For those of you who follow this blog, you know that I love books. One of the most important things you must be as a small business owner is a lifelong learner. Reading a key way to learn more to run your business better. You may be counting down to your family vacation, (even if it’s a staycation) I wanted to provide you with some suggestions for great reading material for the beach. These book will all help you start or run your business, and that could make all the difference in your business in the last half of this year. Here are my picks for SmallBizLady’s Summer Reading List 2011.
SNAP Selling, Speed up Sales and Win More Business with Today’s Frazzeled Customers (Portfolio, 2010) by Jill Konrath.
I like this book because nowadays everyone you want is too busy and overwhelmed and we all could benefit from lessons on how to think about selling to busy decision makers.
Inbound Marketing, Get Found Using Google, Social media, and Blogs. (J. Wiley and Sons, 2010) By Hubspot CO-founders Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.
Selling is dead. In order to connect with today’s customers you must stop pushing sales messages and instead start pulling your customer’s in. This book will give you the tools and strategies you need to improve your search engine rankings and analyze which of your online marketing efforts are working..
Enchantment, The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions (Portfolio, 2011) By Guy Kawasaki.
This is a terrific book to learn about how to take your relationships to the next level, give a fantastic presentation, and enchant your customers and employees. There’s nothing more important than your existing client list, Guy explains how to keep your customers enchanted.
Full Engagement! Inspire, Motivate and Bring Out the Best in Your People (Amacom, 2011) by Brian Tracy.
Brian is a legendry business leader who has developed a terrific employee manual for small business owners. He explains how to achieve financial results for your company by motivating employees through what he calls “ROE” Return on Energy. Read it if you have two or more employees, you will be a much better manager for it.
201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business by Jane Applegate. (Bloomberg Press, 2011 Third Edition)
This book is full of creative ideas that will help you solve everyday problems in your small business. Jane has collected tons of proven tips for managing, growing, and promoting a small business. Enjoy the third addition of this international bestselling book. You will keep it nearby as a reference for a long time in your small business.
The Start Your Own Business Bible, 501 New Ventures You Can Launch Today! (Adams Media, 2011) By Richard Walsh
No matter what kind of business you want to launch you can the 411 on it in this books. He outlines the start-up costs, pros and cons and potential earnings of hundreds of business opportunities. This book will help match your resources to your plans and kick off a business that works.
Franchising & Licensing, Two Powerful Ways to Grow Your Business in Any Economy (AMACOM, 2011 Fourth edition). By Andrew J. Sherman
This book is a blueprint to developing additional streams of revenue in your small business. Andrew outlines what is takes to license your intellectual property from business acumen, legal expertise, strategy and trends and financial insight to turn your business into a franchise. This book as also filled with sample agreements, checklists and questionnaires.
Become Your Own Boss in 12 months, A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works (Adams Media, 2010) by Melinda Emerson
BYOB is a book on how to develop a 12 month plan to start or reinvent a small business. Use the Emerson Planning System to get serious about your business. If you are one of those small business owners who still does not have a website and social media strategy this book will really help you as well.
There are my 8 picks, and do you have any other suggestions for summer reading for small business owners.
Melinda F. Emerson, known to many as SmallBizLady is one of America’s leading small business experts. As a seasoned entrepreneur, professional speaker, and small business coach, she develops audio, video and written content to fulfill her mission to end small business failure. As CEO of MFE Consulting LLC, Melinda educates entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies on subjects including small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. Forbes Magazine recently named her one of the Top 20 women for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. She hosts #SmallBizChat Wednesdays on Twitter 8-9pm ET for emerging entrepreneurs. She also publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com Melinda is also the author of the national bestseller Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works. (Adams Media 2010)
Great book list. It inspires me to do something similar. The books you read truly inspire you to achieve great things. I’m impressed with your effort to grow and help others. Keep up the great work.