September always brings up memories of back-to-school shopping and the excitement of the first day back to a new school year. That nostalgia might be hard to capture, but it’s not impossible. Challenge yourself this September with the Experiential Reading Challenge from AnyRoad!

We sat down with our staff to learn some of their favorite experiential marketing reads. 

The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

While human lives are endlessly variable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. 

What if a teacher could design a lesson that he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if a manager knew how to create an experience that would delight customers?

The book explores all these moments and more, teaching readers how to create lasting memories. The perfect read for experiential marketers and more! 

“In a world full of ads, brands need to be memorable. The Power of Moments gives great advice and understanding of how humans use extraordinary moments to shape our lives. In the experience economy, creating memories and moments can be a valuable asset to your next activation and event! This will help you beat the noise.” - Shane Gunter, BDR Manager at AnyRoad

Buy the book (or audiobook) here!

The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine and James Gilmore

This seminal book on experience innovation by Joe Pine and Jim Gilmore explores how savvy companies excel by offering compelling experiences for their customers, resulting in increased customer allegiance and a more profitable bottom line. 

Translated into thirteen languages, The Experience Economy has become a must-read for leaders of enterprises large and small, for-profit and nonprofit, global and local.

“As experiences become the de facto way for businesses to build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with their customers, this book shares valuable insights into how businesses can capture consumers' time and attention with the right experiences. It's a must-read for marketers and experience makers.” - Christine Frisic, Head of Product Marketing at AnyRoad

Buy the book here!

Die with Zero by Bill Perkins

Want to understand better why experiences are so powerful? Get into the mind of your consumer with the book Die with Zero. 

Die with Zero presents a startling new and provocative philosophy and practical guide on getting the most out of your money and your life. It’s intended for those who place lifelong memorable experiences far ahead of simply making and accumulating money for one’s so-called “golden years.”

“Die with Zero changed my thinking about how I live, spend money, and invest. It highlights how to maximize positive life experiences and invest in those experiences early. If you aim to ‘die with zero,’ you’ll have spent all your energy and money on the experiences, things, and people that provide the most fulfillment to you by the time you die. Saving and investing for retirement is still important, but so many people end up in their retirement years unable to spend what they’ve saved, or if they try to spend it, they are not physically able to enjoy the experiences they may have said no to in their earlier decades of life.” - Meagan Lloyd, Revenue Operations at AnyRoad

Buy the book here!

Storytelling with Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic

Don't simply show your data—tell a story with it! 

Storytelling with Data teaches you the fundamentals of data visualization and communicating effectively with data. You'll discover the power of storytelling and how to make data a pivotal point in your story. The lessons in this illuminative text are grounded in theory but made accessible through numerous real-world examples—ready for immediate application to your next graph or presentation.

So what does that have to do with experiential marketing? Shelby Windmuller explains. 

“In today's data-driven age, the ability to extract meaningful insights from vast amounts of information is a key determinant of success. Storytelling with Data underscores data's crucial role in understanding, evaluating, and optimizing experiences and activations. It emphasizes that behind every successful experience lies a foundation of well-analyzed and effectively communicated data.” - Shelby Windmuller, Customer Success at AnyRoad

Buy the book here!

From Individual to Empire: A Guide to Building an Authentic and Powerful Brand By Laura Bull

This intelligent, breezy read provides additional tools, exercises, and resources that offer real-world support to tackle your engaging, competitive, and authentic brand identity. Entertaining pop culture and political examples round out this book that can truly take you from individual to empire.

So what does this have to do with experiential marketing? Sara Detrik (me) on our marketing team (and the author of this blog) will tell you why.

“I love using word of mouth and authenticity to drive brand awareness. In a digital age where everything is about getting more views than the other guy, this book details how to stay true to your brand mission while still cutting through the noise. Vital for anyone trying to translate their brand to activations and events.” - Sara Detrik, Content Marketing at AnyRoad

Buy the book here!

Welcome back to school!

This is the start of your new curriculum! These reads will guide you as you take your experiential marketing strategy to the next level. Let us know what you think of our reads on LinkedIn and if we missed anything!