Updated December 22, 2023
Marketing Management Books – Introduction
Marketing Management books offer insights into creating, communicating, and delivering customer value. They cover branding, market research, consumer behavior, segmentation, targeting, positioning, and the marketing mix elements of product, price, place, and promotion. These books are essential for marketers and business professionals to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.
Here are the top 10 marketing management books you should read to learn how to remotely manage your business effectively.
| # | Marketing Management Books | Author | Originally Published | Ratings |
| 1 | Blue Ocean Strategy | W. Chan Kim & Renée Mauborgne | 2004 | Amazon: 4.6 Goodreads: 4.01 |
| 2 | Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind | Al Ries & Jack Trout | 1980 | Amazon: 4.4 Goodreads: 4.02 |
| 3 | Contagious: Why Things Catch On | Jonah Berger | 2013 | Amazon: 4.5 Goodreads: 3.97 |
| 4 | Made to Stick | Chip Heath & Dan Heath | 2007 | Amazon: 4.6 Goodreads: 3.98 |
| 5 | The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing | Al Ries & Jack Trout | 1993 | Amazon: 4.5 Goodreads: 4.05 |
| 6 | Marketing 4.0 | Philip Kotler, Iwan Setiawan & Hermawan Kartajaya | 2016 | Amazon: 4.4 Goodreads: 4.07 |
| 7 | Epic Content Marketing | Joe Pulizii | 2013 | Amazon: 4.5 Goodreads: 3.97 |
| 8 | Ten Deadly Marketing Sins | Philip Kotler | 2004 | Amazon: 4.5 Goodreads: 3.81 |
| 9 | Permission Marketing | Seth Godin | 1999 | Amazon: 4.4 Goodreads: 3.92 |
| 10 | They Ask, You Answer | Marcus Sheridan | 2016 | Amazon: 4.7 Goodreads: 4.23 |
Now, you can go through the detailed review of each marketing management book to choose which book you can start with.
Book #1: Blue Ocean Strategy
Author: W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Review:
In ‘Blue Ocean Strategy,’ W. Chan Kim presents a compelling approach to business success: shift from the crowded Red Ocean of competition to the open Blue Ocean of innovation. In his insights, Kim offers businesses a strategic roadmap for thriving in today’s competitive landscape. One key aspect is the encouragement to explore untapped markets, expand the scope for growth, and discover new opportunities. Overall, Kim’s insights provide a comprehensive guide for enterprises to survive and excel in the dynamic and competitive business environment.
Key Points:
- The author suggests using a practical canvas to shift from Red to Blue Oceans by strategically adjusting factors.
- He urges prioritizing understanding consumer needs, delivering what they truly want, and thriving beyond market constraints in the Blue Ocean.
- The book highlights innovation’s crucial role in business success and market leadership.
Book #2: Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind
Author: Al Ries and Jack Trout
Review:
This is a timeless marketing classic that introduces the crucial concept of positioning. The book emphasizes the crowded marketplace and the need for businesses to establish a unique presence in consumers’ minds. With insights on the power of branding and the importance of consistency, the book remains a valuable resource for marketers and business professionals.
Key Points:
- Positioning is introduced as the art of defining a brand’s distinctive place in the customer’s mind.
- Ries and Trout discuss the “ladder” in the customer’s mind, stressing the importance of being the first in a specific category to differentiate from competitors.
- The authors highlight the challenges and costs of repositioning a product or brand once established in the customer’s mind.
- In an additional chapter, Ries and Trout emphasize the importance of consistency in messaging and branding to maintain a strong position in the customer’s mind.
Book #3: Contagious: Why Things Catch On
Author: Jonah Berger
Review:
In this book, the author reveals six principles that turn ideas, products, and behaviors into contagious phenomena. Using examples and anecdotes, Berger explores the psychology of virality, emphasizing that contagiousness is something created, not innate. From Blendtec’s viral blender videos to the importance of scarcity, the book offers practical insights to effectively integrate these principles and make products and ideas contagious.
Key Points:
- The author simplifies the science behind virality, dispelling the idea that it’s random and providing a clear understanding of its components.
- The book uncovers social currency, triggers, emotion, public, practical value, and stories (STEPPS) as the key factors driving virality.
- It goes beyond theory, offering practical examples for readers to apply the principles in real-world scenarios.
- It also challenges traditional marketing approaches, providing a fresh perspective on spreading ideas effectively.
Book #4: Made to Stick
Author: Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Review:
“Made to Stick” is an outstanding marketing book that profoundly guides crafting compelling messages. The authors emphasize simplicity, the power of curiosity, and the importance of concreteness, offering actionable insights. With engaging anecdotes and instructional workshops, it’s a must-read for marketers, teachers, and anyone aiming to effectively communicate and implant ideas in others’ minds.
Key Points:
- The book explores the art of creating persuasive and memorable messages, delving into the science of influence.
- The authors, experts in psychology and business, provide a well-researched and scientifically grounded framework for crafting “sticky” ideas.
- It draws on examples and experiments, such as the “Mother Teresa effect” vs. the “drop in the bucket effect,” to illustrate the principles of effective communication.
