one another. It’s one of many things I like about Media Relations Agency: We are always looking to raise the bar on our expertise. So, when someone asked me about useful marketing books, I was ready with a few suggestions.
- Best overall marketing book: The CEO’s Guide to Marketing by our CEO Lonny Kocina. I’ve read this more than once, because I keep finding actionable advice and new ways to apply what I’ve learned while talking with businesses about their marketing goals. This fully illustrated, 236-page book simplifies the marketing process into six steps, called Strategically Aimed Marketing (SAM 6®). Media Relations has been fine-tuning this process for three decades. I know it works because I see it in action every day. Once you’ve read the book, we have free SAM 6 tools on our website to help you use what you’ve learned.
- Best discussion of our current marketing environment: Winning the Story Wars by Jonah Sachs. In this book, Sachs does a good job of explaining why every business should be marketing themselves with great storytelling. At Media Relations, our mission is to help businesses tell their stories. We apply that mission to just about every promotional channel. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to be in the storytelling mode with your marketing.
- Best guide to authoring a book to promote your business/brand: Ideas, Influence & Income by Tanya Hall. Over the last 30+ years, we’ve worked with many thought leaders who have written books to further enhance their credibility and showcase their expertise. Because the media prefer new releases, it is essential to start planning your promotional campaign well in advance of your book being published. (Call me if you want to discuss what a book campaign might look like.)
- Best handbook for content writing: Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty. The quality of your spelling, punctuation and grammar not only influences comprehension. It also influences the reader’s opinion of your attention to detail in other areas of your business. While Media Relations’ content writers rely heavily on the ever-changing AP Stylebook to produce our substantive Media-Grade Content®, they’ll also tell you that Grammar Girl is a trusted resource for anyone who feels a little weak on the basics.
Educating yourself is key to getting ahead. And while I strongly recommend you read The CEO’s Guide to Marketing, take heart if you don’t have time to read everything on my list.
Around here, we work to transform products and individuals into “trusted shortcuts.” We use smart marketing strategies to teach audiences that they can rely on these people and products, so they don’t have to do all the research themselves. You may, for example, have a preferred vitamin brand. When you want to start taking a new vitamin, you instinctively choose that brand first because you trust it to have all the attributes you desire (safe, effective, priced right, etc.).
For product marketing, Media Relations Agency can be your trusted shortcut. We’ve been around for more than 30 years. We’ve worked with individuals and companies in hundreds of different industries. We’ve got an enviable proprietary database of media contacts. And we take it upon ourselves to stay educated on the best ways to structure and implement a marketing campaign customized for each client.
So, whether or not you’ve already read The CEO’s Guide to Marketing, I’d love to discuss SAM 6 with you. Let’s explore how this process might help you achieve your marketing goals. Start by completing this form or call us at 952-697-5269.
Matt Hentges
Marketing Strategy Expert
