19 Growth Marketing Books To Propel Your Business Forward
Discovering the best growth marketing books is a game-changer—trust me on this. With decades spent in the trenches of growth marketing and a personal library that's seen its fair share of marketing classics, I've come to recognize the transformative power of the written word. It's more than just theories; it's about actionable insights that can pivot your strategies and catapult results.
If you're looking to stay ahead of competitors in the ever-evolving landscape of growth marketing, I get it. That's why I've handpicked these titles. They'll answer every question you have, and reveal a few secrets to success you'll love.
Reading the best marketing books can provide you with innovative ideas and strategies.
19 Best Growth Marketing Books
Dive into my curated list of growth marketing must-reads, handpicked from years of reading. These are all available on Amazon.
- Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising by Ryan Holiday
- Hacking Growth: How Today's Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
- Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
- Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
- Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
- Top of Top of Mind: Use Content to Unleash Your Influence and Engage Those Who Matter to You by John Hall
- Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover
- Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry by Stephen Denny
- Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
- The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
- Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
- The Growth Marketer's Playbook: A Strategic Guide to Growing a Business in Today's Digital World by Jim Huffman
- The Conversion Code: Stop Chasing Leads and Start Attracting Clients by Chris Smith
- Digital Marketing For Dummies by Ryan Deiss and Russ Henneberry
- This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin
- Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk
- Your Data is F**Ked : For Marketers: Growth Marketing, Strategy and Personalisation Handbook for Digital Marketers by Mark McKenzie
- Revenue Operations: A New Way to Align Sales & Marketing, Monetize Data, and Ignite Growth by Stephen G. Diorio and Chris K. Hummel
- Ready, Set, Growth Hack: A Beginners Guide to Growth Hacking Success by Nader Sabry
Overviews Of The 19 Best Growth Marketing Books
1. Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising by Ryan Holiday
Summary:
"Growth Hacker Marketing" sheds light on the transformation of traditional marketing, introducing the era of growth hacking. This approach leverages smart, agile strategies over old, extensive campaigns, catalyzing rapid growth for businesses of all sizes.
What You'll Learn:
Explore the essence of growth hacking, discover how giants like Dropbox and Airbnb utilized these strategies, and gather actionable techniques that promise better results than traditional advertising methods.
Why You Should Read It:
To grasp the dynamics of modern marketing and harness growth hacking's potential for business expansion.
Quote From The Book:
"Marketing is no longer about the stuff you make but the stories you tell."
About The Author:
Ryan Holiday is a media strategist and prolific writer. His insights have reshaped marketing strategies for leading companies. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
2. Hacking Growth: How Today's Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
Summary:
"Hacking Growth" dives deep into how companies, irrespective of size, can ignite exponential growth. The book shares methodologies behind growth hacking, offering a peek into the inner workings of industry behemoths.
What You'll Learn:
Delve into systematic techniques that have underpinned the success of major brands, grasp the collaborative nature of teams in growth hacking, and assimilate practices that have repeatedly driven breakout success.
Why You Should Read It:
For a comprehensive guide on strategies that can catapult your company, small business, or startup's growth trajectory.
Quote From The Book:
"Growth hacking is more of a mindset than a toolkit."
About The Authors:
Sean Ellis, coined the term "growth hacking," and Morgan Brown has been at the forefront of this marketing revolution. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Morgan on LinkedIn and Twitter.
3. Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
Summary:
"Traction" serves as a startup's roadmap to explosive customer growth. The authors elaborate on various channels to achieve traction and how businesses can adapt to harness the power of each effectively.
What You'll Learn:
Learn the nineteen channels you can use to build a customer base, and dive into a three-step framework that'll help you determine the most optimal channels for your startup.
Why You Should Read It:
For a strategic edge in customer acquisition and insights into scaling your startup's user base.
Quote From The Book:
"Almost every failed startup has a product. What failed startups don't have is traction."
About The Authors:
Gabriel Weinberg, the founder of DuckDuckGo, and Justin Mares, a startup growth expert, combine their experiences in this insightful guide. Connect with Gabriel on LinkedIn and Twitter, and Justin on LinkedIn and Twitter.
4. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger
Summary:
"Contagious" delves into the intriguing realm of why certain things go viral while others remain unnoticed. Through rigorous research and engaging narratives, Berger unravels the secret science behind word-of-mouth and social transmission.
What You'll Learn:
Understand the six essential principles that drive popularity and virality, from the psychology of sharing to the art of triggering emotions that motivate people to share.
Why You Should Read It:
To unlock the mysteries of virality and leverage them to make your ideas and products more shareable.
Quote From The Book:
"People don't listen to advertisements; they listen to their peers."
About The Author:
Jonah Berger is a Wharton professor and an expert on word-of-mouth, viral marketing, and social influence. Engage with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
5. Influence, New and Expanded: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
Summary:
"Influence" is a seminal exploration of the mechanics behind the act of persuasion. Dr. Cialdini dives deep into the psychology of why people say "yes" and how to employ these understandings ethically in various forms of persuasion.
What You'll Learn:
The six universal principles of influence and how to become a skilled persuader while also defending oneself against manipulation.
Why You Should Read It:
To understand the subconscious triggers that drive the decision-making processes and to master the art of effective persuasion.
Quote From The Book:
"Reciprocity – People treat you the way you treat them."
About The Author:
Dr. Robert B. Cialdini is a globally recognized expert in persuasion, compliance, and negotiation. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
6. Top of Mind: Use Content to Unleash Your Influence and Engage Those Who Matter to You by John Hall
Summary:
"Top of Mind" is a guide for leaders and businesses wanting to grow influence through helpful and authentic content. Hall provides a blueprint for creating trust, building strong relationships, and staying top of mind with your audience.
What You'll Learn:
Explore strategies for using valuable content as a tool for trust-building in your industry. Learn how consistent helpfulness can make you the person others think of first.
Why You Should Read It:
For actionable insights on how to elevate your personal or brand influence in the digital age.
Quote From The Book:
"Trust is the one thing that changes everything in business."
About The Author:
John Hall is the co-founder of Calendar.com and an expert in strategic content and personal branding. Interact with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
7. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover
Summary:
"Hooked" uncovers the psychology behind habit-forming products, illustrating how businesses can create offerings that captivate consumers. The book reveals a cyclical process that businesses use to draw users in and keep them returning.
What You'll Learn:
Dive into the "Hook Model" – a four-step process that companies employ to ensure user engagement: Trigger, Action, Variable Reward, and Investment. By understanding and applying this model, businesses can develop products that become indispensable to users.
Why You Should Read It:
To glean valuable insights on creating products or services that resonate deeply with consumers and keep them engaged over the long haul.
Quote From The Book:
"Companies who form strong user habits enjoy several benefits to their bottom line."
About The Author:
Nir Eyal is an expert on the intersection of psychology, technology, and business. Engage with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website. Ryan Hoover is the founder of Product Hunt and has a keen eye for tech trends. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
8. Killing Giants: 10 Strategies to Topple the Goliath in Your Industry by Stephen Denny
Summary:
"Killing Giants" is a guide for challengers in any industry looking to dethrone the dominant players. Through riveting stories and actionable insights, Denny presents strategies for businesses to punch above their weight and achieve remarkable success.
What You'll Learn:
Unearth ten powerful strategies that challenger brands can employ to take on industry giants. These strategies range from accelerating trends that favor your brand to thinking differently about your competition.
Why You Should Read It:
To gain a competitive edge, understand the market dynamics, and navigate the challenges of taking on established industry leaders.
Quote From The Book:
"Being smaller and lighter and faster is an advantage if you leverage it."
About The Author:
Stephen Denny is a consultant and speaker specializing in competitive strategy. Engage with him on LinkedIn and personal website.
9. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
Summary:
"Building a StoryBrand" proposes a transformative approach to business messaging. Miller posits that the most effective brand stories are those that position customers as the protagonists, with businesses playing the role of helpful guides.
What You'll Learn:
Discover the seven universal story points all humans respond to and how to simplify your brand message so people understand it. Learn how to position your customer as the hero and your brand as the guide.
Why You Should Read It:
For a fresh perspective on branding and to understand how to make your brand's message clear, compelling, and resonant with customers.
Quote From The Book:
"When you confuse, you lose."
