Those hazy, lazy days of summer are finally upon us! While you’re packing up the car for that trip to the beach, don’t forget some good books to pass the time. And what better way to brush up on the latest in the B2B marketing world? We’ve pulled together a list of some of the best new marketing books out there to inspire and motivate you for when you’re back in the office.
1. Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer
Driving Demand is a guidebook for B2B companies and enterprise marketers seeking ways to transform their marketing and sales functions, but are unsure of where to start. Most B2B marketers lack the training and experience to change the course of their marketing strategy as needed. The book provides a clear framework on how to implement change management and transform marketing practices.
Carlos Hidalgo is the CEO and Principal at ANNUITAS, Inc., a leading Demand Generation and Change Management Firm. With over 20 years' experience as both a practitioner and consultant in B2B marketing, Hidalgo is a recognized thought leader in the marketing industry, an international speaker and an avid blogger. Find Carlos on Twitter: @cahidalgo
2. Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses
By Joe Pulizzi
In Content Inc., author Joe Pulizzi reveals a new model for entrepreneurial success by reversing the traditional entrepreneurial approach of first creating a product and then trying to find customers. He reveals his six-step business-building process that is smart, simple, practical and cost-effective. Pulizzi walks you step by step through the process and provides real-world multi-million dollar examples from multiple industries and countries.
Joe Pulizzi is an entrepreneur, professional speaker and podcaster. He is the founder of several startups, including the Content Marketing Institute (CMI). Find Joe on Twitter: @JoePulizzi
3. Meaningful: The Story of Ideas That Fly
Meaningful reveals the value in uncovering what motivates your customers and understanding all the benefits your product provides to them. Using this insight, you can create The Story Strategy Blueprint, a simple framework for you and your colleagues to follow when developing or marketing a new product or service. The goal is to produce things that are meaningful to the people who use them.
Bernadette Jiwa is a brand story and marketing strategist working with entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the world, helping them to differentiate and become meaningful brands by understanding and connecting with their customers and unlocking the value in their stories. Find Bernadette on Twitter: @bernadettejiwa
4. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
By Ann Handley
In our current online world, writing is more important than ever. Are you on social media? Have a website? Then guess what – you are a writer. And how you write about your business, product or service defines who you are to your prospects. Everybody Writes breaks down, in 6 parts, how to write great content that attracts and retains customers.
Ann is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs; a columnist for Entrepreneur magazine; a LinkedIn Influencer; a keynote speaker; and a mom and writer. Find Ann on Twitter: @MarketingProfs
5. Experiences: The 7th Era of Marketing
By Robert Rose and Carla Johnson
Experiences explains the new era of marketing that is upon us: a customer-centric, content-driven age that is based on amazing customer experiences. The way people buy has changed, so the way they are marketed to has to change, too. This book provides a roadmap for those marketers ready for this shift, not by creating more content, but by developing a strategy that works for both the brand and its audience.
Robert is Chief Strategy Officer for the Content Marketing Institute and a senior contributing consultant for Digital Clarity Group. Recognized as one of the top 20 influencers in content marketing, Carla serves as Vice President of Thought Leadership for the Business Marketing Association, a division of the Association of National Advertisers, and she’s also an instructor for the Content Marketing Institute and the Online Marketing Institute. Find Robert and Carla on Twitter: @Robert_Rose & @CarlaJohnson
So there you have it! Grab a cold drink and a shady spot and get reading. You’ll be refreshed and inspired to share and implement some of these tips and ideas when it’s time to get back to work. Happy reading!
