The 17 Best SaaS Marketing Books Of All Time
Navigating the SaaS industry landscape—whether you're a budding startup founder or a seasoned pro—is a journey of continuous learning. Rest assured, you've landed in the right spot. My deep appreciation for SaaS marketing books, combined with my experience, has led me to the best books that offer essential fundamentals, actionable growth strategies, and practical advice.
From mastering SaaS metrics and refining onboarding to leveraging content marketing and scaling your software company, this list has it all. For those keen on exploring the cloud realm of social media or seeking robust software-as-a-service templates, I've got just the book for you. I've traversed this terrain, and I'm here to guide you forward with clarity and confidence.
The best marketing books provide a wealth of information for marketing professionals.
17 Best SaaS Marketing Books
Having poured over countless titles, I've selected 17 SaaS marketing books that directly address your challenges.
- Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers by Geoffrey A. Moore
- Predictable Revenue: Turn Your Business Into a Sales Machine with the $100 Million Best Practices of Salesforce.com by Aaron Ross and Marylou Tyler
- Hacking Growth: How Today's Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
- Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney
- Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
- The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
- From Impossible to Inevitable: How SaaS and Other Hyper-Growth Companies Create Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross and Jason Lemkin
- Customer Success: How Innovative Companies Are Reducing Churn and Growing Recurring Revenue by Nick Mehta, Dan Steinman, and Lincoln Murphy
- The SaaS Sales Method: Sales As a Science (Sales Blueprints) by Jacco Van Der Kooij, Fernando Pizarro, Winning by Design, Dominique Levin, and Dan Smith
- The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 by Mark Roberge
- Product-Led Growth: How to Build a Product That Sells Itself by Bush Wes
- Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World by Rand Fishkin
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz
- The SaaS Playbook: Build a Multimillion-Dollar Startup Without Venture Capital by Rob Walling
- Scaling Lean: Mastering the Key Metrics for Startup Growth by Ash Maurya
- Lean B2B: Build Products Businesses Want by Étienne Garbugli
- The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
Overviews Of The 17 Best SaaS Marketing Books
Here’s a quick summary of each book, what you’ll learn, and why you should read it, plus a quote I like from the book. I added the author’s LinkedIn and other places to connect with them online.
1. Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers by Geoffrey A. Moore
Summary:
In Crossing the Chasm, the complexities startups face when transitioning from their early adopter phase to capturing a broader market audience are dissected. Moore's comprehensive roadmap is a beacon for businesses aiming to transition their groundbreaking products into the mainstream market.
What You'll Learn:
Discover strategies for bypassing initial adopters, identifying the ideal target markets, aligning marketing strategies appropriately, and adeptly navigating the treacherous "chasm" to achieve mass-market success.
Why You Should Read It:
This classic playbook is a treasure trove for any innovator aiming to secure a spot in the mainstream. It presents a detailed and systematic approach to scale products while sidestepping common pitfalls.
Quote From The Book:
"The chasm is a drastic lull in market development."
About The Author:
Geoffrey A. Moore isn't just a distinguished author but also a sought-after advisor and speaker. You can connect and follow his work on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
2. Predictable Revenue: Turn Your Business Into a Sales Machine with the $100 Million Best Practices of Salesforce.com by Aaron Ross and Marylou Tyler
Summary:
Ross and Tyler have distilled their experiences at Salesforce.com into this book, laying out the methodical approach to revenue generation that resulted in an additional $100 million in recurring revenue.
What You'll Learn:
Learn about the systems and structures essential for consistent sales growth, efficient techniques to make outbound sales more effective, and how to build a self-sustaining sales team.
Why You Should Read It:
Aimed at companies and sales teams with an ambition to scale, this book unfurls strategies that have revolutionized modern sales.
Quote From The Book:
"You can't manage what you can't measure."
About The Author:
Both Aaron Ross & Marylou Tyler are stalwarts in the sales domain with decades of hands-on experience. To delve deeper into their insights, connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and Twitter, and with Marylou on LinkedIn, Twitter, and her personal website.
