12 Books Every Sales Professional Should Read

Become a better salesperson with advice from the experts

Key takeaways:?

• Reading sales books can help you avoid making the mistakes other sales professionals have made.?
• Choosing the right sales books to read can make a difference to your business.
• You can also use sales books as resources during sales training.?

As a business owner or manager, you’re always looking for ways to increase productivity, scale your business , and make more sales. However, finding the right books to help expand your business can take time and effort, especially when so many sales experts claim to be the real deal.?

Sure, it can seem overwhelming, but you don’t need to worry. We’ve made it easy by putting together a list of 12 sales and marketing books you can use to take your sales team’s game to the next level .?

1. Words That Sell

Author: Richard Bayan

Let’s face it, finding the right things to say when making a pitch or selling your product can be challenging. This is why Richard Bayan compiled this list of over 6,000 words and phrases that can help you promote your products and services to prospects – without losing their attention. Using Bayan’s Words That Sell, you can teach your sales teams how to connect with prospects and convince them to buy what you’re offering.

2. The Psychology of Selling

Author: Brian Tracy?

Whether you’re a beginner in the sales sector or a seasoned selling pro, this book by sales coach and professional speaker Brian Tracy will show you how to build confidence and deal with the fear of rejection. In addition, you’ll learn how to maximize your emotional intelligence to make more sales.?

3. Little Red book of Selling?

Author: Jeffrey Gitomer?

If reading really isn’t your thing, this is the book for you. Jeffrey Gitomer has mastered the art of packing a ton of critical information into a small, easy-to-read package. Learn why people buy and how you can use that information to improve your bottom line in this quick, entertaining read that’s full of fun illustrations that really drive home the point.

4. SNAP Selling

Author: Jill Konrath?

Sales strategist Jill Konrath takes you through her four rules that are guaranteed to give you the knowledge you need to convince customers to trust your products and services. In addition, she’s included stories from other sales professionals to give you a clear picture of how to overcome customer indecision.

5. New Sales. Simplified

Author: Mike Weinberg?

As a manager, you’re always looking for new customers, no matter how many return customers you have. This book provides actionable steps for attracting new business including identifying genuine prospects, using social media to grow your customer base, and preparing for sales calls that get results.

6. Shark Tales

Author: Barbara Corcoran?

If you’re a fan of the Shark Tank franchise, then you’ve come across Barbara Corcoran. In this book, she shares her business journey, taking you through her failures and successes and the lessons she learned along the way.

7. Pitch Anything

Author: Oren Klaff

Looking for a resource that will give you the knowledge you need to nail every presentation or business interaction? You’re in luck. In this book, Oren Klaff introduces the S.T.R.O.N.G. method of pitching, which will help you engage and convince your audience.

8. Never Split the Difference

Author: Chris Voss

Negotiating is part of doing business, and this book shows you exactly what to do to get the results you need. Former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss takes you through nine principles that will help you use emotional intelligence to navigate the deal-making process.?

9. Sales Truth

Author: Mark Weinberg?

How do you separate myth from truth in a world where everyone claims to be a sales expert? In this book, you’ll discover the time-tested principles that can help you attract more leads and make more sales. Mark Weinberg introduces proven strategies that have characterized his success in sales.

10. Virtual Selling

Author: Jeb Blount

If there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s how effective –and challenging – virtual selling can be. This book will show you how to use video-based technology and virtual communication to engage prospects and convert them into paying customers. So get ready to learn how to combine video, live chat, text, and social media to boost productivity.

11. Secrets of Closing the Sale

Author: Zig Ziglar

If you’re looking for a lot of information – and we mean a lot – you can’t go wrong with Zig Ziglar’s Secrets of Closing the Sale. Featuring insights from the 100 most successful salespeople in America, this book covers more than 100 ways to close a sale, as well as 700 questions you can ask prospects to convince them to buy from your business.?

12. Agile Selling

Author: Jill Konrath

The sales world is constantly changing, and if you want to be a successful salesperson, you have to keep your knowledge and abilities up to date. In her second book on this list, Jill Konrath teaches strategies you can use for learning new sales information and skills in our fast-paced digital world.?

Beyond the books

Whether you’re looking to make the perfect sales pitch or trying to improve your communication skills, the above list can help get you started. And, of course, you can also share this list with your staff – reading the right books together is a great way to start sales training.?

But when you’re ready to go beyond the books and take your sales training program to the next level, bringing in the experts at MetaGrowth is your best bet. We specialize in coaching and training to help you build a world-class team. In addition, we'll work with you to ensure your team members are always on their game. So contact us today, and let’s show you what we can do for your business.