Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)In essence, marketing creates or increases demand for whatever is offered for sale. Most organizations have severely limited resources for marketing. Horowitz offers lots of sound ideas, several of them originally introduced in his previous Marketing Without Megabucks. (Even organizations which have "megabucks" can learn a great deal from Horowitz.) He correctly stresses the importance of (a) identifying precisely who the audience is, (b) getting the right information to them, "being heard" despite all the "noise", and (c) motivating them to do business with you. The material is organized within six Parts: Key Concepts, Print Promotion, Electronic Exposure, Incredible Internet, Phone and Face, and The Growth Curve. Marketing professionals may well view this book as "simplistic" and perhaps in some respects it is. However, few organizations have marketing professionals on staff. Most do the best they can with who and what they have...usually an over-extended owner with a few "extra" dollars to spend. When buying this book for about $20.00, you retain Horowitz as a consultant to help increase demand for what you sell. Take your time working your way through the book. Highlight key passages. Take notes. Go back and re-read sections which seem to speak directly to your immediate needs. Because the book offers more suggestions than you can possibly use, cherry-pick those which are most appropriate, and, which can be acted upon soon, if not immediately. Most important of all, with Horowitz's help, challenge all of your assumptions about your business. Ask tough questions. For example, why do your customers buy from you? What are customer expectations? Unmet needs that you can fill? Who else buys what you sell but not from you? Why not? Price? Convenience? Service? (Do you know?) In all contacts with customers, how effective are your and your associates' people skills? Do customers feel appreciated? How about repeat business?
There's so much "noise" in every marketplace and sometimes it's deafening. So many "voices" competing to be heard. Also lots of "clutter" which makes it more difficult to see...and to be seen. Horowitz understands all this. Much of his book is devoted to attracting favorable attention. Being noticed. Try lots of stuff. Experiment on a limited basis with several different strategies and tactics. Find out what works...and what doesn't. Also find out why. Ask customers what they think. Also ask family members and neighbors. (Ken Blanchard is right: "Feedback is the breakfast food of champions.") Horowitz poses almost all of the questions which must be asked. He also offers answers. Some answers are right for your organization...others are not. Know why. Obviously, I think highly of this book as a single-source, as a basic manual, in which Horowitz provides an abundance of practical and cost-effective marketing ideas, carefully explained and generously illustrated. In the final chapter, he sums up his perspective on successful marketing. Then in the "Resources" section which follows, he provides additional information which may also be of interest.
I offer only one caveat: Even if Horowitz were a full-time employee in your organization and devoted all of his attention to your marketing needs, working with a budget of (let's say) $20-million, he would not be successful unless your organization (a) offers quality products and/or services at a fair price, (b) is totally committed to serving the needs of customers, and (c) also takes very good care of its own people. "Grassroots marketing" principles really don't work very well with weeds.
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