The Best eCommerce Book That Will Transform You Into a Business God

Last updated on July 28th, 2023

Written by Ken Zhou

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Knowing everything about the eCommerce industry is essential to creating a long-lasting brand and a successful business. One of the best ways to learn is to read books and materials that provide in-depth information on them. So what is the best eCommerce book every business owner must have on their shelves? 

Join us as we venture into a quest for must-read e-commerce books that can provide foolproof business strategies for aspiring entrepreneurs like you.

5-Factor Criteria For eCommerce Books

Any eCommerce book will tell its readers a little bit about the ins and outs of the industry. Still, not every book will help its readers thoroughly understand various principles and discuss what it means to truly excel in the field.

Hence, knowing what components to look for in eCommerce books is crucial for a business owner. Doing so will allow them to determine and choose which books can help them in their journey. 

We’ve listed five primary factors that business owners should be aware of when choosing eCommerce materials.

  • Author
  • Real-life examples
  • Relevance and timeliness
  • Focus/niche
  • Book reviews 

Research the Author

The first aspect you should look into is the author. Similar to how you wouldn’t get yourself checked by a quack doctor, you wouldn’t read an eCommerce book from someone who doesn’t have the right qualifications and experience to write it.

The purpose of reading eCommerce books is to gain insights into the industry and knowledge on how to succeed in it. Studying texts and materials written by experienced professionals and experts well-versed in the subject matter is only right. 

Choose authors who are digital marketers with years of experience, marketing analysts with credible and reliable eCommerce data, and successful entrepreneurs who have built businesses and online brands from the ground up.

Read Books Based on Experience and Facts

In line with reading books written by credible authors, another factor to look into is whether or not the book is based on real-life experiences and facts. 

Like authors, books that cite and use real-life examples in their discussions are often more reliable and easier to understand because they offer practical lessons and insights. Your company can also reach similar milestones with valuable success stories to learn and get inspiration from.

Try looking for books based on actual case studies from reputable business owners and entrepreneurs. When in doubt, refer to the data.

Check Its Relevance and Timeliness

With how quickly the world and technology progress, it’s no surprise that relevance and timeliness secured a spot on our criteria. What may have been effective models for e-commerce businesses before may not be as helpful now, and what may be true years ago may mean nothing today.

For this reason, it’s crucial to read and learn from up-to-date and relevant materials to the industry’s current landscape. While they may provide some answers to current problems, eCommerce books written several years ago may also contain inaccurate and outdated information.

It’s best to choose books released within the last couple of years or updated with recent editions to ensure they reflect the latest trends and strategies in the ever-evolving marketplace.

However, it’s also worth noting that some books serve as classics, discussing eCommerce's timeless fundamentals and core concepts that provide valuable insights still applicable today. Though they may not cover the latest trends, these classic books can still offer enduring knowledge and help readers build a solid foundation for eCommerce learning.

Find Books with a Specific Focus and Niche

All eCommerce books may be useful to you in one way or another, but finding materials with specific focuses and niches is still more efficient. Books on particular topics may provide more in-depth discussions, helping you enhance your skills in specific areas. 

For instance, if your brand needs more improvement in marketing, you can search for books on social media marketing or advertising campaigns. 

Here are some interesting topics you can read and focus on:

  • Selecting the right eCommerce platforms and business models
  • Increasing customer engagement on social media
  • Understanding digital marketing analytics
  • Developing a brand story
  • Ensuring seller and customer cybersecurity on Amazon

Read Their Reviews

Most importantly, just like any other product, reading and checking the book’s reviews before buying is crucial. 

Through these reviews, you can confirm how useful and informative the book is. You can gauge from other readers’ testimonials if the book can bring you something new to learn or if you’d rather just not waste your time reading it.

Besides reading reviews from fellow readers, browsing through reviews from official and reputable sites like The Guardian, The New York Times, and similar publications can further prove a book’s quality and credibility. 

black E-book reader beside mug, glasses, pen, and notebook

Photo by Aliis Sinisalu on Unsplash

Finding the Best eCommerce Book: 5 eCommerce Books Every Online Seller Needs

The growth of e-commerce has been exponential, and though this is great for online businesses, this also means that sellers need to stay up-to-date and learn as much as they can about the trends, tools, and techniques that may be applied. 

