Marketing Tip from Tim Ferriss

Entrepreneur, author and Found|READ contributor, “Tim Ferriss”:http://4hourworkweek.com/, is a force of nature and an amateur marketing genius. With virtually no professional assistance, the first-time author has managed to get his novel self-help/
management book, “The 4-Hour Workweek”:http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/ onto both The New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. (Tim even hit #1 on WSJ list!)

This morning I read Tim’s latest post on “his own blog”:http://fourhourworkweek.com/blog/ explaining one method he has used to accomplish this. He has titled it “Media Feast and How to get on TV”:http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/07/19/media-feast-and-getting-on-tv-producers-seek-4hww-success-stories-plus-winner-of-the-endless-summer/, but I urge Found|READers to take it in, whether television is the outlet you covet, or not. Tim’s good advice applies to any medium, including blogs—which we all know is the very best way to get-the-word out about your startup these days!.

Tim’s offers three pieces of advice in this post, but the first two are more sarcastic than serious. The real intelligence is in Tip #3: “Create and pitch a trend + segment instead of you and your product.” Tim goes on to explain that this is exactly what he has done with “The 4-Hour Workweek” and it makes a lot of sense. It boils down to trend-spotting and then identifying yourself/your startup with said trend. I urge you to read the full text of Tim’s post.

Tim also recommends a book that, I agree, every one of us should pick up: Virgin founder Richard Branson’s “Losing My Virginity”:http://www.amazon.com/Losing-My-Virginity-Survived-Business/dp/0812932293/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0498323-6621606?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184959202&sr=8-1 (You could buy it on Amazon with “the $100 gift certificate Om is offering to the Found|READer who sends us the most outrageus funding tale!”:http://www.foundread.com/view/rfp-crazy-tales-of.) I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Sir Richard a few times, and even reporters can learn a thing or two from the aviator-knight about finding your inspiration, finding your stamina and …most of all, your marketing skill. Read it. (And thanks, Tim, for mentioning of it.)

Which now makes me think that Found|READ should start a reading list. Let us know if you think this is a good idea, and please send on names of books that you’d suggest be included.

(Also see Tim’s earlier posts on getting to profitability in 3 months or less under the heading “Margin Manifesto I”: http://www.foundread.com/view/the-margin-manifesto, and “Margin Manifesto II”:; and this video of him lecturing his alma mater, Princeton”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pu172VHCjM.)

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Dor Zafrir-Zury
(1 point)
July 23, 10:07 pm

A reading list is a great idea and more… A great opportunity for us to share knowledge.
my first recommendation will be “the crowd’s wisdom” by james sorvitzky.

Shawn Underwood
(5 points)
July 24, 10:07 am

I agree that a reading list would be good. Even better if you can include a voting feature, ala Digg, to rank them.

I’ll offer an obscure choice, but one I still remember after reading many years ago: “Diffusion of Innovations” by Everett Rogers.

nate ritter
(0 points)
July 24, 11:07 am

I would love to see a reading list!

Unknown Founder
(36 points)
July 24, 01:07 pm

For pure inspiration my favorite is “Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution” by Steven Levy

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