A discussion about sales, sales tips and advice, and about those who land the deal

Seth Godin makes an interesting point about selling books in his post today.

In today's blogosphere world, Godin points out, authors who plug their own books often face a tougher sales battle versus those that get plugged by other bloggers or authors.

So, since I had a little back and forth with Seth earlier this week on him naming two politicians as his "marketers of the year", let me take the cue and do something I am passionate about: Let me recommend that you read Seth Godin's new book, "Meatball Sundae".

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not finished it.  I'm not even halfway through it yet...I bought it as a little gift to myself with a Barnes and Noble gift card I got for a Christmas gift.  But it's sitting on my nightstand, and is getting read.

But the book has already made great points that I can put to work for my business.  I see it as a "best of" edition of all of Seth's thinking when it comes to marketing messages that just don't work, and what you (and I) can do to avoid the same plight.

Like most of Seth's books, it's a joy to read and doesn't contain any "fluff".  Just the good meaty stuff that you can wrap your arms and mind around, and put to work.

In the book, Godin contends that there are 14 key forces at work in the world that will change the way you need to approach marketing in the coming years.  I won't go into details as to what they are, and what makes them so important, but Seth's insights into where marketing is heading always humbles me.  I choose the world "humbles" because unlike most of the books out there that are reactive in nature, Seth's work is proactive and preventative in nature.  Consider this book a glimpse of future strategies that you can actually use now to jump ahead of your competition who will reach for the reactive books one or three years from now in an effort to correct the mistakes that they've already made (but you were able to avoid).

If a book doesn't give me real ideas and solutions and strategies, I don't recommend it.  Every Godin book has given me insights that I wouldn't have had otherwise.  Every Godin book sits ragged on my office bookshelf, most with bent corners and Post-It notes garnishing the pages.  And, let me say that I am one of the few and the proud who own an original Purple Cow milk carton - it's sitting next to the books here in my office. 

Buy "Meatball Sundae" by Seth Godin.  If your business markets online, or is trying to mesh an online strategy with traditional marketing, you need to read this one. 

You can buy Seth's book here, or check out some more free information about it - including free book excerpts - by clicking here.