Welcome to our roundup of the 12 best B2B marketing books!
If you’re in the business-to-business industry, you know that staying up-to-date on marketing strategies is crucial for success. That’s where these books come in.
We’ve scoured the shelves to bring you the top reads on B2B marketing. From practical guides to expert insights, these books cover everything you need to know to take your business strategy to the next level.
Here’s what you can expect from our list:
- A mix of classic and newer titles
- A range of writing styles, from practical to thought-provoking
- Tips and techniques for both new and experienced B2B marketers
So, let’s dive in!
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12 Best B2B Marketing Books for Marketers and Business Owners
- Innovative B2B Marketing: New Models, Processes and Theory by Simon Hall
- ABM is B2B: Why B2B Marketing and Sales is Broken and How to Fix it by Sangram Vajre
- Content That Converts: How to Build a Profitable and Predictable B2B Content Marketing Strategy by Laura Hanly
- Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer by Carlos Hidalgo
- Think Outside the Inbox: The B2B Marketing Automation Guide by David Cummings and Adam Blitzer
- The Marketing High Ground: The Essential Playbook for B2B Marketing Practitioners Everywhere by J. Michael Gospe Jr.
- B2B Marketing Strategy: Differentiate, Develop and Deliver Lasting Customer Engagement by Heidi Taylor
- 42 Rules for B2B Social Media Marketing: Learn Proven Strategies and Field-Tested Tactics through Real World Success Stories by Michael Procopio, Peter Spielvogel, and Natascha Thomson
- Winning B2B Marketing: Proven Methods that Drive Revenue, Leads and Awareness by Christopher Ryan
- B2B Digital Marketing: Using the Web to Market Directly to Businesses by Michael Miller
- B2B Brand Management by Philip Kotler and Waldemar Pfoertsch
- Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands by Drew Neisser and Brent Adamson
Best B2B Marketing Books: Best Overall
- Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer by Carlos Hidalgo
Driving Demand: Transforming B2B Marketing to Meet the Needs of the Modern Buyer by Carlos Hidalgo
Published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2015, Carlos Hidalgo’s Driving Demand has become a modern classic in B2B marketing.
Among essential topics related to marketing, the book discusses the following:
- Demand generation
- Changing sales mind-set
- Adapting the lead management process
- Optimizing data and technology
- Managing people through change
- Creating a culture of accountability
According to Hidalgo, modern marketers are not keeping pace with what is to be done to generate demands for their goods and services. Generating demand is crucial for a successful business because buyers’ approach today has become more sophisticated and complex than before.
Perfect for: marketers who want valuable insights and actionable advice on B2B marketing.
Core Learning:
- Understand the modern buyer and their journey to effectively market to them
- Use data and technology to personalize and automate marketing efforts
- Utilize a mix of traditional and digital tactics to reach and engage with buyers
If you consider reading one book on B2B marketing, Hidalgo’s Driving Demand is for you.
Innovative B2B Marketing: New Models, Processes and Theory by Simon Hall
Simon Hall breaks down new models and processes for effective marketing, delving deep into the theory behind them. This book is packed with actionable insights and strategies for success.
Written in five parts and 24 chapters, the book discusses the following:
- Developing your marketing strategy
- Improving B2B customer-centric marketing
- Transforming your business through content and digital marketing
- Collaborating with channel partners
- Optimizing marketing execution
Perfect for: any B2B marketer looking to stay ahead of the curve and drive innovation in their marketing efforts
Core Learning:
- Use a customer-centric approach in B2B marketing.
- B2B companies should focus on creating value for their customers and building long-term relationships rather than just selling products or services.
ABM is B2B: Why B2B Marketing and Sales is Broken and How to Fix it by Sangram Vajre
ABM: Account-Based Marketing.
Sangram Vajre’s book is a must-read for anyone in B2B marketing.
The book covers the key issues facing B2B marketing and sales today and offers practical solutions for overcoming them.
Through real-life examples and actionable advice, Vajre shows how to align marketing and sales, create personalized campaigns, and measure success.
Perfect for: anyone looking to drive growth in the B2B space.
