Business Book Reviews

The Hidden Profit Center Helen Wilkie Review

The Hidden Profit Center by Helen Wilkie
Book Review - 3 Stars

The full title of this book by Helen Wilkie is "The Hidden Profit Center: A Tale of Profits Lost And Found Through Communication".

It tells the story of Richard, the CEO of a business with a strong history but poor current performance and his revelations through meeting Annie, a very special cleaner who is able to transport Richard back in time and a rabbit to ring up the money.

He sees the communication issues in his business and how poor communication translates into lost profit.

The worthless meetings where people are badly prepared, the meeting is badly run and drags on for what seems forever.

The poor presentation to a major prospective customer where the salesperson broadcasts rather than engages in conversation about what is needed and how the company can help.

The time wasted by staff struggling to communicate with each other and the damaging effect on morale.

The networking opportunities that were missed but could so easily have been taken if staff had the confidence to engage with others.

The Hidden Profit Center does a very good job of showing how poor communication creates excess cost and missed revenue opportunities - and how correcting these problems can yield hidden profit - that's profit potential that exists but the business is missing.

The book makes you hungry for how to solve these problems but then doesn't deliver.

There is a tiny little section at the back which looks tacked on as an after-thought.

The Hidden Profit Center is a lead generation book, designed to create communications consultancy opportunities for the author.

It is well written and would be fine as a free ebook since the message is powerful.

However I feel cheated.

Yes it is nice to see the problem in a new way - although in my Hidden Profit coaching I already show that improved communication can be one source.

But the value comes from the solution and the book doesn't deliver.

To quote one of my marketing heroes formulas, you should state the problem, agitate it and solve it but The Hidden Profit Center only goes as far as a sales letter. It hints at the solution but you need to spend more to get the answers.

I would have liked to have seen each of the areas of lost profit be backed up with detailed guidance on how to improve or if the story was continued, how Richard and his staff learnt improved communication skills and benefited.

If you think there is a communication problem in your business, The Hidden Profit Center will show you areas to look - even without Annie the time travelling office cleaner.

But because it doesn't provide the answers I rate it as 3 Stars. Worth reading if this is what you are interested in but I can't recommend it to the average business owner or manager.

I have discovered that you can read the first two chapters for free at Helen Wilkie's website MHW Communications and the three reviewers at Amazon love it.
   

Sales On A Beermat Review

Sales On A Beermat by Mike Southan and Chris West
Review - 4 Stars

The popular Beermat Entrepreneur book has been followed up by "Sales On A Beermat" by Mike Southan and Chris West has the key message:

 Be liked. Qualify. Close.

It is a light, easy read which will suit anyone who needs to sell - perhaps because you are the only person in your business - but doesn't want to fall into any of the typical stereotypes for sales people.

In fact I find that two things tend to hold people back in sales:

1. Fear of rejection - it is not nice when someone doesn't want (or like) what you are selling but you have to get over it.
    
   
2. Fear of being seen as a pushy salesperson.   

Both give the business owner reluctantly making sales an excuse to stay in the office and to avoid making those calls.

No Customers No Business

It may be harsh but it is undeniably true.

You must get over your fears and Sales On A Beermat is like having a light, friendly chat in the pub with your mate who is an expert professional salesperson.

As the book says (page 10) "Beermat salespeople are honest, genuinely care about their customers and enjoy their work."

If you agree with the first two points but hate selling, then the Sales On A Beermat book is a great place for you to see that there is another way.

Everybody Is A Salesperson

I am more about marketing than selling - and believe Peter Drucker's statement that the purpose of marketing is to make selling superfluous - so while I say "everything you do is marketing" - it all creates an impact on customers, prospective customers and anyone connected to the business - I don't have any issue with the book shifting the "it's everybody's job" to selling.

Sales Roles

Sales On A Beermat specifies a number of different selling roles - eight in total - so the idea is not that everyone is a cold-call telephone sales person.