About The Author:
Donald Miller is a best-selling author and CEO of StoryBrand. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
10. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
Summary:
"The Lean Startup" introduces a systematic approach for developing businesses and products. Drawing from lean manufacturing, this methodology emphasizes the value of adapting and adjusting before large sums of time and money are invested.
What You'll Learn:
Delve into the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and the importance of validated learning. Grasp the Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop and understand how continuous innovation can lead to a sustainable business model.
Why You Should Read It:
To equip yourself with a modern framework that reduces the risk of startups, ensuring that entrepreneurial efforts are not in vain.
Quote From The Book:
"Startups that succeed are those that manage to iterate enough times before running out of resources."
About The Author:
Eric Ries is an entrepreneur and author who has pioneered the Lean Startup movement. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
11. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Summary:
"Made to Stick" deciphers the qualities that make certain ideas unforgettable. Through riveting anecdotes and scientific insights, the Heath brothers unveil the anatomy of ideas that stick and provide a guide to crafting messages that make a lasting impact.
What You'll Learn:
The six key qualities of ideas that stick: Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotions, and Stories (SUCCESs framework). Dive deep into each element to understand how to make your own ideas more impactful.
Why You Should Read It:
To understand the art and science of creating memorable messages, whether you're in marketing, education, or any field requiring effective communication.
Quote From The Book:
"Sticky ideas are understood, remembered, and have a long-term impact."
About The Authors:
Chip and Dan Heath are best-selling authors and educators. Engage with Chip on LinkedIn and Twitter, and Dan Heath on LinkedIn. More about their collaborative works can be found on their official website.
12. The Growth Marketer's Playbook: A Strategic Guide to Growing a Business in Today's Digital World by Jim Huffman
Summary:
In "The Growth Marketer's Playbook," Jim Huffman demystifies the world of digital marketing. With an emphasis on actionable insights, the bestseller book is a roadmap to scaling a business in today's increasingly digital landscape.
What You'll Learn:
Huffman covers everything from crafting a growth strategy, understanding the marketing funnel, to mastering acquisition channels and optimizing for retention.
Why You Should Read It:
For a comprehensive, hands-on guide to digital marketing, catering to beginners and veterans alike.
Quote From The Book:
"Growth is not just a series of hacks. Sustainable growth is driven by building and delivering real value."
About The Author:
Jim Huffman is a growth marketing mentor, an entrepreneur, and a digital marketing expert. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
13. The Conversion Code: Stop Chasing Leads and Start Attracting Clients by Chris Smith
Summary:
"The Conversion Code" unveils the secrets to capturing internet leads and converting them into customers. Smith provides a step-by-step guide to boosting online sales by increasing the quality and quantity of leads and appointments.
What You'll Learn:
Discover actionable strategies to improve website conversion rates, craft compelling calls to action, and develop follow-up sequences that convert leads into sales. Also, learn about the psychology behind consumer behavior online and how to use it to your advantage.
Why You Should Read It:
For a thorough understanding of online sales and lead generation, coupled with effective techniques to optimize every stage of the online sales process. This book is perfect for product managers, growth teams, and startup founders who are looking to materialize product-led growth for a successful startup, business, or company.
Quote From The Book:
"Your ability to capture, communicate, and convert your way to cash is directly proportionate to your ability to eliminate the reasons people decide not to buy."
About The Author:
Chris Smith is a noted speaker, sales expert, and digital advertising professional.
14. Digital Marketing For Dummies by Ryan Deiss and Russ Henneberry
Summary:
"Digital Marketing For Dummies" is a comprehensive guide to navigating the world of online marketing. The book simplifies complex concepts, making the realm of digital marketing accessible to everyone, regardless of their tech-savviness.
What You'll Learn:
Acquire insights into various aspects of digital marketing, from SEO, content marketing, and email campaigns to social media strategies and analytics. Understand the intricacies of online advertising, traffic acquisition, referrals, and building a digital marketing roadmap.
Why You Should Read It:
To gain a foundational understanding of digital marketing principles and strategies, enabling you to effectively market products and services online.
Quote From The Book:
"In the digital age, your marketing strategy is incomplete without online tactics."
