Marketing books

[ajdriver]

Hi
I am looking for a book, or books to help me learn about the marketing of a company. I have a fairly good idea how the company will be advertised, but what I don’t know is logo design. I have the name, or a good idea, but need to come up with a colour scheme. I never considered it too important but I recently read a book called E-myth and that has made me think I need to know more.
Basically I am interested in what colours work well for a logo, advertising and the uniform. I was thinking blue/yellow but need to know what works best.
If anyone knows of any good books, websites or any other source I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Alan

[mobyme]

Hi,
I think you really should be looking for a book on design rather than Marketing, however there is a first class Institute of Management book on Marketing called Successful Marketing in a week, available from any good bookshop which I can highly recommend. Hope it helps

[10 Yetis]

I was thinking what to write in repsonse to your when I suddently realised I should write a book myself. The book would be called "if I had the answer to your question, ajdriver, I would be richer than Elton Johns Florist". I thought that my snappily titled book would only be read by you so sales would be poor and in reality you wouldn't buy it cos it doesn't have the answer you need.

Anyway... here to help and a few things/suggestions to get you thinking. Simply put, the book you need don't exist.... i didn't use the word 'doesn't' as nothing drives the point home better than the use of poor English.

I have read loads of marketing books (get me!) and they never have specific answers as such, just general strategy ideas and garblewaffle* about the 'marketing mix' and 'product life cycles' etc.
Mobyme is a wise old monkey when he says read text from other areas such as management, the more sectors you read about the more you can pick and choose bits that fit your business need.

What i tend to do when people ask me about possible logo's and marketing ideas that need a new design is first off look at the worlds most successful brands and logo's and then try and take a piece of each, or the best qualities and apply it to the product you are selling or service you are offering.

Obviously don't do this literally or you would get a cross Virgin Coca Cola Easy Barclaycard looking brand. Not good.

The more deep thinking jargon talking marketing people would now wax lyrical about the 'brand values' of your product and the importance of trying to translate them into the design... complete tosh, unless you have the money to spend consulting one of these wierdo's. I have to admit, and marketing people (of which I am one) will hate me for saying this, but I have often come up with a cracking design (couresty of a designer) and then fit some brand value story around it... should be the other way round. I know, but hey ho... if it sells the goods, or promotes the service, do it.

Anyone who is reading this and thinking, "what a freak, how can the Big Yeti get business" well think about it, at lest I am honest and don't spend hours talking up my trade un-necessarily.

I genuinely hope that I have helped with this message. Give me a call, or an E if you want to chat further.

* garblewaffle is going to feature heavily in the next book of management jargon, you watch

[ajdriver]

Thanks guys, much appreciated as always.
Mobyme, thanks for the book suggestion, I might as well buy it, amazon must love me. And the way I see it is the more I read about business it can only help.

Andy, cheers.
When you release the book:
"if I had the answer to your question, ajdriver, I would be richer than Elton Johns Florist".
I will certainly buy a copy.

I wasn’t looking for an answer as such, but some ideas. I have ordered the book mobyme suggested and another one that looks at existing logos with feedback. Saying that, I have come up with a design myself using paint that I quite like. Wont be able to afford to get it made for me so might look at some sort of graphics package instead.

[gj]

There are people out there who will designa logo for around £75 and if you have an idea already, they could come up with some variations on a theme.

I have a printer contact who has a design team who could help you for a reasonable price. Give Karl at Colourpoint a ring on 01628 531999

http://www.colourpoint.uk.com

He will be quite happy to have a chat to see if they can help you

If the logo is as important to you as your posting seems to suggest, then surely it is worth spending some money on?!?


Regards


Graham

[ajdriver]

Cheers Graham,
I will contact them closer to the time. Thanks a lot. £75 seems reasonable, I was expecting a lot more (based on previous quotes for website logo design)

alan

[Johill]

Hi

The best marketing books I have read are by Seth Godin - you can buy cheap second hand ones from Amazon - start with his book called Purple Cow - basically it talks about how to make your business as remarkable as ..... a purple cow..... which will make everyone point and stare and go "WOW have you seen this" to all their friends and colleagues. :)

You can find out more about his other books / blog / newsletter on his website - http://sethgodin.com/sg/books.html

Jo

[Jessa]

I am a big fan of Seth Godin, I love his books.

Another great book is "Information Architecture for the World Wide Web" and "Hey Whipple, Squeeze this" is another good marketing book.

[Jessa]

I forgot to mention "Net Words" by Nick Osbourne, another great read.

[philjeffs]

Alan,

perhaps one thing you may care to consider is not making your logo too specific. I made that mistake when I first strarted and was chuffed to bits to have a logo that represented what I was doing - then. Now I want to vary my services (as no doubt we all do when we have been trading a while) but the old logo won't fit in with that new concept.

So do I have new business cards, flyers etc printed giving me an unecessary expense when the ones I have were done in bulk, or do I try to muddle through with what I have? I'll also have to change the website (although that is no cost).

If I had designed a logo and tagline that was more generic it would have grown with me. Instead I have one that I now feel limits my options.

Just my two-pennyworth...