5 Inbound Marketing Books that Will Change Your Life

Brand Like A Rockstar by Steve Jones

Recommended to me by fellow Inbound Marketing Agent Jasmine Henry, Brand Like A Rockstar is a classic business book with a rock & roll twist. Based on a blog started by music business insider Steve Jones, the book uses popular bands’ rise to fame as illustrations for how you can better brand your business, utilize novel theories in marketing and advertising, and ultimately create more groupies for your company. If you love music and you love marketing, you’ll probably love this book.
Side note: Jasmine wanted me to note that, while she very much enjoyed reading this book, she was not in full agreement with the fact that Nirvana was referred to as a pop band.

Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers by Seth Godin

This book was a real game-changer when it came out. Because advertising and marketing have traditionally been viewed as interruptive, the idea of having the permission to market to someone is fairly novel in the grand scheme of things. This book is obviously meant for the content marketer – it’s filled with valuable information for anyone who wants a career in inbound marketing.

Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business by Jay Conrad Levinson

This marketing book is a classic in the modern marketing industry. Since this book was published in 1983, it’s pretty old as far as technology is concerned, but it’s still as relevant as ever. Focusing on small businesses, Guerrilla Marketing was revolutionary for the marketing business. If you have a small business or are interested in how to market one, this book is for you. Additionally, it’s a great look into the beginnings of what the marketing industry is today.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcom Gladwell

This book is certainly not geared toward marketers, but it is incredibly useful for them. I love reading Malcom Gladwell’s books and would recommend any of them, but this one is a powerful read if you’re interested in marketing. It goes into great depths about making snap decisions and what really goes into this process. It’s a fascinating look into the human mind, and can help you as much in your business practices as it can in your personal life.

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

While this book is a perfect read for anyone who’s interested in learning more about becoming a master persuader and guarding yourself against being persuaded by others, it’s a must for marketers. Why? Because when you know what persuades people to say “yes”, you know how to market to them. If you’re naturally drawn to science and mathematics, you’ll enjoy this read.

By Pat Owings