21 Best Email Marketing Books for 2024 (Don’t Miss This List)
Blog posts on email marketing (like this one!) are helpful, for sure. But these email marketing books add depth from experts in the field that you can't beat.
Updated December 28, 2023.
Email marketing provides the highest ROI of all marketing channels. Used correctly, it can help you turn your contact list into a list of brand-loyal followers ready to not just buy from you but recommend you to others, too.
There is, of course, a lot of information online on how to create successful email marketing campaigns – from how to manage inactive contacts and how to get more relevant contacts to how to make the most out of your direct mail efforts – there are tips and tricks for pretty much everyone. The same goes for whether you're at an advanced level or a beginner level, you can largely find all the information you need online.
Sometimes, though, reading books to help you with your email marketing can be more productive. It helps broaden your perspective and understand email in the context of different advertising channels. Ultimately, reading books helps you nail not just the technicalities of a new, cutting-edge email tool, but also how to create relevant messaging for your contact list and how to turn email into a genuinely valuable asset for your business.
Keep reading to learn about the best book recommendations on the art of email marketing.
Why should you read email marketing books?
Reading email marketing books offers several compelling advantages that can significantly enhance your email marketing skills. Here are some of the most notable benefits of reading books on email marketing:
Helps you make sense of all the information
If you Google "learn email marketing," you'll get no less than 2,410,000,000 results.
Blog articles, courses, and entire websites – all dedicated to teaching email marketing.
If you feel overwhelmed, it's understandable. Rather than a thousand different perspectives on email marketing, you need solid, ever-green information you can use to lay the foundation of your knowledge.
Books are ideal because they focus on providing in-depth information and insights on a specific topic, in a structured way. That's not to say that blogs and courses don't offer valuable knowledge, but books can organize the information in a more digestible way.
They can also help you gain a better understanding of the bigger picture and advance your know-how in the field. Last but not least, they tend to come with fewer distractions (like flashy ads and "Click Here!" buttons).
Offers actionable strategies and tips
Books on email marketing are usually written by industry experts and advanced marketers who have tried and tested many effective strategies. This means that the information presented is often practical and actionable. You can expect to find real-life examples, case studies, and step-by-step guides on implementing successful email marketing campaigns.
These actionable strategies help you refine your current approach or give you new ideas. And because you know they've been tried and tested, you can trust they have a high likelihood of success, too.
Teaches you more about marketing
Email marketing is only a facet of the broader marketing landscape. Reading email marketing books not only equips you with email-specific insights but also helps you master the fundamentals of email marketing.
This holistic perspective helps you develop creative and effective marketing strategies. It also inspires you to better collaborate with other functions of marketing, such as social media, content marketing, and SEO.
Builds a solid foundation
To excel in email marketing, it's essential to begin with a solid foundation. Email marketing books provide the essential building blocks, covering everything from segmentation techniques to copywriting best practices.
Learning all these basics from online sources can be a confusing process, as information is often fragmented and scattered. Books, on the other hand, can guide you step-by-step, ensuring a more comprehensive understanding of key concepts.
Maximizes how you use your email tools
Modern email marketing platforms offer many features and capabilities, many of which remain underutilized. Email marketing books unveil the secrets and shortcuts that can supercharge your campaigns. They guide you in harnessing the full potential of your email marketing tools, helping you optimize your efforts and achieve outstanding results.
You can learn anywhere, at any time
Running out of data on your phone? Going somewhere remote and can't connect to the internet? With email marketing books, that's not a problem. You can learn from them at your own pace and on your schedule. They're compact and portable, allowing you to read them anytime, anywhere.
Top 21 email marketing books to read this year
Not sure where to start? Here are 22 of the best email marketing books recommended by industry experts and successful marketers:
1. Permission Marketing, Seth Godin
About the Author:
Seth Godin is a celebrated marketing guru, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who has shaped modern marketing thinking with his innovative ideas. He is widely considered the father of modern email marketing, and this book is why.
