228 ways to drive your business forward by Steve Mills

You might be forgiven for thinking this is a very slim volume for the price. And, at just 96 pages, it certainly is slim. But with this kind of book you are paying for the content – 228 tips for improving your profitability is a lot of content. Newbury-based author Steve Mills is a 22-year veteran of the marketing game. A self-confessed seminar junkie, compulsive reader and audio-programme fan, he believes research, plus his many years helping clients, has enabled him to distil the essence of good business practice into this small book.

His recommendation is that you read with a highlighter to hand, to mark the ideas that seem currently most relevant to your needs. I feel sure this collection of old, new and wacky ideas will have something for everyone to mark.

There are some gems in the book. For example, under ‘Keep in touch with your customers’ (idea 218), one suggestion is to lend them something. I can see how that would work – though maybe borrowing something might be even more effective.

Another interesting revelation comes in idea 211 – the power of words. Apparently two words were sold to a shampoo manufacturer in 1941 for £100,000. What the two words were you will have to buy the book to discover.

Review by Jim Ewan