13 Best Books for Creating & Running an Authority Blog

Content Inc is the guide to creating a content-driven business. Joe Pulizzi (founder of the Content Marketing Institute) explains how to find your niche (where little to no competition exists), build your community, and then monetize the platform by selling products or services. You won’t find a more authoritative guide than this. You need to buy this book.

Who this is for: Every business owner will benefit. Whether you are running an existing business or just in the planning stages (even better) you’ll get the best strategies for building an authority content business.

What you’ll learn: The correct mindset and approach for a content business. You’ll learn how to develop your niche, audience, and product. 

Available formats: Hardcover | Kindle | Audible

Price (USD): $13.20 (Hardcover)

The book breaks down the complexity of business models into a simple process. This should be required reading for all business students – and business owners. 

This is the most unique book on the list. It was co-created by 470 business people from 45 countries around the world. It took nine years and more than 4000 hours of work to create. 

The book is broken into five major sections:

1. Canvas: Where every new business starts: a blank canvas. “The Business Model Canvas” is a map for each of the nine building blocks. These building blocks are customer segments, value proposition, channels, customer relationships, revenue streams, key resources, key activities, key partnerships, and cost structure.
2. Patterns: Learn about the five traditional patterns and how to translate these into new and re-purposed models.
3. Design: Learn how to use each of the six design techniques through exercises, suggestions and a story. 
4. Strategy: This section covers how to actually use the different models. Often multiple models can be used within the same company. 
5. Process: Probably the most important section, Process helps turn all the components into a usable and functional system: your new business model.

Who this is for: Both content creators (looking to monetize their platform) and new business owners will benefit.

What you’ll learn: How to create a viable business model for your niche, based on your strengths.

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle. A note about the Kindle version: Because of the highly visual layout, many readers have commented that the Kindle version doesn’t do it justice. Consider buying the paperback version.

Price (USD): $19.29 (Paperback)

Do you need passion to make your startup a success? Author John Bradberry knows the secrets to startup success – and passion isn’t one of them. 

His message is clear: Don’t start your company on passion. At least not only on passion. This book will help you evaluate your idea and help you decide if it should become a business or remain a hobby.

These are the six principles discussed in the book:

1. Founder Readiness
2. The Pull of the Market
3. Your Math Story
4. Startup Agility
5. Integrity of Communication
6. Staying Power

Each principal (or secret) is explained clearly and with lots of great case studies and examples. 

Who this is for: While every business owner will benefit, it will be most useful for business owners in the planning stage of a new startup. 

What you’ll learn: How to evaluate your idea and then address the deficiencies before you launch.

Available formats: Hardcover | Kindle

Price (USD): $20.48 (Hardcover)

In this case-study rich book, David Soskin (former CEO of Cheapflights) covers the how-to of online business. Because he uses real-life examples to explain each of his principles, it is easy to understand and put into action. 

Who this is for: This is most actionable for an existing business owner. If you are just starting your business, start with the first three books in this section.

What you’ll learn: Startup and growth for your online business. I found the book to be a great idea generator – making me think of new applications and approaches not even discussed in the book.

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle | Audible

Price (USD): $13.49 (Paperback)

This book is not for hobby bloggers. The focus is clearly on building a true authority blog. The authors, Charlie White (Gizmodo, Mashable, and TechCrunch) and John Biggs, are experts at doing this. The book covers niche development, blog tools, style, and creation of compelling content.

Who this is for: While new bloggers (especially those still planning) will benefit most, experienced content creators will also learn lots.

What you’ll learn: “How to build, write and run a successful blog” – just like the slogan says. This book will give you the authority blogger mindset.

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle

Price (USD): $27.69 (Paperback)

This is the book that started it all. Written by Chris Garrett and Darren Rowse (the original ProBlogger) this book covers the basics of creating and running a blog as a business. This book originally published back in 2008 (I have that edition) and is currently on the 3rd edition. If you’re just getting started, you should read this book. 

