As I see it, there are a few ways to help you succeed in Internet Marketing. A couple of ways that I particularly like is to find a mentor who can show you the ropes and to get yourself an Internet Marketing education.
Having been there, I am still amazed at how many people will put out the big bucks for the latest and greatest digital product that makes the promise to help them to make a ton of money online, but they will not do any purchasing of any physical books on marketing and selling. Believe me I have learned my lessons.
Why should you invest in your education? Even if you are selling online or offline, you will find similar principles of selling are used. Though you are selling to people, the only thing different will be the delivery. It has always been and will remain true, knowledge is power and getting all the know-how you can will help you in many ways.
You will learn about writing compelling sales copy that can help turn people to buyers, Still not one of my strong points but I will continue to work on it. Even if you want to outsource your sales letters, you are selling in everything you do , be it from autoresponder emails to requests for joint venture partners.
Remember that you should treat internet marketing as a profession, not a hobby. As with your offline profession, wouldn’t you read books to help you get ahead in your profession? Here are just a few of the books you might consider reading as part of your internet marketing education.
Anything by Dan Kennedy such as The Ultimate Sales Letter, The No B.S. series, The Ultimate Marketing Plan, etc
Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini
Advertising Secrets of the Written Word by Joseph Sugarman
Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy
Advanced Selling Strategies by Brian Tracy
Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch
Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Web Copy That Sells by Marie Veloso
Top Grading by Brad Smart
Poor Richard’s Web Site Marketing Makeover by Marcia Yudkin
My Life in Advertising and Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
Get Slightly Famous by Steve VanYoder
101 Ways to Promote Yourself by Raleigh Pinskey
Getting Everything You Can Out Of All You’ve Got by Jay Abraham
The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clayson
The Science Of Influence by Kevin Hogan
Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Purple Cow by Seth Godin
Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz
Metaphorically Selling by Anne Miller
Pushing To The Front by Orison Swett Marden
Sizzlemanship by Elmer Wheeler
Focal Point by Brian Tracy
Looking Out For Number One by Robert Ringer
Law Of Success by Napoleon Hill
The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes
Tribes by Seth Godin (or anything by him)
This is but a sampling of some of the best books on business and selling out there. I am sure you also have a few favorite that you could add to this list. This is but a sampling. Try taking some time each week to further your education with the printed word and see how what you learn will be shown through the growth of your business.
January 30th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Nice list and yes Amazon is in my budget for a healthy amount each month. Currently reading Tribes and just ordered Seth’s latest which just launched and should be here next week.
January 30th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Great list, Andre – but one I have to add is ‘Ready, Fire, Aim!’ by Michael Masterson which, like Ringer’s ‘Looking Out For #1′, is equally applicable online and offline – small wonder then that each has a daily online newsletter, eh?
January 31st, 2010 at 1:25 am
That is a nice list. Another one I’ve enjoyed is The Long Tail by Chris Anderson. I still like a good old fashioned paper book
January 31st, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Great list, and the idea is certainly sound. If I may make a suggestion, I’d be interested in knowing which are your three top choices.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:02 pm
I would say I started out like most with Napoleon Hill, have read Dan Kennedy and Robert T. Kiyosaki. I need to read Tribes by Seth next. What are your favorites?
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Very comprehensive list Andre.
I am listening to ‘Ready, Fire, Aim’ right now, as Doug mentioned and another I will suggest is ‘Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion’ by Robert Cialdini if you are looking for some phsychological triggers in your copywriting.
Again, very good list.