Best Content Marketing Books to Study in 2023

Best Content Marketing Books to Study in 2023

Jovana Ristić

4

 min read

If you have any experience with digital marketing, you must have heard the saying content is king. Unfortunately, many companies still focus on driving sales and building a customer base through outdated marketing strategies. 

We live in the digital era, meaning our business success largely depends on our marketing strategy. That’s where the importance of engaging and high-quality content shines through. Regardless of the niche, target audience, or company size, each business must have a clear and innovative content marketing strategy. 

Therefore, whether you’re new to the industry or need fresh ideas to improve your existing strategies, content marketing books written by experts will come in handy.  The article will introduce the following books on content marketing that have become indispensable:

  • Epic Content Marketing: How to Tell a Different Story, Break Through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less by Joe Pulizzi
  • Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content  by Ann Handley
  • They Ask, You Answer: A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today’s Digital Consumer by Marcus Sheridan

Let’s dive in.

Why Should You Study Content Marketing Books?

Content marketing is no longer on the sidelines as a practice to improve your company’s online presence. It’s now at the core of any successful digital marketing strategy. 

In this highly competitive digital world, staying up to date with the latest trends, best practices, and new tools is essential. That’s why reading the best books on content marketing is critical. Whether you’re a beginner or an industry veteran, reading someone’s new point of view will help you recognize your business needs.

However, don’t expect the best books on content creation and marketing to resolve all your issues. While they will steer you in the right direction, you’ll have to do the heavy lifting to make these strategies and ideas come to life.

Where to Find Content Marketing Books?

Since content marketing is integral to any company’s online success, you'll find top marketing books anywhere you look — in your favorite bookstore or online platforms like Amazon. 

However, finding the best book on marketing strategy requires dedicated research and patience — not every title will meet your standards. If you don’t know where to start, the list below might help you. 

Best Content Marketing Books in 2023

The web is overflowing with content creation and marketing manager books. But which ones are indeed the best? The following paragraphs introduce you to the top three content marketing books 2023. Check out what each offers and pick the one that best suits your needs.

Book #1 — Epic Content Marketing: How to Tell a Different Story, Break Through the Clutter, and Win More Customers by Marketing Less

Pulizzi content marketing book

About the Book

Epic Content Marketing hit the shelves in 2013, quickly earning the nickname the Bible of Content Marketing. The book was written by Joe Pulizzi, a founder of several companies, content creator, and bestselling author of seven books. He has received numerous accolades throughout the years, including the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Content Council.

Epic Content Marketing is available as an ebook, audiobook, and hardcover. You might also find an Epic Content Marketing PDF for download as well. The current pricing on Amazon is $28. 

On March 7, 2023, the book’s second edition will arrive in stores. It will offer an updated insight into the newest content marketing trends, strategies, and tools, including Web3.

Key Points

Epic Content Marketing is one of five must-read business books ranked by Fortune Magazine. It’s an essential read for people who want to work in content marketing or are already in the business. 

It provides an excellent overview of the content marketing pillars (fill a need, be consistent, be human, avoid salesy talk, have a point of view, and simply be the best) and breaks down several crucial processes — picking a niche, appealing to customers, growing your audience, measuring performance, and successfully managing the content budget. 

Like most high-quality content strategy books, Epic Content Marketing also offers numerous examples to illustrate the point, making it easy for beginners to understand the steps and procedures. 

Joe Pulizzi’s writing balances practical suggestions and thought-provoking visions, neatly explaining what’s possible in content marketing and how to achieve it. Despite being one of the best digital marketing books, it reminds you that you have to put in the work to make a difference — nobody can do it for you.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Detailed overview of the six content marketing principles 
  • Solid advice and precise marketing strategies 
  • Clear and easy-to-understand writing 
  • Case studies and examples of big company marketing success

Cons:

  • Slightly more oriented towards big enterprises
  • Lacks details in some areas

Book #2 — Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content 

Handley content marketing book

About the Book

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content was written by Ann Handley in 2014. Despite starting her career as a business journalist, Handley currently works as a Chief Content Officer at MarketingProfs and a monthly columnist for Entrepreneur magazine.

The book is available in several formats, including an ebook, hardback, and audiobook. The current price listed on Amazon is $21.05 (hardback copy).

Key Points

Everybody Writes is one of the best content marketing books for beginners. The author highlights the importance of writing authentically, as every successful marketing strategy starts with excellent writing. She also explains both sides of the coin — content can make us look good or boring, depending on our approach, writing style, and experience. 

Whether you run a website or work in any marketing sector, such as social media, you’ll find helpful information to implement in your strategies. Moreover, the book will teach you how to write better, create attention-grabbing stories, rely on tried-and-tested strategies, and use tools to get the job done. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to read
  • Aimed at beginners
  • Specific rules and types of content explained
  • Clear and relatable writing
  • Valuable resource and guidebook

Cons:

  • Sightly repetitive
  • Not for seasoned writers and marketers

Book #3 — They Ask, You Answer: A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today’s Digital Consumer

Sheridan content marketing book

About the Book

Initially released in 2017, They Ask, You Anwer by Marcus Sheridan is one of the best books on marketing your content. Sheridan, dubbed web marketing guru by The New York Times, has managed to save his swimming pool company from an economic crash in 2008. Today, he shares his experience with the world and collaborates with hundreds of businesses, helping them improve their digital marketing strategies.

The book’s second edition hit the shelves in 2019. It’s available for purchase as an ebook, hardcover, and audiobook. The Amazon price is $23.18.

Key Points

At its core, They Ask, You Answer explains the importance of listening to your customers and responding to their questions. Not only does it explain why you should invest in content marketing, but it also answers more complex questions, such as what to write about and how to start. 

To do that, you must put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Once you understand where they come from and what they need, you’ll be able to create engaging content that drives sales and retains customers. 

The book also explains that the traditional sales funnel is no longer effective. With new technologies, digital marketing options, and demands, companies must build trust with the audience and increase transparency. 

They Ask, You Answer offers a fresh approach to your content marketing strategy, explaining that you can tweak it a little and rely on the same resources to make an impact.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • Innovative approach to content marketing
  • Strategies based on real-life situations
  • Emphasis on the importance of transparency
  • Examples of how to increase conversion rates

Cons:

  • Somewhat repetitive content
  • Self-congratulatory tone of voice

Summary

There you have it — our top three picks for the best content marketing books 2023. Although they might have the same goal, each book offers unique insight into the leading content marketing practices suitable for small businesses and big enterprises. 

However, as mentioned, these books will only help you navigate the oversaturated online world. It’s up to you to put in the hours, create an effective content marketing strategy, and make your company stand out from the crowd. 

Ready to take your content marketing to new heights? Pick your favorite book, take notes, and get to work!

FAQ 

What should I study for content marketing?

If you’re a beginner, you should start by reading marketing 101 books like the ones on this page. Besides covering the basics, these books offer insight into the best marketing practices and tips to help you kick-start your business and improve your strategies. 

You can also take various courses created by industry professionals to learn about basic and advanced content marketing techniques. However, you must ensure the course you pick meets your experience level and expectations.

What are the best content marketing books?

If you google “best content marketing books,” you’ll find dozens of titles, all claiming to be the best. However, while not all books will meet your needs, the ones introduced here cover a wide range of topics and help you immerse yourself in the content marketing world, regardless of your previous experience. 

So, if you’d like to start learning more about content marketing, we suggest reading Everybody Writes, They Ask, You Answer, and Epic Content Marketing. Once you cover the basics, you can read other content strategy books and put your knowledge to the test.

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