3. Hacking Growth: How Today's Fastest-Growing Companies Drive Breakout Success by Sean Ellis and Morgan Brown
Summary:
In Hacking Growth, Ellis and Brown pull back the curtain on how giants like LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Dropbox deploy growth hacking techniques to grow more rapidly and intelligently.
What You'll Learn:
Unearth the core principles of growth hacking, discern how it stands apart from traditional marketing, understand the foundational steps for building a focused growth team, and master the design and implementation of a winning growth hacking strategy.
Why You Should Read It:
As a definitive guide to modern growth, this book offers a meticulous step-by-step guide to expanding a company's user base and securing breakout success.
Quote From The Book:
"True north for any growth hacker is growth."
About The Author:
Sean Ellis, who coined the term "growth hacker", and Morgan Brown, a digital marketing maestro, have collectively contributed immense value to the domain. Connect with Sean on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website. Likewise, you can engage with Morgan Brown on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
4. Play Bigger: How Pirates, Dreamers, and Innovators Create and Dominate Markets by Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney
Summary:
Play Bigger delves into the world of market innovation and the art of creating and dominating categories, detailing how disruptors and visionaries have successfully changed the very fabric of industries.
What You'll Learn:
The methodology behind creating and defining new markets, the power of category kings, and how they reshape the perception of value.
Why You Should Read It:
For those aiming to make a mark in their industry, this book offers a playbook on not just competing but redefining entire categories.
Quote From The Book:
"Category kings take as much as 76% of the entire category's economics."
About The Author:
The collective genius of Al Ramadan, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney has led to groundbreaking insights into market dynamics. Connect with Al on LinkedIn and Twitter, Dave on Twitter, Christopher on LinkedIn, Twitter, and personal website, and Kevin on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
5. Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth by Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares
Summary:
Traction lays out a framework to help startups identify the best channels to achieve customer growth, emphasizing the need for a dynamic approach tailored to a company's specific needs.
What You'll Learn:
Insights into 19 different traction channels and a systematic process to determine which ones are most likely to drive growth for your startup.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is a compass for startups navigating the challenging terrain of growth, highlighting actionable steps and strategies to achieve traction.
Quote From The Book:
"Almost every failed startup has a product. What failed startups don't have are enough customers."
About The Author:
Gabriel Weinberg, the founder of DuckDuckGo, and Justin Mares, a startup growth guru, teamed up to offer startups a guide to achieving explosive growth. Dive deeper into their expertise by connecting with Gabriel on LinkedIn and Twitter. Connect with Justin on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
6. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries
Summary:
In The Lean Startup, Eric Ries presents a systematic approach for startups to develop sustainable businesses by emphasizing adaptability and customer-oriented product development.
What You'll Learn:
The principles of creating a startup with minimal waste, the value of validated learning, and how to adapt quickly based on genuine customer feedback.
Why You Should Read It:
This book has become the bible for modern entrepreneurship, offering a scientific approach to creating and managing a startup to drive consistent growth.
Quote From The Book:
"Startups exist not just to make stuff, make money, or serve customers. They exist to learn how to build a sustainable business."
About The Author:
Eric Ries, an entrepreneur and pioneer of the Lean Startup movement, has been at the forefront of changing how startups are built and grown. Engage with his insights further on LinkedIn and Twitter.
7. From Impossible to Inevitable: How SaaS and Other Hyper-Growth Companies Create Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross and Jason Lemkin
Summary:
This book uncovers the patterns and strategies employed by SaaS companies and other hyper-growth businesses to scale sustainably and attain predictable revenue streams.
What You'll Learn:
Deep dive into the nuances of creating predictable revenue, learn the tactics of hyper-growth companies and understand how to scale your business effectively.
Why You Should Read It:
For SaaS companies and startups aiming for predictable revenue and hyper-growth, this manual is a must-read to replicate proven success formulas.
Quote From The Book:
"Growth is not just about speed; it's about consistency."
About The Author:
Aaron Ross, with his experience at Salesforce, and Jason Lemkin, a SaaS thought leader, provide unique insights into the world of hyper-growth. Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and Twitter, and Jason on LinkedIn and Twitter.