Sales On A Beermat Review

My purpose is not to summarise the book but I have given you a brief synopsis of the first three chapters out of ten.

Professional sales people will find the book a refreshing read packed which takes the British approach to consultative selling.

This is very much about helping customers to buy and not aggressively pitching them and closing them with any manipulative technique you can think of.

Small business owners will find the book easy to read and if you are trapped in the "I don't want to be a salesperson" mindset, it will change your perceptions about selling.

I rate Sales On A Beermat as a 4 Star book and that means it has a buy recommendation from me. It is well worth reading but I don't see it as the only sales book to read.

Buying Sales On A Beermat from Amazon

There are 12 Five Star reviews for Sales On A Beermat at Amazon.co.uk   The latest edition is not available from Amazon.com

Their kind words - as it is 12 5 star reviews out of 12 reviews - make me feel stingy but I have to live up to my tough reviewer reputation.

Mind Control Marketing Mark Joyner Review

Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner
Review - 4.5 Stars

Mark Joyner has written an extremely interesting book, "Mind Control Marketing", or more formally "MindControlMarketing.com: How Everyday People Are Using Forbidden Mind Control Psychology and Ruthless Military Tactics To Make Millions Online".

Mind Control Marketing was his first published bestseller (Mark had previously written very popular Internet marketing ebooks) and it was an instant hit.

An Example Of Mind Control Marketing

Suddenly the book was withdrawn from market under allegations that the tactics were too dangerous and the world was not ready to learn Mind Control Marketing.

But was this just an exercise in hype and an example of mind control marketing?

When you know about something and you can't get it, desire to have it goes up and second hand copies started selling on Amazon for high prices.

Then last year the book was re-released as a pdf ebook - Mind Control Marketing

The Structure of Mind Control Marketing

Mark Joyner has written the book in two parts:

1. Psychology - Chapters 1 to 9 look at techniques to influence or control other people's minds and reading it took me back to some of my MBA studies for organisational behaviour. Interestingly I hadn't made the connection into marketing.
    
   
2. Warfare - Chapters 10 to 20 which I think of as helping you to control your own mind for success.

With the release of the Mind Control Marketing ebook, we also have a chapter he thought about writing but didn't which looks at the mind control techniques used in brainwashing by cults - but which are also used by government and society to mould cultural norms.

What Is In Mind Control Marketing Part 1 Psychology?

This is the section I believe is the core of marketing with mind control and what I was expecting from the book by Mark Joyner.   

1. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 1 - conformity to group norms - the heard mentality and how to use it.
    
   
2. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 2 - obedience to authority - yes sir, no sir, would you like my credit card sir.
    
   
3. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 3 - the foot in the door phenomenon - fending off your mouse click to oblivion
    
   
4. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 4 - The Zeigarnik Effect - the power of unfinished thoughts
    
   
5. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 5 - Cognitive dissonance - happiness means never having to say you're wrong.
    
   
6. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 6 - Conformity to emotions - you smile, I smile, you weep, I weep.
    
   
7. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 7 - Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs - tapping into the pursuit of satisfaction
    
   
8. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 8 - Framing - beauty may only be skin deep, but who wants to be ugly.
    
   
9. Mind Control Marketing Chapter 9 - Uncertainty - it's a sure thing that there's no such thing as a sure thing.

If you have done any studying of psychology, you will be familiar with the concepts, but like me may not have made the connection with marketing.

The Mind Control Marketing book reflects some of the techniques Mark Joyner has used in his Simpleology training courses to facilitate learning the core ideas.

In particular each book has a number of cartoons that illustrate and emphasise the key mind control marketing messages. These lighten the load and reinforce the essential points.

But I also found that they could make the messages seem superficial and I benefited more from reading Mind Control Marketing the second time as my mind was more tuned in.

There is a difficult balancing act.

I don't think anyone thinks of psychology and mind control as light and fluffy subjects but the book is well written and very easy to read.

