Book review: Inbound Marketing by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.

I have a copy of Inbound Marketing to giveaway. Leave a ‘pick me’ comment and I will choose the winner at random on Wednesday 18 November 2009.

This year has seen the publication of a seemingly unending list of books dedicated to teaching us about social media. Some have been excellent, some OK and others downright useless. I have tried to include reviews for a few that have stood out from the crowd with Trust Agents and Twitter Power worth a look. However, this month I was sent a copy of a book that, for me, is simply a must read for any writer who is looking to build their online presence. It’s called Inbound Marketing and is written by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah.

What sets Inbound Marketing aside from the crowd is that it’s written by people who know what they are talking about. Instead of an over paid consultant, social media guru or business expert we find two industry leaders who have put their words into practice by building the impressive Hubspot website. Hubspot offers tools and advice to companies looking to improve their online presence but has free tools that are useful for anyone looking to be found more often on the internet.

Inbound Marketing is very much a practical guide to making your site more ‘discoverable’ on the internet. The opening of the book contains all the required chapters explaining how the world has changed and that we all need to have a better online presence. Nothing new! Yet the second part of the book is remarkable. It explains the following key elements in detailed practical and applicable steps:

How to create remarkable content that people will share,
How to make your blog more findable,
How to make your blog easier to read on a regular basis,
How to make your pages more google friendly, completely demystifying the process of Search Engine Optimisation,
How to use social media channels to promote your site and work.

The book does have a final two sections, which looks at how to stimulate readers of your website to take certain actions, such as downloading free content or subscribing to a mailing list. These sections also go into some more business orientated discussion regarding customers and the structure of business. They are good but may or may not be of interest to a writer looking to build a web presence.

All in all this book contains the best description and advice I have ever come across regarding the best ways to make your blog and website not only more visible, but also more appealing to more potential readers/customers.

I have a copy of Inbound Marketing to giveaway, just leave a ‘pick me’ comment and I will pick the winner at random on Wednesday 18 November 2009.

If you wish to buy a copy then hop over here.

And the winner is…

Meryl K. EVans

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 barbara November 15, 2009 at 5:46 pm

demystify me please.

2 claire November 15, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Sounds great! Pick me please.

3 Pippa Hennessy November 15, 2009 at 7:15 pm

pick me please!

4 Helen M Hunt November 15, 2009 at 9:28 pm

Sounds brilliant. Please pick me!

5 Selorian November 16, 2009 at 12:33 am

Sounds like an awesome book. Pick me!

6 Dharmesh Shah November 16, 2009 at 12:51 am

Don’t pick me. I already have a copy of the book.

Thanks for reviewing the book. Glad you liked it.

7 Gary Smailes November 16, 2009 at 8:20 am: I will cross you off the list I must admit that I really did like the book. The way you found this post and decided to engage is revealed in the book, so I hope they are now intrigued enough to buy a copy.

8 Wendy November 16, 2009 at 5:46 am