Read the top 5 digital marketing books to learn digital marketing and get the job done.
Top 5 Digital Marketing books:
1. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin
2. The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
3. Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy by Phil Barden
4. Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger
5. Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday
Detailed review of Top 5 digital marketing books:
1. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin
Seth Godin is a brand himself. He is known for many books, but permission marketing is the one you should read first, and this is the first position on my list of top 5 Digital Marketing books.
It points out the main advantage of good digital marketing over traditional media advertising, that Seth Godin calls an interruption marketing. When you think about permission marketing today, you probably visualize e-mail subscription. You are right, that is a good example, but I think of AdWords as of similar deal – after all I am happy customer if Google serves me ad that answers my query and fulfills my need. If you click on any link to the book in this page, it will also be permission based marketing.
Those links are actually affiliate links and I may get commission from Amazon if you buy the book (no, it does not make price any higher for you, it is the best Amazon’s algorithm offers at the moment). Thank you my friend, I hope you enjoy it!
2. The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
This is simply the best manual for new (digital) marketing and PR you can get. It HAS to be on any list of digital marketing books, so it is here, too.
It will teach you how to use all the new tools that came with the online media. As the subtitle lists, you will learn: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly.
This book has been initially published in 2007 but is updated with every edition, so make sure you get the latest one.
3. Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy by Phil Barden
If you have not read Daniel Kahneman’s epic Thinking, Fast and Slow
Decoded is not exactly a book about digital marketing, it tells you how to shape brand image, build engaging story in your advertisement and how to make your product stand out on the shelf. It is based on brick and mortar FMCG marketing, especially on use cases from Unilever where Phil Barden has been working for over 15 years, before moving to T-mobile, Diageo, TUI and then his own consultancy. This guy knows a lot about marketing, but more importantly he bases his actions on (neuro)science. Read Decoded and decode the science why people buy.
4. Contagious: How to Build Word of Mouth in the Digital Age by Jonah Berger
In Decoded I have mentioned engaging stories as a part of digital marketing skill set. This book focuses just on this. Why some ideas or products are talked about, while others not. Which article will be the most shared? Which YouTube video goes viral and why? Berger’s book analyses the most powerful tool enabled by digital marketing – word-of-mouth. You will learn STEPPS concept, which stands for Social currency, Triggers, Emotion, Public, Practical value and Stories. Jonah Berger, initially from Stanford and now marketing professor at the Wharton School backs it with hard science and you should too!
5. Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday
This is pretty fresh on my top 5 digital marketing books list, but you will find it very useful nonetheless.
I get to appreciate it bit later, maybe because Ryan Holiday is not a scientist but a digital marketing practitioner. Also this book is sensationalist and the author pretends to be a cynical liar looking for redemption. I guess it is yet another marketing tactic for him. Holiday is a former Director of Marketing at American Apparel fashion company, turned now into full time digital marketing author/speaker/consultant.
Trust me, I’m lying has been followed by Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, Advertising
The funny part is that what you will seed in digital world will be picked by old media. Just let them know. Trust me, I’m Lying offers almost step by step instruction, although provided with a bit sensational tone. I still have problem with this not very scientific approach, but it really works for me and it will work for you. Also, remember to plant stories that are real and good – manipulate media but not the people!
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Digital marketing jobs are now opening everywhere. Digital media are included in every marketing plan, and online advertising budgets are growing faster than any other media. See other good books on digital marketing at Amazon