Each chapter has a brief summary of the concept, the key lesson and the action steps to implement the mind control technique - or perhaps to reduce the thoughts of "evil psychological manipulation", I should refer to them as influence and persuasion techniques.

Mind Control Marketing Part 2 Warfare

In this section of the Mind Control Marketing book, Mark Joyner draws on his experience as a US military intelligence officer and his knowledge of warfare.

These eleven chapters focus on what it takes to win the marketing battle and help you win the inner battle in your own mind. Very interesting but they don't directly link into part one of the book.

The chapters are:

1. Chapter 10 - Killer Junior - impending death is one hell of a mother of invention.
    
   
2. Chapter 11 - Heavy Ground - waging the economic art of war
    
   
3. Chapter 12 - Deception - avoiding the deadly delete key
    
   
4. Chapter 13 - Concentration - kick your opponent where it hurts - right in his dispersion.
    
   
5. Chapter 14 - Factors of Recognition - seeing is believing...and more
    
   
6. Chapter 15 - Continuous Operation - how to keep the machine running.
    
   
7. Chapter 16 - Quick Victories - pick battles worth fighting.
    
   
8. Chapter 17 - Boldness and Taking Risks - the meek shall inherit nothing
    
   
9. Chapter 18 - Don't Never Take A Chance You Don't Have To - bold and stupid are not synonyms.
    
   
10. Chapter 19 - Don't Ever March Home The Same Way - if you don't float like a butterfly, you're going to get stung by some smart bees
     
    
11. Chapter 20 - The Fox and the Rabbit - desire is everything.

Overall Assessment of Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner

Mind Control Marketing wasn't the book I was expecting as only nine of the twenty chapters looks at the psychological persuasion tactics used to help customers to buy.

I enjoyed reading the book, both parts 1 and part 2 of Mind Control Marketing are very interesting and well written but I was disappointed. I wanted more on the persuasion tactics although I did but the upsell for the Catalog of Esoteric Psychological Lore anyway.

It was only on the second reading of Mind Control Marketing that I realised what a very good marketing book it is - and how it is refreshing different from the norm.

For my review rating, I give Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner 4.5 stars which is a strong buy recommendation.

I understand why 104 of the 115 reviews on Amazon.com give Mind Control Marketing the full 5 stars and 5 gave it 1 star.

Mind Control Marketing doesn't make the full five stars from me partly because it is only available as an ebook, its focus is on Internet marketing - as that was Mark Joyner's speciality - although 90% of the lessons apply elsewhere and lastly, I am very stingy with my 5 star ratings.

Buying Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner

You can get a copy of the pdf ebook Mind Control Marketing from Simpleology or if you want to try it yourself, you can get the first two chapters of the book free of charge.

I recommend that you open a Simpleology account as Mark Joyner has a givers mentality and there is some great free stuff available including his next book The Irresistible Offer.

Mark says in the introduction to Mind Control Marketing, that he sees offers as the core ingredient of business and that the Mind Control Marketing tactics covered in the book should be seen as offer intensifiers.

Have You Read Mind Control Marketing?

If you have read Mind Control Marketing, I would be interested to read whether you agree with my review so please leave a comment.

Simplified Strategic Planning Review

Simplified Strategic Planning by Robert Bradford, Peter Duncan and Brian Tarcy

Review - 4.5 Stars

The full title of this book is "Simplified Strategic Planning: A No Nonsense Guide For Busy People Who Want Results Fast" and it is written by Robert W. Bradford and L. Peter Duncan with Brian Tarcy.

It captures the approach of the Center for Simplified Strategic Planning and is a very good guide for any medium sized business which feels lost when thinking about business strategy.

Strategy is one of those words that nearly everyone feels obliged to use but it's often difficult to put a finger on what it means theoretically when you are in the process of thinking or doing strategic planning.

It is harder to see effective strategy in action as too many businesses which have gone to the time and trouble of preparing a strategic plan, don't put into action effectively.

