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7 Books That Will Improve Your Blog

Six Books That Will Improve Your Blog via Blogging Basics 101October is National Book Month here in the States. I had big plans to celebrate, but I’m late to the game — something about planning two blogging conferences back-to-back and not quite finding my groove yet.

In the coming days I’ll be posting lists of books specific to different aspects of social media including

How Can I Blog Better?

I gotcha covered. It’s pretty easy to set up a blog and hang your shingle . . . and hope people read. But if you really want to attract readers and build a community, it takes work and it rarely happens overnight (unless you have a great publicist and a business plan, then maybe it happens a little quicker. But that’s a different conversation.). I’ve read and vetted a few books for you that can help you reach your blogging goals faster. When you don’t know what you don’t know, it can be tough. The books below will get you moving.

1. Blog Design For Dummies

by Melissa Culbertson

As you can see by my review, this is one of my favorite resources for new and experienced bloggers alike. If you buy nothing else, buy this. But, I’m thinking you’re going to want to buy several books from this list. Want to try before you buy? No problem. Melissa has provided a free chapter for you to download: Developing Your Overall Blog Layout.

2. Problogger’s Guide to Your First Week of Blogging

by Darren Rowse

“This eBook is jam packed with practical activities and exercises to do in your first week to make sure your blog is heading in the right direction.”

3. 31 Days to Build a Better Blog

by Darren Rowse

This book is one of the best-selling e-books online, helping over 19,000 bloggers build a better blog. Darren recently revamped this e-book and every day in the challenge has been updated. Most days have new further reading and case studies, the workbook now has Twitter integration, and the e-book has seven bonus days (effectively giving you 38 days of content)!

4. Web Hosting For Dummies

by Peter Pollock

Peter was kind enough to write a guest post with some highlights of how you can better use the web hosting tools available to you, including ones you may not have known about!

5. WordPress For Dummies

by Lisa Sabin-Wilson

WordPress.org is the industry standard for blogging. Lisa Sabin-Wilson is widely accepted as one of the foremost experts on how to use it to its fullest potential. If you have a WordPress blog or you’re thinking about getting one, this is the read for you.

6. DIY Blog Critique Ebook

by Melissa Culbertson

Melissa has made a name for herself by doing blog critiques at MomComm.com. She was receiving so many requests for help that she decided to create an e-book. Learn how to engage your audience via strong navigation, design, and content — Melissa will show you how.

7. The Copywriting Scorecard for Bloggers

by Darren Rowse

“This scorecard resource is designed to help you analyze the most important elements of your content to make sure they’re engaging, readable, professional and optimized for search engines.” Great for SEO!

Yep. This post has affiliate links. If you buy something, I do appreciate it. I can assure you that I’m making tens of cents — but each penny adds up! Thanks!

You’ll notice that I have several links to the For Dummies Series. I am a freelance editor and writer for Wiley’s For Dummies tech, blog, and social media books. They don’t pay me or ask me to promote their books. In fact, they have no idea that I even do it. I just have an affinity for the books because of their no-nonsense, easy-to-understand content. I also know several of their authors personally and have helped edit or contributed a chapter or two to a few books. Having edited many of them or read review copies, I can vouch for their usefulness.

3 thoughts on “7 Books That Will Improve Your Blog”

  1. Great to see a list of blogging books recommendation! Some people still don’t know the importance of reading a book.

    I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned above. But I have read Darren Rowse’s Secrets to blogging your way to a six-figure income. It was the first blogging book I have read that was professionally written!

    I will sure check out your review of Blog design for Dummies.

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