The Blogger’s Library: 28 Free eBooks and Excerpts for Bloggers
Photography: Color coded bookshelf by ranh
Looking for some reading material?
These eBooks cover topics ranging from content creation, promotion, social media, general blogging, business blogging, making money blogging to web writing/copywriting, SEO and design.
The collection totals more than 864 pages and 31 megabytes. Enjoy!
Instructions: left-click on the links provided to download or save the eBook from its dedicated page.
Content Creation
1. Killer Web Content (Sample) by Jerry McGovern (20 pages . 154kb)
The first chapter of Killer Web Content provides an overview of writing for the web and the different types of content you can create. McGovern has also written an eBook specifically about writing for the web (available below).
2. Killer Flagship Content by Chris Garrett (17 pages . 255kb)
The definitive guide to writing pillar articles — value-packed blog posts which will help to define your blog. The eBook was written by Chris Garrett who blogs about becoming an authority blogger at ChrisG.com. He’s also a regular contributor at Copyblogger.
You can access the eBook by subscribing to the ChrisG.com RSS feed. You can unsubscribe at any time.
3. What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content? (Sample) by Lorelle VanFossen
Lorelle of Lorelle on Wordpress outlines several different responses bloggers can take to the (almost) inevitable content theft that comes with writing on the web. This is an excerpt from her book, Blogging Tips.
4. Who’s There? by Seth Godin (45 pages . 1.88mb)
“Seth Godin’s incomplete guide to blogs and the new web.” The companion book to Knock Knock (available below), this one is more focused on what you put on your blog than how you promote it. Seth outlines some simple and powerful ideas as only he knows how.
Promotion
5. Viral Marketing With Blogs by Brian Clark (30 pages . 484kb)
Packed with tips on using viral content and promotions to build the profile of your blog, this eBook is written by the inimitable Brian Clark of Copyblogger.
6. Unleashing the IdeaVirus by Seth Godin (197 pages . 893kb)
The most detailed text on viral marketing you’ll find. It’s not written specifically about blogging, but many of its core principles can be translated over.
7. Everyone Is An Expert by Seth Godin (32 pages . 1.59mb)
Discusses how Squidoo can be used to build your profile and drive traffic back to your blog. It should be noted that Squidoo is the brain-child of the author.
8. Knock Knock by Seth Godin (41 pages . 6.10mb)
“Seth Godin’s incomplete guide to building a website that works.” An unconventional guide to marketing and running a website/blog from an unconventional guy.
Using Social Media
9. What is Social Media? by Spannerworks (33 pages . 975kb)
A good overview of the different types of social media, from podcasts to folksonomies. Anyone looking at branching into new content formats will find this eBook useful.
10. Flipping the Funnel by Seth Godin (18 pages . 1.20mb)
A short guide to promoting yourself with Web 2.0. Many of the principles are directly translatable to blogging.
11. Authority Black Book by Jack Humphrey (64 pages . 856kb)
A guide to utilizing Web 2.0 as a promotional tool for your blog. Would also serve as a good introduction for someone unfamiliar with how social bookmarking services can interact with blog content.
General Blogging
12. Blog Branding and Identity (Sample) by Lorelle VanFossen
Lorelle of Lorelle on Wordpress outlines the basics of creating a brand and identity for your blog, through both its content and its design. This is an excerpt from her book, Blogging Tips.
13. Blog Syndication and Subscription Tips (Sample) by Lorelle VanFossen
Some basic tips on offering feeds and increasing subscriptions. A good starting point for the absolute beginner. This is an excerpt from her book, Blogging Tips.
14. Successful Blogging (Sample) by Bob Walsh (29 pages . 630kb)
A solid overview of the blogging process, from being consistent to remaining inspired.
15. The Art of Alpha-Female Blogging by Halley Suitt (22 pages . 386kb)
The focus of this eBook is on writing dirty — writing with personality and humanity. I’d recommend this to any personal blogger.
16. We Media by Shayne Bowman and Chris Willis (66 pages . 3.14mb)
In-depth exploration of citizen journalism and how this relates to blogging. Useful reading for any blogger who writes on current events, politics or breaking news.
17. Launching a Wordpress Blog by Tina Clarke (5.72 mb)
A good starter-guide for anyone flummoxed by the process of setting up a Wordpress blog. Details installation, customization and some basic SEO. It might also be useful to share with anyone you know thinking of moving to Wordpress from another platform.
Business Blogging
18. The Corporate Weblog Manifesto by Robert Scoble (13 pages . 295kb)
Robert Scoble is an internet celebrity. Here he provides 20 solid foundations for any corporate weblog. Any business blogger will find useful ideas here.
19. Beginner’s Guide to Business Blogging by Debbie Wiel (41 pages . 913kb)
A practical and common-sense guide to getting started with a business blog. Aimed at the absolute beginner, but with good foundational principles for the veteran, also.
Make Money Blogging
20. Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak (54 pages . 676kb)
A comprehensive overview of how to get started making money with a blog. Yaro has previously co-operated with Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.net and is currently selling his services as a blog profits mentor at Blog Mastermind.
21. Make Money Online by John Chow (59 pages . 1.79mb)
John Chow of, well, his blog, outlines how he has started generating a monthly five-figure income through blogging and provides tips for how you can do the same. This contains some useful general blogging info as well, though everything is always related back to monetization.
22. The Long Tail by Chris Anderson (33 pages . 645kb)
Required reading for anyone aiming to monetize a niche market.
