The 7 Best Books On Marketing

In your opinion, what is marketing? A question so broad that it leaves room for all kinds of answers. From the most expensive to the most elaborate. One such definition, put forward by author Ryan Holiday in his book “Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising,” says that marketing is everything that wins and keeps customers.

Thus, whether you are a marketing professional looking to catch up, a student looking for knowledge or even an entrepreneur wanting to know a little more about this department, marketing books are essential for many people.

But, in the midst of so many titles, where to start? Or what would those mandatory works be?

The question is difficult and there will always be different opinions. But we try to make our contribution and we list the 7 best books on marketing.

If you want to purchase any of the books listed below, click on the titles. They are affiliated links that will take you directly to the store.

1 – Purple Cow, New Edition: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable, by Seth Godin

We started our list with one of the greatest marketing classics of all time. In a world increasingly full of information, it takes much more than a simple advertisement to make companies convince people to choose their product or service.

With the market becoming more competitive every day – in quantity and quality – it takes much more than a cute jingle, a correct slogan or a well-crafted advertisement to draw the attention of consumers amidst so much information.

In these days, when just being “good” is no longer enough, it is necessary to seek strategies and actions that make your brand exceptional. You have to be different from others, attract attention amidst so much information and make people comment on your brand and want to consume your product or service.

It is precisely this challenge that the book addresses. Godin, one of America's most renowned marketers, navigates this new market, helping readers make their businesses stand out in today's world.

2 – Confessions of an Advertising Man, by David Ogilvy

One of the greatest advertising classics could not be left out of this list. David Ogilvy, one of the most creative advertisers of all time, started his career on Madison Avenue and, little by little, rose to prominence in the American markets.

In his book, Ogilvy “confess” his path to the top and gives valuable insights into how consumers' minds and emotions work.

No wonder that the book has become one of the greatest legacies of the professional and mandatory reading for all generations of advertisers, businessmen, marketers, communicators, sociologists and several other professionals interested in consumer psychology.

3 – Contagion – Why Things Catch, by Jonah Berger

What does it take for something to be successful with people? If you thought of “a good advertisement”, it is better to review your concepts. Although ads still have their space, they are no longer as relevant to people as they used to be.

If a few years ago a space on the radio, TV, magazine or newspaper was enough to convince a consumer to opt for a certain brand, nowadays it is necessary to conquer it in other ways.

One of the most effective is the opinion of friends, family and influencers.

That's what Jonah Berger, professor of marketing at Wharton, stands for. After spending decades researching the subject, he was able to identify which factors cause a rumor to spread on social media, or a video to go viral on the internet and also how this social phenomenon influences our decisions - purchase, attitude, beliefs etc.

In the book, the author shares with readers the hidden science behind online contagion and social sharing, in addition to sharing the six essential principles that drive all types of content to go viral. Unmissable!

4 – The Digital Marketing Bible, by Cláudio Torres

In this practical guide, the reader is invited to understand each stage of the digital marketing universe, as well as the tools necessary to use the internet for the benefit of business and implement online marketing, communication and advertising actions.

In the work, Cláudio Torres addresses the major strategies, platforms, tools and actions used on the internet. It also offers a practical guide for the reader to start putting the teachings into practice as soon as possible.

Another differential of this guide is its accessibility.

Developed so that anyone can take advantage of the benefits of digital marketing to expand and strengthen their business, the book is aimed at all audiences – from non-experts, students, to professionals and experts in the field.

5 – The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, by Al Ries and Jack Trout

With a good dose of creativity, energy, time and budget, it is possible to achieve anything through marketing, right? Not.

At least that's what Al Ries and Jack Trout, authors of the work, think. According to them, there are 22 marketing laws that, if they are broken – intentionally or not – will definitively compromise the entire planning.

So, no matter how much time, talent and money has been invested, every campaign will be doomed to failure for those who don't mind following these laws.

In the book, the 22 rules are specified and detailed, and the authors point out what works and what doesn't in the industry, as well as giving tips for experts and managers who don't want to fall into these traps.

6 – Permission Marketing, by Seth Godin

One of today's leading experts in digital marketing, American Seth Godin is a must-have author for anyone who wants to understand the size and impact of the internet and new digital communication platforms on business and, of course, on marketing.

In Permission Marketing, Godin introduces the unique concept of “permission marketing” (one of the premises of Inbound Marketing) and invites readers to learn how to create marketing strategies capable of making consumers eager to receive messages from your company.

Every marketer's dream, no?

7 – Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear, by Frank Luntz

Why are some people able to not only say what they want to say, but do it in an impactful way? How do some speakers manage to transform simple speeches into emblematic moments, stirring emotions and leading people to take certain attitudes?

What makes some copywriters raise the bar for a simple slogan, turning them into mottos for their consumers?

The answers to all these questions are in the book “Words That Work” by Frank Luntz.

In the work, the linguistic architect and public opinion guru discusses the essential techniques for an efficient language, as well as invites a deep reflection on the correct words to achieve your goals, and the best ways to use them.

So, whether it's to boost your sales, reinforce your company's branding, inspire your team or even get a job or that deserved raise, using the right words – and in the right way – can make all the difference.