What You'll Learn:
In "Permission Marketing," Seth Godin introduces the concept of obtaining consumers' permission before delivering marketing messages. Readers will learn how to build lasting and valuable relationships with their audience by gaining their consent, leading to more effective marketing strategies and better customer engagement.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
2. Email Marketing Mastery, Tom Corson-Knowles
About the Author:
Tom Corson-Knowles is a successful entrepreneur and author, known for his expertise in marketing and self-publishing.
What You'll Learn:
"Email Marketing Mastery" is a comprehensive guide that teaches readers the ins and outs of email marketing. You'll discover how to create engaging emails, responsive email list building, and increase your email marketing ROI. This book provides actionable strategies for email marketing success, including A/B testing, optimizing for mobile, and effective automation. It also delves into advanced topics like email funnels and personalization.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo
3. Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing for Business, Susan Gunelius
About the Author:
Susan Gunelius is an accomplished marketer and author, known for her work in brand management and writing for top-tier publications.
What You'll Learn:
In "Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing for Business," Susan Gunelius covers all aspects of email marketing, from strategy and email list building to crafting compelling content and measuring results. This book offers a comprehensive roadmap for businesses looking to harness the full power of email marketing. Readers will gain insights into advanced email marketing techniques, such as behavioral targeting, dynamic content, and segment-specific strategies.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
4. E-mail Marketing For Dummies, John Arnold
About the Author:
John Arnold, a marketing consultant and author, excels in simplifying complex marketing concepts for a broad audience.
What You'll Learn:
"E-mail Marketing For Dummies" is a guide geared toward beginner-level email marketers, covering the basics of email marketing. You'll learn how to create, execute, and analyze email campaigns effectively, making it an excellent choice for those new to email marketing. The book explores contact list segmentation, email design, and effective use of subject lines. It also provides valuable tips on monitoring and improving email campaign performance.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
5. Being Direct: Making Advertising Pay, Lester Wunderman
About the Author:
Lester Wunderman, a pioneer in direct marketing and advertising, is celebrated for his innovative contributions to the industry.
What You'll Learn:
"Being Direct" offers valuable insights into direct marketing, which includes email marketing. You'll understand how to create advertising that resonates with your audience and maximizes your return on investment. The book delves into the principles of creating compelling content, leveraging data for targeting, and using response metrics to refine your campaigns.
Find it on: Amazon
Want to learn more about advertising? Check out our list of the top advertising books to read.
6. The New Email Revolution, Robert W. Bly
About the Author:
Robert W. Bly is a seasoned copywriter and marketing expert, renowned for his contributions to the world of direct response marketing.
What You'll Learn:
"The New Email Revolution" explores the power of email marketing in the digital age and how to take your email marketing skills to the next level with relevant messaging. It delves into effective email strategies, copywriting techniques, and tactics to engage readers, making it a valuable resource for an email marketer. You'll learn about creating compelling subject lines, structuring persuasive marketing emails, and applying psychological triggers to drive conversions.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
7. The Email Lifeline, Anik Singal
About the Author:
Anik Singal is a prominent entrepreneur and digital marketer, with a track record of successful online ventures.
What You'll Learn:
In "The Email Lifeline," Anik Singal shares his email marketing strategies and insights. Readers will learn how to build a profitable email list and create compelling email campaigns that drive sales and conversions. This book provides a deep dive into why email traffic is so important, how to use free traffic to build your list, how to segment it, automate your email, and personalize your communications to enhance email marketing effectiveness.
Find it on: Amazon
8. Email Persuasion, Ian Brodie
About the Author:
Ian Brodie is a marketing consultant and email marketing specialist with extensive experience in helping businesses grow their customer base.
What You'll Learn:
"Email Persuasion" focuses on the art of persuasive email marketing. This book provides actionable techniques for crafting engaging and influential email content, helping readers improve their email marketing campaigns. You'll learn about the psychology of persuasion, building trust through emails, and optimizing your email communication to drive action and conversions.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
9. 300 Email Marketing Tips, Meera Kothand
About the Author:
Meera Kothand is an email marketing strategist, blogger, and author with a passion for helping entrepreneurs and marketers succeed in their email marketing efforts.
What You'll Learn:
"300 Email Marketing Tips" is a concise guide with practical tips and strategies to enhance your email marketing. Meera Kothand offers a wealth of advice, from list building to optimizing email content for better results. Readers will find insights into crafting engaging email subject lines, improving deliverability, and mastering the art of storytelling in emails.
Find it on: Amazon
10. Email Marketing Demystified, Matthew Paulson
About the Author:
Matthew Paulson is a serial entrepreneur and author who focuses on demystifying complex topics.
What You'll Learn:
"Email Marketing Demystified" is a beginner-friendly guide that provides a clear and simple introduction to email marketing. It covers the basics, list building, and effective email strategies for business growth. Readers will gain insights into optimizing email campaigns for mobile devices, improving open and click-through rates, and using analytics to refine their email marketing efforts.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
11. The Rebel’s Guide to Email Marketing, DJ Waldow & Jason Falls
About the Authors:
DJ Waldow and Jason Falls are seasoned marketers and co-authors, known for their practical approach to email marketing and digital communication.
What You'll Learn:
"The Rebel’s Guide to Email Marketing" takes a unique and creative approach to email marketing. Readers will discover unconventional strategies and innovative tactics to stand out in crowded inboxes. This book delves into creating engaging content, optimizing emails for mobile, and using humor and personality to connect with subscribers.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
12. Email Marketing Rules, Chad S. White
About the Author:
Chad S. White is a respected email marketing expert and author with a strong background in helping companies improve their email marketing practices.
What You'll Learn:
Chad S. White's "Email Marketing Rules" offers email marketers a comprehensive guide to best practices. Readers will gain insights into crafting emails that are both relevant and engaging, for improving deliverability, and utilizing automation effectively.
Find it on: Amazon
13. Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycle, Winton Churchill
About the Author:
Winton Churchill is an experienced marketing professional with expertise in email marketing for businesses with complex sales processes.
What You'll Learn:
"Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycle" is tailored for businesses with extended sales cycles. The book offers strategies for nurturing leads over time through email campaigns. Readers will learn about segmenting their audience, crafting targeted content, and using email automation to guide prospects through the sales funnel.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
14. Buyology, Martin Lindstrom
About the Author:
Martin Lindstrom is a branding expert and bestselling author known for his in-depth research into consumer behavior and marketing psychology.
What You'll Learn:
While "Buyology" primarily explores neuromarketing and the science of consumer behavior, it also touches on the role of email marketing in influencing consumer decisions. Therefore, the book is extremely valuable for every email marketer, as it provides insights into the subconscious triggers that impact buying decisions. All of this can be invaluable for creating effective email campaigns that resonate with your audience.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
15. 104 Ideas for Your Newsletter, Daniele Sala
About the Author:
Daniele Sala is an experienced marketing professional and author with a focus on creating engaging email newsletters.
What You'll Learn:
"104 Ideas for Your Newsletter" is a creative resource for email marketers seeking inspiration for their newsletter content. The book provides a wealth of ideas and tips for crafting engaging and valuable newsletter content that keeps subscribers eagerly awaiting your emails.
Find it on: Amazon
16. Marketing Automation & Online Marketing, George Pain
About the Author:
George Pain is a digital marketing expert and author with extensive knowledge of marketing automation and online marketing strategies.
What You'll Learn:
"Marketing Automation & Online Marketing" offers insights into integrating marketing automation and email marketing. Readers will understand how to leverage automation to streamline their marketing efforts, nurture leads, and improve overall campaign performance. The book explores the latest tools and tactics for efficient online marketing.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
17. Zero to $1 Million, Tiz Gambacorta
About the Author:
Tiz Gambacorta is a successful entrepreneur and marketing expert with a focus on building profitable online businesses.
What You'll Learn:
Although it isn't dedicated solely to email marketing, "Zero to $1 Million" provides a blueprint for building a successful online business, including the role of email marketing in achieving growth. Readers will learn how to create successful email marketing strategies, build responsive lists, and use email to drive revenue. The book offers practical steps for entrepreneurs aiming to grow their businesses.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
18. Email Marketing for Profit, Jason Morgan
About the Author:
Jason Morgan is a marketing professional and author with a keen interest in email marketing for profit.
What You'll Learn:
"Email Marketing for Profit" is a guide focused on turning email marketing into a revenue-generating channel. Readers will explore strategies for building profitable email lists, creating high-converting email campaigns, and maximizing the impact of email marketing on the bottom line. The book is an essential resource for businesses looking to monetize their email efforts.
