My Top 5 Favorite Books on Sales
Here’s a little secret… Facebook won’t sell for you.
Neither will Google.
Or LinkedIn.
The reality is that these resources can only drive traffic into your business. The selling part is still up to you.
Before you put anymore effort into traffic, it may be time to look at your sales process. To be honest, this was the first step in changing my firm from struggling to thriving—we had to get our sales system perfected.
Along the way, I have taken a lot of courses and read a lot of books. These were instrumental in developing the success we have now. (Happy dance!)
For today’s post, I share my top five favorite books on sales. (Tweet this) Each have had an impact on my business and I hope they do on yours as well.
Take a look at my list and add your own to the comments. To incentivize you to share, I will give away all five books on my list to one lucky reader who comments before Monday, August 15, 2016.
My Top 5 Favorite Books on Sales
Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross
Great book by the gentleman who leads lead-generation for Salesforce.com. This book is a bit of a combo deal of marketing and sales, and is great for firms that are looking for both (as all should be).
5 Minutes with VITO by David Mattson
This book is about spending your time with those that can make your sales—decision makers. It details how to get to the top officers and how to communicate with them effectively to ensure the sale.
The Sales Acceleration Formula By Mark Roberge
Written by the mastermind behind Hubspot’s incredible growth, Mark goes into super helpful detail on how to build and scale a successful workforce. This is my most recent read and has been very helpful as we build up our sales team.
How to Win Friends and Influence People ByDale Carnegie
An oldie, but goodie, this book details how to treat people the way they should be treated, and to develop trust and position yourself as a trusted advisor instead of sales person. If you haven’t read this one yet, make it next on your list as it has the ability to help you in ALL aspects of your life—professional and personal. At least it did, for me!
To Sell is Human By David Pink
A “game changing” book for money, this book puts selling in the perspective of where it should be—a valuable act that allows people to be served in the ways they need to be served. Loved this book and it helped us position our messaging differently.
Have another book to suggest? Remember to add it to the comment section. To incentivize you to share, I will give away all five books on my list to one lucky reader who comments before Monday, August 15, 2016.
Great list Kim, thanks for posting! I also like “The Art of the Deal.”
Great suggestion. Thanks Tim!
Great books read 3 of those.
Some of my favorite
Tom Hopkins master the art of selling
Joe Girard series
Joe gitomer series
Influence the psychology of persuasion
Nice! Thanks for the suggestions!
Kim
I agree with you about Dale Carnagie’s classic book.
Another one that I recommend is “Double Your Sales, An Honest and Authentic Approach to Professional Selling” by Scott Farnsworth.
Great suggestion Rodney. I had not read that one yet!
Hey Kim! I just read the Amazon page and reviews for each book. I can see how these could work together extremely well, especially when combined with a tangible, human, interactive, social approach to selling like you teach! I’m excited to follow your leadership and see how these approaches can refine my overall approach to sales in my company as we overhaul/redesign our sales and marketing systems!
Awesome Travis! Just curious…which one will you start with?
Two books I try to read every year would include:
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
Uncensored Sales Strategies – Sidney Barrows with Dan Kennedy
Great suggestions Diana. Thank you!
“The Ultimate Sales Machine” by Chet Holmes. It’s filled with examples, stories, and exercises to get you to practice what you’re learning. His writing style is easy and fun to read. He explains not just sales strategies and tactics, but other key strategies that support the sales process. Fabulous book.
You know, that happens to be one I am bringing with me to the beach! I look forward to chatting about it on our next mastermind Kia! 🙂
I am addicted to: FASCINATE – Sally Hogshead!!!
That is a great book Gina and wonderful suggestion. Thanks!
Thanks for the great list, Kim! These five seem like a true powerhouse of sales knowledge. One of my favorites is Herb Cohen’s “You Can Negotiate Anything.” Another ‘oldie but goodie’ this books shares some powerful perspectives on negotiation; a true art built on understanding human behavior and psychology, and a necessary one in any sales formula.
Nice! I had not read that one before.
Greetings, Kim! As a “boomer” I kinda spent the first part of my career doing it the old-fashioned way. And honestly, I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Facebook era. I just wish I had gotten my people to “drag” me much sooner! Many thanks for your easy to understand approach to combining social media with the human touch!
Oh you are MOST welcome Dennis. Welcome to the tribe! 🙂
Thanks for the list Kim! I can’t wait to start reading them!
awesome! Which one will you read first?
