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Finding & reading the best posts around the Internet is the primary way to learn and stay up to date. But sometimes nothing there’s nothing like a great book to put things in context and fully explain a topic.
But the best books in digital marketing & SEO are often buried among a lot of fluff and wasted time. Here are the books that really taught me marketing (along with business and more) – hopefully it’s useful for you as well!
Marketing & Advertising
Here’s my favorite books on marketing in general with some books on ad copy thrown in.
The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
A short, simple, classic book that I re-read this year. Excellent reference book with zero fluff and plenty of examples. View on Amazon…
80/20 Principle
One of the most interesting concepts in life and business. It’s the idea that 20% of inputs generate 80% of the outputs in any given situation. Must read. View on Amazon.
Buying In
Wonderful, fun, readable history of how advertising, marketing and customers have changed in the past 20 years or so. View on Amazon.
Made To Stick
Solid, highly readable book about what makes ideas stick while others fail. An essential concept to creating a product or service that customers notice and remember. View on Amazon.
80/20 Sales & Marketing
This book takes the 80/20 principle and applies it directly to sales & marketing. A bit cheesy & sales-y in parts, but truly eye-opening. View on Amazon.
All Marketer Are Liars
A book that’s all about positioning and storytelling by Seth Godin. View on Amazon.
Tribes
A book about creating a following – or finding an audience to tag along with. It’s a key concept of marketing in readable, updated language. View on Amazon.
Cashvertising
This book is very sales-y. But it’s also the quickest way to learn key concepts of direct response advertising. You can take those tactics and apply them however you wish. View on Amazon.
AdWeek Copywriting Handbook
A solid reference book to read through or dip into as needed to get ideas on writing compelling content. View on Amazon.
How To Write A Good Advertisement
A timeless classic on writing a persuasive piece of copy for really anything. View on Amazon.
Influence: Psychology of Persuasion
The book on how to persuade humans. It’s science-heavy, but very readable. Eye-opening. View on Amazon.
SEO, PPC & Social
Here’s my favorite books on SEO, PPC & Social specifically. All very tactical.
Art of SEO
If you want to be an SEO professional, this is your Bible. It’s a huge reference book that can be read through or dipped into as needed. View on Amazon.
Ultimate Guide to Link Building
There is so much snake-oil in the world of getting links to your website, but this book shows you how to do it well. It’s written by the expert in link building – Eric Ward. View on Amazon.
Advanced Google AdWords
Google AdWords is possibly the most profitable and most daunting ad platform on the Internet. Another great reference book to read through or dip into as needed. View on Amazon.
Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising
Facebook is a marketer’s dream come true. It has so many targeting options for every business. This book is a solid introduction. View on Amazon.
Trust Me, I’m Lying
A book all about the sad, cynical game of digital PR and digital publishing. Take the lessons, learn, and use them for good. View on Amazon.
Thank You Economy
Another concise, interesting read by Gary Vaynerchuk. View on Amazon.
Business & Career
Sometimes learning how to run a business & grown your career better can be a key part of becoming better at doing marketing or running your website. Here’s my favorites in this category.
Rework
Another one of my favorite books that I re-read this year. Still fresh, highly relevant and a worthwhile read from the founders of 37signals. View on Amazon.
Four Hour Workweek
A classic business and marketing book. It’s all about using technology and tactics to 10x your output (ie, do a 40 hour week in 4 hours). View on Amazon.
How To Fail At Almost Everything and Still Win Big
My favorite general career book. The core concept is that each additional skill you learn adds exponentially to your value. View on Amazon.
Linchpin
Another great general career book by Seth Godin. View on Amazon.
Do The Work
A polemic about actually doing the work that you need to do. Reading and learning only go so far before you have to actually try stuff and fail. View on Amazon.
Anything You Want
A fun, short little book about building the business that you want to exist in the world. View on Amazon.
$100 Startup
An interesting, anecdote-heavy book on using technology and tactics to create a business with very little capital or expertise. View on Amazon.
Poke The Box
Another concise, interesting read by Seth Godin. It’s all about just getting started. Try something! View on Amazon.
Small Giants
Concise, well researched & fun read about companies that don’t pursue growth for growth’s sake by an editor at Inc. Magazine. View on Amazon.
