Humans never stop learning.
Whether it’s personal growth or professional game-changing, this relentless pursuit of knowledge is our superpower. It keeps us innovative, agile, and ahead of the curve. I’ve analyzed Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, surveyed LinkedIn execs and asked my newsletter:
What are the best B2B marketing books to read?
The list:
- Create Once, Distribute Forever by Ross Simmonds
- High-Impact Content Marketing by Purna Virji
- Epic Content Marketing, Second Edition by Joe Pulizzi
- Content That Converts by Laura Hanly
- Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller and Dr. J.J. Peterson
- Revenue Architecture by Jacco van der Kooij
- Impossible to Ignore by Dr. Carmen Simon
- Humanizing B2B by Paul Cash and James Trezona
- Master Content Strategy by Pamela Wilson
- Product-Led SEO by Eli Schwartz
- Sales Pitch: How to Craft a Story to Stand Out and Win by April Dunford
- The Content Shift by Mark Hawks and Jonathan Heinl
Books have always served as invaluable resources for humans seeking a competitive edge. And more specifically, B2B marketing books are a fusion of insights, experiences, and futuristic thinking. They’re penned by thought leaders who’ve been in the trenches, battled the noise, and emerged with insights that redefine what it means to engage, convert, and retain in the business world.
Here are the top B2B marketing books I recommend you read if you want to level up your game.
Must-Read B2B Marketing Books for 2024
1. Create Once, Distribute Forever by Ross Simmonds
‘Create Once, Distribute Forever’ is your ultimate playbook for mastering the art of content distribution. I know I’m biased, but this book was a journey of passion and a labor of love. And I am so excited to finally share it with you.
It’s all about making your mark in the digital world without burning out. This book peels back the curtain on strategies and techniques that catapulted brands and individuals into the spotlight. From the secrets of SEO magic to the viral potential of YouTube, this book lays out the roadmap to real, scalable growth through smart distribution. It’s split into four parts: Distribution 101 for the basics, the art of remixing content, a choose-your-own-adventure guide to distribution channels, and finally, a goldmine Content Distribution Playbook with actionable steps to take your content game from zero to hero.
Why I Liked It: I’m all about cutting through the noise, and this book is the GPS. Take the chapter with 100+ checklist items gearing up marketers for better distribution, this book breaks down the distribution game into a manual for marketers, and holds actionable insights that you can start using right away.
Where to Buy: CreateOnceDistributeForever.com
2. High-Impact Content Marketing by Purna Virji
In the whirlwind world of content, ‘High-Impact Content Marketing’ by Purna Virji is your compass and map rolled into one. Virji takes you on a journey beyond the basics, into a world where your content does the heavy lifting, engaging audiences and turning them into loyal customers. This is content marketing redefined—fueled by empathy, inclusivity, and a dash of genius strategy. From leveraging AI without losing the human touch to crafting stories that resonate across channels, Virji’s insights are gold for anyone ready to leave a mark in the digital age.
Why I Liked It: Virji mixes the science of behavior with the art of storytelling, giving us a playbook that’s both innovative and intuitive.
Where to Buy: Amazon
3. Epic Content Marketing, Second Edition by Joe Pulizzi
Step into the future of content marketing with Joe Pulizzi’s second edition of ‘Epic Content Marketing’. Pulizzi, hailed as the “godfather of content marketing,” revises and expands his classic to arm marketers with the latest strategies and tools, including insights into Web3. This second edition transforms content marketing from a burgeoning tactic into the heartbeat of marketing strategy, incorporating everything from blogs to social media prowess. Pulizzi and Piper have updated their tome with the freshest content models, strategies for audience building, and insights into leveraging platforms like NFTs and Discord servers.
Why I Liked It: It’s packed with real-world examples, from Patagonia to Google, and interviews with industry mavens. This book doesn’t just tell you to create content; it shows you how to make it epic, with a capital E.
Where to Buy: Amazon
4. Content That Converts by Laura Hanly
‘Content That Converts’ is the entrepreneurial goldmine for B2B leaders aiming to fuel their sales cycles with a steady flow of qualified leads through content marketing. Laura Hanly lays out a replicable, step-by-step system designed to turn your content into conversion magnets. This book isn’t just about producing content; it’s about crafting messages that resonate, establishing industry authority, and unlocking sales opportunities through strategic content distribution.
Why I Liked It: Hanly doesn’t just tell you what to do; she shows you how to do it, focusing on audience clarity, compelling offers, and impactful messaging. From creating heavyweight content assets to leveraging email and SEO for broader reach, this book is a blueprint for anyone ready to elevate their content game.
Where to Buy: Amazon
5. Marketing Made Simple by Donald Miller and Dr. J.J. Peterson
This isn’t just a book; it’s a growth engine for any marketer or small business owner ready to stop the leak in sales and drive their brand to new heights. Built on the solid foundation of ‘Building a StoryBrand’, this is your guide for creating a sales funnel that not just attracts, but converts and keeps the right kind of customers coming. This book breaks down the customer relationship lifecycle into digestible stages, offering a clear, actionable plan that you won’t just be excited to implement but will regret not doing sooner. With their insights, crafting email campaigns that hit the mark or designing websites that convert isn’t just possible; it’s guaranteed.
