Navigating the business world can be a stressful and confusing time for anyone in the business. From those who are just dipping their toes in the water to seasoned professionals, this list of books can help anyone because the business environment is constantly evolving with the latest technology and practices.
1. In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
Topic: Women in Business
Summary: This New York Times bestseller embraces the advice of over 100 women entrepreneurs, artists, and self-starters. From tattoo artists to women in media, a wide array of careers and women are covered to glean valuable advice for anyone.
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Promising Review: “These amazing stories will surely spark something deep within us all: the courage to dream and the fortitude to make those dreams happen.”
2. Will It Fly? How to Know if Your New Business Idea Has Wings…Before You Take the Leap
Topic: Formulating a Business Idea
Summary: Will It Fly serves as a valuable assessment tool for your new business idea. This book helps you narrow down and fine tune your idea into something that could really see great success. The first step is brainstorming, the next step is reading this book!
Overall Rating: 3.7/5
Promising Review: “This book, written by an inspiring mentor, will provide the framework and guidelines to direct your ideas into a viable business venture. “Will it Fly” clearly and concisely makes you think seriously about your new business and motivates you to put your best foot forward in the marketplace.”
3. The Founder’s Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup
Topic: Starting Your Own Business
Summary: Founding your own startup is an exciting journey to embark on, but the reality that most startups fail after a couple of years shows that making the right decisions in the beginning has a major impact on your startup’s success down the road. Noah Wasserman guides you to make the right decisions when choosing who to work with on your startup.
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Promising Review: “…if you are (budding) entrepreneur, potential start-up hire, angel investor or venture capitalist you should really read this book. This is the first book that really gets to the human side of entrepreneurship, but is based on the evidence of a ten year study of some 2000 technology and life science start-ups for the period 2000-9.”
4. Get Over Your Damn Self: The No-BS Blueprint to Building A Life-Changing Business
Topic: Building a Business
Summary: This book is all about building your skills in network marketing and team building. Author Romi Neustadt offers a no-nonsense approach to building your confidence in networking yourself and your business to achieve great results.
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Promising Review: “her advice is so sound, so perfect…so immaculate that it can be applied to ANY job or career in which you need to market yourself or a product. The writing is gripping. I literally finished this book faster than my favorite fiction novels. I am actually reading through it a second time as well. Romi is a kick-butt person and I am glad to have her advice at my back!
5. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
Topic: How to Achieve Success with Your Business
Summary: After years of extensive and precise research, Jim Collins was able to formulate a set of guidelines that answers a simple question: How can companies of varying levels of greatness achieve enduring success? He and his team’s key findings include how leadership, passion, discipline, technology, and change all play a role in a company’s success.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Promising Review: “A wonderful anthology on the right and necessary steps a growing concern must continue to take if they are to remain viable in today’s society and ready for the future.. As a CEO, you must be above the fray of everyday operations and keep a keen eye on the future and potential innovations.”
Topic: New Age Marketing
Summary: This book will guide you on how to navigate new technology and content marketing tools such as the latest social media apps and features, AI, podcasting, and live video. The 7th edition is currently out so readers can rest assured that it will be up to date with the latest trends and technology.
Overall Rating: 4.3/5
Promising Review: “Full of exciting, innovative and sometimes funny examples from real life, this is one of the best business books I’ve ever read.”
7. The Conversion Code: Capture Internet Leads, Create Quality Appointments, Close More Sales
Topic: Capturing Leads Online
Summary: As recommended by renowned entrepreneur, Neil Patel, the Conversion Code lays out a great strategy for not only capturing leads, but more importantly converting said leads into sales. This book makes the most of your marketing budget by utilizing the strengths of various media channels to your advantage.
Overall Rating:4.6/5
Promising Review: “The Conversion Code is literally a MUST HAVE BOOK for anyone involved in utilizing the internet to market, promote and sell their brand/business online. There are tips and tricks in this manual WAY ABOVE what most people know about marketing on the web.”
8. SEO for Growth: The Ultimate Guide for Marketers, Web Designers & Entrepreneurs
Topic: Search Engine Optimization
Summary: This book showcases different strategies for upping your SEO game. It gives a great overview of what all is involved in SEO, how to utilize social media for SEO, link building, and research tools and strategies for SEO.
Overall Rating: 4.6/5
Promising Review: “This is a solid resource on how to use SEO to grow your business. While I have a basic understanding of SEO, this book was a great supplement to the knowledge I already had. I think it is the ideal resource and reference guide for any and everyone – from those just starting out in SEO and marketing, to seasoned experts who want to fine-tune their knowledge.”
9. Zombie Loyalists: Using Great Service to Create Rabid Fans
Topic: Building Brand Loyalty
Summary: Marketing and PR expert Peter Shankman delves into what it takes to make a “Zombie Loyalist.” Shankman asserts that customers that are loyal to your brand can help up your sales just as much as an extensive ad plan! How do you get your customers to that highly coveted part of the marketing funnel? Read Zombie Loyalists to find out!
Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Promising Review: “Zombie Loyalists is a fun and engaging take on something everybody in business should want: fiercely loyal customers. After all, customers are everything. But in my experience, business owners are guilty of not knowing how to get customers and not knowing how to keep them. The advice in Zombie Loyalists will help you with both of these problems.”
10. Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence
Topic: Building Your Brand on Social Media
Summary: New York Times bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk offers a deep dive on how to utilize various social media platforms to build your personal brand. From modern to timeless brand-building tactics and principles, this book is a must read.
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Promising Review: “Crushing It! is the elite guide to growing a personal brand, business, or following around your passion. It is not a get rich quick guide, or follow these simple steps book. Gary emphasizes that to be successful in any field requires work, but if you choose your work around your passion, life will be more fulfilling. In today’s current state of the internet this is possible, and Gary breaks down the principles and work required to achieve what you want.”