I’m often asked what books I read and which ones I keep on my desk as references. Here’s a list of several books I’ve read (along with a couple of long-time favs) and highly recommend for anyone interested in writing copy whether you’re a career writer or writing copy for your own site.
You’ll notice that all of them aren’t books about copywriting specifically. They are about human behavior which is, after all, the basis of all good copy.
#1 Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Although this book outlines 12 experiments performed by a MIT behavioral economist, it is extremely captivating and easy to read. I read it practically in one sitting. Taking us through the reasoning behind our irrational behavior, Ariely quickly (and humorously) explains why we do the stupid things we do and how this irrational behavior is actually predictable. With each experiment I got new ideas on how to phrase benefits or position the products and services I write about so they would be best received by prospective customers.
#2 Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive by Robert Cialdini
Does that name sound familiar? This is the author of Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. At over 200 pages, this book is still a quick read because of the way it’s formatted. With just a few pages per method, you can easily work your way from cover to cover. The book also has an interesting feature: an appendix that includes feedback from those who have actually used each of the methods. Again… ideas were sparked with every page.
#3 Blink by Malcom Gladwell
Malcom Gladwell hit it big with two bestsellers. This is my favorite of the two. Blink reviews the good and bad decisions we make and why we make them. With humor and insight, Gladwell’s stories enlighten and entertain.
#4 Words That Sell by Richard Bayan
I have just about worn the cover off this little paperback book. It is a thesaurus of persuasive words that will help you communicate and promote your products and services better. This book makes any written verbiage much more interesting and enticing.
#5 Phrases That Sell by Edward Werz
Very similar to Words That Sell, this paperback resource helps you replace overused, boring statements with engaging, persuasive phrases.
You can find these books at Amazon.com or your favorite local bookstore.
#6 The Step-by-Step Copywriting Course by Karon Thackston
Yes, it’s a shameless plug for my own copywriting course. But seriously, you need to learn solid copywriting techniques and you especially need to master SEO copywriting because achieving good search engine positioning is become more vital than ever. While some other courses touch on search engine copywriting, a rare few go into the depth that my course does.
What’s another must-read for 2009? The Marketing Words Copywriting Blog. Subscribe today at https://blog.marketingwords.com
