Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
80/20 Sales and Marketing summary
The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More
14 mins
Brief summary
80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall is a book that reveals how to focus on the 20% of your efforts that generate 80% of your results. It provides practical strategies to improve your sales and marketing efficiency.
Table of Contents
80/20 Sales and Marketing
Summary of 4 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 4
Mastering the magic of 80/20
In the vast landscape of sales and marketing, there’s a principle that’s ubiquitous, and yet is often overlooked. Like gravity, it’s always in operation but seldom observed. It’s the 80/20 principle, an idea that shakes up conventional wisdom by suggesting that a small chunk of our efforts generates the lion’s share of our results.
First off, consider this: what if you realized that 80 percent of your sales were actually coming from just 20 percent of your customers? You might be surprised, but this is often the reality. So, here’s our first piece of advice: stop scattering your energy. Instead, focus on deepening your relationships with this vital 20 percent, the ones who are already driving your business. Imagine you’re a coffee shop owner; not every customer who walks in is equal. Some just want a quick cup of joe, but others – the 20 percent – linger, order food, and bring their friends. Treat these customers like royalty. Give them loyalty cards, special discounts, or learn their names and their favorite orders. Doing so doesn’t just make them happy – it turns them into brand ambassadors.
The 80/20 principle doesn’t stop at existing customers. Have you heard the phrase “racking the shotgun?” It’s about finding out who’s truly engaged. A shotgun approach in marketing scatters your message in the hope of hitting something. When you “rack it,” you make a noise that draws attention. Those who look are your true audience. This leads us to our second piece of advice: don’t just cast a wide net. Make noise in your industry that brings your ideal customer or client running. Use targeted advertising, compelling offers, or exclusive events to draw them in. When they show up, give them your best, because these are the people you want to work with.
But here’s the game-changer. The 80/20 principle is like an onion with multiple layers. What if you applied the 80/20 rule to the top 20 percent? That’s right, it’s not just 80/20 but 80/20 of the 80/20 that leads to exponential gains. Think about this: within your best 20 percent of clients, there’s an even smaller group making up the bulk of that business. Identify them, and you’ll find leverage points that can radically elevate your operations.
So, the 80/20 principle is far more than a rule of thumb. It’s a lens to look at your business, your customers, and even your daily routine. Master it, and you’ll not only achieve more with less, you’ll unlock opportunities you didn’t even know existed.
Want to see all full key ideas from 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
Key ideas in 80/20 Sales and Marketing
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is 80/20 Sales and Marketing about?
80/20 Sales and Marketing (2013) hands you a magic lens so you can zoom in on what truly matters in your business. Uncover how to focus just 20 percent of your efforts to unlock 80 percent of your profit. Get ready to amplify your impact and ditch the grind.
80/20 Sales and Marketing Review
80/20 Sales and Marketing (2013) is a comprehensive guide that uncovers the power of the 80/20 principle in driving business growth. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With insightful strategies and practical techniques, it offers a roadmap for identifying and optimizing the 20% of our efforts that lead to 80% of our results.
- By combining real-life case studies and scientific principles, the book provides a refreshing perspective on how to achieve maximum effectiveness with less effort.
- Its engaging storytelling keeps readers hooked, ensuring that the content remains impactful and far from boring.
Who should read 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
- Entrepreneurs seeking efficient growth strategies
- Salespeople optimizing client outreach
- Marketers refining campaign effectiveness
Categories with 80/20 Sales and Marketing
Book summaries like 80/20 Sales and Marketing
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
33 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
80/20 Sales and Marketing FAQs
What is the main message of 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
The main message of 80/20 Sales and Marketing is that focusing on the key factors that drive results can have a significant impact on your sales and marketing efforts.
How long does it take to read 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
The reading time for 80/20 Sales and Marketing varies depending on the reader, but on average it takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is 80/20 Sales and Marketing a good book? Is it worth reading?
80/20 Sales and Marketing is definitely worth reading. It provides a fresh perspective on sales and marketing strategies, helping you prioritize your efforts for maximum results.
Who is the author of 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
The author of 80/20 Sales and Marketing is Perry Marshall.
What to read after 80/20 Sales and Marketing?
If you're wondering what to read next after 80/20 Sales and Marketing, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- New Sales. Simplified. by Mike Weinberg
- Gap Selling by Keenan
- The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco
- Marketing 5.0 by Philip Kotler & Hermawan Kartajaya & Iwan Setiawan
- The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
- The Financial Numbers Game by Charles W. Mulford
- The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
- $100M Offers by Alex Hormozi
- Marketing Strategy by Jenna Tiffany
- The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes