Five Must-Read Books About Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of many types of direct marketing. It uses electronic mail to communicate a message or sell a product to a target audience. Email marketing usually involves one or more methods of marketing a product or service electronically, through permission email.

Internet marketers, businesses, and creatives such as writers, engage in email marketing whenever they encourage customer loyalty, readership, or repeat business through email communications. Promoting a product or service to potential customers or clients is another form of email marketing.

People also practice email marketing when they advertise on email messages sent by other companies or businesses to their clients and customers. Of course, electronic messages sent over the Internet are also considered email marketing.

There are many resources on the market today that discuss the topic of email marketing. Some are more helpful than others. Here are five must-read books about email marketing that can really impact a person's success with electronic marketing strategies.


1. The Complete Guide To Email Marketing. The Complete Guide To Email Marketing, written by Bruce C. Brown, was published by Atlantic Publishing Company in 2007. The winner of a 2008 Eric Hoffer Award for notable business books, this excellent guidebook is a complete reference source for email marketers. While it offers a broad introduction to electronic marketing, it is very comprehensive and thorough. It even features a section devoted to search engine optimization (SEO), another hot topic for Internet marketers.

2. Email Marketing By The Numbers. Written by marketing expert Chris Baggott, Email Marketing By The Numbers is a 2007 publication from Wiley. The author applies a number of modern marketing practices and principles to permission email, also known as opt-in email. He describes successful email marketing campaigns and explains how to make them even better.

3. Email Marketing For Dummies. Email Marketing For Dummies, an exceptional book from the popular For Dummies series, reflects on the hottest new strategies, technologies, and trends in email marketing. Written by John Arnold, an updated edition was published by For Dummies in April 2011.

4. Permission Based Email Marketing. Published in 2001 by Kaplan Publishing, Permission Based Email Marketing is the oldest publication on the list. Nevertheless, it is a must-read for people interested in email marketing. The book features clear, concise, and lively advice from marketing expert Kim MacPherson. The book explains, in easy-to-understand terms, how businesses can use opt-in, permission-based email to retain customers and acquire new clients.

5. The Truth About Email Marketing. Written by Simms Jenkins, The Truth About Email Marketing was published by FT Press in 2008. The book covers several “truths” about marketing products and services through email. These include truths about recession-proofing a business, improving email campaigns and measuring results, and the difference between email marketing and spam.