The 11 Best Copywriting Books of All Time (2024)

Scientific Advertising is a classic book often recommended for learning copywriting—or how to write ads that really sell. The author, Claude Hopkins, shares effective strategies like always testing your ads, thinking of ads like salespeople, how to offer free samples, and key insights into human psychology.

Why should you read it? You should read "Scientific Advertising" because it fundamentally changes how you approach advertising. Hopkins' principles are timeless and provide a clear framework for creating ads that work. His emphasis on testing and data-driven decisions ensures that every dollar spent on advertising is used effectively. Whether you're new to advertising or a seasoned professional, this book offers valuable insights that can enhance your marketing efforts and drive better results.

"Building a StoryBrand" by Donald Miller teaches business owners how to clarify your message using storytelling principles. It outlines a seven-part framework to help brands create a clear, compelling narrative that resonates with your customers. This makes sure your message captivates attention, is understood easily, and drives more sales.

DotCom Secrets is a guide to building a successful online business using marketing funnels. Russel Brunson teaches how to grow an online audience with email marketing, multiply profits with "value ladders," and even provides exact scripts to create our own sales videos.

Why should you read it? Russell Brunson is the marketing brain behind the multi-million dollar software company ClickFunnels. In this book, he goes far beyond the basics, providing dozens of templates for effective sales funnels that can change the game for your online business. It's a must-read for anyone serious about digital marketing, and probably contains more useful info than most thousand-dollar courses.

Influence is about six principles of persuasion useful for sales, marketing, and negotiation. Professor Robert Cialdini backs his ideas with a lot of science research. The six principles are: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, liking, authority and scarcity.

Why should you read it? Influence may be the greatest marketing book of all time. But more than that, like a secret playbook of the human mind—a deep dive into our decision-making process. Think of it as a crash course in "Why did I just agree to that?" or "Why did I just buy that?" It's a must-read, whether you are a marketer, salesperson, or you just want to communicate with more influence. By the end, you'll understand why we say "yes" to things that make no sense, from buying stocks we know nothing about to subscribing to that cheese-of-the-month club. 🧀

"Predictably Irrational" by Dan Ariely explores the hidden forces that shape our decisions, demonstrating through a series of experiments and insights that humans do not always act rationally. Ariely delves into behavioral economics to explain why people often make irrational choices in their daily lives and how these choices affect consumer behavior.

Why should you read it? Dan Ariely uses engaging research and real-world examples to show just how often we stray from rationality. This book is not only fascinating but also immensely useful, particularly for marketers, as it explains the underlying motives behind consumer choices. Whether you’re a professional in the field or simply curious about human nature, this book offers valuable insights into the irrational ways we all behave.

$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi teaches business owners how to create irresistible offers that sell better and at higher prices. He explains how to increase revenue by raising the perceived value of your product or service, using strategies like premium pricing, risk-free guarantees, stacking, bonuses, scarcity, and exclusivity.

Why should you read it? At the heart of every business is the offer——what you're essentially saying is, "Hey, give me your money, and I'll give you something cool in return." This book is packed with many powerful strategies that will transform your approach to sales and pricing. The end result? To show you how to "make people an offer so good they would feel stupid saying no." Along the way, you'll enjoy Hormozi's communication style, which is direct, blunt, but often hilarious.

"Made to Stick" by Chip and Dan Heath teaches how to explain your ideas and thoughts so they capture attention, persuade others, and stick in people's minds. Learn why some ideas become popular and others fail using their research-based SUCCESs framework, which outlines six key principles: Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotions, and Stories.

Why should you read it? Curious why some ideas become popular while others flop? "Made to Stick" by Chip and Dan Heath cracks the code on what makes ideas unforgettable, by analyzing everything from hit marketing campaigns to political slogans, classic folktales, and even crazy conspiracy theories. Perfect for marketers, educators, entrepreneurs, or anyone eager to make their message as clingy as gum on a shoe in summer. 👟

"Traffic Secrets" by Russell Brunson is a guide to generating consistent traffic for your website and online business. It covers fundamental marketing strategies, including sales funnels, email marketing, and competitive research. The book also explains how to drive free traffic and run paid ads on platforms like YouTube, Google, Instagram, and Facebook.

Why should you read it? You should definitely read "Traffic Secrets" because it makes getting traffic to your website simple, and that's a crucial ingredient for any online business. Based on his experience getting over 100,600 paying members to his ClickFunnels software, using traffic sources as diverse as Facebook Ads, Instagram posts, YouTube videos, Google SEO, affiliate marketing, and more.

$100M Leads by Alex Hormozi is a book about how to increase sales by getting more engaged leads. It teaches us how to create a valuable lead magnet, cold contact people you don't know, build a large audience of followers, scale advertising profitably, build an affiliate program, and much more.

Why should you read it? If you're on the hunt for a game-changer in the world of business and lead generation, look no further than "$100M Leads" by Alex Hormozi. Why listen to Hormozi? Because he's not just another self-proclaimed business expert; he's a doer who has built and sold businesses. This book is a deep dive into actionable strategies that Hormozi himself has used to skyrocket his companies' growth. With his straightforward style and real-world examples, Hormozi cuts through the noise, offering clear, direct instruction to up your sales game.

YouTube Secrets is a must-read if you want to start a YouTube channel to make money. Sean and Benji—the creators of multiple popular channels—help you unlock the YouTube algorithm, explain how to grow a channel from zero, and share many methods for making income. (Hint: Expect hard work!)

Why should you read it? This is your no-nonsense insider's guide to conquering YouTube, even if you're just armed with your phone and a dream. But, let's be honest, becoming a YouTube star isn't as easy as posting a cat video and waiting for fame. Many of us have been there, uploading that first awkward video and then constantly refreshing the page for that one extra view. This book unpacks must-know tips, especially about that mysterious YouTube algorithm, so you can go from zero to hero (or at least stop talking to an audience of just your mom and grandma).

Expert Secrets by Russell Brunson is a guide to becoming an expert in any field and building a profitable business by selling products like books, courses, and coaching. He shares strategies for building a loyal audience through storytelling, copywriting, persuasion, and movement-building, along with his "perfect webinar" script for creating an effective sales funnel.

Why should you read it? You should read Expert Secrets if you want to turn your knowledge or passion into something impactful and profitable. Brunson doesn’t just discuss marketing theories—he gives you a clear roadmap with actionable steps to build a thriving online business and connect meaningfully with your audience.