6 No-Bullshit SEO Books to Read In 2025
written by
Victoria Kurichenko
updated on
February 28, 2025
Not all books are worth reading—especially when it comes to SEO.
I’ve lost count of how many so-called best SEO books left me with more questions than answers.
A quick Google search pulls up the same recycled lists, and honestly, I doubt most of those authors actually read the books they recommend.
As an SEO writer and content creator, I’m always looking for books that go beyond generic advice.
I want insights from experts ahead of me, proven strategies backed by data, and up-to-date information—not outdated tactics or vague “you should do this” advice.
That’s why I put together my own list of SEO books actually worth reading. If you’re tired of fluff and want books that provide real, actionable knowledge, you’ll find this list helpful.
What are the best books on SEO in 2025?
My top SEO books to read for marketers, product managers, and content writers:
- “How to Hit the Google Front Page” by Victoria Kurichenko
- “SEO Entrepreneur“ by Nathan Gotch
- “Product-led SEO” by Eli Swartz
- “Ecommerce SEO Mastery” by Kristina Azarenko
- “SEO 2025” by Adam Clarke
- “SEO Book for Beginners” by Ahrefs
I’ve read many more books on SEO. The ones I’ve mentioned above are fluff-free and provide actionable SEO advice.
The least that we expect from an SEO book is the long stories about someone’s life. Instead, whenever I pick a book about search engine optimization, I want to learn what they achieved and how they achieved it.
Therefore, only a few books are on this shortlist, which I’ll definitely extend as I discover more worth reading books.
Now, let me introduce you to my SEO content writing book.
1. “How to Hit the Google Front Page”
- Publication date: April 14th, 2022
- Updated: February-March 2025
- Length: 110 pages
- Author: Victoria Kurichenko
- Available on: Self Made Millennials
Before writing my SEO book, I spent years figuring out what actually works. I’ve helped brands like beehiiv, Copilot, and Shapr3D, as well as startups like UX studio, boost their organic traffic from Google.
I also built this website from scratch and grew it to 10k+ monthly visitors with just 90 pages—while focusing mostly on client projects. That just proves SEO works, even when you’re not constantly at it.
And the secret? SEO copywriting.
Here’s the proof:
Most SEO guides tell you why SEO matters, but almost none show you how to actually do it. I had to piece everything together from different articles and courses, which took forever.
So, I wrote a book that lays it all out: how I find the right keywords, write and optimize content, and what free and paid tools I use.
I also dive into AI and SEO, sharing how AI content performs on my site and my clients’ sites. (Yep, I also use AI for content writing, but a bit differently).
Spoiler: AI content can rank. You just have to do it right to avoid Google penalties.
You can check the SEO ebook 2025 edition here.
This year, I tweaked the book’s structure and even asked my audience for feedback. Here’s what’s inside:
I’ve been revamping some chapters, including adding a brand-new section that was missing before.
This part walks you through how to turn your discovered keywords into optimized outlines because how you structure your article really matters for SEO. I’m sharing my three go-to strategies to get it right.
Here’s a sneak peek! 👀 👇
And that’s not all!
I’ve also been working on a detailed case study about how one of my articles outperformed industry giants and became my top money-making page. 💰
I’ll even break down real performance metrics and how they changed after Google’s August and December 2024 updates.
Still fine-tuning all the details to make it as clear and valuable as possible for you!
I use the methods and strategies described in the book daily to write SEO-friendly articles, including this one, which currently ranks 4th for the competitive keyword “SEO book,” according to Semrush.
I know these strategies work. I’ve tested them myself.
If you want to dive deeper into my approach to SEO writing, check out my SEO ebook, read what others say, and see the ratings.
The 4th edition of my SEO ebook – fully updated for 2025!
