3 Current Books That Marketers Should Read in 2013
A frequent question that I’ve been asking various marketers and people around me is what books would you recommend for me to read?” As much as I write, I try and read as well. From new techniques, fortifying foundations, gaining new perspectives to just avoiding my brain being sucked away with mindless TV (Someone punch me when I start to watch old seasons of The Hills on Netflix again), having current books near me jolts my brain back to marketing mode. TrackMaven is a startup and marketing is obviously one of the essential components to keep it running.
Along with the sites that I go to daily to get my daily dose of marketing wisdom, there are books that are on my current reading list that have helped grasp some underlying marketing techniques. The three books below have been the most recent ones that I have dove into and they’ll have a permanent resting place on my desk for referencing as well too.
1. The Power Of Habit: Why What We Do In Life And Business by Charles Duhigg
To be honest I’m only about halfway through this book, but from what I read so far is completely fascinating. I don’t think I had any severe or minor habits as a child, mainly because the first time I tried to bit my nails my mom ripped me a new one. However, there are some habits that I have formed, no I don’t count my, at least, two cups of coffee a day a habit and its interesting to see how they function. Applying this to business you can find identify the habits customers form and potentially fill any gaps they are missing. The Power of Habit provides some perspective on different campaigns companies have used in their products combining with the habits of individuals. Besides knowing that eating my nails was obviously hazardous to my health, I think my mom knew subconsciously about the power of habits.
2. Brainfluence: 100 Ways to Persuade and Convince Consumers with Neuromarketing by Roger Dooley
The average adult human brain weighs between 2-3 pounds and has a depth of huge unexplored territories. Every time I read something new about how my brain functions…my mind is blown. These pieces of information are so interesting because sometimes I’m able to piece together experiences that show why my brain functions the way it does. And Brainfluence did just that with marketing. From visuals to even marketing smell, Dooley covers it all. He even covered topics about marketing scarcity too.
I love efficiency and I was completely roped into this book when I read the first chapter and it told me exactly where to go if I wasn’t up to speed on the sales process. Although it’s mainly a sales book, making sure your marketing and sales are a co-functioning well-oiled machine ensures that revenue does end up generating the right way. Ross and Tyler breakdown the funnel and also sum it together in a masterful way with a bright example of Salesforce.com.
Every writer must also be a reader as well, I think that translates well for every marketer as well. And you must also be very hungry as well too in order to want to learn as much as possible. Marketing is an ever-changing landscape and “One day you’re in. And the next day, you’re out.”
Maybe it’s not a gloom as Heidi Klum puts it in Project Runway, but keeping a list of reading materials and tools can push your marketing above your competitors.
Are there any books that I need to read right now? What are you reading? Tweet me (@sabelharris) or you can always give Maven a bone (@TrackMavenApp).
