One of the great examples given in this book is the huge frenzy created over the Tickle Me Elmo doll a few years back. There was so much buzz created about this $30 toy that people were practically beating each other up in the stores to get their hands on one. Some people were even crazy enough to shell out $1,500 to make sure that doll was wrapped and under the tree for their child that Christmas morning. $1,500 for a $30 toy? Right! Because so much buzz was created around this toy that it became a MUST HAVE and people went to such great lengths to get one for their very own. Humm… I wonder if the person who paid $1,500 for the Tickle Me Elmo even knows where it is right now? It’s probably buried deep in their child’s toy box or rotting away in some landfill some where. Was it worth the $1,500?
I have a business. I have been in business for 5+ years now and I can tell you from experience that marketing is A LOT harder then people think it is. Some people think it’s a piece of cake, but those are the people born with that natural ability to sell a ketchup Popsicle to a lady wearing white gloves on a super hot day. Sadly I was not blessed with that ability. I can’t even sell a glass of water to a dehydrated man in a desert.
This book was a huge eye opener for me and it really got me thinking about how big name companies generate such a “must buy NOW” feeling about their products and how I need to learn to do something like that with my own products.
The book is written by Dave Balter. Inside the book Dave has split it into three very enlightening, often very funny sections, all working together to prove that word of mouth advertising is one of the most powerful marketing tools on the planet.
Part I: What You Should Know takes a look at what’s new with word of mouth advertising/marketing.
Part II: What You Probably Know Already answers the questions, doubts and criticisms from organized word of mouth’s early formation
Part III: What You Must Know discusses the necessities of practicing this communications phenomenon to help market your own business.
Dave’s book is full of facts, stories and insights about word of mouth and the industry that’s been built around it. His insider’s look helps show that while word of mouth can be a medium that can’t be forced, fabricated or created, it certainly can be managed, understood and enjoyed by all!
You can get your own FREE copy of this wonderful book right here on my blog. Just click on the picture of the book (the one with the funky monkey on the cover) on the top right of my blog. You will then be taken to the .pdf file (you can save and read at a later time or print out for your own hard copy). You need Adobe Reader to read the .pdf file. If you don’t already have it on your computer (most computers these days have it) you can download the free version from Adobe’s site (http://www.adobe.com/products/reader%20)).
I would love to have your comments in regards to this book. If you happen to read it please come back to this blog and leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts about this awesome book.