Top 20 Best Marketing Books for Business Growth
I know how busy you are. There's no doubt about it. You're so busy that you need more time to read books. Don't worry, however. This list will change all that! The best marketing books on the planet will guide you through growing your business into an industry leader.
Marketing books aren't just for marketing gurus and business experts. Marketing books are also for the rest of us, the people who want to learn more about marketing and business but need help figuring out where to start.
So, if you're looking for the top 20 best marketing books to grow your business, this list will help you find them.
Top 20 Best Marketing Books to Read
1 – 10x Marketing Formula
If you are looking to master content marketing, then this is a must-read.
Garrett Moon is a very experienced person in the field and has much valuable information to share with you.
It's a very quick read, and the content is easy to digest, so you can apply what you've learned immediately.
The book is written in an amicable tone, which makes it easy to understand even if you don't have a marketing background.
There are many actionable tips, examples and templates to help you get started.
This book is a must-read if you want to know how to maximise your content marketing efforts.
2 – Predictably Irrational
This is one of my favourite marketing books and has given me numerous insights into purchasing psychology.
Ariely's experiments in his lab at Duke University prove that we are all prone to irrationality and are influenced by many factors when making purchases. He writes about the importance of framing, emotions, and the power of the word ‘free'.
This book isn't about how to market products; it's about communicating and understanding people. Ariely's experiments and research give real-life examples of how to use these principles to improve your marketing strategy.
It's a fascinating and thought-provoking read that will help you improve your business, no matter your industry.
3 – Hooked
I've read many marketing books, and I don't think there's one that comes close to matching the value of “Hooked”.
I've discussed the importance of habit-forming products before, but Nir Eyal brings it home. He shows the reader how to use psychology to create sticky products and convert users into customers.
He shows us how to get people to do things automatically and create hooks. In a nutshell, he gives us the tools to change human behaviour in a way that works for us, not against us.
His chapter on why we're drawn to addictive products is an eye-opener. He talks about the need to fulfil our wants and needs and why this happens. He also goes deeper into the psychology of addiction and how we're hardwired to be addicted to certain things.
When I was reading this book, I was already working in the digital marketing field, but I needed to learn how to apply the insights in this book.
It's the first time I found the answer to a question, which is why I'm such a big fan of this book.
Nir Eyal is a masterful writer, and his work on the psychology of addiction is a real eye-opener. Get it today if you're in the marketing industry and still need to read this book.
4 – Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook
One of the best books I've read in a long time. It's a handy and practical guide to building a successful online business.
This is a great book to have on hand to refresh your memory on the basics of internet marketing. This is a must-read if you want to build a profitable business online.
It goes into great detail on everything from search engine optimisation to conversion optimisation. You'll learn how to use content and create content that attracts visitors, turns them into leads, and converts them into customers.
You'll also learn how to use email marketing to get people to join your list and how to generate sales from there.
There are tons of tips and tricks in the book, and you'll learn about the latest techniques in internet marketing.
The book is also written in such a way that it's easy to understand, and it's full of real-life examples to help you get started.
If you're ready to start a successful online business, this is a must-read.
5 – Hacking Growth
The book is written in a very conversational tone, and it's super easy to understand. It's also packed with many examples and case studies from the author's experience.
It's more of a practical guidebook than an academic one, but the authors have a strong background in business and marketing.
Even if you're not into marketing, the book will give you lots of tips on how to use data to improve the customer experience and increase conversions.
The authors have an extensive background in online and offline marketing, so they know what works and have seen how companies grow. They're also really good at explaining the concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to grow their business and knows how to make assumptions, test them and iterate fast.
6 – Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion is one of my favourite books. It's a classic, timeless, and practical guide to persuasion.
In the beginning, it's about how we're always influenced but not necessarily swayed. The book is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the reader to influence and how it works.
The second part explains what influences our decisions. We're also introduced to the six principles of influence: reciprocity, commitment, consistency, liking, authority, and scarcity.
The third part explains how to influence others. The author explains what makes someone influential and how to apply this knowledge to your marketing campaigns.
The book is filled with real-life examples and is a must-read if you want to understand human behaviour and how it works.
The book is filled with great examples, and it's very actionable. In every chapter, you could find some gems to test right away on your homepage or landing pages.
I highly recommend this book, and it's an excellent resource for anyone in marketing or sales.
7 – Don't Make Me Think
Steve Krug is a bestselling author and founder of Don't Make Me Think.
He wrote this book in 2000, and it was one of the first that digital marketers widely adopted.
The idea of “Don't Make Me Think” is straightforward: if you want to create a website that converts, removing distractions and focusing on the key features is essential.
The book is divided into two parts: the first focuses on the homepage, while the second deals with other pages like the About page and a blog post.
Steve Krug focuses on website design's core principles, such as white space, call-to-action buttons, and white text on a dark background.
One of his main points is that you need to focus on what you want to say rather than aesthetics.
He also discusses the psychology behind user behaviour and how it influences decision-making.
