What is marketing?
The dictionary definition of marketing would be “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.” But in all fairness, it is difficult to pinpoint and lay down in precise terms what marketing really is. The ads and campaigns we see are just a part of marketing and not the entire picture which begs the question, WHAT IS MARKETING?
Marketing is a vast field with no dearth of materials and books on it, which can be quite overwhelming. So, keeping this in mind, I have listed a few books below that have helped me understand this field better. Whether it is social media marketing or SEO, these books and their insights are applicable to almost everything!
So if you’re curious, pick a book from the list below and get started!
1. Buy.ology: Truth and Lies about Why We Buy By Martin Lindstrom
This book talks about the astonishing findings of the largest neuromarketing study conducted on 2,000 volunteers across the world. The book by presenting these findings tries to answer burning questions like “What motivates customers to buy?” or “How much do eye-grabbing commercials and catchy jingles influence our buying decisions?” Lindstrom deep dives into concepts like religion, superstition, rituals, and the senses, and how these elements influence people’s buying habits. Buy.ology, therefore, makes for an interesting read that shatters much of what we have long believed to be true about buying behaviours.
2. Epic Content Marketing by Joe Pulizzi:
The writer is an expert content marketer and shares his valuable lessons in this book. Pulizzi shows how to create content. He painstakingly takes us through the process of developing stories that inform and entertain customers without actually telling them to. Good content ensures your company garners customers who are loyal and trust the information you provide and Pulizzi shows you how you can do that.
3. Permission Marketing by Seth Godin:
Seth Godin has been dubbed “the ultimate entrepreneur for the Information Age” and rightly so. He is the most influential individual in the marketing world and in this book, he postulates a different approach to marketing. Traditional advertising is based on capturing the attention of the consumers. He calls this interruption marketing because it tries to take attention away from what we were doing to what the ads are showing. He discards this method and instead suggests that marketers should offer consumers incentives to accept advertising voluntarily. This he called, Permission Marketing which reaches out to consumers only when they express the need to know about the product.
4. The 1-page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib:
The book tries to simplify marketing. From the get-go, Allan Dibs provides a simple strategy. He divides the page into nine squares. This method is set to help you do only what matters. You are then required to see those plans through until you get a result.
5. Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath:
Chip and Dan Heath in their book try to explore what makes a winning idea. Using various concepts and stories from Nobel Prize winners to school teachers, the authors try to understand and explain why some ideas stick and some don’t. The book aims to help you find ways to communicate your ideas effectively.
In the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, these books serve as valuable resources to inspire, inform, and guide marketers in their quest to connect with consumers and create memorable brand experiences. So, as you embark on your marketing journey, remember that it’s not just about selling products; it’s about understanding, engaging, and leaving a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of your audience.
