Why reading is crucial to being a good marketer

The title of this blog is just my opinion, but I really do think it’s true. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been into reading. My parents read to me, I always had access to books, and I began reading on my own by age three.

I had all of the tools in front of me, but that didn’t guarantee that I would stick with reading. I honestly have stuck with it until now because I genuinely enjoy it. I love reading snippets, short form, long form, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, you name it. As much as I love other formats and media, reading is my preferred way to consume content and absorb information.

Now, my personal preference aside, let me tell you why a love of reading is imperative for being a good marketer. No matter what branch of marketing you’re in, there’s a story to be told and a message to be communicated. The more you read, the more you understand what makes a good story, and also what makes a bad one. You glean more about your story preferences, and you gather inspiration that you can bring in to your creative process.

Even those of you who may be in demand gen and very focused on data, you still have to tell a story about those numbers, and you’re empowering others on your team to translate the data into something digestible for your audience.

Additionally, the more you read, the larger your vocabulary becomes. Even if you don’t realize it, your subconscious makes note of the context that words are used in, and may bring it to the surface in later situations. If your writing is lacking that pizzazz you’re looking for, take a step back and pick up something with colourful language; fantasy novels are usually a great starting point.

Lastly, don’t just read books that are field-specific. Branch out and read books from different genres to transport yourself into a non-working environment, and to experience a different perspective. If all you read about is the stuff you do every single day, you’re not going to have much to add beyond that.

Do you think being a reader is essential for excelling in marketing?