This day in age we have a lot more information at our fingertips than those before us. When it comes to search engine optimization, there’s a lot of information you can find online; I mean, you’re reading this, aren’t you? 

Even with a vast knowledge base of information at the ready, you can’t always read what you see on the internet and know that it’s true and correct. With a subject like search engine optimization, there are a lot of false tips online that will actually hurt your online presence, rather than help it. 

One of the most time consuming forms of media we consign is reading books. The authors take months, sometimes even years, to complete a full book. They’re knowledgeable on the subject and have the expertise you can trust. 

I wanted to share with you 9 of the best SEO books you can find on the market right now! Each one of these books can help you improve traffic by using a multitude of different methods. If you’re looking to improve your SEO for your website or business, check out one or more of these 9 books! 

Product Quick Links

• Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide To Testing And Tuning For Conversions
• SEO For Growth: The Ultimate Guide For Marketers, Web Designers & Entrepreneurs
• Ultimate Guide To Link Building: How To Build Backlinks, Authority And Credibility For Your Website, And Increase Click Traffic And Search Ranking (Ultimate Series)
• SEO 2019: Learn Search Engine Optimization With Smart Internet Marketing Strategies
• SEO Like I’m 5: The Beginner’s Guide To Search Engine Optimization
• The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization
• SEO Made Easy: Everything You Need To Know About SEO And Nothing More
• Get Into Bed With Google: Top Ranking Search Optimisation
• The Long Tail: Why The Future Of Business Is Selling Less Of More

Best SEO Books: Reviewed

After plenty of research and consideration, below you’ll read all about the 9 books that made the cut for being the best books related to search engine optimization. There is something for everyone, whether you’re just starting out or if you’re a seasoned professional.

With a variety of topics, price ranges, writing styles, and more, you’re bound to find a book that is a great read for you and your team. Let’s get started by talking about the blueprint for your success.

1. Landing Page Optimization: The Definitive Guide To Testing And Tuning For Conversions

• Authors: Tim Ash, Maura Ginty & Rich Page 
• Year Published: 2012
• Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

This book may have come out awhile ago, but it still has plenty of great tips and tricks for those of us in online fields. Since it has three authors, you’re getting multiple views and experiences from people who add more than just a single writer could have. 

It isn’t exactly an SEO specific book, but it covers a lot of the same topics that are related to search engine optimization. You’ll learn about how to have a better online presence as a business, how to get better results, and how to get more clients. 

A lot of people enjoy that this book will teach your how to change your content online if it hasn’t been working for you. You’ll learn about how to design your website in a way that will increase traffic and lower bounce rates. If you’re interested in marketing online, this book is a must-have!

2. SEO For Growth: The Ultimate Guide For Marketers, Web Designers & Entrepreneurs

• Authors: John Jantsch and Phil Singleton
• Year Published: 2016
• Editor’s Rating: 4.4/5

Since the topic of SEO has a lot of information that often changes, it can be hard to keep up with what tips and tricks people are using to increase traffic and their rank on search engine results pages. Jantsch and Singleton wrote a great book about how to do just that! 

They’ll teach you about how to focus on the correct aspects of the industry to make sure you stay relevant, even when the algorithm changes. You’ll read about how to have a great reputation online, how to distribute your content properly, and a bit about paying for advertisements. 

Reading this book will help you build a better website that has high quality content that visitors will enjoy. I believe that SEO For Growth was written for people that have a bit of SEO experience already. 

It will teach you new tricks and reteach you old tactics that still work today. If you’ve been struggling with getting traffic to your website or if you’ve experienced a higher bounce rate than you’d like, SEO For Growth is a great read. 

I will say that it is a few years old, which may turn some people off. It may not have the most updated strategies on how to improve but it does have several tried and true methods that will improve your online presence as a company.

3. Ultimate Guide To Link Building: How To Build Backlinks, Authority And Credibility For Your Website, And Increase Click Traffic And Search Ranking (Ultimate Series) 

• Authors: Eric Ward and Garrett French
• Year Published: 2013
• Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

As you can tell by the title, if you need help with link building, this book is the ultimate guide. Link building is one of the most important things about SEO, which is why it’s important to know the ins and outs of how to do it correctly. 