The "Simplified Strategic Planning" book certainly helps with its practical step by step approach which contrasts sharply with many of the strategy books you will see in the book shop targeted at academics and MBA students.

The book assumes little or no knowledge of strategy and therefore may not suit anyone who is looking for an in-depth assessment of cutting edge strategies - but that's not what the book is about. The title is very descriptive:

• It is strategic planning simplified
   
  
• It is a no nonsense guide
   
  
• And it is for busy people who want results

The Core Questions Of Simplified Strategic Planning

I like the way that the Simplified Strategic Planning book strips strategy down to three questions - but then it is an approach I use:

1. What are you go to sell
    
   
2. Who are you going to sell to
    
   
3. How can you beat or avoid the competition

The book then takes you through the process of:

• putting your strategy team together and making sure they understand the importance of the task
   
  
• defining your market and analysing your market segments
   
  
• evaluating the competition
   
  
• assessing your own strengths and weaknesses
   
  
• looking into the future
   
  
• evaluating opportunities and threats
   
  
• designing what a winner will look like
   
  
• committing to your strategy
   
  
• communicating it through your mission, goals and objectives
   
  
• preparing an strategy action plan that works.
  

Who Is Simplified Strategic Planning For?

I think I would point it at businesses with 15 to 100 employees.

I don't think smaller businesses will do the work, although they can certainly benefit from it and it will help them to think about the future.

Larger companies may need something more sophisticated, either because they have to follow group policies and procedures which may involve exercises not included in Simplified Strategic Planning or because one or more of the senior managers are more strategically sophisticated than the book.

The one exception I would make, is that if someone is suffering from the danger of too much knowledge and trying to do too many different things, then the book very usefully takes you back to basics.

Criticisms of Simplified Strategic Planning

First a little niggle. The book is written as if these strategic planning ideas were created by the authors. It doesn't recognise the contribution made by strategic planning academics or consultants but any sophisticated recognise the influences.

There is no reference list and not even Michael Porter is acknowledged on the index.

Second, I would have liked to see more in the book about the development of sustainable competitive advantages.

The book generally recommends a niche strategy which I agree with based on who the book is targeted towards but there should be more in there about how to understand what it is that customers in the niche want.

Rating of Simplified Strategic Planning

I rate this book at 4.5 stars which is a strong recommendation to buy. It does give you the framework to put together a strategic plan and delivers on the promise in the title.

Have you read Simplified Strategic Planning? If so I would be very interested to read what you think so please leave a comment.

Buying Simplified Strategic Planning from Amazon

You can find out more details and buy Simplified Strategic Planning from Amazon.

Here are the links to the relevant pages at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk

No BS Direct Marketing Dan Kennedy Review

No BS Direct Marketing by Dan Kennedy

Review - 3 Stars

The full title of this book by Dan S. Kennedy is No B.S. Direct Marketing : The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Direct Marketing For Non-Direct Marketing Businesses.

I really wanted to like this book based on the title and my high regard for Dan Kennedy. I had visions of adding it to my list of books I like all my clients to read.

So many businesses make basic marketing mistakes because "advertising media" salespeople and graphic designers like pretty marketing.

To them it doesn't matter if it works - that is it makes more sales and profit - provided it looks good and is seen to help build the right image for the company.

So I expected this book to help break the image myth and to focus attention on the money issue.

No BS Direct Marketing does and it doesn't.

There are ten "No BS" rules which are useful but that is one chapter.

There is the usual stuff about market - message - media match which is the essence of effective marketing but it is not covered as well as in The Ultimate Marketing Plan also by Dan Kennedy.

That takes you to page 39.

Then you run into the stuff from Dan Kennedy students and clients who have become the gurus in their own niche areas using direct marketing.

In theory there is nothing wrong with the testimonials and case studies but too often they are pitches for their own businesses. Some are much better than others in that they stir the emotions and you can imagine how you would respond if you were in the niche.

Others are blatant promotions which don't hit the home run intended.

