Best Marketing Books for Beginners

Book rating updated 9.05.2024

Start your marketing journey! Best marketing books for beginners of all time sorted by rating. Popular introduction to marketing books recommended by Ryan Holiday, Timothy Ferriss, Jay-Z and other famous people.

 

  1. Blue Ocean Strategy

    4.6
    5 413 ratings
    W. Chan Kim, Renee Mauborgne
    In this groundbreaking work, authors show how the most successful companies find their customers. They argue that success doesn't come from battling competitors in "red oceans" of bloody competition, but from creating "blue oceans" of untapped new market spaces ripe for innovation. With persuasive examples and analytical rigour, they show how companies break out of the red ocean of bloody competition to create their own blue oceans, and thereby make the competition irrelevant. This book helps present a systematic plan that businesses can use to identify and seize these opportunities – fundamentally shifting how business is carried out.
  2. Hooked

    4.5
    8 728 ratings
    Nir Eyal
    Recommended by: Andrew Huberman
    Learn about how successful companies design products that people become obsessed with. This book lays out a four-step process that will keep your customers coming back without expensive advertising or intense marketing. It discusses the psychology behind why we get attached to certain products and how businesses can leverage that knowledge in making their offerings indispensable. It should be the ideal book for an entrepreneur, designer or anyone else interested in creating habits that foster customer loyalty and drive long-term success. Learn the secrets behind creating an irresistible product that keeps users coming back for more.
  3. The Tipping Point

    4.4
    8 566 ratings
    Malcolm Gladwell
    In this thought-provoking book, the author encourages readers to take immediate control of their lives and shape their destinies by examining how small actions can lead to serious changes, much like how a single sick person can start an epidemic. He delves into the concept of the "tipping point," the moment when an idea suddenly becomes very popular or something becomes a trend, ultimately transforming our way of living. The author looks into the people who spread such ideas and the context that makes it possible, providing expert advice on how these elements can enlighten us on the ways of changing society through a series of thrilling stories and research.
  4. Contagious

    4.6
    7 159 ratings
    Jonah Berger
    The science behind why certain ideas and products become viral. This book brings up factors that contribute to the shareable content from social currency and triggers to emotional resonance. Examples from life are backed up by research and teach how messages, stories, and products can be crafted in a way that people just have to share them with someone. Perfect for marketers, business owners and anyone who wants to get his or her ideas to stick, it gives extremely practical strategies to increase visibility and engagement in a noisy world. How to harness the power of word of mouth to help spread the word far and wide.
  5. Purple Cow

    4.5
    3 508 ratings
    Seth Godin
    Recommended by: Jay-Z
    Bestselling author Seth Godin brings forth the concept of the "Purple Cow" in a world full of advertisements and products, emphasizing the necessity to stand out with something so uniquely remarkable that it grabs the attention of one and all. This book on brand creation suggests that traditional forms of marketing are no longer feasible and that innovation is the key to success. By focusing on turning out products and services that are themselves worthy of note, a company can ensure that it captures the interest of its public. An absolute essential for anyone who wishes to stand out in a crowded market, this book gives concrete advice on how to become a Purple Cow in your industry.
  6. Growth Hacker Marketing

    4.3
    3 881 ratings
    Ryan Holiday
    Learn what growth hacking is: It's a cost-effective, data-driven way of marketing that tech startups use to grow quickly. The book simplifies into an easily adoptable action-oriented strategy to attract and retain customers without necessarily having a traditional marketing budget. Find out how to use A/B testing, social media, viral marketing, and analytics to better reach your audience. The book is perfect for entrepreneurs, marketers, and generally all those interested in an innovative way of promoting either a product or a service. The book is a blueprint on how to achieve growth thinking out of the traditional marketing playbook.
  7. All Marketers are Liars

    4.5
    1 638 ratings
    Seth Godin
    Recommended by: Andy Frisella
    In this fascinating book, Seth Godin explores the powerful role of storytelling in marketing. He posits that great marketers do not just share facts but tell a story in such a way that it resonates with the worldviews of the audience. These are not lies, but real-life stories people choose to believe – a connection with the brand in a way inconceivable. Godin stresses how honesty and consistency are of the essence in these stories, how they have the power of keeping a relationship – making it healthy and strong. This is a book that gives a different perspective on marketing, calling on its readers to be storytellers in order to inspire and capture audiences.
  8. Positioning

    4.4
    1 476 ratings
    Al Ries, Jack Trout
    A seminal work that first introduced the idea of product/brand positioning. Success is based on one's ability to stake out a unique position in the mind of the customer, based on its needs and perceptions in relation to its competitors. Includes strategies for staking and defending a powerful market position with compelling value propositions. Must-read for every marketer, advertiser, and business strategist.
  9. Kotler on Marketing

    4.5
    188 ratings
    Philip Kotler
    This book is a collection of essays and insights by renowned marketing expert Philip Kotler on everything from market research and product development to branding and customer service. It goes through most of the great principles in marketing and practical ways to be applied today by any business, big or small. Many great companies are profiled with case examples throughout.
  10. Content

    4.3
    29 ratings
    Rebecca Lieb
    Your guide to building brand awareness, customer engagement, and business results through content marketing. The building blocks of a successful content marketing program: audience definition, content planning, and tracking results. Practical advice on creating great content through various formats, including blog posts, social updates, video, and podcast scripts. Case studies and best-in-class examples.

FAQ

  • What are the best marketing books for beginners ever written?

    These are the top 10 best books to introduction to marketing of all time and for this year (2024) sorted by rating:

    1. "Marketing Management" by Philip Kotler and Kevin Lane Keller
    2. "Principles of Marketing" by Gary Armstrong and Philip Kotler
    3. "The 1-Page Marketing Plan" by Allan Dib
    4. "This is Marketing" by Seth Godin
    5. "Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller
    6. "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert B. Cialdini
    7. "Purple Cow" by Seth Godin
    8. "The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing" by Al Ries and Jack Trout
    9. "Contagious: Why Things Catch On" by Jonah Berger
    10. "Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products" by Nir Eyal.
  • What are the best content marketing books for beginners?

    List of must read content marketing books you should study to get started:

    1. "Content Chemistry" by Andy Crestodina
    2. "Everybody Writes" by Ann Handley
    3. "The Content Code" by Mark Schaefer.