Today there are thousands of different content marketing books. We spent hundreds of hours comparing the top 50 to find the seven best you can use to learn and master different aspects of content marketing.
What is the Best Content Marketing Book?
- The Ski Slope Strategy — best of the best
- Content Inc. — best for content-first businesses
- Everybody Writes — best for content writing tips
- Made to Stick — best for crafting memorable messages
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion — best for understanding consumer behavior
- Killing Marketing — best for content-driven audience building
- Building a StoryBrand — best for brand storytelling
Our Verdict — Best Of The Best
Price: $4.99
The Ski Slope Strategy is a must-have content marketing playbook for every marketer. We think it’s the best because of its proven proprietary strategy, focus on revenue generation, and unique insights into Google’s algo.
The Best Part:
Actionable and easy-to-follow blueprint. The Ski Slope Strategy Playbook provides a clear, step-by-step guide for implementing Content Mavericks’ proven content marketing strategy for any blog.
The Worst Part:
Demands writing. In order for you to make The Ski Slope Strategy work, you’ll need to sit down and write a few articles — or you can hire someone for really cheap to do it for you, which is explained in the book.
Get it if you want a foolproof content marketing strategy that drives long-term revenue and scales your blog, even if you're not a writer.
I recommend you order The Ski Slope Strategy Playbook today for $4.99.
(1-year money-back guarantee)
Best For
The Ski Slope Strategy is best for entrepreneurs and marketers who want to turn their blogs into revenue-generating machines with minimal effort and time investment.
Top Features
Blogging mentorship. The Ski Slope Strategy teaches you to create high-quality blog posts that generate consistent revenue, even if writing isn't your forte.
Hidden content ideas. The Ski Slope Strategy Playbook goes into the little-known techniques for finding unserved content topics, ensuring you publish content that’s always relevant to your audience.
Easy ranking. The Ski Slope Strategy isn't just about creating engaging content, it's also about optimizing your blog posts for search engines and driving SEO traffic that converts.
Revenue boosting. The Ski Slope Strategy Playbook includes detailed instructions, case studies, and actionable tips to maximize your blog's earning potential while keeping the process simple and efficient.
Pro outsourcing. The Ski Slope Strategy offers handy tips and tricks for teaming up with talented writers, letting you kick back and focus on your business growth while still funneling top-quality content to your blog.
Pricing
The Ski Slope Strategy offers a single pricing plan:
The Ski Slope Strategy Playbook: $4.99, for entrepreneurs and marketers looking to turn their blogs into revenue-generating powerhouses with little effort and time investment.
Try The Ski Slope Strategy today with a 1-year money-back guarantee.
2. Content Inc.
Our Verdict — Best For Content-First Businesses
Price: Starts at $14.34
Content Inc. is a comprehensive guide for businesses to build and monetize their audience using content. We think it’s the best for content-first businesses because of its comprehensive strategies, actionable how-tos, and insightful case studies from successful companies.
The Best Part:
Actionable how-tos. Content Inc. provides a clear and actionable roadmap for businesses to build and monetize their audience effectively by breaking down proven strategies implemented at successful companies.
The Worst Part:
Not for professionals. Content Inc. may offer limited new insights to seasoned content marketing experts, as many concepts in the book might seem basic or dated for those who are already well-versed in the field.
Get it if you want a proven strategy to build and monetize a loyal audience using content marketing.
I recommend you order Content Inc. on Kindle today for $14.34.
(7-day money-back guarantee)
Best For
Content Inc. is best for content-driven entrepreneurs and small businesses that want to establish a loyal following and marketing strategy using content.
Top Features
Up-to-date strategies. Content Inc. covers new and popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, ensuring your content strategy stays relevant in today's fast-paced digital landscape.
Customer loyalty. Content Inc. teaches you how to develop engaging content that resonates with your target audience, fostering long-lasting relationships and securing a loyal customer base for your business.
Stealthy monetization. Content Inc.'s practical tips show you how to seamlessly transition from offering free, valuable content to introducing paid products or services that your loyal audience will be eager to invest in.
Exit strategy planning. Content Inc.’s latest edition includes a new section on selling your content asset or scaling it into a large enterprise — invaluable advice whether you're just starting out or scaling up.
Learn from the author's journey. Content Inc. offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at Joe Pulizzi's experience with his Content Marketing Institute, sharing valuable insights and lessons that can help you navigate your business more effectively.
