Top 10 Must Read Inbound Marketing Books

Now that you've taken a sip of the inbound marketing Kool-Aid and you want to know more, it's time to read. The inbound marketing methodology has many authors that follow its lead. In fact, inbound marketing is inspired by people who understand the business of humans and the way they communicate. What better way to get into the inbound marketing mood than reading inspiring books that easily detail what it's all about? To heighten your interest in inbound marketing, here are the top 10 must read inbound marketing books.

1. Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't - Simon Sinek

Sinek, a powerful speaker and writer, outlines why some people love their jobs and others don't. Using science and his background with the Marine Corps he simply and comprehensively explains how leaders who eat last gain a loyal following who have the passion to work towards the leader's vision. His theory applies for any type of business.

2. Inbound Marketing, Revised and Updated: Attract, Engage, and Delight Customers Online, 2nd Edition - Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah

The co-fathers and co-founders of inbound marketing beautifully and simply define this methodology and how to use it in your own marketing efforts. After reading this book, you'll have to questions left about how to get found online.

3. Everybody Writes - Ann Handley

Everyone has the capability to tell a good story. In today's world of content marketing, putting your stories into writing is possible and beneficial. Handley shows how us how to write ridiculously good content that attracts and retains customers.

4. Purple Cow - Seth Godin

From the title you're probably thinking what does this have to do with business or inbound marketing? Godin came up with the concept of a Purple Cow - a remarkable, counterintuitive, and exciting thing that you will never forget. If you've seen one cow, you've seen them all, but a Purple Cow? Now that's something unforgettable. Godin believes you're either a Purple Cow or you're not, in business and in life.

5. Unmarketing: Stop Marketing, Start Engaging - Scott Stratten

As you may know by now, interruption is like the plague for inbound marketers, it should be avoided at all costs. Traditional marketing is branded as cold-calling, overflowing junk mail, and annoying pop-ups. This means that you should engage in the opposite of that - unmarketing. Stratten emanates inbound through his idea that we should stop talking and start listening. Today's marketing is about trust and relationships.

6. The New Rules of Marketing & PR - David Meerman Scott

This book has everything you need to know about the future of marketing, including a step-by-step action plan to get you started. Meerman Scott knows his stuff, penning eight books, and supporting the inbound theory that you need to get content to the right people at the right time. You'll read through tons of successful businesses who have followed this example.

7. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference - Malcolm Gladwell

As marketers we can relate to Gladwell's concept of the tipping point. Defined as a tip, idea, trend, or social behavior that makes that jump and becomes viral, the tipping point is a phenomenon beautifully articulated in this book, and is already changing how the world communicates ideas.

8. Flip the Funnel - Joseph Jaffe

Retaining and delighting existing customers is a huge part of inbound marketing. Jaffe, new media and social media expert, details the importance of working on the leads you already have. Warning: you may be spending time and money on the wrong end of the funnel.

9. Permission Marketing - Seth Godin

What Godin describes as "permission marketing" is actually a concept that goes hand-in-hand with inbound. In this book he describes his groundbreaking concept that enables marketers to shape their message so that consumers will willingly and gratefully accept it.

10. Marketing Lessons from the Grateful Dead: What Every Business Can Learn from the Most Iconic Band in History - Brian Halligan and David Meerman Scott

If you don't like the Grateful Dead, you will after reading this book. Without even knowing it, the grateful dead paved way for inbound marketing strategies. We can learn many lessons from them - yes, even marketing lessons.

Inbound marketing is a methodology that is here to stay, so reading up on its foundations will be in the best interest of you and your business. I truly believe inbound is lucky and proud to be associated with many intelligent and forward-thinking authors. As time goes on, I'm sure we can expect to see more wonderful works from these humans who understand this crazy notion that buyers want to seek out and solve their own problems. These inbound marketing books should propel you on the path to success and give you enjoyment along the way!