I’m forever on the lookout for interesting business communication books.
If you’re looking for some interesting reading, here’s what I’m reading now (or have read recently).
Four of the books are free e-books and definitely worth checking out. These books have inspired me and I’m hoping they’ll inspire you too.
1) 13 Business Blogging Mistakes & Their Easy Fixes (free e-book)
This e-book is from HubSpot and is packed with often-overlooked blogging tips. I love Chapter 8, “Ignoring Low-Hanging Fruit.” This chapter features 10 simple fixes you may not be using on your blog. There’s also a neat chapter on the importance of the call-to-action.
2) The B2B Marketing Handbook (free e-book)
This 90-page e-book, written by copywriting guru Bob Bly, has 19 chapters and covers a variety of topics, including:
I printed this out and am keeping it within arm’s reach for future reference.
(Go to the bottom of Bly's homepage for the e-book.)
3) The Copywriting Sourcebook: How to Write Better Copy, Faster–For Everything from Ads to Websites
I have all four books from copywriter Andy Maslen and each book rocks. This one covers 13 areas, from articles and e-mails to sales letters and headlines. You don’t have to read the book from the beginning; just open it up to the area you’re interested in.
4) Manage Your Writing 3.0 (free e-book)
This free e-book is the basis for the expanded version, 36-Hour Course in Business Writing. If you’re looking for a way to manage your writing process, start with this e-book.
If you like this e-book, I highly encourage you to check out Kenneth’s full book version, 36-Hour Course in Business Writing.
Author Kenneth Davis emphasizes, “Managing writing is largely a matter of managing your time.” And speaking of managing time . . .
5) The Pomodoro Technique (free e-book)
Technically, this isn’t a business communication book. But I have to slip it into this list because of its ability to increase your productivity. I use the Pomodoro Technique 90 percent of the time when writing.
In a nutshell:
1. Break your project down into 25-minute chunks.
2. Take a five-minute break.
3. Resume your project.
Just try it a few times and see what happens. The e-book is packed with extra ideas and tips to get the most out of the technique.
I wrote two articles about the Pomodoro Technique and how it can help you conquer the world (25 minutes at a time).
Side note: Chris Brogan has an interesting spin on this technique: The 20 Minute Plan. It’s worth checking out.
P.S. You can receive my free e-book, 5 (Ridiculously Simple) Ways to Write Faster, Better, Easier when you subscribe to this blog’s updates. It’s over 20 pages packed with simple writing techniques to help you boost your writing power.