5 books every marketer should read ASAP

These days, if you want marketing advice, you can turn just about anywhere. One of our favourite sources? A good, tried-and-true book. And there are several books every marketer should read – and we’ve got our favourites.

Work in marketing and communications or just want to learn how to better support your brand? You can take a deep dive into messaging, persuasion, copywriting, social media and more simply by updating your reading list.

Now that summer’s just about a month away, it’s time to visit your local bookstore to hunt down these five must-haves. In our opinion, they’re all perfect beach reads.

Of course, we are proud marketing nerds.

The 5 books every marketer should read:

Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Dr. Robert B. Cialdini

Now this book’s a classic – and for good reason. In Influence, Dr. Robert B. Cialdini breaks down what it really takes to persuade your audience. According to the new and expanded edition, there are seven universal principles of influence which could help your brand’s conversion rate take off.

Most importantly, this book explores how to be ethically persuasive. Crossing the line into manipulation is not a good look for any brand.

Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team by Alina Wheeler

Curious about creating a solid brand identity? This book will take you on a tour of the entire process. The fifth edition of Designing Brand Identity has got it all. You’ll learn about aligning your strategy, copy and design elements while exploring social media and global markets. Be sure to check out the (many!) case studies on world-class brands too!

This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn to See by Seth Godin

If you want advice from a marketing “thought leader”, look no further. In This Is Marketing, Seth Godin’s premise is simple: Marketers make change by creating tension, which leads audiences to new choices. When marketers are afraid to think outside the box, big mistakes can be made. This book just might inspire you to get a little unconventional once in a while.

Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World by Melissa Agnes

Having a crisis communications strategy is something many brands tend to overlook or push to the side. Planning for the worst isn’t exactly an inspiring task.

But waiting for a crisis to occur before coming up with a plan is a recipe for disaster.

Crisis Ready is all about building a proactive brand. No matter your industry, building trust and accountability is essential. Check out this book if you want to be prepared for anything life (or social media) throws at your business.

Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer

While this isn’t technically a marketing book, these days, everyone in the industry needs to be a wordsmith. Writing can be a source of major insecurity, even for seasoned professionals. Thankfully, Benjamin Dreyer, the longtime copy chief at Random House, wrote a writing style guide that’s helpful and surprisingly funny. An entertaining book about grammar and punctuation? Miracles do exist.

Happy reading – and remember, if you need real life advice on how to boost your brand’s digital marketing, reach out to us!