BizBook Nuggets

Groundswell, by Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

There's an interesting interview on Lee Odden's Online Marketing blog with Charlene Li, vice-president of Forrester Research about her new book written with Josh Bernoff, Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies

Companies worldwide are trying their best to make sense of the emerging landscape of social technologies and the new book Groundswell does a fantastic job at just that.

We met Charlene at BlogHer Conference last year, and she's one of the most knowledgeable experts on blogging and social technology research. In her interview with Lee, she mentions several CEO blogs that are well done, and some of the problems inherent in executive blogging.

Read the interview, and buy the book, if you want to understand what's coming next for using social technologies for marketing large and small.

Rules for Renegades by Christine Comoford-Lynch

This book rocks. I knew it was going to be part autobiographical, part business, part career-oriented. After all, the sub-title reads, "How to make more money, rock your career, and revel in your individuality." I didn't know it was going to be so profound.

I'd never heard of the author, Christine Comoford-Lynch, before I picked up the book. And I wasn't sure that this wasn't a kind of "look-at-me-ain't-I-wonderful" story. But the book more than delivers quality stories and life lessons. Comoford-Lynch is a real authentic "player" in a man's world of venture capital and high-tech.

I'll admit I was attracted to the book for the title - and I'm probably not the only one. Who among us doesn't feel they too are a rebel? (Even while we sip our Starbuck's...) Especially those of us who have forged our own paths into self-employment at home on the Internet...

But this woman - well, she went from high-school drop out, to monk, to being one of the few women to work at Microsoft in the early days, to multimillionaire. Christine Comaford-Lynch dated Bill Gates, Larry Ellison and other powerful figures, and she also faced humiliation by association with a con-artist guru.

Rules for Renegades is full of life lessons including some excellent ideas for networking and facing rejection. Read it for fun, for business tips, for personal development. But be sure to read it. I loved it.

Branding Books: What you need to know to get known

Recently Denise and I (The Blog Squadtm) did some research for a workshop on Branding and Blogging. I'd like to share some books on branding you'll want to read. Even if you already have a name for your business, it's never too late to find a good/better/best name for your information products and programs.

Here's a list of our favorites:

POP! Stand Out in Any Crowd, by Sam Horn (I love this book!)

The Anatomy of Buzz: How to Create Word of Mouth Marketing, by Emanuel Rosen

Hot Button Marketing: Push the Emotional Buttons That Get People to Buy, by Barry Feig

The Elements of Persuasion: Use Storytelling to Pitch Better, Sell Faster & Win More Business, by Richard Maxwell & Robert Dickman

Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing, by Bryan & Jeffrey Eisenberg

Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand, by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson (listen to our interview with William Arruda)

Get Slightly Famous: Become a Celebrity in Your Field and Attract More Business with Less Effort, by Steven Van Yoder

Any other branding/marketing books you'd like to add?

Publish a Tips Booklet to Boost Your Business: a Conversation with Paulette Ensign

Paulette Ensign is an expert in marketing with Tips Booklets. Don't miss our Conversation with Expert Teleseries this Wednesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, and learn how you can write and publish a tips booklet and boost your business.

Paulette is well known in the marketing arena with tips booklets; she is known as the Booklets Queen, having sold over a million of these clever publications. She wrote an interesting post on her blog this week, called "I Wanna Publish a Book, I Wanna Be On Oprah, I Wanna..."

I agree with Paulette: far too many professionals know they need to get a book published, but never find the time to do it. Truth is, publishing a book is time consuming and not always worth it. Writing a shorter version in the form of a tips booklet may get the job of marketing done without wasting time, money and energy. But you need to learn how to do it right.

I met Paulette in Washington DC at the book conference, and had the pleasure of getting to know her at dinner. Turns out she lives 3 blocks away from my house in Del Mar! Paulette has a great sense of humor, and a finely tuned eye for what works in business.

Here's the skinny on the Conversation this Wednesday. The call is without charge, unless you want to order the audio recording, but registration is required over at Conversations with Experts.

Paulette Ensign, Tips Products International

Are You Waiting for Your Cat to Bark?

Here's an enthusiastic endorsement of a new book about the new ways of marketing to customers. The book is Waiting for Your Cat to Bark? by Jeffrey and Brian Eisenberg, and it will be released June 12. But Michele Miller is so taken by this book that she's offering people bonuses just for announcing it. Here's what Michele, of WonderBranding marketing to women blog has to say:

"The wait is over... not for your cat but for the book itself. Waiting For Your Cat to Bark? the newest book from Jeffrey and Bryan Eisenberg (along with the incomparable Lisa Davis) hits the shelves June 12th."

(Remember A Call to Action? Same authors.)

"Having read a pre-publication copy, I can assure you this is one book you're going to want to get your hands on. Plain and simple, it's all about persuading customers to do business with you when they ignore marketing. And this team of authors does a heck of a job. Read an excerpt from the book here. .

"In the book, you'll learn:

• How the customer's buying process works in a cross-channel, new media-driven marketplace
• Why customers respond differently today than they used to
• How to use the Web to generate persuasive momentum across multiple channels
• How the various touch-points within a business affect each other
• How to guide prospects through the buying process at every customer touch-points
• How personality traits influence customer behavior online and offline
• How to anticipate the different angles from which customers approach your business
• How to identify and provide meaningful answers to your customers' questions at each stage of their buying process
• How to begin implementing Persuasion Architecture™ techniques for your business

"In addition to the book, you also get an 80-minute DVD of a conversation about the book that took place between the Eisenbergs and some of the great marketing minds of the day (yes, I'm in the audience and no to your other question).

"You can also read reviews from folks like Seth Godin, Jeffrey Gitomer and Roy H. Williams. Do I believe in this book? So much so that I've already ordered multiple copies for clients, colleagues and friends.

"And if you purchase your books by June 15th, I'll sweeten the pot. For every book purchased, I'll donate $2 to the Grameen Foundation, reducing global poverty by providing microbusiness financing opportunities to individuals around the world. (Just send me a copy of your receipt)

"For each of you who posts a blog announcing the publication of Waiting for Your Cat to Bark? I'll send you a copy of the book itself.

"Yes, it's worth that much. This is a book everyone in the business world is going to be talking about very soon - why not be one of the first?"

Thanks, Michele. I trust you. I'll go buy a copy; and you can send one to me to offer as a gift to someone.