So if you're looking for a comprehensive guide to website design, this is the best option.
8 – Content Inc.
If you are looking for a comprehensive content marketing guide, you won't find a better resource than “Content Inc.”.
Joe Pulizzi starts by explaining what content marketing is and why it matters. Then, he goes into the specifics of the digital world, including social media and video marketing.
He shares real-life examples of how we used these channels effectively and how you could use them in the future. He advises how to structure your content marketing strategy and evaluate your success.
His best advice is to focus on creating content that solves problems and solves them for your audience. This is the key to successful content marketing because your audience pays the bills.
9 – Product-Led Growth: How to Build a Product That Sells Itself
The title says it all. Product-led growth is the trend of the moment in online marketing, and it's becoming marketers' favourite buzzword replacing growth hacking.
Product-led growth is based on the premise that the best way to drive organic traffic to your website is by creating a product that people want. Once people are on your site, you can convert them into customers.
The best example of a product-led growth model is Dropbox. After building an incredibly successful SaaS product, they made it free. Now, the service is used by millions of people every day.
Another example of a product-led growth strategy is Shopify. They started by building a platform for small businesses but quickly realised it was an excellent fit for more prominent companies.
So, if you're looking for a way to grow your business online, consider building a product and onboarding people to convert them to paying customers.
We can do product-led growth in two ways:
- Free trial
- Freemium
A free trial is the best way to test the waters and determine whether your product is something people want. If you find that they do, you can then convert them to paid plans and add-ons.
Freemium is another option. This is the approach that Dropbox took. The basic version is free, but they also offer premium plans that provide more features for a fee.
10 – Inbound Marketing: Attract, Engage, and Delight Customers Online
What is the best marketing book to read in 2023? It is challenging to choose, but I recommend the HubSpot book.
It's an excellent book to start with because it teaches the basics of inbound marketing, and the fundamentals of inbound are the same across industries.
The book explains how to create a great landing page and use it to convert customers into leads and how to build a strong sales funnel.
The book also covers various tactics to make content go viral, like making it functional, adding a human touch, and using social media to amplify the message.
It's the first book I read after getting into marketing, and it's helped me understand what it means to create value for customers online.
This book will help us all learn how to use inbound marketing, and I'll be able to apply the lessons learned from reading this book to my business.
11 – Using Behavioral Science in Marketing
This fascinating book uses many examples to illustrate how you can apply behavioural science in marketing. It is written by two authors who are both professors and have successfully applied behavioural science in marketing.
The book is divided into four parts, each a collection of chapters, which have been broken down into sections. Each chapter has a title, a section title, and some headings. For example, one chapter has “Behavioral Science in Direct Marketing” as the title. The following section is “How to Make People Buy”, and the last is “The Power of Visualisation”.
Each chapter has a summary of the content at the end of the chapter and a list of references at the end. Some references are academic, and others are more common sense and valuable tips.
I enjoyed this book because it was a nice mix of practical and academic. It also has a lot of good advice and resources at the end of the book, which is great for finding something quickly.
This book is worth reading if you are interested in using behavioural science in marketing.
12 – Marketing Made Simple
It would be best if you built your brand to grow your business and reach your potential. And the only way to do that is to tell your brand's story. That's what the Marketing Made Simple book is all about.
Marketing Made Simple is a 5-step guide that shows you how to turn your marketing efforts into a successful sales funnel. It helps you understand the various stages of the sales funnel and provides tips and tricks for each stage of the funnel.
You'll learn the importance of having a robust online presence and how to create a website that works for your business. You'll also discover how to use email marketing to build relationships with your customers and how to create campaigns that generate leads and drive conversions.
The Marketing Made Simple book will teach you how to turn your marketing efforts into a successful sales funnel. It's a 5-step guide that shows you how to turn your marketing efforts into a successful sales funnel.
I like how it's split into five sections. The first section is about understanding your brand and why it matters. The second section is about building a storybrand. The third section is about developing your sales funnel, including how to attract leads and convert them. The fourth section is about creating a website, and the fifth is about email marketing.
The Marketing Made Simple book is comprehensive and informative. It covers all of the basics of marketing and is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to build their brand.
13 – This is Marketing
This is Marketing is the definitive guide to identifying and reaching your customers.
I've been doing online marketing for over a decade, but I'm still learning something new daily.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand the art of digital marketing.
It's written by two of the world's leading experts in the field – Brian Solis and Jeff Bullas. Solis is a social media expert and author of several books, and he co-founded Digital Media Wire, a blog dedicated to covering digital news and trends. Bullas is the CEO of Engagor, a software company that makes content marketing software.
I love how they take complex ideas and break them down into simple terms that anyone can understand.
I bought this book after reading another marketing book that I needed clarification on, and I was disappointed by it. I read this book and instantly understood how to do what I do, and I've used the techniques in this book ever since.
The best thing is that the authors are very accessible. Their writing style is very casual and friendly, and they explain things in a way you can understand and implement.