Most of the chapters of No BS Direct Marketing end with samples - but you need a magnifying glass to be able to read them - assuming the print magnifies clearly.

I like the idea of showing how staid businesss like dentists, chirpractors, mortgage brokers and retail can be transformed through the effective use of direct marketing but better quality control and editing was needed.

Rating for No BS Direct Marketing By Dan Kennedy

I rate "No BS Direct Marketing" by Dan Kennedy as a 3 star book.

I am disappointed.

There is some merit in reading it but I can't recommend that anyone unless you are an extreme Dan Kennedy addict buys it and spend your time reading it.

The Dan Kennedy Resources You Should Buy

Much better to seek out:

• The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy - which shows you how to put together the direct marketing message in detail or the Ultimate Marketing Plan which gives you the background logic.
   
  
• The other No BS books - No BS Direct Marketing could put you off and you will miss some great hard hitting advice which does deliver on the "no holds barred, kick butt, take no prisoners" approach.
  

If your marketing is not as effective as you want, you need to pay attention to Dan Kennedy and the Kennedy style direct marketing. Time after time it has been proven to work and Dan Kennedy has been the highest paid copywriter in America.

He knows his stuff - and you can get a much better idea by taking up this free gift than from buying "No BS Direct Marketing". It gives you a chance to sample two months of his famous NO BS marketing newsletter together with webinars where you can learn more about Dan Kennedy and his ideas for entrepreneurial success.  

Ultimate Marketing Plan Dan Kennedy Review

The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy

Review - 4 Stars

I am going through an intensive Dan Kennedy phase at the moment and have just finished reading "The Ultimate Marketing Plan Third Edition" by Dan S. Kennedy.

It is a book that has given me mixed feelings.

What I don't like about The Ultimate Marketing Plan

Rant 1 - I have ranted before about the use of the word Ultimate - it makes me mad since it seems editions 1 and 2 didn't turn out to be the ultimate.

This one isn't either.

In fact the title is a bit of a misnomer.

Rant 2 - Dan Kennedy takes you through many different topics - and it makes great reading - but I didn't feel that I was reading a book about preparing a marketing plan.

Improving my marketing yes, writing a marketing plan no.

There is a form at the back which tries to pull the topics together to create a marketing plan with a worked example - but it didn't work.

Rant 3 - Dan Kennedy is a direct response marketer and you have a regular call to action to join his marketing group. Again a great idea - and there is an incentive at the bottom for you to try it - but some will be put off my the blatant commercialism of the Ultimate Marketing Plan.

Rant 4 - the book constantly refers to a website with extra resources to give you more details. A great idea but it builds up the promise and expectation.

The stuff ain't there.

And for a marketer of Dan Kennedy's reputation that is just plain crazy.

He builds up desire for more information and then doesn't deliver.

My copy was bought new several weeks ago (March 2009) and the book is copyrighted 2006 so it doesn't make sense to spoil the book by taking away the resources so quickly.

What I like about The Ultimate Marketing Plan

Dan Kennedy is famous for his no BS approach and apart from the nonsense above, that's exactly what he delivers.

Well written, very informative and interesting.

Plenty of examples to show you the direct marketing approach and the emphasis on message, market and media.

The Ultimate Marketing Plan is packed with common sense and I've made plenty of notes.

Rating & Recommendation for The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy

This is a 4.5 star book which has been deducted 0.5 point for no longer meeting the promises made. So my overall rating of The Ultimate Marketing Plan is 4 stars

That still makes the Ultimate Marketing Plan a recommended book to read.

It is not recommended for someone who wants to know how to write a marketing plan. There are better, more structured books and guides for that - both for internal focus and action and external review.

I do recommend the Ultimate Marketing Plan for anyone who wants to learn more about the legendary Dan Kennedy and his ideas or for someone who wants to use direct response marketing in a business.

The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy is focused on the copywriting elements of the marketing message and the two books will work very well together.

