illustration of diego blanco
“learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. it’s cheaper,” said john c. bogle, investor and founder of vanguard group.
You are reading: Best e-commerce books
not only that: it can be a shortcut to a perspective that would otherwise take a long time to acquire. the books are exactly that: years or even decades of experiments, lessons, mistakes, and smart moves compressed into about 250 pages.
We reached out to 10 of the best eCommerce mentors and asked them for the best eCommerce books leaders should read, along with their favorite lessons from each.
These books are more than just e-commerce and include topics like messaging, marketing, writing, personal development, mindset, and connections.
jump:
- josh kaufman’s personal mba
- everyone writes by ann handley
- priya parker’s art of collecting
- russell brunson’s dotcom secrets
- supermaker by jaime schmidt
- building a narrative brand by donald miller
- atomic habits by james clear
- the electronic myth revisited by michael me. gerber
- the 7 habits of highly effective people by stephen covey
- linchpin by seth godin
1. the personal mba by josh kaufman
recommended by:
nick disabato, founder of draft, an interaction design consultancy
what is it about:
the personal mba is an antidote to the costly and time-consuming business degree. This book distills entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, negotiation, operations, productivity, and systems design into simple mental models you can apply to your business.
four methods to increase income, the iron law of the market and the price uncertainty principle are some of the many concepts explained by the personal mba.
This book will allow you to skip many of the trials and errors of running a business and make better decisions, from solving business problems to planning your day.
best lesson:
“This book teaches you a lot about business, yes, but it’s also a book about self-care, overcoming cognitive biases, and protecting your boundaries and sovereignty,” says Nick.
It will help you get into the mindset of a business owner, especially in e-commerce where the mindset is often short-term and fear-driven.”
2. everyone writes by ann handley
recommended by:
tina donati, marketing manager at fuel made, a design, development and email marketing agency for shopify plus brands
what is it about:
everyone writes is the go-to guide for creating content that stands out and attracts loyal customers. Ann Handley argues that great writing is more important than ever and that our online words are our currency.
As an eCommerce leader, this is the guide you need to help deliver your message to your customers with style, clarity, and empathy.
best lesson:
“I have been a professional writer for years and this book still taught me many valuable lessons. ann makes it clear that writing is an art that is learned with discipline”, says tina. “I think many marketers immediately dismiss themselves as ‘non-writers,’ but with practice and the right advice, anyone can develop the skill of being a good copywriter.”
For dtc founders, this book is a great way to learn some of these best practices. the truth is that writing is built into everything you do. there’s text all over your website, in your emails, in the content you create, on your social channels – it’s so ingrained in the ecommerce experience that it’s important to get it done right.
“As a founder with limited resources, learning how to be a better writer can be your lifeline between a good customer experience and a bad one. Ann’s book will teach you how to write clearly, effectively, and in a way that your clients care about.”
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3. the art of gathering by priya parker
recommended by:
caitlin teed, program manager at shopify
what is it about:
The Art of Meeting argues that coming together is more important than ever, but that the meetings in our lives are mediocre and unproductive. Priya Parker has run many high profile meetings around the world and shows you what works, what doesn’t and why.
Creating meaningful and memorable experiences as an e-commerce leader, for your employees, partners and customers, is essential. use this book for your next meeting, conference, company retreat, and more.
best lesson:
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“This book helped me reimagine the traditional expectations you put on yourself when you meet other people. I learned that it’s okay to be vulnerable and it’s okay to say no to an event that doesn’t align with you,” says Caitlin.
helped me think outside the box and push the bar on what a great meeting looks and feels like. how we gather matters. This book breaks convention and helps you think outside the box and as a business owner, helps you reconnect with how he approaches meetings within his team and beyond.”
4. dotcom secrets by russell brunson
recommended by:
connor gross, an ecommerce founder with a seven figure output and co-host of the next generation podcast
what is it about:
dotcom secrets is the result of thousands of tests the authors conducted to understand what makes a successful online business. it’s packed with the processes, funnels, and scripts they used to scale businesses online.
This book will help you create or rebuild your marketing system, define your ideal customer, and scale your online store.
best lesson:
“For me, the book introduced the concept of value ladders and completely changed the way I think about customer acquisition and how to nurture that relationship to earn more,” says Connor.
“The whole concept is that selling anything is hard, and the more expensive your product becomes, the harder it is to convince customers to buy from you as soon as they find out about you. So the better you What you can do is start by giving away free content to get people involved early. Eventually, you’ll want to start selling them more and more expensive products, and you’ll build trust with them in the long run.”
5. Jaime Schmidt’s Supermaker
recommended by:
kristen lafrance, community manager at repeat, a saas platform for creating personalized reordering experiences
what is it about:
supermaker was born out of jaime schmidt’s experience in creating schmidt’s natural, a natural products brand, and expanding it to more than 30,000 stores. Seven years later, Unilever purchased Schmidt’s Natural in a nine-figure acquisition.
jaime gives advice on branding, product development, social media marketing, public relations, customer engagement, and scalability. This book is both informative and entertaining; actionable and inspiring for ecommerce founders.
best lesson:
“It really exposed what a true founder-led company looked like and opened my eyes to the potential of really great cpg brands,” Kristen says.
the best lesson? an honest look at how difficult it is to build a highly successful and enduring brand, and that the founders are some of the most resilient and brilliant people.”
