By Melissa Dittmann Tracey
The following book is part of our “Readers Choice”, selected by Weekly Book Scan visitors to be featured.
QUICK SKIM
Using a traditional (a.k.a. boring) marketing strategy is one of the riskiest things you can do, as it threatens to make you invisible to the customers you need most to succeed. That’s the main thrust of Seth Godin’s classic Purple Cow: Transform Your Business By Being Remarkable (Portfolio, 2002), a quick read of case studies and commentary on how to make your brand something everyone will be talking about. Godin shares lessons from innovators such as Krispy Kreme, Apple, and Starbucks as he inspires you to stop following the herd and find your own way to be remarkable.
FROM THE BOOK: 5 WAYS TO BE REMARKABLE
Do you feel invisible and anonymous when prospecting? Then start searching for a “Purple Cow” you can bring to your business. Unlike boring brown cows, Purple Cows are products or services that have built-in remarkable elements that literally sell themselves. Here are some ideas from the book for making your company stand out from the crowd:
1. Sniff out the sneezers. Godin uses the term “sneezers” to describe people who are so excited about your services that they infect all those around them with information about you and what you have to offer. Spend all your energies pleasing this group and figure out ways that you can grow and reward this group. “Ignore the rest,” Godin writes. “Your ads (and your products!) shouldn’t cater to the masses.” Do you have the e-mail addresses of the 20 percent of your customer base who loves what you do? If not, get them. And then concentrate on making this 20 percent happy.
Here are the latest top selling books in business and investing from Amazon.com:
1. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, By Timothy Ferriss
2. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, By David Allen
3. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t, By Jim Collins
4. The Official Guide for GMAT Review, 11th Edition
5. StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup’s Now, Discover Your Strengths, By Tom Rath
6. Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
7. The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom, and Live an Extraordinary Life, By John Assaraf and Murray Smith
8. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, By Dan Ariely
9. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, By Malcolm Gladwell
10. The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, By Nassim Nicholas Taleb
By Mary Martinez, NAR Manager, Library & Information Services
No surprise, real estate sales books consistently rank among the top circulating titles in the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ Virtual Library eBooks Collection, a special library collection just for REALTORS® and association staff.
But, this digital collection offers something for every facet of life. NAR members have free access to 1,000 downloadable books, audio books, and videos on everything from managing a real estate career to learning Japanese … from practicing time management to practicing yoga … from using a digital camera to making real money in Second Life. Continue reading »
Tell us your favorite real estate book of all-time.
Send an e-mail to bookblog@realtors.org that includes the title of the real estate book and its author, along with your name, contact information, and why it’s your favorite. Send us your photo, too, and we’ll feature you on the blog!
Here are the latest top selling books in sales from Amazon.com:
1. Multi-Family Millions: How Anyone Can Reposition Apartments for Big Profits, By David Lindahl
2. FLIP: How to Find, Fix, and Sell Houses for Profit, By Rick Villani, Clay Davis
3. Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur: What It Takes to Win in High-Stakes Commercial Real Estate, By James A. Randel
4. How To Become a Power Agent in Real Estate: A Top Industry Trainer Explains How to Double Your Income in 12 Months, By Darryl Davis
5. How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Redesign, Redecorating, & Home Staging Business, By Mary Larsen and Teri B. Clark
6. The Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings, By Steve Berges
7. How to Succeed in Commercial Real Estate, By John L. Bowman
8. Success as a Real Estate Agent For Dummies, By Dirk Zeller
9. Real Estate Rainmaker: Guide to Online Marketing, By Dan Gooder Richard
10. Five Minutes to a Great Real Estate Ad, By John D. Mayfield
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