You can buy both from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

Free Gift

I have arranged a SPECIAL FREE GIFT from Dan for you including a 2-Month Free Membership in Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle, newsletters, audio CD’s and more: for information and to register, visit: www.freegiftfrom.com/psimister.

Tested Advertising Methods John Caples Review

Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples

Review - 4.5 Stars

I have just finished reading "Tested Advertising Methods : Fifth Edition" by John Caples and revised by Fred E. Hahn.

No wonder it is considered a direct response marketing classic.

Apart from a little too much repetition, I think it is a terrific book.

John Caples - Systematic Tested Advertising Methods

John Caples is another of the classic advertising men like Claude Hopkins and Robert Collier with a prodigious talent for copywriting.

Caples was a naval engineer turned advertising man - and like all engineers thrived on analysis and he developed the Tested Advertising Methods.

The only thing that interested him was advertising that sold - and he systematically tested little changes to see if they would work better.

If they did, he learnt. If they didn't, he also learnt.

John Caples - A Creative Genius

But John Caples wasn't just about analytical research.

He was also a creative genius with words.

At the age of 25 and within months of starting as a copywriter he created one of THE classic headlines to sell a correspondence course in playing the piano.

"They Laughed When I Sat Down
At The Piano
But When I Started To Play!-

It was immensely successful and since then has been adapted many times and is quoted in most books on copywriting.

Within a month, John Caples himself had reworked the headline to sell a French correspondence course:

"They grinned when the waiter spoke to me in French - but their laughter turned to amazement at my reply"

Same kind of emotional pull - embarrassment turns to respect.

The last time I saw the twist, it was on the upgraded Magnetic Marketing System from Dan Kennedy.

""They all laughed when I said my business was growing by leaps and bounds despite the recession angst - but they don't have THE MAGNETIC MARKETING SYSTEM..."

Tested Advertising Methods - Headlines  

This John Caples book is particularly strong on headlines and the results of headlines which have worked against those that didn't.

If the headline doesn't capture the reader's attention, the advert is ignored.

These few chapter will pay for the cost of the book on its own many times over.

The rest of the book is also packed with stuff that works - and when you see it, you understand why - or at least I do, most of the time.

Tested Advertising Methods Revised by Fred Hahn

When I reviewed Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins I said it was very good but the writing style is old fashioned.

Fred Hahn has done an excellent job (or labour of love) in bringing Tested Advertising Methods up to date with this revision in 1997.

Modern adverts are used as well as the old classics and you can see how things have developed.

Overall Recommendation on "Tested Advertising Methods" by John Caples

Read this book.

I rate "Tested Advertising Methods" as a 4.5 star book which is a strong buy recommendation.

For much of the book, I thought I had found a five star book - but in the end, the repetition got to me and I have docked it half a point.

My copy is covered in highlights and I will be updating my copywriting notes with huge chunks of this book.

While Tested Advertising Methods and John Caples are referred to in many modern copywriting books, I don't believe that there is any substitute for reading the original.

Tested Advertising Methods is rightly regarded as a copywriting and direct response marketing classic.

Buying Your Copy Of Tested Advertising Methods from Amazon

Links through to the Tested Advertisng Methods pages for Amazon.com and Amazon.co..uk

Copywriter's Handbook Bob Bly

The Copywriter's Handbook by Robert Bly

Review - 4 Stars

The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells by  Robert W. Bly (better known in the copywriting world as Bob Bly) is considered to be a modern classic.

Advertising legend David Ogilvy wrote "I don't know a single copywriter whose work would not be improved by reading this book. And that includes me."

I bought it because of the rave reviews on Amazon.com. To date 57 people have been inspired to write about The Copywriter's Handbook and 44 have given it a 5 star rating.

Who is The Copywriter's Handbook For?

The back cover says that it is for anyone who writes or approves copy including entrepreneurs.

I see it more for beginners and aspiring freelance copywriters.

What Is The Copywriter's Handbook Like?