About The Authors:
Ryan Deiss is the founder of DigitalMarketer, while Russ Henneberry is a digital marketing consultant. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn and Twitter. Engage with Russ on LinkedIn.
15. This is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin
Summary:
In "This is Marketing," Seth Godin pushes readers to see marketing as an endeavor to make change. He champions authentic marketing that targets the smallest viable audience and creates a meaningful impact.
What You'll Learn:
Understand the essence of modern marketing which goes beyond mere advertising. Delve into the importance of empathy, the power of storytelling, and the value of creating tension to bring about change.
Why You Should Read It:
For a fresh perspective on marketing that emphasizes connection, empathy, and genuine value over mere transactions.
Quote From The Book:
"Marketing isn't about the stuff you make but the stories you tell."
About The Author:
Seth Godin is an influential thinker in the fields of marketing, leadership, and change. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
16. Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk
Summary:
"Crushing It!" is a deep dive into the power of personal branding, emphasizing the pivotal role it plays in modern entrepreneurship. Gary Vaynerchuk showcases real-world examples and stories of individuals who've achieved immense success by maximizing the potential of the internet and social media.
What You'll Learn:
Discover the intricacies of personal branding in the digital age, the dynamics of different social media platforms, and strategies to monetize one's passion using the power of the internet.
Why You Should Read It:
To grasp the transformative power of personal branding and to learn practical ways to leverage online platforms for entrepreneurial success.
Quote From The Book:
"Your number of followers is not an indication of the depth of your impact."
About The Author:
Gary Vaynerchuk is a serial entrepreneur, speaker, and internet personality known for his work in digital marketing and social media. Connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
17. Your Data is F**Ked: For Marketers: Growth Marketing, Strategy and Personalisation Handbook for Digital Marketers by Mark McKenzie
Summary:
In "Your Data is F**Ked," Mark McKenzie explores the nuances of data-driven digital marketing. This growth handbook sheds light on how data can be leveraged for effective and personalized marketing strategies.
What You'll Learn:
Delve into the significance of data in modern marketing, understanding customer behavior, predicting future trends, and creating personalized marketing plans and campaigns for maximum impact.
Why You Should Read It:
For a comprehensive overview of the role of data in contemporary marketing and actionable insights on harnessing data for business growth.
Quote From The Book:
"In the digital age, data is the compass that guides your marketing ship."
About The Author:
Mark McKenzie is an expert in data-driven marketing and has extensively contributed to the digital marketing domain.
18. Revenue Operations: A New Way to Align Sales & Marketing, Monetize Data, and Ignite Growth by Stephen G. Diorio and Chris K. Hummel
Summary:
"Revenue Operations" provides a fresh perspective on aligning sales and marketing operations to foster growth. The authors emphasize the significance of data monetization and strategic alignment in driving revenue.
What You'll Learn:
Understand the concept of Revenue Operations, strategies to bridge the sales-marketing divide, and techniques to utilize data for revenue generation.
Why You Should Read It:
To gain insights into a holistic approach to business operations that emphasizes alignment and data-driven growth.
Quote From The Book:
"Alignment isn't just cooperation; it's about synchronized, data-driven strategy."
About The Authors:
Stephen G. Diorio is an accomplished strategist, while Chris K. Hummel holds expertise in sales and marketing alignment. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn and Chris on LinkedIn.
19. Ready, Set, Growth Hack: A Beginners Guide to Growth Hacking Success by Nader Sabry
Summary:
"Ready, Set, Growth Hack" is a primer for those new to the world of growth hacking. Nader Sabry breaks down the fundamentals, offering actionable strategies to foster rapid business growth.
What You'll Learn:
Learn growth hacking strategies, from understanding its core principles to implementing growth strategies that can catapult a business to new heights.
Why You Should Read It:
For a foundational grasp of growth hacking and practical advice on employing a growth mindset, skillset, and tactics effectively.
Quote From The Book:
"Growth isn't about size; it's about rapid, sustainable acceleration."
About The Author:
Nader Sabry is a growth strategist and innovation expert with a wealth of experience in the domain. Engage with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
Which Growth Marketing Books Do You Recommend?
Know the best growth hacking book that is not on this list? I'd love to hear your recommendations!
