Today’s book review is a gem for the small business owner! I recently finished This is Marketing Seth Godin. I feel like the tagline on this book was particularly insightful, so I’ll share that too. This is Marketing You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and am receiving no compensation for writing this article.

This is Marketing You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See

The basic idea of this book is that the old, slimy marketing/advertising tactics don’t work in today’s world. If you are trying to “trick” people into buying something from you, that isn’t going to cut it as a long-game.

A better approach is to take a stance of service. Focus on a small group that you would like to serve. Truly understand their needs and culture. Then find a way to make their lives better.

I thought it was beautiful the way Seth Godin described marketing as being empathy and service. It’s the process of changing a culture for the better. Iterative improvement of the market, and a focus on who you want to help. Marketing isn’t selfish, it’s service. It’s about helping people become a better version of themselves.

I also loved his take on branding. He talks about how branding is about creating something that a group of people CARE about. If you stop showing up, they notice and wonder where you went.

Seth’s idea of Permission Marketing was refreshing. It’s about being respectful and earning people’s attention and time. You value their time and attention, and get their permission to give them something of value in return for it.

This is Marketing Seth Godin

There was a lot of great wisdom in this book that I couldn’t begin to discuss in a short blog post. So I highly suggest you check the book out for yourself!

Looking for another read? Here’s a post with a few book recommendations.