8. Customer Success: How Innovative Companies Are Reducing Churn and Growing Recurring Revenue by Nick Mehta, Dan Steinman, and Lincoln Murphy
Summary:
The trio explores the transformative power of Customer Success, showcasing strategies that leading companies employ to minimize churn and maximize recurring revenue.
What You'll Learn:
Understand the evolving role of Customer Success, discover techniques to reduce churn, and learn how to nurture loyal customers to drive recurring revenue.
Why You Should Read It:
This book is pivotal for companies seeking to evolve their customer relationships into profitable long-term partnerships.
Quote From The Book:
"Your most valuable customers are your current ones."
About The Author:
Nick Mehta, Dan Steinman, and Lincoln Murphy are experts in customer success and retention strategies. Engage further with Nick on LinkedIn, Dan on LinkedIn, and Lincoln on LinkedIn, Twitter, and personal website.
9. The SaaS Sales Method: Sales As a Science (Sales Blueprints) by Jacco Van Der Kooij, Fernando Pizarro, Winning by Design, Dominique Levin, and Dan Smith
Summary:
The authors present a detailed blueprint for SaaS sales, emphasizing the science behind successful sales methodologies and strategies.
What You'll Learn:
Grasp the intricacies of the SaaS sales process, the importance of design in sales, and a data-driven approach to scaling sales operations.
Why You Should Read It:
For sales professionals in the SaaS domain, this guide offers invaluable insights into transforming the sales process into a predictable science.
Quote From The Book:
"In SaaS sales, process triumphs over gut instincts."
About The Author:
The collaboration of industry experts like Jacco Van Der Kooij, Fernando Pizarro, Dominique Levin, and Dan Smith results in a comprehensive guide on SaaS sales. Connect with Jacco on LinkedIn and Twitter, Fernando on LinkedIn and Twitter, Dominique on LinkedIn and Twitter, and Dan on LinkedIn.
10. The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 by Mark Roberge
Summary:
Mark Roberge provides a transformative approach to scaling sales, utilizing data-driven techniques, technology, and the power of inbound selling to skyrocket revenue.
What You'll Learn:
Uncover the secrets to scaling a successful sales team, the importance of data in sales decisions, and strategies to utilize technology for sales acceleration.
Why You Should Read It:
For those keen on modernizing their sales strategies with a tried and tested formula, this book offers the key to unlocking massive revenue growth.
Quote From The Book:
"Sales success comes from methodical and predictable techniques, not magic."
About The Author:
Mark Roberge, a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School and former Chief Revenue Officer at HubSpot, offers unparalleled insights into sales growth. Connect with Mark on LinkedIn and Twitter.
11. Product-Led Growth: How to Build a Product That Sells Itself by Bush Wes
Summary:
Bush Wes emphasizes the paradigm shift in how products are now the primary drivers of company growth, providing a roadmap to harness this product-led approach.
What You'll Learn:
Discover the intricacies of building products that can market themselves, understand the shift from sales-led to product-led, and grasp the mechanics behind products that drive growth.
Why You Should Read It:
For companies and entrepreneurs aiming to craft products that become self-sustaining growth engines, this guide is indispensable.
Quote From The Book:
"A product that provides value sells itself."
About The Author:
Bush Wes, a leading voice in the product-led growth arena, has mentored numerous companies in adopting this transformative approach. Engage with him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
12. Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World by Rand Fishkin
Summary:
Rand Fishkin's candid memoir offers a raw look into the startup world, shedding light on the highs, the lows, and the often overlooked realities of entrepreneurial life.
What You'll Learn:
Journey through the real-world challenges of startup life, debunk common myths and derive lessons from the candid experiences of a seasoned founder.
Why You Should Read It:
Entrepreneurs seeking an unfiltered look at the startup journey, complete with its pitfalls and triumphs, will find Fishkin's account both enlightening and relatable.
Quote From The Book:
"The startup world glamorizes the highs and rarely talks about the lows, but both are equally important."
About The Author:
Rand Fishkin, co-founder of Moz and SparkToro, is renowned for his transparent and genuine insights into the startup ecosystem. Connect with Rand on LinkedIn and Twitter.
13. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben Horowitz
Summary:
Ben Horowitz shares the challenging aspects of running a business, diving deep into the difficult decisions and experiences that most CEOs and founders face but seldom discuss.
What You'll Learn:
Gain insights into handling tough situations in business, from managing people to scaling operations, and navigating the intricacies of leadership during trying times.
Why You Should Read It:
For anyone at the helm of a business or aspiring to be, this book offers a no-holds-barred view of the challenges of leadership and how to confront them head-on.
Quote From The Book:
"Every time you make the hard, correct decision you become a bit more courageous, and every time you make the easy, wrong decision you become a bit more cowardly."
About The Author:
Ben Horowitz, co-founder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, brings years of experience in the tech and business world. Engage with Ben on his LinkedIn and Twitter profiles.
14. The SaaS Playbook: Build a Multimillion-Dollar Startup Without Venture Capital by Rob Walling
Summary:
Rob Walling offers a fresh perspective on building a successful SaaS company without the conventional route of venture capital, focusing on bootstrapped strategies and organic growth.
What You'll Learn:
Uncover the methods to grow a SaaS business through self-funding, strategies to attain and retain customers, and the power of bootstrapping in the software domain.
Why You Should Read It:
Entrepreneurs looking to build a SaaS business without the pressures and dilutions of VC funding will find this book an invaluable guide.
Quote From The Book:
"Bootstrap isn't just a funding mechanism; it's a philosophy."
About The Author:
Rob Walling, the brain behind multiple successful bootstrapped startups, champions the cause of self-funded businesses. Connect with Rob on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
15. Scaling Lean: Mastering the Key Metrics for Startup Growth by Ash Maurya
Summary:
Ash Maurya presents a roadmap for startups to scale effectively, emphasizing the critical metrics and lean principles that drive sustainable growth.
What You'll Learn:
Dive into the lean methodology for startups, understand the metrics that matter, and learn how to achieve growth by staying lean and agile.
Why You Should Read It:
Startups and entrepreneurs keen on scaling their ventures without losing agility and efficiency will benefit immensely from Maurya's insights.
Quote From The Book:
"Your product is not the product. Your business model is the product."
About The Author:
Ash Maurya, a seasoned entrepreneur, and author is a leading voice in the lean startup movement. Engage with Ash on LinkedIn and Twitter.
16. Lean B2B: Build Products Businesses Want by Étienne Garbugli
Summary:
In Lean B2B, Étienne Garbugli elucidates a step-by-step methodology for building B2B SaaS products that are in demand. Drawing from real-life case studies and experiences, Garbugli demystifies the path to successful B2B product development.
What You'll Learn:
Acquire knowledge on identifying the needs of business customers, mastering B2B product validation, and creating solutions that businesses genuinely want.
Why You Should Read It:
For anyone in the B2B SaaS realm seeking a structured approach to product development that minimizes waste and maximizes value, this is a must-read.
Quote From The Book:
"In the B2B realm, solutions aren't just products; they're a blend of product, understanding, and timing."
About The Author:
Étienne Garbugli is a seasoned product and UX strategist with a penchant for the B2B domain. Connect with Étienne on LinkedIn and Twitter.
17. The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers & Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You by Rob Fitzpatrick
Summary:
Rob Fitzpatrick introduces a refreshing approach to customer validation, revealing how to glean genuine insights from conversations without falling into the traps of niceties and biases.
What You'll Learn:
Discover the art of asking the right questions, differentiate between polite nods and genuine needs, and get to the heart of what customers truly want.
Why You Should Read It:
Entrepreneurs and founders will gain invaluable skills in customer discovery, ensuring their ideas are validated against real market needs and not mere pleasantries.
Quote From The Book:
"Good questions are your best weapon against the world's polite lies."
About The Author:
Rob Fitzpatrick, an entrepreneur and author, has navigated the startup trenches and shares his treasure trove of experiences with budding founders. Engage with Rob on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his personal website.
Which SaaS Marketing Books Do You Recommend?
I value the insights of our reading community. If there are standout SaaS marketing books you believe should be on this list, please share your recommendations. Your expertise enriches our collective knowledge.