I like the book written by Dale Carnagie. I have not read the others on your list, sorry to say.
Would love to hear what you tink after you read them!
I really need to check out the Dale Carnegie book. I’ve seen it around all my life but have never gotten around to picking it up!
Sweet! Gayle, knowing you, this book is PERFECT for you. And next I would read Daniel Pink’s book. 🙂
Dale Carnegie’s book has always been on my list, but Ihaven’t heard of the others! Thanks for the suggestions!
So glad this was useful Ann-Marie!
Thanks Kim, 3 I need to add to my collection. Much apprecaited
You are most welcome. Which two had you already read?
Another oldie, the title says it all:
Mack Hanan’s
If you don’t have a plan, stay in the car
ooooo…nice. I had not heard of that one before.
These look great. Can’t wait to get my hands on them
Woo hoo! Just curious Mike– which will you read first?
Many are books I have never heard of. Thank you. Agree with all of the suggestions by others as well. Kill it Kim!
Awe, Stacey…you too! Crush it!
I have now added all 5 of these books to my reading list. Thanks for your sharing.
Awesome! Which will you read first?
Great list – and happy anniversary! Ours is coming up in a week as well- and Cancun and a Cabana is just what the doctor ordered! <3 I have always kept Jeffrey Gitomer's Little Red Book of Selling: 12.5 Principles fo sales greatness: on my desk- it is a easy read- but when used – it reinforces the basics – and always a pick me up- when the day seems to be in a slump!
Happy anniversary and great book suggestion! Thanks!
Sounds like a great vacation. Happy Anniversary! And to me those books sound like the perfect marketing crash course.
Thanks Mike! I appreciate it!
What an excellent list!
Thank you Ashley!
Hi Kim,
Thank for the post of good reads! A book that I have read that I need to read again is the E-Myth. Helps me to stay on track with working more on my business than in my business.
Happy Anniversary!
Lynn
E-Myth is a fantastic book! And thanks for the Anniversary wishes!
They look absolutely exiting, l can’t wait to read them.
Thanks you for the information
Your are most welcome Flora!
Thanks you for the books names.
If I may, I’d like to suggest a few that have helped me kill it:
(Of course, your book) No B.S. Guide…Social Media
No B.S. Sales Success in the New Economy – Dan Kennedy
Start With No – Jim Camp
Get Clients Now – C.J. Hayden
Choose Yourself Guide To Wealth – James Altucher
Those put together I think create one kick ass master level sales brain.
If you actually do the work…you will be badass.
Great List Kim
I Like to Add
Winning Unlimited New Customers By Ted Nicholas
Great suggestion Sal. I’ve not read that before.
I like the diversity – but I was surprised to not see ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’ by Og Mandino. I also thought Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy would make the list. I look forward to reading your recommendations – thank you for your challenge to post!
Thanks Scott fo the suggestions and well wishes!
Happy Anniversary!
I’ve read a lot of books in my life and I think the two best ones on sales I’ve read are “High Trust Selling” by Todd Duncan and “The Ultimate Sales Machine” by Chet Holmes although you could argue the latter is really an integrated marketing book because it relies on both marketing and sales departments to work together in concert and the success of the campaign depends on training and constantly improving your sales team’s skill set.
Super, thanks for the share!
Wonderful answers from everyone! Thank you for your valuable contributions.
Congratulations to Kimberly Sheppard, our book contest winner! Kimberly, please send us your contact information via our “Contact Us” form to claim your prize.
Thanks for sharing Kim. Im currently reading one of the books you co-authored with Dan Kennedy. its one of the best book on Social Media Marketing that ive read.
In regards with sales, No BS Sales Success by Dan Kennedy is also a great read. Different from other sales book ive read.
Thank you very much for the kind words. If you are willing to leave a review of it on Amazon, that would be fantastic!
Feel like I’m late to this thread – thank you for the list, I’ll be through it in a week (actually driving to Tennessee next week – I’ll be listening the whole trip ?
Thank you Kim for sharing
I haven’t read many books on sales but my current favourite is the Sales Playbook by Jack Daly. I have also read Hyper Sales Growth by Jack Daly. I haven’t read any of your top 5 but look forward to starting with The Sales Acceleration Formula because I’m currently trying to expand my sales team. Thanks again Kim