One of the best ways to learn SEO is by reading one of the many SEO books that are available.
While you can learn digitally through my SEO portal, nothing quite compares to the experience that a good old fashioned book can provide.
But:
Not every SEO book is worth reading so I thought I would help you save some time with my own recommendations.
What Will I Learn?
There are plenty of awesome SEO books to choose from. The problem is knowing which ones are worth reading and which ones to avoid.
So, if you want a list of SEO books that will actually help you become better at SEO, take a look at my recommendations below.
If you are serious about increasing your search traffic you should buy the 28 Day SEO Challenge book now.
It’s a full colour, hardcover guide to increasing your search traffic:
Over 28 days you will learn how to make huge improvements to each of the core pillars of SEO-
Not only that, but the book was written by our very own Matthew Woodward!
Looking for a comprehensive SEO book?
Then, this book is for you.
The Art of SEO takes you from beginner SEO concepts to advanced strategies covering a massive range of topics.
The Art of SEO was written by three authors:
Each author has extensive careers in SEO and is well-known across the industry.
Inside the book you will discover:
Although it starts off slow, The Art of SEO quickly picks up pace. Before long you will find yourself deep inside advanced SEO tactics that are working right now.
And if you’re hoping for step by step guides…
The Art of SEO delivers. The book doesn’t just list a bunch of tactics and wish you luck – it contains real SEO strategies that you can follow.
Whether you are:
…There is something for everyone inside The Art of SEO.
The SEO industry changes quickly.
One day your strategies are working, the next day, they are not.
Finding quality SEO materials to learn and grow can be difficult. You are just never quite sure if what you are learning is up to date and most importantly if it still works today.
In SEO 2021, Adam Clarke walks you through his own search engine optimisation techniques. The book is an updated version of SEO 2019 to address Google’s recent algorithm changes.
SEO 2021 teaches:
If that’s not enough…
…You also get a simple SEO checklist and some video tutorials to help you apply what you just learnt after you have finished reading it.
If you’re anything like me you learn best from case studies.
SEO 2021 contains mini case studies on SEO strategies that you can take and apply to your own website.
On top of that:
Adam also talks about the current state of SEO and where he thinks it’s going. He provides some great insights into how to “Google update proof” your website for the future.
If you’re an SEO professional I don’t think there will be anything groundbreaking that you haven’t heard before.
In saying that, SEO 2021 does have some nice tactics and strategies that will be a great addition to anyone’s SEO arsenal.
Want to use SEO for your small business?
SEO For Growth has been written with small business owners in mind.
The book focuses more on foundational SEO applications which makes it perfect for business owners who don’t have much SEO experience.
In other words:
You get a good understanding of how to use SEO in your business without having to go through all of the long-form theory stuff… Just what small business owners need.
Overall, SEO for Growth covers:
While SEO for Growth is primarily focused on teaching SEO, it also covers a range of digital marketing strategies.
If you…
…This is the book for you.
The authors use straightforward language that’s easy to digest and contains plenty of examples to help you understand the tactics even more.
SEO for Growth also includes a lot of other resources. You get an extensive list of people to follow online and other tips on how to continue to grow your SEO skills.
If using SEO to gain visibility online for your business sparks your interest – this is an excellent book.
The Ultimate Guide to Link Building is published by Entreprenuer.com.
This resource teaches link building from A-Z.
Although originally published in 2013 the techniques and strategies are timeless.
Seriously…
After being in the SEO industry for so many years I am still impressed with the amount of link building knowledge this book contains that’s still relevant today.
You get a deep understanding of link building like-
There really is an endless amount of knowledge in this book.
Links are one of the biggest ranking factors for Google.
If you can consistently build quality links you are ahead of most SEOs.
Link building is really an incredible skill to have and if you want it to become a core skill for yourself, The Ultimate Guide to Link Building is where you should start.
A word of caution:
I wouldn’t recommend this book to beginners.
The authors have a writing style that even I found difficult to follow at times. This book is aimed at medium to advanced SEO professionals.
Note: If you’re a beginner and want to learn link building if suggest you download my link building checklist.
How good are the “For Dummies” books?
SEO For Dummies is like a textbook for SEO that leaves no stone unturned.
While SEO For Dummies starts at the foundational level, you will quickly find yourself at your website’s “code level”.
Yes, I mean the author Peter Kent also dives into how to optimise your website’s code.
You don’t have to read this book cover to cover because there really is SO much information inside. I recommend you just read the topics of SEO you want to grow in and apply the concepts.
Inside SEO For Dummies you’ll learn:
You get a very comprehensive education on SEO.
The only thing is…
Off-page SEO isn’t covered in-depth enough. SEO For Dummies focuses more on optimising (on-page SEO) your own website.
Unlike so many other SEO books, the author of SEO For Dummies is not promoting anything at the end of the book.
SEO For Dummies dives straight into the process of creating an SEO-friendly website and give you practical knowledge on how to:
While the book doesn’t bring any new “groundbreaking” concepts it does bring you solid, up to date and proven methods that can help you move the needle.
So, if you’re an SEO beginner interested in implementing SEO best practices step-by-step, this is a good book for you.
SEO is the foundation of digital marketing.
