Self Help Books

How to Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing and Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly.   Author: David Meerman Scott

The New Rules of Marketing and PR is our “wild web woman” agency’s marketing bible.  This is required shop therapy.  Buy this book first before you read any other marketing books!  Lorrie Thomas makes this book required reading when she teaches university web marketing courses and she brings it to speaking engagements and passes it around as a recommended read.  The Wild Web Women at WMT read, re-read and gift this book to clients.  This book is a MUST OWN for any business owner, entrepreneur, business management student or marketing professional.  The book reads like a blog, you can read it out of order, pick chapters and learn and apply the new rules as you go.  We profess our love to David Meerman Scott openly and will always recommend his brilliant thought leader books!

Writer’s Block Buster: Tips for Creating Quality Content   Author: William K. Zinsser

We preach that Content is King on the Internet. But how do you create that quality content on a regular basis? Acclaimed writer and editor William Zinsser says it best: You learn to write by writing. And unfortunately, this is true no matter how long you’ve been practicing the craft! So if you’ve only just begun to tackle that web site copy, or the latest edition of your email newsletter, or another blog post- but you’re laboring to find the right words – don’t panic, help is on the way! When Zinsser first published On Writing Well more than 30 years ago, he probably didn’t anticipate that it would be helping new generations of writers and self-publishers decades later on the Web. But today, his book is just as relevant and powerful as it was when it was first published in 1976. Emilia Doerr revisits this book for inspiration and recommends it because it tackles basic writing principles, methods and forms in a way that appeals to both new and veteran wordsmiths.

Think about your life and business differently   Author: Malcom Gladwell

“The fact that Mavens want to help, for no other reason than because they like to help, turns out to be an awfully effective way of getting someone’s attention.” This quote is from pg. 67 and is one of the many marketing lessons; Nicki Gauthier, gained from this book. The Tipping Point is that thrilling instant when an idea, trend, or social behavior reaches that point, tips, and spreads like poison oak. Just like a single person can start a flu epidemic, so too can an idea, trend, or social behavior push a fashion trend, increase the popularity of a new product, or drop in the crime rate. Malcom Gladwell describes the Tipping Point experience brilliantly and his words have already started to change the way people promote and think about their businesses. This book is great for all types of readers because it presents interesting ideas and concepts with relevant and true examples. This book is also great for a book club because it will spark conversation and will make everyone look at life and business differently. Nicki Gauthier highly recommends this easy read because it will definitely inspire you to think-out-of-the-box the next time you want to spread a marketing message for your business.

Small Business Wisdom from the World’s Most Beloved Bear   AUTHOR: Benjamin Hoff

This entertaining and insightful book uses Winnie the Pooh and friends to illustrate the ancient teachings of Taoism. Emilia Doerr recommends this charming and thought-provoking work for its practical maxims for both life and business, including invaluable lessons for taking control, accomplishing goals, and achieving serenity. Imagine this: If Winnie the Pooh demonstrates the simple pleasures of living in harmony with his inner self, Eeyore represents the eternal pessimist. And Piglet demonstrates the power of Small. Piglet may be prone to hesitation in the face of his hopes and fears, but he has the ability to change and grow to become more than he was in the first place. So while there are clear disadvantages of being small, the enlightening transformation of Piglet, who may seem insignificant at times, demonstrates how embracing the power of Small can make it possible to accomplish great things.

Guide to a Healthy Marketing Diet   Author: Seth Godin

New Marketing tools and the latest web technologies are often laid out in front of us like toppings at an ice cream parlor. In all the excitement, it’s tempting to pile on all the sprinkles, brownie bits, hot fudge, cookie crumbs, whip cream, and gummy worms that your sundae can handle – with little regard for what’s at the core of your dessert! In this book, Seth Godin explores the new rules of marketing and how the Web and other tools of technology are revolutionizing the way we create and spread ideas. He also emphasizes that knowing what’s at the core of your business helps you use New Marketing to play to the strengths of your organization – and avoid indigestion! As the world is changing, the art of marketing is changing along with it. Emilia Doerr recommends this book because understanding how these trends can drive your organization and reshape the playing field is the exceptional advantage that will enable smart marketers to make healthy choices when faced with a seemingly endless buffet bar of new marketing tools and toppings!

Author – Mark Sanborn

Mark Sanborn shares the real story of Fred, a postal worker that reminds him the power of passion in our work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. This national bestseller is a short, pithy and powerful reminder of the power of service, the most important (and often forgotten) piece of professional success. This book is a great share with colleagues, friends and family. The Web Marketing Therapy team believes that “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”. The Fred Factor takes the next step, teaching the true meaning of leadership. Lorrie Thomas is known to grin foolishly when she is spotted in public reading this book, but that’s ok…she is much more pleasant to work with when she re-reads this book periodically. Find your inner Fred and boost your biz with this read.

Authors – W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant is a brilliant business book that reminds us that there are alternatives to venturing out into the already charted “bloody” red waters to win big in business. Why do what everyone else is doing? It took the authors years to pull this worthy read together, sharing case studies, statistics and success stories from professionals that ventured into new, clear, “blue” oceans by simply creating new value and opening up market space/places. Although the book has a few graphs, Lorrie Thomas, queen of “management without math” recommends this timeless book to clients, students and colleagues.

A Wisdom Book.     Author – Don Miguel Ruiz

This “Practical Guide to Personal Freedom” is what Lorrie Thomas, Marketing Therapist, swears by as the most helpful book for professional success. She reads it at least once a year. This book of wisdom is a literary investment for life. The Four Agreements is based on ancient Toltec wisdom and offers four simple, yet powerful codes of conduct that, when applied, can transform our personal AND professional lives. This is a small, yet mighty book that is perfect for packing, plane reading, re-reading and should be in every professional’s reading arsenal.

Author – Dr. Seuss

It is criminal to NOT own this book. Web Marketing Therapy is a 1% for the Planet member (yes, we do our part to keep the earth in business) and we love this classic because it beautifully portrays a powerful metaphor and tells the tale of a passionate person who isn’t afraid to speak up, speak the truth and fight the good fight for what is right. Lorrie is an advocate for meaningful marketing and somehow finds this book a reminder of marketing that matters (and she paid to build this site so she gets to boast whatever books she wants). This is a book for adults in the mere guise of a children’s book. The Lorax puts us back on track to remember what is really important – People, Planet and Passion. This is the best ROI book you can give or get.