I’ve mixed feelings about marketing books. They’re great for helping my career, but sometimes they’re a big waste of time. A lot of marketers think writing a book makes them look important and trustworthy. Amazon makes it easy for anyone to publish a book, so now there are tons of new marketing books every month. Sadly, most of them aren’t very helpful.
Some just waste your time, while others give bad advice that can mess things up for you. That’s why I’m here to help! Yes, In this article, I’ll show you the best marketing books for beginners. So, what makes a good marketing book?
Looking for marketing books for beginners? Start with these top picks: “Marketing for Dummies” and “The New Rules of Marketing and PR.” For digital marketing, check out “Digital Marketing for Dummies” and “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook.” These essential reads provide a solid foundation for novice marketers.
There’s no easy way to know which ones are good and which ones are bad. It depends on what you need and where you work.
Here are some things to look for:
- Strategy vs. tactics: I like books that talk about big ideas rather than specific things to do. Online marketing changes too fast for books to keep up.
- Who’s it for: Authors usually say who their book is for. Some are for startup founders, while others are for marketing executives.
- Stage and industry: Some books are better for certain stages of a business. Some authors have more experience with big companies, while others know more about smaller ones.
Digital marketing is full of chances to succeed. It’s up to you to figure out what’s most important and focus on that.
Watch out for warning signs, too. Amazon reviews can be faked, and some authors don’t really know what they’re talking about. It’s better to read books by people who have real experience. Even then, a good book isn’t always easy to understand.
Content
List of the Best Marketing Books for Beginners
Below, I’ve listed 7 best marketing books for beginners. These books are ones I’ve read and enjoyed.
- Lost and Founder — A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World
- Predictably Irrational —The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions
- Breakthrough Advertising
- The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding —How to Build a Product or Service into a World-Class Brand
- 10x Marketing Formula — Your Blueprint for Creating ‘Competition-Free Content’ That Stands Out and Gets Results
- Hooked — How to Build Habit-Forming Products
- The 1-Page Marketing Plan — Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd
1. Lost and Founder
“Lost & Founder” isn’t just about marketing. It’s written by Rand Fishkin, a great marketer who started Moz and now leads SparkToro.
In the book, Rand shares his personal story as a startup founder and gives excellent marketing advice. He talks about Moz’s journey and how businesses change as they grow.
Rand also talks about growth hacking, which brought quick results but caused long-term problems. I’ve seen this happen too.
Overall, “Lost & Founder” is a helpful and entertaining book for marketers.
2. Predictably Irrational
I’ve read this book many times and instantly loved it. It’s one of the books I’ve given as a gift the most.
Dan Ariely is not only a top behavioral scientist but also a great teacher and communicator. His books are easy to understand, full of real-world experiments and stories, and really fun to read.
“Predictably Irrational” talks about how our brains work and why we make silly decisions, even when we think we’re being super smart. Lots of chapters in the book are about why we buy things, based on Ariely’s research.
For example, did you know fear is the biggest feeling when we buy something? If we don’t buy something, it’s because we’re scared. That’s why the word “Free” is so powerful—it makes us less afraid.
Even though marketing isn’t talked about directly, when you finish reading the book, you’ll have lots of ideas on how to make your marketing better, improve your website, and get people interested in your product.
Believe me, this is one of the best marketing books you’ll ever read.
3. Breakthrough Advertising
Many people think ‘Breakthrough Advertising’ is a very important book for writing ads. Some call it ‘The Lost Book’ because it’s hard to find and can cost a lot, like $400 on Amazon. But trust me, it’s worth it.
Forget about all those confusing advertising terms like CPC, CTR, Facebook Ads, and Display advertising. This book was written a long time ago, in 1966, when people used to advertise in newspapers and by mailing things directly to people.
But even though advertising has changed a lot, people haven’t changed much.
This book isn’t just about advertising tricks. It’s mostly about understanding why people buy things and how to write ads that make them want to buy.
The ideas in this book are still good today, maybe even better.
One of my favorite things the book says is, ‘A Marketer’s job is not to make people want new things. That would be too hard and expensive. Instead, your job is to understand what people already want and use that in your ads.’
This book will help you be better at marketing.
4. The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding
Al Ries is a well-known author celebrated for his classic marketing literature. Reviews on Amazon reveal that his work often sparks controversy, with readers either passionately embracing or strongly disliking it.