No surprise - it is very well written and very easy to read.

The scope is very broad with chapters on print advertisements, direct mail, brochures, public relations, commercials and multi-media, websites and emails.

It also covers the issues of:

• How to get as a job as a copywriter
   
  
• How to hire and work with copywriters  

The final chapter is an introduction to graphic design issues.

There is a good chapter on headlines - often the most essential element of copy since what you write has to be read.

However the book was short of wows - so I didn't find myself rushing to update my notes or reaching for the highlighting pen too often. But I don't believe I am the target audience. I have studied too much of Jay Abraham, Drayton Bird, Dan Kennedy and John Carlton.

Rating of The Copywriter's Handbook by Bob Bly - 4 Stars

My thoughts are that The Copywriter's Handbook is good, very good and deserves four stars.

It is recommended for anyone wanting to become a freelance copywriter since it has such a wide scope and it is a useful reminder of the basics for more experienced copywriters and people who have been studying copywriting and direct response marketing.

You can buy The Copywriter's Handbook from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk   

Marketing Secrets Of A Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur

The Marketing Secrets Of A Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur by Jonathan Jay

Review - 4 Stars

Jonathan Jay, entrepreneur and founder of the Coaching Academy has written "The Marketing Secrets Of A Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur" as part of the promotional activities for his new venture SuccessTrack.

Jonathan (or JJ) is giving the book away for free and it is an informative, quick read written in easy to understand language and makes a nice primer for any very small business.

At only 71 pages including a pitch for SuccessTrack it does not go into much detail but you will find practical tips in the following areas:

1. Advertising
    
   
2. Copywriting
    
   
3. Lead generation and customer databases
    
   
4. Public relations
    
   
5. Promotions
    
   
6. Referrals
    
   
7. Testimonials
    
   
8. Why you don't need a sales team
    
   
9. How to dominate your market   

I rate "The Marketing Secrets Of A Multi-Millionaire Entrepreneur" by Jonathan Jay as 4 stars recommended book.

I would have been less generous if Jonathan had padded the book to make it longer since there are better marketing books around.

Click on the link to order your copy of Marketing Secrets - I am sure that it will reward the investment of your time since it only takes one of Jonathan's ideas that is new to you to pay-off.

Just don't expect this book to turn you into a multi-millionaire. I am sure that there is much more to Jonathan Jay's success than is revealed in this book.     

So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur

The latest book in for review is "So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur? How To Decide If Starting A Business Really Is For You?" by Jon Gillespie-Brown.

This is a two purpose book:

1. It has been written to help anyone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur to find out if you are "made of the right stuff"
    
   
2. To raise money for the Grameen Foundation, a US based nonprofit organisation that seeks to empower the world's poorest people out of poverty with dignity through access to financial services and to information.

It's not an organisation I know but I applaud the desire to create a spirit of entrepreneurism throughout the world and as a regular visitor to Southern Africa, I know how desperately help is needed.

I haven't had a chance to read the book yet but "So You Want To Be An Entrepreneur" looks a very practical book for anyone thinking of starting a new business with chapters on:

1. The entrepreneur test - a quiz to see how suitable you are to life as an entrepreneur
    
   
2. An introduction to entrepreneurship
    
   
3. Entrepreneurs uncovered which shatters ten myths about entrepreneurs
    
   
4. Entrepreneurial lifestyle - why it is so great to be an entrepreneur
    
   
5. Two chapters on deconstructing yourself to carry out a personal inventory of your skills and abilities and then your motivation.
    
   
6. How to decide whether being an entrepreneur is really for you
    
   
7. A chapter to make sure that your take your family along on the journey
    
   
8. A final wrap-up chapter to decide if you are ready to be an entrepreneur.

This book has endorsements from three former Dragons' Den entrepreneurs - Doug Richard, Richard Farleigh and Rachel Elnaugh.

I'll tell you more when I read the book.

You can get it from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com - everyone so far rates this as a 5 star book.