Pricing
Content Inc. offers three pricing plans:
- Kindle: $14.34, for entrepreneurs and small businesses that want to buy a digital guidebook to learn how to build and monetize their audience.
- Audiobook: $19.95, or free with an Audible trial, for busy professionals who prefer learning on-the-go through audio format.
- Hardcover: $20.74, for entrepreneurs and small businesses that prefer a physical copy of the book.
Try Content Inc. today with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Our Verdict — Best For Content Writing Tips
Price: Starts at $17
Everybody Writes is a comprehensive guide to mastering content creation and copywriting. We think it’s the best for content writing tips because of its down-to-earth advice, step-by-step frameworks, and fun writing style.
The Best Part:
It's incredibly practical. Everybody Writes offers hands-on advice and easy-to-follow frameworks that make content creation a breeze. The engaging writing style keeps readers hooked, turning complex concepts into digestible lessons that you can easily remember.
The Worst Part:
Limited focus on marketing. While the book is essential for content marketing, it doesn't dive as deep into broader marketing techniques or tactics beyond content creation itself.
Get it if you want to level up your content writing skills to create engaging, audience-focused copy that drives results.
I recommend you order Everybody Writes on Kindle for $17.
(7-day money-back guarantee)
Best For
Everybody Writes is best for marketers and business owners who want to master the art of content creation and copywriting.
Top Features
Step-by-step guidance. Everybody Writes provides a clear, easy-to-follow writing framework that helps you create top-notch, clearly structured content for your marketing campaigns.
Audience-focused approach. Everybody Writes emphasizes the importance of understanding and connecting with your target audience, ensuring that your content resonates with them, in order to drive results.
Versatile. Everybody Writes covers 13 types of content, including social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, as well as emails, website, and landing page copywriting.
Brand voice development. Everybody Writes delves into the process and strategy of content creation, production, and publishing while offering valuable tips on crafting credible, trustworthy content that positions your brand as an industry thought leader.
In-depth writing rules. Everybody Writes covers not only the big-picture strategies but also dives into the nitty-gritty details of grammar, punctuation, and unspoken writing rules.
Pricing
Everybody Writes offers four pricing plans:
- Kindle: $17, for on-the-go readers who prefer digital access.
- Audiobook: $20.99, or free with an Audible trial, for busy professionals who want to learn while commuting or multitasking.
- Hardcover: $20.49, for readers who love the feel of a physical book and enjoy annotating their reads.
- Audio CD: $32.88, for listeners who want an old-school CD to play on their devices..
Try Everybody Writes today with a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Our Top Three Picks
Here’s a quick summary of our top three picks:
- The Ski Slope Strategy — best of the best
- Content Inc. — best for content-first businesses
- Everybody Writes — best for content writing tips
Here’s a quick comparison of our top seven picks:
Tool | Entry Offer | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
The Ski Slope Strategy | 1-year money-back guarantee | $4.95 |
Content Inc. | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $14.34 |
Everybody Writes | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $17 |
Made to Stick | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $13.95 |
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $10.96 |
Killing Marketing | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $15.55 |
Building a StoryBrand | 7-day money-back guarantee | Starts at $11.10 |
Here are the top 50 content marketing books we considered in this review:
- The Ski Slope Strategy
- Content Inc.
- Everybody Writes
- Made to Stick
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
- Killing Marketing
- Building a StoryBrand
- SEO 2024
- The Content Trap
- Content Chemistry
- Youtility
- Content Design
- The Art of Content Marketing
- Content Strategy for the Web
- The Copywriter's Handbook
- Epic Content Marketing
- Top of Mind
- Blue Ocean Strategy
- The New Rules of Marketing & PR
- The Content Code
- This is Marketing
- Words that Work
- The Lean Startup
- Trust Me, I'm Lying
- The Content Formula
- Ogilvy on Advertising
- Hooked
- Influence
- The Tipping Point
- They Ask You Answer
- Contagious
- Influence and Persuasion
- To Sell is Human
- Traffic Secrets
- Content Rules
- Perennial Seller
- The Thank You Economy
- One Million Followers
- Hey Whipple, Squeeze This
- Content That Converts
- Brandscaping
- Don't Make Me Think
- The Content Fuel Framework
- The Elements of Style
- Pre-Suasion
- The Choice Factory
- The Advertising Concept Book
- Marketing 4.0
- Breakthrough Advertising
- Content Warfare
Is content marketing in high demand?
