The ONE Thing All Great Marketers Have In Common
What does it take to be a great marketer today?
If you ask around, you’re likely to hear many different opinions.
Some would say you need experience in content marketing, social media marketing, pay-per-click advertising, affiliate marketing, viral marketing, email marketing, conversational marketing, and more…
Others may suggest it helps to have knowledge about business development, public relations, data analytics, business strategy, or product development.
And they might be right.
The problem is that no two marketing roles are the same.
Some skills may be critical in one role and largely irrelevant in another. So it’s impossible to define a set of universal skills for becoming a great marketer.
But, the one thing all great marketers do is continue to learn and grow.
Long gone are the days of stepping into a marketing role with a fixed skill set. Modern marketers need to be curious, adaptable, and growth-oriented.
And one of the best ways to grow is by reading great marketing books.
Here are five reasons why reading is such a popular choice for marketers.
1. Benefit from the experience of others.
A great book is often written by an author that has years or even decades of valuable experience. And the book is a gateway into the author’s mind. An opportunity to stand on their shoulders and take their ideas to new heights.
“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” ~ Socrates
Ignoring this incredible resource puts non-readers at a significant disadvantage. They are left to discover best practices and helpful insights on their own, rather than building on the experience of others.
Smart marketers realize that they simply don’t have time to solve problems that others have already solved for them. And that saying NO to reading is saying YES to wasting a huge amount of time and effort.
2. Build a foundation for further growth.
Today, more and more content is published in short videos, blog posts, slide decks, and tweets. In many cases these are isolated ideas that are quickly forgotten because they fail to establish a foundation or context.
“It is important to view knowledge as a tree… make sure you understand the fundamental principles before you get into the leaves or there is nothing for them to hang on to.” ~ Elon Musk
Great books provide enough detail to create a solid foundation. They aren’t just a collection of quick tips or insights that will quickly be forgotten. Instead they often establish fundamental principles, cover best practices, and present opportunities to take their ideas even further.
3. Reading can quickly become habitual.
There are many great educational resources available today, including: online video courses, live webinars, in-person seminars, multi-day conferences, and more. But none are as flexible and convenient as books. Especially when it comes to building a simple daily habit for consistent growth.
“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” — Jim Rohn
There are three great ways to enjoy books. Digital books can be synced across all of your devices for convenient access. Physical books are easily shared with friends and co-workers. And audiobooks provide a convenient way to learn while driving, biking, or going for a quick walk.
Here’s the best part, reading can easily be turned into an automatic habit by being added to your daily routine. As little as 10 minutes of reading each morning can have a big impact over time. And because the experience of reading or listening to a book is so simple, it’s easy to follow-through on a daily basis.
4. Improve your ability to single-task.
We live in a world of always-on devices, endless social updates, and constant notifications. While it has become clear that multitasking is both unproductive and exhausting, far too many people find themselves working in a constant state of distraction. Books present a welcome change of pace.
I like to think of reading as an active form of meditation, because it requires that we focus on a single thing without distraction. In my experience, it improves the ability to single-task for longer periods of time. And that, in and of itself, is an incredibly valuable benefit.
“The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time.” — Mozart
Traditional meditation directs participants to focus on their breath, and to return to that whenever they catch their minds wandering. Likewise, readers can focus on the message of the book, and return to doing so whenever they get distracted. Both practices develop focus and mindfulness.
5. Connect with others on a deeper level.
People are tribal by nature. When two or more people in a group read the same book, watch the same video course, or attend the same webinar — they develop a connection. The experience creates a shared perspective and mutual respect.
And because reading is so common among marketers, this benefit is magnified. First, the odds are higher that you’ll run into someone that has read a popular book. And second, simply self-identifying as a reader becomes its own point of connection, even if you don’t read the same books.
“Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them.” — Lemony Snicket
For leaders, recommending a relevant book is a powerful way to influence an outcome without stealing autonomy. Those responsible for the project can read the book, choose their favorite insights, and deliver a result that blends their existing knowledge and experience with ideas from the book.
How to find the best marketing books.
Not every book is worth your time. The unfortunate reality is that many miss the mark or are simply not relevant to what you’re doing today. However, I’m a big believer in the idea that…
Reading the right book at the right time can transform your life.
A great book can be the difference between a project succeeding or failing. It can be the difference between getting a long anticipated raise or getting a pink slip. And it can be the difference between finding true satisfaction in your career or dealing with endless frustration from an employer that doesn’t respect you or your work.
The right book can give you the confidence you need to pitch a winning idea, get approval from your team, maintain creative control, and ultimately be rewarded by future financial success.
If you would like to become a better marketer, I invite you to join the ReadAmp community. That’s where I help marketers find the best marketing books and get more out of them.
