Top 10 Copywriting Books for Marketers
Whether you are In the B2B or B2C space, as a marketer, you are constantly looking to evolve and grow in your career. One particular skill that is essential for content creation and product positioning is copywriting. It is one of the most critical element for any type of marketing. If your messaging does not resonate with your customers, your marketing and advertising efforts will simply go to waste. If you are trying to improve your copywriting skills, this article is for you.
We have put together a list of top copywriting books you should read this year that will be your aide and hopefully fuel your next marketing campaign.
1. Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz
Many marketers consider this book as the holy grail of advertising and copywriting. And for good reason. Breakthrough Advertising is not only purchased by first-time marketers, but it is read over and over by even experienced copywriting professionals because of the depth of knowledge you can gain from here.
While this copywriting book was written in 1966, some of the copywriting concepts discussed in the book still hold true today. Eugene’s book dives deeper into understanding the psyche of consumers, and how they are connected to their fears, happiness, desires, and needs. According to him, a copywriter’s job isn’t to kindle a desire, but to tap into the existing emotions of the customer.
It also talks about how most concepts in the world are just a recreation of something that has already been created. Eugene explains how it’s important for marketers to make a product stand out with the magic of copy by first:
- Understanding the mass desires in a market
- Identify mass desire that is relevant to your product
- Write copy that highlights how your product solves that desire
2. The Brilliance Breakthrough by Eugene Schwartz
Two copywriting books by the same author? Yes, that’s right. Eugene Schwartz is that good. In The Brilliance Breakthrough, Eugene talks about foundational communication techniques for marketers and other professionals alike. For many readers, this copywriting book has been instrumental in changing their understanding of the English language.
Most of us tend to forget the rules of grammar that we learn in school. Eugene simplifies grammar to a few simple rules that are easy to remember and digest. It has helped many marketers hone their copywriting skills and make their copy more direct and conversational, minus the unnecessary elements. The book needs actual practical input as you need to sit with pen and do the exercises laid out in the book.
Try reading this game changing book and let us know if it helped you improve your communication techniques.
3. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide To Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley
As marketers, your role sometimes necessitates producing good quality content consistently. But how do you do that when you hit a writing slump? In her book Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide To Creating Ridiculously Good Content, Ann Handley gives out tips to improve the quality of content that you produce.
If you are keen to learn how to write valuable, relatable content that resonates with your audience, and sets you apart from the competition, then this copywriting book will prove useful to you.This book is also packed with relatable quotes, and additional resources that you can peruse late and share with your peers.
4. D&AD: The Copy Book
Widely acclaimed many marketers, this book dishes out copywriting tips for advertisers and marketers alike. While this book was published in 1995, D&AD has created a cult for writing for advertising that is still useful for marketers of today. If you doubt whether you need to read this book, keep in mind that successful copywriters of many essay writer service in USA have read this book to improve their writing skills. This best-selling copywriting book has been updated with examples of recent times that include client work from the last 15 years. It also includes essays by leading copywriting professionals like David Abbott, Barbara Nokes, Steve Hayden, Lionel Hunt, Dan Wiede, and more.
Pick up this copywriting book today to get cues to write compelling stories that convert customers.
5. The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers by Dan Kennedy
From crafting email nurture journeys to writing ads, marketers often have to embody sales. You have to understand customers as well as what salespeople do to make your copy relatable. Ultimately, marketers too need to know how to write sales letters.
Especially in B2B sales, you may have to support salespeople with great copywriting that converts. But customers who are looking for your products may have their inboxes flooded by emails from different competing brands. How do you make your emails stand out? This copywriting book, The Ultimate Sales Letter: Attract New Customers, explains why some email copies work and most don’t. And the author shows how to write copies that any business can use.
This book is packed with real-life examples, formulas that work, and exercises that you can try out.
So pick up this book next time you visit a bookstore, and start writing emails that convert.
6. Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers by Seth Godin
This iconic book by Seth Godin lays down important principles of consumer behavior. What’s surprising is that he published this book in 1999, before the social media and internet boom but his theories hold good even today. It was as if he had an eye on the future, and could predict how the fate of sales and marketing would change forever.
Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers into Friends and Friends into Customers gives tips and strategies for inbound marketing. It explains how customers are no longer at the mercy of salespeople to get information about products and how the relationship between consumers and brands have evolved to the point where companies must seek permission from consumers before sharing more information. No wonder the book is considered as the foundation of the future of marketing.
7. All Marketers are Liars by Seth Godin
Another copywriting book from Godin’s stables, All Marketers are Liars provides marketers with a new radical approach to writing copies. The author asks companies to not only create authentic products, but also support it with authentic stories through marketing.
When you put authentic stories out there, customers will buy the story before they even set their eyes on the product, if it is convincing enough. This concept especially comes in handy in the case of B2B companies where winning over decision makers is a crucial and time-consuming process.
Godin also shows real-life case studies of some successful marketing campaigns as well as failures.
Another interesting concept that’s highlighted in the book is how you need to tailor your copywriting message to target early adopters. Most marketers go after customers who are not aware of the product, or those who hesitate to adopt; trying to help them overcome challenges. But early adopters are a lot easier to win over. They will most likely speak to peers, and influence more people to try your product. Try this book if you are a marketer looking to differentiate your company’s message and understand your audience segments better.
8. Empower Your Writing: Skills for Today’s Content Creator by Farnoosh Brock
While you are always in a rush to keep churning out new content that resonates with the audience, you might be missing out on important quality checks along the way.
Instead of editing content pieces as an afterthought, this copywriting book, Empower Your Writing, stresses on the importance of clear writing and its effect on the audience. The book shares 14 smart habits that you can follow to improve your writing skills. Not only that, the writer also shares 22 serious errors that you need to avoid.
9. Influence by Robert Cialdini
Every time you open your Instagram feed, there are tons of influencers, who share their thoughts on products ranging from skincare, to stocks, and even B2B products.
Influencers are on the rise, and marketers can’t deny it. Dr. Robert Cialdini is an expert on influence and persuasion. So, in this book, Influence, Cialdini explores the consumer psyche and what makes people say yes. You’ll learn the important universal principles of reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, and liking.
You can apply these concepts in your copywriting, and influencer programs to become a skilled persuader. It applies to B2B marketers who have to influence gatekeepers and decision makers and buying groups.
10. Epic Content Marketing: How to Tell a Different Story, Break through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less by Joe Pulizzi
This book on content marketing was written by Content Marketing Institute’s founder, Joe Pulizzi. It explores how marketers like you can create content that is viral material and makes readers want to share with others.
The author also shares examples of epic content using real-life examples from leading companies that will help you plan your marketing campaigns better.
Epic Content Marketing also dives deep into metrics that you need to track and how to take corrective measures.
Conclusion
That sums up our review of the best range of copywriting books that may provide you with inspiration to create the next powerful marketing campaign, email journey or even ad copy that helps you convert more leads. Happy reading!
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