There are many ways to gain new knowledge in the world of Internet marketing. Blog posts, podcasts and websites all contain how-to's and strategic guides to improving your online presence. And while the bite-sized nature of today's popular mediums can often appeal to our on-the-go lifestyles, some ideas and concepts require a good solid book's worth of information. Today on Big Picture Web, I'll share four of my recent favorite Internet marketing books with you. Each book covers a slightly different area of your overall Internet marketing strategy. Going out and reading all four would be a sure-fire way to get a crash course education in Internet marketing.
1. Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs (The New Rules of Social Media)
(Thank you! Please read our book referral disclaimer)Inbound Marketing is a wonderful tactical guide for today's Internet marketing techniques. Authors Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah provide a blueprint for starting up a successful web presence. They believe that in order to succeed on the web, you must turn your web site from a megaphone to a hub. What does that mean? Read Inbound Marketing and find out.
2. Don't Make Me Think
(Thank you! Please read our book referral disclaimer)If you could only read one book about creating web sites, this would be the one. Steve Krug authors this excellent introduction to usability, the art and science of making the functionality of your web site crystal clear to your web site visitors. You'd be surprised how many people can't buy your products or find out about your services simply because your site is too confusing (Find out for free with 4Q). Don't Make Me Think will help you make your web site self-evident and avoid turning potential customers away.
3. Web Analytics 2.0
(Thank you! Please read our book referral disclaimer)The cornerstone of business success is return on investment. Web Analytics 2.0 is a strategic and tactical web analytics guide that helps you measure your online goals and outcomes. Author Avinash Kaushik describes free and cheap tools that provide major insights. Where are your customers coming from? What are they looking for? What web pages are being viewed the most? Is anyone buying anything? The best part about the web marketing channel is its ability to be measured. Web Analytics 2.0 is your guide to measuring what matters to your business.
4. Letting Go of the Words
(Thank you! Please read our book referral disclaimer)Once you've mastered the tactics, design and measurement, it's time to put the words on the web page. Letting Go of the Words is your guide to writing content for the web. Different than print media, web site content is made up of small chunks of skimmable, scannable content. And nevermind the long-winded marketing message. Just the basics, please, in a bulleted list if possible. Letting Go of the Words is a tactical guide for creating the words and layout of your web site.
And there you have it. Four Internet marketing books, and if read in order, will give you a pretty good idea of how to start a solid web presence.
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