Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Al Ries

Al Ries

Keynote Speaker: Celebrated Marketing Strategist and Best-Selling Author

Al Ries Biography

Al Ries attended high school in Harvey, Illinois, he then joined the Merchant Marines and later the US Army where he served in Korea. Upon his return, Al attended and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana with a degree in liberal arts in 1950. After school, he accepted a job in the advertising and sales promotion department of General Electric in Schnectady, New York.

In 1955, Al joined Needham, Louis & Brorby in New York City as an account executive (and later vice president) on the Worthington and Peugeot accounts (The agency is now DDB Worldwide) In 1961, he joined Marsteller, Inc as an account supervisor. In 1963, he founded his first advertising agency Ries Cappiello Colwell in New York City.

In 1972, Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote a three-part series of articles on "positioning" for Advertising Age magazine. In 1979, the agency's name was changed to Trout & Ries Advertising with Al as Chairman.

Eight years after the original positioning articles were published, Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote his first book entitled Positioning: The Battle For Your Mind published by McGraw-Hill in 1980. Positioning has become an industry classic, with estimated sales of over one million books. It is one of the best selling advertising books of all time.

In 1985 Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote a second bestselling book entitled Marketing Warfare. Crossing marketing thinking with some principles of the famous Prussian military strategist, Carl von Clauswitz, this book also received wide acclaim. The two books are available in a total of 17 different languages.

In 1988, Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote Bottom-Up Marketing a book that attacks some of management's most cherished concepts, including goals, mission statements and strategic planning. His revolutionary concept: "Strategy should be developed from the bottom up, not the top down."

In 1990, Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote Horse Sense, a book that applies marketing principles to the marketing of people. It attacks much of the conventional wisdom of how to become successful. "Find a horse to ride," is the authors' advice. A horse can be a product, an idea, a company or even another person.

In 1993, Al Ries (with Jack Trout) wrote The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, a book that outlines the basic reasons why marketing programs succeed or fail. "Violate them at you own risk," it cautions. The book has been on bestseller lists around the world, including Mexico, Argentina and Germany. In 1993, the book was the best-selling business book in India.

After several years together, Al and Jack called it quits in 1994. The split was amicable and the two remain friends. Al wanted to bring in his daughter, Laura, who had recently graduated from Northwestern University and was working as an account manager at TBWA Advertising. In 1994, Al Ries founded Ries & Ries with Laura Ries and opened an office in Great Neck, New York.

In 1996, Al wrote Focus: The Future of Your Company Depends on It, which was published by HarperCollins. Focus shows why companies need to narrow the focus in order to own a category in the consumer's mind. Red Herring magazine called Focus the "management canon."

In the fall of 1997, Al and Laura relocated their homes and business to Atlanta, Georgia. After spending over forty years in New York, Al decided to escape the Big Apple and chose the Big Peach instead, where the weather is warm, the people friendly and the airport convenient.

In 1998, Al Ries and Laura Ries co-authored The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding, published by HarperCollins. This book laid downs the laws for building any product or service into a world-class brand. It hit number nine on the BusinessWeek bestseller list in January 1999.

In 1999, Al was named one of the 100 most influential public relations people of the 20th century by PR Week magazine. He also was profiled in the June 28th issue of BusinessWeek magazine.

In the year 2000, Al Ries and Laura Ries co-authored The 11 Immutable Laws of Internet Branding, published by HarperCollins. A book that uses Ries' marketing savvy and expertise in branding and brings it to the Internet. Al and Laura have defined the laws for the biggest challenge of the new millennium: what to do about the Internet and how to build an Internet brand.

Programs:

Delivering exciting and dynamic speeches is Mr. Ries' specialty. Speeches based on the Laws of Branding or other customized topics, all of our presentations are custom tailored to your specific audience. Using examples from a wide variety of industries Mr. Ries discusses and illustrates each law. He makes extensive use of slides (about 100 per hour) which makes his speeches fast paced and interesting. All presentations are built on Microsoft PowerPoint.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Al Ries and other top speakers and celebrities.

Al Ries Speaking Topics

You Narrow the Focus.

