Barbara's Top 4 Business Books to Check Out This Year

This year one of my resolutions is to get through the pile of business books on my desk and to revisit some of my favorites. I thought I would highlight my top 4 and invite you to share yours.

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, Steve Krug. Although the latest edition is 2005, this is still very relevant. I was given this book by my favorite webmaster as she guided me through a new website for a previous company. It gave us a common language and me a lot of insight into why she recommended certain approaches. If you’re thinking about an update of your site, grab this book. It’s a quick read. TIP: I prefer this one in paperback (as opposed to my beloved Kindle) just because of the layout and great images.

The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to Use Social Media, Online Video, Mobile Applications, Blogs, News Releases, and Viral Marketing to Reach Buyers Directly, David Meerman Scott. The newest edition of this must read was released in August with even more focus on social media. If you’re looking at saving dollars by using online strategies, you MUST read this book before you take a step.

The B2B Social Media Book: Become a Marketing Superstar by Generating Leads with Blogging, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Email, and More, Kipp Bodnar and Jeffrey L. Cohen. It’s here!! I’ve been waiting for this book for a while and pre-ordered via my Kindle months ago. I just received it and I can guarantee I’ll be finished with this one quickly. There are thousands of social media experts but few focus solely on B2B and even fewer with the expertise of Bodnar and Cohen. If you don’t recognize their names – you probably still have read their stuff through the http://socialmediab2b.com/ blog. I will go out on a limb and completely recommend this without even reading past the first chapter. Not convinced? Read some of their blog posts first, then buy the book (and a highlighter).

Deliver Magazine by the US Post Office. YES. That Post Office. Although not a book and technically not sitting in my desktop pile, I read every issue of Deliver from cover to cover. Far more than just a direct mail “advertisement” - Deliver (and its accompanying website) is a treasure trove of ideas and best practices. It goes way beyond direct mail to include articles on new technologies such as QR codes, and integrating email and direct mail in winning campaigns.

Are any of these on your list too? What else should I be reading? Leave a comment and let us all know about your favorite must-read business books.

P.S. I couldn’t write a list of amazing business books without mentioning, Nurturing Customer Relationships, by our own Jim Cecil and Eric Rabinowitz. It will absolutely change the way you approach marketing and customer relationships. You can pick it up in our Store today.  

Happy Reading!

~ Barbara