I agree.
I really like branding, especially for SaaS Marketing. Plus, I think it’s super important for digital marketing.
The problem with Ries’ book is that it’s old. It was written way back in 2002, and some of the examples he uses have turned out to be wrong.
Some of these bad examples might make the book seem not so good to some people, but I disagree. In business, there are always exceptions, but that doesn’t mean the general rules don’t apply most of the time.
In my opinion, Ries’ book is perfect for marketers and business people. It explains well how famous brands are made and how the “laws” in the book still work for internet marketing today.
5. 10x Marketing Formula
If you’re a fan of inbound marketing and content marketing, you’ll definitely enjoy diving into the “10x Marketing formula”.
Authored by Garrett Moon, co-founder of Co-Schedule, this book offers an insightful approach that you can get a glimpse of in this post.
The main concept is that achieving marketing success often hinges on significant leaps rather than small victories.
The book delves into crafting, analyzing, and refining a dependable marketing strategy centered around bold moves. While some may not pan out, those that do can have a profound impact on your business.
A major focus of the book is content marketing, which is a personal favorite for scaling SaaS businesses. The strategies outlined have been tried and tested on CoSchedule’s blog, with considerable attention given to social media marketing as well.
It may not always be at the top of the “best marketing books for beginners” lists, but it’s definitely worth exploring!
6. Hooked
This book by Nir Eyal comes in 5th number on the list of best marketing books for beginners. Plus, it is a really popular book all over the world. It’s about how successful businesses make products that people want to use again and again.
This book isn’t just about advertising. It’s more about making products that keep people interested, so they keep using them. It talks about how to make customers stick around and become loyal to your brand.
If you work in product marketing, you should absolutely read this book. It’s like a guidebook for making your products successful. This book shows how different teams can work together better.
The ideas in “Hooked” are also really helpful if you’re thinking about using a product-led growth (PLG) strategy. It gives you smart ways to make your products grow.
7. The 1-Page Marketing Plan
I read Allan Dib’s book six years ago when I was working at AdEspresso, and I recall enjoying it immensely.
It’s a must-read for anyone in the B2B Marketing space. It gives you clear steps for each part of a good marketing plan.
The book is organized into three main sections: Before, During, and After.
The Before section covers essential pre-launch activities such as defining your target market, crafting your message, and researching potential customers through advertising.
The Before part tells you what to do before you start selling, like figuring out who your customers are and what to say to them.
The During part is about getting and keeping customers who pay.
The After part is about making sure your customers stay happy.
It’s a helpful book for planning your marketing. But it doesn’t give you detailed tactics to follow, especially for getting more people to notice your business. Even with these things, it’s still a perfect book and one of the best marketing books for beginners.
Classic and Introductory Marketing Books for Beginners
Looking for good motivational books for beginners in marketing? Explore classic marketing books like “Influence” by Robert Cialdini and “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin. For entry-level marketing, check out “Contagious” by Jonah Berger. Beginners can also benefit from “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. These introductory marketing texts offer valuable insights for newcomers.
For beginners looking to delve into marketing, finding the best marketing books can provide valuable insights and strategies. Similarly, if you’re interested in selling clothes on Amazon, learning how to navigate the platform effectively is essential for success in e-commerce.
FAQs
What is the Best Book to read about Marketing?
The best marketing book depends on what you like and what you want to learn. Some good ones are:
- Lost and Founder
- Predictably Irrational
- Breakthrough Advertising
- The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding
- 10x Marketing Formula
- Hooked
- The 1-Page Marketing Plan
How can I learn Marketing Skills from a Book?
To learn marketing from a book, pick titles that cover different marketing topics. Read carefully, take notes, and try out what you learn in real life. Practice different marketing ideas and keep learning from your experiences.
Where can I learn the Basics of Marketing?
You can learn marketing basics from books, online courses, tutorials, and educational websites. Look for beginner-friendly books that talk about things like understanding customers, branding, advertising, and digital marketing.
How do I Become a Marketer with a Book?
To become a marketer, start by reading books that teach marketing. Also, try to get experience by doing internships, freelance work, or entry-level jobs in marketing. Keep learning and stay connected with other marketers to grow in your career.
Final Verdict
As of now, you’ve explored 7 best marketing books for beginners. The books mentioned in this article are ones I’ve personally read and recommend.
Now, pick the one you like!
