Marketing gurus have become a ubiquitous presence in the world of business, offering a range of insights and strategies to help companies grow and thrive. As the field of marketing has become more complex and nuanced, their role in shaping the industry has become increasingly important. These are our favourites, a little bit about them and the books that are worth investigating!

PHILIP KOTLER

Philip Kotler is an American marketing expert and professor who is widely considered to be the father of modern marketing. He was born on May 27, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, and has authored over 60 books on marketing, including the widely used textbook “Marketing Management.”

Kotler’s contributions to marketing include the development of the concept of the marketing mix, which refers to the four key elements of marketing: product, price, promotion, and place (distribution). He has also written extensively about social marketing, which involves using marketing techniques to promote social and environmental causes.

Kotler has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to marketing, including the American Marketing Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and has been inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame.

SETH GODIN

Seth Godin is a well-known American author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker. He was born on July 10, 1960, in Mount Vernon, New York.

Godin has written several bestselling books on marketing, including “Purple Cow” and “This Is Marketing.” He is known for his unique and innovative insights on marketing and business, and his books have been translated into more than 35 languages.

Godin is also an active blogger and has been blogging on his website, seths.blog, for more than a decade. He writes about a wide range of topics, including marketing, leadership, creativity, and the future of work.

Godin’s work has had a significant impact on the field of marketing and business, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in his field.

GARY VAYNERCHUK

Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as GaryVee, is a Belarusian-American entrepreneur, author, internet personality, and speaker. He was born on November 14, 1975, in Babruysk, in the former Soviet Union (now Belarus), and later immigrated with his family to the United States.

Gary is best known for his work in the digital marketing and social media space. He is the CEO and co-founder of VaynerMedia, a digital marketing agency that helps brands build their presence online. He also hosts a popular YouTube show called “The #AskGaryVee Show,” where he answers questions from his audience about entrepreneurship, marketing, and social media.

Gary is also a prolific author, having written several books on business and entrepreneurship, including  “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World.” He is a highly sought-after speaker, and has delivered keynote speeches at many events and conferences.

Gary is known for his energetic and charismatic personality, as well as his no-nonsense approach to business and marketing. He encourages people to pursue their passions and to work hard to achieve their goals, and he is a strong advocate for using social media and other digital tools to build personal and professional brands.

DAVID OGILVY

David Ogilvy (1911-1999) was a prominent advertising executive and founder of the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather. Born in England, he began his career as a door-to-door salesman and later worked in research for advertising agencies before starting his own agency in 1948.

Ogilvy was known for his creative approach to advertising, emphasizing the importance of research, clear and simple messaging, and attention-grabbing visuals. He was particularly skilled at creating memorable campaigns for clients, such as the “Man in the Hathaway Shirt” and “Avis: We Try Harder” campaigns.

In addition to his work in advertising, Ogilvy was also an author, publishing several books on advertising and business, including “Confessions of an Advertising Man” and “Ogilvy on Advertising.” He was also involved in political campaigns, working on successful campaigns for candidates such as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Margaret Thatcher.

Ogilvy’s impact on the advertising industry is still felt today, with many of his principles and approaches still guiding modern advertising practices. He is considered one of the most influential figures in advertising history.

JAY CONRAD LEVINSON

Jay Conrad Levinson (1933-2013) was an American author, marketer, and entrepreneur, known as the “Father of Guerrilla Marketing.” He is best known for his work in popularizing the concept of guerrilla marketing, which emphasizes low-cost, unconventional marketing tactics that rely on creativity and a deep understanding of one’s target audience.

Levinson was born in Detroit, Michigan, and after completing his education, he worked in advertising for several years before starting his own marketing firm in the 1970s. It was during this time that he began developing the principles of guerrilla marketing, which he later documented in a series of bestselling books, including “Guerrilla Marketing” (1984) and “Guerrilla Marketing Weapons” (1990).

Levinson believed that small businesses and entrepreneurs could compete with larger, better-funded competitors by using creative marketing tactics that didn’t require a large budget. He advocated for strategies such as networking, referral marketing, and targeted advertising, and emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with customers.

Levinson’s work has had a significant impact on the marketing industry, and his principles continue to be widely taught and applied today. In addition to his writing and consulting work, Levinson also founded the Guerrilla Marketing Association, which provides resources and support to marketers and entrepreneurs looking to implement guerrilla marketing strategies.

NEIL PATEL

Neil Patel is a well-known entrepreneur, digital marketer, and blogger. He is the co-founder of Crazy Egg, Hello Bar, and KISSmetrics, which are all successful digital marketing and analytics companies. He is also the founder of Neil Patel Digital, a consultancy that helps businesses increase their online presence and grow their revenue.

Neil Patel has over 20 years of experience in the digital marketing industry, and he is known for his expertise in areas such as search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and social media marketing. He is a frequent speaker at industry events, and he has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top 10 online marketers.

Neil Patel is also a prolific blogger, and he writes about digital marketing on his blog and on other popular industry blogs. He has written for publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, and The Huffington Post, and he is the author of several marketing books.