Find it on: Amazon
19. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
About the Author:
Dale Carnegie was a renowned author and self-improvement expert, known for his timeless wisdom on effective communication and relationship-building.
What You'll Learn:
While "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is not a traditional email marketing book, its principles are highly applicable to email communication (and other digital marketing strategies)ץ Readers will gain insights into effective interpersonal skills that can be translated into creating more engaging and persuasive email content. The book offers valuable lessons on building rapport, understanding human psychology, and fostering positive relationships – all skills you can apply when you create and send inbound and outbound email marketing campaigns.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
20. The SaaS Email Marketing Playbook, Etienne Garbugli
About the Author:
Etienne Garbugli is an experienced marketer and author with a focus on email marketing for Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses.
What You'll Learn:
"The SaaS Email Marketing Playbook" is tailored for SaaS companies looking for effective email marketing strategies. Readers will discover strategies for acquiring and retaining customers, reducing churn, and maximizing the revenue potential of their SaaS business. The book focuses on a SaaS-specific understanding of email marketing and includes plenty of practical advice, like tactics, onboarding sequences, and customer retention strategies.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
21. Holistic Email Marketing, Kath Pay
About the Author:
Kath Pay is an email marketing strategist and author, known for her holistic approach to email marketing.
What You'll Learn:
"Holistic Email Marketing" takes a comprehensive approach to email marketing, focusing on the entire customer journey. The book offers practical guidance in creating cohesive email marketing strategies that align with other marketing channels and touchpoints. The book explores the importance of integration, personalization, and data-driven decision-making in email marketing, making it an essential resource for marketers aiming to create a unified customer experience.
Find it on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
How to choose your email marketing books
Arguably, there are fewer email marketing books than online resources. Even so, there are still a lot of books you can choose from, so you might want to build a framework to help you choose the ones that will have maximum impact on your learning. Here are a few tips to help you choose the best email marketing books for you:
Easy to read
Complex jargon and convoluted explanations can be a major turn-off. Opt for books that present information in a clear, easy-to-understand manner. Seek concise writing, well-structured chapters, and real-life email marketing examples that showcase the concepts discussed.
Relevant
Email marketing is a constantly evolving field. Ensure that the book you choose is pertinent to the contemporary email marketing landscape. Pay close attention to publication dates, as strategies that were effective several years ago may no longer be applicable today.
Recency
While the core principles of email marketing have largely remained the same, the email service providers, technology, and consumer behaviors surrounding it constantly evolve. Choose books that cover the latest developments in email marketing software, design trends, and user preferences. Staying up-to-date is essential for success.
Practical
Theory is valuable, but practical application is even more so. Look for books that provide actionable advice and real-world examples. The best email marketing books not only elucidate theory but also guide you in implementing those concepts in your campaigns.
The author
The credibility of the author is paramount. A well-regarded author can be the difference between a valuable read and a waste of your time. Look for books authored by industry experts, successful email marketers, or individuals with a track record of providing insightful content. Authorship matters.
Reviews
You might also want to check out book reviews before making a purchase. See what other readers have to say about it and whether they found it valuable. This can give you an idea of whether the book suits your needs and learning style.
Turn the page on your email marketing strategy
It doesn't matter if you want to build a Father's Day email campaign, a Black Friday and Cyber Monday strategy, or simply gain a better understanding of what drip campaigns are (and how to do them well). Books can be an excellent source of knowledge and inspiration for email marketers. And whether you're a beginner or an experienced marketer, there's always something new to learn about email marketing.
These 22 books cover many topics, from list building and email content creation to advanced strategies for driving conversions and revenue through email. They are written by professional marketers and provide valuable insights, practical tips, and real-life examples that will help you elevate your email marketing game.
So turn the page on your email marketing strategy and start exploring these resources today. With the right knowledge and guidance, you can take your email campaigns to new heights and achieve success in this ever-evolving digital landscape.
Need someone to help you? Hire an expert email marketing consultant vetted by Mayple. We'll match you with the best one for your industry, in a matter of days!