Absolutely, content marketing is in incredibly high demand, and there's a good reason for it. The digital landscape has evolved, and traditional marketing techniques often fall flat when it comes to engaging today's internet-savvy consumers. This is where content marketing shines by providing value, solving problems, and establishing a brand voice. Whether it's a small business or a multi-million dollar company, the necessity for impactful content has never been greater.
Content marketers and content strategists play a critical role in shaping effective content strategy. They rely on digital content, social media content, visual content, and even email marketing to engage customers. Books on content marketing, such as "The Ski Slope Strategy" and "Content Inc.," provide a step-by-step guide and real-world examples to help businesses get the most out of their content marketing efforts.
Tools like Google Analytics allow digital marketers to measure the success of their content and adjust strategies accordingly. The high demand also means that content marketing tools are evolving rapidly, giving marketers more refined ways to reach their audience. Therefore, in today's digital marketing landscape, content marketing isn't just desirable—it's essential.
Where to start content marketing?
Getting started in content marketing can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. First off, immerse yourself in some good books on content marketing to build a strong foundation. "The Ski Slope Strategy" offers a practical guide, especially if you're focusing on blogging as a core content type. "Content Inc." is great for a broader overview and includes several real-world examples.
The next step involves forming a dedicated content team. This will likely include content creators responsible for generating high-quality content, digital marketers who focus on distribution channels, and content strategists who plan the long-term vision. Once the team is set, it's time to decide on the types of content you'll produce. This could range from online content like blog posts and social media updates to visual and digital content like infographics and videos.
A content mapping exercise can help align your content types with various stages of the customer journey. Once everything is in place, it's all about consistent execution. Tools like Google Analytics and specialized content marketing tools can provide actionable insights to refine your strategy over time.
How successful is content marketing?
The success of content marketing hinges on several factors, including the quality of the content, the effectiveness of the distribution channels, and the overall strategy. High-quality content that solves real problems or adds value to the consumer is more likely to be shared, liked, and engaged with. "The Ski Slope Strategy" focuses on revenue generation through blog posts, for example, offering a blueprint for achieving success through consistent and high-quality blogging.
Real-world examples from successful companies show that a well-executed content marketing strategy can lead to increased brand awareness, customer engagement, and ultimately, higher revenue. Content Inc. provides case studies and actionable how-tos that break down the strategies implemented by successful businesses.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) can help measure the success of a content marketing campaign. Metrics like engagement rates, conversion rates, and ROI provide valuable insights into how well your content is performing.
Is content marketing still king?
Content marketing continues to reign supreme in the digital marketing world. The saying "Content is King" holds weight because impactful content serves as the backbone for most online interactions. As the digital world gets more saturated, the focus is increasingly shifting towards creating more personalized and impactful content experiences. Content that tells powerful stories or provides a unique point of view can help a brand stand out in a crowded marketplace.
However, it's worth noting that content marketing has evolved and should not be isolated from other strategies. It often works best when integrated with other marketing strategies like social media marketing, email marketing, and SEO. Today, the focus isn't just on creating content but creating meaningful experiences through content.
What is the difference between social media marketing and content marketing?
While both are essential components of a successful business strategy, they serve different purposes and operate in distinct ways. Content marketing is a broader field that involves the creation and distribution of valuable content to attract a targeted audience. This can span various content types like blogs, ebooks, and videos, and various platforms, including your website and third-party sites.
Social media marketing, on the other hand, is a subset of content marketing that focuses specifically on promoting content and engaging with audiences on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. It often involves more direct interaction with customers and is excellent for brand awareness and customer engagement.
Both types of marketing aim to create high-quality, relevant content, but the strategies and metrics for success might differ. Social media content is often shorter, more casual, and designed to encourage quick engagement (likes, shares, comments), while content like blog posts or ebooks aim for longer, more in-depth engagement and may even have SEO as a key consideration.
The Bottom Line
To recap, here are the best content marketing books to try this year:
- The Ski Slope Strategy — best of the best
- Content Inc. — best for content-first businesses
- Everybody Writes — best for content writing tips
- Made to Stick — best for crafting memorable messages
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion — best for understanding consumer behavior
- Killing Marketing — best for content-driven audience building
- Building a StoryBrand — best for brand storytelling
