In 2023 where information is easily available on the internet, you’re probably wondering why books? Well, the list of 13 best digital marketing books will give you an in-depth understanding of all the core subjects and help increase your analytical skills.
These bestsellers speak volumes about how much knowledge the authors have with their tried and tested methods and expertise in the field. With tips and tricks and actionable strategies, these digital marketing books can really add value to your marketing efforts.
You can also learn the top digital marketing strategies and tips via digital marketing training or by opting for an MBA in Digital Marketing. But for all book lovers, let’s get started with the list of the best and must-read digital marketing books.
List of the Best Digital Marketing Books in 2023
Here is a list of the top digital marketing books you need handy for growing your business. This list includes both, International digital marketing authors as well as Indian digital marketing book authors.
1. Digital Marketing for Dummies – Russ Henneberry & Ryan Deiss
Rating – 4.45/5
If you are about to step into the world of digital marketing and know nothing, this book has the correct tools to get you started. An introduction to digital marketing tools that can increase your brand presence, and traffic and generate leads, this book is a guide for you to start targeting your audience.
It offers a very practical approach for businesses without allowing high budgets or wastage of resources. You will learn how to create various strategies for digital marketing platforms and get them to work and get you desired results.
2. Google Adwords for Beginners – Cory Rabazinsky
Rating – 4.2/5
New to Google Adwords? Then this book is just right for you. It is straightforward, to-the-point, and a great guide for beginners to Google Adwords. The basics of Google Adwords and pay-per-click ads are outlined in this book.
The what, how and where, and how along with proven techniques are all here. The author, Cory Rabazinsky has shared an 8-step process for results that many companies have adopted all over the world for improvising an existing campaign or making a blueprint for a new one. This is one of the most unique digital marketing books.
For anyone who needs entry-level access to knowledge about Google Adwords, then this book is your go-to. Check out this Google Adwords short course to add to your skillset.
3. Permission Marketing – Seth Godin
Rating – 3.9/5
The relationship between consumers and brands is an age-old concept and a very important one. In his book, Permission Marketing, Seth Godin dives deep into consumer behavior and behavioral psychology.
Instead of running after the customer, he talks about proven methods and tested techniques that’ll get your customer asking for your product or service. By applying the principles of the book, you will be able to master long-term relationships with customers, build brand awareness, trust and overall improve sales.
4. Social Media All-in-One for Dummies by Jan Zimmerman and Doug Sahlin
Rating – 3.6 / 5
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and many more sites – all in one handbook! Does it get better than this? Zimmerman and Sahlin are all set to boost your sales through these channels with blogs, podcasts, Vlogs, and customized strategies for each platform.
You’ve got a step-by-step plan to guide you to set up your campaign. It also talks about when to pull back instead of just pushing out content in the dark. We highly recommend this to digital marketing newbies as well as experienced professionals to remind them of the foundations.
Check out the Top 8 Benefits of Digital Marketing for Businesses.
5. Email Persuasion – Ian Brodie
Rating – 3.8/5
If you’re looking for real-world Email strategies to apply without the fluff – this is the book for you. It includes a customer insight mapping technique that’ll give you an in-depth understanding of what your clients are looking for and will help you deliver better.
The end goal is conversion and Email marketing has been used for many years by companies across the world. It has various techniques for a better open rate, high engagement, and building a loyal database. The secret formula to turning people into subscribers and these subscribers into loyal customers is mentioned in this book by Ian Brodie. Be sure to check out this concise and specialized online Email marketing course.
6. Traction by Gabriel Weinberg & Justin Mares
Rating – 4.2/5
As the name suggests, Traction by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mare talks about how a startup can get customers. It talks about how to create ‘traction’ by generating customer growth and momentum for success. In order to identify which traction channels are needed, a Bullseye Framework is used in the book. The five key principles of this method of identification are –
- Brainstorm
- Rank
- Prioritize
- Test
- Focus
With these techniques, you will be able to identify your channels. There are 19 channels mentioned in the book. Some of these are –
- Email Marketing
- Viral Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
- SEO
- Display Ads
- Social Ads
Check out this digital marketing online course for a crash course by the best industry experts.
7. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
Rating – 4.3/5
Donald Miller’s book is one of the best in the market. It has proven solutions to struggles faced by many digital marketers and entrepreneurs looking to make it big. It provides solutions for breaking through competition, connecting with customers and finding that USP.
It helps build a brand story so compelling that customers want your products and services as they will be able to see the value.
It identifies why customers make a purchase, how to simplify your brand message to make it more effective for various channels such as websites, social media, E-brochures, etc.
It does not matter whether you’re a marketing professional, a CEO, a start-up owner or even a student. This book will change the way you talk about who you are, what you do and what you have to offer – it is all about the unique value you bring to your customers.
Check out our online brand reputation management course.
8. Hacking Growth by Seth Ellis & Morgan Brown
Rating – 3.8/5
Okay, so we all know of Airbnb, Uber, and couch surfing as pretty normal today. However, before the digital age, these things were a well-kept secret. So how did they climb up the growth ladder? It did not happen overnight. Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown, in their book Hacking Growth, talk about how we can engage, retain and motivate customers to choose your brand.
This methodology is used by big companies like IBM, Microsoft, Uber, and Walmart. It is like a growth-hacking toolkit that is practical and the strategies can be implemented by marketers, entrepreneurs, and any kind of manager with cost-effective and data-driven results.
Check out some more digital marketing strategies for startups here.
9. The Webinar Way by Sherri Rose
Rating – 4.5/5
The Webinar Way by Sherri Rose offers 7 Pillars to engage and connect with your audience, turn your brand story into sales, influence potential customers with your ideas and create profits. Check out 5 tips for a successful marketing strategy.
10. Epic Content Marketing – Joe Pulizzi
Rating – 4/5
According to Joe Pulizzi, content is key when it comes to marketing and every brand needs to strive for ‘Epic Content Marketing. The book tells us how to gain loyal customers through content and help them with their needs. By identifying what they want and providing exactly that, customers will become grateful and eventually, loyal. Your content strategy must –
- Help the customer
- Be of good quality
- Avoid hard sales
- Consistent
- Authentic
11. Jab, Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk
Rating – 4.⅖
Gary Vaynerchuck has a truly unique style of writing and this book talks about how marketers need the right hook to convert traffic into sales. This hook refers to the right strategy. Street-smart, witty and result-oriented is how one would describe this book.
The digital world is cut-throat and the author’s aim is to help the audience identify the right hook. Jabbing refers to companies engaging with customers, waiting to patiently swing the sale, and knocking out the competition. The book equips you with ROI-led techniques.
The creation of not only the right content but also the right way to adapt it to different platforms is key. It’s not only about what your message is, it talks about how you are to present it. It has a great social media strategy blueprint that can be applied to various industries.
12. New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
Rating – 4/5
This book is possibly one of the most popular marketing and PR guides in the industry, available in 25 different languages. The author David Meerman gives readers insights on how to raise brand visibility, increase sales and communicate effectively with customers.
Simply put, it demonstrates how large and small companies alike can leverage digital marketing to put the right message, to the right people at the right time with a cost-effective model.
There are many compelling case studies in the book and real-world examples which will leave you spell-bound. It is a guide to engaging a customer who already is bombarded with information. David Meerman himself is a marketing strategist, a consultant to leading companies worldwide such as HubSpot, and an international author.
It is a comprehensive guide to building and growing any kind of business from a first-hand marketing Guru.
FAQs
Q. What are the best digital marketing books to read?
Jab Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk, Epic Content Marketing by Joe Pulizzi and Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller are a few of the best digital marketing books you must read irrespective of being a digital marketeer or even a business owner.
Q. Can I learn digital marketing through books?
Yes, you can learn digital marketing through books. It would help you understand case studies and other theoretical aspects of digital marketing. However, it is advisable to do a course to understand the technical aspect and application of this theory. We recommend that you check these short online digital marketing courses to brush up on your digital marketing skills.
For undergraduates, a BBA in Digital Marketing is an excellent option to start early in their careers.
Conclusion
That’s all from us! We hope that you pick up one of these books and find your ultimate holy grail. We suggest absorbing as much knowledge as possible to apply the best strategies to your business or at your workplace. Check out this Free Online Masterclass by IIDE.
If you’re looking for a course that covers all the modules of digital marketing and is intense, our 11-month postgraduate MBA-level course is well recognized and also has assured placements.
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Nice insight