18 Must-Read Marketing Articles (Recommended by Marketers) (2024)

When starting a new business or scaling an existing one into another market, your marketing strategy may be based on some assumptions. Until you put it into action, you aren’t exactly sure how your target audience will respond. A trial-and-error approach can help companies dial in to the best channels and strategies for their brands.

But before you make an investment in marketing, there’s a wealth of knowledge online that you can use to strengthen your efforts. Case studies, podcasts, and articles by founders and marketers can become reference points for your business. What has worked for other companies? Are there new trends in marketing worth taking advantage of?

Ahead, find 18 of the best marketing articles, covering everything from SEO to market research to technologies like generative AI. These articles have been recommended by marketing experts at Shopify as essential reading for aspiring entrepreneurs and marketing executives alike.

18 marketing articles you need to read today

Insights into the Turbulent Landscape of 2024 Advertising
How To Write and Promote Your First Newsletter
It’s Goog Enough!
How To Market Sustainable Products
Your Blog Is Not a Publication
How Great Leaders Inspire Action
Millennial vs Gen-Z Marketing: 7 Key Differences Marketers Should Know
Good Slides Reduce Complexity
How Generative AI Can Boost Consumer Marketing
Quitting a Manager Role for an Operational Role
Read This Before Starting a Brand Community
21 Real Life Examples of Successful Affiliate Marketing Websites
How 16 Companies are Dominating the World’s Google Search Results
5 Tips To Write More Like a Human
Digital Marketing and Measurement Model
How To Write a Persuasive Sales Page
History of Google Algorithm Updates
How Shopify Built a Strong Social Identity

1.“Stability With Transformation”: Insights into the Turbulent Landscape of 2024 Advertising

Source: Digiday
Topic: Advertising trends
Recommended by: Ben Mouncer, content manager, Shopify

This article guides readers through the turbulent landscape of advertising in 2024. It asserts that despite factors like job cuts and ambitious tech initiatives, ad spending continues to hold firm. Using proprietary insights, this piece explores the current state and future trajectory of the ad industry. Get insights on what to expect for your marketing efforts in the coming year.

2. How To Write and Promote Your First Newsletter

Source: Inbox Collective
Topic: Email marketing
Recommended by: Josh Rosenblat, senior editor, Shopify

Just getting started with email marketing? This article is a complete guide to launching, writing, and distributing your first newsletter. Learn secrets to creating compelling content and writing engaging subject lines. And, once you’ve created your masterpiece, get practical tips to help you build an audience and promote your newsletter.

3. It’s Goog Enough!

Source: Blind Five Year Old
Topic: SEO
Recommended by: Kyle Risley, SEO lead, Shopify

This article is “one of the better looks at what’s been going on with Google SERPs over the last few years,” says Kyle. Within, you can expect to find the evolution of Google’s search algorithm and its impact on search results. The author expands on the complexities of SEO and the power of brand recognition.

4. How To Market Sustainable Products

Source: Harvard Business Review
Topic: Marketing and sustainability
Recommended by: Dayna Winter, lead writer, Shopify

If you’re starting a sustainable business or selling sustainable products, this article from Harvard Business Review is a must-read before you build your marketing strategy. The authors explain how a product’s benefits to the purchaser often trump benefits to the environment. Learn how to overcome this challenge and tailor your marketing strategy to different consumer segments, focusing on the purchasing motivations of each.

5. Your Blog Is Not a Publication (But It’s Not Just a Library Either)

Source: Animalz
Topic: Blogging
Recommended by: Derek Gleason, content marketing lead, Shopify

If you’re looking to invest in content marketing, this article is essential reading before you publish a blog. “It does a great job of debunking one of the primary myths about blogging that, left unchecked, leads to a lot of underwhelming results,” says Derek. This insightful piece challenges traditional blog models, exploring the pros and cons of publication and library approaches. And, it contains practical advice for building a loyal audience and balancing evergreen and timely content.

6. How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Source: TED
Topic: Leadership for marketers
Recommended by: Shuang Esther Shan, senior producer, Shopify

Author and business expert Simon Sinek uncovers what sets the best leaders apart from the rest. Find out how figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright brothers applied a leadership style that helped them sell an idea and achieve greatness. Learn how to use these basic principles to grow your own business. Note: While not a marketing article, this TED Talks video has a transcript if you prefer a written version.

