Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers

Permission Marketing by Seth Godin had been on my reading list for a very long time after a couple of people recommended it to me and I'd seen it referenced as describing the "right" way to market. Perhaps I'm a bit too cynical, but reading this book made me realize why I hate so much of the marketing we see today. While this book is a how-to book about marketing strategy, I have to admit the techniques within sounded a bit manipulative to me. I'm a straightforward kind of person, and I truly don't appreciate it when people wrap up their marketing techniques in thinly veiled manipulations. In theory, I can see how permission marketing is preferable to many types of marketing, but it's really not that hard to use it to provide false show more choice. The book makes some excellent points about not spamming people and respecting other people's space. Godin also clues in consumers that they are agreeing to receive marketing material when they sign up for a newsletter or for a mailing list of one sort or another as well as a multitude of other things including creating an account on a website. While these things can offer some valuable information, the end goal is to sell product. While Permission Marketing is geared toward those trying to market products effectively and without spamming people, it also clues in consumers as to just what permission marketing is and how often they agree to allow a company or an individual to market products or services to them. For that reason alone, it is worth a read. I found the book itself interesting even when the techniques described made me uncomfortable. I already understood that newsletters and website are marketing tools but reading Permission Marketing made me think about how often I've given over my email address without a second thought. And, that reminded me why I receive so many emails I never even open and waste time deleting. One thing is certain, after reading Permission Marketing, I will never look at commercials, advertisements, websites, or even newsletters the same way. As someone who relies on publicity and marketing for my livelihood, I find myself torn between my discomfort with the techniques and my need to sell product, even more so after reading Permission Marketing. show less

Throughout the many sales books I've read I've always seen Permission Marketing and had intended to read it for quite some time now. I was excited to finally pick it up after reading [b:Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends|262963|Love Is the Killer App How to Win Business and Influence Friends|Tim Sanders|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320435008s/262963.jpg|1076876] because it was spoken of often and I had loved Tim Sanders' book.

Unfortunately I didnt get that excited feel that you do for a book that offers a radical change. The problem I think is that this book needs a revised addition to accompany the new technology that has come by. The book was written in 1999 and numerous times Mr. Godin talks of AOL, show more Netscape, Sidekick, etc. All these old hats distract you from taking it seriously now. If a revised edition could reflect on how Google has used permission marketing then the revelency would help the reader take the information more to heart. show less

First, I love Seth's blog. However, ignoring the outdated examples, this book lacked the conciseness and poignancy of that give his blog such a strong character. The book was easy to read, the points were generally good, but, as a whole, it just wasn't very gripping.

Throughout the many sales books I've read I've always seen Permission Marketing and had intended to read it for quite some time now. I was excited to finally pick it up after reading [b:Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends|262963|Love Is the Killer App How to Win Business and Influence Friends|Tim Sanders|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320435008s/262963.jpg|1076876] because it was spoken of often and I had loved Tim Sanders' book.

Unfortunately I didnt get that excited feel that you do for a book that offers a radical change. The problem I think is that this book needs a revised addition to accompany the new technology that has come by. The book was written in 1999 and numerous times Mr. Godin talks of AOL, show more Netscape, Sidekick, etc. All these old hats distract you from taking it seriously now. If a revised edition could reflect on how Google has used permission marketing then the revelency would help the reader take the information more to heart. show less

Explains his concepts best in this must read. Great insight into Amazon & Yahoo. Brilliant insight into building a relationship with the customer. Great info on Opt-in email from a management standpoint. I believe this is Seth Godin's best book. Good information on how to educate your customer. I re- read this book this book all the time.

The book is all the prophecy that became true. As I've listened to it in 2017 all that Seth Godin describes is taught now as a dogma. All the notions of direct marketing and beeing customer centric are taught now in the ivy league schools such as Wharton, by leading professors such as Peter Fader. In his book in 90th, he already describes how technology and the web are going to revolutionize the way advertising is done. Tendencies such as keeping databases of the prospect buyers are much more relevant now than ever before. I was glad to learn what the cookie does in my browser.

I cannot believe this book is over 15 years old, and I had not read it. It is a book I believe every small business owner and Extension educator should read. At its core, it is about developing and nurturing relationships so they are eager to buy into your product. This book has a lot of overlap with the ideas of Referral Engine*. Rather than spend (waste) a lot of money advertising to people who may or may not be interested in your product, grow your lists of people who are actually interested in what you offer. Get to learn about those people and target your programming or products accordingly. Read more