Recommended Reading

How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant by Herman R. Holtz, David Zahn (John Wiley & Sons) ISBN: 0471469106

Holtz wrote a ton of books, many on consulting. His approach is old fashioned and somewhat basis since he worked many years ago. He tended to focus on the nitty gritty details. He coversd a lot of government contracting and proposal writing.

Million Dollar Consulting by Alan Weiss (McGraw-Hill) ISBN: 0070696292

This guy is a big star in the consulting world. He certainly knows how to do it and will sell you lots of ways to use his approach. Ultimately, a consultant sells only time, so Weiss suggests you make money while you sleep with products, books and speaking.

Flawless Consulting by Peter Block (University Associates) ISBN: 0787948039

Recently updated, this consulting book is many people's favorite. I could never quite get into it because it seemed a little theoritical, but it does provide some step-by-step stuff.

Marketing Your Services: For People Who Hate to Sell, Rick Crandall, McGraw Hill, 2003, $20.

This book covers every major method of marketing in detail. Chapters include Networking, Referrals, Customer Service, Advertising, Publicity, Speaking, Online, Action Planning, Sales, Written Material, Telemarketing, Newsletters, and other topics.

1001 Ways to Market Your Services: Even if You Hate to Sell, Rick Crandall, Contemporary Books, 1998, $20.

This book is a companion for the first book. It provides more than 1001 brief, real examples of marketing by service providers. For those who know the basics of marketing, it stands alone as an idea source. It is the best database of marketing ideas available publicly.

Marketing for People Not in Marketing, Select Press, $15.

“This strong book points out that marketing is everybody's job.” — Mack Hanan, author, Consultative Selling

This book has chapters written by different consultants. It is designed to be sold in bulk to banks, hospitals, back offices, accountants, and so on to distribute to their employees. Bulk pricing available to you. It can also be customized for you for larger orders (to include material by you or selected by you).

Wholesale pricing is also available on the next four books if you sell them on your wesite.
Customization is also available if you wish to become an “author” on them.

Celebrate Marketing. $14.95.

“An immensely helpful book.” — Al Ries, author, Positioning
“Celebrate profits from the wisdom you'll gain from Celebrate Marketing.” — Jay Conrad Levinson, author, Guerrilla Marketing series
“A handy book that no self-respecting marketer should be without.” — Don Peppers, author, 1 to1 Marketing series

This 200 page book has 11 chapters by different consultants and speakers on aspect of marketing. Chapters cover: positioning, understanding what customers are really buying, market niches, building rapport, asking good questions, customer service, networking, referrals, trade shows, online marketing, and finding the right marketing mix.

Celebrate Customer Service. $14.95.

“Why would I endorse a competing book? Because it's that good!” — Don Blohowiak, author, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Customer Service
“Celebrate Customer Service is an easy-reading reminder of the most important verity of business: All businesses exist to create, serve, and keep customers.” — Herman Holtz, author, How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant
“A pragmatic and useful book [where] the experts are brought together for you.” — Philip Crosby, author, Quality and Me

A 200 page book with 11 chapters by different consultants and speakers on approaches to great customer service. Topic include: Why service is key, how service creates profits, internal service, mystery shoppers, turning complaints into business, online service, cross-cultural service, “whole-brain” service, creating a service culture, implementing quality service, and proactive service ideas.

Break-Out Creativity. $14.95.

“Loaded with wicked-good strategies for busting up 'mental constipation.'” — Doug Hall, author, Jump Start Your Brain
“Experts show how you and your organization can be more creative and innovative.” — Michael Michalko, author, Thinkertoys
“Practical and accessible techniques for boosting innovation and 'out of the box' thinking.” — David Brandt, author, Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers

Nine chapters by experts of how to improve creativity. Topic covered include: intellectual capital, mental models, problem solving, humor, brainstorming, visual imagery, reframing, increasing creativity, and creativity in sales.

Thriving on Change in Organizations. $17.95.

“Thriving on Change draws on the understanding of many experts, and the results are rich and useful.” — William Bridges, author, Managing Transitions
“This book shows you how to thrive while riding the waves of organizational change.” — Danile Burrus, author, Technotrends
“This engaging book is a survival manual for organizational change.” — Dr. Manuel London, Business professor, SUNY at Stony Brook

This book has 15 chapters from consultants and experts on change. Topics include: harnessing change, using change as a competitive advantage, corporate strategies, responding to change, creating a change organization, teams, TQM, transformation, people and change, personal change strategies, hardy personalities, transitions, entrepreneurial change, customer service change, and implementing change.

See our Comprehensive Marketing Package for more.