Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant
W. Chan Kim, and Renée Mauborgne

Great marketing strategy book!

Recommended by Joe Gugliotti
Summer issue 2006

The 100 greatest advertisements: Who wrote them and what they did
Julian Lewis Watkins

As the name of the volume implies, this is a collection of 100 of some of the most successful print ads in marketing history. Styles in advertising will change, but we can always learn from proven success. Creative directors, copywriters and designers can all apply this practical knowledge, while business people can appreciate what worked over 50 years ago and how it can help sell products and services today. Examples include Rolls Royce, Lux Soap, Riviera Pears and Steinway Pianos. Check out the Erwin, Wasey & Company ad for “Written After Hours,” which provides inspiration for The Worx Group’s own “whatever it takes” attitude towards integrated marketing.

Recommended by Chris Rinaldi
Summer issue 2006

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
Al Ries and Jack Trout

Another staple read for anyone interested in marketing strategy. Al Ries and Jack Trout deliver another easy to read, and fun book about marketing strategy. The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing reminds us how marketing strategy must pay attention to the market. The book presents 22 laws that marketing campaigns are bound to, in the marketplace, and must pay attention to in order to be successful.

Recommended by Brian Charlonis
Summer issue 2006

Purple Cow
Seth Godin

Seth Godin's The Purple Cow reminds us why McDonalds has golden arches and why just being the same as everyone else will never get you noticed. The title comes from a concept that claims people who live in cities always notice when they drive through the country and see cows, but after spending some time in the country, they don't even notice the cows anymore. But everyone would notice if they drove by purple cows.

Recommended by Joe Bottone
Fall issue 2005

Differentiate or Die
Jack Trout

Jack Trout is a favorite author of more than a few people here at The Worx Group. Differentiate or Die is one of those classics that never seem to go out of style. Too often marketers forget about the correlation of competitive strategy and marketing strategy. Jack brings marketing strategy back to the basics with an easy to read, fun experience for anyone serious about marketing.

Recommended by Joe Bottone and Brian Charlonis
Fall issue 2005

The Brand Gap
Marty Neumeier

Neumeier speaks of how to bridge the distance between business strategy and design in the book, The Brand Gap. Many companies have this problem and their marketing communication goals should run parallel to their business goals. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. Designers are familiar with that big black hole were creative gets lost as some marketers could over-think things and try to say everything in one piece. This book uses current world language and also points out the 3 different types of relationships a firm could have with a client. Good stuff! An awesome quick read!

Recommended by Ron Poehailos
Fall issue 2005