6. building a history brand by donald miller
recommended by:
troy petrunoff, retention marketing manager at jack many, a natural men’s care brand
what is it about:
building a story brand covers the seven universal elements of powerful stories to help you improve the way you connect with your customers.
You’ll learn the real reason customers buy and what you can do to simplify your brand message so they can understand and resonate with it. this will help you cut through the noise and engage your customers to see real ecommerce success.
best lesson:
“This book is packed with a lot of good lessons, especially for founders who may not have a marketing background. eg ‘if you confuse, you lose’, you may have the best product ever, but if you don’t do a good job of presenting it in clear, concise and informative copy, without confusing it with marketing flourishes. -and language— you risk losing potential customers,” says Troy.
You have to be able to describe your brand in one sentence. your products in one sentence. and why your brand is the best in one sentence.
When we launch a new product at every man jack and write the product description, we keep it short and simple, but make sure to address what the product does for you, the customer, and why it’s the best version of it. product; for example, top-level ingredients/flavors.”
7. atomic habits by james clear
recommended by:
james sowers, director of marketing at the good, an ecommerce conversion optimization agency
what is it about:
Atomic Habits is the definitive book on creating habits and changing long-term daily behaviors. focuses on making small improvements frequently, rather than big, sweeping changes, as these improvements add up and the impact is huge.
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You can use this book to develop a deeper focus at work, read more, journal regularly, reflect on your work, build better relationships with colleagues and employees, create an exercise routine, anything that helps you to become your best self, at work and elsewhere.
best lesson:
“The lesson is that before you can successfully run a business, you must learn to successfully run yourself,” says James.
Time, energy, finances, brainpower…it’s all important and it’s all in limited supply. Atomic Habits helped me develop the discipline and routines to be a more effective business leader and entrepreneur.”
8. the electronic myth reviewed by michael e. gerb
recommended by:
michelle ebbin, founder of jettproof, a sensory clothing brand for children and adults
what is it about:
the revised e-myth focuses on making you work on your business (read: focus on growth, the role of your competitors, your usp), not just on it (making the day – today’s work).
This is the updated edition of the original 1985 version. It breaks down your assumptions and expectations that can get in the way of running a successful business – valuable reading for growing a thriving e-commerce business.
best lesson:
“is what entrepreneurs don’t want, but absolutely need to learn: there’s no magic wand that will make everything run smoothly! Many eCommerce leaders lose money on the smallest tasks because they haven’t yet learned that the key to success is consistency,” says michelle.
“create processes and systems that are consistent, and you’ll get consistent, predictable results. It’s not the fun or exciting answer most people want, but once you start implementing it, its value is enormous.
Consistency creates a framework that builds value and trust. as gerber writes, ‘documentation is an assertion of order'”.
9. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. flock
recommended by:
michael rosenbaum, founder and CEO of spacer, a parking marketplace
what is it about:
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People shares a principle-centered approach to solving professional and personal problems. These principles, or habits, include beginning with the end in mind, taking a win-win approach, and focusing on what you can control.
Implementing these seven habits will help you lead your life, your team, and your organization in a truly effective and intentional way.
best lesson:
“When running an e-commerce business, you constantly have to make important decisions about where to focus your time, energy, and resources. The ‘Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood’ chapter is a philosophy I incorporate every day when it comes to managing my team, talking to stakeholders, and fostering a culture of true efficiency,” says Michael.
In the world of startups, time is often the most precious resource you have, and the lessons I’ve learned in this book have helped me work, either alone or with others, in a much more productive way. . road.”
10. seth godin’s shaft
recommended by:
Lillie Sun, Head of Growth at Three Ships, a natural skincare and beauty brand
what is it about:
In linchpin, seth godin defines linchpins as people who figure out what to do when there’s no rule book. they love their work, they challenge and delight their colleagues and clients, and they get the best jobs.
axes are essential; the key components of exceptional companies. Your eCommerce business can thrive if you hire and nurture hubs, and this book will help you create a culture where hubs thrive.
best lesson:
The best lesson I learned is that in eCommerce, being good at your job doesn’t mean being really good at a task or project. the key to building a successful business is finding people who are key players, who can see beyond the surface level to do work that is extremely meaningful,” says lillie.
“This book really highlights the concept of being indispensable and the opportunities it can create for you.”
what are the best books for ecommerce leaders?
here is the list of book recommendations once again:
- josh kaufman’s personal mba
- everyone writes by ann handley
- priya parker’s art of collecting
- russell brunson’s dotcom secrets
- supermaker by jaime schmidt
- building a narrative brand by donald miller
- atomic habits by james clear
- the electronic myth revisited by michael me. gerber
- the 7 habits of highly effective people by stephen covey
- linchpin by seth godin
Save this list and start with a book that resonates with what you want to focus on next in your eCommerce business or career development, and dive in.
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more leadership resources:
- best business podcasts for ecommerce leaders
- influencers and newsletters to follow for ecommerce success