Bang!: Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World

Business is tough these days. I have to say, I really enjoyed reading a book whose message, in essence, is - the right message can make all the difference. Now, the question is, which message is going to send my small business brand over the top?! Definitely worth a read! Lisa

Seeing an ad for the movie "17 Again" got me thinking about this book. Do we need yet another movie about an adult who finds himself in a kid's body? But then again, there's a good chance the movie will make money, so then the answer is "Yes - we do." Sometimes it does seem like playing it safe, avoiding originality and risks, does pay off. But Bang! does an excellent job of showing that the monster successes actually embrace risk and originality. Yes, people go to sequels, but what they really want is something new and exciting (whether they know it or not). This is especially important in the media and arts, but I'd recommend Bang! to anyone in pretty much any job.

I've been working in PR nearly my whole career and in recent years I felt increasingly overwhelmed and disillusioned with my job -- low pay, long hours, and little rewards. Weeks and months are spent on pitches, releases, events and in the end things don't always live up to expectations causing non-stop fear and anxiety. I received this book from my mother after a particular grueling couple of months and though reluctant to read it at first (who has time to read anymore!!)..I'm happy I did. The book reiterated many basics that I had forgotten while exploring specific examples to highlight what makes a good campaign and what makes one message heard and stand-out over another (especially these days where people are bombarded with information, releases, emails...)..The book has rejuvenated me in a way I didn't think was possible. This is truly an easy and enlightening read for anyone in PR/Marketing/Advertising.

I ordered Bang! after I finished Kaplan Thaler and Koval's other book, The Power of Nice. Despite what some other reviewers have said, I found Bang to be not only informative, but really entertaining and particularly inspiring, given the current economic climate. Even though times are tough, a "big bang" of an idea can help us cut through the clutter of the everyday and translate our marketing messages to the masses. Frankly, if you're expecting a "how-to" guide, then you're out of luck. But, if you're looking for a few good pieces of wisdom from a highly successful team, I would give it a try.

I didn't expect much of this book. I found it by accident. Was I in for a great surprise! This terrific book tells you how to come up with superior ideas that make you (and your clients) stand out in the crowd of others who offer exactly the same thing. And, believe me, that's what business needs today. I couldn't hardly put this book down. It led me to a couple other good books and authors too. Yes, it's about advertising. The author is highly respected in our field. He can't help writing about what he knows. Frankly, I'm glad he did. While this book will be valuable to anyone in any business, it's especially useful (a must-read really) for anyone in advertising or marketing, anyone who needs to constantly come up with unique ideas and stand out in the crowd. This book is a couple of years old now. But what you'll read is today. It helped me to come up with some money-making ideas and I use what I learned in it every day. Highly recommended.