Once you have your foundations in place you can use other strategies to continue to get more visibility for your business.
So, let’s complete our list with other great marketing digital books that will help you grow your business online.
Want to make money from your blog?
Pro Blogger’s Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income teaches you how to earn an income from your blog.
The book is written by two of the world’s most successful bloggers:
The book takes you through each step in setting up a blog and different methods to earn money as a blogger.
The topics that are covered include:
The book covers everything you need to launch and maintain a blog that makes money…Good money.
Grow Hack: Learn How To Build A Successful Blog In 7 Days with my free blogging course.
The book isn’t very long or complicated to understand.
You get clear instructions on exactly:
Although the content is a little dated, the principles are still very much relevant today.
I read this book a while back and it really helped me add a bit more structure to my own blog and find new ways to monetise it.
It’s definitely aimed at beginner bloggers, but experienced bloggers can also benefit from the principles.
Today’s online world is busy.
It is so hard to get your message out in front of the right people.
Faster, Smarter, Louder is about how Aaron Agius and Gián Clancey changed their small two-person agency into a large global agency.
The book talks about:
This book is really a blueprint for modern-day marketing.
Two words: It’s Practical
You rarely find a book that covers the theory of a concept thoroughly and then translates that into step-by-step practical instructions.
That is exactly what Faster, Smarter, Louder does!
It provides a deep insight into human behaviour and why we buy. Plus you get a list of step-by-step strategies to make your business online marketing effective!
Faster, Smarter, Louder is a short read and has tons of:
You learn directly from Aaron Agius and Gián Clancey’s own experience and research.
Good storytelling = good marketing.
In Storytelling, Daniel Anderston explains how to:
…In your business that customers can relate to.
Stories connect people. The book gives clear steps on how to use storytelling in your business…
…Even if you aren’t a great storyteller.
Here’s what you will learn in Storytelling:
It’s the kind of book that will have an impact on anyone’s business no matter what you do.
This is one of those books that is just inspiring!
But let’s be real: There are many books out there that are full of fluff leaving you with nothing but wasted hours.
Storytelling by Daniel Anderson isn’t like that at all.
Storytelling is easy to read and provides practical steps to create great stories that help build your business or personal brand.
Personally, I love reading books – I think it’s a fun way to learn about complicated stuff.
But that’s not the only reason I suggest you read SEO books:
Ever felt overwhelmed when putting together an SEO strategy?
You’re not alone.
There are thousands of quality SEO blogs and videos out there that cover almost every aspect of SEO. These resources are often very comprehensive and provide a lot of great information for free.
Here’s the problem:
Rarely do these blogs and videos provide the information in a way that is easy to understand. As an SEO beginner, this can make it very hard to learn.
SEO books are different.
The biggest advantage of an SEO book is its structure. Concepts are simplified and laid out in an easy to read format.
This is a lifeline for beginners starting their SEO education just trying to nail down the basics.
Information is everywhere. Experience is what counts.
SEO books provide an opportunity to take advantage of the author’s experience and fast track your own SEO skills.
Learning SEO doesn’t have to be a hustle and grind experience.
It should be a fun experience where you not only learn but are also inspired to try new things on your website.
SEO books are full of case studies that have real-life challenges which teach you specific methods and strategies you can use for yourself.
SEO is a fast-changing industry.
Google made hundreds of changes to its algorithm last year alone.
SEO books are a great way to make sure you are always ahead of the curve.
You get valuable insights from trusted professionals that you can implement in your own business or SEO career.
So there you have it.
These are the 6 best SEO books to read in 2024 (plus a few bonuses) in my opinion.
The knowledge you’ll learn in these SEO books will fast-track your SEO career or business.
On top of reading these books, you can also:
Did I miss any SEO books on this list?
If there are any SEO books that you would recommend let me know in the comments. I am always interested in learning about new SEO books as they come out.
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I’m new to seo , hope these books will make me master
Good luck, Sam
Thank you for sharing this information
No problem
Hi Matthew, It was a GREAT post! I love reading, since childhood I have been a bookworm. Now that I am a marketer, and SEO is a big part of my routine, I constantly look for ways to educate myself. I think all of these books are great and I can’t wait to get my hands on them and just start reading. Thanks a lot for sharing such an amazing article. I have read some of them before, but some are fairly new which I will read in the coming days. I appreciate your efforts.
Enjoy the books! Cheers 🙂
Bought 3 books that I know I need to refine my Agency Skills. Thanks for this Matt!
No problem! Which books did you buy?
Thank you for providing these helpful resources. After exiting this site, will purchase The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization and SEO For Dummies. At a later date, will purchase additional books you featured. Best regards.
Let me know what you think about those books. Would be great to have your feedback.
I like this post very much. Very informative post. Your provided collection is no doubt great. A book “search engine optimization for dummies” written by “bruce clay”, pls tell us something about that also and “Seo made simple” by “Michael H. Fleischner”.I like books which are powered packed with practical knowledge (step by step, case studies) etc, with informative background, like why we do something in seo and how we do.
Hi Sunny, I’ll take a look at those books and maybe, add them to the list. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’d like to add “Product-Lead SEO”, from Eli Schwartz. It is really helpful for thinking SEO in a different way, specially in big websites.
Great suggestion!