Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind

Kotler on Marketing

Dr. Philip Kotler is probably the most widely recognized master of marketing, and this book covers just about every issue facing marketers today -- at least at the strategic level. It's become a popular textbook and reference for marketing professionals -- largely because it discusses every area of the marketing mix and includes real-world examples to illustrate key points.

The Tipping Point

This book isn't really about marketing, but it has important insights about how news spreads that every marketing professional needs to know. It is a primer on word-of-mouth advertising -- and an interesting read for those interested in social sciences and behavioral psychology

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

People form impressions in an instant -- before their minds have a chance to consciously analyze a situation or develop a logical basis for an opinion. Understanding the phenomenon is critically important for all marketers and entrepreneurs. Author Malcolm Gladwell illustrates his points with vivid and memorable examples.

Permission Marketing

This may be Seth Godin's best book of all, because it addresses a fundamental shift in the way marketers relate to their customers. He contrasts the old "interruption" marketing approach (advertising in mass media, for example) to a permission-based exchange with willing -- even eager -- customers who get something of value in exchange for inviting advertising from an enlightened marketer.

This book delves into a small sampling of brain science to explain how we make decisions. Some decisions are best made with the rational brain, and some are better suited to trusting our intuition. And some can be made using both. Since good marketing involves understanding of how customers and consumers make purchase decisions, this book needs to be on the short list for every marketer.

Predicatably Irrational

Consumers and customers don't always behave rationally, but that doesn't mean they are not predictable. Dan Ariely explores some very interesting -- and very useful -- "predictably irrational" behaviors in this book, and every marketer would be well advised to become familiar with the concepts he explores.

Rasputin For Hire: An inside look at management consulting between jobs or as a second career

Anyone considering consulting as part of a job search strategy or potentially rewarding second career can now take a peek behind the curtain of consultng before making the fateful decision. Author (and Dialogue founder) Michael Goodman shares numerous marketing case studies and examples throughout the book. Worth reading for those alone.

The Potato Chip Difference: How to apply leading edge marketing strategies to landing the job you want

This book applies the same strategic approach to job-seeking and career planning that top management consulting firms use with major clients. And the author's personal experience adds practical real-world examples that make this book a "must read" for everyone in the workforce today -- especially those in marketing. (This book is written by Dialogue founder Michael Goodman.)

Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords

This book is the perfect way to understand search advertising and pay-per-click strategies and mechanics. Authors Perry Marshall and Bryan Todd explain everything, and they make it sound easy. Of course, there are many nuances, and the rules change almost daily, but they even explain that -- and offer strategies for managing the constant change.

Once you have a strategy for attracting visitors to your website, you need to figure out how to convert them into customers. That's what "post-click marketing" is all about, and the authors of this book are masters of how to do that. The book itself is a collection of blog posts and articles on the subject, and by the time you're finished with it you'll be a convert to the "landing experience" mindset.

The Culture Code

This book is more about psychology and anthropology (and some linguistics thrown in for good measure) than it is about marketing, but author Clotaire Rapaille has applied his perspective to marketing for some major corporate clients, and the basic concept of "culture codes" is fascinating. Worth reading for true marketing professionals -- and frustrated psych majors.

The Big Red Fez : How to make any web site better

This book is so "short and sweet" you'll finish it in one sitting. The basic premise is that for a website to be effective it has to communicate clearly and quickly what the reader is supposed to do, and make it easy and idiot-proof at the same time. After you read it, you'll never look at a web page the same way again.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

This book isn't about marketing at all. It's about personal change and some ways of managing your time that will make all the difference in your own effectiveness. Author Stephen Covey has built a consulting practice on the platform of this book, and his "seven habits" have become legendary in business circles. If you haven't read the book or listened to the CD/audio tape, you will almost certainly find it worth your time and effort.

Note: Clicking on any of the titles above will take you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about (and purchase) the recommended books.

Books of particular interest to job seekers may be found in the "Resources" section of the website for The Potato Chip Difference.