If a decent writer is willing to go out and read the top 5 content marketing books, and then implement those strategies, that person would have a solid career for the next 40 years. Content marketing is here to stay, and it is the driver of the all important inbound lead.
Plain and simple… read these books, and become awesome at content marketing!
Epic Content Marketing by Joe Pulizzi
Joe Pulizzi is one of the foremost content marketing strategists in the world. He has a number of books out but Epic Content Marketing might be the best one to start with because it gives you such an amazing overview of the world of content marketing and how to develop strategies that will give you a competitive edge. He talks about the importance of creating tailored messages and stories that are ready for immediate widespread distribution on the web. The book offers a step-by-step plan for creating content that doesn’t just highlight the benefits of your organization or product but actually engages customers and moves them in some way. It’s an excellent read for any marketer looking to make their content stand out and get noticed.
Content Strategy for the Web by Kristina Halverson and Melissa Rach
A lot of content marketers shy away from the word “strategy.” But content marketing is becoming so important, and so complex, that you aren’t doing yourself justice if you don’t understand the bigger strategy concerning how to get the most out of your content. Content Strategy for the Web is the perfect book to help you realize the value of content and plan for its long-term success. Kristina Halverson and Melissa Rach are serious strategy experts and they don’t mess around when it comes to delivering valuable, actionable tips. The book takes you through the process of understanding content strategy and its business value and looks at how to make smarter, achievable decisions about what content to create and how to do it. It’s an especially helpful book if you need to make a case to your boss or manager about the value of content and content strategy. Consider this one essential.
How to Write Copy that Sells: The Step-by-Step System for More Sales, to More Customers, More Often by Ray Edwards
Content marketers understand that it’s not always enough to come up with great content – you also have to know how to get it noticed. You might have the best demo video, article, whitepaper or tutorial in the world, but unless it’s paired with great promotion, it’s not worth a cent. That’s where skilled marketing copywriting comes in. Direct marketing can couple with content marketing to make sure that your headlines are read and not ignored and that you get readers to follow your CTAs. Writing for sales without being salesy is an art unto itself, and it’s one that content marketers should learn to perfect. How to Write Copy That Sells is a fantastic guide to direct-marketing tactics that clearly lays out specific steps to make you a better copywriter. It addresses how to write headlines that grab readers, how to write bullet points that make your prospects eager to buy and more. You can work your way through the examples and learn to be a better seller.
Illuminate by Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez
One super crucial key to being a great content marketer is understanding your audience. Without really knowing who you are marketing to, you are shooting in the dark. The only way to make content resonate is to put yourself in their shoes and craft it with the reader/viewer in mind. In Illuminate, Nancy Duarte and Patti Sanchez, best known for their successful presentation design company, Duarte, talk in depth about the importance of understanding your audience and creating powerful material that helps to inspire them to take action (i.e. buy your stuff). It’s a beautifully written book that weaves in a lot of personal anecdotes and highlights the power of storytelling in content marketing. You’ll learn how and why content resonates and how to sway people over to your way of thinking – which will prove valuable to you both amongst your co-workers and your potential customers.
Non-Obvious 2017: How to Think Different, Curate Ideas & Predict The Future by Rohit Bhargava
Great content starts with great ideas. Non-Obvious teaches you how to stay ahead in the content marketing game by predicting and curating trends that can guide your marketing efforts. He walks you through the process of understanding trends and then shows you how to apply trend insights to your career, cause or business in order to edge ahead of your competition. His knowledge will help you become a better content marketer and also boost your value as a thought leader in your field.