When the gluttony has reached its peak and you’ve watched all the Christmas TV possible then it’s time to grab a book. For this occasion, the Trumin team has put together a list of five essential reads that will prepare you for a stellar 2017 in the event management business. They cover topics from growth hacking, presentations, and marketing virality to successful communication.

“Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing and Advertising” by Ryan Holiday

In a clear and concise way, Holiday unpacks the concept of growth hacking – a new model for pr, marketing and advertising online that is taking Silicon Valley by storm. Although growth hacking has roots in the tech industry, Holiday gives the readers a blueprint for thinking about growth that can be applied across various business models and industries. Giving examples from the most successful companies in the world such as Hotmail, AirBnB, Facebook, Dropbox and more, he teaches readers the essential ingredients for financial success in the digital world. A great book for event managers and event organisers who are hungry for growth!

“Oversubscribed: How to Get People Lining Up to Do Business” by Daniel Priestley

If you have ever seen queues for a fashionable pop-up restaurant or heard of someone staying up all night to grab those sought after tickets online, then you know what oversubscribed means. This is basically every event organiser’s dream come true. Priestley explains this phenomenon in detail and more importantly gives you actionable steps on how to get there. He himself has organised many successful events worldwide and has used these techniques to create the oversubscribed effect.

“Talk like TED: The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds” by Carmine Gallo

Many of us dread the thought of presenting in public, yet is is often  unavoidable in the event management business if you want to attract partners, sponsors or publicity. But what if you could learn from the best public speakers in the world? Gallo interviewed the top speakers who presented at the the world-famous TED conference and analysed the techniques they use to make their performances truly outstanding and watched by millions of people online. It turns out that everyone can create memorable and impactful presentations if they stick to certain rules on structure, pacing, images, and storytelling.

“Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age” by Jonah Berger

This book analyses why certain articles, Facebook posts, and YouTube videos become viral. In a world where word-of-mouth has become one of the most important factors for financial success, responsible for 20-50% of purchasing decisions. Creating viral campaigns is the ultimate goal for many event managers and marketers. Berger dissects the concept, analyses a tonne of research, and presents readers with the building blocks necessary for creating a message that spreads like wild-fire.

“Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life” by Marshall Rosenberg

Event management is a stressful business and this tension often leads to communication problems both within the team and with external parties. Rosenberg explains how peaceful and compassionate communication can change the way you connect with the people. The foundation of his method is expressing our feelings and needs in a clear manner and trying to understand the feelings and needs of the people that we speak to. Sounds simple but it turns out that a lifetime of habits is not that easy to erase. Using sample dialogues, stories and examples Rosenberg slowly guides us through this mental change.