Business Opportunities Weblog

My Favorite Books of 2007: Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing

By on December 3, 2007 in Books / Giveaways

I have this friend who’s been trying to start a business for years. It’s sad, because he actually think’s he’s in business. He’s incredibly smart, and has developed a very interesting technology, but try as I might, he won’t follow my rules and just get out there and try to sell his product. He still doesn’t know if he’s developed a product that someone will actually give him money for, because he’s so caught up in deciding on a business structure, putting together a business plan, building a website, meeting with lawyers and all of the other minutiae of business.

He’s going to be getting a copy of my second favorite business book of 2007 for Christmas. It’s Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing: A No Bullsh*t Guide for Ph.D.s, Lab Rats, Suits and Entrepreneurs.

I have one copy of the book to giveaway. To enter, comment on this post.

SelectBooks description of the book after the jump.

So you think you know marketing…

Think again. Lies Start-ups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing uses the tough love approach to steer you clear of the pitfalls and self-deceptions that have been the undoing of many when confronted with the harsh realities of today’s marketplace.

Sandra Holtzman and Jean Kondek employ their combined 40+ years’ worth of marketing savvy to cut through all the usual malarkey—and, let’s face it, bullsh@#*—to give you a streamlined approach to successfully launching a product, service, or company. Better than a handbook, Lies Start-ups Tell Themselves provides 10 fast-track, step-by-step chapters for planning and implementing a successful marketing program that you can get started on TODAY.

The writing is clear and concise, breaking down concepts into bite-sized, easy to grasp nuggets for today’s busy audience. Moreover, each chapter is stand-alone and immediately actionable.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the value of a well thought out marketing program. But carving your niche in the marketplace can be a daunting task. Lies Start-ups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing guides you through the pitfalls and challenges to a successful start-up or product launch.

books

Business Opportunities Weblog editor and publisher Dane Carlson lives in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, just 15 miles from Yosemite National Park. He accidentally became a professional blogger in 2001. He has added 12,203 posts to the site.

Another Idea: How to Start a Web Marketing Business

  • http://www.alldivamedia.com DJ Nelson

    Those rules are quite interesting. At first I didn’t know if it was a straightforward post, or one of those sarcastic posts. Yet, I still get the point, because I’ve seen a lot of people get worked up over the “stuff” when that’s not what’s going to add to profitability in any way.

  • Adam

    Enter me for the book please. Got a partner I have been working with to start a business and that is our biggest obstacle. He wants our framework to be impeccable and have a customer before we start marketing. We disagree on this aspect.

  • http://www.empactcommerce.com Craig Eddy

    Please enter me for the book. My boss @ my full-time job could really use this advice coming from someone other than me!

  • http://www.wmtoolbox.com Oleg

    Is it possible to win more than once? :D

    The 4-Hour Workweek was great. I’ll write a review as soon as I get the chance, have been swamped lately.

  • http://www.business-opportunities.biz Dane

    Oleg: Sure!

    Note: Oleg won a copy of The 4-Hour Workweek.

  • http://www.businessopportunitiesandideas.co.uk/ John

    Sounds like an interesting book. BTW there’s a typo on “smart”.

  • http://www.business-opportunities.biz Dane

    John: Thanks for the correction.

  • http://bankingkismet.wordpress.com/ George

    I’ve been “starting” a business for a couple of years now. That book looks like it explains my hesitance with stepping out there.

  • http://www.contestu.com/ Sensei

    Cool, I’d love to read through this book. Every little bit helps. Here’s my post on the contest:

    http://www.contestu.com/contest/lies-startups-tell-themselves-to-avoid-marketing-book-contest/

  • Mary

    Oh Man, you are right

  • BT

    Count me in!

  • http://www.contestbeat.com Contest Beat

    Hi there

    I blogged about your contest here – http://www.contestbeat.com/win-an-ipod-nano-and-a-couple-of-books/

    All we do is write about contests in the blogosphere so hopefully we can send you a few more entries too!

    Regards, Matt.

  • SSK

    Please enter me for the book. I wish I had your book four years ago, when I started a business that failed to take off because we were too busy ‘organization’ building instead of building the business!

    I will start a business again, but this time, armed with hindsight and sound advice.

  • http://jasonncaryn.blogspot.com Caryn Bailey

    Count me in please!

  • Cindi Hoppes

    Hello! I have been seriously thinking about starting my own small business. I have been a stay at home mom for 19 years and I am getting a little restless! Please enter me in your fabulous book contest. I appreciate it…..Cindi

  • http://www.e-skafos.gr Fotis

    I’m in!

  • http://www.AfterTheLaunch.com Shama Hyder

    As a marketer, I am excited to read this one.

  • http://AmateurTraveler.com Chris (Amateur Traveler podcast)

    I don’t think that 11 & 12 are rules I would always agree with, but that s probably because my side business is a web site where you do want to pick a name that will get you better traffic than your own name.

  • Neha

    I am actually in the process of starting a business myself and disagree with my partner on the marketing aspect of it! this would be a great read to help us move in the right direction!

  • Marcia G

    This could be a definitely interesting resourceful book! Please count me in!

  • http://laurawilliamsmusings.blogspot.com Laura @ Laura Williams’ Musings
  • Srini

    Hi,

    This is really interesting. I have personal experience in startups with similar mindsets. Would surely love to read this boook

  • http://www.destinationsomewhere.com Scott

    Looks like an interesting book!

  • http://vincentliew.com Vincent Liew

    I want to I want I want…

    lol

  • http://www.vtwoglobal.com Frederick

    Besides the 4 other pieces of a great business product, sales, structure, and cash flow, marketing is a MUST. Before accepting projects, I always look whether any of my marketing outlets are able to accomodate the project, if not, the project does not make it to my priority list.

  • http://windersnest.blogspot.com Saph

    Thanks for the giveaways!

  • glitter

    Sounds like a good book.

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