Differentiate or Die: Survival in Our Era of Killer Competition (Hardcover)

by Jack Trout (Author), Steve Rivkin (Author)
Key Phrases: differentiating idea, differentiation takes place, creeping commoditization, United States, General Electric, Burger King (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
A newly revised and expanded edition of the revolutionary business classic, Differentiate or Die, Second Edition shows you how to differentiate your products, services, and business in order to dominate the competition. Veteran marketing guru Jack Trout uses real-world examples and his own unique insight to show you how to bind customers to your products for long-term success and loyalty. This edition includes new case studies, new research, and updated examples from around the world.

From the Inside Flap

Consumers today have an endless number of choices among products that are virtually identical. Short of slashing your prices and wrecking your margins, differentiating is the only way to gain market share and win.

Since its original publication, Differentiate or Die has become the bible for marketers who must find a way to separate their products and brands from the competition. Meanwhile, competition among similar products and services has only intensified—making differentiation even more important.

In this fully updated edition of Differentiate or Die, Jack Trout and Steve Rivkin bring the book in line with all the newest ideas and recent changes in marketing. Trout doesn't pull any punches, taking marketers to task for going the easy route too often—using high-tech razzle-dazzle or advertising sleight of hand to woo customers. The only way to truly differentiate yourself is by marketing the product's uniquely valuable qualities.

Full of practical case studies that show great differentiation in action, including new case studies from Russia and China, Differentiate or Die, Second Edition, shows you how to tap into core differentiating ideas like heritage, market leadership, and being first to emotionally connect customers to your products. In addition, this revision includes new research on brand commoditization, new insight on using buzz to your advantage, a new chapter on differentiating absolutely anything, and a detailed look at the perils of line extension in today's marketplace. These are only a few of the valuable, proven differentiation strategies included in the book, giving you unparalleled insight into one of marketing's most intractable problems.

From the classic "unique selling proposition" approach to the ins and outs of product positioning, this book contains all the best, most effective strategies for differentiating your product from the competition in tight quarters.

Jack Trout is President of Trout & Partners Ltd. (www.troutandpartners.com), one of the nation's most prestigious marketing firms with offices in twenty-two countries. He is recognized as a top marketing guru and is the creator of the revolutionary concept of positioning. He is also the coauthor of the bestselling classic Positioning, among many other titles.

Steve Rivkin is founder of Rivkin & Associates LLC (www.rivkin.net), a marketing and communication consultancy. He is coauthor of five books on marketing and communication strategy and is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences around the world.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (March 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470223391
• ISBN-13: 978-0470223390
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #201,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars if you are not USA local, you will be bored, August 21, 2008

By	Rolands Petrevics "taiwan.typepad.com" (Taiwan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Maybe, I am spoiled by Dan Kennedy's books about marketing, but I found this book very decent for 2008. Very decent and a written in "old school" style. To give a sneak peak, what you will get in this book:

- First of all main idea is title. And it's on every page, there is no other ideas in there. So, read the title very careful, and half of book is in your pocket already
- If you are USA citizen, or live there - then maybe you will not feel so, but I felt just offended, if not abused with all the waterfall of brand names that authors splash on you. Style of book is - hey, you should have a heritage as differentiator - and a list of names, what you probably never heard before (again - if you not live in USA), are splashed on you.

Now, a short a breathe.

And a new bunch of crackers, coffin makers, banks, chupa chups makers, toasters and other "brand names" are poured over your head.

That's my impression there. Just overloaded, if not overused-overabused book with those examples.

I hope someone from USA will write a comment about that - hey locals! - is that really was so exiting for you to dig through all those lollypop and crackers names heavily packed on every page? honestly?

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, May 16, 2008

By	Lucio Gonzalez (Calexico, Ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Definitely it is a must read for all the bussines people. Jack Trout is the best