The Best Blogging Books to Take Blogging Seriously in 2020

If you’re here reading this you’re a blogger of some kind. Whether you’ve been at it a long time, or you dream of starting a blog – sometimes your dreams can start to feel a little stale. Lord knows that mine did for about 8 months. It’s like I started this journey to express myself and then fell into a hole trying to understand WordPress (still don’t completely understand everything).. and then somehow I wound up feeling like I didn’t know if I even had what it took to be a blogger? What does it even mean to take blogging seriously?

Those are some very long run-on sentence ways to say: I needed motivation. If you’re like me and looking for a little motivation, books can help you start believing in your blogging dream again. These are the books on my reading list, and some I’ve already finished.

The 10X Rule

The Author Grant Cardone was actually introduced to me by Evan (my hubs). He listens to his speeches and when he mentioned him to me- I realized that he may have written a book that I might like too. Or at least an audiobook? Luckily this bestseller has an audiobook, a paper copy, and an E-Book.

The best thing about this book is that it’s not what I thought it would be. Just a no-nonsense slap in the right direction. I’m only on chapter 4, and I feel like it’s changed my outlook on so many things.

A must-read if you’re ready to take blogging seriously- and not feel ridiculous doing it.

Get on Amazon

Girl Wash Your Face

From one of my favorite honey-badger women, Rachel Hollis. She’s going through some drama right now in her personal life, but that doesn’t make her books any less impactful. (I only say that because the haters online will definitely tell you differently – but the book is good!)

Girl Wash Your Face is geared specifically towards women, but I think some of her lessons pretty much apply to anyone! A lot of times when you need a push in your blogging career it’s not about your ability to blog – it’s about your self-esteem. This book will give you a kick in the right direction! The books are not about blogging- they’re about believing in yourself and your dreams – which is really the most important part of blogging. You’ve got to have a tough outer shell if you’re gonna be a blogger / AKA business owner.

Get on Amazon

Her next book – Girl Stop Apologizing is also amazing!

Love What You Do

The book’s title is actually really long – ‘Love What You Do: A plan for creating a life you love filled with passion and purpose’. Again really long title but this one has been recommended across many ‘must-read lists’. 

You really can’t be good at blogging if you don’t love what you do. That’s why I want to read this book. How many people can say that they love what they do? If you get to run a business on your own time and on your own terms – you absolutely should love what you do.

As soon as I finish The 10X Rule.. this is the next book on my list!

Get on Amazon

31 Days to Build A Better Blog

AVERY expensive book to add to the list but Darren from the ProBlogger podcast and blog is seriously one of the best resources!

Here is his podcast ‘ProBlogger‘ that’s been such a big help! I listen to it during the day while I’m working at my full-time job and I have to say- game changer!

Not only do you get the e-book — you also get the full course and that’s totally worth it!

The Essential Habits of 6 Figure Bloggers

I’ve read from multiple different sources that this is a great actionable book. Meaning it’s not just a book on mindsets and motivation – It’s something much more. Full of systems and habits for taking blogging seriously, this is a must-read and worth having a physical copy to make notes and have on hand.

The author Sally Miller has such an inspiring story. She was a full-time professional business analyst – the full corporate lifestyle – and then decided she wanted to be a stay at home mom. She also has another book that comes highly recommended: Make Money from Blogging: How to Start a Blog While Raising a Family – and the best part is – it’s only 0.99 cents for the E-book. Yup- Go ahead and download it. Totally worth it.

Get on Amazon

WordPress for Beginners 2020: A Visual Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering WordPress

A big part of lacking the confidence to take blogging seriously is literally not knowing how to use the tools. WordPress is the highest recommended hosting platform – and for good reason. That doesn’t make it easy to use.  

WordPress definitely made me cry on more than one occasion and put me in an eight-month holding pattern where I didn’t write anything. Don’t cry and don’t be like me. You have to take your self seriously and believe that you can conquer this highly beneficial platform.

Free with Kindle Unlimited! (I highly recommend getting Kindle Unlimited with the amount of reading you’ll be doing as a blogger.)

Everybody Writes: You’re Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content

I love finding books written by anyone that’s been on a Forbes Top 20 list.. ad that’s exactly what Ann Handley has accomplished. Listed as one of the Top 20 Bloggers by ForbesWomen, she’s worth listening to and learning from.

Her main point is that writing needs to actually be good and not be ‘click-bait’ or filler. From my perspective – in an online world that’s saturated with blog after blog – not all of them are good but your’s could be? It just requires the mental fortitude to produce something better than the average crap. Even though this book is from 2014 – it still has such amazing value to anyone looking to write better content.

Find on Amazon

Typically I prefer E-Books for environmental reasons. I make exceptions though when it’s a book I really want to study and dig into multiple times. Something about the feel of a paper copy and the ability to highlight the book imprints itself into my brain. Whatever way you need to learn – I highly recommend you just start reading.

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