Inside, you’ll get:
✅ A step-by-step system for finding, analyzing, and prioritizing keywords
✅ My exact method for turning keywords into SEO-optimized outlines that Google loves
✅ How to create a solid content writing plan
✅ My best writing tips to make sure your content meets Google’s content quality requirements
✅ Case study on how my content outranked industry giants and ranked in the top 3 for multiple keywords
✅ Case study revealing what I actually do when my rankings drop — and how I bounce back
… and so much more.
Grab your copy now and start ranking higher. 🚀
2. “SEO Entrepreneur”
- Publication date: October 6th, 2023
- Length: 342 pages
- Author: Nathan Gotch
- Available on: Amazon, Nathan’s website
“SEO Entrepreneur” is one of the newest SEO books I picked up in February 2025.
I browsed through the entire Kindle library, but this was the only one that truly caught my attention.
I’ve also been following Nathan’s SEO videos on YouTube for a while, so choosing this book felt like the right move (honestly, I’m surprised I hadn’t read it sooner).
I even shared my excitement on LinkedIn to see what other SEOs and creators think about it.
I’m still in the process of reading this book, but here’s what I could already learn about it:
This book isn’t just another SEO guide filled with generic tips. It’s a deep dive into the business side of SEO.
Goth shares real-world strategies for turning SEO knowledge into a scalable business, which resonates with me as a solopreneur.
One thing I particularly appreciate is how he emphasizes long-term success over quick wins, which aligns with my approach to content and SEO. I share more about my SEO approach via my newsletter.
While I still have more to explore, I can already see this book being a must-read for anyone looking to not only master SEO but also build a profitable business around it.
Here’s what Gio Della, an expert in content strategy and keyword research, says about the book “SEO Entrepreneur” in the comments on my LinkedIn post:
3. “Product-Led SEO”
I first came across product-led SEO when I joined a SaaS company, where my job was to get 3D modeling software in front of the right audience through organic search.
Instead of chasing high-competition, transactional keywords, I focused on the real problems our target users faced—problems our product could solve.
The strategy?
Let the product do the selling through SEO by showcasing its features, performance, and virality. When people searched for a solution, they found us.
That’s exactly what Eli Schwartz’s book Product-Led SEO: The Why Behind Building Your Organic Growth Strategy covers.
I picked it up because of his impressive track record. He’s helped companies like Quora, SurveyMonkey, and Zendesk scale their SEO efforts.
This isn’t your typical “how-to” book on SEO. Instead, Schwartz dives into the why behind successful SEO strategies, sharing insights on:
- What a proper SEO audit should include (his recommendations are solid).
- How product-led SEO fits into the famous blue ocean strategy.
- Project management for SEO (because SEO requests often get ignored due to lack of clarity).
- Building an SEO product team (useful if you work with product teams).
If you’re new to product-led SEO, this book is a great introduction to the mindset you need.
Just know that it won’t hand you a step-by-step blueprint. It’s more about strategy than execution.
4. “Ecommerce SEO Book Mastery”
- Publication date: unknown
- Length: 110 pages
- Author: Kristina Azarenko
- Available on: Marketing Syrup
Kristina Azarenko is an ecommerce SEO expert who left her full-time job in 2019 to start her own consultancy.
Since then, she’s worked with Fortune 500 companies, contributed to HotJar and Semrush, and spoken at top industry events like the Women in Tech SEO Festival and BrightonSEO ecommerce Summit.
I’ve followed Kristina on Twitter for a while and picked up tons of practical SEO insights from her posts.
That’s how I discovered her ecommerce SEO book—one of the best in the field. She sells it for $69, but I snagged it for just $7 during Black Friday.
And honestly?
Worth every penny.
The book is no-fluff, straight-to-the-point, and packed with actionable ecommerce SEO strategies.
I found myself wanting to highlight every sentence because everything felt relevant and immediately useful.
It covers 10 technical and content-related SEO wins that can quickly boost an online store’s performance.
One key takeaway?
Kristina breaks down how to optimize product and category pages, not just why it matters but exactly how to do it, with real examples from her experience.
