Favorite books of e-commerce professionals Q2 2024

With a plethora of books about e-commerce and technology — Amazon has hundreds of new and upcoming titles in categories like “starting a business” — it’s hard to isolate the gems.

Curious, I reached out to e-commerce and digital marketing experts with the question: “What books are the most informative, useful and inspiring?”

More than 30 people responded, including founders, owners, sales and marketing executives, and search specialists from industries ranging from precision manufacturing to festival fashion, from Texas to Australia.

In total, they recommended over 60 books on a variety of e-commerce interests, including analytics, global marketing, web design, UX, leadership, personal development, and iconic brands such as Amazon, Zappos, and Nike.

Eight titles were clear favorites and received many enthusiastic recommendations.

Lean Startup: How today’s entrepreneurs use continuous innovation to create radically successful companies by Eric Reis

Published in 2011, The Lean Startup remains a popular resource for today’s entrepreneurs. Featured by 20,000 Kindle readers, the quote sums up its key message: “Lean thinking defines value as providing benefits to the customer; everything else is waste.” Brian Lim, who founded and runs three online rave and festival clothing stores, says Reis’s “validated learning” method of using data to make decisions “reduces the risks associated with new product launches and helps Make sure your business strategies are based on real customer feedback, not assumptions.”

Crushing it! How great entrepreneurs build their businesses and influence – and how you can too by Gary Vaynerchuk

One of the endorsers, Victor Trasoff-Jilg, vice president of sales at Bombing Science, an online graffiti and art supply store, calls it “a motivational and practical guide for anyone looking to build their personal brand and leverage it for business success… both inspiring and doable.” Vaynerchuk’s “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook” also received honorable mentions.

Hooked: How to create habit-forming products by Nir Eyal

Kayden Roberts, chief marketing officer of Camgo, a chatting and dating app used by more than 7 million users worldwide, says Hooked is “particularly suitable for e-commerce companies because it explores how to create a user experience that will turn casual visitors into repeat customers… This is essential for e-commerce managers who want to increase customer loyalty and ensure long-term growth.”

SEO 2024: Learn Search Engine Optimization with Smart Internet Marketing Strategies by Adam Clarke

Clarke updates his long-standing, popular search engine optimization guide every year. Respondents recommended both the 2022 and 2023 editions. The 2024 edition is now available.

Digital marketing for dummies by Ryan Diess and Russ Henneberry

Laviet Joaquin, chief marketing officer at TP-Link, a global supplier of consumer networking equipment, calls the book “a must-read for any e-commerce company looking to increase its online presence” – in other words, for all online sellers!

Contagious: why everything caught on by Jonah Berger

Bonnie Ruan, chief product officer at Beska Mold, a manufacturer of precision machining parts, gives Berger’s book top marks because it “goes deeper into why certain products and ideas become popular and how you can use these insights to inform your strategy.” marketing words encouraging sales. oral sharing on the Internet.” Berger’s book “Invisible Influence: The Hidden Forces Shaping Behavior” also received recommendations.

Influence: the psychology of persuasion by Robert Cialdini

“This book has been a game-changer for our sales and marketing teams, helping us create more effective messaging and build stronger relationships with our clients,” says Daniel Meursing, CEO of event services provider Premier Staff.

The Evolution of E-Commerce: The Essential Guide to Building, Growing, and Scaling a Successful E-Commerce Business by Tanner Larsson

Bombing Science’s Trasoff-Jilg calls the book “particularly valuable for its in-depth look at creating sustainable e-commerce operations, not just quick wins.”