A good marketer never stops improving and strives to keep up with the constant changes in the marketing landscape. That’s why a marketer should never stop honing their marketing and people skills. There’s such an overabundance of marketing books out there that sometimes it’s difficult to choose one that will be worth your time. Here’s a list of 5 must-read sales books for marketers.
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Actually, that’s not true, and The Power of Habit proves it. Human nature has a lot of potential to transform for the better, and the book shows marketers how to study habits, recognize patterns in human behavior, and use their findings to market their products effectively. The author, Charles Duhigg, is a New York Times reporter who studies habits and how marketers use them to their advantage. He has learned that understanding habits and patterns is one of the most important things a marketer could learn.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
It’s all about who you know. Keith Ferrazzi, a consultant and teacher to market leaders, discovered that early on in life. He found that highly successful people utilize the power of relationships to get ahead in life. In the book, Ferrazzi addresses the social strategies used by some of the most prominent figures in history, ranging from Bill Clinton to the Dalai Lama. He also explains how important it is to give back, constantly stay in touch with those in your social circle, and remain visible by never eating alone.
Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer
Jeffrey Gitomer is a well-known straight-shooting sales writer who tells as it is. That’s why his book is thin. It’s described as “short, sweet, and to the point.” It’s chock full of straight-to-the-point advice on how to sell. In it, Gitomer says that the single most important aspect of sales is figuring out why people buy.
Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury
A huge part of sales and marketing is negotiation, and it may become complicated and messy at times. That’s why Roger Fisher, one of the co-founders of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, came up with a simple five-step system for how to behave in negotiations. In the book, he points out that negotiations should be focused on each party’s interests rather than position. This is a very valuable lesson for marketers who want to figure out what each party really wants.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The more effective a marketer is, the more successful he gets at his job. This book is authored by the late Stephen R. Covey, an author, educator, businessman, and keynote speaker who believed that a person with the right principles would perform better in life. He offers tips on increasing productivity, improving time management, achieving a positive attitude, and acting proactively. Seasoned marketers and rising marketers alike should read this book to improve their perception and interpretation of how the world works.
Have you read any of those books? If so, what kinds of personal insights have you gained? Do you have suggestions of other sales books you like? Leave them in the comments below.
Robert Hartline, is the founder of Call Proof, LLC. Call Proof helps B2B sales teams manage their customers in a sales activity reporting system without everything you hate in a CRM.