Unlike many SEO experts, she doesn’t just talk theory; she shows real results.
If you’re in ecommerce SEO, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend it for beginners looking to improve their online stores.
5. “SEO 2025”
- Publication date: September 9th, 2014
- Updated: November 2024
- Length: 210 pages
- Author: Adam Clarke
- Available on: Amazon
Adam Clarke is an SEO expert who grew one online store from $10,000 to $600,000 in monthly sales using just SEO and an email list.
That caught my attention, so I checked out his book, SEO 2025, because, let’s be honest, real-world results matter.
A quick look at Amazon showed a solid 4.5-star rating from over 1,880 reviews.
Not bad, right?
Plus, Clarke claims this edition is fully updated, so I grabbed the Kindle version without overthinking it.
If you’re new to SEO or want a solid refresher, this book is a good pick.
Clarke breaks down Google’s mechanics, keyword research, on-page SEO, link building, social media’s role, ranking tracking, and local SEO.
It’s not a step-by-step guide, but gives you a clear understanding of SEO fundamentals and where to focus next.
Two things stood out to me:
- A solid list of tools for keyword research, optimization, and performance tracking—super handy for beginners.
- A must-read chapter on Google algorithm updates that explains white-hat vs. black-hat SEO.
If you’re looking for an SEO book that simplifies the basics without overwhelming you, this one’s worth checking out.
6. “SEO Book for Beginners”
- Publication date: April 2023
- Length: 140 pages
- Author: Ahrefs marketing team
- Available on: Ahrefs
I’ve been following Ahrefs since 2015, and their content has been top-notch from day one.
If you’ve ever read their blog, you know they put in serious effort to maintain high-quality content.
Their Ahrefs Academy and SEO blog are among the best free resources for leveling up your SEO skills.
Recently, they took things a step further and launched a hardcover SEO book for beginners. It’s essentially a collection of their best blog content packed into a well-designed book you can read anytime, anywhere.
Sure, you could dig through their blog for the same insights, but having it all in one place?
That’s a win.
I actually got my copy for free through one of their social media giveaways.
The book has 140 pages and 7 chapters covering:
- How search engines work
- SEO basics
- Keyword research
- SEO content
- On-page SEO
- Link building
- Technical SEO
If you’re just getting started with SEO and don’t want to waste time sifting through endless content, this book is a solid choice. By the time you finish it, you’ll have the foundational knowledge to kickstart your SEO journey.
Is SEO still profitable?
Yes, but it depends on what exactly you mean.
If you’re a content creator or business owner, SEO can help you:
- Bring the target audience to your site through organic search
- Sell your products and services
- Earn from affiliate marketing (I made $2,000 in affiliate commissions in March 2025)
- Diversify your traffic acquisition sources
- And more!
Despite what some people on LinkedIn say, SEO isn’t dead. Plenty of businesses and creators are still getting great results with it. You just need to know how to do it right.
If you want to learn how to write blog posts that rank, check out my SEO writing ebook.
I also wrote an article on AI SEO trends for 2025, where I break down what’s changing and how creators can stay ahead.
How to self-study SEO?
There are plenty of ways to learn SEO: reading SEO books, taking courses, starting a blog, and practicing optimization, just to name a few.
But in my experience, the real learning happens when you actually do the work. You need hands-on practice to see what works, what doesn’t, and how to adjust.
For me, the biggest turning point was when I started writing with SEO in mind and could track the results. That’s when everything started to click.
The next game-changer was starting my own WordPress blog. It taught me everything—buying a domain, setting up a site, building a content plan, analyzing performance with GSC and GA, and more.
Hello there!
My name is Victoria.
I am an SEO expert, Medium top writer, solopreneur, and the founder of Self Made Millennials. I help companies create optimized content and attract potential customers through organic search results. In addition, I share how content creators can monetize their writing skills.
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