10 Best Small Business Marketing Books Every Business Owner Should Read

Marketing is a critical component to the success of any small business, and much time and expense can be dedicated to small business marketing efforts. While there is an abundance of information and resources for small business marketing, here is a list of the 10 best small business marketing books every business owner should read.

1. Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch – this book (and website) is dedicated to small business marketing. This book is all about creating and executing a marketing plan that is simple, straightforward, realistic and measurable. This is definitely a book that should be sitting on every small business owner’s nightstand to reference often. Their website is also very useful, providing great tips through their blog. Pick this book up for your collection; you won’t be disappointed.
2. Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide by James Stephensen – while this book was first published over 10 years ago, the concepts remain true in today’s world. Among many powerful insights this book provides:
   • 91 advertising, direct-marketing and telemarketing tips
   • 30 marketing tricks for your home offic
   • 47 ways to take advantage of free PR
   • 39 creative selling methods
   • 89 online marketing techniques
3. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber – This is the newer edition of a book that’s been around for a while as well, and is a fantastic read for new small business owners and entrepreneurs. Although the book provides all-around small business advice, the marketing tips in this book are priceless. Make room in your library for this book!
4. The Ultimate Small Business Marketing Book by Dee Blick – This book is written for you if you want to get to grips with your marketing but you need a helping hand. It’s packed with powerful tips, proven tools and many real-life examples and case studies. If you’re looking for commonsense marketing advice that you can implement immediately, you’ll find it here.
5. The New Rules of Marketing and PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott. This book covers a wide range of marketing tools in this book, from blogging to video and social media.  Keep your eye out for new editions which come often with this book as technology changes. The valuable and timely insights can’t be beat!
6. Selling the Invisible by Harry Beckwith –  though it comes across as more of a sales book than a marketing book, the two are unquestionably entwined, and understanding how service marketing works from start to finish can put your business ahead of the pack, plus the information is presented with both candor and humor, so it’s a fun read along the way!
7. Guerrilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson – Levinson’s book is all about making marketing affordable for small business owners, yet exceptionally effective. It’s filled with strategies for marketing on the Internet, how to put new technologies to work, targeting prospects, and cultivating repeat and referral business.  The website also has some great tools you can use in your own small business marketing efforts.
8. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin – Seth just tells it like it is, and this book is no different. Here’s the premise: Permission marketing is the privilege (not the right) of delivering anticipated, personal and relevant messages to people who actually want to get them. Nowadays, consumers can ignore marketing so if you don’t have their permission, you’re wasting your time and money. Want to check this book out?  You can get the first four chapters free!

9. Content Marketing Works: 8 Steps to Transform Your Business by Arnie Kuenn – One of the most comprehensive yet easy to follow books on content marketing that you’ll ever find. Small business marketers know how important content marketing is, and this book takes you through every step of the process. This is another nightstand book, so make room and put this one at the top of the pile!

10. Get Scrappy: Smarter Digital Marketing for Businesses Big and Small by Nick Westergaard – You have to love a book who uses the word “scrappy”, right?  Doesn’t that describe the small business owner today?   This book will help small business marketers understand digital marketing trends and techniques, do more with less, and build a strong brand along the way. It also has a few great tips that will surprise you!

These are just a few of many great marketing books out there, but within this ten lies a breadth and depth of marketing knowledge, tips and tactics that can take your small business to the next level. These 10 best small business marketing books every business owner should read will lay the foundation for a strong marketing effort.

Need help with small business marketing and don’t know where to start?  Strategic Marketing Services can help you implement the many great ideas presented in the books above.