Who this is for: Best for beginner bloggers. 

What you’ll learn: How to become a professional blogger. 

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle

Price (USD): $16.08 (Paperback)

This is the book to read before you launch your first (or next) product. Jeff Walker has systematized the process of launching a product – ensuring that it will reach as many prospects as possible. While you might decide to faithfully follow his system, you can also pick and choose the tactics that best apply to your business or product.

Who this is for: All authority bloggers who plan on creating a product will get tons of value from this book. 

What you’ll learn: How to successfully launch a product

Available formats: Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | MP3 CD

Price (USD): $10.28  (Paperback)

Under the slogan: “100 Ways to Persuade and Convince Consumers with Neuromarketing” this book will give you significant insight into human behavior. The 60 short chapters offer quick and actionable takeaways. These principles appeal to the subconscious mind – where 95% of all thoughts, emotions, and learning occur before we are ever aware of it.

Who this is for: The principles apply equally to bloggers and marketers. You’ll see the most benefit when creating sales videos, pages, and offers. 

What you’ll learn: How to create offers, images, and copy that appeal to the subconscious mind. 

Available formats: Hardcover | Kindle | Audible | MP3 CD

Price (USD): $19.06 (Hardcover)

Search engine optimization is a complex and ever-changing topic. Most SEO books are quickly outdated because of changes to search algorithms. This book gives evergreen steps to help your content rank in search. These are all white-hat (Google approved) tactics that help search engines understand what your site is about. A related book by the same author is Google Semantic Search. 

Who this is for: While this is good for all bloggers, it will be most useful for a blogger with an established site. If you’re just getting started, you should focus on writing your foundational posts and establishing your voice. This book will help you as you move ahead and broaden your base of content. 

What you’ll learn: Specific steps to get your content to rank in search engines. The book is short (just 190 pages) and the steps are easy to implement.

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle

Price (USD): $19.99 (Paperback)

This is the content marketing manifesto. If you don’t understand the power of content, you will become a believer after reading this book. Content evangelist, Joe Pulizzi, makes the case for content and backs it up with many powerful case studies.

Who this is for: All content creators and bloggers must read this book. Use this book to help reluctant partners understand the power of content marketing. 

What you’ll learn: How to create the right kind of content and strategically apply it to reach your business objective. 

Available formats: Hardcover | Kindle | Audible

Price (USD): $19.33 (Hardcover)

Content Rules teaches how to create compelling content. Part One covers rules for content creation and sharing. Part Two teaches the how-to of content creation, including blogs, webinars, E-books, video, and podcasting. Part Three gives a ton of case studies with actionable examples.

Who this is for: This is great for beginner bloggers – and a good refresher for all content creators.

What you’ll learn: Specific advice about how to use content and how to create compelling content that converts visitors into customers. Its many examples will get your ideas flowing.

Available formats: Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audible

Price (USD): $10.51 (Paperback)

Quickly improve your writing with these 20 principles. You’ll learn about structure, style and readability. Conquer your writing fears with this book.

Joseph Pulitzer said it best: “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately, so they will be guided by its light.”

Who this is for: All content creators. Unless you are a trained journalist, this book will improve your writing. Clear and compelling writing is fundamental to your blog. 

What you’ll learn: Simple principles that will immediately improve your writing. 

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle 

Price (USD): $9.99 (Paperback)

To build an engaged community, you’ll need more than just factually accurate posts. Add boldness to your writing and increase the connection with your readers. Spunk and Bite is a play on the names of authors Strunk & White (The Elements of Style). The book teaches a contemporary, bold writing style – the opposite of Strunk & White’s book.

Who this is for: All bloggers. Both new and veteran writers will benefit from the suggestions in this book.  

What you’ll learn: How to write in a more compelling, visual manner. Your writing will become more engaging and memorable.

Available formats: Paperback | Kindle

Price (USD): $13.34 (Paperback)