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| Size | | Length: | 239 pages | | Height: | 9.5 in | | Width: | 6.3 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 16.8 oz |
Industry Reviews
Zyman began his career in an advertising agency, worked his way up to become the chief marketing officer of Coca-Cola and now runs his own marketing consulting firm. Readers might expect him to be a friend of the advertising industry, having played on both sides. But he doesn't hold his punches, particularly when it comes to the industry's recent emphasis on shock value, a trend that is also mocked by another new book, <I>The Fall of Advertising & the Rise of PR</I>, reviewed below. The nearly simultaneous publication of both books should concern ad execs who've based their campaigns on irony and nonsense. Their work might win ad industry awards, but it does little to sell products, both of these books argue. Zyman also advises marketing managers on such esoteric decisions as whether to tap a dead celebrity for a TV spot or to trust in fads like "viral marketing." Frequent references to last year's terrorist attacks make the book feel up to date, but sometimes result in jarring passages, such as, "Right after the September 11 attacks, Pepsi started having a little trouble keeping consumers interested in the message." No kidding. Zyman addresses chief executives and marketing managers directly, counseling them to get tough on their ad agencies and base their evaluation of the agency's work on whether it sells products or services, not on whether it generates buzz. Seems like obvious advice, but judging by recent commercials, Zyman's thorough, thoughtful words might be the kick-in-the-pants the industry needs.<BR><B>Forecast:</B> The cover photo-of Zyman staring sage-like out at the reader-might work, as he is well known in his field, although he's not exactly a familiar face to the public at large. While the book is aimed primarily at CEOs and marketing managers inside companies, advertising and PR execs will want to read it, too. (<I>Publishers Weekly</I>, July 22, 2002)
<P>As chief marketing officer at the Coca-Cola Company, Zyman (<I>The End of Marketing As We Know It</I>) speaks from practical experience, but he also holds an MBA from Harvard. At Coca-Cola, Zyman both increased sales dramatically and oversaw the introduction of New Coke-one of the most visible missteps in the annals of marketing. Advertising now is not effective, claims Zyman, because it is dominated by overly created television ads that entertain and win awards but don't generate sales. Expanding the definition of advertising to include everything from packaging to employee behavior, he argues that advertising must show a clear measurable return. One of his best arguments is that sponsorships should be reconsidered to make sure that every dollar spent drives increased sales. Zyman does not introduce many new ideas, but he does advocate that CEOs and marketing managers take a more active role to reinforce the brand and value proposition. While walking readers through a series of real-world examples of what worked and what didn't, he downplays his own mistakes and shows little sympathy of the mistake of others. Ultimately, though, the book reaffirms the classic notion that a company must think through its strategies up front while also welcoming change. The writing style is refreshingly simple and easy to understand. Appropriate for any library that has a business section. —Stephen Turner, Turner & Assoc. Inc., San Francisco (<I>Library Journal</I>, August 2002)
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"…packs a powerful punch…this is about doing a whole lot better, from someone who has made the most of the relevant mistakes and learnt from them…"
(Admap, November 2002)
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"...Mr Zyman lobs bottles at his old company and many others in his new book, The End of Advertising as We Know It...This is an entertaining book and and when better to pull advertising out of its worm-ridden soil and examine its roots than when it looks close to death anyway?….Mr Zyman runs a consultancy that you can pay to remind you. At £20.95, this book is a lot cheaper..."
(Financial Times, 27 ...
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