Al and Laura Ries make sure that their seminars are visually focused. They use up to 300 slides per hour, which adds up to 1,800 slides in an all-day presentation, which totals 900% more information imparted by the typical speaker. Their tailored, carefully edited slide list of images and key ideas makes watching their presentation feel like watching a movie. And they deliver suspense, comedy, intrigue and education, completely revolutionizing the traditional marketing seminar. No two speeches are exactly alike. Using examples from a wide variety of industries around the world, Al and Laura Ries discuss and illustrate the laws and principles of positioning, marketing and branding, all of which have made their own business bolder and better.

Starbucks narrowed its focus to high-end coffee and became the world’s largest coffee chain. Dell Computer narrowed its focus to personal computers “sold direct” and became the world’s largest PC manufacturer. BMW narrowed its focus to “driving” and became the largest-selling European luxury car in the U.S. Focus is the key to successful brand building in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, and Al and Laura Ries give presentations that embrace and apply the right focus for clients and audiences.

The Immutable Laws of Marketing and Branding.

Based on his decades of experience, Al Ries discusses the immutable laws of marketing and branding in a presentation tailored to her audience and its industry. He also discusses how the internet, including social media, plays a role in today’s marketing and how organizations can effectively use these tools to their advantage.

Al Ries Videos

Al Ries - Palestra - Video 2
Al Ries - Palestra - Video 3
Al Ries - Palestra - Video 4

How do I book Al Ries to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Al Ries for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Al Ries, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Al Ries or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Al Ries for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Al Ries, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $30,000 - $50,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Al Ries, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Al Ries speak about?

Al Ries is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Sales, Business Leadership, Marketing, Innovation, Networking, Motivational, Leadership, Social Media and Strategic Leadership.

Where does Al Ries travel from?

Al Ries generally travels from Georgia, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Al Ries?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Al Ries for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Al Ries for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Al Ries or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Al Ries is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Sales and Business Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Al Ries for live events is $30,000 - $50,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Al Ries generally travels from Georgia, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Josh Linkner, Nicholas de Wolff and Jeff Taylor. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Al Ries for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/09/2024.

Al Ries Speaking Topics

  • You Narrow the Focus.

    Al and Laura Ries make sure that their seminars are visually focused. They use up to 300 slides per hour, which adds up to 1,800 slides in an all-day presentation, which totals 900% more information imparted by the typical speaker. Their tailored, carefully edited slide list of images and key ideas makes watching their presentation feel like watching a movie. And they deliver suspense, comedy, intrigue and education, completely revolutionizing the traditional marketing seminar. No two speeches are exactly alike. Using examples from a wide variety of industries around the world, Al and Laura Ries discuss and illustrate the laws and principles of positioning, marketing and branding, all of which have made their own business bolder and better.

    Starbucks narrowed its focus to high-end coffee and became the world’s largest coffee chain. Dell Computer narrowed its focus to personal computers “sold direct” and became the world’s largest PC manufacturer. BMW narrowed its focus to “driving” and became the largest-selling European luxury car in the U.S. Focus is the key to successful brand building in today’s ultra-competitive marketplace, and Al and Laura Ries give presentations that embrace and apply the right focus for clients and audiences.

  • The Immutable Laws of Marketing and Branding.

    Based on his decades of experience, Al Ries discusses the immutable laws of marketing and branding in a presentation tailored to her audience and its industry. He also discusses how the internet, including social media, plays a role in today’s marketing and how organizations can effectively use these tools to their advantage.

Al Ries Videos

Al Ries - Palestra - Video 2
Al Ries - Palestra - Video 3
Al Ries - Palestra - Video 4
Al Ries lecture (part 1)
Al Ries - Palestra - Video 1
  • How do I book Al Ries to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Al Ries for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Al Ries, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Al Ries or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Al Ries for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Al Ries, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $30,000 - $50,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Al Ries, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Al Ries speak about?

    Al Ries is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Sales, Business Leadership, Marketing, Innovation, Networking, Motivational, Leadership, Social Media and Strategic Leadership.
  • Where does Al Ries travel from?

    Al Ries generally travels from Georgia, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Al Ries?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Al Ries for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Al Ries for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Al Ries or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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AL RIES

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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.