Book #5: The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
Author: Al Ries and Jack Trout
Review:
The book offers timeless insights into successful marketing, highlighting the importance of being the first in the prospect’s mind. It explores key principles like perception, focus, and market competition dynamics. With practical advice on handling opposition, embracing failure, and maintaining singular focus, the authors provide a comprehensive guide for marketers in the dynamic marketing world.
Key Points:
- Emphasizes the importance of being the first brand in the prospect’s mind for a competitive advantage.
- Presents marketing as a battle of perceptions, highlighting the role of shaping and controlling customer perceptions.
- Advocates for owning a single word in the prospect’s mind as a powerful marketing concept for a clear brand message.
- Advises leveraging the leader’s strength into a weakness in two-horse race markets, positioning as a distinctive alternative.
- Encourages a realistic approach to failure, promoting early recognition and strategic adaptation as a natural part of the marketing process.
Book #6: Marketing 4.0
Author: Philip Kotler, Hermawan Kartajaya & Iwan Setiawan
Review:
This book comprehensively explores evolving marketing strategies in the digital age. The renowned authors provide valuable insights for marketers navigating the changing landscape, emphasizing the transition from traditional to digital methods. It serves as a valuable guide for marketers seeking to adapt to the digital landscape, offering insights into fundamental shifts, new frameworks, and tactical applications in the evolving marketing world.
Key Points:
- The book traces the evolution of marketing from product-based approaches to customer-centric strategies.
- It highlights three fundamental shifts – customer-centric marketing, the growth of digital channels, and the increased significance of data and analytics.
- The authors introduce key frameworks reshaping marketing practices, including Digital Transformation, Data-Driven Marketing, Customer-Centric Marketing, and Marketing Automation.
- They explore the concept of “WOW” moments, emphasizing surprise, personalization, and contagiousness as characteristics that create delightful and memorable customer experiences.
Book #7: Epic Content Marketing
Author: Joe Pulizzi
Review:
It is a strategic guide that goes beyond the basics, offering a comprehensive approach to content marketing. Pulizzi, a prominent figure in the field, outlines advanced strategies, provides insightful case studies, and addresses challenges marketers face in the modern landscape.
Key Points:
- The book suggests traditional advertising is outdated, urging businesses to prioritize content marketing for better audience engagement.
- The author warns against overwhelming the audience with product details, stressing the significance of content that meets customers’ needs.
- According to the book, understanding the audience is crucial, and businesses should create valuable content to enhance customers’ lives.
- The author emphasizes that building a following requires understanding customer personas and tailoring content to meet their specific needs.
- The book teaches that social media and SEO are vital for promoting content, ensuring it reaches a broader audience and gains optimal visibility.
Book #8: Ten Deadly Marketing Sins
Author: Philip Kotler
Review:
“Ten Deadly Marketing Sins” by Philip Kotler is a comprehensive guide addressing critical mistakes hindering marketing success. The book offers practical insights to avoid pitfalls and enhance marketing strategies. Kotler, a renowned marketing expert, shares valuable tips for market focus, customer orientation, and effective planning. This book is valuable because it helps to identify and fix common mistakes that cause marketing failures. It’s a must-have guide for professionals in different business areas.
Key Points:
- The book stresses a strong market and customer focus, advocating for advanced segmentation techniques and prioritization of customer needs.
- Kotler underscores the significance of creating a “customer culture” within the organization, fostering a top-down commitment to customer satisfaction.
- Effective competitor analysis involves dedicated areas, insightful professionals, staying updated on new technologies, and fostering competitiveness.
- The book highlights the crucial role of cultivating positive relationships with employees, suppliers, distributors, and resellers for overall business success.
- To avoid missed opportunities, the book recommends establishing a continuous flow of ideas, utilizing creativity systems, and being prepared to innovate in response to market changes.
Book #9: Permission Marketing
Author: Seth Godin
Review:
Seth Godin’s ‘Permission Marketing’ remains a marketing classic, surpassing its era’s limitations to offer enduring insights. The book foresaw the rise of inbound marketing, making it even more relevant in today’s digital landscape. With a blend of historical context and visionary principles, Godin delivers a timeless guide for marketers navigating evolving consumer behaviors.
Key Points:
- Godin accurately anticipates the transformative impact of the Internet on marketing in 1999.
- Despite technological advancements, the book’s principles remain pertinent, standing the test of time.
- It addresses the historical norm of interruptive marketing and the need for a paradigm shift.
- The book draws parallels between marketing and the gradual stages of dating, advocating for relationship-building.
Book #10: They Ask, You Answer
Author: Marcus Sheirdan
Review:
“They Ask You Answer” presents a timely solution to the challenges faced by businesses in a digital era saturated with traditional advertising. In a world where conventional strategies are losing effectiveness, this book introduces a consumer-centric philosophy, emphasizing engagement and education as core strategies for success. With actionable lessons and insights, it guides entrepreneurs and marketers in navigating the evolving landscape, placing consumers at the forefront of business strategies.
Key Points:
- The book shifts the focus to understanding and addressing consumer fears to enhance engagement.
- The author highlights four crucial factors in the content creation process: price, honesty, comparison, and reviews.
- He stresses the significance of educational content in attracting and retaining consumers.
- The book emphasizes four key aspects—price, honesty, comparison, and reviews—critical in the content creation process for effective communication and customer trust.
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