5 Sales and Marketing Books You Need to Read

Regardless of how busy we are as marketers and salespeople, we should never sideline the importance of continuous learning.

Luckily, some of the world’s best marketers and negotiators have written books on their experiences and lessons learned throughout their careers. So, why not take advantage of these books and avoid making the same mistakes that they did.

We understand there are countless sales and marketing books out there, and not all of them will be worth your time. This is why we have compiled a list of some of our favourite old and new books that can be of use to entrepreneurs, marketers, salespeople, and anyone else considering or starting up their own business. These books are a great way to get inspiration, motivation, and lessons from some of the world’s best marketers and business leaders.

1. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

Donald Miller is the CEO of Business Made Simple, an online platform that teaches business professionals everything they need to know to grow a business and enhance their personal value on the open market. 

This read allows you to gain clarity in the message you deliver to your customers and appeals to businesses of all sizes, whether that be a start-up or an established brand.

The information throughout is timeless and practical, with advice given on marketing that has the ability to capture and hold your customer’s attention in a noisy world. 

The audiobook is also highly recommended.

2. Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving in by Roger Fisher and William Ury 

This sales book is put into a well-thought-out logical sequence, making it easy to read and follow. This book gives a great perspective on different situations and the way in which you should approach them.

The useful concepts written are not only suitable to use for business purposes but also for everyday life.

3. Fanatical Prospecting by Jeb Blount

This book gives salespeople, sales leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives a practical, eye-opening guide that clearly explains the why and how behind the most important activity in sales and business development.

The brutal fact is that the number one reason for failure in sales is an empty pipeline, and the root cause of an empty pipeline is the failure to consistently prospect. By ignoring the muscle of prospecting, many otherwise competent salespeople and sales organizations consistently underperform.

Step by step, Jeb Blount outlines his innovative approach to prospecting that works for real people, in the real world, with real prospects.

4. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

This is a biography written by the founder of Nike himself. This book provides amazing motivation and inspiration as you learn to understand that Nike’s founders had obstacles at every turn, but an attitude to win that was combined with companionship was what kept them going.

5. Competing Against Luck: The Story of Innovation and Customer Choice by Clayton M Christensen

This is an incredibly insightful book for anyone looking to start a business or improve innovation in existing companies.

Christiensen claims that the foundation of his thinking is the ‘Theory of Jobs to Be Done’, which focuses on deeply understanding your customers’ struggle for progress and then creating the right solution and attendant set of experiences to ensure you solve your customers’ jobs well, every time.

Happy reading!

Marketing and selling your business are business owners’ two most important jobs. Apply the principles from these books, and we can assure you that they will help you along the way.