Core Learning:
- Understand the pain points and goals of your target audience to create personalized and effective marketing campaigns
- Utilize account-based marketing to build strong relationships with key accounts and drive demand for your product or service
- Use data and analytics to continuously improve and optimize your ABM strategy for maximum impact and ROI.
Content That Converts: How to Build a Profitable and Predictable B2B Content Marketing Strategy by Laura Hanly
Content That Converts by Laura Hanly is a must-read if you want to improve your B2B marketing strategy.
Hanly provides practical advice on creating a profitable and predictable content marketing strategy, covering buyer personas, content creation, and distribution topics.
Perfect for: with step-by-step guides and real-world examples, this book is a valuable resource for any B2B marketer.
Core Learning:
- Building a content marketing strategy that generates leads and revenue
- Identifying the most effective channels and formats for distributing your content
- Developing a content calendar that aligns with the buyer’s journey and sales cycle.
Think Outside the Inbox: The B2B Marketing Automation Guide by David Cummings and Adam Blitzer
In Think Outside the Inbox, Cummings and Blitzer provide a comprehensive guide to B2B marketing automation. They delve into the most effective tactics and strategies for automating your marketing efforts, including email campaigns, lead generation, and website personalization.
The book also covers how to measure the success of your automation efforts and provides case studies to illustrate real-world examples.
Perfect for: marketers looking to streamline and optimize their B2B marketing strategy.
Core Learning:
- The importance of leveraging marketing automation to reach and engage B2B customers effectively.
- Best practices for implementing a successful B2B marketing automation strategy, including data management, lead nurturing, and measuring results.
The Marketing High Ground: The Essential Playbook for B2B Marketing Practitioners Everywhere by J. Michael Gospe Jr.
J. Michael Gospe Jr. shares practical insights on how to build a successful B2B marketing strategy, including tactics for creating and nurturing leads, crafting messaging that resonates with key stakeholders, and integrating marketing and sales efforts.
He also covers the importance of data-driven decision-making and using technology to automate and optimize marketing processes.
Perfect for: marketers looking for B2B actionable advice that can be immediately applied to drive better business results.
Core Learning:
- The importance of understanding and targeting the right audience
- The need for a clear and consistent brand message
- The use of data-driven decision-making to optimize marketing efforts
B2B Marketing Strategy: Differentiate, Develop and Deliver Lasting Customer Engagement by Heidi Taylor
A must-read for any B2B marketer looking to take their strategy to the next level.
Taylor’s book is packed with practical tips and techniques for building and maintaining strong customer relationships. Whether you’re just starting out in B2B marketing or looking to fine-tune your existing strategy, this book has something for you.
With a focus on differentiation, development, and delivery, Taylor’s book is a comprehensive guide to creating a B2B marketing strategy that truly stands out from the competition.
Perfect for: marketers looking for ideas that make them stand out in a crowded business space.
Core Learning:
- Implement customer-centric marketing techniques to drive lasting engagement and loyalty
- Utilize data and analytics to inform and optimize marketing efforts
42 Rules for B2B Social Media Marketing: Learn Proven Strategies and Field-Tested Tactics through Real World Success Stories by Michael Procopio, Peter Spielvogel, Natascha Thomson
42 Rules for B2B Social Media Marketing is a comprehensive guide for businesses looking to take their social media marketing efforts to the next level.
This book, written by Michael Procopio, Peter Spielvogel, and Natascha Thomson, offers a wealth of proven strategies and tactics for achieving success on social media when targeting other businesses.
Perfect for: business owners, marketing professionals, and anyone responsible for marketing a B2B (business-to-business) company on social media.
Core Learning:
- Take social media marketing seriously
- B2B Brands can apply tactics that B2C brands use to win over social media
- Keep a real-world focus.
Winning B2B Marketing: Proven Methods that Drive Revenue, Leads and Awareness by Christopher Ryan, Nate Warren (Editor), Gail Carson (Editor)
Winning B2B Marketing is a valuable resource for anyone looking to effectively market their business to other businesses.