Consumers are now clicking on ads, following influencers on social media, and buying from mobile devices. Online consumer behavior has undergone significant change in just less than a decade.

The only way for online sellers to stay on top of their game is to arm themselves with information regarding all aspects of e-commerce marketing. 

We have compiled five eCommerce books to transform anyone into an instant online marketing god. Read about why these books are essential!

Get Rich Click: The Ultimate Guide to Making Money on the Internet

This book serves as a comprehensive guide to making money on the internet. Written by Marc Ostrofsky, an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Get Rich Click is one of the bestselling books on e-commerce and digital marketing. 

By providing step-by-step instructions on setting up an online business and sharing tips and tricks to utilize social networking websites, Ostrofsky condensed all aspects of e-commerce marketing into 272 pages.

The book is comprehensive and in-depth, containing various case studies on the most successful online entrepreneurs. The best part is that it bridges the physical and the virtual world by providing QR codes within its pages. Readers who scan the codes will then be taken to video interviews with the people featured in the chapters.

Get Rich Click: The Ultimate Guide to Making Money on the Internet has been recognized as a bestselling book by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USAToday.

The Complete E-Commerce Book: Design, Build & Maintain a Successful Web-based Business

The title says it all. Janice Reynolds talks about everything an e-commerce marketer needs to know to succeed in any online marketplace. The chapters contain advice on planning, implementing strategies, and operating a successful online business. 

It covers the basics—from selecting the right tools to spreading the word about products and offers. Anyone who wants to learn about e-commerce marketing will significantly benefit from this book.

Growth Hacker Marketing: A Primer on the Future of PR, Marketing, and Advertising

Ryan Holiday, an American marketer and media columnist, has written various books about the intersection of media and marketing. Published in 2014, Growth Hacker Marketing springboards from his previous book, Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator. 

Holiday explores the rules of online marketing and how these rules may be broken in the name of growth. Holiday writes about companies that could expand without spending millions on marketing and advertising. 

By adopting the “growth hacker mindset,” Holiday explains that enterprises like Google, AirBnB, Facebook, and Evernote could create their own rules and change the game to their advantage.

Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams

The author, Jeff Walker, created the Product Launch Formula, a system that enables e-commerce sellers to develop realistic strategies to get to the widest audience possible. 

The book is an easy read that gives valuable insights into building an online business from virtually nothing. By providing step-by-step instructions and inspiring stories, Walker created a bible for e-commerce sellers.

In 1996, Walker started his business from his basement. From what he calls the “internet dark ages,” he learned about the nitty-gritty of internet marketing and has helped thousands of entrepreneurs succeed on various e-commerce platforms. 

His wealth of experience and innovative solutions prove to be beneficial for anyone who wants to become big in e-commerce.

One Click: Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon.com

What better way to learn about e-commerce marketing than from Amazon, the king of e-commerce? Penned by Richard Brandt, this book delves into the decision-making process of Jeff Bezos as he led Amazon to become the biggest e-commerce platform in the world. 

Amazon was established in 1994 primarily to sell books. The online marketplace expanded to sell electronics, software, apparel, furniture, and even food. Today, the company and its subsidiaries generate annual revenue of almost 300 billion USD.

Describing Bezos' vision, the author writes that the goal “was not just to make browsing for books easy, but an enjoyable experience.” Any e-commerce marketer will greatly learn from the strategies that Amazon implemented on its road to success.

Final Thoughts

Many marketing operations have begun to take advantage of online platforms, especially due to community lockdowns and work-from-home setups. Due to this, e-commerce marketing has started to expand and evolve. 

These books, available on Amazon.com, provide holistic e-commerce marketing strategies to build brand awareness, increase customer loyalty, and drive continuous sales. 

These five books were written by industry experts and business leaders who have launched their own online empires and continue inspiring budding online entrepreneurs, ensuring that you, too, can develop and run a successful eCommerce business.

Online marketplaces are always busy, and learning about e-commerce marketing ensures you stay on top of your game. Marketers can take advantage of e-commerce platforms and social media, search engines, email campaigns, and other digital content. 

Trends are always changing, and new tools are constantly being used. The best way to thrive in e-commerce is to constantly learn and relearn the fundamentals.Get insights and advice on eCommerce from highly experienced Amazon experts with Seller Interactive. Contact us at 1-800-820-3746 and get started on your eCommerce journey!

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