7. Millennial vs Gen-Z Marketing: 7 Key Differences Marketers Should Know

Source: Mention
Topic: Audience demographics
Recommended by: Mai Le, lead editor, Shopify

This article covers two influential generations and their differences, for the purpose of marketing to them. “It addresses an additional POV that marketers need to take into account when planning a strategy,” says Mai. Understand the distinct characteristics of Gen Z and millennial consumers including their shopping habits and marketing responses. Learn to craft campaigns that resonate with each generation of potential consumers.

8. Good Slides Reduce Complexity

Source: SEO MBA
Topic: Pitching ideas
Recommended by: Derek Gleason, content marketing lead, Shopify

Derek describes this article as “a blueprint for understanding how to present ideas to senior stakeholders.” As a business owner, you’re not only marketing your brand to consumers—you apply the same art of persuasion to get buy-in from stakeholders and investors. Drawing from his experience at Google, the author shares five lessons that will transform your slide decks from visual aids into powerful persuasion tools.

9. How Generative AI Can Boost Consumer Marketing

Source: McKinsey & Company
Topic: AI marketing
Recommended by: Dayna Winter, lead writer, Shopify

Using proprietary data, this article explains the potential of generative AI in the marketing world. Learn how it can support automation, power hyper-personalization, and aid in idea generation for marketers. Integrating generative AI into your marketing strategy means increasing efficiency and delivering better recommendations to your customers. This article also presents use cases for the technology and a road map for getting started.

10. Quitting a Manager Role for an Operational Role (with Alice Roussel)

Source: Women in Tech SEO
Topic: Marketing careers
Recommended by: Arthur Camberlein, senior SEO specialist, Shopify

“Listen to Alice speak about the evolution of her role and how she went from a manager to an IC role to keep her craft at the highest standard possible,” says Arthur. Learn about this growth marketing manager’s unconventional career path and how a perceived step back was actually a step forward. Note: While not a marketing article, this podcast has a transcript if you prefer a written version.

11. Read This Before Starting a Brand Community

Source: Link in Bio
Topic: Social media
Recommended by: Leah Mennies, editorial lead, Shopify

“Link in Bio is an amazing resource for brands that want to better understand the nuances and trends in social media strategy more broadly,” says Leah. In this interview between Rachel Karten and Topicals community director Natalie Brown, understand how private brand communities can bring deeper customer engagement with insights into Topicals’ own strategy. And, learn about the importance of authenticity in marketing and the future of brand communities.

12. 21 Real Life Examples Of Successful Affiliate Marketing Websites In 2024

Source: Authority Hackers
Topic: Affiliate marketing
Recommended by: Joe Hitchcock, senior content marketer, Shopify

This article highlights the properties of effective affiliate marketing websites with real examples and screenshots. Learn from sites like Wirecutter and Clever Hiker to help improve the success of your own affiliate marketing program. And, gain actionable advice on everything from driving traffic to earning more revenue.

13. How 16 Companies are Dominating the World’s Google Search Results

Source: Detailed
Topic: SEO
Recommended by: Kyle Risley, SEO lead, Shopify

“This is a frequently updated article about the big brands that control most of the larger information publishers,” says Kyle. “It highlights unique things these brands do to help differentiate.” Learn how 16 companies dominate Google search results, and get ideas you can use to help your own pages rank. Find out AI’s impact on the future of SEO and how these companies are evolving their strategies.

14. 5 Tips To Write More Like a Human (And Less Like an AI Bot)

Source: Inbox Collective
Topic: Email marketing
Recommended by: Josh Rosenblat, senior editor, Shopify

Josh describes this article as “a quick and dirty list of tactics to improve your email copywriting and distinguish it from AI-generated text.” Get actionable strategies to incorporate into your own email marketing program and tips on writing authentic and engaging content to attract customers in the AI age.

