Don't Spend $100 on a Book. Or: There Is Nothing New Under The Sun

[Copywriter]

Someone showed me today some excerpts from a book they'd purchased for about $100. It was a real estate marketing book written by a well-known and respected "coach," whose name I won't mention.

I don't know about you, but I'm a little suspicious of these coaches.

It seems too much like a cult.

They say some good things, but... I don't know.

In the same train of thought... A few months ago, I went to the library and checked out a book called "Emotional Branding." It was an interesting read, but I also went through a book around the same time called "Persuasive Writing," which was probably written in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Both books basically said the same thing.

Back to today: So I looked through the pages of this hundred-dollar handbook and I admired some of the tips. I will probably keep them in mind for future use. But already, some of them were dated. At least one of the recommended resources no longer exists.

I discovered two websites last weekend, however, that made me sit up in my chair. They are both by the same guy - an advertising copywriter - and I will now state for the record that I am in no way affiliated with him.

I'd REALLY like to say that he's my competition, but I could never be so presumptious.

In the quest to improve my own education (which often keeps me on my computer long after my wife has gone to bed), I stumbled across his online resume'. And, as with the best websites that advertise a service, this copywriter offers a great deal of information up front...

The first website is kuraoka.com. Scroll down and read the Advertising & Marketing Advice. I'd say that every one of us here could learn something.

The second website, by the same author, is called Tightwad Marketing. I haven't made enough posts on this forum yet to include the address here but do a Google search for "tightwad marketing" and it should be the first result. You'll find great information about "smart marketing on a small budget."

I guess my point is: Before you spend a lot of money on "gurus," take advantage of Google and your local library. You'll be surprised what you read.

And I hope that, if one of you finds a great resource, you'll share it with all of us here.

Isn't that the point of this forum?

[Chief Tutor]

I enjoyed your post. I haven't read the books, but I find that in general, what most people write is nothing new. It is all either a different perspective on the same basic tenets of marketing or some sort of spin.

The most important thing is that before you jump, learn what you are jumping in to. The more knowledge you have before you start, the more success you will have.

I have found that our best customers are those who understand what we do and justt don't have time to do it themselves.

So I would agree that before to jump....learn as much as possible.

[MikeC]

I agree with both of you on the books and what is in them.

The thing is: Most people will not DO those things. That's why they keep buying the books - it's easier to read a new idea than to implement it.

[Thesa]

Some of you know this about me others do not... but in my past life I was Rick Deluca's personal assistant... he is one of these "coaches" what I often found is that these people simply remind us of things we already knew.

As for buying books and tapes..... it is crazy what people will pay for these... I guess if you need the tax write off great. But otherwise you will probably learn more to take what you already know and keep moving forward.