10 Must-Read Marketing Books

Marketing involves sales, advertising, and public relations. It is the process of interesting a buyer into a product or service. It can appear on TV, in print, video, radio, or on the internet.

Whether we like it or not, advertising drives all sales.


We wouldn’t know a product or service existed without it. Companies such as ScanTeam help sellers find the real buyers. CEO Alex Lysak, an expert on online casino advertising and an author, provides insight on what marketing books are the most important to read.

A Brief History

Advertising is not new. Salespeople have been promoting their wares before the 19th century. It truly came into its heyday though in the late 1930s and 40s. It was then that radio advertising gave way to television. The market had been previously dominated by print media and radio. Television however opened the door for modern advertising.


The new medium allowed customers to enjoy audio-visual advertising. Instead of stationary photographs, they could see the item in use. This powerful tool spurred the economic boom of the post-war world. By combining the different mediums, sales departments and corporations could multiply consumer contacts. As technology changed the professional marketers kept pace.


The microprocessor and the birth of the digital age brought new opportunities. Now, one can see and order the product at the same time. Product sales and advertising have multiplied exponentially. As technology continues to change, marketing also evolves.

 

Learning the Art of Sales

So, you think you might decide that sales and marketing might be right up your alley. Where do you begin? Marketing is a degreed study program at many colleges and universities. Read a book, or several and then practice the skills in the real world.


As trends in sales change, as technology develops, we also need to augment our skills. Websites such as imustread.com contain a large compendium of books on the topic. But, which books are the most current and useful? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books on the subject. Here are our choices for the top ten marketing strategy books.



Full Funnel Marketing -- Matt Heinz.


The marketing funnel is the process of making a prospective customer a purchaser. It is a technique employed by sales groups. Matt Heinz explains the details of converting the buyer from prospect to customer.



Welcome to the Funnel -- Jason Miller.


This book is a practical guide to making the marketing funnel work in content and social media sales. The book was a tongue-in-cheek approach offering the writer's own practical thoughts.



Impossible to Ignore -- Carmen Simon.


Carmen Simon is an expert on the consumer’s psychological qualms during the sale. She applies her experience in neuroscience to the medium.



Hacking Marketing

Agile Practices to Make Marketing Smarter, Faster, and More Inventive -- Scott Brinker.
Scott Brinker shows us how to apply software platforms to modern marketing. His understanding of data-centric marketing is applied to the modern environment.



The Big Data-Driven Business -- Russell Glass & Sean Callahan.


The authors show how to use data-driven marketing to expand any company's sales.



Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer -- Carlos Hildago.


Carlos Hildago guides you through transforming your company's sales.



Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Radically Successful Businesses -- Joe Pulizzi.


Joe Pulizzi has taken the normal concept of marketing and flipped it over. He contends that the process of creating a product and then marketing it to the consumer is passé. He believes instead that you should find the buyer and then create the product.



Aligned to Achieve: How to Unite Your Sales and Marketing Teams Into a Single Force for Growth -- Tracy Eiler & Andrea Austin.


Eiler and Austin collaborate to show how to organize sales and marketing teams. The concept is to increase working relationships between the two groups to increase sales.



Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade -- Robert Cialdini, Ph.D.


Robert Cialdini shows that the best method for persuasion is to focus on a person’s state of mind. The book offers tips and tricks to get the consumer to agree with you.



The Power of Visual Storytelling -- Ekaterina Walker & Jessica Gioglio.


The authors present the most effective way to market in digital media. Using video, infographics, and photos they present the product in the best light.


This list covers both traditional and digital marketing books to aid sales and marketing professionals. Yet, what are the best books to read about getting started in marketing?

 

Learning the Art of Marketing

The basic element of sales is psychology. Understanding the wants and needs of the consumer and helping them make the decision to buy. The list below has some of the best marketing books for beginners. They contain information to help learn basic sales and marketing. With these, you can learn the art of sales, how marketing targets buyers, and how to increase sales.



Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision Into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream -- Ken Colwell, Ph.D., MBA.

• Social Media Marketing Workbook: How to Use Social Media for Business -- Jason McDonald.

• Marketing for Dummies -- Jeanette McMurty.

• Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand for Any Business -- Donald Miller & Dr. J.J. Peterson.

• SEO Workbook: Search Engine Optimization Success in Seven Steps (2021) -- Jason McDonald.

• Google Ads (AdWords) Workbook (2021): Advertising on Google Ads, YouTube & The Display Network -- Jason McDonald.

• The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From the Crowd -- Allan Dib.

• Hook Point: How to Stand Out in a 3 Second World -- Brendan Kane.

Conclusion

For those interested in the psychological, art, and science of marketing these books are a must-have. As with all things though, experience is the best teacher. Marketing continues to adapt to the changes in technology and the will of the consumer.

Alex Lysak is the CEO of ScanTeam. I have been working in online marketing since 2011, my main areas of expertise are marketing research, social media marketing, and SEO. During 9 years of experience, I have helped many products and startups to develop marketing strategies and to implement them further.