Topic: The Current and Future State of Business Books
Podcast Episode #83 of the internet show about small business marketing
In business, you are what you read. But what you read and where you read it is changing. In this episode of Power to the Small Business, business book expert Todd Sattersten will guides us through those change. Sattersten should know, he co-wrote The 100 Best Business Books of All Time, and he coaches business book authors. It’s time to find out what’s going on with business books.
Guest: Todd Sattersten – Biz Book Lab
Host: Jay Ehret – Dean of Marketing Know-How at TheMarketingSpot.com
Length: 27 minutes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
— Todd Sattersten on Business Books —
I. Business books are generally lagging the (e-book) trend vs. fiction.
“Until the technology (book-marking, highlighting, commenting) catches up, I think you’re still going to see business books bought primarily in the print form.”
II. Business books are getting shorter.
“Business books are getting shorter. They are more about a single idea vs. a plethora of ideas.”
III. The retail store is not dead….for the best sellers.
“It is impossible to be a best-selling author without having that book in the retail environment…. 80% of (the big name best-sellers) sales happen in the retail setting.”
IV. The definition of a book will change.
“When you look at how different we experience books in the electronic space, that we’re almost going to have to find a way to call them something different, because I think we are going to interact with them differently.”
Todd Sattersten on choosing a good business book to read:
- Ask your friends. These people know who you are and know your preferences.
- Scan the table of contents of a book. The language they use will tell you if it’s a good book for you.
- Read the index of a book. Look for terms that match up with the problem you are dealing with.
- Read the introduction of a book. You will learn what is the promise of the book.
Todd’s top book recommendations for entrepreneurs:
The Partnership Charter by David Gage
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
SHOW LINKS
Todd Sattersten’s Company: Biz Book Lab
Todd’s Article: How to Read A Business Book
The Marketing Edge Webinar Series