If you’re looking for the best books on branding, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll recommend six of our favorites to help you create a successful and cohesive branding strategy for your small business.
Of course, this list isn’t all-inclusive, as there may be some better ones, but it’s a great starting point. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team
One of the best books on branding, “Designing Brand Identity,” is essential reading for anyone involved in the branding process. Written by two of the world’s leading branding experts, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and principles of branding and shows how to apply them in practice.
What we love about this book.
This book is efficient and theoretical, providing readers with a deep understanding of the branding process. This book is also an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about designing and managing brand identity programs.
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
When building your brand, you must have a clear and compelling message. Donald Miller shows you how to craft a brand story that will engage your customers and help them connect with your business in this bestseller.
You’ll learn how to—
- Clarify your message so customers will listen.
- Build a compelling brand story that engages customers.
- Connect with customers on a deeper level.
If you’re looking for a book to help clarify your message and build a stronger brand, this book is for you.
What we love about this book.
The thing with effective branding is that it’s all about persuasion. You have to be able to tell a story that will convince people to buy from you, and this book does an excellent job of teaching you how to do just that.
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Possibly one of my favorite branding books of all time, “Start with Why,” is a must-read for anyone looking to build a strong brand. In the book, Simon Sinek explains why some companies (like Apple) are so successful while others (like IBM) are not.
The key, he argues, is that these companies have “a cause, not just a product.” They start with why they do what they do, and then they build their products and services around that.
What we love about this book.
This book is so inspiring and makes you think about the kind of company you want to build. It’s also a great reminder that people don’t buy what you do; they believe in why you do it. Simon definitely makes a case for starting with why in this book.
The Road to Recognition: An A-To-Z Guide to Personal Branding for Accelerating Your Professional Success in the Age of Digital
Since we’re all about digital branding here at Arbor Green Design, we had to include this book on the list. In “The Road to Recognition,” digital branding expert Seth Price shows you how to build a personal brand that will accelerate your professional success.
You’ll learn how to—
- Create a personal brand strategy.
- Use social media to build your brand.
- Leverage the power of content marketing.
If you want to learn how to build a personal brand to help you achieve your professional goals, this book is for you.
What we love about this book.
This book is so practical and actionable. Seth breaks down the process of building a personal brand and provides tons of great tips and strategies you can use to get started. It’s almost blueprint-like.
Digital You: Real Personal Branding in the Virtual Age
While this book is about personal branding, it’s also about much more. In “Digital You,” author William Arruda explores the idea of creating a digital persona that is authentic and aligned with your values. It’s an excellent book for anyone looking to build a personal brand in the digital age. Still, it also applies to small businesses since your business is essentially an extension of your personal brand.
What we love about this book.
This book is one of the first to explore the idea of personal branding. We all have a personal brand, whether we realize it or not. And in the age of social media and the internet, it’s more important than ever to be aware of our personal brand and how it’s affecting our lives and, even more so, our businesses.
Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One
Last on our list is “Obsessed,” a book about building a brand people love from day one. In the book, author Emily Heyward shares her secrets for creating a brand that people are passionate about. This is a must-read for anyone looking to build a strong brand for their small business.
What we love about this book.
This book is so full of great insights and advice. Emily knows her stuff about branding, and she can distill it into actionable steps that anyone can follow. This is it if you’re looking for a book to get started with your online branding.
These are just a few of the best books on branding for small businesses. We highly recommend checking them out if you’re looking to build a strong brand. However, if you’re a small business owner with little time to read, you might want to check out the audio versions of these books. They’re great for learning on the go!