Looking for the best content strategy books? good luck.
Type “content marketing” into amazon and you’ll get about 5,000 results. if you try the “content strategy” you will do a little better with only 4800 results.
You are reading: Best content strategy books
How do you know what’s worth reading? to be honest, almost everything. but I don’t think you want to spend the next 13 years reading a book a day.
As content strategy and marketing continue to grow, more and more ideas are emerging that are worth considering.
I have identified ten authors that I think are worthwhile. they range from the basics of content marketing to cutting-edge thought leadership on the future of content and beyond.
here is your next reading list. It’s time to go to the books. 📚
just give me the list: the best books on content strategy for 2020
1. the content strategy toolkit: methods, guidelines and templates to get the content right – meghan casey
2. the content fuel framework: how to generate unlimited story ideas – melanie deziel
3. content strategy for the web – kristina halvorson
4. everyone writes: your go-to guide to creating ridiculously good content – ann handley
5. designing connected content: planning and modeling digital products for today and tomorrow – carrie hane & mike atherton
6. don’t make me think, revisited: a common sense approach to web usability – steve krug
7. the long neck of the stranger: how to deliver what your customers really want online – gerry mcgovern
8. epic content marketing: how to tell a different story, break through the clutter, and win more customers with less marketing – joe pulizzi
9. the contextual marketing revolution: how to motivate buyers in the age of infinite media – mathew sweezey
10. content everywhere: strategy and structure for future-ready content – sara wachter-boettcher
11. how to write copy that sells: the step-by-step system to get more sales, for more clients, more often: ray edwards
bonus: get down to business with my updated content strategy guide
the 11 best content strategy books you should read in 2020
The best content strategy books don’t always seem to be about content strategy…but trust me! each of these titles will broaden your perspective or deepen your understanding, or both. here are my best recommendations (in alphabetical order by author’s last name).
1. the content strategy toolkit: methods, guidelines and templates to get the content right – meghan casey
why you should read it:many content strategy books are written for independent entrepreneurs, freelancers, or one-woman programs, but the content strategy toolkit is so much more! In it, you’ll find practical strategies and guidelines for a variety of situations, including how to tell your boss that your company blog needs help, or how to handle content aimed at getting stakeholders on board with an idea.
who is meghan casey? She is a renowned content strategy trainer and speaker who also runs her own content consulting firm. follow her on twitter right here.
2. the content fuel framework: how to generate unlimited story ideas – melanie deziel
why you should read it: So, you have a defined content strategy and content marketing approach, but you have yet to find topics! even in 2020, it is still a big challenge. the content fuel framework helps you overcome that challenge, even makes it look easy. that’s super awesome when you have deadlines and a schedule to keep to.
Who is Melanie Deziel? is a content marketer specializing in brand storytelling and founder of the company storyfuel. you can follow her on twitter here.
3. content strategy for the web – kristina halvorson
why you should read this: before content marketing was a dominant concept online, kristian halvorson published content strategy for the web, a groundbreaking work explaining to business owners why those endless site redesigns weren’t increasing revenue. this is a great book to get a good idea of how content strategy and marketing have evolved over the years, while also collecting tried and tested tips and advice that works.
See Also: The 10 Best Books To Help You Figure Out Your Life
Who is Kristina Halvorson? SheShe is the CEO of Brain Traffic, a leading content strategy agency, as well as the founder of Confab, an annual content strategy conference. you can follow her on medium and also on twitter.
kristina halvorson emphasizes the people components (workflow and governance) as well as the content components in content strategy. source: content strategy for the web
4. everyone writes: your go-to guide for creating ridiculously good content – ann handley
why you should read this: I talk a lot on this blog about how ridiculously good content is as the backbone of content strategy. in everyone writes, ann handley agrees. “our words online are our currency”, and online, everyone has something to say. If you’re looking for a way to hone your voice and deliver truly compelling messages, this is the book for you.
who is ann handley? a kicka$$ speaker, for example. (check it out on youtube). she is also the head of content marketing profs. follow her on twitter.
5. designing connected content: planning and modeling digital products for today and tomorrow – carrie hane & mike atherton
why you should read this: every good content strategy starts with a framework. however, what that framework is can vary from project to project. I like designing connected content because it shows you exactly how to structure a content framework that combines strategy, design, and management into one cohesive system. If you’re having trouble having too much content or aren’t sure how its individual pieces fit together, check out this book. can give you some ideas on how to view your content differently.
who are carrie hane and mike atherton? carrie has over 20 years as a content strategist and provides wonderful consulting and training. (See her Twitter feed here.) Mike is a content strategist at Facebook who is also known for his public speaking skills. (find him on twitter here.)
