Starting a blog and making money from it may sound easy, but you’ll soon find out that it takes much more than great writing skills. 🤷♂️ This list of the best books for bloggers can save you from some nasty surprises in your blogging journey.
Truly, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Many writers, bloggers, and small business owners have put down their experiences in black and white for us to learn from them. Here, we shortlist some top books for bloggers that can help in many ways. Some help to improve your writing, some touch on the technical aspects of blogging, while other books help in your approach to blogging as a business.
There will be something for everyone here who’s contemplating blogging and looking to make money from it!
Here are our favorites 📖
1. The Blog Startup – by Meera Kothand
Proven Strategies to Launch Smart and Exponentially Grow Your Audience, Brand, and Income without Losing Your Sanity or Crying Bucketloads of Tears”
This one counts among the best books for bloggers you need to read. By following the simple guidelines set out in it, you can set up your own blog and make money from it. It helps you avoid the heartaches associated with the usual three-steps-forward-two-steps-back kind of progress. It breaks down the strategies into small easy-to-follow instructions. At the same time, it points out the pitfalls you need to avoid.
This how-to guide helps you create a launch plan for your blog, and thereafter a roadmap for the first 90 days. The book introduces you to the core components you need to focus on, no matter the type of blog you create. It helps you find the niche you want to occupy and the core message you want to convey.
Read this book if…
You plan to start a blog and turn into a business. You’ll learn all the steps, from launching the blog to getting traffic and making money with it.
2. The One Hour Content Plan – by Meera Kothand
“The Solopreneur’s Guide to A Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells”
If you find yourself struggling with the “what to write next” question, this one’s for you. It offers not one, but three ways in which to instantly generate content ideas. Besides, it recommends five types of content and eight not-to-be-neglected elements to improve conversions on your blog. By accessing the various forms and downloads that go hand-in-hand with the book, you’ll quickly have a road map to a blog that reflects a cohesive brand identity.
While not putting forth any revolutionary concepts, the book is a practical and serious plan that every blogger can use. Particularly, if you’re stuck for content and looking for inspiration.
Read this book if…
You often get writer’s block and stress over what to write about next. This will teach you how to generate content ideas easier.
3. CREATE One Year Blog and Editorial Planner – by Meera Kothand
“Create Exceptional Content, Get More Done, and Smash Through Your Business Goals”
This book comes with a planning and editorial system for bloggers and business owners who want to create purposeful content, grow their audience, and turn their blog into a successful business. It’s for those of you who think long-term and want to stay consistent throughout the whole year.
If you follow the advice in this book, you will manage to publish new content regularly, track progress, engage your audience, and market your business. It makes things easier by asking the right questions, helping you get to know your audience better and create content that highlights your products and services.
Read this book if…
You prefer to stay organized and schedule things in advance. This book teaches you to build your editorial calendar for a full year while also learning how to market your work.
4. Make Money From Blogging – by Sally Miller
“How To Start A Blog & Profit From It: A Step-By-Step Guide”
Really, the title says it all. The author does a good job of laying the path to make your first $1,000 in this step-by-step guide. She relies on six strategies for monetization and shows you how to create content that readers like. You’ll have the rundown on selecting a niche to blog about, setting up a blog with the least outgo, as well as marketing your blog.
If you have the writing chops and are passionate about any topic, this book for bloggers can make setting up a blog easier for you.
Read this book if…
You are determined to generate your first $1,000 from your blog. If your immediate goal is to start a blog that you want to monetize, this book will show you how to do it.
5. How to Blog for Profit: Without Selling Your Soul – by Ruth Soukup
In How to Blog for Profit, the author shares with readers her journey of growth from a small blog-based business to a seven-figure media empire. She shows us how content marketing can be used to grow just about any kind of business. The focus of the book is geared towards transforming a blog into a business using proven traffic strategies.
If you’re a beginner to mid-level blogger confused about finding a niche, developing it into a blog, and monetizing it, you’ll find general ideas of what to do.
