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Finding the right resources to help you launch and grow your blog can be overwhelming. So before you spend thousands of dollars on blogging courses or even hiring a coach, I suggest reading books about blogging first.
Millions of people leverage blogs and other sites to find information each day. According to Wordpress.com—a leader in blog website hosting—over 20 billion website pages are viewed by 409 million people each month. With so many people searching for information, there’s a tremendous opportunity to start a successful blog. Blogging is also a great way to make some extra money.
The good news is that starting a blog is easier now more than ever. With a few clicks, you can have a site up and running. Although it may be easy to start a blog, growing and maintaining it can have its challenges. That’s why resources like books about blogging are essential. Check out these blogging books to help you start, grow, and monetize your blog.
Blogging books for beginners
Having a successful blog starts with a great foundation. These books will help you get started with your blog-- from setting it up to launching!
Blog, Inc.: Blogging for Passion, Profit, and to Create Community by Joy Deangdeelert Cho
As one of the most popular books for new bloggers, Blog, Inc.: Blogging for Passion, Profit and to Create Community, teaches readers how to start, grow, monetize and build their blog. From choosing the right platform to host your blog to learning how to become a full-time blogger, Joy shares her expert tips as the owner of the award-winning blog and lifestyle brand, Oh Joy! This book is unique in that it shares tips for financing your blog—a topic that’s often overlooked in many blogging resources. She even provides insight on maintaining work/life balance, another important aside.
Blogging All-in-One For Dummies by Susan Gunelius
Looking for an all-inclusive book about blogging? Then grab Blogging All-in-One for Dummies. With over 700 pages, this book covers almost every blogging topic imaginable—from choosing your blogging platform to microblogging on Twitter. This book can be leveraged as a go-to resource to reference as you start and expand your blog.
Writing books for bloggers
The crux of blogging is ultimately writing, so honing these skills will only help make your blog more successful and enjoyable for readers. These books will teach you how to discover and outline content ideas and write like the pros!
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handly
In this Wall Street Journal bestseller, Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content, Ann Handly immediately dispels the myth that you have to have a journalism or writing degree to be a writer. Instead, she believes that everyone should be concerned about their writing skills. Whether it's for your blog post or social media caption, Ann provides a copywriting strategy for it. This book is jammed packed with information on how to become a better writer, marketer, and content creator.
The One Hour Content Plan by Meera Kothand
Constantly producing content for your blog can be time-consuming. Meera Kothand provides the antidote in her book, The One Hour Content Plan. The book claims to show you how to produce a year’s worth of blog post ideas in 60 minutes and is a worthwhile read. Meera walks you through content ideation that’s relevant to your blog’s overall purpose. This is followed by different types of posts that you can use for those ideas. The book concludes with lessons on how to promote your content and tips for managing your content, or editorial, workflow.
Social media books for bloggers
Blogging is more than just typing up a post and hitting “publish.” Social media plays a huge role in getting your content out to more people and building a relationship with your audience. Here are a few books that can help you make the most out of social media to promote your blog and building a following.
One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days by Brendan Kane
If you’re wondering how to get more social media followers, Brendan Kane has the answer in his book, One Million Followers. With a following of 1 million people on Instagram alone, he shares his strategies for using social media to share your message to the masses. This book walks you through how to target your audience, create a compelling message, and how to strategically use social media platforms for greater reach. Brendan shares the strategies that he’s used to quickly grow the social media reach and influence of Fortune 500 corporations and celebrities.
Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media by Brittany Hennessy
Arguably the only book of its kind, the book, Influencer, goes behind the scenes of the new and booming influencer marketing industry. Brittany shares all of the insights from her career in digital media as the director of talent partnerships. This book breaks down how you can monetize your influence as a content creator. Within the book, Brittany breaks down strategies for working with corporations and even goes into how to price your services. If you’re thinking about expanding your brand beyond your blog, this book is a must-read.
Business books for bloggers
The moment that you make a single cent from your blog, you’ve created a business—or at least a side business. If you want to run your blog like a business, these books will equip you with the tools that you need.
Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz
Business is more than about making money. You have to know how to manage your money as well. The book, Profit First, teaches you how to manage your business finances effectively. Mike Michalowicz shares the major financial lessons that he learned from growing and selling multiple million-dollar businesses. His unique approach to cash management in your business ensures that you will always be profitable.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Your life is the sum total of your decisions and habits. The same is true in business. If you want a better business, you must have better habits. In his #1 New York Times bestselling book, Atomic Habits, James Clear shares strategies for forming good habits by making small, easy changes each day. You’ll get the tools needed to improve each day and, ultimately, reach your goals.
Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business Chris Ducker
Eventually, you may come to a point where you’ll need help with managing your online business. One way to do that is by hiring a virtual assistant and other virtual staff. The Virtual Freedom book is the ultimate guide for hiring virtual staff so that you can find freedom in your business. The book provides resources and a how-to guide for working with virtual employees.
Final thoughts on blogging books
It’s important to remember that blogging is a long term business idea. These are a few books about blogging that can help you get started. They are great resources that you can revisit as you continue to grow your site. With focus, intention, and clear goals, you too can build an incredibly successful blogging business!