Web Writing/Copywriting
23. Writing for the Web (Sample) by Gerry McGovern (12 pages . 218mb)
Short and sweet guide to crisp web writing with a focus on saying more in less words. I recommend this one if you don’t want to spend too long reading theories on writing better.
24. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jnr.
The online version of the classic book. This remains a constant point of reference for many copywriters. Its most famous message is to “omit needless words” and will be useful for any blogger looking to sharpen up their web writing.
25. Common Errors in English by Paul Brians
The online version of the book by Paul Brians. An encyclopedic list of common errors in English, this resource should be useful for bloggers looking to fine-tune their spelling, grammar and expression.
SEO
26. Beginner’s Guide to SEO by SEOmoz (30 pages . 438kb)
SEOmoz is a highly trusted SEO resource and its Beginner’s Guide has consistently been a first port of call for those who want to get to grips with the SEO phenomenon.
Design
27. Web Style Guide, 2nd Edition by Patrick Lynch and Sarah Horton
A comprehensive introduction to web design for the blogger looking to customize or construct a theme for their blog. Introduces important concepts like the use of whitespace and chunking information.
28. 5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Blog by Nate Whitehill (8 pages . 2.51mb)
A clearly presented basic guide to making your blog look unique. This would be perfect for anyone looking to personalize or brand a theme. You’ll need to subscribe to the Unique Site Designs email list to receive the eBook. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Skellie:
You made me want to write that eBook I’ve been thinking about ;-) I know this took time to put together and hope you get the proper kudos from these authors.
Valeria, I’m very glad to have motivated you — out of a bit of self-interest, too, I must admit; I’d love to read any eBook you wrote :).
Skellie, Another great post. This is an excellent list judging from the ones I’ve read. You’ve got a number of ones I’ve not read, that’s most excellent. I’ve been pondering writing an eBook myself. I too am encouraged. Thanks!
Hey Phil — I did try and include a mix of classics as well as some less known ones. Hopefully you enjoy the ones that are new to you :)
I look forward to your eBook as well!
Great list Skellie. When I get home, I’ll definitely be saving this to a few social bookmarking sites. :)
Another well known one is Yaro Starak’s “Blogging Blueprint.” Although, it’s actually nice to not see it here. The BB is always an affiliate link, so it’s nice to know this list was objective. :)
Just out of curiosity, how do you get around to reading ebooks?
I have quite a few of them stored on my computer. I’ve never gotten around to reading any of them though, as the idea of reading a book on the computer seems strange. Do you print them out, or just read them like another web page?
Hey Michael, the Yaro Starak eBook is there under ‘Make Money Blogging’, but it’s called the ‘Blog Profits Blueprint’. I think that’s what you were thinking of?
I’m actually a bit of an eBook nut in some ways and this was the collection I’ve built up over a few months. I don’t read all of them in as much depth as I would a book, necessarily, but I do scan them for interesting ideas. I guess I’ve just read them in bits and pieces over the last few months. I generally just read them like I would a blog :).
Skellie you forgot to mention a very important one:
http://www.rsf.org/IMG/pdf/Bloggers_Handbook2.pdf
Not all of us are based in countries where you don’t get jailed for blogging.
Ahh Skellie, I see it now! Sorry. xD
Thanks for the reply though. I’ll make a stab at braving my ebook fear someday… ;)
@ Tad: It probably speaks to my comfortable Western ignorance that I’d never seen that one before — I’ll be linking to it in this week’s Swipe file :)
Awesome list. Saved to del.icio.us.
And please include this amazing ebook: Top 21 SEO Tips For 2007
Hey Mohsin, I haven’t seen that one before. I’ll have a look at it and include it in the next Weekly Swipe file if it’s good (which I suspect it will be!).
Skellie,
You know, I’ve actually got a similar eBook list post thats half completed in my drafts. We must be thinking on the same wavelengths..
Good job on getting it out… stumbled :)
Thanks Maki :). I hope it’s not too similar to this one? There must be a whole other bunch of good eBooks on various aspects of making money online, so I think you could definitely go through with it.
Hi Skellie,
Thanks for including business blogging resources. They are often hard to come by. “Corporate Weblog Manifesto” was interesting, but “Beginner’s Guide to Business Blogging” was closed for free downloads.
Looked at Mohsin’s “Top SEO Tips for 2007.” Very useful. (Thanks Mohsin)
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I think your Stumble link may be broken…
it gave me an error message.
Thanks for the heads up, Nathan — I had no idea. It’s a bug with the plug-in, but I found a fix pretty quickly. Works as it should now.
Great list, the article is starred in my reader to check it out on lazy Sundays.
The colored coded bookshelf picture is in black and white. It really makes me curious … how are they coded?
Hey Ben — the original image is actually color. I wasn’t too impressed by the color-coding, actually ;). It looks better in black and white, so I grayscaled it in Photoshop.
Thanks for those ebooks. Stumbled!
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Hi, Skellie very kind of you. Thanks for putting those links here.
1. I came here after reading your guest post in proBlogger.net!
2. A very good free ebooks list.
3. I have some of them. Thank you for sharing your hard work.
4. I will subscribe to this blog.
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Thank you so much for the ebooks list, i downloaded some of them
http://www.technoinvent.blogspot.com
Thanx.
I am doing SEO on my site http://orkut-guide.blogspot.com/
Your tips would be helpful ;)
[...] The Blogger’s Library: 28 Free eBooks and Excerpts for Bloggers [...]
Great list .Thanks for the work .
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hi
its a gr8 job done by you
i was in a gr8 need of these … you have made my day.
thanks for sharing ur collection with everyone.