6. don’t make me think, revisited: a common sense approach to web usability – steve krug
Why You Should Read This: This book has been around for 20 years and its advice is still valid. don’t make me think (revised) is a short and insightful article on online usability and user experience (ux). Since so much of content strategy is focused on improving customers’ experience with your brand, applying these tips to your content and marketing strategy can increase your effectiveness in getting the right content in front of the right customers in the right place. right time. (just make sure you get the revised version, which I’ve linked).
who is steve krug? he’s a web consultant who was once an advocate for netscape and aol users – he’s been in the market for a while! his twitter is also full of thoughtful articles and fun discussions about ux.
7. the long neck of the stranger: how to deliver what your customers really want online – gerry mcgovern
why you should read it: if you read the book of krug, I recommend you read the long neck of the stranger next to it. While Krug’s book focuses on UX, McGovern looks at the customer experience side of your digital presence. I love this book for the practical tips for identifying the needs of your customers (or your customers’ customers), which you can then use to design your content strategy.
who is gerry mcgovern? gerry has been writing about information design and the digital experience since 1996. he has been described by the irland times as one of the 5 most influential people in web development. check out his twitter here.
8. epic content marketing: how to tell a different story, break through the clutter, and win more customers with less marketing – joe pulizzi
why you should read it: epic content marketing is one of those books that I consider a classic in the industry. It walks you through a lot of basics, like identifying your niche and measuring your content’s performance. however, I like it because it emphasizes compelling content creation rather than distribution activities as the engine of your marketing. this is a great read if you want to get back to basics with a refresher.
who is joe pulizzi? He is an entrepreneur and content marketing speaker who has written numerous books in the field of digital marketing. All of his books are great. he’s on twitter here.
9. the contextual marketing revolution: how to motivate buyers in the age of infinite media – mathew sweezey
why you should read it:new in 2020, the context marketing revolution is a fascinating read that looks at how businesses in this new decade can overcome the limitless noise of the media. dives into customer psychology and research into why so many marketing campaigns fail, even when it seems like they’re implementing a content and marketing strategy. it’s worth reading.
See Also: 33 Best Places to Sell Comic Books Near You & Online (for the Most Cash!) – MoneyPantry
who is mathew sweezey? is the director of marketing insights at salesforce and the author of marketing automation for beginners. follow him on twitter here.
Get ready for exciting science, data, and insights into how content is changing this decade. source: the contextual marketing revolution
10. content everywhere: strategy and structure for future-ready content – sara wachter-boettcher
why you should read it: content everywhere is another one of those classics that anyone serious about content strategy should read. examines the role of content, and then shows you how to create a cohesive “mesh” of content that drives your brand and converts your readers. By the end, you’ll know how to create content that is uplifting, useful, and takes your business into the future.
Who is Sara Wachter-Boettcher? She is an assistant strategist and social justice leader. She has some thought-provoking books worth reading if you like intelligent and engaging discussions of UX and social issues. check out her twitter here.
11. how to write copy that sells: the step-by-step system to get more sales, for more clients, more often: ray edwards
why you should read it:how to write copy that sells is the perfect addition to any content strategy library, because it walks you through literally every step of writing content that, well, , sell. internal strategies are for email marketing, websites, social media, sales pages, ads, and direct mail – each piece of a common branded content strategy.
who is ray edwards? ray edwards is a copywriter and communications strategist. He is the host of the top rated iTunes podcast, The Ray Edwards Show. Ray has written texts for some of the most powerful voices in business. His persuasive writing and marketing insights have helped generate an estimated $200 million in revenue for clients including Tony Robbins, Michael Hyatt, Dan Miller, Jeff Goins, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jeff Walker and more.
get hands on with my updated content strategy guide
That list covers a lot! but did you know that I have also written several books? 📘
And the one I recommend as a must-read for your content strategy library is my complete guide.
practical content strategy & marketing is your one stop shop for creating a cohesive content strategy from scratch. I cover everything from how to identify your content differentiator to content promotion techniques, with loads of exercises to guide you through the material!
look for an update in early July soon – you’re done with the formatter! — bringing my book up to date on the changes happening in 2020. no major revisions, but you’ll get a more skill set-specific read with the minor edits.
learn practical content strategy & marketing today
While this is not an exhaustive list of the best books on content strategy, this selection will help you delve deeper into the world of content. I tried to cover a list of recently published classics and groundbreaking works to help you get up to speed with the industry.
Any of these books will make excellent supplemental material for an online content strategy and marketing course. remember: knowledge is power. Happy studying!
Learn content and marketing strategy in 45 days or less with my powerful, step-by-step practical content strategy & marketing course.
See Also: Victoria Laurie – Book Series In Order