The 6 Best SEO Books You Should Read

There have been many guides about SEO books that you should read. Mostly, they are usually all about SEO, one right after the other.

I wanted to do something different with this post and provide some different educational material that spans all of the components of modern SEO.

The thing about SEO: it doesn’t work in a vacuum. It works well in tandem with other website marketing disciplines like content marketing, social media, analytics, and others.

That’s why as part of this list I am providing you with the best books I have enjoyed and identified with as part of the SEO ecosystem of knowledge. Enjoy, and happy reading!

Books on Search Engine Optimization

1. SEJ’s SEO 101: Learn The Basics of Search Engine Optimization

This is a shameless plug for Search Engine Journal’s latest guide to SEO, just released earlier this month.

SEO 101 is a large ebook of around 324 pages covering the basics of SEO – you don’t want to miss this one! It really is one of the best books available if you want an introductory level book on SEO.

Topics include:

• Why Links Are Important to SEO
• 20 Years of SEO: A Brief History of Search Engine Optimization
• 15 SEO Myths That Just Won’t Die
• 140 of Today’s Top SEO Experts to Follow
• …and much more.

Expert Authors Include:

• Loren Baker
• Danny Goodwin
• Anna Crowe
• Benj Arriola
• Dave Davies
• Stoney deGeyter
• Tylor Hermanson
• Ryan Jones
• Jeremy Knauff
• Julia McCoy
• Brock Murray
• Kristine Schachinger
• Dan Taylor

 

2. The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization

by Eric Enge of Stone Temple Consulting, Stephan Spencer, and Jessie C. Stricchiola

This is one of the fundamental must-reads in our industry. Whether you are an SEO beginner or a seasoned professional, Eric Enge’s The Art of SEO is a great place to go to get started or for a refresher of your SEO skills.

Eric talks about the search engine basics: their history, how they evaluate content, and how you can understand what search engines see when they spider content. You will also gain a solid education in the areas of SEO planning, the stages of SEO implementations, keyword research, SEO-friendly website development, content marketing, social media and its role in SEO; you will also find updated information on the latest algorithmic factors to consider like Panda, Penguin, and search engine penalties.

For one of the best in-depth educational books on SEO in our increasingly complex and ever-evolving industry, Eric’s book should be a staple of any SEO’s library.

3. Search Engine Optimization All-in-One for Dummies

by Bruce Clay

If you’re just getting started in SEO, or you aren’t very technically-inclined (or even if you are, and you want deep information), this is the book you should read.

Clay lays out his strategies and all the basics you need to know.

This is one of the best books you can read if you want to find out what your SEO staff is doing or if you want to improve your ability to spot what they aren’t doing. The best part is, all the updating and research has already been done for you.

Clay discusses keyword strategy, linking strategy, content, web design, programming, as well as everything involved in creating an SEO-friendly site.

He also dives deep into the technical details of his methods, so this is a great book that can be used as a crash course or a refresher for the experienced SEO. This is one of those classics that belong in any SEO’s library.

4. SEO 2017: Learn Search Engine Optimization With Smart Internet Marketing Strategies

by Adam Clarke

No list of SEO books you should read would be complete without the well-known “SEO 2017: Learn Search Engine Optimization With Smart Internet Marketing Strategies” by Adam Clarke.

Clarke writes about how Google works, a history of SEO methods that no longer work, including how Google ranks sites now.

He also talks about keyword research, on-page SEO, link building, social media and its place in the SEO ecosystem, website analytics, troubleshooting SEO problems, local SEO for businesses, and structured data.

Clarke also provides a history of Google algorithm updates, and provides a look into the future. You will also get a bonus chapter in which Clarek provides an introductory guide to PPC advertising with Google.

Books About General Online Marketing

5. Marketing in the Age of Google

by Vanessa Fox

This is one of those books that comes along once in a while: you know, one of those books that makes you go “wow”. In a good way.

Fox, who is also a talented writer in her own right, and she explains in a deep dive while also keeping things simple for the layperson: why anyone in business as an owner or marketer should know about how search works.

Integration into things like business processes is also discussed in great detail.

Books on Link Building

6. Ultimate Guide to Link Building: How to Build Backlinks, Authority and Credibility for Your Website, and Increase Click Traffic and Search Ranking

by Eric Ward and Garrett French

Eric Ward was a link building pioneer who laid foundations for modern link building. As one of the industry’s greats, it makes sense that he would write a book on the Ultimate Guide to his craft.

In this book, Ward detailed his processes for finding effective links. Things like link opportunity analyses for your niche, how to manually qualify link prospects, and more.

He also talked about link acquisition strategies like:

• Designing your own link building campaign from scratch
• Conducting effective link opportunity analysis for your niche
• Diving deep into link prospecting
• Diving deep into competitor backlink prospecting
• How to qualify link prospects
• Relationship building
• Market analysis for creating highly linkable content
• Six link building lessons from the experts

And even more.