Marketing Rebellion: The Most Human Company Wins

I loved this book, but it took me a while to read because there were so many brilliant ideas on every page that I needed time to take it all in. I underlined almost the entire book. The ideas are more important and relevant with each passing year. If you're in marketing, I can't recommend this one more highly. Ten stars.

I first ordered this book for a marketing class I was taking, but actually found the book to be interesting and funny! Mark is a great writer and educator. Even if you’re not required to read this, I recommend you do it opened my eyes to a lot but also was really enjoyable.The book was also in great condition! There was one page with a few underlines, but I did order a used one.

If you want clarity on why much of the marketing advice out there doesn't work, then read this book. If you work in a small business (or even a big business) and want to practice personal, human marketing that truly connects with your customers, then read this book. If you are a local artisan or independent freelancer looking for ways to sell more without selling out, then read this book.With most business books, I get the punchline by the end of the first chapter. The rest of the book is a collection of "case studies" designed to sell bulk book orders to organizations like those featured. With Marketing Rebellion, Mark Schaefer pursues a different path. He's offering a compass to guide you, rather than a map to follow.The book opens with a story about soap. When asked why she bought a locally-made artisanal soap rather than a national brand, the lady said, "I'm not sure I would say I love this brand. But I love the hands that made it." From there, Schaefer covers the end of loyalty, the importance of belonging, artisanal branding, values-based marketing and consensual marketing.This is a dense book, but I mean this as a compliment. It's packed full of ideas. It could have been broken into a few different books, but the thematic thread hand-stitched throughout makes it a deeply insightful read. And a refreshing counter to other marketing books out there right now. You will appreciate the "hands that made" this book!

As a marketer, I'm inherently human with a human perspective, desires, needs, etc, right? So the fact that this book was even needed is...kind of embarrassing. I know exactly how I want the brands I love to interact with me as well as what to expect from brands I don't know much about but I'm a little interested in. So why aren't I baking these inherent truths into the marketing strategies I develop on daily basis?Like I said. It's embarrassing, and this book is a necessary wake-up call.One of my favorite quotes:"We know that how we spend our money and which causes we champion are votes for the future we want to see."This is what matters today in marketing and Mark's book explores the theory, logic, and practice of this "new" era of marketing.Thanks for the slap in the face, Mark.

There are a few books that I've read that have me so engrossed that I've forgotten about where I need to be or that's 3 am and I'm still reading. This is one of those books. I've also read 'Known' by Mark Schaefer as well and it was equally as captivating. Mark is one of those rare storytellers who continues to give you something back - ideas, concepts, tools to use in your own branding and marketing - not just strategies but actual steps for execution. As someone who is completed aligned with the rebellion around 'Human Centered' and 'Meaning Centered Marketing' I found this book to lay out not only principles of what that means and why it is so important - but Mark tells you HOW to do it. I don't need to be convinced that for some reason we continue to believe that more tech will solve the world's problems. Rather I believe we have been missing human connection for a very long time, as Mark lays out in this awesome book. I have highlighted many passages in this book, all to utilize in future strategies for my own brand and for clients. Bravo to Mark for creating such a 'human' book.

I'd like to pride myself on being a marketing technology expert, but the truth is that my industry has really gotten terrible in the last decade. At every turn is another platform selling you a silver bullet, another service selling you on results they never achieve, and another speaker guilting you into the technological revolution. Everything looks like a nail to them, and they're all the same hammer.Unfortunately, we don't need hammers. People are tired of hammers. They're weary of being beaten into submission by non-stop content, messaging, pop-ups, and offers. They are starving for genuine and purposeful relationships. Technology should be the bridge between caring businesses and their next customers... but instead it's become the wall that separates them.I truly believe Mark's book will stand the test of time as one of the most important books written on marketing in this decade... maybe for the next millennium. I simply can't see people abandoning the desire to do business with the companies with which they have a human connection. It's time for companies to stop using technology to bother people. I'm still a huge fan of automation, but only to win-back time to build creative, meaningful relationships with their prospects and customers.The research Mark provides in this book is rock solid and paints a clear picture business owners and marketers must stop ignoring. The use cases are exceptional, providing example after example of how the most human companies are winning and will continue to win.Buy a copy for every person in your boardroom. Join the marketing rebellion!