Read this book if…
You want to transform your blog into a business with a proven content marketing strategy.
6. Everybody Writes – Ann Handley
“Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content”
This book stresses the importance of choosing words wisely in all our forms of communication, whatever form they may be – blogs, emails, marketing offers, Twitter streams, Insta feeds. Marketing veteran and author Ann Handley believes that words are a reflection of who we are and paint an image for our readers. In her book, she includes multiple sections covering Grammar and usage rules, best practices for creating credible content, and important content tools to help you get the job done easier.
This book helps you write better with empathy for your readers. It sets out the fundamentals of 17 different kinds of content that marketing professionals usually undertake. In short, it’s a handbook for creating content that matters in the digital world.
Read this book if…
You want to be a better writer. This book focuses on teaching you how to create more engaging and attractive content that truly speaks to readers.
7. Content Inc. – by Joe Pulizzi
“Start A Content-First Business, Build a Massive Audience, and Become Radically Successful (With Little to No Money)”
The newer, updated edition of Content Inc. directs its focus towards building a loyal audience by creating content that’s valuable to them. It helps you choose your niche, build an audience, and then create a product for that audience. You can identify the channel that’s best to build your platform and start making money.
Aside from practical tips and real-life examples, it covers newer platforms like TikTok, SnapChat, and Instagram. That means you can expand your content to cover multiple channels and platforms. Essentially, this book is a blueprint to create content, market it, and make money from it.
Read this book if…
You’re thinking of making a business out of your content. You’ll learn how to approach different channels to reach a large audience that will bring you money.
8. The Content Strategy Toolkit: Methods, Guidelines, and Templates for Getting Content Right – by Meghan Casey
However much blogging may appear cool, it really involves some hard work. What’s nice, though, is that there are a bunch of methods that make things easier for any online business. Searching for these solutions online can get a tad tedious, though. That’s when this little book can help out.
Meghan Casey’s guide walks you through building a winning content strategy, step by step, from planning to managing your content with ease. It’s packed with tools to help you tackle tricky tasks, like explaining content issues to clients, getting the budget for your projects, and bringing everyone on the same page. With The Content Strategy Toolkit, you’ll have everything you need – instructions, tools, and templates – so it feels like you’ve got your very own consulting team by your side.
Read this book if…
You wish to master your content strategy (the title kinda gives it away, doesn’t it?). It will teach you how to manage your blog content effectively using various methods and tools.
9. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen – by Donald Miller
It’s really a given that to be able to connect with your customers and sell them anything, a strong brand image helps. Miller puts forth a technique that uses the seven universal elements that powerful stories possess, to convey any message effectively to readers or customers. He outlines the StoryBrand process – a proven solution to communicate powerfully.
The book shares the methodology for simple brand messaging for websites, brochures, social media and more. Whatever the purpose of your venture may be, StoryBrand will help you convey clearly who you are, what you do, as well as convey the unique value you bring to any customer. Needless to say, these how-tos ought to find a place in your list of best books for bloggers.
Read this book if…
You want to create an authentic brand around your content. Learn how to write stories to build a brand voice that people recognize and resonate with. In the day and age of mass produced, generically written AI content, this is more crucial than ever.
10. SEO 2024: Learn search engine optimization with smart internet marketing strategies – by Adam Clarke
Growing a business online needs your web pages to be highly visible to search engines. What makes this even more difficult is that search engines constantly change their algorithms or the way they rank content. This book can be of immense help to stay on top of these changes and to get to the top of search engine rankings. Having achieved thousands of top SEO rankings over a decade, Adam’s book is the right place to turn to for help.
In the book, you’ll learn about powerful link building techniques that experts use and how to turn around search engine updates to your advantage. You’ll learn to use white-hat SEO and winning methods to improve performance and move up the search engine rankings.
Read this book if…
You want to learn the depths of SEO. This book will show you how to make the most of search engine optimization to increase your visibility in search engines so you can reach a wider audience.
