MediaTrust’s Top 10 Marketing Books of 2009

As the media world shifted platforms over the past decade, marketers and advertisers scurried to replace their traditional methods with innovative alternatives. MediaTrust published the "Top 10 Marketing Books of 2009" which is a compilation marketing thought leaders. In 2009, a handful of books popped up to untangle the mystery of connecting with contemporary audiences and building consumer trust. Here are ten of our favorite marketing books that came out this past year:
The Whuffie Factor
Tara Hunt
Marketing consultant Tara Hunt explores the concept of building online Whuffie (social capital) both for brands and individuals. Hunt focuses on word of mouth engagement, a strategy she calls Pinko Marketing. A breezy, entertaining read – a solid Freshmen effort from a young, creative Canadian.

Free
Chris Anderson
After introducing the concept of the Long Tail back in 2004, Chris Anderson returns, this time examining a different byproduct of online abundance – the rise of pricing models which give products and services away for free. How can this exist in a capitalist system? Free answers that question.

Crush It
Gary Vaynerchuk
Wine connoisseur Gary Vaynerchuk candidly exposes his recipe for web success in this quick, upbeat read. By customizing his career to match his own DNA, Vaynerchuk has built a multi-million dollar business, and successfully branded himself as the internet’s most passionate wino.

What the Dog Saw
Malcolm Gladwell
After fourteen years of staff writing for the New Yorker, author/sociologist Malcolm Gladwell has explored the most fascinating reaches of modern society. What The Dog Saw is a collection of his most memorable articles — adventures that not only thrill, but also engage the mind.

Super Freakonomics
Steven Levitt, Stephen Dubner
The two rogue economists behind the 2005 best seller Freakonomics continue their offbeat investigation of incentive-based decision making. Their subjects of study? Prostitutes, suicide bombers, drunk drivers and more. Who knew Economics could be so gritty?


Inbound Marketing
Brian Halligan, Dharmesh Shah
Hubspot founder Brian Halligan provides a How To guide for getting noticed on the web without spending a dime. This book gives a comprehensive overview of SEO, social media marketing, and everything else you need to expand your web presence at no cost.


Baked In
Alex Bogusky, John Winsor
Two of the advertising world’s leading creative directors team up to tear down the wall between production and marketing. According to their theory, future products must be designed with innovative marketing elements baked in, in order to survive the shifting media climate.

The Backchannel
Cliff Atkinson
Ever notice how audience members use their laptops or smart phones during live events to create their own conversation through social media? Atkinson describes methods for presenters to effectively harness this chatter, and use it to create more interactive presentations.

Trust Agents
Chris Brogan, Julien Smith
Two of social media’s biggest names join forces to demonstrate the impact, both positive and negative, that digital influencers can have on brands. This book, a mix of case studies, theories and tutorials, will help individuals build their digital integrity, and brands build their social value.

Why She Buys
Bridget Brennan
Women are responsible for 80% of all purchases in the US, but 90% of the marketing execs trying to reach them are men. Why She Buys delivers luminous insight into female purchasing patterns, while giving advice on respectfully marketing to today’s sophisticated woman.

Bonus – Marketing Book of the Decade:
The Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell
How does a fad become a phenomenon? In this marketing masterpiece, Malcolm Gladwell studies business sensations that emerged from humble origins, and dissects the fundamentals of their success. While the 2002 publication date may seem ancient, The Tipping Point is more relevant now than ever.