In today's ultra-competitive world, the average supermarket has forty thousand brand items on its shelves. Car shoppers can wander through the showrooms of over twenty auto makers. Differentiating products today is more challenging than at any time in history, yet it remains a key to a company's survival, the heart of successful marketing.
In Differentiate or Die, bestselling author Jack Trout takes marketers to task for taking the easy route of high-tech razzle-dazzle and sleight of hand instead of working to discover and market their product's uniquely valuable qualities. He examines successful differentiation initiatives from giants like Dell Computer, Southwest Airlines, and Walmart to smaller success stories like Streit's Matzoh and Connecticut's tiny Trinity College to determine why some marketers succeed while others struggle and fail. The author outlines the many ways to achieve differentiation, while also warning of how difficult it is to achieve differentiation by being creative, cheap, customer oriented, or quality driven—things that your competitor can do as well.
Carve out your own image in a crowded marketplace. This book can help.
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"It is somewhat outdated since many of the companies that they talk about from around the turn of the century are now doing very different things. But the principles are sound, and it is a great book for any marketer, business person, or anyone interested in succeeding in the market place."
— John (4 out of 5 stars)
“Differentiate or Die differentiates itself on the groaning marketing bookshelf with its lucid prose, its clear vision of the future marketplace…and its sensible solutions for surviving the frenzied competition we’re sure to find there.”
— Dan Rather, CBS News“What I like about Differentiate or Die is the book’s emphasis on the power of logic, simplicity, and clarity—getting to the essence of a problem. In Silicon Valley, attributes like that can make the difference between having lunch and being lunch.”
— Scott McNealy, CEO, Sun Microsystems, Inc.“We’ve built our business by being first-and executing best. Jack Trout and Steve Rivkin are doing the same, delivering the timely, powerful insights that will drive tomorrow’s marketing strategies. A must read for anyone looking to win in an unforgiving competitive marketplace.”
— Mike Ruettgers, CEO, EMC Corporation“Another great book by the king of positioning!”
— John Schnatter, CEO, Papa John's International" Read May 2008. if your someone who can make changes to your company this may help put you on top of the competition. "
— Steven, 9/22/2013" I really liked this one. A must read for those concerned about branding in its truest sense. I reread and refer to this book often. "
— Ron, 8/17/2013" You can never go wrong with a a Jack trout book! "
— Umar, 2/27/2013" Things change very quickly in the competitive environment Jack Trout illustrates. Reading a novel about corporate business strategy 10 years after its publication is entertaining but difficult to learn from. "
— Alex, 9/23/2012" I highly recommend for those how wants to succeed in business. "
— Wilson, 5/3/2011" A must-read book on market positioning for the knowledge worker, manager, executive, or entrepreneur. "
— Lori, 3/6/2011" An excellent treatise on how to make differntiation the cornerstone of your marketing. Very clear and concise and full of great examples. The back cover has testimonials from the likes of Dan Rather of CBS News to Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystems. "
— David, 1/16/2011" Just can say its a ok ok type "
— Avik, 7/30/2010" Excellent book with very clear and simple examples how companies must do things differently to survive in our era of killer competition. "
— Antti, 11/16/2009" You can never go wrong with a a Jack trout book! "
— Umar, 10/13/2009" Read May 2008. if your someone who can make changes to your company this may help put you on top of the competition. "
— Steven, 7/21/2009" I really liked this one. A must read for those concerned about branding in its truest sense. I reread and refer to this book often. "
— Ron, 6/12/2008" Excellent book with very clear and simple examples how companies must do things differently to survive in our era of killer competition. "
— Antti, 9/2/2007
Jack Trout is president of Trout & Partners, a marketing firm with offices in thirteen countries and a client list that includes AT&T, IBM, Sears, Merrill Lynch, and other Fortune 500 companies. He was the first to popularize the idea of “positioning” products in the minds of consumers. He is a sought-after speaker and the author of numerous marketing books, including Differentiate or Die, In Search of the Obvious, Repositioning, and many others.
John Lescault, a native of Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He lives in Washington, DC, where he works in theater.
John Lescault, a native of Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He lives in Washington, DC, where he works in theater.