11. On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction – by WIlliam Zinsser
A book on how to write well for blogs should surely find a place in a list of books for bloggers. William Zinsser’s book fills that spot. A million+ buyers have found this book to be a useful resource for writers and bloggers. Whatever your field of writing is, this book can help you communicate better.
William sets out the basic rules of good writing and a few tips on how to write a good piece. You’ll know the importance of putting yourself in your readers’ shoes, how to maintain continuity between paragraphs to avoid clutter, and to end a piece on a strong note.
Read this book if…
You want to improve the quality of your blog content. This book will give you the secret sauce recipe that gets readers hooked.
12. Blogging For Dummies – by Amy Lupold Bair
If you plan to make your mark on the digital world by starting your own blog, this book might help you get started on the right foot. Blogging For Dummies delivers all the essential guidance you need on blogging basics, the structure of a successful blog, and the necessary tools a beginner needs.
You’ll also receive expert advice on selecting a blog topic, choosing the right domain name and hosting provider, crafting your first post, planning an editorial calendar, and making your blog a key element of your personal brand.
Read this book if…
You don’t know much about blogging or managing a blog by yourself. This book covers the ABCs of launching your first blog – from the technical stuff to the more editorial aspects.
13. Atomic Habits – by James Clear
“An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones”
While not exactly a fit in a list of books for bloggers, this New York Times bestseller has something for everyone who is looking to achieve their goals. Whatever your goal is, this book can set you on the path to it by helping you let go of bad habits and making the time / effort for good ones.
Drawing inspiration from big-time achievers, it helps you understand how to think of progress and success. If you’ve a strong desire for change but you’re unable to get there, this book explains that maybe it’s your system or environment that needs to change first.
Read this book if…
You struggle with consistency when it comes to publishing on your blog. If you procrastinate a lot, this book will help you build better habits so that you can produce content on a regular basis.
14. The $100 Startup – by Chris Guillebeau
“Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future”
Don’t have money / business plan / employees / house, yet want to lead a life of freedom? Not to worry, if you have an expertise or passion that folks are willing to pay for, Chris shows you how to make a living off it. Not in a generalized fashion, but by focusing on 50 interesting case studies of individuals who monetized aspects of their skill set.
Having travelled extensively, yet never holding a real job, Chris speaks with experience of turning his ideas into income. This easy-to-use guide sets out great lessons on turning your skills into money. It contains what these folks did in the first few weeks, their mistakes and also the strengths that helped them sail through difficult times. A good read to get you on the road to freedom from humdrum work.
Read this book if…
You want to make a living out of your passion for writing. If you’re not a fan of working from 9 to 5, this book gives you advice on how build a startup of your own.
15. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich – by Timothy Ferriss
This book aims to cut the grind out of a full working week by sharing high tech shortcuts to short bursts of work with long rest periods. In the new edition, Tim includes 50 practical tips and case studies of persons who have put to use the earlier edition of the book. He gives importance to outsourcing routine tasks to virtual assistants and shows you how to cut down 50% of your work in 48 hours.
This book is for you if you’re looking to be more productive in your working hours and are looking to switch to a mobile lifestyle. Tim shows you that life is not always about work. By automating or outsourcing as many tasks as possible, you can free up time and increase income to do the things you really want.
Read this book if…
You want to switch from the traditional eight-hour work day to a shorter but smarter model. This book explains how to replace your 9 to 5 with a four-hour workweek that still earns a generous income.
Which one is your favorite? 🤔
And that is it! These have been our favorite books for bloggers in 2024. What we love about this lineup is that you’ll find publications that cover all different aspects of being a blogger – from writing, to growing your audience, promotion, monetization, and much more.
Moreover, no matter if you’re a beginner or advanced blogger with years of experience, you’ll surely find something for yourself here!
With that, we wish you a happy reading!
Are there any other interesting books that we missed? Let us know in the comments below.
…
Don’t forget to join our crash course on speeding up your WordPress site. Learn more below:
