Hopefully reading more books has hit your 2018 New Year’s goal list. I’m a total book junkie, averaging about one every two weeks (depending on my subway commute).  Books are a great way to get inspired not only in your day-to-day life, but also as you think strategically about the work you’re doing.

Personal development is a huge priority to me, and many books I’ve read have helped me become a better marketer in some way or another. Whether it’s learning about sales, innovative branding, or even human behaviour and psychology, I find reading helps me change my mindset and really gets my brain flowing with new ideas.

Ready to get reading? Here’s my top five list, in no particular order:

1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini

Every marketer needs to understand the psychology of selling, first and foremost. As a marketer, you have to understand the full sales funnel – from lead generation to closing the deal, regardless of what industry you’re in. That’s why I love this book, as Cialdini dives into the psychology of why people say “yes” and how we can apply that understanding to our day to day work. The art of persuasion is powerful, and while all of the principles may not resonate with you, they’re definitely worth considering.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book has helped me immensely in my career. A lot of people discount how important it is to communicate effectively with others, and this book will give you an eye-opening revelation on how to collaborate effectively with others. Marketing is an incredibly collaborative and social job, and honing in on your interpersonal skills is incredibly crucial to excelling at your work.

Not to mention, it’s one of the best-selling self-help books of all time, with over 15 million copies sold. Talk about a must-read…

3. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

Content is the backbone of marketing, and being able to create good content is a weakness in many organizations. To be a great marketer, you have to understand how to create content that is engaging and resonates with your consumer. I meet so many marketers who say they suck at writing, or hate doing it. If you’re one of those people, definitely pick up this book. If you’re like me and you love writing, then this book is great for picking up some good tips and reminders.

4. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

You are a sum of the people in your circle, and so many of us forget to really build a strong army of people in our network both inside and outside of our day job. Some of us are shy, and some of us simply don’t have the time, but Ferrazzi talks about the importance of networking and how to do it well. If you’re looking for a 2018 challenge, then maybe this book is the perfect starting point to changing your career in less than a year.

5. Why We Buy by Paco Underhill

Reading this book is what pushed me to getting into marketing research, and the psychology of buyers. Underhill has spent over 20 years studying how people shop in stores, and his updated book even gets into online shopping. It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in – this book is fascinating. It really shows how one small flaw, such as an oddly placed store display or a website button in a poor place, can impact sales immensely. Also, it makes you think of the value of observing consumers and getting to really, truly understand them when we’re trying to market to them.

 
Good luck on your New Year’s goals, comment below with what you’re reading in 2018 so I can add it to my list!