This book gives you ideas on things you can apply to your specific industry. It doesn’t matter what type of website you’re working on, this book will help you get the proper links in the proper places. You’ll also learn about how to research better and how to make engaging content. 

Link building can be incredibly intimidating and hard to understand, yet Ward and French wrote this book in a way that most people can easily digest. Even though this book wasn’t published recently, all of the knowledge shared within it can still be applied today!

4. SEO 2019: Learn Search Engine Optimization With Smart Internet Marketing Strategies

• Author: Adam Clarke
• Year Published: 2018
• Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

Second on this list is a book Adam Clarke recently wrote. This is easily one of the best books available that you can read about SEO. Search engines like Google and Bing are constantly changing, which means that it can be really hard to stay up-to-date on how to rank on the results page.

Algorithms changing can be annoying, but they are crucial to your success. When you’re changing how you use search engine optimization for your brand, sometimes the changes won’t work as effectively as you’d like. Whether you’re a beginner or a CEO, this book will teach you all about SEO strategies that are known to work. 

You’ll learn about how SEO works and how it may change in the future. So, in reality, reading this book may actually put you a step ahead!

5. SEO Like I’m 5: The Beginner’s Guide To Search Engine Optimization

• Author: Matthew Capala
• Year Published: 2014
• Editor’s Rating: 4.3/5

As you can tell by its title, this is an awesome book designed for beginners. Though the concepts are scaled back a bit for people starting out, Capala also takes a new approach to make SEO more digestible. Capala is actually a teacher, so he knows how to explain things in a way that is easy for most people to understand. 

This book is broken up into multiple sections, all beginning with the letter “C”. You’ll learn about content, code, cash, connections, and credibility. This book also has plenty of images, which is perfect for those who are more visual learners! It’s suggested to read this book section by section to get the most out of it.

6. The Art Of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization

• Authors: Eric Enge, Stephan Spencer, and Jessie Stricchiola
• Year Published: 2015
• Editor’s Rating: 4.2/5

Easily one of the best books when it comes to the topic of SEO is The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization. This is a book packed with details about every element that goes into SEO. You’ll learn about customization methods, how to create solid strategies, all about using keywords, developing an engaging website, and more. 

There are even tidbits in this book about how to market your content and how to use social media to your advantage. Whether you’re an SEO beginner or a veteran, you’ll get something out of this book. 

You’ll learn about how search engines work, how to hire someone that can help you with your SEO results, and more. If you think any of the names of the authors sound familiar, it’s likely because they are all well-known leaders in their own fields. 

This book is written by successful professionals that have struggled and figured out their way around SEO so you don’t have to. They each have a blog that is updated weekly that shares tips and tricks that you can read about in addition to this amazing book!

7. SEO Made Easy: Everything You Need To Know About SEO And Nothing More

• Author: Evan Bailyn
• Year Published: 2014
• Editor’s Rating: 4/5

If you’re just starting out learning about SEO and everything that goes into it, SEO Made Easy is a great book to begin with. The author, Evan Bailyn, breaks down SEO so that it’s easy to digest and understand. He drops tips, tricks, and secrets that can make your site one of the first listed on search engines. 

You’ll learn about how to build trust, everything Google wants you to do to get more traffic, how to build links, getting indexed, different ways to use keywords, and how to leverage your content. Like I mentioned in the intro, there are a lot of tricks out there that can actually hurt your website and Bailyn teaches you about those in SEO Made Easy as well. 

8. Get Into Bed With Google: Top Ranking Search Optimisation

• Author: Jon Smith
• Year Published: 2010
• Editor’s Rating: 4/5

Another great book recommendation is one by Jon Smith. This book is perfect for anyone who finds themselves interested in the world of search engine optimization. The topic itself can be a lot to take it and Smith has a unique way of breaking it down.

This book has 52 ideas on how to get a better position on Google’s search result page. You’ll also learn about how exactly SEO is generated and how to increase the organic traffic that comes into your website. 

If you enjoy witty banter and quirky personalities, you’ll probably get a lot out of this read. There’s a lot of information about Google that can actually help your company. Smith gives plenty of tips and tricks on how to improve your brand online. After reading you’ll understand how search engines work and how to get your content to rank well. 