This book offers proven methods for driving revenue, leads, and awareness. With a focus on practicality, the authors provide a range of strategies and tactics businesses can easily implement to see real results from their marketing efforts.
Perfect for: those new to B2B marketing due to the breadth and wealth of information packed within.
Core Learning:
- Don’t reinvent the wheel. Rely on proven tactics to drive results
- Use advanced metrics to identify what really works for your business (not just in theory).
B2B Digital Marketing: Using the Web to Market Directly to Businesses by Michael Miller
B2B Digital Marketing by Michael Miller is a must-read for anyone looking to effectively market their business to other businesses using the web.
Miller expertly guides readers through creating a successful B2B digital marketing strategy, covering topics such as SEO, social media marketing, and email marketing.
Perfect for: individuals new to B2B digital marketing and looking for a comprehensive guide to getting started.
Core Learning:
- Digital is essential to any business that hopes to succeed in 2023
- Simplicity is a key approach
- Focus on consistent branding across digital platforms
B2B Brand Management by Philip Kotler and Waldemar Pfoertsch
Written by marketing experts Philip Kotler and Waldemar Pfoertsch, this book covers key concepts such as brand positioning, value proposition development, and stakeholder engagement.
The authors also delve into the role of digital marketing in B2B brand management, making this book a valuable resource for marketers looking to stay up-to-date with the latest trends.
Perfect for: marketers looking for a comprehensive guide to building and managing a successful B2B brand, and is essential reading for anyone looking to succeed in this space.
Core Learning:
- Consistently meeting the needs and expectations of your customers.
- Focus on customer experience first.
- Build a long-lasting brand by way of a loyal customer base.
Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands by Drew Neisser
Are you tired of using the same tired marketing tactics that everyone else in the B2B space is using? If so, then Renegade Marketing is the book for you.
Written by marketing expert Drew Neisser, this book provides a fresh perspective on how to build a truly unstoppable B2B brand.
One of the key ideas in the book is the power of storytelling in marketing. The author teaches how to craft compelling stories that engage and inspire customers and shows how these stories can be integrated into various marketing efforts.
Whether you’re just starting out in B2B marketing or looking to take your brand to the next level, Renegade Marketing is full of valuable insights and practical advice to help you break through the noise and stand out in a crowded market.
Perfect for: marketers looking for fresh and innovative ways to stand out in a crowded market and build a strong and compelling B2B brand.
Core Learning:
- Story-telling is a powerful marketing tool
- Marketers should aim above all to differentiate from competitors and connect with their clients
Best B2B Marketing Books: Final Thoughts
In this article, we highlighted 12 best B2B marketing books that can help you improve your marketing strategy and drive more business.
From foundational guides to hands-on practical advice, these books cover a wide range of topics and approaches to B2B marketing.
It’s important to continuously learn and stay up-to-date on the latest B2B marketing strategies to stay ahead of the competition and effectively reach and engage your target audience. The books on this list are a great resource to help you do just that.
We hope that this list has helped you discover some new books to add to your marketing library and helped you on your journey to becoming a B2B marketing expert.
Best B2B Marketing Books: Honorable Mentions
The B2B Marketing Handbook: Selling Products and Services to Businesses in a Multichannel Marketplace, by Robert W. Bly.
Marketing for Small B2B Businesses: How Content Creates Marketing Muscle and Powers Traditional and Digital Marketing, by Andrew Schulkind.
B2B Digital Marketing Strategy: How to Use New Frameworks and Models to Achieve Growth, by Simon Hall.
Billion Dollar B2B Ecommerce: Seize the Opportunity, by Brian Beck.
The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months, by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington.
B2B Marketing Books with Thousands of Reviews on Amazon
6,833 Reviews. The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd, by Allan Dib.
7,270 Reviews. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, by Donald Miller.
1,467 Reviews. Crossing the Chasm, 3rd Edition: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers (Collins Business Essentials), by Geoffrey A. Moore.
3,220 Reviews. Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline by Leveraging Social Selling, Telephone, Email, Text, and Cold Calling, by Jeb Blount.
1,704 Reviews. Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business, by Donald Miller and J. J. Peterson.