15. Digital Marketing and Measurement Model

Source: Avinash Kaushik
Topic: Marketing analytics
Recommended by: Derek Gleason, content marketing lead, Shopify

This article aims to help readers develop their own effective marketing and measurement model. Inside, find a step-by-step process to identify the true purpose of your campaigns and how to measure their success. Through real examples, learn to identify business objectives, set goals, determine key performance indicators, and define targets. With this roadmap to marketing success, you’ll be able to focus your efforts for the highest impact.

16. How To Write a Persuasive Sales Page (Even if You Hate Selling)

Source: Enchanting marketing
Topic: Copywriting for marketing
Recommended by: Jenny Potter, senior editor, Shopify

In this beginner’s guide to crafting an effective sales page, learn to connect with customers, explain your offer, back your claims with proof, answer potential questions, and nudge readers to take action. Within, the author emphasizes the importance of honesty, clarity, and staying true to your voice. This article is a must-read for anyone struggling to strike a balance between persuasive and pushy with their sales pages.

17. History of Google Algorithm Updates

Source: Search Engine Journal
Topic: SEO
Recommended by: Joe Hitchcock, senior content marketer, Shopify

“If most people find your website through Google, keeping up with the latest changes to the search engine’s algorithm will help you create content that ranks,” says Joe. This is a living document of Google’s algorithm changes, updated each time a change is shipped. Bookmarking this article will keep you informed and allow you to adjust your SEO strategy accordingly.

18. How Shopify Built a Strong Social Identity

Source: Link in Bio
Topic: Social media and branding
Featuring: Saad Khan, brand social lead, Shopify

In this interview with Saad Khan, brand social lead at Shopify, get the secret to the brand’s creative strategy on social media. Explore how Shopify’s nimble and experimental approach has contributed to its distinct brand identity. Expect insights into the brand’s audience-focused philosophy, its unique approach to content creation, and the importance of adaptability in an ever-changing online landscape.

Shopify marketing articles for every stage of business

At every turning point in your company, you’ll be looking for new ways to reach your target customer, promote new products, and increase revenue. The Shopify blog has insights for every stage of your growing brand, from marketing trends and tools to how to conduct market research.

“I read a lot of the Shopify blog posts and they really helped me get my social media off the ground,” says Ocean View Woodworking founder Allan Maxwell.

Marketing articles for starting up

Articles on setting up and using marketing channels

Advanced marketing articles for your growing business

Marketing articles about tracking your results

Learn from marketing experts to scale your business

Whether you’re a marketing executive at a large company or a ceramics maker turning your hobby into a small business, you can always learn something new about marketing. Consumer trends, algorithms, and marketing technologies seemingly change by the minute. Stay on top of what’s happening in the world of marketing by bookmarking your favorite sources for trends, data, and industry news.

Marketing articles FAQ

What is a marketing article?

A marketing article is a form of online content, usually written for a company’s own blog or a third-party publication. The goal of a marketing article is to demonstrate knowledge and credibility within a specific topic. Marketing articles are usually optimized for search, attracting organic traffic to a website. The goal of these articles is usually to grow traffic, sign-ups, or sales by converting visitors into customers.

How do you write an effective marketing article?

Some tips for writing a compelling article include:

Have a unique angle in mind.
Understand your audience and key customers.
Research and use data to support your article.
Define your goals whether it’s sales or another success metric.
Include relevant CTAs for your business.
Optimize your marketing article for search.
Work with an editor to polish the final story.
Promote your article through ads, email marketing, or social media.

Where can you find good articles about marketing?

Look no further than the experts on the subject of marketing: business journalists, marketers, entrepreneurs, and educators. Many of these experts lend their knowledge to articles and reports that can provide business insights for companies. Marketing articles can be found through business publications like Harvard Business Review, marketers’ websites, or the blogs of successful companies. Don’t forget to mine YouTube and your favorite podcast player for multimedia advice.

What can I learn from marketing articles?

You can get value from marketing articles that share data and case studies to support a marketing strategy. Among other marketing topics, learn how to market a product line, find customers, and use tools to improve the efficiency of your efforts. The best marketing articles are those from reputable sources that are based on data and proven results. Everyone from a budding maker entrepreneur to an executive at a pharmaceutical company can find insights from marketing articles.

18 Must-Read Marketing Articles (Recommended by Marketers)