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Hi guys! I’m back today with another book list.

Last year I published The Definitive List of Acupuncture Marketing and Practice Management Books. (Check it out here. I’m pretty confident there are acupuncture marketing books on this list you’ve never heard of!)

This year I’ve rounded up all of my favorite marketing books that aren’t written specifically for acupuncturists. This semester I’m teaching a marketing and practice management course to the third year acupuncture students at FLSAOM, and I’ve enjoyed rounding up all my favorite books to share with them. So I thought I’d share them with you as well!

These books inspire my marketing efforts and push me out of my comfort zone. I think there’s tons to be learned from marketing and business planning books of all kinds, not just those that apply directly to our profession.

So let’s keep it short and sweet, and dive in!

(Some of these are affiliate links. If you click and purchase something, I make a small commission, at no extra cost to you. The commission comes out of the host website’s income. I’m recommending books I know and trust. I hope you love them as much as I do!)

My eight favorite non-acupuncture marketing books that every acupuncturist should read:

1. Meaningful: The Power of Ideas that Fly by Bernadette Jiwa

I honestly love all of Bernadette’s marketing books, but Meaningful is one of my favorites. It came highly recommended from an acupuncturist friend and podcaster, Maring Higa. (Check out her podcast here!) I also recommend Marketing: A Love Story and The Fortune Cookie Principle: The 20 Keys to a Great Brand Story by Bernadette Jiwa as well. I feel like you can’t really go wrong with any of her books. I appreciate that Bernadette always teaches marketing from a place of honesty and generosity; the same way I teach marketing.

2. Marketing for Solos: The Ultimate How-To Guide for Marketing your One Person Small Business Successfully by Jeanna Pool

I love that Jeanna Pool address exactly what most acupuncturists are dealing with; how to run a business, feel “legit,” and market that business professionally as a solopreneur. There are so few marketing books written specifically for solo business owners. She really nails it.

3. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger

This book is a great read. It dives in deep to describe why different products, services and ideas become popular through word of mouth and social media buzz. I love that it’s packed with research AND it’s actionable. Jonah talks about how you can take the 6 marketing concepts he outlines and apply them directly to your business. The goal, of course, is to get what you sell to really catch on in your community. A must read!

4. The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, and Stand out From The Crowd by Allan Dib

I adore that this no-nonsense book emphasizes that for real success in marketing, you cannot engage in “random acts of marketing.” Yes! Agree! Whenever I teach about marketing, I always begin by pointing out that one of the most important things is consistency. Consistency in your marketing message, and consistency in your marketing efforts overall. If you’re the kind of person who markets with enthusiasm one month, and then ignores it the next, this week is for you. (Aka, it’s for most of us!)

5. People Buy You: The Real Secret to What Matters Most in Business by Jeb Blount

This book emphasizes one concept that’s really difficult for many acupuncturists: the idea that you’re not just marketing your business, you’re marketing yourself. I know it’s hard for some of us to put ourselves out there and be visible, but it’s essential! And trust me, as an introvert myself, it’s worth it and gets better with time. I love that this book not only discusses why you need to learn to market yourself, but how to go about it.

6. Successful Marketing: Secrets & Strategies by Rhonda Abrams

I love to flip through this book for marketing ideas I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. It’s a little old school in some respects, but I feel like it’s easy to take Rhonda’s advice and make it relevant to my own marketing plan in the moment. It’s just refreshing to see so many marketing ideas condensed in one place. It really gets the wheels turning for some great ideas.

7. Essentialism, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by George McKeown

If you feel chronically busy but not productive, this book is for you. I love applying Greg McKeown’s life advice to business as well. What is it that really gets results? What marketing efforts actually bring the most patients and have the highest ROI? What if we focused primarily on the actions that consistently generate the greatest results, and brought us the most joy and satisfaction at the same time? Our time would be spent much more wisely, AND our income would go up. Can’t argue with that!