Why I Liked It: Miller and Peterson have cracked the code to making marketing less about guesswork and more about science.
Where to Buy: Amazon
6. Revenue Architecture by Jacco van der Kooij
This is a textbook on how businesses should approach their Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies. Authored by Jacco van der Kooij, the mind behind Winning by Design, this book is a treasure trove for marketers navigating SaaS sales and marketing. This is a comprehensive guide packed with over 250 diagrams, tables, and blueprints, all meticulously designed to steer GTM teams towards sustainable, scalable success. From crafting a GTM team into a ‘revenue factory’ to integrating scientific principles into your growth design, “Revenue Architecture” is the playbook for SaaS businesses aiming for the stars.
Why I Liked It: What struck me most was how the book dismantles the traditional chaos of GTM strategies, replacing it with a methodical, data-driven approach. The focus on transforming GTM teams into ‘revenue factories’ is pure gold.
Where to Buy: Amazon
7. Impossible to Ignore by Dr. Carmen Simon
‘Impossible to Ignore’ by Carmen Simon offers a revolutionary lens through which we see the power of memorable marketing messages. With an audience’s tendency to forget up to 90% of what we share, Simon’s book is not just timely but essential. It bridges the gap between being heard and being remembered. Drawing from the depths of neuroscience and cognitive psychology, this book is a masterclass in ensuring your message not only captures attention but holds it, guiding your audience toward the actions you desire.
Why I Liked It: The brilliance of lies in its practical applications, empowering you to wield the 10% your audience will remember in a way that’s both strategic and impactful. It’s a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their communication in a world cluttered with forgettable content.
Where to Buy: Amazon
8. Humanizing B2B by Paul Cash and James Trezona
Dive into ‘Humanizing B2B’ and embark on a journey that transforms the way you think about B2B marketing. Paul Cash and James Trezona unravel the magic of infusing humanity into your marketing strategies to not just move products, but to move people, and ultimately their decisions. This book is a wake-up call to the immense power of branding, purpose, storytelling, emotion, and culture in driving B2B growth.
Why I Liked It: Cash and Trezona have captured something special here—reminding us that at the heart of B2B marketing are human connections. ‘Humanizing B2B’ isn’t just a read; it’s an experience that shifts paradigms.
Where to Buy: Amazon
9. Master Content Strategy by Pamela Wilson
Pamela Wilson packs this edition with her expert insights, blending human touch with AI smarts to revolutionize content marketing. It’s your blueprint for building lasting customer relationships and pushing your brand into the spotlight. This book is where seasoned wisdom meets futuristic tools, offering a content strategy that’s not just about making waves but creating ripples that turn into tidal waves of growth. With actionable systems and processes, plus that golden advice only a veteran marketer can give, this book is a powerhouse.
Why I Liked It: It’s for anyone ready to take their content game from good to legendary.
Where to Buy: MasterContentStrategy.com, Amazon
10. Product-Led SEO by Eli Schwartz
Where innovation and precision marketing intersect, this book extends beyond traditional SEO methodologies, advocating for a strategic integration of SEO within the product development life cycle of SaaS solutions. This book encourages you to rethink your approach to SEO—from a mere traffic generation tactic to a fundamental component of our product’s market fit and customer journey.
Why I Liked It: This is a philosophy for integrating SEO into every facet of the product journey, ensuring that every content piece significantly impacts your growth metrics.
Where to Buy: Amazon
11. Sales Pitch: How to Craft a Story to Stand Out and Win by April Dunford
Dunford delivers a knockout to the mundane, feature-focused sales pitches we’ve all sat through. She’s guiding you on how to construct a narrative that positions your product as the undeniable choice. Through a blend of step-by-step methods and riveting case stories, Dunford escorts you through the art of building a sales pitch that not only resonates with your customers but also solidifies your market position. This book is a beacon for hungry entrepreneurs, salespeople, marketers, and business leaders.
Why I Liked It: She meticulously breaks down the sales pitch into eight components, each designed to elevate your differentiated value to the spotlight. The beauty of Dunford’s method lies in its simplicity and effectiveness.
Where to Buy: Amazon
12. The Content Shift by Mark Hawks
Dive deep into the nexus of marketing strategies and search patterns with ‘The Content Shift’ by Mark Hawks and Jonathan Heinl. This book is your guide out of the dark, turning confusion into clarity by leveraging search behavior to ace content marketing. If you’ve been shooting in the dark with your content efforts, guessing what your customers want, this book is here to light up the path to success. Hawks and Heinl blend decades of expertise with relatable examples, making the comple12 world of SEO, audience targeting, and content creation not just accessible but actionable.
Why I Liked It: Their approach cuts through the noise, offering a playbook that’s both insightful and implementable. This book isn’t just a read; it’s a shift in mindset, packed with humor, real-world strategies, and the kind of wisdom that only comes from years in the trenches.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Wrapping It Up
The must-reads of 2024 are clear: it’s all about mixing creativity, data-driven strategies, and relentless effort. From mastering content distribution, adding a human touch to B2B, to leveraging AI’s vast possibilities, these books have you covered.
Are you ready to amp up your B2B marketing, skyrocket engagement, and transform your content into a force to be reckoned with? Your playbook is waiting.