I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get started with marketing, and it's beneficial for beginners.
14 – Building a Story Brand
We'll recommend Donald Miller's book “Building a StoryBrand” to anyone looking to build a business or a career.
Miller's book is not about building a business, it's about building a brand, and there's a difference.
A brand is the sum of a company's experiences and the emotions they invoke. A brand is about how you think about your customers.
Miller helps you to identify your customers' emotional needs and translate that into a compelling brand message that will get their attention.
Miller teaches you how to build your brand using seven universal elements of stories. These seven universal elements of stories are:
- Stories connect us.
- Stories unite us.
- Stories challenge us.
- Stories inform us.
- Stories surprise us.
- Stories entertain us.
- Stories move us.
With these seven universal elements, you can create a memorable brand experience for your customers and tell your story to the world.
In the end, the goal of a brand is to attract customers and get them to love you. And when your customers love you, they'll want to share your story with their friends and family.
And that's the magic of a brand.
15 – $100M Offers
This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to maximise their profits.
I first read this book on the plane to LA, and I knew that this was something that I needed to share with the world.
I applied almost every tip and concept this book offered, which has paid off big time.
This book helped me to make over $1M in the last year, and it's only the beginning.
If you want to learn how to make much money, this is the book that you need to read.
16 – One Million Followers
I have followed Brendan Kane for years. I was so excited when I got this book. I've had my doubts about Brendan for a long time because he is brilliant and knows what he's doing, but he's a hard worker. He does know what he's talking about.
Many say they can do a million followers, but they can't. But Brendan can get people to follow him. He's one of the best at getting people to follow him.
And he has a lot of different ways of doing it. You can use social media and email and get people to follow you on Twitter, and that's how he got his million followers.
I like the way he talks about creating content. You can make content, and people will come to you. If you want to get followers, you need to make good content.
I have a website, and I'm always trying to get more followers. I have some ideas on what I can do to get more followers. And this book is perfect.
I recommend it to anyone who wants to get more followers.
17 – The Seven-Figure Agency Roadmap
This is a must-read if you're an agency owner or considering starting one.
The Seven Figure Agency is full of valuable advice to help you succeed and scale your business.
You'll learn how to transition from a traditional agency to a digital one, scale your business, and hire the right team.
Josh has worked with dozens of agencies and knows precisely what it takes to make it big.
18 – The Hawke Method
It is a no-brainer that every brand needs a marketing plan. But what makes Hawke so different is that they understand the science behind marketing and how to apply it across the board.
Founded in 2000, Hawke has helped thousands of brands, including Nike, Dell, and Coca-Cola, succeed through its holistic approach to brand marketing.
Many companies claim they're marketers, but their marketing plan doesn't seem to work. They have a vision for the future but need to do something to get there.
By contrast, Hawke is making waves because it understands the science of marketing and how to apply it.
This book is a comprehensive guide to marketing. It takes you through the three core elements of marketing: awareness, nurturing, and trust. It then explains how to put them all together.
These core elements are critical to any brand. Without them, the system fails.
I recommend this book to anyone struggling with the same issues I faced. I struggled with branding for a while, but it all clicked when I applied the Hawke method.
19 – Contagious: Why Things Catch On
Contagious is a book about how to create viral ideas. The way this book was written is effortless to understand and follow.
I like how the author explains how to make things go viral using a simple model.
The author explains the factors that make something viral, such as the six principles, the seven types of information and the four stages of information dissemination.
The book contains practical, real-life examples, charts, and graphs that help the reader follow the process better.
You will learn many ways to make your product, idea, or campaign go viral, and also you will be able to implement them into your project.
As this book is about spreading ideas, it is also fascinating for marketing and communication professionals.
20 – Niching Up: The Narrower the Market, the Bigger the Prize
I love this book because it is an excellent resource for any business owner or entrepreneur. There are so many things to learn from Chris's experience.
He breaks down the business landscape into two types of niches:
- Niche markets: where there are fewer competitors
- Specialised markets: where there are many competitors
Chris discusses the benefits of each and how they affect you and your business.
Chris also talks about the “why” of each market, the types of companies that are successful in each, and what types of companies are not successful.
I especially like the part about the niche markets. So many people are trying to sell the same products and services that it is tough to stand out. You need to understand your product and find a niche market interested in your offering.
The book also talks about finding and targeting your customers. I recommend this book to anyone looking to make a change in their business or to start one.
Wrapping Up
I recommend these books as a great starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about marketing. Whether you are looking to build your brand, grow a small business, or want to learn more about your target market, these books can help you get started.
The problem is that there are so many options to consider and so many different things you can do to market your business that it's easy to get lost. I'm sure you have many questions like “What is marketing?”, “How do I start?” and “How do I grow?”.
But since it's been so long since you started, you may feel a little behind. Don't worry; it's always possible to learn new skills.
And with this list of the top 20 best marketing books for business growth, I hope you find one that piques your interest.
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