9. The Long Tail: Why The Future Of Business Is Selling Less Of More

• Author: Chris Anderson
• Year Published: 2008
• Editor’s Rating: 4/5

You may see the date this book was published and think that it can’t be relevant anymore; you’d be wrong. This is one of the best SEO books on the market. It has essential knowledge to help you improve online marketing.

This book focuses a lot on “widgets”. You’ll learn about how widgets affect your SEO ranking and how to make long and short phrases work for you. This will give you more opportunities than you had before when it comes to ranking. 

It also hits on conversion rates and how they affect your sales. You’ll learn about how to be SEO focused to get the most out of having an online presence. No matter if you’ve been in this business for years or you’re just starting out, this book is a solid option to add to your bookshelf! 

Buying Guide

When it comes to a buying guide for SEO books there are just a handful of things you need to consider. Use the information listed below to help you find the perfect book for you and your company!

The Date Published

One thing that sets SEO books apart from other types of literature is the date it’s published. With a topic like search engine optimization, relevancy is key. The internet and online marketing word is changing so often and so fast that it can be hard to keep up. 

Something you may want to consider when you’re looking for an SEO book is one that was published recently. Often times, if it’s more than three years old, it could be considered outdated. You may have noticed a handful of the books listed above are older, but they are the exception to the rule as they’re each packed with advice that’s still relevant today. 

The Author

One of the most important factors to consider when shopping around for a book about search engine optimization is the author. You want to read from someone with experience in the field. A handful of the authors listed above are actually well-known people in their respective fields. 

When you read a book from someone like that, you know you can trust their word. They’ve experienced the hardships so you don’t have to. Their tips and tricks have worked for them and many others, so why won’t they help you?

Do a bit of research on the author if you’re unfamiliar with them to give you a better idea of their own experiences with SEO. 

Price

Just like anything else you buy, price may play a part. Thankfully, most books have several different versions available, all at different price points. There are paperbacks, hard covers, and Kindle versions. 

You may not have it in your budget to buy $100 worth of SEO-related books, so make sure you find one or a few within your price range that has all the information you’re looking for. Above there are a variety of books at different price points. 

Availability

Another thing to consider is if a book is available. All of the books above are available at the time this is written. Since SEO is such a popular topic and can be applied to almost any field, these books can get popular and often run out of stock.

To avoid this, you can choose to get the Kindle version of the book if it’s available and read it online! Often times Amazon will have deals on Kindle books, saving you even more money. If a book is really popular, they may have a pre-order option available as well.

The Topic

Sometimes books are written about specific topics. While all of the books reviewed above are about different topics, they all correlate to SEO. You may be interested in learning about specific things in addition to search engine optimization. 

If you are, there are books that not only talk about search engine optimization, but they’ll cover everything from how to market yourself online, how to create an amazing website, keywords that are popular, and more. 

You can read the reviews to see what people have to say about the book and if it has any specific topic you may be looking for. 

Black Hat Tricks

Black hat tricks are what some people will use to actually hurt companies online. They’ll tell you about how this one trick or tactic worked amazingly for them and how it will bring in more traffic to your website, when in reality it could be detrimental to your online presence. 

When you searching for an SEO book to add to your collection, it’s important to make sure you’re not just buying a book from some hot shot that’s trying to make a buck. You’ve read about why the author plays an important part in which book you choose. 

Just make sure to check out the reviews before you buy. This helps to ensure that you’re getting information that will help your online brand and teach you all about SEO. 

Conclusion

Well, there you have it! Those are the 9 best SEO books that are available right now! It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting out or if you’ve been in the game for several years, each one of these books will teach you something new. 

Whether you’re looking for marketing strategies, how to increase traffic, or how to develop an engaging website, you’re bound to find a book above that works for you. Remember not to take everything you read online about SEO seriously, as some of it can actually hurt your brand online. These are called black hat tricks and many companies use them to tear others down. 

It’s also important to keep in mind when an SEO book or article was published since it’s such a changing topic. Pick up a few of these books and you’ll be on your way to learning everything you need to know about search engine optimization. Good luck!