There is no legitimate rebuttal that reading is bad for the brain. In fact, it’s such a good neurological workout that study after study has proven frequent readers are less stressed, more empathetic, hold higher leadership positions, are happier on average, and are more creative—the list goes on. Often as children, we are forced to read for at least 30 minutes each night, so it’s only natural that once the training wheels come off and we begin to make our own decisions, we lose sight of its importance on cognitive growth and self learning.
In today’s environment there is so much junk and saturation that it has become increasingly more difficult to decipher what matters, what’s real, what’s relevant and what will actually provide value in our lives. For marketers and those in creative positions, this is especially tough since the marketing world is in a constant state of change where emerging platforms and tech seem to lead the way. Although reading won’t necessarily make you a harder worker, hand you a promotion, or give you the right answer at all times, it does have the power to inform, challenge and guide you in the right direction. And hey, we’ll take it! Whether it’s a few pages before bed to help you get some much needed shut-eye, or you’re lounging beachside, I promise you’ll feel good about it.
If you take your marketing game seriously and want to elevate it to the next level, here’s your guide to the eight books you should pick up and dive into this year:
It’s tough to stay relevant in an age where consumerism is strong, fast, and cutthroat. John Hall’s “Top of Mind” masters how to engage your target audience, stay current, and lead in your industry. This insightful and conversational book comes to life through personal stories courtesy of Hall, who takes readers through how he built and maintained his brand and business relationships utilizing compelling language and universally applicable tools. As we navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, “Top of Mind” focuses on the need to foster authentic and trusting partnerships while providing effective understanding to continue to build a strong network.
Marketing is all about storytelling. The ability to thoughtfully and effectively tell a story is a must in the world of content creation. New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller uses the seven universal elements of powerful stories in his book, “Building a Storybrand,” to educate readers on how to improve the way we connect with consumers, grow a business, and achieve or outperform core business objectives. This problem-to-solution model is meant to give individuals and businesses a competitive edge that keeps consumers coming back for more of their products, services or ideas. When we choose to purchase or commit to something, it’s for a reason. Often, it’s the way the brand has thoughtfully catered their messaging that makes us genuinely want to be a loyal fan. It’s a win-win scenario. His seven universal elements outline what humans respond to, why we make purchases, and how to construct the most effective and concise brand message. There’s no holding back here, Miller is sharing his sweetest marketing tips & tricks. Whether you’re the CMO of a billion dollar company or a small business owner, “Building a Storybrand” will transform the way you discuss your business and why people should care.
Did you know that 93% of all communication is nonverbal—55% is body language while the remaining 38% is tone of voice. How we present ourselves, whether it’s in front of one person or an auditorium full of people, is the key to success. Interpersonal human behavior expert and author Vanessa Van Edwards has mastered the art of body language and conversation and she wants you to do the same. “Captivate” is a digestible and practical guide that provides shortcuts for improving and highlighting your people skills. Edwards touches on a diverse range of subjects from how to command social situations, becoming memorable, spotting microexpressions, replacing anxiety with confidence, and uncovering the sub-surface level dynamics of people.
#Trending. Acclaimed author, two-time TEDx speaker and Georgetown University Professor Rohit Bhargava is a trend guru and expert in helping brands and leaders be more influential. “Non-Obvious: How to Think Different, Curate Ideas & Predict the Future” is every marketers go-to guide for learning how to ideate, share and execute “non-obvious,” “outside-of-the-box” ideas. His humorous, informal approach to helping brands and businesses come up with big ideas have proven successful across major brands such as Under Armour and Intel, ultimately helping move brands into the future.
The rise of social media over the last few years has its pros and cons. You almost have to try just as hard to be original as you do to be basic. Say what!? Adam Grant, author of “Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World,” uncovers the complexities of improving the world from the perspective of becoming original. Grant champions novel ideas and values one’s ability to go against the norm, question conformity, and rewrite and redefine dated traditions. The challenge: the ability to be unique without risking it all. Backed by studies and stories, Grant gives readers tips and insight for spotting a good idea, how to speak up while channeling fear and doubt, finding your allies, nurturing creativity in children, and knowing when to act on something. The payoff? Groundbreaking knowledge about how to reject the norm and improve the status quo.
It may look like a good ole’ textbook, but we promise you’ll want to take some (or all) pages out of this book. “Content Chemistry: An Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing” combines thousands of conversations and findings about web marketing with specific company data into an all in one handbook. That’s not all, it includes the most important and effective advice about the power of search engine optimization, social media, and email marketing. This is the first and really only guide of its kind that fuses both an in-depth, analytical approach with creative aspects of modern marketing in a digestible format. Recommendation: Keep this book by your desk.
Marketing savants are scrappy problem-solvers who find thrill in getting to the root of an issue using whatever hacks and tricks possible. Nick Westergaard’s “Get Scrappy” offers readers a reliable marketing guide to go from good to great, featuring a repeatable system that, no matter how fast the marketing world reinvents itself, is always relevant. Written in three parts, Westergaard starts with the basics, such as branding and building a marketing strategy, to doing more with less and embracing your resources, and finally, optimizing your social media game for the long haul.
“Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do.” Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book, “The Tipping Point,” seeks to divulge the “mysterious” changes that mark our everyday lives. The use of sociological data and engaging real life scenarios lend to the book’s power of showcasing how and why things occur—fads, epidemics, and all. While not necessarily a marketing book, the contents and stories within find innate applicability and may help to spark new ideas in your next brainstorm session. Without a doubt you will find yourself highlighting, underlining and dog-earing the pages of this book.
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